“And the guard just attacked you for simply asking for your son back?!” asked the archer affontedly.

  He and Lucia sat in the forest with their backs to a pair of trees as they shared some dried fruit and a hollowed out gourd filled with water. The worst of the afternoon heat had just passed, leaving them both parched. Lucia waterfalled a long sip before handing the bottle over.

  “Well, I might’ve threatened him with a few choice words… Hold on, that’s the first thing you ask about?” she asked between gulps. “And not the fact I’m from a whole ‘nother World?”

  “There are legends of planes beyond this one, both above and below us, such as the underworld or the abode of the gods.”

  “I’m not from this ‘abode of the gods’ or whatever, I’m from Earth! It’s pretty much like this place, minus all of the magic and monsters. Seriously, how can you be so calm about it?”

  “I could ask you the same thing,” he replied with a cocked eyebrow. “For someone from a World you describe as so… mundane, you don’t seem all too bothered with everything you’ve seen.”

  “Touché,” Lucia smiled halfheartedly. “I guess it’s not the first time my entire life’s been turned upside down like this. So maybe I’m used to it?”

  “What a life that must have been,” said the archer, looking at her with sad eyes.

  “Yeah, yeah, I made it through alive. So you got a name? I’m Lucia, by the way.”

  “My name is Jayaka,” he said, pronouncing it as ‘Jay-uh-cuh’ without any pauses in between. “I came here from my ashram in the South in search of that rakshasa, who had been terrorizing nearby villages.”

  “Uh huh, I think I know some of those words,” Lucia mouthed off.

  “Well you see, a village is a group of people who live close together-”

  “Real funny, my guy,” Lucia said with a snort. “But what’s an ashram?”

  “Oh! It’s a hermitage, a rather humble version of a village.”

  “Now that makes more sense! So how’d you find me?”

  “In my search, I noticed that all of the forest’s creatures avoided this area. At first I thought they were keeping clear of the nearby martial sect, but I soon realized it was that rakshasa that scared them away. After making my way inside, I just followed the screaming.”

  Lucia nodded in response. The two of them sat in contemplative silence as the sounds of forest life began to grow closer. Birds chirping, monkeys howling, the creatures who made this place their home began to return. After several moments, Lucia jolted up and looked Jayaka in the eye.

  “Speaking of that sect, I think you’re exactly what I need right now!”

  “How so?”

  “Those assholes who summoned me and kidnapped my son are pretty much monsters in their own right, and I think they could also use some culling. You can go in there and get my son back for me!”

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  “I cannot do that,” Jayaka said with remorse.

  “Sure you can! I saw what you did to that tree and that raksh- demon, you can blow their front door wide open and kick the asses of anyone who gets in your way! Or just blow them up too!”

  “I really cannot do that. I’ve sworn to Agni to only use my Astra against rakshasas. And without it, I am not strong enough to match against their warriors.”

  “And there you go again throwing that jargon at me.”

  “Apologies,” said Jayaka, lowering his head. “Agni, the god of fire, granted this Astra, the ability I applied to my arrow. I had to promise him to only use it on demons who would harm another.”

  “And you’ll lose it if you use it on a real monster?” asked Lucia with a cocked eyebrow.

  “Most likely, but either way I will not go back on my oath.”

  “Sounds like you got the short end of the stick with a deal like that.”

  “It was not some sort of business transaction!” Jayaka said loudly. “It was a gift to help others, not a tool of vengeance!”

  The two looked at each other for several silent seconds. A monkey’s howl finally eked out a response.

  “I am sorry for my outburst,” said Jayaka, lowering his head despondently.

  “No, it’s alright,” replied Lucia with a sigh. “It’s obvious you’ve also been through some shit and I’m not going to ask what. But what am I going to do about Daniel?”

  The two remained silent for a minute more.

  “Well, you said they will be training him for an upcoming tournament,” said Jayaka.

  “And they won’t kill him or anything, but I’ve seen the kinds of assholes the sect recruits as members. What do you think they’ll do to him if they’re not happy with his progress? Look at what they did to me for just asking him back!”

  “You said you threatened them.”

  “Yeah, but-”

  “I’m somewhat familiar with these sects, and I know they truly do spoil their star pupils. If everything that guard told you is true, then he will be fine. At worst, he may be disciplined with a missed meal, or corporal punishment.”

  “Missed meal? Corporal punishment?! He’s still a growing boy! That’ll stunt him for life!”

  “A single missed meal will not do that,” slowly said Jayaka. “He will live, and likely come out of it a well-disciplined young man. Trust me, he will be fine.”

  “Well, I’ll believe you. But am I just supposed to leave him to those assholes for the rest of his life? I’m his mother! I should be raising him, not some acrobatic kidnappers!”

  “Of course! You should get him back as soon as you can! But it does not appear that time is now.”

  “So back to plan A, then,” Lucia pouted. “Get strong enough to kick their asses and get him back myself.”

  “Hold on, you said it was the snowy point tournament, correct? My ashram received an invitation for it this year. We were planning not to attend, but perhaps your presence would be a good excuse for us to go? You could come with us and meet with your son there.”

  “For real? Hell yeah!” exclaimed Lucia as she jumped to her feet. “I was headed South to find a place to stay anyway, so this is perfect! Can I come along with you? And will the members of your ashram let me stay?”

  “Of course!” smiled Jayaka. “Our ashram is a home for many wayward souls, you would fit right in. But as for coming with me, you might have to wait.”

  “Huh, how come?”

  “I actually came here in search of two rakshasas. The one I killed earlier, and his sister. The sibling is still on the loose, no doubt having gone into hiding when she learned of my presence in her hunting grounds.”

  “So you gotta kill her first before you can go home?”

  “Exactly.”

  “So what are we waiting for? Let’s find and kick her ass!”