Elfen Belstretter

"Kid... why are you still here."

The girl that barely went up to his knees, watched him. Her arms folded around her knees, eyes as fierce and as intelligent as a dragon.

She cocked her head. Curious, perhaps? What was she thinking? She wore her emotions on her sleeve, but there was something... else about her that El couldn't quite figure out. Mara's parents were too afraid of him to discourage their daughter from visiting him, but that didn't stop the kid from coming to him every day.

Ah, since when did he care what these people...

"Kid, you better answer. I won't ask again."

The girl tilted her head; it was like watching puppy or kitten videos on his off time. Oh man, that was so cute~!

"I want to fight like you."

Well, that ruined it.

El wasn't really surprised by her request, though he knew beforehand she wanted something from him. This child was fierce in a way that could match even Baji. More than anything else, that intrigued him.

"... Why?" El lowered his head, curious. "You have a family, a good life. Why change all that?"

Mara shrugged. "Dunno yet."

El stared blankly at the child, then let out an explosive sigh. He waved her away, with a, "Hmph. Fine. Run laps around the village as much as you can. And when you're tired, run some more. Then, come to me. And if you can't walk? Crawl."

Mara barely blinked, before she took off in a jog.

That kid... reminded him far too much of Baji for his liking. He didn't think the world could handle another one. But, perhaps, this was a good thing.

---

The kid barely made a full round around the village before she came back to him, gasping for breath. Mara's hair was a tangled mess, arms limp, and covered in sweat. Then, the girl crumbled by his side.

"Here." El placed a bowl of boar meat and fruits. "You need strength."

"I... can't... move...," Mara grasped for more words, but gave up.

"Hm, not my problem." El succinctly replied.

A minute later, the girl had devoured the entire content of her meal. That was good. She needed some more meat in her bones. This tiny thing was malnourished as she grew up in a village without the proper means to provide for her health. A healthy balance, purified water, and proper basic enhancements from the local doctor. Here, there was none.

"Give me your hand." Mara blinked up at him, though she didn't protest. El grasped her tiny palm and applied the only spell he knew. There was no noticeable effect, but he could feel her current state become a little bit more invigorated.

"Wow. That feels good. I feel better." Mara looked up at him, grinning wide. "What did you do?"

"A little bit of minor healing magic. It's the only spell I know," Then, El smiled widely, his tusks gleaming with dark intent. "Now that you're feeling better, run another lap around the village."

Mara blinked. The girl's twitching mouth urged itself to scowl.

"Okay."

The tiny slip of a girl took off.

El smirked.

Maybe it was a good thing that she resembled Baji so much.

------

El made his way into the village, carrying a large boar the size of a small hut on his shoulders.

There were gasps from those villagers who were present, but he didn't stop until he made his way toward the local butcher. The establishment was too small for the carcass, but the butcher barely noticed the commotion of the local villagers gathered around the orc; whispers and rumors abound; the butcher was more focused on the fully grown, five thousand kilos of meat, drooling.

"Well, shit...," The butcher, named Kelin, looked up, and up, and up onto the massive figure of the orc, and finally at the boar that shadowed his entire being from the sun. "Well... shit..."

El wasn't good with words, but he damned well knew being generous tends to have a more positive outlook on his actions. And these villagers, while they looked healthy, needed a hell of a lot more meat than just bread and fish, and an occasional pig or sheep, barries, or honey they collect from the nearby woods.

"Butcher! I think it's time for a feast!" His bellow reached nearly the whole village, bringing out the more secluded and grumpy, prejudiced or otherwise, to the crowd.

The villagers gasped, eyes wide, as they whispered about excitedly. They were fearful of the orc, true; but in the past few days, the strange orc had been quiet, respectful, and always bowing in thanks. A queer orc, for sure, but not an unwelcome one.