“You almost scared the life out of me.” Sanora sighs.

Ever since she has met Bawarag she doesn’t really think of the girl as overly odd. Without knowing anything about anything Sanora just has to assume that this is kind of normal.

“You mean the deer did?” The woman laughs again and hops up from the stump with a flap of her batlike wings.

“I’m Amni.” She extends a hand with a smile. For a moment Sanora just stands still, mesmerized by Amni’s eyes. They are a gentle grey, as her hair, and just seem so intricate and complex, like a portal to another world.

“Oh! I’m Sanora.” She breaks from her stupor, quickly shaking the extended hand. Amni just smiles at her warmly.

“So, what brings you out here all alone?”

“That’s a simple story. I want to settle down in the village, so the villagers told me to speak with their guardian deity. I was told I’d find it somewhere around here but then I fell asleep and the rest you know.”

Amni chuckles

“Yeah, I do know the rest. So, why do you want to settle down in such a tiny village anyways?” Amni asks while sitting back down on the ground, leaning onto a tree stump. Sanora goes along, sitting down on the ground before her.

“I mean, why not? It’s quiet here, the scenery is pretty the people are nice. And that’s all before counting in that there is a deity guarding it all. So, a win in every aspect… and the girls are pretty” Sanora says the last part in the quietest whisper she can muster, not even realizing what she has just said. Amni nods along as Sanora tells her.

“I see, I see. Well, that sounds fair enough. Sure, you can stay.” She smiles at Sanora whose gears slowly begin clicking into place. She backs away, bowing down hastily.

“Forgive me! I didn’t realize it was you! I’m just so new to this place and- and-”

“Calm down calm down!” Amni laughs at Sanora rattling down an apology.

“I’m not mad or anything, stop bowing to me.”

“…really?” Sanora says sheepishly while slowly looking back up at Amni

“Really. I’m not a deity to begin with. I watch over the village, but I’m, more or less, just a normal human. With the exception that am a bit stronger than average.”

“So that means?” Sanora raises an eyebrow.

“Let me sum it up. I own the land and the mountain on this side of the river, and I watch over the village as well. But aside from that I’m just plain old me.”

“But that still makes you pretty important.” Sanora says, but Amni just shrugs.

“Maybe, but not in my eyes.” She says and gets up.

“Wanna talk this over with some tea?” She asks with a smile and offers Sanora a hand.

“I’d love to.” Sanora takes Amni’s hand and yelps as Amni pulls her up into a hug with a quick motion.

“Hold on tight then.” Amni smirks and Sanora only notices the ground suddenly being gone from below her feet as they soar through the air. With a scream Sanora holds onto Amni whos laughing is accompanied by the flapping of her large wings. They fly up the side of the mountain until they reach a small cave entrance where they finally stop. Amni lets Sanora stand on her own wobbly legs again.

“Why? WHY?!” Sanora shouts, leaning into the cave wall.

“Come, don’t tell me you didn’t like it.” Amni laughs.

“I- I mean it was a lot of fun, but still a heads up would have been nice.” Sanora pouts.

“I’ll remember it.” Amni winks at her. “Now come on in.” She gestures Sanora to follow her, walking ahead. Looking around Sanora can’t see anything but cave, as ordinary as they come and Amni is walking right at the wall opposite of the entrance. Just before she hits the solid rock, the completely seamless stone swings open like a double door revealing a hall leading deeper into the mountain.

They walk in a bit, the anticipation already welling up in Sanora. She expects to walk into a giant kingdom chiseled into the mountain any second but to her great surprise they end up in a circular room. It’s not even overly large. In the center stands a table made of solid rock, a hearth is straight ahead beyond the table. At the wall to the right is a bed which too is made from stone, looking like it was carved right out of the stone along with the room itself. The linen are a dark red and just by looking at it Sanora grows a bit tired again. She holds back a yawn. Above the bed is a bookshelf with a few books scattered on it. Lining the left walls are some chests and closets as well as a small cooking area, and on the ceiling hangs a chandelier, although all the candles have long since burned away. Dust has already started to gather in it. Overall, it’s a small but very cozy home.

