Lexy woke up barking and sighed “ugh no not today why?” She got dressed and she walked out of her room while she grabbed her bag of equipment in hand. Varikin raised a brow at the blond’s groggy expression. Lexy quickly went to the bathroom to take her medication and then returned.

She yawned, “Come on let’s go.”

Varikin noded and the duo headed downstairs, through the hallway, and into the dining room.

Thokath looked up when he saw the two enter the room. “Hi, Lexy.”

Lexy rubbed her eyes and sat down, “hi.” She said groggy and in a tired tone.

Carin looked up worry was written on her face, “do you not feel good?”

Lexy sat down and began eating what was served, “no, I am . . .fine I don’t feel sick trust me okay”

Carin’s face scrunched in disbelief, “okay but I am checking your temperature after breakfast. Lexy grumbled a reply and continued to eat

Come after breakfast Carin checked for a temperature, “ok you’re fine”

Lexy nodded and headed up to one of the butlers, “can you take me to the store please” the butler nodded and left to go get the car. Varikin came up to her to silently remind her that he hates being left here.

Lexy shook her head silently saying no she was not bringing him with her. Lexy sighed as she exited the mansion and entered the car. The driver asked her, “where is the young miss?”

She smiled“just to the store please.”

The driver nodded and started the vehicle's engine. Lexy looked out the window when they passed the forest and then the military base that looked almost finished now. She watched it pass and then the passing buildings. The driver pulled to the front of the building and dropped her off while he found a parking spot.

Lexy began to look around through the drinks section. She was quickly brought out of her thoughts by someone trying to talk to her “huh?” Lexy looked to see who it was.

Standing before she was a man about in his late thirties dressed in a high-ranking military uniform, she didn't recognize who but still felt nostalgia rush thru her, “oh sorry but I was wondering if I could get in front of you there”

Lexy moved and smiled “oh sorry but uh I got to ask because this town is not visited by military folk often or are you just heading thru”

The man picks up his basket now having a few drinks in it, “oh no just passing thru here”

Then there’s one more question she has “I have to ask have you ever been out in the front lines if so how. Do you deal with seeing bodies?” The man looked shocked when she said this. That was not the next question he was expecting. The general looked at Lexy better now, taking a quick glimpse into her eyes and he recognized the face he saw before him.

He has seen it before the look of someone who had been on the front lines. He sighed, “young girl I don’t know what, you’ve seen but from the expression, you are wearing currently I can tell nothing good, but I can dish out advice the best thing to do is try and move on but I am not saying it’s easy”

Lexy smiled softly “thank you” the general nodded and walked away wondering what in the world did that little girl see to have those eyes or ask that question.

Lexy then finished up what she needed by getting ten large bags of noodles, five of corn, wheat, and tomato seeds, flour, sugar, salt, and ten more bags of oatmeal for the survivors. She headed out of the store and saw the general before talking to someone. She shrugged it off and headed to the Limo.

The driver came out and smiled, “I’ll take care of this young miss”

Lexy smiled, “Oh thank you.” With that, the driver loaded the food into the limo’s trunk. Once done they get back into the driver’s seat and they turn to the small blond. “anywhere else young miss?”

She shook her head, “not just home please.” The man nodded and started the engine back up.

On the way back Lexy saw yet again the finished military camp. The vehicle pulled up into the mansion’s driveway and Lexy turned to the driver “Thank you” The driver nodded and popped the trunk for the girl. She smiled and got out of the vehicle. She set all the goods down on the concrete. The sound of items being shuffled in the bag as she did so.

Now done she looked to the driver, “all good you can head back.” They nodded and drove up. She then began bringing the paper bags of food to the forest. Once done she quickly entered the mansion. Lexy entered the empty lobby and then saw Varikin rushing up to her. She smiled, “Come on.”

He nodded and the two-headed outside. The duo enters the forest and Varikin turns into his giant wolf form. The blond gets all the bags onto his back and then gets on herself.

Varikin looks at all the supplies and begins walking carefully “hey Lexy what are all the extra noodles and seeds for?”

Lexy sighs “these are goods that will be for the winter along with some materials so the others can make their own food for wherever they go. There also were a few bags of sugar, salt, and flour too.”

Varikin nodded and then thought about the number of supplies, “hey Lexy why are you so worried about us having supplied over the winter it is not like you won’t be here for us over the winter” this statement did not improve her mood if anything it felt like a knife to the chest that she couldn’t take out it just keeps cutting.

