A familiar jet-black ponytail bobbed back and forth as they walked through the gateway to the Gaian Forest Grove. Beside her was a woman who wore the habit of a priestess, her long blond hair swishing along with the breeze.
“So, what are you betting this time?” The dark-haired woman asked with a mischievous giggle.
The blond woman pouted. “Must we do this every time, Violet?”
Violet laughed. “Come on! Melody has been so busy with the Grove and Rui that we had hardly any time to do missions, Anna.”
Annabelle grumbled over her friend’s mirth. “Melody has been doing a fine job.”
“She has indeed.” Violet proudly commented. “Too bad her sister is a troublemaker.”
“WAAAH!” A scream came from above, and a large form crashed into the ground.
Violet erected a barrier to protect them from the dust and debris. “Damn, too late to make a bet.”
The large form stood at a fifteen-foot-tall height. “I want to leave the Grove!” A young, feminine voice shouted.
Another tall form rushed forward, and the two forms locked hands together, trying to overpower the other. “And I keep telling you that you need to finish your lessons! There is much to the world that you still don’t understand!”
The dust settled, and the taller form, at eighteen feet, was Melody with an exasperated expression. The other was a small girl inside a larger body made of wood. She controlled it skillfully but was quickly losing in the battle of strength.
“Looks like Rui is throwing another tantrum….” Annabelle sighed.
Rui struggled against Melody’s overpowering strength.
“I… just… want…” Rui’s wood form was pressed down to its knees. “To… see!”
Melody sighed and released her sister.
“Huh?” Rui was confused as she stumbled forward.
“Fine,” Melody stated, looking exhausted.
“W-What? Really!?” Rui exclaimed.
Melody sighed once more. “Yes. I guess I have kept you locked up in the Grove for too long.”
Rui exploded from the wooden form toward Melody and hugged her around her sister’s neck. “Thank you, Melody!”
Melody kindly smiled and returned the hug.
“Aww.” Annabelle gushed.
Melody turned to see her two friends. “Oh, sorry!” She giggled. “I sensed you two were coming here but didn’t know you had arrived already.”
“It’s okay. You seemed a little busy.” Violet laughed.
“Violet! Anna!” Rui let go of Melody and rushed over to greet and hug them.
“Good to see you, Rui.” Annabelle warmly hugged the giant child, already six feet tall after a year.
“Violet! Did you hear! Melody said I can leave the Grove!” Rui proclaimed.
“Yes, I heard. So, where will you go first?” Violet asked.
“I want to go to the city! Maple and the others always brag! I want to see the central plaza! I want to try Sarah’s tea! There are so many things I want to do!” Rui was bouncing from her excitement.
“Lady Melody.” A silver-leafed Spriggan approached the giantess.
“Yes, Syl?” Melody turned to her.
“The meeting with Duke Caldwell is in thirty minutes.” She informed her.
“Ah…” Melody lamented.
“Busy as usual, miss Demi-God?” Violet teased.
“I’ll smite you.” Melody countered, a little annoyed.
Violet laughed.
Rui approached her sister and tugged at her furs with a saddened expression. “We can’t go together?”
A warm smile came to Melody’s face. “I’m sorry I won’t be able to join you right away. We can go to the city together. I promise I will join you as soon as I can.”
Rui pouted. “Okay…”
Melody ruffled her little sister’s emerald hair that had flowers blooming. “Go get your pack. I will get you some spending money.”
“Yay!” Rui ran off to get her things.
Melody turned to her friends. “Um…”
Annabelle giggled. “Of course, we can look after her.”
“Why are you volunteering me?” Violet joked.
“Come on, we all know you love Rui.” Annabelle laughed.
Melody knelt and hugged her friends. “Thank you. I know I have been busy managing the Grove, but I promise I will make time for us to go on an adventure.”
“We know.” Violet and Annabelle returned the hug.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While Rui was busy gathering her things, Melody paid a visit to her mother. Melody placed her hand on Gaia’s trunk while charging a bunch of her nature magic into it.
“Hey, Mom,” Melody spoke to her through nature. “I know it’s only been a little over a year since you have been asleep, and I keep rehashing stuff, but things are going well. Rui is growing up healthy, but honestly, I worry I am not good enough to raise her….” Melody looked down worriedly. “I want to do right by Rui, just like you did for me. We argue from time to time, just like earlier…” Melody thought she might have felt Gaia being disappointed in her, but it was just her imagination. Gaia could not respond, but Melody liked to believe that her mother could at least hear her.
