I regained my ability to move around the next week. While my arms and legs were covered in twisted scabs and scars, they were healing so fast that I could watch them disappear. In this way, I estimated they would be gone, too, within the next couple of days.

I also realized how my appearance had changed. There were small pools of freshwater in the cave, and one day, I realized that my ears had grown pointed. I thought it was just the ripples of the water playing tricks on my eyes, but when I felt them, I realized that they had indeed grown slimmer and formed points at the tip. I also realized that my canined had grown longer, and formed sharp points. My skin was paler, and my pupils were slightly slitted. My hair had also grown long enough to reach my waist. And when I washed myself at night, I also had small patches of scales that ran down my spine. I could do nothing about it. I tried to pull away the scales, but they simply grow back every morning. I would take a deep breath and try to cut off the tips of my ears, but when my ears grew back, they would always form the characteristic point. I pulled at my teeth, and they didn’t even need a night to grow back. The tooth was back where it should have been within the hour. Eventually, I gave up.

The Medusa went out to hunt every morning. Whenever she came back, she usually brought with her nothing smaller than an adult deer. She was very skilled in the culinary arts as well. Under her hands, a bleeding piece of raw venison became an aromatic, tender, near-golden, sizzling cut of venison steak.

While I tried to not grow attached to the life here, I couldn't help myself. The Medusa was a kind, gentle being. I was able to heal in peace here. However, I was not able to find a sense of home here. Where was home? I had none. I was an orphan; my teacher had taken me under his wing and taught me. And I had killed nearly all of his disciples. I certainly could not return to him. I thought I had brothers and sisters. They turned out to be nothing more than traitorous, backstabbing, strangers.

Eventually, I grew more and more restless. I decided that when my body fully healed, I decided to leave.

“I believe that I should leave.” I suddenly said to her one day as we were eating. We rarely spoke to one another.

The Medusa looked at me for a moment, and then nodded. “Whenever you like.”

I nodded, finished my food, and stepped over to the cavern that she had allowed me to stay in for the while I was healing. There was nothing to wash - the Medusa’s cooking supplies were enchanted to clean themselves. Even the brooms and the mops cleaned by themselves.

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I went over to my cot, and reached under it. I picked up the sword that I had used for five years, broken in half during my battle with the other disciples, and tied it to my waist. I paused, thinking about what else to take.

I then realized…I had nothing else. There was nothing that I had left. Just a broken sword. An overwhelming feeling of loneliness surged up within me. A warm drop of something slid its way down my cheek.

Wiping it away, I turned to exit the cavern. To my surprise, the Medusa was standing there quietly with a heavy coat and a bag.

The Medusa held them out to me.

“It’s alright. It’s only autumn right now. There’s no need.” I declined.

The Medusa shook her head. “Take them. They were only here collecting dust anyway - it’s always late spring in this forest.”

I slowly took the coat and bag. The bag was heavy, evidently filled to the brim with supplies.

Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up over the loneliness. Something warm, and pleasant in my chest made my face slowly break into a small smile.

“Thank you.”

The Medusa stepped aside and walked with me to the exit to the cave system.

When we reached the exit, I turned towards her.

I bowed deeply. “Thank you very much for your hospitality. I will repay you one day. If you ever need any help, only send for Mist Ji, a wandering swordsman.”

The Medusa nodded. “Safe travels.”

I turned and began to walk off into the dark forest. Suddenly, I stopped. I realized that…I had never asked for my savior’s name.

I looked back hurriedly at the entrance to the caverns. She was just starting to walk back.

“Miss! Wait! Miss!...” I shouted.

The Medusa turned around, confused.

“Miss! What’s your name?”

The Medusa smiled. The evening sun off in the west fell across her face and dyed it a holy golden color, accentuating her pale complexion and dark hair. She was so beautiful at that moment that it seemed that all the flowers in the world were blooming at the same time.

“Jade.” She then nodded slightly in my direction before walking back into her caverns.

Silently, I repeated her name over and over in my head. “I will repay you one day.” I bowed in her direction again.

This time, I turned, and I did not look back. First order of business…was to fix my sword. What was a wandering swordsman without his sword?