I was being carried down a mountain path or is it a trail? Whatever.

The cool morning sun was shining down on me and the cold mountain breeze was brushing down my blade.

The one carrying me, was a bright faced girl. She was practically oozing joy.

"So, you really will be friends with me!?" She asked me with a smile.

[Yes. Yes, I will, child.] I already had this conversation before, you know? Around twenty-seven times, I think?

"Really, really?" She asked again. "You promise?" Was this the thirty-third time she asked me this, or the thirty-fourth? I forgot.

[Yes, I promise! Now get a move on, already!! You obnoxious little girl!]

"Yay~! We're going on an adventure! We're going on an adventure! Yay~!" Said the nameless child, who was now skipping. Also, this was... the fifth time, she said this within the hour.

I sighed inwardly.

Accompanying the brief silence*clap* *clap* went her small, green sneakers as they pushed away gravel.

Oh, yes! That's right. She was wearing clothes now.

She had a red-and-white sleeveless hoodie and black, skin-tight cycling shorts on. There are two reasons why she's wearing such an attire.

The first one is that; apparently, this is fashion that was all the rage, three hundred years ago. But, it hasn't exactly fallen too far behind with regards to the recent trends, either.

And secondly, it was the only clothes that fit her size.

Some ancient spirit's treasure hoard that was. Didn't even have any decent attire.

What about armor and other legendary artifacts? Oh, she had those too, but who expects a girl who looks like an eight-year-old to wear plate armor and carry great swords?

Aren't I a sword too? No no. I'm different. Very, very different.

Well, anyway, the only saving grace about that 'treasure hoard', was that it was properly preserved.

Thanks to that, we were also able to snag ourselves some cooking supplies, and a few gold coins. Emphasis on a few. Really, I'm serious. It was just a few. Around a hundred, to a hundred-fifty. That was it. The numerous silvers and other coins that we shoved into the bad slung around her shoulder, along with the knives, forks and spices, weren't really worth mentioning.

Well, that's enough of that.

Now, about that Spirit... well, I'm a bit ashamed to say, that I didn't really find anything concrete about her. That is, other than the fact, that she was already around during the time that God's still walked this Aiertha. {1}

But, it's not like 'I' went out empty handed.

Her hanging face as she 'repented' in a dogeza was priceless.

Some genius she was. Didn't even know the first thing about childcare.

Not that I'm any better that her at that. But, I won't forget to feed her... she'll have too cook for herself, though.

Well, at least, she didn't let this child feel lonely or sad.

It seems, she always put this child first.

Knowing that, she was a pretty good 'mother', if you ask me. But, I'm not saying that out loud.

"Umm... sword-nee-chan..."

[Call me Heleina, dear.] I replied from behind her. I was diagonally strapped to her back. Since, given my length that was longer than her height, there wasn't really any better place to be carried.

"Okay!" She beamed a smile as she turned her neck to glance at me. "Then, Hel-nee-chan."

...well, it's better than being called 'sword', I guess.

[Yes, dear?]

"Where did you find these clothes? I never found these kinds of things when I was 'exploring'."

Oh... right... I didn't tell her about the spirit. Well, that woman probably wants to remain hidden, so I'll hide that small detail. Luckily, it seems that I can actually keep my thoughts from reaching her, if I just will it.

[Umm... well, I own them.]

"Eh!? You wear clothes like these, Hel-nee-chan?"

[Well, no... I'm just... carrying them... yes, that's right! I'm just holding onto them!]

"Oh, is that so? Huh..." she then turned away from me - probably from having lost interest -, and focused back on the trail. "Hey, Hel-nee-chan. Where are we going?"

You're a pretty fickle kid, aren't you? One minute it’s this, the other, it’s that. I worry for your future; you know?

But, if you are so curious...

[We're catching up to your senpai.]

"Zen-pie? What does that word mean, Hel-nee-chan."

[It’s what you call someone who has considerably more experience in something compared to you. This particular time, we'll be meeting my previous wielder.]

"Oh! Then, does that mean, that Zen-pie has wielded you for a long time? She must be very old now. Ah! Then, are we going there, so I can study under her?"

[Why do you think your senpai is an old woman? Also, pronounce it properly.]

"But, I'm also a girl, aren't I? That means, Sen-pie is also a girl. Since, Hel-nee-chan's wielders are all girls, right?"

[It's still not perfect, also, whoever told you that!? For your information, you're the first girl to ever wield me!]

"Really? That's amazing then! Now, I hope Senpai is a really handsome man! I won't even mind if he's actually an old man in the inside."