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Melody finished giving Gaia magic and pulled her hand back. “I miss you, Mom. I miss your voice.” She hugged the tree. “I am doing my best to manage the Grove, and Grandpa keeps telling me you would be proud of me. I’m sure he’s right.” Melody giggled. “Oh! Auntie finally started initiating hugs! She is still a bit awkward, but she is doing her best.”
Backing away, she let her hand linger on the trunk. “I can’t wait to hear you again. You’ll love Rui. I know it.” A warm smile came to her face. “I love you, Mom.”
After finishing her conversation, Melody turned and headed to meet with the others.
Rui joined the three at the Grove fairy ring a few minutes later. “I’m so excited!”
Melody elegantly laughed. “You will be with Violet and Anna during your time. If you are unsure of anything, ask them for help.”
“I will!” She cheerily answered.
Melody activated the fairy ring and teleported them to her place on the Cambel family property.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Bye, sister! Join us as quick as you can!” Rui waved at Melody as she headed off with Violet and Annabelle.
Melody put on a smile while seeing Rui off.
Lady Cambel giggled. “I will keep the meeting moving so you can join them as soon as possible.”
Melody smiled down at Violet’s mother. “Thank you. Ready to go?”
The woman nodded. “Might I request the usual?”
Melody sighed. “You might be worse than your daughter.”
Lady Cambel giggled once more. “Well, you are far more comfortable than a carriage.”
Melody shared a laugh with the noblewoman and picked her up, carrying Lady Cambel in the crook of her arm.
“Let’s be on our way. I hope the duke will keep his long-windedness down this time.” Melody commented as she began their trek to the duke’s residence.
“As I said, I will keep him in line.”
The two giggled as they headed off.
“Oh! The Crimson Goddess!” “It’s the Grove Mother!” “Queen Melody!” “Gods, she is beautiful!” “We love you, Lady Melody!” “Thank you for your help during the winter!”
“Hahah! Looks like the countess is at it again!” “Really? I’m sure anyone would love to be carried by the goddess.” “Come on! Let me have my fun!”
The various people of Hallfen made their comments and declarations as Melody walked toward the Hallfen fortress.
“I have to agree with that one comment. Your assistance with this last winter was appreciated.” Lady Cambel commented.
“Illness always becomes common during the winter. I planned ahead just in case.” Melody replied.
“Knowledge from your past?” Lady Cambel asked.
Melody nodded.
After Melody met her brother, the crown prince of the empire they were in, she decided to tell a few more people about her past life. Annabelle and Violet joined in on the confession as well. The only people who knew the truth were the duke, Violet’s parents, and the church’s high priest. The main reason why the high priest was brought in was because he was Annabelle’s grandfather.
Annabelle’s parents disappeared years ago when they went off to fight against a plague when she was four. Since then, her grandfather took her in and raised her with all the love and care he could give.
The group was surprised to hear of the existence of another world, but they were thankful for much of the knowledge that Annabelle and Violet could provide. Thanks to the two of them, the duke partnered with Lady Cambel to start a new technology business.
Violet had been working on bringing technology like advanced transportation like trains, cars, and planes. Flight would likely take some time to work out the cost-to-function ratio, but they were making some headway in vehicles.
Annabelle had considerable knowledge of medicine and medical techniques. Her grandfather backed her ideas and moved to create advanced treatments. Thanks to Melody providing a significant number of medical materials, they were able to fight off what could have become a plague in Hallfen.
Melody arrived at the new meeting area the duke had built. It was a large gazebo with a raised table where the nobles sat while Melody sat in her seat to the side.
“Lady Melody! So good to see you.” Marquis Gale smiled.
“Good to see you, Marquis. It has been six months.” Melody replied.
“Yes, I have been busy in the capital working out the trade agreements between our nations. Though I have to say, your representative is surprisingly tough.” He chuckled.
The representative the Marquis spoke of was a Fairy Queen named Pine, and she was Maple’s mother, who was sitting at the table. Pine’s body was about twice the size of Maple, around the size of a teenager beginning puberty.
“You were much the challenge yourself, Marquis.” Pine elegantly giggled while enjoying her sweetened tea.
“So, how are things in the nation?” Melody asked as she sat down.
“Mostly peaceful, but there have been rumors of a plague occurring in a domain to the southwest.” The duke answered.
“Should we not do something?” Melody asked.
The duke shook his head. “We have yet to hear back from them. I dispatched a messenger there two days ago.”
“We’re using the working car prototype.” Lady Cambel added. “Since it is not up to the standard of your world’s vehicles, they will take a few days to get there.”
