"You've been training for five years, little one, and I’m proud of you. Are you confident in your skills?" my father asked with a stern look on his face.

"Yes, sir," I replied. "But I must say, there’s always more to learn."

"That’s good, that’s good," he said, patting my head. "Most adventurers overestimate their abilities and end up either injured or worse because they become too confident and stop training. Hearing you say that, I have nothing to worry about."

"We’ve all taught you everything we know, and now it’s time to put those skills to the test. I have a mission for you."

I tried my best to contain my excitement, but it must have been written all over my face.

"Go ahead, shout, cheer—I can see it on your face," he said with a chuckle.

Unable to hold back any longer, I raised my fist and exclaimed, "Yes! I get to have some fun!"

He laughed. "Your mission is to hunt down ten beasts in the Misty Forest."

"Any beast?" I asked.

"That’s right—any."

A bit of nervousness crept in. "Are they strong?"

"You’ll find out when you get there. But you should know, they’ve been causing trouble for travelers and merchants. This is a task I took just for you from the Adventurers' Guild."

"Not only do you have to handle the beast, but you must also be aware of other adventurers. And I’m sure you know what that means," he said, his tone growing serious.

"I do, Papa. The humans from the Hero Kingdom might be there."

"That’s right—and others too. You’ll quickly learn that not everyone is your friend. You have two weeks to prepare."

Before I could respond, his voice softened. "Be safe, Luna. I love you."

"I love you too, Papa," I said, running over to give him a hug.

As I left, I started organizing my thoughts. I had two weeks to prepare. After years of training in magic, assassination, swordsmanship, and alchemy. I felt confident that I was ready for this mission. I headed to the armory, where I had some custom gear crafted based on designs I drew up during my studies in the library.

My father introduced me to one of the smiths who worked for him, crafting armor and weapons for the royal knights. When I showed him my designs, he was ecstatic—he’d never seen anything like them before. Like other creatures, I had shed my baby scales as I grew, and I had the idea to use those scales for my armor. I wanted something light and form-fitting, so it wouldn’t get caught on anything or hinder my movements.

I designed high-waisted leather pants, snug and secure, with two garter belts on each leg to hold my daggers with boots that tie up to my calves. My shirt was made of cloth with open shoulders and slits along the sides of my ribs, covered with leather for protection. The cloth was chosen to ensure I could move swiftly, prioritizing agility over heavy protection. For the final touch, I had a hooded cloak lined with my scales, the silk cape extending to my waist to conceal the twin short swords I would carry on my lower back.

I was particularly proud of the swords I designed, which I named Tooth and Nail. They were the final pieces of my gear. I enchanted my gear with runes of protection just in case of a unknown attack. With my preparations nearly complete, I was ready to head into the city to gather more information from the Adventurers' Guild.

I needed to know what types of beasts roamed the Misty Forest, the typical party size for venturing there, and if I might need to recruit comrades for the journey. Though I planned to do most of the work myself, I wanted to be prepared.

As I dressed for the trip, with Thing 1 and Thing 2 by my side, I used light magic to change our appearance. I was thankful Aunty Azalea had given me the Light and Void book to study. I had advanced my magic enough to create illusions and use spatial storage. The thought of controlling time still lingered in my mind, but I wasn’t ready to risk destroying a universe just yet. That could wait for later.

"Alright, hold on, you two," I said.

"Yes, Princess," they replied in unison.

With a thought of the location, from my time sneaking off at night once I learn teleportation. I teleported us to a back alley near the Adventurers' Guild. I glanced over us, ensuring the illusion magic had taken effect.

"Alright, my two trustees, let's go," I said, leading the way. But first, I had to stop by my favorite stall that sold juicy crunch fruits. I grabbed some for all of us, along with some delicious meat on a stick.

"Princess, remember we're supposed to be headed to the Adventurers' Guild," Liora said as she munch on the fruit.

I sighed. "Fine, fine. I know what I’m supposed to do, but food always comes first. I'm a growing dragon; you can’t blame me."

As we entered the adventure guild, an adorable, green-skinned, freckled goblin greeted us. At first, I thought goblins were creatures we had to hunt, but I’ve since learned that they’re actually quite intelligent and hardworking. However, there are still primitive goblins that live in tribes and hunt in groups, so there's a big difference between them.

"Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild! My name is Tanyai, If you've already registered, you can head to the counter. If not, I can register you right now," the goblin said, smiling.

"Hi, my name is Lun—umm, Bunny," I replied.

"Welcome, Bunny! Such a cute name for such a cute girl!" she said.

"Thank you," I replied, Thing 1 and Thing 2—snickered at the name I chose. I couldn’t blame them.

"So, how can I assist you?" the goblin asked.

"Well, I'd like some information about the Misty Forest and the beasts there," I said.

"I'd be more than happy to help with that! We have a map log that shows where missions are held and what kinds of beasts are frequently seen."

"That’s amazing!" I said. "Lead the way."

She took us to a room filled with records, pulling out a green crystal and placing it into a projector-like structure. A visible screen appeared, displaying the locations, beasts, and party recommendations.

