Act 1 Declaration

“WHAT A LOAD OF MUCK!” a terrifyingly large deep voice spoke as the earth trembled with each of the giant’s steps.

And then it emerged from the lake with his head turning, its eyes were glowing red, and as it stood, it was much taller than the pole the princess was tied to.

“She’s trying to fool us all! I will drink her blood and prove it!” The giant’s hand tried reaching for the princess.

“Stop that!” The elder yelled, and the monster was stopping but, still I made my move.

“Wind burst!” I yelled as I casted one of my prepared spells.

A great burst of wind blew into the giant out balancing him, making him take a few steps backwards.

“I will not let you lay your scaled hand on the princess!” I loudly said as I stood up and felt my connection to Arcana coursing through me, and as well as the heat upon my blood, my connection to the princess urging my heart.

“Enough! We have already lost, everyone of us in this tribe needs immortal bodies, for this reason alone we cannot kill the princess nor can we kill each other for her cursed gift.” The chief spoke and I saw many of the fishmen listened, as well as the giant one that had gained his balance.

“CHIEF! Say as you may, but I cannot allow this, if this girl escapes it frightens me of the retribution she’ll unleash upon our tribe!” The giant fishman loudly answered as he pointed at the princess but looked at me.

“Then, let us settle this according to the ancient laws, a duel between champions.” The princess started her masked was that of absolute confidence.

“If you win this contest, I shall overlook your tribe's transgressions.” The princess said towards the giant, it took only a moment before he answered.

“Agreed.” He said as he walked towards the elder.

“Shiro, can you be a dear?” She asked and I jumped up only reaching half way and then started air walking the rest of my way towards her, I quickly cut her free with a pocket knife and then carried her towards the chief.

“You know princess, I think you should let Lizel fight for you.” I suggested it to her as I carried her down, she was lighter than I expected.

“I plan to, you're lucky I like your new Nee-san, Shiro.” I laughed at her answer and rib against me.

“I’m not calling her that anymore, she has beaten that habit out of me.” I answered as we made it towards the Chief, Lizel and the Giant fishman.

“Be a dear Lizel, I know you didn’t follow us just because of a helmet.” The princess said as we approached, Lizel looked at me and I gave a smile and a nod, which she returned.

“I get it princess, I'll be your champion.” Lizel said as she stepped forward to meet the giant who had already taken his place in the clearing.

“HA HA HA! You would send a little girl, princess! HA!” The giant said amused as it’s long arms drummed it’s chest.

“Do not laugh! My name is Lizel Whitefang, Daughter of the great warrior Viggle Whitefang, I accept the honor of serving as the princess Komiko’s champion! I hereby challenge you to a duel.” Lizel’s arms transformed, I heard as everyone cheered at the prospect of being forgiven, so easily.

Act 2 Request

“Wait!” I shouted, making everyone stop and look at me, even the champions as they looked confused, as I walked into the middle of them

“Please, I beg you all, can I say a small prayer before the match?” I told them all while I looked at the princess and the chief while I motioned the princess too look up, it made her look up and saw what I saw.

The moon was covered by a thick shade of clouds, she immediately understood and spoke to the chief and then the chief shouted.

“Let the boy pray, before the match, let him beg to his gods.” The giant nodded, laughing and the other fishmen cheered louder, while insulting me.

“Look at the fool! It wouldn’t matter! Ha ha ha! The human thinks himself a shaman!” The fishmen insulted and laughed.

I smiled at the princess and winked at Lizel, as I looked towards the hundreds of laughing fishmen, as I placed my hand towards the sky and spoke in a voice of abyssal worship.

“Oh Nix! Lady of the night, let me pray in your realm!” The bonfires around us turned cold and dimmed, as the shadows on our feat started dancing, fear erupted from the once laughing fishmen.

“Shiro what. . .” Lizel almost asked but I continued, ignoring her.

“Hear me! Princess Kaguya! Hear your son, for he only asks for you to show us your blessed light!” Then the dancing shadows disappeared, and the fires roared brighter than ever.

But they were mere candles compared to the silver moon, as the clouds parted like the sea before Noah, and her light pierced through us all.

