Aleria glided through the forest canopy, weaving in between stray branches. The dozen fairies had taken up positions around her, scanning their surroundings, bodies on high alert ready to take out any threats. However, she could tell they clearly didn’t know what they were doing.

Whether it was shaking their heads to-and-fro instead of panning across an area, or the nervous twitches at the slightest noise. None of these fairies were combatants and that painted a grim picture about the dire straights they were in.

This made Aleria’s mind stray back to what Miia said about the fairies past and present circumstances. Their colony had received its livelihood through tending to honey bees. The produced honey was then taken and mixed with mana-rich herbs, producing mana rich honey that provided the fairies their sustenance.

All was fine until it wasn’t. Something happened causing the bee hives queen to mutate, or evolve, into a monster. It then proceeded to break the magical shackles binding the bees to fairy control, command other evolved bees to chase the fairies out their homes, killing hundreds in the process.

The previous queen—the owner of this body—stayed behind to become a distraction so her people to flee safely. Which most likely ended with the queen being struck in the wing and then wandering along the forest floor until she succumbed to death’s embrace.

And then I died and possessed her body. Aleria finished.

She still had difficulty wrapping her mind around the fact that their enemies were bees, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter, she had encountered stranger things.

What trouble Aleria most, however, were the parallels between her previous world’s humans and now these fairies. While the scale differed, both were on the edge of extinction.

For better or worse she was now responsible for the lives and deaths of this colony, and she would be dammed if let them go down that road. I shall lead these fairies to the victory I could never give in my past life! After all, that is what a true knight would do!

***

A sorry sight greeted Aleria as she—and the others—flew through an opening in the thick canopy, entering into a picturesque clearing, complete with a stream of trickling water, soothing her ears.

While her eyes and ears captured the beauty, her mind analyzed the terrain for its tactical and strategic benefit. No way can we stay here, it’s far too open.

This beautiful grove had been sullied by the not so beautiful state of aimless fairies. The contrast of the scene somehow made her feel even worse about the situation.

These wandering fairies showed no signs of what monster books from her previous life associated with fairykind. There were no smiles here, no laughter, no playing around, certainly no tricks. It made for a depressing sight, painfully reminding Aleria once more of the final days during her previous life. Even more overlap. Is this really a coincidence? She didn’t like the implications of that train of thought.

All of them were haggard and lifeless. None seemed to carry any possessions, showing that their retreat had been hasty. At least they seemed to have kept themselves busy building crude shelters out of twigs and leaves, instead of falling into further despair through inaction.

However, they changed when they spotted the newcomers—or more specifically their queen—as the dreary depression became lighthearted relief, as if her presence was a second rope after they had reach the end of their first.

This could become addicting. Nobody had ever looked at her with such hope and gratefulness, she hadn’t even done anything yet and already they had found the light.

I will live up to your expectations, the sight reaffirmed Aleria’s desire to lead these fairies to glory and prosperity, in memory of their previous queen and all the dead. No, these are my people now. Remembrance is important, but it’s still the past. There is a future to look toward. I will not tolerate failure ever again!

Aleria and the dozen fairies that found her—their own excitement just as palpable—landed in front of the gathering crowd. Each bent the knee one-by-one like an ocean wave as her gaze swept over them. Her regal aura had let itself loose, seemingly knowing what was occurring.

I should probably give a speech right? Raise their hopes and everything, Aleria thought. What do I even say though? The only speeches I’ve given were on the battlefield to soldiers, not civilians. Even then, I usually fought alone and didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

She narrowed her eyes, Or maybe that is exactly what I should give: a battlefield speech.

Deciding on a course of action Aleria began, “You have all suffered…” She paused.

“Many of you have lost loved ones, suffered permanent injuries, and all of you have lost your homes… I never expected that such thing could happen, thus never prepared. For that you have my sincerest apologies.”

The fairies surrounding her shuffled uncertainly, while those kneeling looked perturbed at how their queen admitted her fault and even apologized.

Aleria ignored their reactions. “But now is not yet the time to grieve! We all have much to do... We cannot stay here, for it’s too exposed! We must press onward and find proper shelter!”

She waited, letting that sink in before continuing. Their wasn’t even the slightest ripple of disappointment from the crowd, they seemed willing to accept her commands at face value.

“However, take heed! It shall all be fleeting, for we will take the fight to the bees! We will reclaim our homes! We will bury our dead! And we will grow strong so that nothing can ever threaten us again!”

