The way the Fae was looking at him made Craydon think there was more to it, but he also noticed the Fae was glancing at the others at the table as if signalling it couldn’t speak more because of them. He slowly nodded and tried to change the subject: “So, Monsters. They really like to kill and eat Oomans and Demis?”

“It is not that they like it. For them, Oomans and Demis are just food. Monsters can also eat animals. Everything that can move, fly, or swim, and they can kill, they eat.”

“Monsters also eat Fae?”

With a giggle, the Fae answered, “Hihihi! They would eat more if they could easily catch a Fae! It already happened, but the Monsters that ate a Fae found out they don’t like how we taste!”

While rubbing the Salamander’s head, which was at her feet on the floor, Meryda said, “I am not seeing this cute guy eating anyone!”

The Fae looked down at the Salamander and then at the bouncing Slime next to it and said, “Both of them can easily kill and eat everyone here when they grow up. With this size, maybe just one of the Demi-Centaur siblings, you, or the Demi-Dog boy. The Demi-Lamia would be too big. The Slime grows until it is three times the size it is now, and the Salamander will be bigger than a Bone Boar. That is why Salamanders are considered one of the most dangerous Monsters that exist. Their ability to spit fire, together with their hard scales that can deflect arrows and swords, makes them a killing menace. You must be extremely careful while raising them. You should feed them cooked meat or fish, and never, ever, let them taste Ooman or Demi blood, not to mention their meat! Of course, you can train them to only eat the Oomans or Demis that you order them to eat. Some Monster Tamers do that.”

With a grimace, Meryda said, “Monster Tamers teach their Monsters to eat people? That is hideous!”

“Considering how many Bone Boars and how many Fur Cows you have outside, together with these two here, if the Ooman Alliance finds out, you will be drafted to the front lines, even by force, if needed. You should hide your abilities, try to live without calling too much attention upon yourself, or, and this is also a possibility, you could tame an army of powerful Monsters to be at your side if, by chance, someone comes after you to take you to the front lines. There was once a powerful Monster Tamer who refused to join the Alliance.”

“What happened to that Monster Tamer?” asked Meryda with a puzzled look.

“He moved to a very small town in a very small country after his army of Monsters killed so many Oomans and Demis that the Ooman Alliance gave up on him. He lived the rest of his days in peace with his family. His children didn’t inherit his powers, so the Alliance never bothered them. He was a gentle soul who saw Sub-Demons like just another species that lived in this World. He was also a good friend of the Fae.”

Hearing that, Craydon asked, “You didn’t help him escape or fight the Alliance? Or at least stop the Alliance, considering so many Demis and Oomans died while trying to capture that Monster Tamer?”

“We don’t interfere, remember? We just observe. Besides, he didn’t need any kind of help. His Monsters took care of everything on his behalf. They were not only tamed. He treated his Monsters so well that they simply loved him. When the first soldiers came for him, he didn’t even order his Monsters. They attacked immediately the moment the soldiers drew their swords. That Monster Tamer asked us a favour, so we Fae told the Alliance leaders that he didn’t want to join the fight. They didn’t care. And because of those stubborn leaders, hundreds of Oomans and Demis died while trying to capture that single Monster Tamer.”

While gulping, Craydon asked, “You said… hundreds? And you usually do favours for other people, like sending messages?”

“Hundreds upon hundreds, actually. We Fae can sometimes deliver messages if it is a very important thing to do, and the one who asks is a very interesting being. We are not couriers for anyone who asks us to do something.”

Then, the green Fae looked at the closed door behind Meryda and said, “Thank you for the meal, but we need to go somewhere. There is an event happening that seems extremely interesting. We will come back on another occasion. Everyone, it was a pleasure.”

The green being got up and went for the door, waving goodbye before closing it.

Craydon Crawler kept staring at the door and said, “Such a strange being… and very mysterious. It explained a bunch of things but also opened room for a lot of questions.”

While cleaning his mouth with a cloth, Pof Grinun said, “They are like that. They explain some things and leave so many to explain that some people think they just like to mess with everyone. They are peaceful, but never expect a Fae to lift a finger to help you with anything. I never liked those green guys. Or girls. Or the heck they are! So, what about if we clean all this before it gets too dark for us to go home?”

Craydon got up and said, “I can take care of everything while you all get ready to go. How did you come here, anyway? By horse?”

Pof shook his head and explained, “Hazer gave me a ride on his back. Tetil slithered to get here. Demi-Lamias can be faster than Demi-Centaurs, and Demi-Centaurs are faster than horses, actually. Usually, Hazer gives me a ride, and Shilna takes Meryda. What about all that cow fur? Can you two bring that tomorrow morning in your open wagon? We already put an immense pile there.”

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“I think we can. We might arrive later than usual at the Guild, though, because of all that weight.”

