-??? Pov-

  It was a harrowing night.

  The moonlight luminates the sole road leading deeper to the forest .

  The path from grande militia towards the holy city freesia, the nd of snow elves are thinning.

  The colpse of the dark citadel of kristia spreads corruption to the nd.

  But that is not the main topic for tonight.

  A speeding carriage pulled by 2 horses maniputed by a female galloping towards the deeper forest.

  Inside the carriage are 3 muscur mercenaries armed with a crossbow and a dy holding a rod intercepts the ones chasing them.

  Yes. They are currently chased by orcs.

  The orcs possess muscur strength that grows the more damage they received.

  As such, the mercenaries aimed for the limbs.

  Each fire, each shot.

  Carries a weight and intensity they feel.

  Yet, this is not a story akin to a fariy tale.

  Rock.

  A single rock.

  Along the road.

  Tipped the scales.

  Wrecked the wheels causing the carriage to fall.

  In an instant, 10 orcs sorrounded them.

  Their only saving grace is the fact that beside the road is a river.

  Unfortunately, the orcs also realized this.

  In a hurry, the orcs seized the momentum.

  In just a swing of the hammer, the oldest mercenary smashed ft on the ground.

  The younger one holding the shoudlers of the dy holding a rod spoke.

  "Bring our savior with you."

  "But what about you two?"

  In a panic and sadness, the dy replied as she held the unconscious woman controlling the horses earlier.

  "It's fine. Don't mind us. Saving her in exchange of our life suits us. Don't forget who took us in when we are young and hopeless!"

  His voice woke her spirit up.

  Indeed, their rag tag group won't be here without the person in her arms.

  She is their light.

  She is their hope.

  She is the one who taught them.

  This unconscious merchant treated them as if they are her family.

  The guy who spoke looks at her one st time before the sound of the hammer crushes once more revealing another one of them burried beneath it's strike.

  With one final nod, the guy screamed.

  "GREATER STRENGTH!"

  As he shouts, his muscle swelled.

  The dy understood what she must do.

  And so she spoke as well.

  "BARRIER!"

  An invisible force embraced the two girls huddled together.

  The guy pulled his fist and with one decisive strike, he punched the barrier.

  Combined with his strength, the ball of protection roleld few steps away then fall to the river which is carried by it's raging current.

  Normally rivers are not like this.

  But here in this demonic corrupted forest, the nature is altered.

  And there once more,

  Blood flows in the earth as the orcs stump their feet on the ground as if saying they are the victors.

  -The next day-

  -??? pov-

  "Urgh... Where I am..."

  She slowly opened her eyes.

  As she did, she realized the spell are still activated.

  "Thank god... It didn't stopped when I fell asleep."

  It was her heartfelt sigh that woke the other unconscious girl.

  "Hnnng..."

  The spellcaster looks at her with mixed emotions.

  Despite her tender age of 17, she already imprinted herself, her name to the world of economy as a known merchant.

  Using her father's conenctions, she built a series of deals across grande militia and the low vilges around grand militia giving slight hope that the goods still arrive at their pce.

  "Miri? Where are we?"

  She spoke with a curious tone as she move her head sideways look around.

  They are now at the side of a road which looks like a grassnds.

  Miri stopped the barrier now that the one in her arms are awake.

  "Sorry Hilde. Everyone is gone... It's just us too... Hicc..."

  Tears now start flowing out of her eyes.

  The sadness she is holding started rushing in.

  Her brother.

  Her two friends.

  The group from childhood.

  The companionship they shared from rags to what they have now.

  All gone.

  Hilde pulled her face towards her chest and caresses her head.

  "I'm sorry... It's because of me..."

  Miri shakes her head as she burry her face to her chest before facing Hilde.

  "Don't... It was our decision. We... You are our hope. Our light... We and we will always choose your safety... It's just that ... It's too fast..."

  Miri felt a sting in her heart.

  What started as her needing some staff whoch is why she took them in.

  To feeling the taste of family that she never felt at home.

  Which is why Miri and her friends always make Hilde conflicted.

  She loved them it's true.

  But her reason of taking them in is not as holy as they think.

  "Still... Sorry. And let's keep on trying."

  "I know... After all... Grande militia no longer feels the same."

  The two can only look at the east where grande militia lies.

  As they huddle in tears, a voice calls on them.

  "Umm... Hello?"

  -Returns to Aina pov-

  "Umm... Hello?"

  Infront of me lies two girls hugging each other.

  Their clothes are full of tear, splinters, dirt and some blood.

  But still, this is the first time I saw another human beside me which made me call on them while I am surveying the area before expanding the base.

  It was 2 weeks after my first birth and I already gave birth to 3 goblins in total thanks to their insistence of breeding with me every night.

  That said, I decided to atleast improve our livelihood which is why I made some iron weapons and tools for the goblins, raised the walls with cobblestones, expand the farms atleast twice and taught them ways to fish or hunt.

  Now our base looks cramped which is why I am looking around our base now thinking of ways how to expand.

  Anyways, the 2 infront of me are clearly defensive as they tensed when they saw me.

  Or to be precise the short one wearing a better set of clothes than the other holding a cane.

  I noticed their aura fluctuates to blue and grey meaning they are afraid and clearly suspicious towards me but they don't harbor any ill intent.

  "I'm Aina. May I know your names?"

  I decided to be the good guy here.

  With a rexed posture, I moved a little closer to them atleast 2 feet away, and hunch towards them so we are now at the same eye level.

  "Miri... And this is Hilde. You are not clearly from Grande Militia. May I know where you are from?"