Huh? What did you just - ohhh... I've only been hearing unsettling things coming out your mouth, since the day I met you. I remember it like it was yesterday.

"It really was yesterday! And, is it really that unsettling? I mean, would 'you' choose a wrinkly old man, or a handsome, muscular bachelor?"

[Oh, its wrinkly old man. Hands down, no contest.]

"Ehhh!? Really!?" She screamed. Her expression, was one that was incredibly hard to describe. But, in analogy form, it would be; 'disgust' and 'disbelief' mixed together with a generous sprinkle of 'wanting to vomit'. She was even slowly, almost unnoticeably, creeping away from me.

Well, too bad for you. I'm strapped tightly to your back. No matter how much you try to run, you can never get away from me.

Unless you unstrap me.

But, you probably wouldn't do that. Would you?

You wouldn't leave me all alone now, would you?

Oh, you're speeding up. Is that your answer?

Wait a sec... weren't you supposed to be ignorant of almost everything in the world? What's with the sudden age bias? Is it because I sound like a fifteen-year-old?

[Hey, I was joking. Come on. You can stop your futile running now.]

"Haah...haah... okay.... just... let me... catch... my... breath... ... haah~~!" *plop* she fell butt-first next to a large rock.

[You ran 19.9 meters before running completely out of breath and collapsing on the ground. Not bad, for a child. But, your stamina needs quite a bit of help.]

"That's because, Hel-nee-chan was saying weird things!" She yelled, pointing accusingly at me, who was right behind her. "But... haah... haah... I've never been like 'this'... what's happening, Hel-nee-chan?"

[You're getting tired. What, never experienced something like fatigue, child?]

"...no...never... haah..."

That woman, she spoiled you too much!

What am I ever going to do with you!? Forget Demon Queen, you can't even become a marathoner with those shoddy legs.

But, I won't say that out loud. Trampling on their confidence and self-esteem, is not how you properly nurture a child. It's when you start closing doors for them, that they begin dying inside.

But, spoiling them, is just as bad.

What is needed, to raise the perfect Demon Queen, is a gentle, encouraging hand and an iron fist.

Basically, it’s the carrot and stick approach.

But, I won't tell her that, either.

[Okay then. First up, you need to get some stamina. How about starting with a light jog? Just raise your legs twice as high, when compared to just walking. Keep doing it until we reach the base of the mountain.]

"Ehhh!? But that's so-"

[Would you rather run, and eventually tumble down the mountain? Is that what you would rather do?]

"No, ma'am! I will now faithfully carry on this training!"

[Good. Now, keep doing that, until we reach the city.]

"Ehh!? But you said-"

[Do you want to walk like this, until we reach the capital?]

"No, ma'am!"

And so, she marched, with a face - much like that of an fresh recruit heading off to war.

.

.

.

*plop*

She collapsed yet again - not even fifty meters away, from where she started.

"...haah... haah... this... is... just... too much! Hel-nee-chan! Please! I don't want to do training!" Tears were gathering in the corners of her eyes, as she pleaded.

Of course, there was no reason to expect anything out of this 'training'. But, I would be lying, if I said I wasn't hoping for something 'miraculous' to happen.

[Okay then, child. I understand. But, if you don't toughen up, your senpai might not even acknowledge you, as his 'kouhai'.]

"Ehhhhh!?!? That's - that's so unfair! I don't want to learn under senpai, anymore! I'll just become a wandering swordswoman then!" She yelled, before pouting with ballooned cheeks. She then, began throwing pebbles every which way, expressing her peevedness.

"Muh! Muh!" Let's not talk about how the rocks would barely reach a foot of distance from her. Despite, how she's probably using her dominant arm's full strength. "Muh!"

But, ignoring that - the fact that she could deduce the meaning of kouhai, just based on the context, using a word that she just learned twenty minutes ago - and reply with a perfect understanding of the conversation, warrants some praise. If her mind works this well, all the time - she might not even need to strengthen her body.

She could become the kind of Demon Queen, that manipulates everything from the shadows - making nations and heroes turn against empires and heroines. They would all dance to her chaotic tune.

The world might end, without her having to cut a single person down.

The thought of which, scares even me.

Sometimes, a pen 'is' mightier than the sword, huh?

Well, whatever the future, it’s still just a far, far away cry from the present.

Because, right now, that girl; is just throwing pebbles, while pouting.

[Now, you should be rested enough. Come on, get up. Time to get back on the road.]

