As we followed the messenger, I noticed I was no longer being stared at. After entering Olivia’s house the feeling of being stared at had disappeared, I’d expected them to be on me again after leaving but now there was nothing. Keeping my guard up slightly, I kept following the messenger as we continued crossing bridges.

After a few minutes, Olivia looked around with a frown. “Where are we going? This isn’t the way to the Patriarch’s house.”

Without turning to face us, the messenger simply responded “The Patriarch is currently in retreat, we will be visiting him in another location.”

I don’t know why, but I felt a strong suspicion from those words. I couldn’t explain why, the words spoken were done without emotion, but seemed to be ready to be said. Narrowing my eyes, we arrived on the ground in a large clearing. Looking at Olivia who is also looking at me, I shake my head and stop walking.

Deciding to trust my instincts, I took up my stance as Olivia did the same. Taking a step back, I saw the messenger turn to us and with a shrug of his shoulders he slammed his palms together, before placing those hands on the ground. It’s a trap, we were led here.

A massive magic circle ignites underneath us as I slam a foot down. “Domain! Mystical Lunar Starfield!” Without hesitation, I released my domain. It was daytime and I knew the messenger was stronger than us, and checking his information proved that.

Glorion

Level 30 Nature Elf

Elven Marksmen

Health: 2,000/2,000

Just as my domain was about to release, thick chains sprung out of the ground, binding my arms and legs. The same happened to Olivia next to me. My domain suddenly stopped, taking me by surprise. I could feel my mana being drained by the chains and trying to cut the supply off I couldn’t. Looking around wide-eyed, I saw figures appearing around us on the trees.

I saw a familiar face, Elladan, among the elves who had appeared. Trying to free myself of the chains proved a fruitless endeavour. Alice moved from the top of my head into my dress at my signal. If I couldn’t fight I had taught her not to fight by herself, and to hide herself just in case.

“You shouldn’t have returned, Olivia. Now we have to send you away once again.”

Looking towards the new voice, on the edge of the magic circle, was a young elven female. Checking their System showed me this new person was beyond our capabilities.

Elwing

Level ??? Nature Elf

Elven Marksmen

Health: 5,000/5,000

“The daughter of the Patriarch…that’s right, you were a part of the scouting team who threw me into Crater Hell weren’t you, Elwing.” Talking to the new figure, Olivia strained herself against the chains.

“A disappointment like you should’ve never been born, Olivia. And as per tradition, we’ll be exiling you from our clan. Even if Father doesn’t approve, it does not matter, he’ll learn this is for the best. Be glad we can’t just kill you. Live peacefully wherever you end up.”

Wondering what she meant by those last words, things were moving too quickly for me to keep up with. Looking at the magic circle, I wondered what it’ll do when a voice rang out in my mind, a voice belonging to Flannery.

“Oh fuck! A random teleport circle! Alisha, escape!”

Abandoning all reasoning, I allowed my monster form to release itself to give me more strength. I couldn’t use mana nor my domain, the only chance I had was to release all the strength I had now…but it was too late. The magic circle underneath us lit up quickly, and looking towards Olivia, she was staring at me in fear. I wanted to get to her, she was only a few steps away, but the chains stopped me even taking a step.

“Farewell Olivia and monster. Exile!”

Feeling my monster form fade, a bright light filled my vision as Olivia disappeared and soon, my vision went white.

***

Blinking as my vision returned, I looked around to gain my bearings. All around me was snow, a chill went down my spine since all I was wearing was a dress, the cold sunk deeply into my bones. I had no idea where I was, and looking around I saw a few trees but it was mostly snow. Feeling a wind kick up, I knew I needed to move or I was at risk of freezing to death.

The only problem is…I had no idea where to go. The snow seemed to go on forever, there were no paths or anything that could guide me somewhere. I was alone…not exactly alone, Alice was also still with me, I could feel her shivering in my dress.

I couldn’t see Olivia anywhere near me. As I felt fear climbing at me, I heard Flannery speak from my Mana Realm.

“Relax. I know where you are, just stay calm. Walk in the direction that the moon is currently resting at.”

Taking a breath, I turned and looked to see where the moon was. Doing as Flannery said, I moved towards the direction that it sat in. I had spent some time previously speaking to Flannery in my dreams, mostly talking about my time in Crater Hell, and she’d told me that it was difficult to manifest herself, so the fact she had spoken to me this time meant I may be in real danger.

