I’m sure a rather malicious grin adorned my face as I flung small rounded rocks across the lake. The rocks were slamming into trees on the other side at a speed which didn’t break the sound barrier. Break implies that they were struggling to reach the point, and that it was an accomplishment that they did. No, these rocks were shattering that particular barrier, and making my distaste quite clear when they disintegrated the trees that were hit.

Mind you, I wasn’t trying to hit the two people scurrying about in the midst of all the chaos on the other side of the lake. That they were still alive was proof of that.

So, then why was I chucking rocks at them—rocks that would leave little more than grease stains should they actually hit the two boys? Well, I wanted to get a good handle on my current strength. And, while it wasn’t exactly necessary for me to test myself in this way, it was a hell of a lot more fun than simply consigning myself to throwing rocks towards nothing in particular. Moving targets make this a game, instead of training.

And, I’m willing to admit that I might be a little angry. I had felt the presence of these two closing in about five kilometers before they reached the lake, and had a fairly good idea what was going on. I’m not a complete idiot, after all, and am well aware of the reasons immature little rats like these two would want to come here while the girls were bathing. And, they committed the grave sin of forcing me out of the lake, and back into my clothes in order to deal with them. I had been looking forward to simply relaxing in the warm waters tonight, but one thing after another seems to be happening.

Those girls coming and disturbing my relaxation time, I could deal with. The boys, however, I cannot ignore. So, I decided to deal with them.

I began chucking rocks towards them in an attempt to get them to leave without much hassle. Then, I started enjoying it a little, especially seeing them dash from tree to tree in desperation, trying with all their might to get closer to the lake. Are they that determined to get a look?

Their determination only made this little game more fun for me, since it gave me a solid and clear-cut objective—Keep them away from the lake. I tried to influence the direction they would flee in through the destruction of the trees. If a tree explodes on their right, for instance, wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume that they would run left? But, they also continued to move a little forward as well, getting closer to the lake in tiny increments.

I clicked my tongue, and renewed my efforts to drive them off. Now, the rocks were whizzing right past their heads, serving as a further warning of what might happen should they get any closer.

“No! Stop it—You’ll kill them!”

Oh? The girls were simply watching the spectacle with wide eyes and slack jaw, but it looks like that Princess doesn’t take too kindly to me throwing rocks at her brothe… Brother? Why the hell does her brother want to peek when she’s bathing in the lake as well?

I decided to simply ignore her pleading, and continued to blast rocks down-range. Apparently, she didn’t take too well to that, and began channeling mana for a spell. I left her alone for just a moment too long, and the spell was complete. She froze some of the water around her into meter-long spears, and manipulated them into shooting towards me. Of course, the speed of the ice-spears couldn’t even begin to compare to the rocks thrown by my strength alone. In fact, they seemed frightfully slow, despite the smug look on the Princess’ face. I got the distinct impression that these spears would be quite effective against people of the same realm as the Princess. Unfortunately, she’s nowhere near me in strength of body, or magic.

Therefore, her little toothpick’s shattered against the massive bulwark of ice that I created in a split second. The walls of ice melted in the next instant, immediately chilling the lake water I had created it from. The two girls started shivering due to the intense cold, and frantically made for the shore where their clothes were.

She just had to have picked ice, didn’t she? It happens to be my best element, you know.

Finally, the girls managed to put on their clothes, after having their progress hampered due to the intense shivers running all along their bodies. I chucked a few more rocks towards the boys, before stopping. I consider it my win, since they were only able to catch fleeting glimpses of the lake, and the girls. I seriously doubt that they saw anything, what with all the dodging they ended up having to do.

I laughed a little to myself due to the sheer chaos I had managed to cause in the simple act of throwing some stones.

Unfortunately, it seems that I was noticed in the act of laughing, since I heard an earsplitting shout from the other end of the shore, where the two little twerps were finally allowed to emerge from the forest.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Lady Katariah! Get away from there, it’s dangerous! There’s someone attacking eguh!”

Ah, a pity. It appears I still had a rock in my hand, and it gently knocked out that Joseph kid. I say gently, since he’s not dead, and for the fact that the rock was moving at a small fraction of the speed I had used with the others. It could have easily been avoided, but for the fact that it’s target seemed confused by the fact that I threw the rock at him. Of course, it hit his temple and he fell backwards, cushioned by the moss on the ground.

I decided that things would be better for me if I went to the other side of the shore, where everyone else was watching as Joseph got hit. Very quickly, I ended up a dozen paces from them.

