After a few hours of sailing, a splotch on the horizon turned into a large island. Several large hills reminded Zerine a little like the training island back home. The beach was a similar pink color to the ones she had seen on along the way. The forest was an odd fusion of tropical trees and those that were near her home. Pine trees and large leafy trees were mixed with palm trees. Zerine eyed the palm trees knowing they had fruit, hopefully similar to the ones that had grown on the training island.

At least the fruit can be a somewhat solution for water…ish, she thought.

Varino’s bright, trilling flute note made Zerine smile. The spirit had been running around the vessel, exploring every nook. Evidently, she had come back on to the deck.

Varino leaned over the railing, her eyes bright. She whistled again and nearly toppled over, but cuaght herself with a gust of wind. Varino giggled and whistled again.

“Yep, we were almost there. I already have a plan. Find anything on the ship?” Zerine wondered.

Burbles were followed by a slide whistle.

“So, you had fun exploring your first ship. We will have to have Dad take us out on one of the larger ones.”

Varino chittered a chime.

“Yeah, after this. Make it our second adventure,” Zerine said with a smile.

Varino cheered.

“Alright, you two. We are nearly there,” Lucy said, joining them. “I will teleport you two there. This vessel won’t approach the island. Let’s see…I was supposed to pass along something. Oh!” Lucy snapped her finger. “Don’t piss off the Waterstrider monkeys. And there are marine reptiles that are here for their mating season, so leave them alone. Both groups won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.”

“Um, do you happen to know the reptile’s name? There are quite a lot of marine reptiles,” Zerine said.

“They’re poisonous and use water magic. Just leave them alone. They will leave scratches on trees and leave piles of smooth stone marking their territory near their nest.”

“Got it. Leave them alone,” Zerine said.

Varino nodded, but Zerine knew that look. Varino was absolutely going to try to talk to either the monkeys or the reptiles. She mentally sighed. This will be an interesting month, that was for certain.

“Also, take this spatial storage bracelet. Put any monster corpses you find in it. Who knows, maybe you will make some money after this trip,” Lucy said, handing Zerine a similar-looking bracelet to the one she was already wearing. The only difference was the gemstone embedded into the coppery metal. A sparkling purple gem glinted as Zerine put it on her left wrist.

“Hopefully we find any worth holding on to. But thank you.”

Lucy smiled, “I think you will be surprised, but it’s time,” Lucy said, placing a hand on Zerine’s shoulder.

Light filled Zerine’s sight and suddenly she and Varino were standing on the pink shore of the island. There were no signs of Lucy anywhere.

I guess it starts now, she thought, and couldn’t help herself from smiling.

“Right, let’s find a good place for a shelter and, hopefully, water. So, while I look around, you focus on your senses to and hopefully, you pick up on fresh water,” Zerine said.

Varino cheered, still sitting on her shoulder.

***

Lucy appeared back at the family compound a day’s trip from the island. She strode into the island monitoring room, a place she would barely leave for the next month.

How joyous, she thought dryly.

She had already been sworn to secrecy about how Zerine interacted with her spirit friend…sister? Whatever they were, Lucy knew a strange ability when she saw one. Even being able to communicate with the spirit was…odd. But Varino was very adorable, and from what Callahan had said, they were an inseparable pair.

“He was right. They are still together,” she muttered, sitting at a table. Floating images appeared all around her. They displayed live feeds from the island. They were being streamed from a host of crystals. Sensors gave Lucy a glimpse of the magic energy being used around the two as well, which she glanced over. Seeing nothing of note, she looked back to the live feed.

She watched as Varino closed her eyes. Based on the sensors, she knew the spirit had entered mediation. The sensors barely picked up Zerine, however, which may be a problem. They used the sensors to make sure they could respond in time if anything bad happened. To the sensors, Zerine was a flickering presence. No vitals, no aura, and probably a host of other sensors she hadn’t even gotten to.

Lucy turned in the seat as her twin sister, Alana, entered. They wore practically the same outfit, only difference being the shade of brown. Combined with their hair and eyes, no one other than those that knew them well enough to recognize their auras could tell who they were. The largest difference was the weapon at Alana’s Wiest. A scimitar-like weapon shifted as Alana sat on a stool next to Lucy.

“So, this is the problem child, and the storm elemental,” Alana remarked.

Zerine was now climbing up a palm tree as Varino was sitting on a rock, mediating again.