Using my wind magic to try to keep the cold wind off me, I kept my hands wrapped around where Alice was to warm her up. Finding it harder to walk through the snow, I felt myself tiring the more I moved. There weren’t any monsters around, a fact I was thankful for since I had no idea where I was. I had tried to ask Flannery where we were but she said she wasn’t absolutely certain.

As I continued to walk, it had been several hours. I’ve managed to keep Alice warm but I could feel the cold taking over my body. At first I had used my Lashing Fire Kick, but the stamina from using it was far too high while walking through this snow so I had to revert to using it every now and then in an attempt to warm myself up.

Thinking over what had happened, I knew I was alone but I had no idea how far away I’d been sent from the elven village. Elizabeth was still there, I had to get back quickly before the other elves did something to her. With worries building up within me, it took all my will to stop myself from screaming aloud. It would be a waste of energy right now.

As the wind picked up, I took another look around my surroundings and found nothing had changed, it was like I had been walking in a circle. I was getting colder by the moment as my body was getting more fatigued. Just as I thought of stopping and trying to do something like light a fire, I saw movement from far away.

Preparing myself for a fight, I saw a figure coming from the distance. I couldn’t make anything out, the figure was far away, but they were fast. Soon, they reached within a few dozen metres near me as I took up my stance.

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“It’s okay, they’re here to guide you.”

Hearing Flannery’s words, I was surprised. I knew she couldn’t interfere with what I did, but she’d seemingly had asked for someone to come out here.

“Oh, it’s nothing like that. I just had a feeling that someone would know you were out here, and since you’re my Sister they should come out to help.”

‘They knew I was out here? So are they like you, someone from the Moon Goddess?’

“No, they shouldn’t be. Most likely it’s a guard or an adventurer from a city or town that is nearby.”

Not sure on how that was possible, the figure soon arrived before me. It was a human male, standing just a head shorter than me. He was wearing a thick brown coat, a large double handed sword on his back, long pants with boots on. Around his neck was a golden piece of metal on a necklace.

Glancing at me, he nodded before handing me a thick coat. Without a word, he turns and beckons for me to follow him. Hesitating for a moment, I put the coat on and followed behind him, figuring if he was here to capture or kill me, he’d have done it already.

Putting the coat on, my body almost immediately became warm. Sensing mana coming from the coat itself, I knew it was some kind of special clothing. As we walked, the man in front stayed silent, like he was just here to guide me. Unable to hold back the question in my mind, I decided to just ask the person.

“E-excuse me, where are we?”

The man suddenly stops and looks back at me, surprise evident on his face. Staring at me for a few seconds, he points to his face and says “D-do you understand me?”

Tilting my head in confusion, I nod in response to his question. Fully turning his body to look at me, he frowns and mutters “But you’re level 20, you’d just have evolved…yet you can understand me…”

Unable to keep up with him, I decided to repeat my question. Looking at me with a bit of hesitation, he simply says “Just outside of Vale.”

I’d never heard of Vale, which all things considered isn’t surprising, the man turns around again and starts walking. He still seemed surprised at the fact I could speak. Perhaps I should keep it a secret that I was a Hybrid?

As we continued to walk, after a few more hours on the horizon appeared a large walled city. Looking at the city, it was massive, way bigger than Crater was. In the centre I could make out a large castle, and spreading from the centre was clearly different sections, the buildings close to the castle were all exquisite, and the closer to the walls the less exquisite the buildings were. I couldn’t make out details from here, but the city expanded so far to the left and right that I had to turn my head.

“This is Vale.” Without turning, the man comments before he moves once again. Keeping up with him, I simply looked at the city, seeing all the lights from the homes and buildings, there must’ve been thousands of humans living here.

“Um, where is Crater Hell?” Asking the man this, my main concern was making sure I could return home so I could find Elizabeth and Olivia again.

“Crater Hell? Never heard of it. Is that where you came from?”

He’s never heard of Crater Hell? Well, Olivia only heard about it since she was close by, so maybe we were a bit away from it. I’d need to check when I was in the city.

“Something like that. How did you know where I was?”

The man shrugs. “I was just asked to come collect you, as to how their surveillance magic works, I haven’t the faintest idea. I just know you’re lucky. The blizzard is about to arrive, all the monsters in the area are hiding away. The place I found you would’ve left you no chance, monsters there are upwards of level 80.”

Gulping nervously, I found myself glad that it was so cold. Feeling the wind pick up again, I kept myself warm with the coat and could feel Alice still snuggling away. As we approached the wall, we arrived at a guarded gate, where the man flashed a metal plate, one very similar to the one I had except it was golden in colour, matching the one around his neck. Seeing this, the guard nodded and let the man and I through.

