Biyu slowly drew the arrow back, increasing the tension that would speed the arrow down the range. She sighted the target while keeping both eyes looking down range. Finding the correct stance, she held the pose a moment longer while checking her breathing. When she felt a perfect moment, she released the arrow and the shaft sprouted from the target. Taking a moment for her muscles to relax, she rolled her shoulders before reaching for her next arrow for her next shot. Three more, and she would take a break before switching to quick fire exercises. Biyu released the next arrow, and it hit her target. She was only firing at a distance of twenty yards. For the Elves, that was still considered close even though she was using a smaller bow than the standard. After more than a year training in the village, she had plenty of practice in reinforcing her body to better draw her bow. The standards of the Elves for the bow were very high.
Her instructor watched her training without comment. They had reached the point where practice was worth more than instruction, and so he only spoke up if she started a bad habit or became distracted. Finishing the last arrow, she stretched her arms and paced to stretch her legs.
It was unnecessary, but she triggered [Heal Self], letting the magic accelerate her recovery. Her Master encouraged her to use her techniques as often as she could. Use of mana was the most well known means of growing one's pool during the early stages of growth, although its benefits would taper by the time her pool tripled. Devouring souls would outstrip it, if she was aggressive in pursuing that Path against her Master's advice.
Biyu was currently dressed in a way that the Empire would consider indecent. Cloth wrap bound her breasts to her chest, and her trousers cut to her mid-thigh that hung from her hips exposing her thin waist. She wore sandals on the raft, like most, the soles coated with a sticky tar to grip water slicked wood. It was late in her second summer here, and the humid swamp clung to her even without clothes to suck up moisture and sweat. That had been the worst part of her first summer, sweating in the humid summer while encumbered by sweat soaked clothes. Here in the village, wearing so little was unusual but unremarkable. Hunting women would wear just as little when relaxing on a hot day, and those going for a swim in the water would wear less.
One thing Biyu noticed after spending summer days like this, was that the majority of Elves stopped referring to her as a child, despite her height. She lacked the softness of children, and her body was corded and strong. The times she went to a meal dressed down, she was made to take a larger serving, with admonishments she should eat more.
Cool down complete, Biyu returned to her practice. Arrows were drawn and sent down range in rapid succession. Instead of taking her time to aim, this practice required her to fire ten arrows as quickly as she could while hitting the target. It had to be within a ten count, and all ten had to hit the target. The closer all the arrows were to the center of the target, the better she did. She pulled arrow after arrow and fired, feeling the heat of exertion in her arms. There was a loud splash, and she saw a flume of water out of the corner of her eye. She did not pause to look. As the last arrow hit the target, she stared in surprise. All of them had struck the target. Not the center, but within the outer boundary.
"Good," her instructor praised. "From now on, thirty yards."
She turned and bowed to the instructor. "Yes, Range Master."
"You'll never be great," the man warned her, something she had heard since before she held a bow for the first time. "But you will be good if you maintain your practice, and use what you learn."
She bowed again. Formalities done, she turned to Indu and gave another bow. "Greetings, Indu. How may I help you?"
Indu rolled her eyes at that, her face breaking into a grin. "I was fishing and saw you. I wanted to watch you practice. Shall we compete with bows?"
Biyu shook her head. Her hands went to her hips in pantomime of a stern expression. The mask she wore lowered its brows. "I will not compete in bows. I will not compete in the javelin. I will not compete in swimming! I will compete in walking. Shall we begin?"
Indu giggled. Walking was the only thing Biyu could reliably do better than Indu, and only because walking was something Indu physically could not do. Biyu would not race Indu either. As terrifyingly fast as the woman was in the water, on land she was faster than Biyu even when she burned mana to push her body beyond what was safe with mana enhancement.
Biyu unstrung her bow. The wood the bows were made of, spirit wood, would 'heal' damage. That meant that removing the string was not required, but if she took a bow with her through Human lands it would be unstrung. The average Human would only know it from stories, so they would think an unstrung one a walking stick, but having it strung would likely get her hunted as an Elf.
Indu remained in the water, watching her, the woman's tail moving through the water to keep her afloat. "Will you swim with me today?" she finally asked.
"After lunch. I'm free this afternoon, unless Master has found a task for me."
Indu spun around, her back to Biyu. "I asked her not to," the snake woman said.
"Then I will swim with you."
The woman raised her hands in victory, sinking into the water a bit. She swam off as Biyu watched, amused.
When they met, Biyu suspected it and had been told as much, but she knew that Indu was unpopular in the village. The village Sinner claimed she should have died in childhood, culled along with most of Shishi's Kin children. It was not his decision to make, as Kin were not part of his purview. Instead, Shishi was expected to kill her if she proved a danger to the village.