Lexy sighed “ya about that. It’s because I'm not always here. like if something happens and you guys are stuck without me” Varikin frowned and nodded. The two reach the clearing and the blond closes her eyes thinking to reality. She opened her eyes and the two were now in reality. Varikin resumes his slow pace in silence. Lexy looked to the sky and saw the glowing moon and faintly could see the star ring.

She sighed when the two went through the base’s door and Lexy hopped off her furred friend. Lexy set all the bags down onto the ground, making sure not to spill or drop the contents. Varikin turned into his human form and picked up an arm full of items while Lexy struggled and grabbed the rest of it.

The two enter the base to see a buzz; some members still have bandages from the other day. They passed the cafeteria wall and the blond stops. She sees the wall has twenty vests hanging with weapons. Their names are engraved into clay tablets above the vests and weapons.

Lexy sighed and resumed her route to the kitchen. The two entered the kitchen to see Katie working on food. Kaite turned to the blond and smiled as she saw the two set their loads onto the counter.

Katie walked up to the two and looked through the bags, “All alright I'll work on this you go take a seat.” The elven woman said with a glimmer in her eyes.

Lexy smiled “oh thanks, Katie.” She turned to Varikin “come on let’s see if Cody is here this morning.”

Varikin huffed, “fine.” Lexy shook her head and the two-headed back into the cafeteria. She looked around and saw Alcore sitting with the captains and then she saw her redheaded friend sitting with Meko. Lexy smiled and the duo headed over to the two. She sat across from Miko and Varikin sat across from Magi while being next to the blond.

Magi smiled, “hi guys did you two get caught up in all that chaos yesterday?” Lexy groaned, “yes.”

Varikin raised a brow, “She did. Not me.”

Magi and Miko shared a glance. Cody raised a brow, “really what happened. Because I and Miko were helping in the lab. We didn’t really hear what happened.”

Lexy shuddered as the smell of blood became more present as she remembered “It was bad they were using gas, chemicals, and bombs along with soldiers.”

Magi hummed, “sounds like they were trying to wipe the city out.”

Lexy could only nod and then she saw Alcore stand up, his eye patch still present and the wound still looked an angry red. Alcore turned to the other's excitement on his face as he raised his hands and silence fell over the crowd, “right I had been saving this for when she got here. Ok, so the king was in the city during the gassing and fights. Well guess who had the nerve to try and fight the king alone and not only that but survived plus walked away like a champ and if you think that’s not enough, she burned off half his ear!”

The others cheered while Jackson just laughed, “I would have loved to see that fool’s expression. I bet he wasn’t expecting a fight from the girl and then that moment when he realizes he only has half an ear!”

Jackson raised his mug of water as well as the others. “to Lexy!” all shout with joy “AYE!”

Alcore nodded and looked to Lexy “ok then on other news I have assigned you to is a day from now we are going to be escorting a ship that will be hulling weapons and recruits from Turtle golf base to here. We will be going down the river of shadows. You have permission to use your mech to get home and back”

Lexy nodded and went back to her lunch. Once done she stood up, “whelp I have done my job. I’ve got to ask Jackson if we are doing training today.”

Varikin nodded and began talking to the two others at the table.

Lexy walked over to Jackson and tapped his shoulder. Jackson turned to her, “hi what do you need kid?”

Lexy tilted her head,

“Are we doing training today?”

Jackson nodded, “yes we are. Is Varikin with you?” he says getting up.

Lexy shrugged and pointed to the table Varikin was sitting at, “he’s over there.”

Jackson noded, “meet me and Saylis in the training room with Varikin.” Jackson then headed out of the cafeteria.

Lexy nodded “got it.” With that, she headed back to Varikin. Varikin looked at Lexy, “let me guess more training?”

Magi smirked when he heard Lexy say, “yea there is come on.”

Magi smiled at Varikin, “I told you.”

While Varikin huffed with a glare at the redhead “ugh.” He then turned into his ferret form and hopped onto Lexy’s shoulder “let’s see what fun will be involved this time.” He said with sarcasm in his voice.

Lexy chuckled at the comment from Varikin and she turned to Miko and Cody “see you guys later.” The two waved to their friends as the duo leaves for the training room. In the room were Fendres, Saylis, and Jackson. The room was mostly empty except for a phone-sized black box about twenty feet away.

The duo entered the room and dread-filled Lexy’s gut when she saw a smirk on Jackson's face and a worried one on Fendres’s “I swear Jackson this goes south the blood will be on YOUR hands.”

Jackson’s smirked did not waver “you want to bet on that mouse?” he said, putting his hand out.