"So, it’s best to go with a group of three?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes, the more, the better. Some adventurers try to take missions solo, but the results are often... not great."

I noticed a letter "E" in the corner of the map and asked, "What does that stand for?"

"Oh, that’s the mission rank. E, Rank F and E adventurers usually take these missions in this area," she explained.

"Aha, so that’s why they recommend groups of three—for beginners," I mumbled to myself. "Thank you for the information."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Anytime! Are you three merchants, by chance? We often have merchants checking maps to plan their travels and avoid trouble."

"Yes, yes, we are merchants," I quickly replied.

"Well, I wish you a safe trip!" she said with a slight bow.

"Thank you," I said, bowing in return. As we left, Thing 1 and Thing 2 burst into laughter.

"So, Bunny, are we going home now?" Sylara teased.

"You two quit it, or I’ll turn you into bunnies!" I snapped, though they only giggled again before quieting down.

"Let’s head back to the alley and teleport home."

The next day, I decided to ask my father if I could leave early instead of waiting two weeks. I wanted more time to gather information and explore. He gave me permission but warned me to teleport back immediately if I got into any trouble.

I was about to tell my mother about the mission, but my father stopped me. "Go now," he warned. "Your mother is upset about your mission I've given you. If she sees you, she may cast a locking spell to prevent you from leaving."

Taking his advice, I left a letter for my mother instead and began preparing for my journey. I packed extra daggers, food, clothes, and a tent in my spacious storage, just in case. I didn’t know how long I’d be out, so I had to be ready for anything.

After one last look in the mirror, I teleported to the city entrance, where the road led eastward. I pulled out my notebook and summoned a copy of the map the guild assistant had shown me, I bound a copy to my book with light magic.

"Alright, east it is. Should I fly or run?" I mused aloud. "I could use some fresh air. Let’s run."

I crouched, then took off like a rocket. Before I knew it, I was at the forest entrance, the kingdom already far behind. "Did I really run that fast?" I shrugged and pulled my cloak over my head. Even though I was proficient in illusion magic, I didn’t want to take any chances.

As soon as I entered the forest, something bounced onto the road. "You’ve got to be kidding me—a slime? The most cliché of all monsters."

"Why are you always talking behind my back, Ms. Luna?" Silvia’s voice echoed in my mind.

I chuckled. "Sorry, Silvia. In my previous world, games usually started like this."

"I know. Those games were made by people who don’t realize they’re recalling their past lives when they slay slimes."

"So, you’re saying people get glimpses of their past lives?"

"They sure do. Ever heard of déjà vu?"

"Ah, so those are true memories. Is this my third or fourth life, maybe?"

"I can’t say for certain. Different gods rule different domains, but I can tell you this is your first time in mine."

"I see," I said, continuing to enjoy our conversation as I roamed through the trees. Before long, it began to grow dark, and I hadn’t spotted any beasts, so I decided to set up camp. I sent out a pulse of mana to check if anyone was nearby.

"Clear," I muttered, levitating dry wood to start a fire. I set up my tent, which, much like in Harry Potter, was small on the outside but had a full bedroom inside.

After entering my tent, I reviewed the map and sent out another mana wave to check for beast—still nothing. Confident it was safe, I cast a protective barrier around my camp, along with an illusion spell to render me invisible to anyone passing by.

I started to roast some fish over the fire, that I took out my storage. "That smells good. I wish you were here, Silvia," I thought aloud.

"Soon, Luna, real soon. I’m going to rest now to conserve your mana. Good luck on your trial—I know you’ll do well."

"Thank you, Silvia. I hope you sleep well."

"I’ll rest, but I’ll sleep better once you’re here," she teased before our communication was cut off.

Blushing, I enjoyed my meal and drank some berry-lemon juice. It was delicious. I was just removing my boots when I sensed someone moving quickly toward me. I sent out my mana again and saw that the one being chased was a catkin, pursued by three humans.

I sat back down, debating whether to intervene. I started to scratch my head in frustration, fine. I’ll help." I sent my voice out to the catkin. "Head north, toward me."

"Who is this?" she asked, startled.

"Just do what I say, or those three will catch you."

"Fine, fine," she replied, leaping into the trees and heading north.

When I saw her above, I jumped up and pulled her into my barrier.

"Where is she?" one of the men shouted.

"I think she went this way," another replied.

"Find her! She’ll make us a pretty penny."

I covered the catkin’s mouth, gesturing for her to stay quiet as the humans moved further away.

Once they were gone, she whispered, "Thank you, thank you so much!" and jumped to hug me.

"You're welcome," I said, pushing her off. She sniffed the air, her eyes widening.

"Is that... fish?" she asked, her face lighting up with excitement.

I couldn’t help but scratch her fluffy head. "You want some?" She nodded eagerly, and I handed her a stick of fish.

"Take your time," I said, watching her devour it with bliss on her face.

This was heaven—I was finally petting a catkin. The fluffiness was addicting.