“Don’t say that. It’s not her fault the family doesn’t want to put resources into someone who will die in a few more years,” Lucy said.

“I still find Ava’s family a little …odd. That spirit has been treated like a daughter. Then their household is rather active in running a region. Granted, it’s the poorest and smallest one in the kingdom. Still, it’s politics,” Alana said with a disgruntled expression.

“Something the ancestor requested for us to fix. It will take time, but they aren’t involved in the country’s politics, unlike Liliana. But she earned it and the approval, albeit tacit, and who knows what else she could be planning,” Lucy replied, flipping through different scenes on the island. From what they could see, there were more monsters than normal. The highest, though, was around mid D-rank, which shouldn’t pose too great of a threat.

“Seems like it will be challenging trial. I’m honestly surprised they let a crestless do this and with a spirit that will attract some…problems, I have no doubt. And…can she understand tit?” Alana wondered.

“I think she is guessing. But who really knows, but they get along. I think they are kinda cute,” Lucy said.

“I agree. But everything is kinda crazy lately. There are reports that more monsters may manifest along the coast. It has something to do with the ley lines having a thread over this part of the coastline.”

“That…is not good. I trust you will keep this to yourself, but the ancestor has a plan to make this trip a little more difficult.” Alana’s eyebrows shot up. “Yeah, I didn’t speak with her, but it was relayed to me through an ascendent. I believe there is something coming, and the family is debating about it. And the internal conflict has seemingly made Zerine part of it.”

“Wow…first the Esteron’s civil war has only gotten bloodier. Fate is a mess, from what I heard. Then there are quite a lot of problems going on in the Wastelands. I even heard that ancient powers are awakening,” Alana said.

“Yep. Just don’t spread that. We don’t know what truly is going on, but will when we need to.”

“Hmm, it means we should push to get to S-rank.”

“I agree. After we are done with this test.”

“Sound good to me. I am personally interested to see how a crestless could fight well enough to have the Lucent Devil’s interest and that of the dragons.”

They watched as several large fruits fell from a palm. Zerine had cut them off after climbing the tree. She was currently sitting at the top of the palm tree, looking out over the island from her vantage point.

***

Zerine surveyed the island. She couldn’t see anything of use. The forest’s canopy was dense even with the strange verity of trees. She sighed and climbed down from the tree, jumping down the meter or two.

Varino opened an eye, then chirped.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Yep, I got some fruit for myself. What do you need for food?”

Chimes.

“I…did not know they put your natural treasure in my bracelet. Don’t you think it’s a bit unfair how you can absorb the energy from a natural treasure, which is like eating while also gaining power?”

Varino tapped her cheek, then shrugged while whistling.

“Again, passive absorption and our way just seems like you can rank up far quicker than us. My kind just has to push their abilities and magical energy further, which is exhausting,” Zerine said. “But did you find a direction to water that isn’t the ocean?”

Varino point towards the hills. Right as she had pointed, a howl echoed through the forest.

“Oh, good, it seems we are about to have company,” Zerine said, drawing her scythes.

Varino jumped to her feet and moved away, creating a space between them. The space would allow them to fight freely.

We have been here literally twenty minutes, Zerine thought, pushing down some anxiety that was bubbling up.

Zerine changed her grip. Her heart was racing now. She glanced towards Varino and saw that the spirit was in a fighting stance, but subtle slight tremors pass through Varino.

Nervous like me, Zerine thought.

“We got this Varino. Me and you together,” Zerine said, giving the spirit what she hoped would be a bright, confident smile.

It worked. Varino smiled back, sparks appearing in her hands, her magic ready.

A bush nearby shifted. Both tensed. An odd set of sounds echoed from the forest once again. Zerine’s instincts suddenly shouted an alarm. She jumped back, dodging whatever was coming her way. A spike of…was that bone? Flew past, piercing straight through a tree, sending splinters in every direction.

What…Oh shit! Zerine thought, her scythe vanishing to be replaced with her bow and a handful of arrows.

“Varino, whatever is coming through the bush is yours. I'll handle this new…alright what the actual fuck is that?” she wondered, half complaining.

