One month had passed since the big race, where Suli had been declared the winner. True to her prize, she enjoyed a triumphant ride on Fox’s back, her laughter ringing through the trees. But Fox, feeling generous—or perhaps just relishing the attention—allowed all of them to take turns. Nyx, Len, and the rest of the Aetherlings found themselves perched on his broad back, holding on tightly as he bounded gracefully through the forest. The feel of his soft fur, the thrill of the ride, and the laughter they shared made the experience unforgettable.

During their time together, Nyx couldn’t resist showing off the new move she had invented during the race. With a glint in her eye, she demonstrated the skill, combining Draconic’s Rise and Teleportation with a seamless grace. She hovered lightly above the ground, her form flickering from one point to another, each transition smooth and swift. Her friends watched in awe, their eyes wide with admiration.

“See?” she said, chest puffed out proudly. “I can leap faster than anyone now!”

Fox watched, munching on a snack with his usual half-amused expression. “Not bad, kid,” he said between bites, a hint of approval in his voice. “Maybe you’ll give me a run for my food someday.”

The following day, Nyx eagerly made her way to Drac to show him her new skill. She demonstrated her moves with energy, teleporting and levitating, while Drac observed, nodding slowly.

“Good work,” he rumbled, a rare warmth in his tone. “You’re learning to think on your feet, Nyx. That’ll serve you well when you leave the forest.”

Nyx’s smile grew, pride blooming in her chest. It felt good to be acknowledged for her quick thinking, and the thought of leaving the forest—though it filled her with equal parts excitement and apprehension—seemed just a bit less daunting with Drac’s support.

Nyx’s rounds through the forest wouldn’t be complete without showing each constellation what she’d accomplished. With a spring in her step, she visited them one by one, her eagerness to share her progress lighting up her face.

Tiger’s Territory

Tiger raised an eyebrow as she flickered into view, his usual smirk softened by a glint of pride. “Look at you, cub,” he said, his voice teasing but fond. “You’re getting faster. Keep practicing, and you might even match my speed someday.”

Nyx grinned, taking the compliment to heart. “One day, I’ll be faster than you, Tiger. Just wait and see!”

Snake’s Domain

The Snake observed her demonstration with his usual composed calm, his eyes following each movement carefully. “That’s quite the trick,” he murmured, his tone low and thoughtful. “It takes patience to chain skills together like that. Make sure you use it wisely.”

Nyx beamed, feeling a sense of satisfaction in Snake’s quiet praise. “I’ll make sure, Snake. I promise.”

Griff’s Lair

When she arrived at Griff’s lair, he lazily lifted his head, his expression sleepy but amused. He watched her display with half-lidded eyes, his mouth quirking into a faint smile. “You’re getting flashy, kid,” he drawled, letting out a long yawn. “Good for you.”

Nyx laughed, landing lightly on her feet after a final teleport. “Thanks, Griff. I’m glad I can keep you entertained.”

Peacock’s Territory

Peacock clapped his hands together, his eyes gleaming with delight as he watched her. “Exquisite, Nyx! Such style, such finesse,” he exclaimed, clearly impressed. “You’re becoming quite the spectacle.”

Nyx curtsied, remembering Peacock’s elegant mannerisms. “Thank you, Peacock! I learned from the best.”

The rest of the month was filled with adventure and training. With her new title, Emperor of Slime, raiding slime dungeons had become almost too easy. The slimes, quivering in fear as soon as they sensed her presence, would freeze on the spot, making them effortless targets. Nyx found herself grinning as she cut through them with ease, feeling an undeniable thrill in her growing power.

Yet, dungeons weren’t her only focus. Her friends, particularly Len and the Aetherlings, encouraged her to learn new skills outside of combat. Swimming, for instance, had become an unexpected addition to her routine. Initially, Nyx had been skeptical about its usefulness, seeing little point in learning to float and kick. But after realizing she needed help with bathing daily, she decided that swimming might not be so pointless.

One sunny afternoon, they gathered by a crystal-clear lake they’d discovered earlier. The water sparkled invitingly under the sunlight, and the forest echoed with their laughter as Len and Ryu attempted to teach her the basics.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Just relax and let the water hold you up,” Len advised, demonstrating by floating on his back with ease in the air.

Nyx tried to follow his example, but her limbs flailed awkwardly, and she sank almost immediately. Ryu, not one to miss an opportunity, gave her a playful shove that sent her sputtering, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Ryu!” she yelled, struggling to regain her balance as she laughed. “You’re not helping!”

The scene reminded Len of an early memory when Drac had thrown baby Nyx into a shallow pool to teach her how to bathe her. With a chuckle, he shared the story, and they all laughed, especially Nyx, who could only imagine the chaos.

After several more attempts (and a few more mishaps), Nyx finally got the hang of floating and even managed to swim a few strokes. She felt triumphant, and swimming soon became a relaxing pastime, a welcome balance to her dungeon raids.

One evening, as Nyx was strolling through the forest, she noticed Fox yet again, seemingly wandering without any particular destination. This wasn’t unusual—Fox often popped up wherever Nyx happened to be, almost as if he knew where to find her. But a question had been brewing in her mind for some time now, and she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Fox,” she called, trotting up to him with a curious look. “Why are you never in your territory?”

Fox paused, his ears flicking with amusement as he tilted his head toward her. “Why aren’t you an inquisitive little girl,” he teased, a gleam in his eye.