Indu was both a fisher and a Shaman. Despite the respect her role as Shaman should have granted her, being a Kin negated almost all of it. She was an outsider, and the Elves told stories to remember the Kin of the past who had been put down. Some Elves thought the living Kin should be exiled, even if they were not dangerous.
Part of the issue was that Indu could not have children with the Elves. They were too different, and unlike her mother she could not take on a humanoid form. That meant that she could not marry like the Elven children of Shishi, and would not be able to bring a new generation into the world. She would never be an ancestor herself.
Biyu did not share the Elves' bias to Kin. Having Indu for a friend was precious to her. It was something she had always wanted, but could never have. Sometimes she was tempted to request to stay in the village, but Indu and Hak were the only ones that liked her. No one shared their names with her except the Kin and Shishi. Most did little more with her beyond shared meals and inane conversation. Biyu was allowed to join their festivities, but being allowed and being welcome were different things. At dances, she had no partner unless Indu or Hak were there. That was as far as the Elves' hospitality extended. She ate their food, stole their trainers' time, and what she gave back was a pittance of what they gave her. Before she could be a productive member of the village, she would leave. Most were happy enough to consider that repayment.
After archery, she went to the training grounds, she practiced the sword and shield with Weapon Master. Her schedule had changed in the new year, rearranging as students were shuffled to different groups based on their skills. People sparred with her now, no longer concerned she would kill them. However, with her enhanced abilities, only Weapon Master could keep up with her when she wanted to test the extent of her abilities one on one.
At lunch, she ate with Shishi and Hak. Indu was still in the water, her preferred place to be during the hot days of summer, and she made a meal of the fish she caught. Today the village was serving swamp stew. It was full of edible shoots of reeds, the meat of giant salamanders, and tubers that could be found just beyond the swamp's edge. The giant salamander was an unintelligent creature that was easy to kill. Biyu had hunted one, once, with Hak as her guide during her tracking lessons. It was edible, but she was beginning to miss chicken and pork.
After her meal, she swam with Indu. They played a version of tag. Indu hid under the water, and Biyu practiced swimming by seeking her in the depths. Afterwards, they sunned themselves dry on a rocky outcropping with Indu curled against Biyu's side. Biyu had long given up on stopping Indu from indulging in her need for physical contact.
They stayed that way, quiet for a while. Then Indu asked in a small voice, "Do you have to go?"
"The village does not want me here. I am not leaving yet, nor will I be leaving soon. I still have a lot to learn before I go. My instructors agree I am improving, but I need more experience."
Indu shifted until her reptilian eyes looked into Biyu's from a close distance. "We can find a place. Just for you and me. Somewhere away from here. Maybe the Shadowlands? Or somewhere up north, where the Humans have not settled yet? Or, we could bring the rest of the Kin."
Biyu closed her eyes. It hurt, a little, to turn the invitation down. There were too many reasons why she should, and she knew Indu knew them all. Indu wanted to dream a little. A dream where she and her friend could be together forever. A dream that Biyu could not indulge. The other woman was already too attached to her, and encouraging it would not be good for either of them.
"A happy dream. I wish I could."
"You never play along," the woman bemoaned, her head nestling into Biyu's shoulder.
Biyu stroked the bald scalp.
"I wish you were a male Kin. I think I would love you. Perhaps I do," Indu said. Biyu paused for only a moment in her petting. If Indu noticed, she did not remark on it. "If you won't stay or leave with me, then will you remember me?"
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Biyu was surprised. "Of course," she said. "I am sure you will pray to me constantly for attention. How could I forget you?"
Indu curled in tighter, her face pushed into Biyu's bony chest. Biyu thought the woman was crying in her own way. "I have to go in the future. Enjoy our time now. Do not mourn the future before it happens." She offered a smile, but she feared it was wan. She could feel her mask twist to match it. "Then, we will have the happy memories to remember each other by. We will commune, sometimes, my little worshiper."
Indu gave Biyu a hug. Biyu hugged the woman back, and it was easy for her. The woman asked for something that was important, and not lightly given. "Can I see your face?" she asked.
Biyu did not want to, not even for her friend, but because she was her friend she felt obligated. "I will show you three times, and only three times. Now. On a day of my choosing. On the day I leave." Then she removed the mask the way Indu had taught her. She could smile, but she would not give Indu a forced, polite smile. She showed Indu her face at rest.
Indu gazed into it. "You have a beautiful face. Mother did not exaggerate. Thank you."
Biyu replaced the mask. "Do you feel something for me now? Lust? Envy?"
"No more or less than before. It is not the face of a Kin. So, beautiful, but not in that way. Like how you might feel seeing a magnificent stag. Handsome, but not arousing."
Biyu sighed in relief. They swam to the raft while the day was still hot, and let themselves dry while getting dinner. Hak joined them, but as usual Invidia was nowhere to be found. She was a rare case, Human in every way, except for a certain crucial difference. She chose to be a hermit, unable to handle being so like everyone else, but so different in such a fundamental way.
