The warm sun shone down upon the farm land as a hoe dug into soft soil. The hoe continued to make more and more plows of dirt. Drops of sweat fell down onto the farming tool and then it was laid to rest against a small hut made of straw. A young boy with messy pink hair wiped some beads of sweat from his forehead as he let out an audible sigh, "Phew, that takes care of that. Now to plant the seeds."

He picked up a bag of potato seeds and carefully spread them across each section of dirt he had made. Grabbing a tin watering can, he carefully watered each section. Taking a look at his finished work, a proud and relived smile crossed his face, "And done."

He set the watering can next to the hoe and walked inside the hut. A hot and piping scent wafted through the air as the boy took his shoes off. "Mm, smells good." He followed the trail of the scent and wound up in a small kitchen area. There was one round wooden table that could fit just two people and an oven also made of wood. Sitting on that oven was a roasting chunk of beef and two potatoes.

"Oh Kiyo, you've finished working already?" A small girl with long wavy brown hair ran into the kitchen from the other side. She looked to be about two years younger than the boy and had emerald green eyes as opposed to his silver ones.

Kiyo nodded, "Yeah, I just got done a minute ago." He looked towards the food cooking on the stove. "So…there a reason you left the stove unattended?"

"Um…well you see…" the young girl twirled a strand of her hair around as her eyes darted around the room. "While I was cooking, I heard this strange sound. So I had to go outside to check and make sure it wasn't a monster or anything! I searched the front yard like crazy, but I didn't see anything. I bet it ran off!"

"You went to the bathroom and just forgot about it, right?"

She slumped down to her knees in defeat, "Ooooh, how did you know?"

"It's what you always do Kurumi. And honestly, you really need to fix that."

"Wow, how rude!" Kurumi placed her hands on her hips as her cheeks puffed out. "You're just a real big meanie, you know that Kiyo?"

"I'm only saying that because I worry about you."

"I know," she said with a giggle. "It's just too fun to tease you sometimes."

Kiyo let out a light sigh, "What am I ever gonna do with you?"

"You could always marry me?" Kurumi daintily swung her hips around as a smug smirk formed on her face. "You know, like you promised?"

"That was when we were just little kids…Seriously, stop with the teasing. Neither of us actually still want to get married to each other."

"Yeah yeah, you're right. Sorry, I just couldn't help it. Hehe."

"And so I'm forced to say it again; what am I gonna do with you?"

"Who knows?" She giggles again as she merrily walks over to the stove. "Anyway, let's eat." Kurumi places the beef and potatoes on two plates and then sets them on the small table.

"Alright, let's dig in!" Kiyo shouts in excitement as he picks up his fork and knife. The two begin eating their meals.

"So Kiyo, did you read the news today?"

Kiyo raised his eyebrow, "Why would I do that?"

"You should really start…"

"I'll pass, the news is full of things I'd rather not know about…"

Kurumi took a sip of her tea and then set it down, "Well anyway, apparently there's been an outbreak of monsters recently."

"An outbreak of monsters?"

"Yeah, wild monsters have been popping up all around lately. Even in places that should be safe like villages and towns."

"That's strange…Every kingdom's ruler casts a protective barrier over their land, right?"

Kurumi nodded, "Yeah, pretty much."

Kiyo felt his muscles tighten up as his eye twitched, "Then how are monsters getting into protected territories?"

Kurumi put a finger to her lips as she pondered the thought, "I don't know. Maybe the monsters found a gap in the barriers? Or maybe…the barriers have disappeared completely."

"But that shouldn't be possible, right? The rulers of the four kingdoms are all really strong! They've been maintaining those barriers for years, they wouldn't just disappear out of nowhere…"

"Well, there's no sense in worrying about how it happened anyway. The point is we need to be careful for a while."

"Agreed." And with that Kiyo got up from his seat. "I'm going to head off to bed now. Night Kurumi."

"Goodnight big brother!" she waved goodbye to Kiyo with a cheerful smile on her face."

A woman with short and straight shiny blue hair stood in the middle of a pack of goblins. She wore an iron suit of armor with a crest that resembled the planet Neptune. She narrowed her cold black eyes at the creatures as they began to close in on her. "Go on, just try and kill me. It won't end well for you, I can assure you of that." She started to reach for the trident resting on her back.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The woman's words were met with nothing but the growling of the goblins. One leaped at her from behind and she quickly swung her trident at it. Blood spurted out of the goblin's waist as it fell to the floor.

The rest of them came charging soon after. The blue-haired woman knocked some back with a single swipe of her trident and pierced through the rest. One by one, she slayed the gremlins with her three-pronged spear.

"Elaine!" an elderly man shouted from behind a nearby tree. "Be careful, there's more goblins coming!"

"More of them?!" the woman known as Elaine looked past the horde that she was fighting and saw that indeed there were more moving towards her. She quickly regained her composure however as a confident smirk formed on her face. "Well, I suppose, it's their funeral."

She swung her trident around and stuck it into the ground as a massive glowing circle formed underneath her feet. It covered the entire forest as a bubbles rose up from the ground. "Water Dragon: Temple of Destruction!" The immense power surging from Elaine was enough to make her hair stand all the way up as she held her spear still.

Multiple geysers of water burst up from underneath each of the goblins, lunging them into the sky. The pressure of the water rushed into their ears as it filled their lungs. It shredded their skin as their blood fell down like rain. More and more geysers formed all around the forest.

The old man watched in awe as the goblins were constantly thrust into the sky by the numerous geysers. He could feel the now chilly weather and intense water pressure even from his distance. Some water drops fell in front of his feet and burned a searing hole in the ground. "Damn," he said, looking at the deep hole that had just formed. "Elaine never fails to impress me."

