Misen awoke on her inn room’s bed. “I miss them.” She sighed. She grabbed her stuff then left the room and returned the key. The feeling of missing her friends only grew stronger, due to the similarities of the recent events that reminded her of them. She gazed upon the morning sky and then the people. She stood in silence for a moment. Misen wished to see her friends once again. She was afraid that the next time she would see them would be at their graves. Although she knew better, that time didn’t work like that, and they all seemed healthy. Her experience in the demon world really fucked with her head.

Her humanity was waning, yet she still cared for those whom she had journeyed with. “Voulin, Frey, and Raffie.” She spoke their names aloud softly. She sighed, and then she left the inn’s premises. She wandered around town and went to look at a map. She looked for the best way to get back to her continent. She went to the edge of town and her destination of a nearby port was set. She began her walk to the port. It wouldn’t take long if she was sprinting at full speed but she had alcohol on her that she didn’t want to ruin.

She ran at a fast pace that was faster than a normal human, around the speed of a horse. She was going to keep that pace up until she made it to her destination. Amid her walk, she suddenly found herself surrounded except the front by equally as fast warriors. They were matching her pace to surround her.

The ones on her left and right began to chant spells. Half generated water, while the other half generated lightning. However, Misen to their surprise, simply ran faster to avoid the incoming strikes. They took themselves out of their spells. Although, they did not seem like they died. “That was odd, I wonder what that was about?” She wondered as she kept on running. Before she could gradually slow down, she came to an abrupt stop when a massive man swung a massive polearm down in front of her. The resulting strike created an indent in the ground.

Her sudden stop had been followed by the sound of glass shattering. Her face went sour and she removed the unfortunately ruined alcohol from her bag. The man in front of her simply stood in front of her with his polearm in hand. “Why are you trying to attack me? Are you perhaps a bandit?”

“A bandit? No of course not, I’m a monster hunter and I saw a monster in the form of a swordswoman. I had my men attempt to subdue it, but unfortunately, it seems they failed to even scratch it. It seems I’ll have to kill it myself. The rumors seemed believable, I wondered how popular I’d be when I killed it. Please die, you monster.” The man smiled as he began to wildly fling his massive polearm around.

“That motherfu-, I should’ve killed him back then if I knew he was going to start a rumor as annoying as this.” Misen drew her sword from its sheath. The man with the polearm frankly was just swinging randomly and hoping Misen would get hit when she got close. However, Misen simply waited. He eventually got tired of wildly swinging his polearm. The moment he did Misen walked up to him, and in one fluid motion, she sliced his head off.

“Hey, when did you get so tall? No, when did I get so low to the ground?” He shouted. Misen then stabbed his body and drained its blood. His head had also stopped functioning after she finished draining the blood. She simply sighed as she sheathed her sword once more. She took a small sip of the alcohol and dumped the rest on the man’s body. It was full of glass and the booze was ruined.

She went on with her trip but now she ran quickly because she was no longer trying to be careful with the alcohol. The trip that should’ve taken her 8 hours was completed in only four. She had made it to the port town. The town was nice, but most importantly the ocean was absolutely beautiful from where she was. The view was marvelous. Where there was water there were also boats. And she was going to hitch a ride on one.

Misen made her way to the port town. The walls of the buildings were made of mostly gray stones. The support structure was made of wooden planks. Misen walked through town and immediately went to buy some tequila to replace the alcohol she had lost. She ended up with a large bottle. The bottle had its carry sack with a strap that she put over her shoulder. Once she made it to the dock that had many ships docked. Some were personal boats while others were owned by merchants.

One such merchant was a young adult woman with violet-colored eyes and a ginger-colored braided ponytail. She wore a green tunic. She was aboard the ship that she owned. Their gazes met and a glint appeared in the merchant’s eyes. “My lady, you seem quite strong. You also look like you have somewhere else to be. How about you be my bodyguard during our voyage to Umitana in Kajne? Where are you headed?” The woman spoke with fire, but also with a degree of professionalism.

“I might as well visit home, it’s been a while,” Misen muttered. “I’m headed for Terradei anyways, so might as well take a pit stop in Kajne. I accept your proposal to be your bodyguard. When are you all leaving?” Misen continued.