“Please have a seat, I just need a minute.” Amni says with a smile before making her way over to the stove. Sanora nods and walks to the table while looking around the room curiously. Amni is living rather nicely up here, if a bit small. Must have been nice to find such a convenient cave. Looking around Sanora spots something else, hanging on the wall above the hearth. It is a painting. A few figures clad in black armor stand in a row, shoulder to shoulder, some kneeling in the front. One of them was clearly Amni, wearing what looks like black scale mail. On her face the typical gentle smile that she always wears. In front of her stands a similar looking girl with the same grey hair, the horns and wings, although she is at most a meter and fifty centimeters tall whereas Amni was a good meter and seventy centimeters, about as tall as Sanora. Aside from hair, horns and wings, the short girl also has a face similar to Amni's. Next to Amni stands an old looking man. Short, white hair on his head, his frowning face framed by an equally white beard. The next man is tall and slender, his short, flaming red hair tousled. He is, contrary to the old man next to him, grinning broadly showing off mis pointy teeth, a bow slung over his back. The next in line is- Sanora squints her eyes.

“Is that-“

“Sorry for the wait.” Amni interrupts, setting two large cups down on the table, the liquid inside still steaming.

“Oh, thank you.” Sanora says and gratefully accepts the cup which too is made from stone, although this one is very smooth and white instead of the usual grey. The tea tastes odd, but not in a bad way. It’s earthy and sweet, soothing Sanora right to the core, with a hint of roots.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“So, let’s talk. Who are you? Why do you want to settle here?” Amni asks, causing Sanora to sigh.

“Well, that’s sort of a short story, but still a long story.”

...

Amni nods, setting her empty cup down as Sanora finishes her recount of what happened to her until now.

“That does sound tough, I’m sorry to hear.” Amni says, her expression a bit downcast.

“It’s sort of alright. I guess having no memories whatsoever makes it easier.” Sanora just shrugs and Amni’s expression quickly shifts from sad to surprised, her eyebrows rising.

“Well, at least you are making the best out of it.” Amni chuckles a bit.

“Alright then, back to the topic at hand. I really don’t see a problem with you moving here. You have my blessing.” Amni says and Sanora face lights right up.

“Really? Ahh thank you so much! I wouldn’t have known what to do if you had sent me away.” Sanora slumps in her chair, tension leaving her body. Amni just chuckles again at the sight.

“So, any idea where to build yet?”

“Build? I haven’t thought this far to be honest. Where would be a good place to build? It seems rather full within the walls. That clearing was kind of neat.” Sanora mumbles with a bit of a dreamy expression. Amni just nods.

“Sure, you can have that bit.”

A moment of silence passes before Sanora tilts her head.

“I- what?”

“Yeah, you can have that. I have more than I could ever need anyways.” Amni shrugs while Sanora just sits there, mouth agape.

“You’d just give me a plot of land? For free?”

“Compared to what I still have, that bit down there is like a drop of water on a hot stone… On that note, take a bit of forest as well.” Amni says with a smirk.

“But I don’t know If I can just accept that. I mean, you don’t even know me.” Sanora fiddles around with her fingers.

“That’s true, but if you are as old as I am you get a feeling for people, and with you I have a good one. So don’t worry about that, after all, you have a house to build.”

Sanora is a loss for words. She came in here for tea and the permission to even buy land or a house, but now this woman, who is not just otherworldly beautiful, but can also fly and is who-knows how old, just gifted her a whole piece of land.

“I -I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” She says, still baffled. But Amni just laughs gently.

“Just promise you’ll invite me over some time for a tea.” She says with a smile that makes Sanora’s heart skip a beat.

“So, anything else I can help you with?”

“Actually yes, I am a bit curious about that painting.” Sanora looks back to the painting on the wall.

“Ah yes, I still remember as if it was yesterday.” For the first time Sanora sees Amni’s expression cloud over, nowhere is the carefree and happy smile to be found, but only sorrow and pain.

“If we had known, truly known what was coming for us, no one would have smiling on that day.” Amni’s says, her fists clenching and her lips trembling.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry, please, you don’t have to say anymore.” Sanora quickly says waving her hand around desperately.

“I didn’t mean to make you sad.” Sanora feels bad, had she known that this image holds so many bad memories she never would have asked.

Amni looks back up at the girl so desperately apologizing. She sighs.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t do anything wrong. I guess I’m still not over everything that happened. But you never heard about the ancient war. Gods where do I start…” Amni scratches her head and clears her throat before starting the story with a distant look on her face.

“At the dawn of creation, the gods made the world with everything in it. Every god had their own aspect. We generally speak of the human gods, and the nature gods. The three brothers known as the human gods are The God of Flesh, The God of Blood, and The God of Bone. They created the humans, like you and me. Then there are gods of nature who created the planet we walk and live on. The only one I know well is the God of Soil, the one who made me into a gargoyle- “ Sanora is about to ask but Amni cuts her off.

