The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the dusty road. Hooves clattered rhythmically as two horses trotted side by side, their manes swaying gently with each step. The air was warm, filled with the scent of earth and the distant chirping of birds.
Leading the way, an old woman walked ahead of the horses, her steps steady and sure. Her gray hair, loosely tied back, fluttered in the breeze, and the lines on her face told tales of a life well-lived. She carried a wooden staff, its tip tapping lightly on the ground with each step, guiding the horses down the path.
As she moved, the hem of her cloak occasionally fluttered, revealing glimpses of the simple leather garments she wore underneath. Each step with her staff caused the leather to peek through, a testament to her readiness for the dangers that lay ahead. The rugged attire, though plain, hinted at her resilience and preparedness for the treacherous journey through the Reed Forest.
Despite her age, the old woman wielded the wooden staff with purpose, not leaning on it for support but using it to probe the path ahead. Each careful tap of the staff was a precaution, checking for hidden traps along the road. She moved with determination toward the Reed Forest, a place infamous for its dangers. The forest's twisted trees harbored more than just lurking monsters; their roots, deeply ingrained in the soil, could spring traps on unwary travelers.
“Oho! Found one!” she declared and began steering their way.
She was a veteran adventurer. Experienced almost every possible scenario and as her expertise dictates she knew that there were still going to be traps lying around. She carefully tapped and listened to the ground using her stick.
“Almost there babies and you will be free!” she said talking to the horses.
It was just sunrise and she was going to arrive at her destination by midday. As the morning light grew stronger, illuminating the path ahead, the Reed Forest loomed closer, its dark silhouette a stark contrast against the brightening sky. Each step brought her nearer to the forest's edge, where shadows deepened and the air grew thicker with the scent of damp earth and ancient trees. She tightened her grip on the staff, her senses sharp and ready for the perils that awaited her within the forest's depths.
It was finally time to let go of the horses. Bringing them further would be dangerous. She found a good spot to bring down her things from the horse's back. There were some supplies and required equipment.
After finishing the unloading she commanded the horse to sit down by using a hand signal. She removed their saddles. Brushed them for a while as a final act of bonding. “You two are free to go! Go anywhere you please!” she said while brushing their hair.
The horses enjoyed the last act of kindness from the old woman. They neighed especially when she reached their hump behind their back. It was the sweet spot.
“All done now! Go on your way now babes!” she said smiling and she slap the hump of the two horses.
"Neigh!!!" The horses whinnied joyfully, prancing around her as if saying goodbye. Their manes flowed like silk in the sunlight, and their hooves danced lightly on the ground. With a final, spirited trot, they turned and galloped away from the looming forest, their silhouettes soon blending into the golden landscape, leaving a trail of dust sparkling in the morning light.
The old lady settled herself onto a large, moss-covered rock, its cool surface a welcome relief. She sighed deeply, feeling the weariness in her bones. As she gazed at the dense, shadowy expanse of the Reed Forest ahead, she knew she needed to rest and recuperate. The forest, with its towering trees and hidden perils, demanded her full strength and sharpest senses. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the midday sun wash over her, determined to gather her energy for the daunting journey that awaited her at dawn.
<--->
It was early in the morning. Unlike the sound that always woke her up back at home, she was awoken by the sound barrier she made before she slept last night.
She immediately held her sword and began looking around. A Blade Fang Snake was crawling just on the border of the Reed Forest. This snake would usually roam around hunting for stray animals, they are at the bottom of the food chain in the forest and work like scavengers.
The old woman stayed still waiting for it to pass by and it did. She went back to her camp, she was now prepared to go into the forest.
The old woman began donning her armor, each piece fitting snugly with practiced ease. She strapped on her spaulders, the sheen of the metal catching the sunlight. Carefully, she secured the shoulder guard on her weak side, ensuring it was firmly in place. Sitting on the moss-covered rock, she found it easier to maneuver and fasten her protective garments. With each buckle and strap, she prepared herself for the challenges that awaited her in the Reed Forest.
She carried one large sword, a shorter one behind her. Knives decorated her waist like a skirt. A belly bag of potions on her side and a small axe plated on her sheen left and right just below her knees.
After making sure that all of her things were in the range of grabbing around her body she knelt down and offered a prayer to the Goddess Zorya.
“May you guide me in the last campaign,” she grabbed her hands tightly.
Finally, she was ready, she stood up and began strides to enter the edge of the Reed Forest.
The Reed Forest was a sprawling expanse of tangled undergrowth and towering, ancient trees. Their gnarled branches intertwined overhead, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor below. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, creating a perpetual twilight even at midday. Creeping vines and thorny brambles snaked across the ground, making each step treacherous.
Hidden within the dense foliage, eyes glowed with malevolent intent. The forest teemed with creatures of the night, monstrous beings that prowled silently, their presence betrayed only by the occasional rustle of leaves or a distant, guttural growl. These monsters, born of darkness and shadow, had made the Reed Forest their lair, and any traveler who dared to enter did so at their peril.