“I hope they are well. Do we have the medicine ready?” Melody asked.
“We already notified the High Priest of the possibility a week ago. They should have things at the ready.” The Marquis piped in.
“Could you show me where it is on a map?” Melody asked.
The duke called for a map to be brought.
As they waited, they continued with some small talk.
“So, Melody, how is your sister?” The duke asked.
Her expression brightened. “Rui is currently touring the city.”
“Which is why we should not let this meeting go for too long.” Lady Cambel giggled.
“Oh? Ever the… what was the term? Sister Complex?” The duke teased.
Melody’s smiling face stiffened in annoyance. “Caring about one’s family should not be seen as a ‘complex.’”
“Really? I guess doting on your family runs in your-.”
Melody cut him off. “My dear duke.”
He stiffened at the change in her voice and expression darkening.
“Must I punish you again?” Melody’s smile sent a shiver down the spine of the duke and Marquis.
The punishment Melody spoke of was when the duke teased her too far. The guild master had mentioned his ‘royal wedding’ joke and for the duke to avoid making it. Sadly, the duke did not heed the warning and pushed the giantess too far.
“Uh, Melody, I’m sorry… Please don’t do it again… My wife will kill me….” The duke shrunk two sizes.
Lady Cambel laughed un-noble-like, nearly falling out of her chair. “HAH! HAHAHAHAHAH! I REMEMBER THAT!”
“Can you not laugh so hard…” The duke grumbled while looking embarrassed.
“Yes, Catherine would be furious with you if you lost your… energy for two more weeks.” Marquis Gale teased.
Yes. Melody showed the duke how she got her nickname. Her evolution to a Daughter of Artemis significantly improved many of her skills.
Daughter of Artemis (Daughter of Gaia): Name: Melody. Age: 20. Level: 11. Danger Level: Death.
A Daughter of Artemis, an apex evolution. Daughters of Artemis are powerful hunters and touched by divine power. Their life spans are nearly triple that of humans, living for hundreds of years and growing to a maximum of eighteen to twenty feet. This giant is highly intelligent. A master of survival, hunting, trapping, stealth, and archery. All archery and hunting skills are beyond the maximum. Can use high-level nature magic. Has received the blessing of a Daughter of Lyuten (Gaia), which greatly boosts magic and nature abilities.
Health: 19500. Stamina: 25200. Magic: 36420.
Strength: 1840. Endurance: 2130. Dexterity: 1680.
Intelligence: 1410. Wisdom: 1780. Charisma: 19460.
Skills: Abnormal Condition Immunity (10). Physical Boost (10). Nature Magic (10+). Magic Boost (10). Stealth (10+). Survival (10+). Identify (10). Archery (10+). Dismantle (10+). Consume (10). Stampede (10). Tracking (10+). Magic Manipulation (10). Cooking (10). Acrobatics (10+). Construction (10). Forester (10+). Housework (10). Dig (10). Animal Handling (10+). Shadow Pounce (10). Terror Howl (9). Taming (8). Magic Sense (8). Charm (8). Seduction (8). Wind Magic (7). Water Magic (7). Fire Magic (5). Divinity (1)
After Melody had evolved into a Daughter of Artemis, she had to spend nearly a month in seclusion to properly suppress her upgraded charm and charisma. She evolved shortly after defeating the three golems and those of the aristocratic party.
“Is my husband being a fool again?” The Duchess arrived at the meeting along with a servant bringing a map.
Melody giggled. “Good to see you, Lady Catherine.”
“Here is the map, my lord.” The servant laid the map out.
Melody took a look as the Marquis pointed out the location. “Ah, I know of a Grand Uncle of mine that has a Grove near there. I will speak with my grandfather to establish a fairy ring.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan. We will keep you informed if we need your assistance.” Marquis Gale answered.
“Best be on your way, Melody. I am sure Rui is missing you.” Lady Cambel stated.
Melody smiled, stood, and remembered a question plaguing her mind since she first met the Marquis. “Uh, Marquis, do you have any relation to Samantha Gale?”
The Marquis chuckled. “Sammy? Yes. She is my sixth younger sister. I was the only boy in my family with eight sisters.”
“Oh. Why does she work at the guild, then?”
Lady Cambel giggled. “Sammy is the vice guild master. She just doesn’t like announcing her position. She hates formalities.”
“Yes… Yes, she does…” The Marquis sighed.
Melody giggled and said her farewells, heading to the city proper to find her friends and sister.