Maxine was carrying little Shaun around in the camp in hopes that he would doze off soon. He had been crying for the last two hours and only seemed to calm down while she was carrying him. I hate being right. This little guy only allows me and grandma to hold him for any length of time. If anyone else tries, he's screaming his head off after only a handful of minutes. The only other times he's quiet are when he's eating. And I still don't know where grandma found that woman. She has some of the biggest breasts I've ever seen. No wonder she said that Shaun would be well fed.
As she walked, she spied Adam Marks approaching her out of the corner of her eye. Ugh, another annoyance. Ever since he found out about Shaun, he's been hounding me practically every day about who Shaun's father is. How the hell am I supposed to know which one of those bastards knocked up my sister? Shaun is a brunette with brown eyes and three of those pricks had the same eye and hair color combination as Shaun. Even if I checked their DNA, I doubt I could say the fuckers name. So, what's the point of asking? At least, he bought the story about her being the mother. It sort of helped that I mentioned what Orianna did to our mother. I mean what kind of mad genius would it take to figure out how to fuse a woman with a tree and have that person share their nervous system with it? A stasis bubble is practically child's play in comparison.
"Hello, young master Marks," Maxine greeted him as she transformed into her shadow elf form. I'm not sure why grandma insisted that I call him that, but I guess it's just to be polite.
"Hello, Mana," Adam Marks replied, "How is your nephew today?"
"He is fine and I'm trying to get him to go to sleep," Maxine replied, "If he doesn't doze off soon, I may just take him with me when I go sing to the other children."
"I'm sure that he will enjoy it," Adam Marks said with a smile and he gazed at Shaun while using a childish voice, "Won't you little man?" Shaun immediately started to get fussy and looked like he was about to cry.
"I've asked you repeatedly not to do that," Maxine said angrily, "Shaun clearly doesn't like you. Why do you insist on continually upsetting him?"
"I'm sorry. I just ... nevermind," Adam Marks said as he walked away while looking hurt, but the elder stayed behind.
"Please, forgive the young master," the elder from the Marks clan said, "His heart is in the right place, but his methods are quite lacking."
"I've noticed," Maxine said calmly.
"May I ask why you are so defensive around him?" the elder asked.
"Both me and my sister suffered greatly at the hands of men before either of us gained the necessary strength to defend ourselves," Maxine said honestly, "My sister's situation was worse by far. The things those men did to her ....I saw it all. It made me develop a strong distrust towards men, but it drove my sister insane."
"I see," the elder said softly, "Thank you for sharing this with me. But you do know that Shaun will grow into a man."
"I know," Maxine said softly while stroking Shaun's head, "But as his aunt, I can't hate him. If anything, I want to shower him in the love that his mother can no longer give him." She glanced to the side at the elder and he was looking at her appreciatively.
"He is lucky to have you," the elder replied, "Now, I must go find young master Adam. I have a feeling he may get himself into trouble if I do not."
"He's quite adept at that," Maxine said and heard the elder grunt before he swiftly walked in the direction that Adam Marks walked off in.
Maxine began walking toward the children that had gathered to listen to her sing. They looked excited when they spotted her approaching and a few of them got curious when they saw her carrying Shaun. I guess this would be the first time that I've brought him with me to sing.
"Is that your baby, scary lady?" a little girl asked.
"No, this is my nephew," Maxine corrected her and looked to the others, "Now, do you guys have any requests?"
"Um, what about that first song from yesterday?" one of the small boys asked, "The one that has the elven kiss in it." Oh, I did sing that song. I didn't think they would like the song 'Tir Na Nog' by Celtic Lady.
"I don't mind singing that again," Maxine said with a smile, "But don't think that you're going to get a kiss." She saw that little boy snap his fingers while looking disappointed. She didn't waste a moment and created a few shadow clones before singing. Afterall, the song had five different women singing in it. It was only fitting that she performed it in a similar manner.
While she sang, she spotted Adam Marks approaching her out of the corner of her eye and he looked worried. What's going on with him now?
[You need to leave this planet,] Adam Marks said via spiritual sense and his worry for her bled through the connection, [I just got word that a group of alchemists are coming here to force you to give them whatever notes that your father gave you.]
Without missing a beat in her song, she had her shadow clones dance around the gathered children as she replied, [My sister was the alchemist, not I. If my father gave out any of his knowledge it would be given to my sister. And whatever she was given died with her.]
[They seem to think differently. Somehow, they got word that Madam Kavros acquired some incomplete notes, and they believe that you have the rest,] Adam Marks explained, [That's why you must flee.]
[He's not wrong,] grandma Victoria added in out of nowhere, [And young man, you should train harder at using your spiritual sense. It's leaking all over the place. A novice could listen into your conversation.]
[I apologize, but you must take her away from here,] Adam Marks pleaded.
[I won't be able to,] grandma Victoria said sadly, [Your information is incomplete. Those alchemists are only hours away and they will chase Mana even if I take her with me. The most I can do is take my great grand son away. As for Mana, she is more than capable of defending herself from a handful of ordinary gold stage mercenaries.]
[There are over twenty of them!] Adam Marks exclaimed.