The geysers eventually stopped and all of the goblins came crashing down, battered and bruised, blood seeping out from under them. The glowing circle underneath Elaine's feet disappeared and she took her weapon out of the ground. "Hmph, how pathetic."

The old man carefully looked around to make sure that there were no more goblins in sight. Once he was sure that it as safe, he ran out from behind the tree and gave Elaine a big hug. "Oh Elaine! You did it again, you saved us from another monster assault!"

"Grandpa please, you're embarrassing me," the woman said, a flustered look on her face as bunch of people came out from behind other trees in the forest.

Oh nonsense! You've always loved whenever I give you the big ol' King of the Bears hug!"

"Yes, back when I was just a small child. However, I am a grown woman now, so if you wouldn't mind…" she pushed her grandfather off of her, much to his dismay.

He got on his knees and lowered his head in shame. "It seems I've become a failure of a grandfather. My dear little Elaine has grown up and no longer needs me. Guess I might as well pack my things and go live in a cave from now on, selling tin cans and making signs saying I'll do the chacha for money…"

"Grandpa, does your life really revolve around me that much…?"

"Of course it does! Wahhhhhhhhhh!"

Please don't cry Grandpa!"

The old man quickly got back on his feet and smiled brightly, "Well if you say so sweetie pie!"

Elaine just let out a light sigh, "Honestly, you're such a handful sometimes."

"I could say the same for you, you know? I still remember back when you broke your toy trident and I had to fix it up for you. And don't even get me started on how often you would pee your pants. Stinky little girl you were, whewwee!"

"Grandpa!"

"Elaine!"

Elaine's eyebrows twitched in annoyance, "Don't start with me…"

"Okay, then I'll end with you instead!" he leaned back and bellowed a loud laugh all the while Elaine scowled at him.

"Come on now Eugene, you've got a sense for when your bothering the poor girl." A brown haired man walked over to Elaine and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Ain't that right, Elaine?"

"Yeah," Elaine nodded. "Thanks, Uncle Maxwell."

"Anytime kid," Maxwell gave her a quick wink."

"Not you too…For the last time I'm an adult woman now."

"I know, but you'll always be a kid to me."

"Hey Maxwell! What do you think you're doing?! Trying to hog my dear granddaughter's love all for yourself, eh?! I see your game and I ain't losin'! Ya hear me, old man?!"

"Might I remind you I'm like thirty years younger than you…"

"Well, you're still in your fifties, so you certainly aren't no spring chicken anymore…"

"Anyone ever tell you that you've got a real mouth on you for an old geezer?"

"Ha! Don't you know it!" Eugene then turned his attention back to Elaine. "Anyway sweetie, isn't it about time you get going?"

"Well…yeah but," she looked around at all her fellow townspeople with upturned eyebrows. "Are you sure you'll all be okay? I mean, there's been so many attacks and the monster outbreak just started."

"Don't worry about us," Eugene gave her an assuring smile and a thumbs up. "We can handle ourselves. We'll be just fine."

"Your grandfather's right," Maxwell nodded in agreement while folding his arms. "You've got nothing to worry about kiddo."

Elaine looked around, but everyone gave her the same nod and kind smile to let her know that they'd be okay. "But…if something were to happen I…"

Eugene placed his hand on her shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes. "Follow your dream."

Kyou slammed his hoe down into the dirt and then buried some more seeds. He picked the watering pot off of the ground and carefully watered each of the seeds. He kneeled down and leaned in close to examine them. "Hm, looks like some should be ready in about a week."

He reached into his farming bag and realized that it was empty. "Looks like I'll have to go to the general store and buy some more seeds for tomorrow." He places his hand on his chin in thought, "I guess I don't need to tell Kurumi since I'll be right back." And with that he straps his farming bag around his back and heads off.

Eventually, Kyou made it to the center of the village where the shopping district was at. There were several stalls all organized in one big circle. Kyou walked up to the one labeled Seeds and Farm Tools, manned by a burly looking bald man with a light brown goatee. He brimmed at Kyou, "Yo, if it isn't my favorite customer. What can I get ya, bud?"

"Just a pack of turnip seeds please."

"No prob, that'll be five-hundred bronze."

"Thanks, Adgarde." Kyou unstrapped a small pouch from his waist and took out fifty silver coins. He placed them on the shop's counter with a smile.

Adgarde grinned in return as he handed Kyou the pack of seeds, "Keep truckin' on my young farming friend."

"Will do. Later Adgarde."

"Until next time."

They both waved goodbye and Kyou made his way out of the shopping district. By the time he had gotten close to home, the sun was beginning to set. He looked up at the setting sun in the orange-tinted sky, "Geez, I've been gone all day. I hope Kurumi wasn't too lonely." He looked towards the ground with sullen eyes.

Filth! Beast! Monster!

Kill her Kyou!

Kill her!

Kill her!

I said KILL HER!

Kyou shook his head as he continued walking home. Eventually he made it back but when he did, it caused his eyes to swell up in terror.

A small unsightly green little creature was inching towards Kurumi who was on her knees, shaking in fear. "Stay away!"

"A goblin?!" Kyou shouted in worry. "The hell is it doing on our farm?!"

"Kyou!" Kurumi shouted in relief as she realized her brother had returned.

"Kurumi, toss me my hoe!"

"Got it!" Kurumi scrambled to her feet and picked up Kyou's hoe. She threw the farming tool and it spun in the air.

Kyou caught it in his grasp and readied himself for battle. "Hey goblin," he narrowed his eyes at the creatures as it turned around. "Come and get some."