Zerine knew immediately what she was looking at was not a natural creature. The…thing had arms and legs of an amphibian, webbed fingers, toes, and all. An unnaturally long torso had spikes of bone sticking out of it. One spike was slowly regrowing. The entire monster’s body glistened from excreted oils. One enormous red eye was in the dead center on a squid-like head with tentacles dangling down the monster’s face. All eight tendrils moved independently as it eyed her.

Zerine had been prepared to see abominations that were monsters, but the unnatural sight brought with it a sense of wrongness with it. This feeling was unnerving, but she didn’t let it get to her. Luckily for her, the emotion coupled with her instincts screaming danger just made her want to kill the thing quickly.

An arrow was already nocked and drawn back as soon as the thing had come into sight. She concentrated, willing the mana around the arrowhead to obey. She loosed the arrow right as another bone spike was shot her way, which she dodged.

A blast of air buffed her from Varino’s fight, but she didn’t dare take her gaze off the monster, which proved to be wise. The monster avoided her arrow, leaping three meters into the air. Zerine smiled as the embed willpower in the arrow triggered and the arrow flew after the monster. To her delight, the monster couldn’t avoid her arrow while in the air, which meant it didn’t have wind affinity. An ear-piercing shriek escaped it when her arrow slammed into the back of its neck.

Zerine frowned. She had been expecting that strike to have ended the fight. The monster must have thick skin, or her shot should have pierced straight through. Her arrow did manage to throw off the monster, at least. It fell to the sand with a loud thunk, then stumbled to its feet. Zerine was already drawing her second arrow. A crack of thunder made her and the monster flinch.

She swore as her concentration broke, messing up the ambient magic technique she had been working on. She loosed her arrow anyway, only for the monster to slash, breaking the arrow into pieces.

There was another crack of thunder, followed by an annoyed chime from Varino. Zerine didn’t look though, as she was distracted by the monster leaping at her, launching itself like a rocket. Its powerful legs allowed it to cover the distance between them rapidly.

Zerine charged, then slide drawing a scythe as she did. The monster flew just over her. She swung upwards and felt the scythes tip penetrate the monster’s flesh. The monster’s momentum carried it over Zerine, doing the work for her. The blade cut deeply straight down the monster’s long torso as it flew over her. Blood poured over her, but she didn't have time to think.

The monster shrieked again. Zerine turned quickly and had to fight down bile. She had disemboweled the monster. Entrails stretched out behind its body. The monster was laying face down on sand that was rapidly turning red from its blood. It tried to move, clawing with its webbed fingers at the sand, but soon went still.

A blinding light filled Zerine sight as a louder crack of thunder shock the air.

***

Varino was startled by Zerine’s exclamation to something behind her, but right then, a large dog-like creature burst from the bushes. Two pairs of eyes locked on to her. The creature had two heads and skin that was made out of cracked sandstone. Three tails whipped behind it as it crouch getting ready to pounce. It barred its razor-sharp teeth at her.

Vario blasted back on a current of air like mom had taught, avoiding the first the strike as the creature pounced where she had been moments ago.

“Gain distance against those that try to get in close. Your strength is in your speed and magic sweetie,” Ava had said when Varino had struggled against a dummy that used its size and strength to overwhelm her.

She had taken all of Mom’s lessons to heart, especially after the attack. Varino didn’t want to see her family hurt like that again, and this thing was going to try to kill one of them.

An angry trilling note escaped her as she cast her lightning bolt. Deep blue lightning thundered out, blasting a tree apart and just missing the creature who had dodged by shifting the ground under its feet.

Ah…whoops, she thought as a tree exploded into splinters, creating a gust of wind form the explosion.

The creature didn’t give her time to attack again. It shot drill-like bullets made from stone at her. Varino dodged and weaved, the air itself aiding her movement. Blasts from the bullets impacts left small craters in the sand, while sending more sand flying into the air. She made sure that Zerine wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire as moved to keep them at a distance from one another.

More bullets flew at her, but this time, she was ready. With an annoyed chime, she made the wind whirl around her. Several bullets were redirected away from her while two were caught in her winds, then spun around her before being sent straight back to the dog-like creature.

Of course, it didn’t work. She hadn’t expected it to hit the thing, but what it did was make the creature lose focus as it had to dispel its own magic. This gave her more time to attack, which she did with gusto. Another bolt of lightning flared out from her hands. This time, her attack grazed the dog…thing. Her lightning tore out a gash, sending bits of stone flesh flying.