The trees themselves seemed almost sentient, their roots twisted and knotted, sometimes forming traps for the unwary. It was a place of ancient magic and untold dangers, where the line between the natural world and the supernatural blurred, and where few ventured willingly.
But this was her final destination, she was out to find an embed sword. A sword that was lost long ago.
It was not for her honor, the sword wasn’t even a special type of sword. It was a sword that was that marked a mortal enemy. She was sure that it should still be alive. It was for revenge, a feeling that had been urging her to go on.
This was why she left everything back at home.
After their first encounter, she left a piece of her soul in the forest. If she were to die of old age, this unfinished business would be her only regret. As long as she had strength in her bones, she was determined to see it through to the end.
She was so accustomed to the forest. Memories began flowing as she walked. Although the vegetation had much changed, there were still paths where she could remember some things. It was like a sixth sense.
She knew when there was danger lurking, she knew when to hide. Getting to the beast’s den then and finding it was the first goal which was already hard.
But the forest and the danger were like a natural habitat for her. Although her bones were creaking the adrenaline rush was numbing the pain. It kept her sharp and steady on her feet, she wondered how being in danger made her feel young but she loved it.
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A few more hours had passed and she was getting close. All of her senses were creeping up as the danger began climbing up. What she was hunting was a monster of legend: a colossal beast with the body of a lion, the wings of a griffin, and a snake for a tail. It was the deadly chimera. Years ago, she and a party of adventurers had ventured into the Reed Forest to hunt it down, but they had failed. The chimera had claimed most of their lives. Only three survived the encounter, and now, after all this time, she was the last one still breathing.
Her nose picked up that disgusting smell, something that was familiar to her. It brought up the memories of the encounter which just made her more sure that she was on the right track.
She immediately took out a piece of potion and drank it. It was a strengthening potion. She tapped her chest and checked her status screen. Double checking her skill Sword Mastery Lv10(+8) she smiled, the potion’s effect would last about 3 hours and she still had 9 pieces of it she brewed personally.
She stepped on slowly and she noticed everything. There were small bones around which told a lot. She was on Chimera’s killing grounds. If she could find it sleeping she would slay it immediately.
“Grr…” she heard a terrible sound. Of course, it would be like this.
The old woman immediately ducked and made a roll on her side. A snake just missed its bite on her body. The snake’s head was as big as a human head.
“You found me? Do you remember me?!” she taunted as she stood up from the roll.
The chimera emerged from the shadows, its formidable presence sending a shiver down her spine. She immediately recognized it as the same beast they had fought years ago. The sword their leader had embedded in its back still jutted out, a grim reminder of their past battle. New scars crisscrossed its hide, evidence of recent skirmishes and the fresh conquests it had sought. Its eyes gleamed with a malevolent intelligence, and its muscles rippled beneath its matted fur, ready for the next deadly encounter.
She breathed air into her lungs preparing for a scream. “I’m Johann!! I am the War Maiden of the Green Deer!!! I’m here for your past dues!!!” her voice croaked and roared in the forest.
There was a slim chance another monster might join the fray, but she doubted it. The kill site of the chimera, littered with bones and stained with blood, likely deterred the other denizens of the forest. The gruesome remnants of the chimera's past victims served as a grim warning to all who dared approach.
The Chimera looked at her eye to eye. The lion's head cracked a smile-like visage showing a tooth. It breathed air and roared at her.
It was the beginning of their bloody battle.
<--->
The aftermath of their battle had left the forest scarred and silent. The once vibrant undergrowth was trampled and stained with blood, broken branches, and scorched earth marking the fierce confrontation. Now on her last leg, she painstakingly carved the head of the chimera she had slain, her hands trembling with exhaustion and pain.
She had lost a piece of her pinky finger in the struggle, a raw wound on her shoulder still oozed blood, and a deep, jagged claw mark marred her back. Each breath was a reminder of the battle's cost, yet her eyes remained resolute as she finished her grim task, determined to claim victory even in her battered state.
But she was old, and after dismembering the chimera, she still faced the arduous task of digging its grave. Her plan was to use the sword, still embedded in the beast, to mark the site of its final resting place. Every part of her body ached, her wounds throbbing with each movement. She knew she needed to tend to herself first; the chimera's body wasn't going anywhere.
Leaving the site temporarily, she limped to the edge of the chimera’s kill zone. There, she discovered the familiar ruins she had often sought for solace. Time had not erased them; the ancient stones stood resilient against the encroaching forest.
A smile spread across her weathered face. It was still there after all these years, a sanctuary amidst the chaos. She leaned against the cool stone, feeling a brief respite from her pain, and allowed herself a moment of quiet reflection before the final task awaited her.
She stepped cautiously into the ruins, she used her fingers to make a snap and cast a small flame to dimly see around. Her eyes widened in surprise at what she found. Despite the dilapidated exterior, the interior housed various wooden wares—chests and tables scattered about, as if someone had once lived there. Above, a poorly constructed roof stretched across the space, its makeshift beams and patched sections suggesting it was built to provide shelter from the rain.