As soon as we stepped through the gate, the man turned and pointed at a small building next to the gate.

“I’ll leave you here.” Seeing another human come out, it was a young girl this time. Around her neck was a bronze metal plate. Nodding at the man, the lady bowed slightly and spoke.

“Thank you for bringing her here, Roal. I’ll take her from here.”

As she said this, she extended a hand to grab my arm. On reflex, I stepped back and invoked the wind around me, keeping my guard up as I filled my fists with lunar magic. A flash of surprise appeared on her face as the man, Roal, spoke once again.

“She’s intelligent, already capable of speaking. No need to be forceful.”

Looking at me with surprise and some interest, she bowed again.

“I’m so very sorry, I mistook you for a newly evolved monster.” Seeing her take a step back and apologise, I eased off the wind magic around me. Roal was looking at me with interest before turning back to the young girl.

“I’ll leave her in your care.”

Saying this, he turns and walks down the street. I had noticed earlier but this street seemed rather empty considering the size of the city itself. Being by the gate it’s possible that the city hadn’t been receiving anyone.

Seeing the young girl stand up, she smiled and pointed to the building behind her.

“Follow me, I’ll get you sorted so you can stay in the city. My name is Lisa, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

For some reason she held her hand out. Tilting my head for a moment, I nod and say “I’m Alisha.”

With her hand still extended, Lisa looks down at it before moving it up and coughing awkwardly onto her hand. What a strange action. As she walks into the building, I hesitate for a moment and check her System information.

Lisa

Level ??? Ascended Human

Health: ???/???

Seeing her snap her head back, I knew it was a similar case to Ash. Lisa simply smiles and winks at me before turning and walking into the building. Making a mental note to stop just checking the System information of those I wasn’t certain of, I followed her into the building.

Stepping into the building, I looked around to find we were in a small lobby with a few people at desks, an upper level with stairs leading upwards and doors leading to other places. Leading me to one of those doors on the right, we continued down a corridor as we entered a new room.

It was empty except for a chair that had an orb floating in front of it, underneath the chair was a large magic circle on the floor. Next to the door that we entered from was another desk with a chair behind it, with a stack of papers and an older gentleman sitting there. Seeing us enter, he nodded at Lisa and turned to me before looking back down at the papers.

“Alright, take a seat on the chair there and place your hands on the orb.”

Standing still, I didn’t move towards the chair. Too many times has a magic circle on the ground led me to trouble, and I sure as hell didn’t trust yet another one. Mistaking me not moving as hesitation, Lisa pats me on the shoulder.

“It’s all good, we won’t bite. We just need to confirm a few things and this lets us do that.”

Looking away from her, I felt uneasy and started looking for a way to escape. The only way was the door behind me, but where would I go from there? Turning my head slightly to glance behind me, I was about to move when Flannery spoke from my Mana Realm.

“It’s okay. It’s not a trap.”

‘I thought you couldn’t interfere or help.”

“Well either I say something or you run around a city lost and confused for a few hours.”

Looking at the chair, I decided to trust Flannery, she had no reason to lie to me about this sort of thing. Taking off the coat, Lisa gasps and looks at me strangely. Not paying her any mind, I sat on the chair and placed my hands on the orb.

Looking at Lisa again, she had a confused expression on her face while looking at me before turning to the elderly man and tapping the desk. The elderly man looks up, turns to face me and raises from his chair.

Squatting, he puts a hand onto the magic circle while he mumbles and the magic circle lights up. As this happens, a low hum sounds through the room as a cool energy comes from the orb itself, passing through my body, mana veins and realm. This lasted for a few minutes before it slowly stopped. The orb started glowing a golden hue as it floated there.

Lisa moved towards the orb and raised a hand to it. Muttering something under her breath, the orb left my hands and drifted towards her as it started changing shapes rapidly. Soon it became a liquid as the elderly man came over with a piece of paper, and held it before the liquid worked itself onto the paper.

Seeing the liquid become writing on the piece of paper, it gave one more flash of golden light before it stopped glowing, leaving a piece of paper filled with words I couldn’t read from here. Taking the paper, the man starts reading it as he moves to the desk and sits down, with Lisa following behind him. Unsure on what to do next, I watch as they read it, seeing their expressions turn firm with some confusion mixed in.

In the next moment, Lisa nods and walks towards me. “Alright, time for the interview process. Come with me.”