[That's hardly a threat,] Maxine stated calmly, [I've sparred with my grand mother a few times while I was out and I'm able to hold my own against her. Although, it's frustrating that I can't beat her even though I'm faster and stronger than she is.] Adam Marks looked at Maxine with a dumbfounded look for several seconds before regaining his composure.
[Is this true?] Adam Marks asked.
[Yes, it is. She's particularly skilled with those blades of hers. What did you call your technique again? Was it the Unrelenting Fangs of the Hydra?] grandma Victoria asked.
[Close enough,] Maxine replied.
[So, you're staying?] Adam Marks asked in a concerned tone.
[Yes, I am,] Maxine replied, [This is my home and I will defend it.]
[I see. Then I shall stand at your side when they arrive,] Adam Marks said with determination, which surprised Maxine.
[You are not even gold stage. You will only get in my way,] Maxine said, [Or worse yet, get yourself killed for no good reason.]
[I'm aware,] Adam Marks replied, [But they may be reluctant to engage me since I'm the heir to the Divine Marks clan.]
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[I didn't think of that,] Maxine answered honestly, [Still, you shouldn't participate for that very same reason.] However, as she said that, she saw the elder from the Divine Marks clan had already snuck up behind Adam Marks. What is that old man up to?
With a swift motion, the elder struck Adam Marks at the base of his skull and he went limp. The elder carried him towards their ship. Adam is going to be furious with his elder for that, but it's for his own good.
[So, how do you plan on facing so many enemies?] grandma Victoria asked.
[If I believe that I can beat them, I will stand and fight,] Maxine replied honestly, [If not, I'll run and hide somewhere until the time is right.]
[There are only so many places that you can hide on this planet and they will search it thoroughly,] grandma Victoria pointed out, [Do you have some other place that you can hide? I can take an item that you've marked with me if not.]
[Trust me, grandma, there is no where that I can retreat to besides Earth,] Maxine answered honestly, [Well, technically, I could hide on Europa or Enceladus if I absolutely had to.]
[What are those?] grandma Victoria asked.
[Moons of the two closest gas giants to sun,] Maxine answered, [They suitable for me to live on, but assuming that I can breathe underwater in my full-hybrid form.] There are documented cases of hydras remaining submerged in lakes or deep rivers for months at a time. Although, I don't know for certain if that would apply to me. I've never actually found anything that resembles gills on me when I'm in my full-hybrid form, but then again, hydras don't have them either. No one actually ever figured out how they are able to survive underwater for so long. So, I'm only guessing that they can breathe underwater using some previously unknown method.
[Not the most solid plan, but it's a good enough alternative,] grandma Victoria said, [Not many people know that hydras can survive underwater for long periods of time.]
[How do you know about that?] Maxine asked, [I only know it because I researched it extensively.]
[I may have asked Boreas to find some information on hydras that might be helpful to you,] grandma Victoria said knowingly.
[Figures,] Maxine said more to herself than her grandmother, [Regardless, you best come get this little guy. You don't have a whole lot of time to get out of here.]
[That can wait until after you are done singing,] grandma Victoria said, [Afterall, this will be the last time that you will be able to see him.]
[Thank you,] Maxine said softly and she saw her grandmother smile gently out of the corner of her eye.
While keeping in mind that this would be the last time that she could sing to her nephew, she put her heart and soul into the next few songs and never once took her eyes off of Shaun during her performance. It took half an hour before her throat started to ache and her mouth dry, but by the end of it, she realized that little Shaun looked healthier than he had before. In fact, when she lifted her head, she saw that everyone present had a more healthy glow to them. She was confused at this, but simply shoved that detail into the back of her mind. It wasn't like she had the time to delve into that oddity at the moment.
"That was an amazing performance, Mana," General McKenzie said from beside grandma Victoria.
"Thank you," Maxine said as she handed the now sleeping Shaun over to grandma Victoria, "Take good care of him, grandma."
"I will," grandma Victoria said reassuringly.
"And one more thing before you go. Could you point in which direction those hostiles are in?" Maxine asked, "I don't want to engage them anywhere near Earth." A serious look swiftly formed on General McKenzie's face as soon as Maxine finished her sentence.
"I'll send you the coordinates as soon as we breach the atmosphere," grandma Victoria said as she carried Shaun towards her ship.
"Do you need assistance?" General McKenzie asked as soon as grandma Victoria was out of earshot. I'm surprised he didn't ask why grandma was taking Shaun with her. Then again, he probably expected me to send him away with her. It's not like this is the best environment to raise a child in.
"No, as I said the last time something like this happened, these individuals are beyond anything that you or yours can handle," Maxine explained, "But I appreciate the thought. Regardless, it's me that they're after. So, you don't have to worry too much about it."
"Is that why you're sending Shaun away with your grandmother?" General McKenzie asked, "To protect him?"
"Yes," Maxine answered honestly, "He's in too much danger being near me. Only a handful of people will even dare to go after him within my grand mother's clan."
"I see," general McKenzie said softly and gave her a stern look, "You should go see them off. Who knows when you'll be able to see either of them again."