  The one holding a rod asked me as she clenches her hold on her weapon.

  Ignoring that might be the best move for now so they won't think I am wary of her rod.

  "I am living in a small base just over there."

  Replying as I point at the walls distance behind me.

  The two look at each ither and swipe their eyes before looking at each other once more.

  "How could something like this be built near here?"

  The short one asked this time.

  It seems they can't believe how.

  "This is supposed to be a dangerous pce right?"

  She added.

  The spellcaster can only nod her head as well before looking at me again.

  But as she is about to speak, I heard the short one mumble something.

  "Be careful... I can see that she is hiding a rge amount of mana. And it's not even decreasing at all "

  (Mana? It seems she also got some kind of eyes. i wonder what it is. But for now let's pretend I didn't hear her.)

  The spellcaster nods before she inhale and exhales.

  "May I ask why are you hear? We thought grande militia is the st pce that is considered as safe for humans."

  (So there is a pkace for humans... At least I get to know. For now... How to address this...)

  As I am thinking of a way to answer her question, I heard something spoke inside my head.

  "Just tell them I sent you here Aina."

  In reflex, I looked up and saw the sky.

  Then I tried thinking if my reply as well.

  (Al? Are you sure?)

  "Of course. Just say I am a reincarnator sent by Altair."

  (If you say so...)

  I look back at the two and replied.

  "You may not believe it but I am not from this world. I am sent by a goddess named Altair. "

  Their eyes opened wide upon hearing my reply.

  "Altair? As in the creator god?"

  The short one spoke in hurry and excitement in her voice.

  "Ummm yes."

  "So that's why your mana is so huge I can't even see the end..."

  She nods as she looks at me from my feet up towards the sky.

  (So that's why... She must be looking at my so called mana.)

  "But why here? If the goddess sent you... You could have helped the humans right? One hero is not enough to survive in this damned world."

  The sorcerer spoke.

  Her voice carries weight, hate and sadness.

  "Miri..."

  The shorter one helds her hand.

  "Actually... It's only few weeks since I arrived so...and I am not fan of fighting as well so I am content here."

  I smiled and look at the walls of our base.

  "I see..."

  Her response might be cold but I can tell that she understands what I said.

  "I would love to invite you guys in but... I'm not actually living alone here."

  "Does that mean there are other humans there?"

  I look at the shorter girl which is named Hilde and shook my head.

  "They are goblins..."

  "HUHHHHH!!!"

  Their voice are so loud that I almost covered my ears.

  "Why are you living with them? Did they perhaps kidnap you?"

  Hilde rush towards me and started investigating my body as if looking for any signs of hurt.

  "No... Actually..."

  As I was about to say something, hilde's hands touched my belly and she frozed.

  "You... You got a bump... That means..."

  I nod with face full of embarrassment.

  "Why? Did they raped you?"

  "Ye- well I mean no at first they did but we reached agreement and I kind of agreed as well..."

  (Gosh... Expining this is so embarrassing.)

  "A...anyways, please come in. I will make a different house for you two so you can stay and rest for now."

  The two looks at each other before hilde voiced out her thoughts.

  "Make? Won't that take long?"

  (Oh I forgot only the goblins saw me do it.)

  "Well... It's fine cause I can do things like this."

  As I walk infront of them, I waved my hand in the air and in an instant, a wine gss with grape juice appeared in which, I gave the two before I also make one for myself and took a sip infront of them to assure that it is not poisonous.

  "Creation... I thought it's a lost magic..."

  Miri whispers to Hilde while Hilde simply nods in awe before tasting the drink.

  "Sweet..."

  The two then followed me inside without question as I can feel them tensed after they saw the goblins doing odd jobs like tilling the fields or fixing the well that got it's rope cut st night.

  Soon enough, they got shocked again when I literally just created a house simir to what I have appear in the thin air instantly.

  Miri almost fainted.

  I leaved the two as they enter before I return tot he goblins and continue our supposed work of expanding the base.

  -Miri's POV-

  -night-

  "This pce is mysterious..."

  "Indeed..."

  "And someone strong like her, do those things with the goblins... The world is really big out there."

  Miri sighs before she flops on the edge of the bed.

  Hilde, currently ying on bed naked snuggles closer to Miri.

  The two are not by any means in a retionship.

  Or at the very least, not in an official one.

  They secretly spend the nights together like this ever since the day Miri obtained the ability to cast magic.

  According to Miri, her spell draws from the energies obtained from physical contact.

  Afraid to ask someone else, she told Hilde about it and somehow became to what they are now.

  "In any case, we can't return to the kingdom now."

  "Yes. Considering the nobles aiming for you."

  "Curse that pig prince trying to force my hand in marriage."

  "Then... Want to stay here?"

  Miri felt the need to ask since the way Hilde looks by the window, the way she looks at the items inside, thats how she always look at things when inspecting any items or products to sell.

  "The pce is good. The goblins feel behaved or maybe they are under her leash or something."

  "Or maybe she is under their leash."

  Miri replied shaking her head.

  "Don't be like that. She is a good one. Strong too. Maybe why they are so obedient to her. Plus everyone have different tastes in love right?"

  Hilde winks at Miri making her blush and looked away.

  "Let's stay here. Is that alright for you Miri?"

  "Well... The group is gone. I will miss them and we don't have anywhere else to go. I just hope we can do something here atleast to help.

  (After all I don't want to feel indebted to someone other than you...)

  Miri looks at Hilde before smiling.

  Then as the fire in the mp flickers, Miri crawls towards Hilde, and gently push her back to bed to start what they are doing again.

  FriedBeans