“Someone stayed here?” she muttered in surprise. Praying to the guidance of Zorya she began to praise whoever did try to stay there.
She began unfastening the straps of her light armor, her fingers working quickly despite the pain. Each piece came off with a soft rustle, revealing the cuts and bruises hidden beneath. Blood stained her clothing, and her skin was mottled with dark bruises. Setting the armor aside, she winced as she moved, reaching for her first aid kit to tend to her wounds with practiced efficiency.
<--->
It took her a week to finish her task. She was now back on the ruins. She actually thought that she would die in the battle against the Chimera, and many times she actually almost died in the course of their battle. A dance of death was the best description of it.
Her mind was now at ease as she had already fulfilled the promise she made to herself and to her comrade.
“Ooh… I can feel my back… what now,” she muttered alone. She tapped her chest and a screen appeared in front of her. Floating in the air.
Johanna, Green Deer Lv72
Title: Hero of Grans War, True follower of Zorya, Chimera Slayer
Status: Wounded, Weakened, Over Fatigued
Job: War Maiden
Skills: Sword Mastery Lv10, Blade Mastery Lv8, Brewing Master Lv10
Magic: Fire Magic Mastery Lv8, Water Magic Mastery Lv4
As weird as her status screen could get she could never fully understand how Jobs worked. Her skills leveled up as she used it like the other jobs, her level went up along with it. As she understood, job and skill became stronger the more it was practiced and used.
In the case of her job, it was battle-oriented so she had to always fight. Her life was always in danger and she hated it. She envied those who had other type of jobs like production jobs or government jobs. They could safely immerse in their job.
She was actually the daughter of a Seamstress and a Leather Tanner. The Green Deer of her last name was actually the name of the home she was born to. They never had family names and were named after the places they were born.
She wondered now how was her sister and her son. She could have chosen to die in the comfort of her home but it wasn’t it for her. She had to fulfill the promise to the captain of the 219th company that she had been with.
“Eric… it's now been done, I wonder if you're going to pick me up,” she muttered. She could actually go home but her horses were already sent off, she didn’t even plan to go home in the first place.
What’s next for her is waiting for her end. She smiled and grabbed her bag. She opened it and rummaged on it for a while. She took out her things and she lined it up on the ground. To her surprise, it seemed that she found a sewing kit. It was probably her son who placed it inside.
She began crying… she wanted to see him. Her husband had died 4 years ago, so she thought she was tougher but now she was crying, a realization in her mind kept the tears flowing.
“I’ve got to use it eh?” she said as she sobbed. Luckily there were plants everywhere and that’s all she needed to make clothes.
Rather than letting her feelings overcome her, she opted for a more productive approach.
<--->
Two days had passed since Johanna had slayed the chimera. Making herself busy really did the trick. It was night time and this time was the most dangerous time of the day because the most dangerous monsters were nocturnal.
Still, the Chimera’s den offered a great place to fend off these monsters. She could hardly think of a few monsters that could surpass a chimera. Maybe a dragon or a Red Axe Monkey but other than that there was none.
Still, she installed sound signal traps all around the perimeter of the ruins and she was right to do this.
As she was trying to sleep. The sound trap “Chimed~” was triggered very softly. It told her many things, it must be some kind of a small monster or a snake at that.
She didn’t leave and fire or lights when she slept. It was to make sure that she wouldn’t attract anything. She could let it kill her and die in her sleep but she still wanted to finish the clothes she was going to make.
“And I just finished collecting some spider silk,” she cursed as she grabbed her sword.
She stood up and didn’t bother wearing her full armor rather she just took a metal guard for her arms so that she would have options in the upcoming fight. She was calm as she steadied herself on a wall of the ruins. She knelt making sure all of her senses were heightened since she had just been about to sleep earlier.
Her nose immediately picked up another smell. It was not familiar. Then it registered to her ears. It was hurried footsteps. It was coming directly to her location. She immediately tensed up and unsheathed her sword. With a readied mind she predicted that the intruder would be showing up on the next corner of the wall.
“Got you!!” she muttered as she jumped into action with a downward swing but what she found was something that was in a silhouette of a child. Almost hitting it luckily the monster fell down out of fear.
“A goblin!!” she muttered. She broke her code and lit up a fire on her finger. It was true, it was a goblin passed out in a very comical manner.
She slowly approached the goblin. She made the fire brighter. The goblin was actually wearing some clothes. Not the loin clothes they usually wear. It also didn’t smell that bad and it actually looked clean. It was a very strange goblin.
“What the hell…” she muttered.
Then the goblin seemed to regain consciousness. Upon opening its eyes, the goblin saw the old woman.
“A HUMAN!~!” the goblin spoke of human language which totally put off the old woman. “Please don’t kill me!! I’m a friend!!” the goblin added.
It seemed that Johanna was already holding her sword on her head high ready to strike.
“What?!! What is happening?!” the old woman asked with a surprise on her visage.