“Tomorrow morning. Make sure you pack your own food though. Unless you plan on buying some from me.” The merchant woman smiled. Her eyes seemed to reflect money as she spoke.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll purchase my own supplies here in the port,” Misen said.

“Understandable, I’m already getting your service as a bodyguard. Well, my name is Ottie, I’ve been in the merchant world since I was young. Nice to meet ya.” Ottie introduced herself; her eyes were full of vigor and passion.

“I’m Misen, I’m a swordswoman. Nice to meet you.” Misen replied and flashed her sheathed sword. After they introduced themselves they went their separate ways. Misen went to buy some food for the trip. She also ate dinner at a tavern. She had a shrimp dish as her entree and a smooth glass of ale as her drink. After a few bites, she would wash it down with the ale. It was an incredibly satisfying cycle. She had a smile on her face the entire time.

After finishing her satisfying meal she paid. By the time she finished, the sky had become night. It was dark-lit by the moon and the stars. Though it was not dark in the streets. Many lanterns had become lit and the streets had people enjoying the nightlife. Small shops and stalls had opened for the night crowd to enjoy. One such shop allured Misen with a scent she knows and loves. She quickly made her way over to the shop. Alcohol bottles lined the walls. The owner was a middle-aged man with blond hair and green eyes.

Misen stared starry-eyed at the beautiful bottles. She was still carrying around the big bottle of tequila with her. However, that was for returning home and drinking with friends. It’s a souvenir from another continent after all. Misen ordered a margarita cocktail to start. It was incredible, so incredible that she instantly finished it and forgot to sip. Misen drank more and more and more, different types of alcohol. She drank so much that her body couldn’t stay awake and she passed out on the counter. The owner let it slide since she paid so much for her drinks.

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Misen awoke all dazed to the sound of the owner cleaning up his shop. “Morning, valued customer. I hope you slept well and I look forward to seeing you again.” The owner said with a smile. When Misen got up a blanket began to fall to the floor. However, Misen caught it before it could reach the floor. “My daughter Lori put it on you while you were asleep. She’s young but already has a good head on her shoulders.” “She’s like her mother in that regard.” The owner showed a bittersweet smile.

“Thanks for the booze and tell your daughter thanks for the blanket.” Misen left with her stuff and a smile. She walked over to the dock where she was supposed to meet Ottie. Waiting for her was a ginger color haired violet-eyed woman.

“You sure took your time,” Ottie said, peeved. Misen had been a little late thanks to her passing out from drinking so much.

“I drank too much at one of the vendors that’s only open at night.” Misen chuckled, not taking it seriously. Which received a sigh from Ottie. Misen was invited aboard the ship and Ottie ordered her men to prepare for the journey. It had been a long time since Misen was on a boat. The last time she was on one it was to leave Kajne behind. She watched the port slowly disappear and be replaced with the view of water on all sides.

“Ottie, are you sure that she’ll be able to fend off any monsters? If she drank as much as she said she did then she wouldn’t be fit to fight.” Whispered one of the shipmates. He was rightfully concerned as he didn’t know Misen too well and didn’t want to die out at sea.

“I have faith in her abilities. There is something different about her.” Ottie replied. As soon as she said that, Misen’s test began as a fish larger than the boat leaped into the air, attempting to destroy the boat. Its body blocked the sun. The ship crew panicked as they thought this was the end for them. However, Ottie remained calm as Misen stood up and then jumped up to meet the fish in the air. She then cut it into equal slices and then she cut off a part to eat.

“I was craving a little bit of sushi.” She said as she ate her piece with a smile. Everyone was completely flabbergasted at Misen’s display. Ottie snapped and the workers began to pack away the meat of the fish. Ottie sensed an opportunity to sell the fish meat. Since the fish was so large and couldn’t be hunted by normal means it would likely have a high selling value. After packing a large chunk away. They ate the rest of the edible parts. Ottie seemed happy and Misen seemed content. The workers held a new respect for Misen.