Her only reply, was a "Muh!", and a *swish* of her neck as she turned away from me.

But, despite showing such blatant behavior, she still got up and patted the dust off of her.

Then, she continued marching the road. Yes, marching. She was still doing it, even when she clearly didn't want to.

Was she trying to guilt trip me, or was this her own, special way of showing defiance?

While I was thinking such she things, her breathing was slowly getting ragged. Large beads of sweat were now trickling down and her eyes were getting glossier by the minute.

Well, I still had no idea which of the two reasons it was. But, it was working.

"Ngh...mmh..." were the sounds that escaped her lips as she tried to keep me from noticing her already, very ragged breathing.

*rustle* *crumble* *shift*

[H-hey, you can stop already.] I'm starting to hear things. Things that sound like the mountain throwing curses at me.

"Really? Hel-nee-chan, won't get mad at me?"

[No, I won't! You can walk normally now!]

"Really!? Yay! I can stop exercising! Yatta~!!" While saying as much, she began jumping around in a circle.

If you ask me, you're exercising a lot more when you do that, compared to what I told you to do.

"But! I'll continue doing it anyway. Since, Hel-nee-chan, said that I should do it."

[You were going to march, anyway!? Then, what was with the pouting, and other things!?]

"Ehehe~~"

[Don't you 'ehehe' me, girl! Do you really want me to make you march all the way to the capital, like that!?]

"Hmmm... maybe...? But only, if you can actually force me to do so."

[Grr~!! You cheeky little-!]

"Blegh~" Cutting me off, she stuck her tongue out at me.

YOU ARE A REALLY CHEEKY BRAT!

Like that, we continued down the mountain; bickering and laughing.

How come, Charles and I, weren't able to have this much fun together?

As I was thinking that, the cheeky little brat quickly turned her towards me.

"Did you hear something, Hel-nee-chan?" She asked.

Is this your fickleness, acting up, again?

[No, I didn't.] I almost said it out loud, but the words were quickly caught up in my mouth.

{Goodbye, lovely child of mine...} The rustling of the wind seemed to say. {I hope you will grow big and strong... and have a life that you will not regret. You might fall many times along the way, but never forget that getting back up is a choice. One, that I hope you will choose every time.} The advice-like words continued. {You will, without doubt, achieve many great things. For you are this genius' daughter. That's why, if it's not too much to ask... once your journey approaches it's end, will you come back and tell me all about them? That is all that I ask.}

Oi. Oi. Are you trying to keep her from leaving!? I wanted to shout, but I couldn't bring myself to interrupt the owner of that 'voice'. Not, when I could see her figure - desperately hugging the child I'm strapped to.

The spirit, with no clear, definite form was hugging the girl tightly. Thick lines, which were probably tears, ran rivers down her cheeks from the two circular holes (eyes) on its face.

Of course, because she was in spirit form, only those with aptitude close to hers can see or even feel her. The talent to do so, was not something that the girl possessed, so she merely continued to look around, searching for the source of the voice.

{And sword...} The spirit then, let go of the confused girl, before turning her 'tear-stained face' towards me and lowering her head. {Thank you.}

Haaaah... how many times have you said that, huh? You're just like this girl, in that regard.

I said it already, didn't I? I'll take care of her.

I'll groom her to be the greatest Demon Queen in the world. So, get ready to hear about a lot of gore and tragedies caused by your 'lovely daughter'.

{Is that so...? I'll be looking forward to it, sword.} The line on the lower part of her face, curved upwards as she spoke.

Yeah, be prepared, spirit.

"Alrighty! To adventure!" The girl, now without the spirit hugging her, visibly rubbed her hands together and slapped her face. With a smile, she resumed her trek down the mountain.

{Well then... this is truly goodbye, now.} Standing up, the spirit waved her hand towards us. She was smiling. Even when 'crying', she was still 'smiling'.

I couldn't help but 'smile' happily too.

Yeah. See you in a couple hundred years!

{Of course, I'll be waiting patiently!}

It was such a shame that the child, who was the recipient of her love, didn't even take notice of this spirit. She never noticed her, right? That gesture earlier, wasn't because of her trying to resolve herself, or anything like that, right?

No. No, that's impossible. Humans can't understand the spirit language...could they?

Well, either way, once she grows up a little bit; I'll tell her about everything.

But for now...

"Ad~ven~ture, ad~ven~ture, ad~ven~ture! Learning under sen~pai~!"

[That's right, child. Onwards, we go!]

We reached the end of the mountain three hours later.