“WOOO!!!” the illusionary head of a great white wolf many times larger than the giant fishman howled behind me.

I watched as many of the fishmen clutched their ears in pain, some kneeling in agony.

“Alright this duel is now fair!” I announced as I walked back towards the princess as the wolf illusion disappeared behind me.

The princess gave me a very judging look as the duel commenced and of course with the Moon shining so brightly Lizel was easily pummeling the giant fishman to the ground, as he fought back with his own hits, but they did nothing.

“Sorry for showing off, princess.” I said, giving her a cocky smile.

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“No, no, he's losing!” The chief said weakly.

“No one can go blow for blow, against a werewolf underneath a full moon, especially a moon like that. Lizel will be winning this duel.” The princess said confidently.

“Huh? But doesn’t that mean will be. . .” The elder wasn’t able to finish his words, his eyes fearful as he looked at me.

“Your transgression means nothing to me.” The princess was being merciful again.

“It’s not as if I don’t understand your hatred towards the Royal Family. I’ll take it as water over the bridge.” She said lastly as she looked down on the chief.

“Because we're fish?” I laughed at their talk, which made the others around us start to laugh too.

“Good one princess, but I’m not satisfied with that.” I said as everyone around us stopped laughing, and started looking violent as I looked their chief in the eye, and he frowned.

“And what would satisfy you, oh great priest, and guardian of the princess.” I smiled at him, as he was deceived that I was some kind of powerful priest.

“Simple, a hundred liters of your tribe's blood and a dozen scales from each member of your tribe.” That was my request and I said easily with a smile.

“That’s too much boy!” The old chief said angrily, gaining back his spine, as well as those around us.

But he returned into despair, as I raised my right fist, as the entirety of my body was bathed by the light of the moon, making my white hair shimmer.

Every fishman around us clutched their necks in agonizing pain, and those farther gave us a fearful wide berth.

“I. . I. . .” The chief was struck fearful beyond tears, and those around us lost all the fight in them as they were all kneeling in pain begging for mercy and then I heard the princess sigh.

“Shiro, I am showing them mercy, if you continue showing them your wrath, then I will be disappointed in you.” I wasn’t brave enough to look at my lady, but I understood her tone and she was unhappy, so I opened my fist.

As I opened my hand, I heard many relieved breaths around us, the chief himself looking at the princess behind me as a goddess and me as a devilish demon.

I turned around, and gave the princess an apologetic bow and then looked back at Lizel who had already won her duel, raising her fist making everyone cheer her in fear and respect.

Act 3 Favour

As the fishmen fished out Flenna from the bottom of the lake, as I was meditating on a stomp near within sight of the princess and Lizel, they spoke to each other, on the shores of the lake.

“Princess, I have a favor to ask.” Lizel started, her voice heavy.

“Consider it done” The princess said easily.

“I haven’t even told you what it is!” Lizel said loudly, becoming annoyed.

“I’ve come to understand you even before we came here.” The princess answered.

“There’s no need to say it.” The princess finished, in her superiority masked voice.

“Ahk. . . And now you're just being difficult. Please let me say it atleast.” Lizel relented and started to speak calmly.

“Princess, you may be the one who killed my beloved brother.” Lizel’s voice was now sad, but it was somehow at peace.

“But I know my real enemy is the one who made big brother Vi, go after you.” Now I hear Lizel’s hatred as she spoke.

“It’s the one who took me hostage, and turned my brother into an honorless traitor.” The anger in Lizel was there, but now it was cold, rather than the one I felt the first time we met.

“Everyone knows about the succession war of the young royals, your siblings are trying too off each other.” Lizel started, I opened my eyes and saw they weren’t looking at each other but at the lake.

“I know one of your siblings is my enemy, and that’s the person I’m going to kill. But to do that. . .” Lizel Said as she looked over the princess.

“You need us to work together.” Lizel wasn’t shocked as the princess finished her words.

“If we worked together, you’ll eventually get your chance, did I guess right?” The princess questioned as she didn’t meet the eyes of Lizel.