They eventually sailed through an area with underwater ruins. The buildings looked different from the buildings seen in modern times. Everyone got a chance to look at the ruins. However, they were too deep to get a good look at them. Their existence was interesting enough though. No one dared venture into the water to get a closer look. Not even the immortal Misen, as she didn’t want to find out what having your body fill up with water while you stay alive feels like.

Misen continued to kill any monsters that attempted to attack the ship. Ottie and her group packed away any part that they could sell. After a few nights, the day finally came. Misen saw a familiar port town. One she hadn’t seen since she left to go and get revenge. Misen couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle as it was pretty much the same. Despite it being over three decades since she stepped foot in the port. By the time they made it to Kajne, their stock of supplies had increased by an exponential amount thanks to Misen’s hunting. Ottie was thoroughly pleased with the results. She couldn’t wait to sell her new-found supply for more coin.

They docked and were very quickly swarmed by a mob of people who wanted foreign goods. Trade between continents wasn’t very common as it was difficult to travel between them. You need a large crew to man a strong enough boat and you also need protection from all of the dangers in the water. Without a strong enough bodyguard your ship and likely your life could be taken in an instant. Your goods would be absolutely ruined even if you managed to survive.

As Misen slipped through the crowd. She looked back to see Ottie smiling at her and giving a little wave before going back into merchant mode. Misen returned the wave and noticed Ottie nodding in acknowledgment despite seemingly not looking at Misen.

Misen walked through the port of Umitana; it had visible signs of it being repaired and enhanced. However, the exterior retained the designs that Misen knew from what was technically over thirty years ago. The buildings had red tiled roofs. Misen suddenly stopped and realized something. She quickly ran into an alleyway and activated Voulin’s gift. She vanished within an instant.

She blinked and there was the house she had been longing to see. Not because the house was anything special but because of the people inside the house. Almost immediately after arriving, she is greeted by a familiar blond-haired man.

“I’m rather curious where you went this time,” Voulin smirked. He invited Misen in and she sat down at a table. She placed her massive tequila bottle on the table. Voulin grabbed two glasses and placed them on the table then put ice in them. Misen opened the bottle; releasing the oaky sweet aroma into the air. Misen enjoyed the aroma before she began to pour the golden liquid into the glasses. “I’ve had a lot of brands of alcohol, but I don’t recognize that one,” Voulin said after getting his glass.

“Of course you wouldn’t.” Misen took a sip of the golden tequila. “It’s from the continent across the ocean after all.” This news shocked Voulin but also allowed him to connect some dots in his head.

“How’d you end up there?” Voulin asked, enjoying the tequila slowly.

“Well I got lost in the woods after leaving the sanctuary and I ended up finding an ancient ruin. I went deep into the ruin and ended up triggering a teleportation trap. One moment I was in a weird room and the next I was on a beach. Then I killed some bandits but let one get away after they guided me to a town. However, that started a rumor of an immortal monster disguised as a swordswoman.” Misen explained and sighed.

“So that’s how you ended up out of range,” Voulin commented. Misen then finished her glass then poured some more tequila. She then described what happened when she got captured. Then how she woke up to everything destroyed. She explained how she made it to a city.

“You know whilst I was drinking away the night. Some guy came up to me and unlike a certain someone, he bought me a nice big drink. Though he seemed intimidated by me so I guess you're better than him in that regard.

“You immediately dispersed any sense of wonder of who you were talking about. You gotta get better at your drunk storytelling.” Voulin laughed and sarcastically shook his head while giving Misen a “serious” look.

“I’m not drunk enough yet.” Misen laughed as she drank more. To get herself more drunk for the next part. She explained her journey to make it to the port. She ended up getting a ride to Umitana for the small price of being a bodyguard for the ship’s owner. “There were a few minor hiccups like a massive fish trying to crush the entire boat. However, I took care of it with ease.” Misen proudly stated.

“It seems you have become stronger than before,” Voulin said while sipping his drink. Misen and he continued to drink together and catch up. Misen just looked at him and could see a vision of him as his younger self, which caused her to smile while looking at him. Voulin noticed and smiled back. The moment he started smiling, the vision went away, and Misen went to drink more.