One or two of the others gasped in shock as he fell, and there was a single drawn out and piercing scream. I winced, and turned towards the Prince, whose scream trailed off uncertainly as he saw the look of murder in my eyes.

Both the Princess and Bea’s sister were turning a little green as they looked at the lump which was rising on the side of the unconscious kid’s head.

I could hear one of them mutter in a heartbroken way.

“I…is Joseph…dead?”

I couldn’t help but to laugh at that, and shook my head.

“No, of course not. When he wakes up, tell him to leave me the hell alone, got it?”

Three pairs of eyes trained on my figure with anger in them.

“Why would you….”

“Hit him? Because he was going to be annoying. At least this way, I don’t have to listen to him talk.”

The Princess had little tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, and whirled on me in rage.

“What gives you the right to hurt him!? He wasn’t doing anything that would have harmed anyone!”

I gave the Princess a look that would have frozen hell over.

“I would have thought that you would thank me for keeping them from seeing you two bathing. Is that not the case?” I asked.

The Prince, however, was the one who spoke up, his voice strained.

“We didn’t know they were bathing. All we knew was that the girls had left during the night, alone. We were concerned for their safety—That’s all.”

After having said his piece, the Prince went off to sulk. I think he’s angry towards me, and mortified due to the way he had screamed earlier. It had certainly been…impressive.

Bea’s sister blushed a deep red, though the Princess looked like she had expected his answer. Could she have…?

Ah, so that’s how she really is. I’ve half a mind to lay her out like Joseph due to her immaturity, coupled with her cunning. Those two qualities never seem to mix well, and her actions may have cost her my respect in this case—If she’s done what I think she has. Honestly, does she have no shame?

Ugh. I think I just need to leave, before more rocks are thrown.

While I left, I called back over my shoulder.

“He should wake up within the hour.”

I said this to Bea’s sister, not the Princess. I suppose the Prince could have also heard it, but that depends on how far away he went in order to sulk. Actually, now that I think about it, isn’t it rather fitting for him to go sulk in the shadows, since he took after his mother’s panther heritage? At least, I’m assuming he’s a panther beastkin, since he has the same funny little cat ears as Bea, and the same tail. They have the same coal-black fur as well.

Ah well.

I started walking back to my carriage. Hopefully, Bea’s back to normal by now, and I won’t have to gouge out my eyes upon entering.

As I moved through the forest, however, something curious happened.

I was skirting past a tree trunk, when I felt a tearing pain shoot through my back, instantly bringing me to my knees. Eyes watering slightly as I bit back a multitude of curses in many different languages, I looked back to try and figure out what had happened. I’d never felt a pain quite so…acute before.

I immediately understood when I saw it, though.

My tail had somehow come free without me noticing, and got caught on the fork of a branch as I had passed the tree trunk. Cursing under my breath, I moved to grab my tail, and keep it from getting loose like that again. After all, that really fucking hurt.

My tail seemed to have a mind of it’s own after I freed it, though. It slipped from my grasp, and waved about playfully—probably due to the good mood I was inexplicably still feeling, despite all that had threatened to piss me off.

I huffed, and tried to grab it in order to wrap it back around my waist in a way that would keep it from interfering. Emphasis on tried.

The damn thing seemed to slip from my grasp as soon as I neared it. I would normally say that it was like the tail knew what I was thinking, but it is a part of me in this case. Though, I’ve never seen it so active before, nor so—playful? I guess? It usually wraps around my waist limply, like a belt. And while I could control it to a certain extent, I couldn’t do it with the dexterity it now displayed while evading my grasp.

Eventually, I gave into a rather primal instinct I could feel compelling me greatly. I started running after my tail, completely intent on grabbing hold of it. Yeah, I know.

I started chasing my own tail.

But, it was really fun, so the embarrassment canceled out.

Eventually, all good things come to an end though. I decided to try and ignore the happily waving appendage behind me after I ran headlong into a stump on the ground. It was about daybreak when that happened, so I must have spent a good chunk of time playing around. It does feel good to let loose every now and again.

I continued making my way to my carriage, and tried to not let my tail bother me. While it is odd that it would exhibit such a change now, of all times, it wasn’t an unwelcome change. Maybe I can finally find a combat use for it, after all?

Oh, and as a side note, Bea was back to normal when I returned. She got breakfast for the both of us as well, and seemed unaware of what she did while sleeping. Though, she has seemed a little off in general lately. Maybe she’s gone into heat or something?

Eh. That’s something I really don’t want to ask her.