Heated incomprehensible whispers drifted into Aleria’s ears as the crowd grew animated. She couldn’t make heads or tails of what was being said but they sounded excited, and that was enough.

“Now, rise sisters and prepare! I shall find us new shelter and we shall prosper!”

Aleria spun around to addressed those behind her, “You lot, with me.” Before staking off toward the nearby stream. She heard a second of confused chattering before their trailing footsteps.

As she carved a path through the makeshift camp she scrutinized her subjects. Each wore little more than the same leafy clothing that the fairies who found her wore. If it could even be called clothing, it barely covered anything. I need to at least teach them the wonders of undergarments but preferably full modern-day etiquette.

Passing more and more fairies let her reach a startling realization. I can’t tell any of them apart. Like ten of the fairies following her, they all had similar facial structures to one another! The only differences so far were Miia and the green haired healer. Although, I should have a unique face too if we use the logic that named monsters are unique. But them what about Green? She doesn’t have a name.

Aleria hadn’t been a scholar in her past life, she left that up to the professionals. She just used their research for her own benefit. That can’t be right though, I’ve seen humanoid monsters before and they were all distinguishable; yet the only differences here are heights, hairstyles, and hair-colors.

She shook the thought out of her mind, something to ponder over later.

Looking over her shoulder at the following fairies, Aleria noticed that all except Miia looked unsure of themselves. Is their confidence really that low? She had assumed that these dozen were the warriors of the colony since they were the ones out looking for her. Now though, seeing their current distress and their errors on the way here, she now knew they weren’t.

Going to need to bolster their confidence if they are to become my new Cadre; my Queensguard.

As Aleria reached the bank of the stream, her new worldview gained perspective. Such a tiny stream for a human, now looked like a domineering river, complete with rapids, with her fairy height. Thank god I can still fly.

Ignoring the distressing trivia, she turned to the waiting fairies. “Now, do any of you know a location where all our sisters can shelter?”

As they all looked at one another and began speaking their fairy language Aleria realized she had screwed up. I cannot understand them! How could she have forgotten that only Miia was understandable. Where’s a language comprehension skill when you need one? Why couldn’t the previous queen pass on her memories!

As she bobbed her head up and down, acting like she understood, the smallest fairy and healer of the group, Green, quietly spoke as her hand pointed upstream.

Ahhh body language doesn’t need translation! Good idea Green! Aleria thought as her head followed the gestures direction.

There, not too far away, sat a cliff, well hidden behind the thick canopy. It could only be seen at this angle due to no tree being able to grow in the stream’s path, yet even then it could barely be seen through the maze of branches.

It’s a wonder how Green even spotted the location; perhaps it’s easier to see at her height? Although, its pretty obvious to look upstream, it had to originate from somewhere after all. Aleria mentally kicked herself at missing something so simple. I’m supposed to be a queen now, I should know these things!

“Well, that’s as good a location as any. Hopefully there’ll be open caves on the cliff-face to shelter in. Great job Green!” Aleria said.

The now blushing healer looked like she’d won a million dollars, being praised by her sister fairies.

She waited for their celebration to die down before she spoke next. “Now, go and prepare to scout out those cliffs.” Uncertain clouds intruded into the eyes of the fairies. “There is no need to look like that. You lot were the ones who found me, thus you should show more confidence. Every able-bodied fairy will need to contribute if we are to retake our homes!” Her words brought back clear-skies to their eyes as they scrambled to follow her orders.

Aleria shook her head with a wry smile, Is this how being popular feels? They’re so eager to follow they’ll never question me at all. I’m not used to that at all. Back when she was a leading figure there were always many questioning her, even her own Cadre—the only people she trusted—hadn’t spared her that.

She sighed, It doesn’t matter, this is a new life, a new chance to not screw up.

Now that she was alone and had time, Aleria decided to take a better look at her new Status. Combat would likely occur soon after all, Let’s see what I have to work with.