After dinner, Indu insisted that they sleep together. That she felt the need to demand it seemed strange, as Biyu woke up with Indu cuddled against in the morning. Biyu fell asleep in the serpent woman's always surprisingly warm coils. It was a warm night, but Biyu slept well.
The next day was routine, and that evening she was tasked with fishing. Indu tried to follow, but her mother set denied her. Instead, she was in a boat with Invidia, who was grumpily staring at the water.
Invidia had a wonderful figure, which made the shame of her situation all the worse. The woman could easily attract a husband. Yet, she could only consummate with another Kin. Being so close to being an Elf, she had the usual drives and that left her frustrated.
They fished in silence. Biyu felt no desire to speak, and Invidia was not the type to start a conversation. Or so it usually went.
"You know, my sister's smitten with you," she grumbled.
"I know," Biyu replied. There was not much else for her to say to that.
"I know she can't go with you, but can I? It might be nice, being around people who don't know."
Biyu shook her head. "Humans feel disgust when they hear the word Elf. If they see you, they will know. You will be hunted. Killed. There is a long-standing bounty on Elves."
Invidia scrubbed her face. "Then, I got a favor to ask." Biyu gestured for her to go on. "When you go out into the world, can you find us snake or reptile Kin? I know Humans and Elves don't get along, but I think even the Elders get you aren't dangerous to us. Not directly. You probably won't get free passage to the village anymore, but you'll be able to contact us. I'm sure Mother will keep an eye on you."
"A quest?" asked Biyu. "What is the reward?"
Invidia snorted. "Making Indu happy ain't enough?"
"A joke," said Biyu. "If I can, I will. But, do not hold your breath."
"I won't," said Invidia. "But I will hope. I'll even pray to you, if that reminds you that we asked you for something."
"My second worshiper," Biyu exclaimed. She wished she was better at feigned excitement. "What about the Heavens?"
"They say the Litanies come from the way you live your life. Not much point hoping for the Heavens when you ain't really lived your life, yeah? Besides, in the swamp, it's all Mom's Hell for us. Can't really get away from it, yeah?"
That made Biyu smile in sympathy, and Invidia jolted a little to see it.
"What if I find the secrets of making you more like a Human?"
"I think Indu and me'd be happy with that. Can't say with Hak," said Invidia. She worked her pole, fighting a fish that splashed in the water. She was an old hand, and when she pulled it in there was a large fish hanging from the line. They finished the fishing trip in near silence.
Like the previous day, Biyu's day started normally. Morning katas were followed by archery. Trying to hit the target at thirty yards felt awful, like she had made no progress at all in the previous year. Looking down range, it did not look that much further. She heard the Range Master snort as she missed again, but he was polite enough to pretend he had not choked in a laugh.
After archery was dagger and sword practice. She was getting rather good with the weapons. Being small gave her an advantage, as between the length of her blades and her height she posed a small, well guarded target. Sparring partners found it difficult to pin her down. Add in her physical enhancements, and she could hold her own. Her agility, one of the traits the empowering of her body most enhanced, she kept toned down, so her opponents stood a chance. She did not take it too easy on them, since they loved unarmed combat day when she had difficulty fighting back. Being strong meant little when your opponent could toss you over 10 yards into the water.
Biyu had lunch, and it came with another unusual task. Biyu and Hak would go to the woods to hunt. Hak was a natural hunter. He was good with his bow, strong, and an expert with the javelin. Hak was also one of the few to master the use of the sling among the Elves, and many considered him the village master. The current Range Master was good with the bow and javelin, but he could not use a sling at all.
Hak was keeping watch as Biyu hunted down a large monitor lizard. It was suspected of being the child of Sacred Beasts, but it was as dumb as the giant salamanders. There was no hint of magical power from the creature, either. It was just far more dangerous in the mundane way. It had sharp teeth and claws, and was a bit heavier than Biyu herself.
Biyu had her javelin gripped tight in her hand, her prey in sight. She was too far away to be sure of a hit. If she could get the creature to charge, then she had a change to hit it as it came at her. Unfortunately, the creature was quick enough to dodge the attack. Hak would interfere if she was in danger, but it would be foolish to rely on him to save her. Besides which, being saved would tarnish the people who trained her. That would make them angry.
Instead, she snuck up a tree and moved from branch to branch until she reached one above the reptile. Hooking her legs on the branch to secure her seat, she gave it a gentle shake when the wind blew to ensure it would not break beneath her. Javelin ready, she waited while keeping her eyes fixed on the creature. When her training told her the moment was right, she twisted her body to put as much power into the javelin as she could, sending it speeding at the beast. It struck and pierced deeply into its hide. Biyu had prepared the tip with poison from her [Envenom] technique. The poison she chose would cause paralysis until the lizard suffocated while not tainting the meat. If she was further along her Path, she could use [Poison Control] to remove the poison, but even with that handy technique she would follow the rules the Elves had given her about poisons. The horror stories Elves told about people who shirked safety were terrible, even when they were funny.