"This is my favorite—rainbow trout," she said between bites.

I pulled out some juice from my storage for her. "Here, have a drink."

She accepted it gratefully.

So whats your name, and I patted her head once more,

Its Naia,

Well my name is Bunny,

She giggle such a cute name.

Thank you, as I smiled.

"So, what was that all about?" I asked.

"Those punks are mercenaries from the Hero Kingdom. I was on a mission when they caught me off guard. You’ve heard about the slavery there, right? My kind sells for a high price," she said bitterly.

"I’m sorry to hear that."

"Don’t be. It’s my fault for being weak."

"Stop," I said firmly. "You’re not weak. I saw how you moved between the trees—that takes skill. So, is it fear of them or fear of killing that’s holding you back?"

Her eyes widened in surprise. "If I kill them, it’ll only cause more problems."

"Then why are you out here alone?" I asked.

She sighed. "I wanted the reward for the mission all to myself. I need it," she said, looking down at the flames as a tear rolled down her cheek.

I didn’t push any further. "Well, you can stay with me for the night. I’ll make sure you’re safe."

"You know, meeting like this might be the work of fate."

"Tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

I looked at her, curiosity piqued.

Naia sighed. "Our beast tribe is always under attack by those filthy humans. They overwhelm us with their numbers, taking men, women, and sometimes even children. They killed my father," her voice cracked, "and they took my mother into slavery." As she finished her meal, tears began to fall. "They said if I want to see her again, I can buy her back. So I'm trying—really trying. She's the only family I have left. I need to get her out before she's sold."

"How long do you have?" I asked softly.

"They said she'll be held for another week, then they'll auction her." She sniffled and wiped her tears. "One hundred gold… that's how much I need."

My fists clenched as anger flared inside me. I could feel the heat rising, threatening to burst out.

"Luna, please calm down," Silvia’s soothing voice echoed in my mind. "You could hurt her or destroy the entire forest."

Taking a deep breath, I unclenched my fists. "Thank you, Silvia."

"You never have to thank me, my love," she replied warmly.

"How did you know I was angry?

Remember, we're connected. When you're angry, I feel it. And what I felt was… destruction."

"I understand," I whispered. "Goodnight, Silvia."

"You too, my little Luna."

Turning back to Naia, I smiled. "How about this: I'll help you with your mission, and you can keep the reward."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "You’d do that for me? Wait, that’s not fair. If you help me, you deserve half—"

Before she could finish, I took her hand. "Family is important. You need to save her. Keep it. I'll help, okay?"

Naia nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Okay."

"So, what's your mission?" I asked, curious.

"I have to kill ten Direbears…" she said hesitantly.

"I raised an eyebrow. "Are they hard to kill?"

She nodded. "Usually, it takes a team of three to take one down."

"And you were planning to do this alone?" I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

"I know it sounds stupid, but I can handle it," she said, flexing her arm to show a small muscle. I laughed again, amused by her determination.

"So, how much gold do you get from this mission?"

"I get ten gold for gathering materials, but I can earn an extra five for each Direbear if I bring back their fur undamaged."

I thought for a moment. "So, that’s 60 gold—10 for completing the mission and 50 for bringing back the fur without much damage."

"Yeah," Naia agreed, "but it’s really hard to do. Their skin is thick, and they take a lot of damage before going down."

"What if we hunt more than ten?" I asked.

"Hmm, I don't know, but they’d never turn down extra," she said, her ears perking up.

"Good," I said with a grin. "Let’s aim for fifteen."

"Fifteen? Are you sure?"

"Of course," I said, patting her shoulder.

Naia glanced at my gear, tilting her head. "I noticed your equipment… Are you an assassin class? That’s going to be rough without a front guard. We’ll be out here for a while, won’t we?"

I chuckled. "Trust me, we’ll get it done in one or two days."

She blinked in surprise. "Are you serious?"

I nodded, "Now, let’s get some rest.

I’ll take the first watch, and you can take the second." as she took her post.

"What are you talking about?" "Nobody can see us. There’s a protective barrier around us with invisability."

Naia’s mouth dropped open in shock. "What are you? Some type of princess? You know how much money it costs for a protection charm like that!"

"Come on, let's go inside and get some rest," I said, ignoring her question. She insisted on sleeping outside, claiming there wasn’t enough room in the tent, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.

When she entered, her eyes widened as she looked around. "Who are you?" she asked, a mix of awe and suspicion in her voice.

Sighing, I knew I couldn’t keep hiding the truth. "I guess I can be honest since you told me your life story." I removed my illusion, revealing my true form. "I am the first princess of the Zalrithia Kingdom, Lunara Vel Skyldris."

Her eyes went wide, and she pointed at me, stuttering. "Y-you're a dragon… and a princess?"

I nodded, already knowing what would happen next. Before she could react, I dashed to her side, catching her just as she fainted. Shaking my head, I chuckled. "Papa was right. This is funny."

I gently laid her on the bed, covering her with a blanket before sitting by the fire, my thoughts drifting toward the journey ahead.