Oddly, the creature didn’t make a sound but bared its teeth and attacked. The ground under Varino’s feet began to pull her down. Varino chimed, annoyed. She didn’t enjoy using too much mana during a fight, and flying did just that. She rose into the air, staying a just above the ground, but had to rise rapidly, as energy shifted underneath her.

She had moved just in time. Spike erupted from the sand where she had just been floating. Varino’s gaze narrowed. She was done playing around. A tiny dark cloud formed in the sky above their fight. A blinding flash of lightning light the area. Her attack had happened so quickly that the creature didn’t react in time. It exploded into shards of stone, instantly being annihilated.

She drifted to the sand and look towards Zerine’s fight.

“Too much blood!” she chimed, running to Zerine, worried.

***

Zerine turned when she heard a worried chime from Varino.

“Blood!?” she said confused, then looked at herself. She was completely covered in it.

“It’s not mine…I think,” she said.

Varino burbled something about her checking. She landed on Zerine’s shoulder. The spirit placed a hand on her neck and a tingling sensation flowed through her. Varino let out a relieved whistle, then patted Zerine's cheek with a bright chime.

“Told you I was fine, but I need to clean myself off or this might attract some other things,” Zerine said, walking towards the ocean.

Varino peeped and snapped her fingers. Water covered them, then whirled. In an instant, they were cleaned off.

“Thanks,” Zerine said as a cone of wind replaced the water, drying her off.

Varino chirped proudly.

“Yes, you did great. But that reminds me, have you made certain to mask your elemental nature? It would attract things if you don’t do that,” Zerine commented.

Varino tsked and flapped a hand at her. But Zerine was fairly certain she felt the mana around them shift slightly.

“Right, now that we got one fight down, let’s go toward the freshwater source. I think we may have to spend the night in a temporary camp,” Zerine said.

She was looking at the sun, which was angled slighting, so it was some time after midday. The island was probably a multi-day walk from end to end in any direction. This meant the hills were probably a day’s walk away.

Varino shrugged, but pointed roughly towards where the hills were. Zerine switched her weapons around as they headed into the forest. She kept a scythe out and her bow and quiver on her back. They carefully crept through the forest, avoiding fights when they could. But they still found themselves getting into several quick fights.

The most annoying fight was against several Bone Bats, which were aptly named. They were bat-like monsters that had an exoskeleton, while their wings were made from shadows. They flitted in and out of the shadows of the forest, making fighting three of them a chore. But eventually they killed two and the last one fled. During the fight, Zerine had several more arrows get destroyed.

The on and off again skirmishes made their progress towards the hills slow. Soon they had been forced to make camp before the Sun was fully set. They probably could have made camp earlier, but Zerine didn’t like the spots till they found a large tree. There was a sense of nature magic to the place, which felt pleasant to Zerine’s senses. So, they set up came near the tree. Once that was set, Zerine began looking over her weapons and gear.

Varino whistled happily as she explored the area around the camp. She even climbed up the tree.

Meanwhile, Zerine was working on crafting new arrows to replace the ones that had been broken. The arrows wouldn’t be able to compete with Gary’s craftsmanship, but they would have to do. It annoyed the hell out of her that some had broken their first day. But they did the job she needed them to do. She was checking her work when Varino’s excited peeps made Zerine look.

Varino skipped to her with...

Is that...no...really what are the odds to find one of those here, Zerine thought, failing to hold back a smile.

Varino was holding a sparkling and glowing fist sized…spider. A Runic Spider, to be precise. A creature that was known for their intelligence and power. This…this was not that. Most likely, it was a few years old and wasn’t much stronger than an E-rank. Zerine guessed of all that purely based on its size.

Varino held the spider up and whistled.

The spider made a high pitch squeak and clicking sound.

"Are you really sure?" Zerine wondered looking at Varino.

The spirits shinning silver and blue eye brightened as she nodded.

Zerine focused on her instincts. What she felt from the spider was curiosity and relief. After a long day of fighting and always being on edge meant she was ready to about fall asleep. If she could fall asleep in the first place. They had set up defensive arrays, but she knew it would be a rough night. So, without think any further she just followed her instincts.

“I’m honestly too tired to think clearly right now. But as long as you two behave and we work together, welcome to our group,” Zerine said, covering a yawn.

And so, their team of two suddenly had an additional member.

How am I going to explain any of this to those watching? Zerine thought sheepishly.