[[STATUS - Full]]

Name: Aleria

Race: Wind Fairy

Level: 5 (Tier 1)

Classes(5/5):

* Wind Fairy:F (5)

— Strength: 5+[0] = 5

— Endurance: 7+[0] = 7

— Dexterity: 19+[0] = 20

— Agility: 26+[1] = 27

— Magic: 40+(90)+[1] = 131

— Wisdom: 22+(55)+[1] = 78

— Charisma: 22+(75)+[1] = 98

— Willpower: 7+(30)+[0] = 37

— TOTAL: 148+(250)+[6] = 402

1 = Base+Class, () = Equipment, [] = %Total

Skills: [Fairy Eyes:E]

Magic: [Air Manipulation:F], [Gust:E]

Passives: [Promised Knight(Innate):F](new)

Equipment: [Twig-Leaf Crown (F+)]

Lets see here… I’ve kept my first name and lost the last. She wasn’t fussed about that, her adopted family wasn’t exactly the best.

My race and subsequent monster-class is Wind Fairy, same as my new people. I’m guessing that their stormy blue eyes symbolize the race; do I have the same?

Aleria peered into the stream, tempest-like orbs stared back. As expected, I do. While at it she inspected her face, it was… summed up in one word: ethereal. Seems my face is also unique and not part of some template like I earlier expected. I’d prefer the handsome look, but I should still get girls regardless.

Satisfied with her new appearance, Aleria willed more information on her race to appear.

Wind Fairy: You are an average ordinary Fairy born out of the Air Element. This gives you an innate control over the air from birth. Due to your Fairy heritage, you aren’t very durable or strong, instead you rely on energy control—mostly magical. (Grants the Wind Fairy Monster-Class. Will advance to the next rank upon Tier-Up.)

Moving on, Aleria reconfirmed her level—5—and then skimmed through her stat-points. She didn’t care about exact numbers, even though it had long been theorized that your level increases after accumulating enough stat-points. To her it didn’t matter, she leveled when she leveled and that was that.

The only stats which drew her attention were the ones with an Equipment bonus added to them. So this little crown is a piece of Magical Equipment.

[Twig-Leaf Crown(F+)]: A crude crown woven of twigs and leaves common enough to be found in any forest. Yet, somehow, the crown thrums with a power that feels like only a fraction of what could be contained. (Upgradeable)

Abilities: [Fae Myth Empowerment], [Aura Enhance], [Unbreakable], [Soulbound— Aleria]

Aleria whistled in appreciation. As if it couldn’t get any better!

Her breath hitched when she reached her Skills, Magic, and Passives. Her heart beat with anticipation as she stared at the sole Passive long enough for it’s extra information appeared in another window, overlapping her Status.

I still have it.

[Promised Knight(Innate):F]: You are the Knight Which Was Promised. To whom? Who knows. Grants access to a unique class-path. (Innate benefits cannot be identified.)

It really did follow me to another body! I truly do get a second chance! If Aleria hadn’t been excited at the prospects of a second life before, then she was now. Her greatest regret, her greatest failure at realizing her childhood dreams of becoming a real Knight, now had a chance to be amended.

Knight stories had always been her favorite back in the orphanage. As a child, Aleria always wanted to be a knight, even when reaching an age where she knew better, she strived to uphold their values—even though her personality clashed with that.

It always annoyed people around her when she used archaic language; used aristocratic manners, even though she was a commoner of the lowest station; or dressed as a man and regaled the fairer sex with fairy tales in hopes of wooing them. None of the things a woman, or even man, of the modern era would—or should—be doing.

And then Integration occurred. She found out that one could become an actual knight! Fighting dastardly monsters, rescuing fair maidens, completing arduous quests for glory! And she even had an Innate dedicated to Knights!

Imagine the amount of distress she went through by failing the advancement quest! Never again advancing the Innate’s rank and being locked out of the Squire class, forever unable to become a Knight!

To this day she still didn’t know why she failed and was still a source of great anxiety.

“I shall not fail a second time! In this life, I will become the greatest Knight whom ever lived!”

Now, let’s see what I have to fight with.

[Fairy Eyes:E]: Gives the user a basic overview of the target. Also allows the user to see through minor illusions. User will not receive information on those 10 Levels higher. (Usable on both living beings and items.)

[Air Manipulation:F]: Allows the user to manipulate the Air Element. Successful uses may allow the user to create new types of spells.

[Gust:E]: A simple gust of wind. Useful for sweeping away autumn leaves and spring cleaning. Only useful in combat when used in great number. (Chant: Blow~!)

What a useless spell. What nonsense, cleaning? I’m a fairy queen, not a maid! Seems I’ll need to rely on [Air Manipulation] and I know just—

“Mii~ miia~ mii~!”

They’re ready? She shrugged. Oh well, nothing beats field testing.