“Sorry, chief,” Fiara bowed. “I'll tell you as soon as I know. When Adelai wakes up, I'll ask her about it.”

Hm? Adelai? Could that be the name of her mind seed?

“Is that your mind seed? It sleeps?”

“Yes.”

“I see. That’ll be fine then.”

If she doesn't know, I can't help it. I have other things to do anyway.

First, I’ve been sitting around all morning. Let’s go do some exercises to help get used to this body. I run a few laps around the village, then practice swinging my weapon in the usual spot. I try to fly once again, but land painfully on the ground as expected. I spend more than an hour training myself.

The reality is, I’m running away right now. In the back of my mind is the comment Fiara made about momma. She wouldn’t really be keeping secrets from me after all this time, right? If she is, there must be a reason. Something like: “I didn’t want to burden you with such a heavy responsibility,” or “I thought you should choose how your life goes, instead of leaving things to destiny,” or even “I was waiting until you’d grown up a little.”

I think I’d rather not confront her about it and just believe it’s like that.

Oops. I’m ignoring the Humans again. Since I’m running from reality anyway, let’s go talk to them.

Except, when I see the Humans, they seem to be getting their things ready to leave.

“Um, isn’t there still another two days before you have to leave?” I asked, tilting my head.

“We agreed we’ve seen enough,” Armin answered me, slinging his pack over his shoulder. “It’s convenient you came over. Now we don’t have to track you down to say goodbye.”

Are they really satisfied with only two days? Maybe they miss Human amenities too much.

Will they really keep it secret?

It’s a little late to be asking myself that, I know. I’m showing them honesty and trust in hopes that we can get along in the future, but if they aren’t decent people to begin with, my efforts will have been wasted.

“Well, have a safe trip,” I smile, feeling slightly worried inside.

“Thanks, we’ll try,” Samael smiled warmly.

“Can I have a keepsake?” Runa asked, holding her hand out. “I showed you my Magic Tool after all.”

“Ah, a keepsake, is it? What would be good, I wonder,” I put my chin in my hand and pondered it.

“How about a feather?” she offered, her face turning ever so slightly pink.

That’s a good idea. I lift one wing up and pluck a nice feather off of it. It’s already growing back by the time I hand the old one to Runa. She takes it and slips it in her bag. I look at Samael.

“Do you want something too?”

“No, I’m fine,” he shook his head. That expression on his face says that it looked painful to pluck one of my own feathers. He’s a good guy, I guess. Or maybe just squeamish.

“I don’t think we’ll see each other again soon, but I’ve been wrong before. Seeya later, Vyra.” Armin waved and lead the others off.

I watched them for a while, until they had completely gone, then headed for where momma usually practices her fire magic.

“Hey, momma,” I called out. “I have a house for you.”

She turned and smiled when she saw me. “Hey baby. You make me my own house? Thoughtful baby.”

“Well, the Humans decided to leave, so the house they were using opened up.”

“They gone already? They is very faster than the last group.”

I reached up to scratch under my hat, because my head was somewhat itchy, and I felt that my hair had started to grow. “Oh!” I pulled my hat off. “My hair is growing. How does it look?”

Momma tilted her head, and I’m not sure she understood the question. “Mmm, fuzzy.”

I chuckled. “Let me guess. Is it brown like Irsha, Fiara, and Babett?”

To my surprise, momma shook her head back and fourth. “Nope. It red, like blood.”

Really? I thought it would be the same for sure. It’s too short right now, so I can’t see it. I leave to find a pot with water in it and examine my appearance. It’s hard to judge my hair color like this, but it seems to be red. And not that orange color “redheads” have. I mean actual red.

Feeling happy that my hair is growing, I decide to go check on Fiara. Maybe, uh, Adelai has woken up by now.

… It’s a little like I have a friend who has multiple personality disorder. Well, but since it’s a voice in her head… schizophrenia?

I think I prefer this magical soul infection to those real and serious mental diseases, though.

On my way back, I glance at momma training in the distance. My heart suddenly sounds louder to me, and I gulp nervously.

Sorry, but I have to know. I let out a breath and focus my eyes on her back. .

Name: Oolga

Age: 5 years 26 days

Gender: Cisgender Female

Race: Orc (Pending evolution in 3340068 units); Monster

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Skills (Embedded): 6/6 skill slots.

, , , , ,

Skills (Learned):

Blessings:

Perfect Omnivore (Orc)

Curses:

Unending Hunger (Orc)

Status:

Body: Fulfilled (mating instincts deactivated)

Heart: Excited (bloodlust)

Mind: Focused (spellcasting)

Soul: Unstable (awaiting evolution)

Spirits, what does do?

[[Information is accessible. allows the user to receive the voice of higher level beings to predict moments of great importance. It is listed as a rare skill.]]

It’s likely that she knew I was the Orc Lord and hid it from me, but I can’t be sure without asking her. Since I don’t have the courage for that right now, the question is still up in the air.

***

The three humans walked quietly for several minutes after leaving the Orc village. Runa used and her eyes shone with an orange light. She surveyed their surroundings, detecting no movement or heat signatures. Confident they weren’t followed, she said what was on her mind.

“So are we going to tell the guild about that village?”

“I thought we decided they were peaceful,” Samael frowned, tilting his head. “And I thought you were friendly with their chief.”

“They’re still a threat, though. Three of them have already evolved. They can read and write and speak three different languages. They’ve learned to farm and form organized hunting groups. It’s fine while they’re isolated here, but how far will we let it go? Are we going to live side by side one day? Give Orcs visas to enter the city?”

Runa thought the chief’s wings were stunning, but there were other winged monsters out there. It wouldn’t be a loss if anything happened to this one. She already had a picture, and even a feather, to remember her by.

“Samael, what’s the church’s myth about the creation of monsters?”

He answered easily, without even having to stop and ponder. “The Gods and Lords of Darkness each had a hand in the birth of Monsters. The Gods made them to be a resource, and the Lords of Darkness made them to be a threat.”

“And what’s the church’s policy on dealing with Monsters?” she pressed.

Samael frowned, but answered her question with practiced speech. “Hunt Monsters without guilt, but don’t interact with them. Slay any Monsters that try to act like descendants.”

“So you should also want to turn them in, right? You’re a god fearing Cleric, right?”

Samael frowned. “Isn’t it different when the Monster leading was blessed by the Gods?”

“Then include that in your report,” Runa shrugged. She glanced at Armin. “Are you still planning to keep it a secret?”

He watched her for a minute with a grim expression, then nodded. “Yeah.”

Runa glared. “Just because you promised? Tell me there’s a better reason.”

Armin looked at her with half-shut eyes. “My survival instincts tell me to.”

“Tch,” Runa glared at him. “Such a coward.”

Feeling irked, she moved ahead to scout. Armin let out a small sigh while Samael followed behind. Runa’s words had forced him to contemplate if, as a Cleric, he could really keep the village a secret, despite having given his word.