While hugging Meryda, Pof Grinun said, “Your helpers can take care of things before you arrive, like they usually do. We will meet you there, Meryda, to go to the market and try to sell all that fur. We will leave the rest of the fur for another occasion because we must find a merchant from another City who wants to buy cow fur. If we can sell tomorrow at least half of that pile that is already on the waggon, we will make a bunch of money! We won’t need to go hunting in the forest so soon to get meat for us to sell and risk encountering a dangerous animal or Monster! Oh! Wait! With Meryda with us, we don’t need to fear any animal or Monster! We can even start applying for Quests! We can make a Party and earn some cash!”

Craydon said, while carrying the dishes to the kitchen sink, “I am not sure if the Guild Master will approve that!”

With a shrug, Pof Grinun said while going for the door, “How can he not approve? I bet he will even ask her to go with a Party of Explorers and Adventurers as soon as she gets used to her powers! Having a Monster Tamer in a Guild is very profitable, and it is also an extra security for a Party.”

They all left, with Meryda returning to her father to help him. As she was putting water in the sink to wash the dishes, she said, “You don’t seem too happy with the idea of me joining them in a Quest. Are you afraid I will get myself in danger? I could take Lyzy and Jelly with me, or one Bone Boar.”

“I don’t know. It sounds like a pretty good way for someone to find out about you and snitch to the Ooman Alliance. I heard the reward for finding out and delivering a powerful Mage or a Monster Tamer is very high, and some Demis won’t mind selling you out.”

“I understand… Well, we just have to say no to the Guild Master, then. But what if he still insists?”

Trying to disguise his worries, Craydon answered, “Let’s worry about that when it happens. Go wash your teeth, because you should go to bed soon. Tomorrow, we have to get up really early to feed the animals and leave for the City. At least we have to feed the chickens and the pigs before leaving, because the boars seem to be used to taking care of the cows more than us.”

…

After some time, Craydon was in the kitchen, cleaning the table with a cloth and some soap, when he heard a low knock on the door. As he approached, he heard a familiar voice on the other side. “We are Fae. Can we come in?”

Puzzled, Craydon opened the door for the smiling green being and closed it afterwards, joining the green Fae at the table. “So, you are back. You want to explain something, don’t you? I got the feeling there was more about that tunnel where Meryda fell that you didn’t want to say in front of the others.”

“That is correct. We saw you and Meryda crossing a Portal in that tunnel, but the Demi-Cats that came out of that cave were not the same Demi-Cats that entered the Portal. We sense that your daughter and you went through something so absurd that perhaps it is making you doubt your sanity. Before arriving in this World, were you Ooman, a Demi, or a Demon? We can sense something is different about you. Perhaps in your very soul.”

After a couple of seconds, Craydon answered, “In our World, we were called Humans. Similar to Oomans in looks, actually. I have no idea what happened. One second I was holding hands with my daughter and going to the living room in our house to eat; the next second, a light blinded us, and we were in that tunnel inside these bodies.”

“We understand. Soul Migration. It has been millennia since the last time it happened. Can you remember things about the previous owner of your Demi-Cat body?”

“Yes, I can, as if they were dreams. The Demi-Cat who is now in my body on Earth also has my memories, and they seemed like dreams to him as well.”

With a slight smile, the Fae said, “Interesting. That means you also contacted your other half. They are having problems with their new life?”

“Not more than us, I think. Earth is a peaceful place. At least there are no Demons, Sub-Demons, or Monsters. We are having a hard time here, mostly because things are so strange.”

“Do you mind showing us how you can contact your other half on Earth? We are quite puzzled.”

Signalling for the green being to follow him through the back door, Craydon guided the curious Fae to the room at the back of the house, the one which was used as a bathroom.

While placing his hand over the mirror, he said, “We talked last night. If I place my hand here when he has his hand over a mirror on Earth, we can see each other. I am not sure if he will appear or not, but yesterday, it was around this time.”

The curious Fae looked in the mirror and saw Craydon’s Demi-Cat reflection. Then, the reflection trembled, and a Human appeared, making the Fae exclaim, “Now that is very interesting, and it is something we Fae haven’t seen for quite some time!”

Jack Cross frowned on the other side of the mirror and said, “A Fae? What is a Fae doing next to you?”

“They came for a visit this afternoon and returned just moments ago. I got the impression they knew something about what happened to us, and I was right. They said that what happened was Soul Migration, and it is something that hasn’t happened for millennia.”

“Really? They also know how we can change back?”

The Fae slowly shook its head and said, “We are not sure. There were not many cases, and the few there were never talked with a Fae, so we don’t have a secure way of answering. What we can say is that you and Craydon should get used to your new lives because you might never change places. Or something might happen, and you change. Like we said, there were not many cases of this happening, so there is no certainty.”

Seeing his Human counterpart sighing, Craydon tried to lift his mood and asked, “What happened during your day? Found any problems? Around here, Meryda tamed a big pack of Bone Boars, and they brought a vast herd of Fur Cows to our farm. The cows are now inside that fenced field behind the stable, and the boars are guarding them.”

“She did? Amazing… Well, my daughter got suspended from school because she beat the crap out of the three girls who used to bully your daughter. But perhaps I should tell you everything because that was not the only surprising thing that happened today!”