"I will and before I forget, thank you for hosting me," Maxine said sincerely, "I won't return to Earth after I eliminate those people coming for me. There will always be more that will come looking for me and being here will just turn our home into a target. It's best for everyone if I just go away now that Earth has someone else to look after it."
"That's too bad. I have enjoyed your company," General McKenzie said in a disappointed tone.
"As have I, grandfather," Maxine said as she gave General McKenzie a hug. He froze up for a moment before returning the hug.
"Thank you for trusting me," General McKenzie said.
"You're very welcome," Maxine said with a smile, "Now, I best go see them off."
"Take care," General McKenzie said as Maxine jogged towards grandma Victoria's ship. She got there just as grandma Victoria was climbing into it.
Maxine rushed towards her and grabbed her shoulder before she gently leaned in to give little Shaun a kiss on his head before hugging both him and her grandmother. "I'll miss you too, Mana," grandma Victoria said gently as she hugged Maxine back with one arm, "Now, dry your face. You still have those alchemists and their mercenaries to attend to after we leave. It won't do for you to look like a fragile young woman. It will only embolden them."
Maxine wiped her face with a cloth from her dimensional ring and gave her grand mother a smile. "Exactly," Maxine said with a cruel smile.
"You devious child," grandma Victoria said approvingly and sighed, "I wish I could stay with you longer. If I do, we could get caught in the crossfire. While I may survive, Shaun would not."
"I know, grandma," Maxine said as she pulled herself away from grandma Victoria and gave Shaun one last kiss on his head, "Safe travels to the both of you." For a brief moment after she finished speaking, she saw faint shimmer in the air out of the corner of her eye and it was from a metal that could only be found in space. However, she showed no outwards sign of it that she saw it. I was wondering when they would show up.
Grandma Victoria smiled as she nodded her head and entered her ship. Maxine backed away from the ship and watched as the hatch closed before the ship started to slowly ascend into the sky. Within moments, she received the coordinates of the approaching ship as well as it's direction of approach from grandma Victoria.
She expanded her spiritual sense out into a small dome around herself before directing it into a narrow beam towards the approaching ship filled with mercenaries. She found it almost immediately and it had sixty four people in it and all of them gold stage. Grandma's intel was wrong. It's not that surprising. Sending out false information is a classic counter intelligence maneuver.
None of the mercenaries looked like good people. In fact, their leader started projecting his intent to rape her within moments of her spiritual sense engulfing this ship. [Oh? And who might you be?] the mercenary leader asked, [Are you that little tart that we're supposed to capture? I'll make you a deal. You give us what we were paid to retrieve and I'll be the only one to have a little fun with ya, but if you fight, all of my men will get to enjoy havin' a go with you. Sound fair?] Of course, those idiot alchemists hired the worst possible people that they could. They're the only ones dumb enough to take a mission like this.
[You don't deserve to die like a warrior,] Maxine answered calmly, [Instead, you'll die like an insect.]
[And what exactly does that mean?] the mercenary leader asked with caution.
Maxine didn't answer him and simply severed the spiritual sense connection, but she kept her spiritual sense locked onto the ship as she rocketed off of towards the sky. Within moments, she exited the atmosphere and with a thought, she formed her essence armor as she began to fly straight at the ship full of mercenaries. However as she hinted at earlier, she no longer intended to fight them directly. Instead, once she was confident that she could eliminate them entirely while they were still enroute.
After she flew past Mars, she stopped in place before summoning her bow from her dimensional ring and held out her right hand to the side as she formed a singularity arrow as swiftly as she could. It didn't even take her ten seconds before it was finished and she swiftly took aim while drawing her bow. It was at that moment that she could sense and see their panic. Oh, it took them awhile to realize what I was doing. It doesn't matter at this stage. If they had fled while I was forming it, they might've had a chance to escape, but now, none of them will escape with their lives. They can just blame their idiotic leader for their misfortune.
With a cold glare on her face, she released her singularity arrow and watched it impact their ship a second and a half later. A few of the mercenaries managed to get out of the ship before the arrow managed to impact it, but they failed to escape being devoured a rapidly expanding void. That should buy me some time.
Maxine glanced to the side and spotted a very faint shimmering silhouette and send her spiritual sense towards it, [I'm not terribly fond of peeping toms. Show yourself.] A female shadow lord slowly appeared where the shimmering silhouette was. I'm almost disappointed it wasn't Turan.
[How did you notice my presence?] the female shadow lord asked.
[Your stealth technique was flawed enough that I saw a faint shimmer,] Maxine answered simply and ignored her after that.
Maxine flew towards Europa. Thankfully, Jupiter was close enough that she didn't need to create a portal inside of her mouth leading to Earth to get a breath of air. Instead, she wore mask with a 4 hour air supply.
It took her nearly three hours to reach Europa and when she did, she sent her spiritual sense down through the kilometers thick ice. It was easier than sensing through rock, but she was still only just barely able to sense the liquid water beneath. She looked at her shadow lord stalker and waved as she encased herself in shadow to teleport. Let's see you follow me down there. I just hope that I can somehow breathe underwater. Otherwise, I'll have to create a portal to Earth just to breathe.