“Yes, you're right, is it okay though? I think it’s awful that I want you to kill one of your siblings.” Lizel said, her voice heavy with the request.

“It’s fine.” The princess said in sadness.

“You're a warrior right?” The princess changed the subject as she looked back and met Lizel’s eyes, then they turned back towards the lake.

“You live for the battlefield, it's your nature and station to be a warrior. That’s what you are, Lizel.” The princess stated, and it made Lizel smile.

“I’m not sure, I am just a half-breed after all.” Lizel said as the two had a silent moment as shouting was heard in the distance, probably Flenna being fished out.

“Huh, good that Flenna’s alright.” I said.

“What! Shiro! How long were you up there?” Lizel was shocked as I was floating above them looking towards where Flenna was being fished.

“Oh just now, I came when I heard the shouting.” I smiled at her as I looked at the lake.

“It’s a beautiful place, I might come back here some other time.” I said to them, as the sun started to come down.

“Yeah we should.” Lizel answered as she looked at what I was looking at.

Act 4 Farewells

“We're deeply sorry, princess, for the disrespect we’ve shown you.” The elder spoke as the sun was setting and most of their tribe was there to send us off.

“We’re extremely grateful for the mercy you showed us. . . though we will never again serve under the Royal Family, if you personally ever need our help for anything at all, you need only to ask.” The elder finished.

“I also want to thank you Chief for giving me what I requested.” I said cordially as the fishmen tied a barrel of blood and a crate filled with scales on top of the old muscle car.

“Cough. . . well, you’ve shown us mercy as well, Lord Shiro, it would swamp our pride if we failed to meet your request.” The Chief said his smile strained.

“Farewell!” They all said as we drove away back to Maplewood town.

“Shiro?” The princess said my name, as I put on a mask of wood over my face.

“Yes princess?” I questioned back as I started knitting the large scales they gave me together.

“From now on I'll buy you monster parts, you don’t need to keep collecting from the enemies that comes after us.” The princess spoke, and her words shocked me.

“That’s a thing? There’s a monster parts market?” I was surprised so I stopped knitting.

“There is, but the kingdoms only permit the sale of the body parts of non-sentient monsters.” I started thinking and then I remembered something.

“Wait you don’t really pay me princess, you pay my sister but you don’t really give me a monthly wage, I thought the looting I do against your enemies was my wage?” I asked as I was under the impression we were doing an old medieval era thing.

My question visibly shook the princess, as she opened her eyes, and a look of anger painted her pale face, but it was not directed at me, and then she gave a breath and she was once again calm.

“No, Shiro, your monster looting is not your payment for serving me, I just didn’t know that all humans expected payment to render their service.” She answered, as she started looking at the dark farmfield we were passing by.

“Sorry to say this princess but we do, we need payment to survive, and to improve ourselves. Even in the very beginning humans worked for others for food, for shelter, for other things, now most humans work for money.”

I explained to her as I went back to stitching the scales together and continued.

“I thought you were paying me in some kind of feudal era way, cause you're a princess and all, and you even called me your vassal.” I kept explaining as I finished the first chain.

“In feudal Yamato, A vassal means a person of nobility, that would protect their liege once called upon.”

“Using the value of their lands to pay armed men to lead and protect their liege lord, and being paid with plunder.” I finished explaining as I showed the first sheet to the princess.

But she looked very tired and stressed, as her hand was on her forehead, and then she looked at me, with a look I couldn't read.

“Shiro enough, I would have preferred you simple, much like the kid you had replaced, but it seems you are both simple and not, alright I’ll pay you a monthly wage of the kingdom's currency and an allowance of monster parts.” I smiled, very thankful.

“But in exchange, please stop making situations that will let you loot more monster parts alright? We had already won over the fishmen, you didn’t need to extort them.” As the princess finished speaking she smiled.

“But it is hilarious that those fishmen started calling you a lord.” She added as she cupped her mouth, as she hid her laugh, I laughed too but then I stopped.

“Wait, shouldn't I be though? Princess you just never knighted me, but am I not an unofficial lord of your kingdom as someone part of your court?” I asked as the princess looked at me and then became even more amused as she laughed.