Fendres rolls her nose and snorts “sure as the seven circles of hell backing Orien.” As she shakes his hand.

Jackson’s smirk grows once he sees Lexy and Varikin. “oh, perfect, today will be a combat exercise. With something I thought would be a bit more for your skill level.”

Lexy raised a brow but nodded “alright let me get ready.” Jackson nodded and Lexy put on her uniform and vest over her clothes. She equipped her utility belt with her father’s sword and her bow. On top of that, her last item was the splitter arrows.

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She turned to Jackson, “I’m ready.” He nodded with a smirk when Fendres and Saylis sighed. Varikin turned into his wolf form and Lexy looked to Jackson, “ok so who or what are we fighting?”

Jackson gave a mischievous look at Lexy, “just head over to the box and you’ll see.”

Lexy and Varikin glanced at each other and began carefully walking toward the small box. Once five feet away from it. The small black box flashed with light causing Lexy to glance away and then look back to see a large creature the size of a school bus.

Its many scleras are black while its pupils are a deep midnight purple. Its scaled body is a shiny black. It had at least ten eyes. It had an extra lower jaw that splits in half revealing the closed maw. Its claws are dark purple and six inches long. It has a long set of six legs, three on each side.

The creature leaped at Lexy, her eyes mesmerized by the creatures. But she doesn’t know why, why something about this monster felt very familiar. It only got as far as a cut on the cheek and shoulder when Varikin tackled the beast with his teeth. Lexy quickly took a few steps back. Blood softly trickled from her cheek.

Jackson’s eyes widened, “wait NO! That is not what was supposed to be in there. Lexy RUN!”

Fendres looked at him, “Wait what! What was supposed to be in there?”

Jackson looked to his fellow captain with wild eyes, “I had just sealed a flared cat. Who the hell switched this out for an actual demon!”

Lexy looked at this creature that was now twitching and going to attack again. Jacksons warning fell on deaf ears. It was strange, how there was this feeling in her chest that told her she was supposed to fight this thing.

Lexy quickly concentrated her energy on her fathers’ blade and with her other hand made a circular motion. Her palms began to heat up and it made a vibrant magic circle in the air. She made a forward motion.

Only for the scars on her wrists to glow a vibrant blue. Her palm began to burn and the markings glowed brighter. Desperate as Lexy saw the beast launch at Varikin she made a slash of purple magic at the demon with her blade. “Varikin look out!”

Varikin quickly dodged and Lexy watched in shock to see the demon split its body in half to doge the magic.

Jackson shouted again, “Lexy get out of there!”

Jackson and Fendres watched in terror when Lexy did not listen to the captain. He turned to Fendres who now had her crossbows ready and Jackson took out his sword. The two captains see Lexy send a charge of magic at the beast. Only for it to split its body in half to doge and then put itself back together.

The charge of magic hit a few feet away from the three. Saylis looked to Jackson “do you want me to engage?” Jackson nodded and the snake leaped off his neck and turned into her wolf form. Her blue crystals glimmered with her purple eyes when she headed in for an attack at the beast while it was fighting with Varikin.

The demon hissed and split itself in half to dodge the attack coming from Saylis and Varikin. Varikin rolled to the side to doge Saylis. The black wolf landed and huffed. Varikin stood back up to see the demon was no longer near them. But heading to Lexy.

Lexy saw the creature heading toward her and then it randomly changed its direction by rushing at Jackson and Fendres. Fendres fired her two crossbows at the creature and one hit while the other arrow missed. Jackson dodged a slash from one of the demon's many claws.

Jackson stabbed his blade into the side of the beast while it leaped into the air. The demon hissed from the injury and resumed its chase for Lexy. She quickly brought out her bow and fired a splitter arrow at the creature. The arrow screeched thru the air and splits, all five were a direct hit.

The arrows just stay in its body and for a short moment, Lexy didn’t think it worked until she saw the demon’s limbs begin to be covered in her magic. The creature went to leap at her while Lexy closed her eyes while she made another magic ring and went to make a forward motion.

Only for the now glowing chain scars to expand off her wrists into five chains of each wrist and float to seemingly nowhere. The chains halt all efforts to proceed with her attack. What was left of the demon falls into the portal. She looked with wide eyes at the chains connected to her wrists. Lexy stood up and the chains moved with her. No longer feeling like she’s being stopped, Lexy looked to her fellow members.

Only to see they were frozen like statues. Not because of the cold, at least it didn't feel cold to her. Lexy began to look around frantically when she started to hear the sound of hoof steps and the crackle of a fire. The lighting grew dim as the sound grew closer until a headless person came storming in while riding on a flaming skeletal horse. They had a sword on their hilt and their own severed head held by the hair in their left hand.

