“GGGHHHHHHHREEEEEEEEEEEE!” Powerful shrieks reverberated through the cavern, lightly shaking the interior. Blood slung out and poured off my blade as it casually ripped through another beast's corpse which wildly and recklessly charged directly at me. The cold air flowing through the internal system of this cavern felt like a dampened towel slapping across the back of my neck. My breath rose in smoke before dissipating.

The cavern was what you’d expect, at least for the lower levels. Unusual rock formations and multiple, commonly found, beasts swarming you from every angle. These mostly didn’t drop any crux’s actually worth anything, so their limited mana would usually be absorbed by adventurers and they would be taken for their meat instead.

I also did this, slicing their bodies like a skilled butcher and dissecting it before tossing it in the dimensional storage bag.

“Let’s get moving”, I spoke, picking up my sword wedged in the fissures formed in the ground. Yet before I could reach the exit of this part, yet another herd of Timber Wolves raced down.

“Agh…I guess I have to do this much quicker.”

I gently leapt from my spot, sliding myself into the middle of their herd, their eyes or senses unable to follow my trace, and I extended my sword from its sheath and glided it in a circular motion, mutilating their bodies. Not even a squeal emerged as the swiftness of my blow severed them.

“No need to pick those up. I should just get moving.” I muttered, breaking into a jog and advancing further into the cave.

As I came over the top, the ground seemed to fall into the middle like a bowl where only a small surface of the floor was actually straight and not curving downwards. The slope, apart from that, was the moist and slippery, one you’d expect especially at this time of the weather.

“Good I didn’t fall into this. But thinking about it, no idiot should fall into he-” My words cut off as the shout of a group of people discerned themselves to me.

“Stay on your toes people, we need to hold out until someone helps us.”

My eyes looked at them distastefully, unbeknownst to them. “I stand corrected.”

“Please, save us!! Anyone!” Their desperate screams rang out and I gave one more heavy sigh looking at them.

“I suppose I should help them,” I corrected myself and tilted forward over the edge of the slope, sliding down. I gathered my centre of gravity low and gripped my sword, syphoning the mana from my crux and wrapping it in a verdant hyper-speed wind blade. It would allow powerful swift currents to travel around my blade and allow me to lacerate any object with minimal effort.

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“Stand back!” I ordered them, gaining speed whilst I travelled downwards. Their faces, especially their leaders, grew vibrant with pigments returning to their pale faces covered in viscous blood. They all instinctively parried the beast they fought and threw them into the middle, keeping them at bay, meanwhile I slid down, by outstretching their spears towards them, creating necessary distance.

I finally glissaded into the firm ground no longer curving and swung lightly with my blade following from right to left. The dirt scurried off the ground in a large upheaval propelled by the compelling gust viralling of my blade and sweeping the Timber Wolves into mince meat, eviscerating their threat. A delicate rain of blood showered over my face, slipping off my pale white skin.

Their looks weaved to me, and their eyes shook in awe, before amorphous blood clouds fell on them alongside chunks of the beasts. I remained in the dimly lit spot, hovering directly over the middle, the gleam scattering intermittently of my glowing skin and my eyes directly fell beneath the shadow from my dangling hair.

“It’s alright now. Get out before the rest of them come.” I warned the trio of them, all on their backsides as if under some bewitching spell. I began taking my strides to leave before I felt a sharp tug on my jacket.

“Ermmm…I know this might sound demanding and unreasonable, but do you mind if we accompany you?” The youngest of them, or so I gathered from their looks, asked shyly but genuinely, a glimmer pervading in his eyes that reeked of pure innocence and trust.

I ripped my jacket away and coldly tilted my head back. “That is unreasonable. And no, I won’t. I have things to attend to.”

The youngest took it more harshly than I intended it to sound and so the backlash from the older boy emerged. “Hey! He only asked you a question! Why do you have to be so rude? You’re a kid as well, don’t act all high-and-mighty.” His words through spite at me and only made my eyes roll over.

“Firstly, I wasn’t rude. My tone was harsh, but I was simply rejecting firmly. I never insulted nor made fun of him or the rest of you. Secondly, kid? Don’t act all high-and-mighty? Are you fucking kidding me? I saved your incompetent arses from a threat you couldn’t deal with. Don’t throw bullshit like that on me.” I responded calmly, faced towards them again and this time, watching their faces contort in dissatisfied grins.

“But tha-”

“I’m sorry for those two. Thank you for helping us as well.” The last one interjected. He seemed the oldest. Roughly fourteen from his appearances. A dark skin paved their complexion yet his was the darkest. Dyed in the purest of browns and blacks, he shone like a hidden gem. His soft yet decisive flaxen eyes directed his full attention to mine. His brazen hair raised in gentle spikes slicked backwards in turquoise colour.

“We will be on our way now.” He finished. He ripped his spear off the ground and helped his youngest and middle brother up. “Are you alright? The two of you, that is.” His tone pronounced deeply instilled adoration and love for his brothers and my curious sight seemed to follow his movements naturally.

“Hey, the three of you are brothers, right?” I asked.

The middle one was going to speak out of line again, but the eldest once more prevented him, gently reaching out with his palm and pushing back his heated sibling. “Indeed we are. And what of it, if I may ask?”

He clearly saw me as the seven year old the other two had, but he also searched beyond that. He knew to respectfully approach me. His senses of survival had been maybe more developed, or perhaps his sense for reading people outweighed his brother's short-distanced foresight.

“Nothing. I was just curious about the three of you. More specifically, you.” I pointed my finger at him. “I’ll accompany you for a bit, but listen to me and move with my pace. Else I’ll leave you behind.” I was interested in his connection and how he nurtured such an iron bond with his siblings. Maybe I could learn from him? Anyway, I was sure he’d accept. His keenly adept eyes wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.

“Really!?” His face burst aglow like a candle with its weaving flame. “We would be very grateful.” He bowed and his brothers looked confused, but followed their role models lead.

I returned their gesture and met the eldest brother in a handshake.