“- I’ll explain later. Where was I… right, the gods. The gods keep the peace in the lands, watch over them. But one day one of the gods arose against the others. Fueled by greed the God of Metal tried to overthrow the other gods, and with his metal creations tried to drive human and beast alike extinct. And thus stared a war which would last for three thousand years, until the human gods came together and created the dragons. With their help we finally managed to drive the metalfolk back after years of being beat back and win this war once and for all.”

Amni finishes with a sigh. Sanora just sits motionless, still awed by the tale.

“So that means you- “

“- fought in that very war, yes.” Amni nods.

“And it pains me to admit but to this day the memories still haunt me.” She lays, looking at the painting with glassy eyes.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to open old wounds.” Sanora says with a downcast gaze.

“Don’t worry that pretty head of yours. I know I have to get over it someday.” Amni says with a wry smile.

“Anyways, you wanted to know what a gargoyle is? That's easily explained. Sometimes the gods choose humans to be their envoys. Those humans are granted incredible magic, and sometimes, like in my case, some other features to recognize them by.” She demonstratively flaps her wings.

“In my case it’s stone magic. But aside from that there are also werewolves, liches, and a few other ones. And there are the three champions as well. Although only the human gods choose a respective champion. The champions are absolute masters of their magic fields, rivaled only by the dragons and the gods themselves. Each of them is worth a small army. Only one champion of each god exists at a time. The champion of flesh: known as the manifestation of chaos. The champion of bones: the horror of war. And the champion of blood: the dread. I have seen them fight and I can tell you, never have I been so glad to be on the right side of a conflict.” Amni shudders

“But I haven’t heard of a champion since the war ended, and that was a good thousand years ago. So, they either aren’t showing themselves, or there is just no need for them right now.” Amni says with a shrug.

Sanora just sits in her chair, still processing all the things Amni told her, but one thing piqued her interest especially.

“So that means you are a thousand years old? You look awfully young for a thousand years.” She asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Envoys don’t really age, but whether you want to believe that or not is up to you.” Amni shrugs.

“Also, thank you.” She adds with a wink.

“I have to say, I have never seen someone with a face like yours either, and I have seen a lot.” Amni leans forward a bit, carefully studying Sanora’s, now blushed, face.

“I’m already looking forward to you being my neighbor.” She says with a scheming grin, causing Sanora to blush even harder.

“Oh uh, likewise.” Sanora says with a nervous smile.

“Anyways its getting late, want me to fly you back to the village?” Amni offers, and Sanora can already feel a tickle of anticipation in her stomach.

“Only if I’m not causing trouble.”

A minute later they are taking off from Amni’s front door, as far as it can be considered as one since it’s only a cave entrance. Sanora can’t help but wonder what the obsession with people and caves is around here. But that train of through is quickly lost as once again she soars through the air in Amni’s arms. Sanora is enjoying herself to no end, laughing and cheering loudly as the forest below her grows distant. Amni soon changes to a gentle glide. The village below now just a small speck on the land, although the mountains still block the view around them.

“This is soo amazing!” Sanora says with a beaming smile.

“I wish I could fly like this.” She closes her eyes, enjoying the wind.

“Who says you can’t? If you put in the work, or money, flying isn’t a farfetched dream you know.”

“Really?” Sanora looks at Amni wide eyed.

“Really.” Amni laughs as Sanora looks at her with starstruck eyes and her mouth hanging open. At least until she suddenly starts coughing.

“Bleh- caught a fly.” She says between spitting and coughing.

Amni can hardly stop laughing at the sight.

“Let’s get you down before you catch us an eagle.”

After descending they finally land in front of the weary traveler again, which is when Sanora notices that Amni is doing something. Weird energy moves in and around her body. It reminds her of the times she has cast the fireball, although the workings here are much more complex and completely beyond the green-eared Sanora. As the energy stops moving, flowing and weaving, Amni’s horns and wings suddenly disappear. She notices Sanora’s bewildered gaze.

“Just to keep a low profile.” She whispers before walking ahead into the inn.

Sanora just stands there for a moment, looking after Amni a bit amazed and fascinated by her, and her curves. With a smile she happily joins her and walks into the inn, but walks right into Amni’s back a few steps later. She has no time to think about how good the gargoyle girl smells though, since Amni seems to have found something she didn’t expect.