Could a severed head glare at someone? If not this head surly masters the allusion, “Know now child, should those bonds be broken. You will meet your end. By my blade or the law of nature.” The headless body kicked at the skeletal horse, “I will be watching this is your only warning.”

With a bolt of lightning, he was gone. Lexy looked around with wide eyes while Varikin huffed and Saylis walked up to her, “well I’ll take you two the medics to get those wounds and mine treated to keep it from being cursed. While you guys figure out what the hell just went wrong.”

Jackson and Fendres noded. While Lexy was taking a moment to try and understand what just happened. The three leave the training room. Lexy frowned “hey Saylis?”

The black wolf looked to her while leading the two through the halls “yes?”

Lexy looked to Saylis, “What is a creature called that rides a skeletal horse on fire, has its head in its arms, and is very spooky?”

Saylis raised a brow, “That’s oddly specific, but what I believe you're referring to is called a dullahan.”

Lexy furrowed her brows, “got it.”

Saylis stopped at a double-door entrance and opened one to reveal the medic bay. There were a few patients around the large room, some asleep and some awake. The nurses were going about their business. Saylis turned to her human form and turned to one of the nurses “hey where’s Salviris?”

The beast-blooded nurse smiled, “oh the doctor? He's over in his office.”

Saylis nodded, “got it” She led the two to the back of the infirmary to an orange-colored dragon blooded who was sitting on a desk while looking over some papers. Saylis coughed to get his attention.

Salvaris looked up “Oh hello Saylis and you.” He said, narrowing his eyes toward Lexy, “I don’t think I've ever seen you before young one.”

Lexy shrugged, “Oh I'm new and I'm Lexy nice to meet you?”

Salviris smiled, “oh my name is Salviris. Now I assume you didn’t come here just to talk.”

Saylis shook her head, “no we need holy water on our wounds do you have some?”

Salviris leaned to the other side of his desk and pulled out a white bottle, “yes you three get into a fight with a demon?”

Varikin nodded, “yea.”

Salveris looked to one of the nurses, “get some bandages soaked in this holy water for these three.” The nurse nodded and rushed to go do their given task. He turned back to the trio “show me your injuries.”

Salveris pulled up her sleeve revealing a slash in her arm.

Varikin lifted his shirt to show the bite mark on his side.

Lexy just pointed to her cheek. The nurse came back with soaked bandages and handed some to Salveris. The two begin bandaging the trio up. Salveris, once done with Varikin, changed his attention over to Lexy. “Alright, yours is on your cheek. Yes?”

Lexy nodded, “yea.”

With that, the dragon blooded Doctor snipped one of the bandages into a smaller piece and put it onto her cheek. While they grabbed some medical tape and used it to keep the bandage to her skin. “Alright, that’s all of you.”

Varikin smiled, “yes thank you and that is all.”

Salveris noded and dismissed the three.

The trio exit the sick bay and Saylis turned to the two, “I'll be helping Jackson clean up the training room. You two should head home and get some rest.”

Varikin hopped onto Lexy’s shoulder, “yes I agree.”

Lexy smiled, “Ok then see you tomorrow Saylis.”

****

Lexy and Varikin have just entered the forest. The blond on Varikin's back when she hopped off.

Varikin stopped “hey why did you stop?”

Lexy smirked, “I am going to train” Varikin watched as Lexy made a swift circle motion thru the air and to his surprise, a disk-like sphere appeared in front of her hand.

He frowned, “wait what about the whole chain thing?”

Lexy shrugs “I think it only happens when I try the attack and besides the more, I know the better.”

Varikin’s frown deepened, “I don’t like the idea of this but fine.”

Lexy, wandering about something, repeated the motion and a second one appeared in front of her other hand. She didn't feel any strain from this and now it’s time to test one of her questions. Lexy touched the one with her left hand. She felt no pain, so she put her hand into it and her hand appeared out of the one to her right. This proved her theory right; they were portals.

Lexy goes to put her whole arm through, and the two portals expand. Lexy looked at the other portal her arm is just floating out of it and she moves a bit “weird”

She pulled her arm out and decided to try something. The blond made a slash motion at the portal to her right and it dissipated. Lexy then walked forward five feet and made a portal above her as high as she could reach. She then turned back to the other portal, backed up, and ran at it. The portal quickly expanded and Lexy ended up jumping out of the other portal.

