🙡 CHAPTER 4.1 🙣

The demonic harvest [Shepti]

In the dim light of the great mana river and all its creatures, a lone girl could be seen walking towards the forest. Slightly below average height for a 10 years old, dressed in long loose brown pants and a green jacket covering most of the body, as well as a brown cape, thick leather gloves, and a backpack. Functional and thick, protecting the wearer from bites of most insects and other smaller creatures, only the face was exposed.. Well face and multiple blue and white snakes sticking out of the hood, a characteristic of the medusa race.

“I am going to sleep as much as I want after I am done” she tried convincing one of her hair-snakes, as it looked at her face. “I have found a perfect hiding spot, it should be perfect to hide from mom”

You see, Shepti had a problem. She really, really, wanted a pet. Yes, she already had her snakes, and they were great.. But you can’t hug a hair snake! They are attached to your head! Not to mention that they are part of her! Yes, even the ones that awoke to their own personality—so petting, scratching, and generally playing with them, while nice, doesn’t feel the same!

Unfortunately, a pet. means expenses. And while she was saving money for a while now, the main source of income—dad—is currently in the middle of a fight with her older sister. And she just couldn’t take her side! Siblings together against tyranny of parents! Also, she would never tell this to anyone, especially the person herself, but she likes her sister the most. And she was completely in the right here, it’s none of dad's business even if she smokes! Shepti liked how her sister looked with the smoking pipe in hand… even if it did stink a bit.

Long story short, the conflict heated up again, and not being able to stand the atmosphere in the house, she ended up living at her sister's workshop. Well, there was also the part where he told her she won’t be able to have a pet even if she gets enough money, because “workshop”, because “dangerous ingredients”, and who will pay for the food, and what if it pees inside the house… all in all, dad is an idiot!

Many other kids would fold at this moment—but not Shepti. She still had one ace in her sleeve, a sure way to earn money—ingredient gathering!

While she wasn’t at all into alchemy, like her father and older sister, she did often help them with gathering some herbs in the fields and in the forest, and she did her best memorising where to find the most profitable resources.

She just had to “borrow” her sister's third rank adventurer bracelet… but as long as she returns before she wakes up, everything will be fine!

*Yawn*

*yaawn*

*yaaawn*

*yaaaawn*

*zzzz*

She yawned, and the snakes on her head followed—well, those that were awake at least.

“I am always a good girl—when adults are looking at least—so it should be okay!” —Summer (a white snake) didn’t seem convinced. Or maybe she just was sleepy. Unfortunately, It had to be now. Firstly, to not be caught by her sister, or any of the neighbouring kids. Certain someone would certainly tattle to the adults. Secondly - it was the perfect time to gather some tear mana! Crystal Challices only bloom on nights when the great mana river is fully visible, and as time passess their cup-shaped flowers get slowly filled with condensed surrounding mana—hence the name. And since they disappear when exposed to sunlight, the time just before dawn is the best time to gather that precious liquid!

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Still, she had to hurry if she wanted to come back before her sister noticed the missing bracelet. But the path to the forest was long and boring, so she spent her time moving forward, while playing with Icicle—the youngest split of her hair snakes. She was angry at Shepti for not paying her enough attention, even though she was the one that always pretended to not be interested. Nothing an hour of petting and scratching wont fix. Pets are great! Shepti loved when her sister petted her head. Or hugged her. A pet that is good at hugging would be great.

Well… she was worried a bit about her pet evolving into semi-kin, or maybe even full-kin, which would mean she would have to ask them before hugging them, but still! It’s not a bad thing! And she was sure they would still enjoy it!

Newly motivated by imagining all the different imaginary pets, she hastened her step towards the Demonited Forest.

☾

She stood in front of the forest of Demonited trees. Her mother, a healer and loremaster, told her that a long time ago, it was a normal forest, until a battle between demigods opened a rift to another realm. While the world itself closed the wound nearly immediately—even if the scar still remains—thousands of demons passed through, and infected all nearby living beings.

Out of all the monsters, the ones that proved the most difficult to completely exterminate were demonited ancient slumbering treants—it was truly terrible luck for the fight to happen in one of a handful sleeping forests, places where treants go when they wish to fall into eternal slumber. In any other circumstance, they would have been able to defend themselves from demonic infection, or even help in their extermination, but here they were easy pickings. And so, Demonited forest was born, arguably the most dangerous area on the eastern continent.

Eventually, as a temporary solution, a barrier was built. It modified the older treant magic that made all plants that lived there fall into eternal sleep to also include demons, as well as block anyone without proper tools from leaving.

Unless it was the mana tide. Every two weeks, for about two days, the ambient mana grew strong enough to awaken the demons, who used this opportunity to reopen the rift, inviting more of their kin inside—before they fall asleep again.

Back to Shepti—like most magical apprentices she could feel when mana surges were happening. Just in case she also checked the mana forecast on the main square, and asked her mom—today was surely a low mana tide. And no mana means no awakened treants, which means no one to open the scar, which means no demons!

The plan is perfect.. So why is she feeling goosebumps all over her body? She could swear it didn’t feel like this when she came here last time… but then she was with her sister, maybe she is just scared to go into the forest alone? All of her snakes were awake, standing at attention, earlier sleepiness nowhere to be found. Icicle started nibbling on her shoulder, trying to stop her from going in... Stop it! We are going in whether you want it or not! I’m not going to stop just because it feels a little bit scary!

☾

“Hi hi hihihi” - She laughed happily like one of the greedy pixies from town. How could she not with such an abundant harvest! She found so many chalices it took her until dawn to fill all the vials! Still she should be back on time, her sister wasn’t exactly good with mornings. I knew there was no reason to be worried!

… Ouch! Stop it! And you too Candle? Two of her snakes were nibbling on her for the past few hours trying to get her to hurry up and leave, and even though she thought they would finally stop, since you know, they are leaving, they strengthened their protests, from nibbling to biting!

“STOP IT! Why would you do it, it hurts you as well!”—she smacked them away, hurting them and herself in the process. “Hisss!” Candle's eyes popped out as she looked at Sheti with rage… wait. She isn’t looking at me, she is looking at something behind…