Nyx blinked, confused. “In… inquisitive?”

He chuckled. “Inquisitive means curious—always asking questions, wanting to learn more.”

“Oh,” Nyx replied, nodding slowly as she absorbed the new word. “Then yes, I am inquisitive! But… Do you not have a home?”

Fox let out a soft chuckle, clearly amused by her line of questioning. “My territory is in the southeastern part of the forest,” he explained, “but I roam where I please.”

Nyx’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Can I go to your territory sometime?” she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

Fox gave her an approving nod. “You’re welcome anytime.”

With a satisfied grin, Nyx skipped off, already imagining the new adventure she’d have exploring Fox’s mysterious home.

When she wasn’t exploring with Fox or her friends, Nyx spent time with Peacock, who took it upon himself to teach her about the outside world. She listened, wide-eyed, as he described a place filled with strange customs and habits.

Nyx listened with wide eyes as Peacock explained how people in the outside world used something called a “lavatorium” to relieve themselves. She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.

“So… they need a special room just for that?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “Why not just go behind a bush?”

In the forest, such things had never mattered. She was free to do as she pleased, wherever she pleased. Shame was a concept she had never known—no one in the forest had ever made her feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about anything so natural. Here, everything was accepted without judgment. The forest was a place of freedom, where the simple act of finding a quiet spot was just… life.

Peacock chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Outside the forest, things are a bit more… complicated,” he replied gently. “People there have different customs. When you leave, you’ll have to adapt to these little rules.”

Nyx sighed, already feeling the weight of all these strange customs. “The outside world sounds like a lot of work,” she muttered.

He went on to describe utensils—knives, forks, and spoons—that people used to eat with. Nyx couldn’t hide her bewilderment. “Why would anyone use those? Hands are so much easier!”

Peacock continued, explaining the little details of life outside the forest that Nyx had never thought about. He mentioned that, unlike her simple clothing, most girls outside wore something called “underwear” beneath their clothes for extra protection.

Nyx wrinkled her nose, clearly unimpressed. “Why would I need that? I can protect myself just fine!” she said, folding her arms defiantly.

Peacock smiled patiently. “It’s more of a custom than a necessity,” he explained. “But it’s something you’ll need to get used to if you’re planning to venture out.”

After a moment’s thought, Nyx gave a reluctant nod. “Fine, I’ll wear it… but only because you think it’s important.” She shot him a grin. “But I still don’t see the point.”

Then came the subject of cleaning clothes. “Washing them regularly is common practice,” Peacock explained with a laugh. “Most people don’t wear the same outfit endlessly.”

Nyx sighed, her enthusiasm dimming. “The outside world sounds like so much work! Do these people do anything besides chores?”

Peacock smiled, amused by her innocence. “They have responsibilities, Nyx, especially those who don’t have skills like yours. For many, work is a way to survive.”

Nyx’s eyes widened. “Not everyone has skills?” It was a revelation that shook her. She had always assumed skills were a part of everyone’s life.

Peacock nodded, his voice gentle. “Not everyone is as fortunate as you, Nyx. Few interact with constellations, and even fewer gain skills from them. Those who do are considered privileged, often becoming hunters. Others have to find different ways to live.”

Nyx fell silent, her mind spinning with this new knowledge. The outside world was far different from anything she had imagined. The more she learned, the less appealing it seemed. Yet, her curiosity remained. Despite the endless tasks and customs that seemed so foreign and burdensome, Nyx couldn’t shake the desire to at least see it all for herself.

As she left Peacock’s territory, deep in thought, she murmured to herself, “So… they work all the time just to live? And some of them don’t even have skills? That sounds so… sad.”

She remembered the thrill of her own skills—the way each new ability filled her with excitement and pride. The forest had always been her playground, a place where she could grow stronger with each adventure. The idea of others lacking that same freedom felt strange and unsettling.

When she returned to Drac’s cave, she found herself recounting everything Peacock had told her. Drac listened quietly, his calm, reassuring presence grounding her as she spoke.

“Drac, why don’t the constellations help more people outside the forest?” she asked, her gaze steady but filled with uncertainty.

Drac’s deep eyes studied her for a moment before he answered. “Constellations do not reveal themselves to mortals, Nyx. You are… unique. You have grown up among us, but the world beyond these trees is different. The people there live by different rules and customs.”

Nyx’s brow furrowed as she pressed his words. “But they could help, couldn’t they? I mean, they have so many skills to share.”

Drac gave a slight nod. “Perhaps. But mortals have their own paths to walk. Interacting with constellations is a privilege that few experience. To most, we are stories—legends. Even if they knew of us, not all would understand or use our gifts wisely.”

Nyx sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. “It just doesn’t seem fair,” she muttered, her voice soft.

Drac placed a gentle, clawed hand on her shoulder. “The world is complex, Nyx. Fairness isn’t always guaranteed. But that’s part of what you’ll learn if you choose to leave the forest. It is up to you to decide how you wish to use the gifts you’ve been given.”

She nodded, his words sinking in. Even with all the uncertainties, she felt a small spark of determination light up inside her. She might not understand everything about the outside world, but she could still explore it—see it with her own eyes, make her own choices.

For now, the forest is her home, and she would enjoy every moment, every friendship, and every adventure it offered. The mysteries of the outside world could wait—at least for a little while longer.