Lexy quickly closed the one she had gone through and made another portal higher than her current position. She fell back into the portal beneath her and jumped out of the new one and repeated what she did before.

Varikin watched as she reached a two-story height and then closed the one under her and let herself drop as she quickly created one above her and at the last second, she made one under her. This created a falling loop.

Varikin can’t help but chuckle when she started making funny faces each time she fell. She ended her loop and had a graceful landing. “ok I am ready for dinner after doing that I am tired but not as much as last time. I think next time I do this I should practice with bow and arrow”

Varikin nodded, “that’s good your body is getting more used to your magic so If I'm remembering things correctly. you mentioned you can shoot lasers from those portals and it was from using this that the blood king is now one-fourth def.?”

Lexy chuckled, “ya I wasn't aiming for his ear I was aiming for his head '' slight frustration in her voice.

Varikin could relate, “I understand you feel like you could have ended the suffering there, but you missed and it’s frustrating. But you must understand and look at all the other things you have accomplished so far. You have survived more than one encounter with the king and put damage on him you have helped create a new base for us as well as more than double the quality of our food and quantity I’d say those are all great accomplishments”

Lexy smiled, “oh thank you”

The duo began to walk to the mansion, “hey Varikin am I the only one who has noticed Thokath’s recent strange behavior?”

Varikin had noticed the man’s change of behavior as of late. He seemed much more nervous or tired. “yes, actually I wonder what has him so stressed lately”

The two enter the mansion and Thokath does not look nearly as stressed. He was eating a cookie while staring at a chessboard and then he noticed Lexy and Varikin, “oh, hi Lexy, Varikin dinner should be ready in ten minutes. How about you go wash up, you look like you just ran a marathon”

Lexy gave a sheepish smile and when he was just out of range she mumbled “you have no idea”

Lexy walked up the stairs to head to her bedroom and Varan was about to pass her when a question came to mind for him, “Hey Varan I’ve seen you read a lot of history I have a question for you.”

Varan stopped and closed his book “ok shoot”

Lexy scratched her arm, “I know the basics of the American Revolution, but I was curious didn’t they have a flag before the American flag? I think it involved a snake?”

Varan scratched his chin, “yes actually it was the don’t tread on me. The flag is yellow as the background but has a rattlesnake on it I think I have seen a few of them for sale at the big box store”

Excitement filled Lexy’s eyes, “thank you!”

But does not hear Varan’s reply, “any time kid”

Lexy rushed up the stairs and checked her medicine. A cold rush of fear rushes up to her spine. She only has three pills left. She hopes she can make it. Lexy put on a fresh set of clothes and went to the restroom to clean up her face. Lexy headed downstairs, entered the dining room, and took a seat by Varan and Leslie.

Lexy still has some questions for him. “Hey, Varan.”

Varan flips through a page in a book he is reading “ya still got some questions for me?” Lexy nods yes “All alright let's hear it”

She thinks of her first question. “I know the basics of guerilla warfare, but do we still use it now?”

Varan noded “yes a lot actually, but a bit more modern per se. The military uses what is called gully suet. This suet lets you attach plants to it as well as whatever else you think will help camouflage you from the enemy; it's basically suet that is made from loosely tied string and clips. To even tunnels between buildings.”

Lexy gave a soft smile, “thank you Varan”

Varan went back to reading his book, “yup” food was served and Lexy never felt hungrier. She didn’t wolf it down, but the first plate did not fill her up nearly enough. Lexy stopped one of the butlers passing by, “excuse me but could I get another serving please”

The butler nodded and picked up her plate to bring it back to the kitchen. “hungry?” Carin asked, raising a brow.

Lexy nodded, “ya I have had more of an appetite lately and I don’t know why”

Carin gave a soft smile, “hey you might be going thru a growth spurt then you won’t be so short”

Lexy gave out a snort, “hey I am not”

Varan closed his book, “actually you’re only about three feet tall, which is very short for someone your age so I would be worried if you don’t hit a growth spurt.”

Lexy huffed and the butler from prior brought her second helping of food. Lexy hastily ate it. Now finished her meal Lexy stood up, “I am going to head to bed early because I am heading to the forest early with Varikin”

Thokath nodded, “alright just make sure and grab a snack before you head out there, I don’t need you starving”

Lexy gave a smile and a thump up, “you know it”

She headed upstairs, Varikin now at her trail and the two entered the bedroom. Varikin laid down on the dark blue plush dog bed and began to fall into sleep. She did not bother to change her outfit and just cuddled into her blankets and plush toys. Falling into her land of dreams.