Biyu watched the creature react to its wound as she sat on her perch. It hissed loudly and turned circles trying to find who dared attack it. It was already staggering. One of its legs tangled with the javelin, and it fell over. Scrambling back up, the javelin dislodged from its side. That was fine. She watched the beast as it sought her once more. The creature stumbled, and fell onto its side again. It gasped and fought futilely against death. When it finally died, Biyu checked her surroundings. Finding it clear of dangers, she slid off the branch and walked up to the carcass. Hak appeared and helped her put the beast into a boat.
Climbing in after the carcass, they poled the boat back to the village. There it would be butchered and eaten just like any other animal the Elves hunted, after they verified it was safe.
On the way back, Hak asked a question. His voice was a broken rasp, and he used gestures of his hands to supplement his speech. Biyu understood the question as, "If you were us, would you violate the taboo?"
Biyu considered the question. "I think I would. The Heavens are denied me. What does it matter if I break a rule like that? But, only if I knew I wanted a family. I… I know it is something I am supposed to want. I do not know if I want it."
Hak lowered his head, considering her answer. "Will you forgive me, if I convince Indu to be my wife?"
"Why do you need me to forgive you?" Biyu asked. She suspected the answer, but she did not know it.
"I will pray to you, as Indu does. If you are my afterlife, then it is prudent to be in your god's good graces."
Biyu closed her eyes. "Talk to your mother first. If she is fine with it… ask Invidia if she will accept you too. If both are fine, make yourselves a new village. If Invidia does not accept you, but will go with you, then I will attempt to fulfill her request."
Hak's eyes snapped to her face. "What is her request?"
Biyu was watching the scenery pass by the boat, looking for danger. "First, to find other Kin. Snakes or reptiles. To try and bring you together. Second, if I do not find them, find someone willing to make her more Human."
Hak frowned in his own way, with his body and not his face, moving automatically to propel their boat. He took in a deep breath, and slowly let it out. "You will try to do this?" he asked.
"It was an honest request. I will not promise success. If I do succeed, it will probably be by accident. But, I will try."
Hak nodded gravely. "We are long-lived. There is no hurry except the desire to see the faces of your children." He let the quiet reign as he thought. "Ten years." Determination filled his gestures. "I will wait ten years after you leave before I ask Indu. I will not have faith. I cannot. Hope is an enemy. Lady Dreams my personal devil. But I will wait to meet other Kin." He met her eyes to communicate his commitment. "I do not wish to be more Human like Indu and Invidia. Unlike them, I am happy as me."
Biyu thought about it. She kept her lips pressed together. "I have one requirement."
"Yes?"
She lifted a finger pointedly. "Do not regret waiting. I did not ask you to. It is the proper thing to do, but if the future proves the decision a wrong one, do not regret it. You made the best decision you could. Promise me this."
He bowed to her. "I cannot promise I will not regret it, but I promise to remember your words." Biyu sighed, and looked up into the spare branches spreading above her and clipping away pieces of the sky. This was the best she could do. Three worshipers had chosen her as their patron, and they had come to her with their first request. A friend she adored who asked for something she could not give. A bitter woman dealt a bad hand in life; almost as bad as hers. A quiet man whose mind she did not fully comprehend. They had given her a quest she wished to complete, but she had no idea how to. For now, she would defer it.
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The second time Biyu showed Indu her face, it was when Indu gave her a present. It was a bow and quiver Indu had fashioned for her, both made from spirit wood. The bow was etched with characters from the Elven magic language, and looked like stanzas of a poem. She was told that one would increase the sturdiness of the bow, so that it could be drawn further when pulled. Another would allow it to keep itself in good repair. The last allowed the string to be renewed too, as something that was not part of it. It was left bound to one end, but it could be replaced if necessary.
The quiver was constructed from wood with a leather cap, made to be worn at the hip. It held an enchantment that would create a single arrow each week. Biyu could expend her own mana to speed up the process, but no faster than a single arrow a day. The arrows were sharp and well-made, but as magical constructs they would only last a short time once removed from the quiver, which kept the arrows viable. Only twenty total arrows could be made before it could make no more, all of its power put into maintaining the arrows it had manufactured. Trying to recover the arrows would be pointless, as they would start to break apart after a few minutes even if they did not break on use.
It was a wonderful gift, and she hugged Indu in thanks. Indu told her that she loved her. Biyu replied she adored her, maintaining the distance between them. Indu hugged her a little tighter.