Melody got back home and finished bleeding, skinning, and butchering the Falda Lizard.

"Let's see, brain for a skill, heart for a health increase, liver for a temporary stamina boost, poison gland, aaaaaaaand, oh! The claws are better than my tusk knife, but not as long… Let's make some throwing knives and practice later." Melody went over the lizard's various parts while eating a bit of smoked meat and some fruit she foraged.

"Um, hello!" A high-pitched voice called out to Melody.

Melody jumped up from her log seat, wielding her hatchet and knife.

I don't sense any hostility… She relaxed a bit, "Where are you?"

"S-Sorry, from what I heard, you were quite deadly. I mean you no harm! I am here with a desperate request!" The small voice called out hesitantly.

"Okay, I will hear you out. Come out." Melody replied, lowering her weapons but keeping her senses active.

A moment later, a tiny, one-foot-tall girl with wings and a brown dress flew out from behind a branch. She had her dark green hair up in a bun.

Pixie: Name: None. Age: 18. Danger Level: Low.

A pixie (female). Pixies are minor Forest Spirits who are peaceful but sometimes mischievous.

"Hey! Don't use Appraisal without permission!" The pixie got angry.

"S-Sorry. Sort of a habit of mine. What was the request? Also, what is your name?" Melody stammered.

"Right! The Grove Mother sent me to ask you for help! The grove is under attack by a demon mole with a fire attribute! Fire is a major weakness for us! Please! Can you help us?!" The little pixie was now floating right in front of Melody's face, tears forming and a pleading look on her face.

"Wait." Melody went into her home and came back out after a couple of minutes wearing a fur cloak, along with her Crash Spear, hatchet, and bow. "Lead the way."

The pixie became so joyous she began glowing a bit. The pixie asked Melody to follow and took off to the north northeast.

I really hope this doesn't turn out bad... Please let them be friends... Watch over me, Nova. Melody prayed with all of her being that she would not be betrayed again.

Melody easily kept up with the pixie's flight speed, "You are a really fast Miss Giant! You are not tiring yourself, are you? You will need your strength." The pixie showed concern.

"It's fine. I can run to the southern forest without breaking a sweat." Melody vaulted over a fallen tree without missing a beat.

The pixie's jaw dropped open, and she narrowly dodged a branch. "Y-you have some crazy stamina then. Could I pick up the pace a bit more?" Melody nodded, and the two progressed even faster.

After about an hour of running, "There! That is the entrance to the grove!" The pixie cried.

A pair of trees came together to form a natural archway.

"Hurry, Miss Giant! Please!" The pixie pleaded.

They charged through the arch and entered a large, wide-open area covered in flowers, grass, and other plants. A place in the distance was covered with fire and was charred. A sizeable mole-like creature was in the middle of the fire with a blackened mane running down its back. It screeched and exhaled fire toward a group of small moving trees that had feminine forms.

One in front of them was slightly bigger than the others, with emerald green leaves for hair. It raised its arms, creating a wooden wall to fend off the flames. Some tiny pixies and garden gnome-looking people used magic to summon water to put out the fire.

Wasting no time, Melody fired two arrows at the mole while running. The two arrows hit in its front leg and side, causing it to cry out in pain. It turned toward Melody and fired off a couple of fireballs.

One was about to hit the pixie that brought her, so Melody grabbed her as she jumped away from fireballs.

"Careful, keep on the move!" Melody rolled back to her feet and kept strafing the mole while firing arrows.

The mole breathed out fire, incinerating the arrows. Some attacks from the tree women broke through, striking the mole. The mole turned its breath back toward their group, and the bigger one created a new wood wall.

Melody stopped and pulled out her spear. "What are you doing?! Didn't you say not to stop?!" The pixie cried.

"I'm going to end this." Melody pulled her cloak forward like a shield and covered her face. Then she activated Charge and Ram.

Cracking the ground beneath her feet, she charged toward the mole.

"This is crazy!" The pixie yelled while barely hanging onto Melody's belt.

The mole turned and fired a fireball at her before turning back to the tree women. The ball of fire hit her cloak, setting it ablaze, so she tore it off without slowing.

Got you! Her spear plunged into the side of the mole all the way until her shoulder rammed into it, sending the mole flying several feet away. The mole had not expected Melody to continue forward through the fireball. It sputtered out blood before its head drooped down to the ground.

"You did it! You really did it! Thank you, Miss Giant!" The pixie began kissing Melody on the cheek.

"Hey! That tickles. You're welcome. Also, my name is Melody. What is yours?" Melody asked.

"Oh, I don't have a name. Most monsters and spirits don't have names. I am surprised you have one, though."

"What? Why is me having a name surprising?" Melody asked.

"Well, giants are monsters." The pixie held up a finger like she was a senior student teaching a junior.

WHAT?! That stupid god turned me into a monster! Grr… They better not show up in front of me in the future…

The tree women surrounded Melody. "What is this giant doing here?" "Invader of the grove!" The tree women did not have mouths, but voices could be heard from them.

No... NonononononoNO! NOT AGAIN! WHY-? Melody's thoughts were cut off by a powerful voice yelling.

"STOP! I was the one who requested her help." The larger tree woman approached.

"Oh, thank goodness! Thank you for stopping them, Grove Mother!" The pixie cried.

Melody's trembling subsided as the smaller tree women stood down their encirclement.

"Thank you, giant. Your help is most appreciated. I am the eldest of the Spriggans here, commonly called Grove Mother." The Grove Mother put a hand to her chest and bowed her head. The other spriggans bowed their heads as well.

"Y-You're very welcome! I'm, uh, Melody. I w-was happy to be of help, as well as, I hope, make some new friends…." Melody acted a bit sheepishly, feeling extra nervous talking to others since the battle was over, and it seemed like they were not going to betray her.

"You are welcome here, Melody. I know you have been alone for some time." The Grove Mother said.

"Huh? You were watching me?" Melody asked.

"Yes. I gave you some assistance when I could. The Salt Bark, Homely tree, and a few other things."

"WHAT?! You were the one helping me all this time? Thank you!" Melody bowed deeply to the Grove Mother, "But I have to ask… Why?" Melody asked hesitantly.

"Normally, I would drive giants out of the forest, but you radiate quite a bit of natural energy. I tried speaking with you, but you did not reply." The Grove Mother answered.

"How? Nature energy?" Melody was shocked by the revelation that her secret helper had not been a god but the Grove Mother. The root that held her spike trap against the boar, the convenient roots, and all the other items she found. Melody's face began to turn red at the thought that the Grove Mother had seen her embarrassing moments.

The Grove Mother seemed to realize something. "You cannot use your nature magic?"

"I… don't know how to use magic," Melody answered.

"Well then. Would you like to learn?" Melody nodded her head vigorously. "Ufufufu. Very well. Please join us for a celebration today. We do not eat meat, so you are welcome to the mole. Its hide would do well to replace your destroyed cloak, and that one should be fire-resistant."

"Um, Grove Mother, this all still doesn't answer the question of why you have been helping me or welcoming me so... warmly." Melody was worried about what the answer might be, but she needed to know.

The Grove Mother's glowing eyes shifted to show she was amused. "I think it would be easier to explain once you can use magic and are connected to nature." The elder spriggan answered.

Melody was still unsure of the situation but decided to trust the wooden woman for now. She was starved for company, and the forest spirits seemed like beings with good hearts.

Melody asked if she could bleed, skin, and butcher it there. The Grove Mother gave permission and called over the gnomish-looking people, who were carrying a wide wooden basin. The Grove Mother apologized and took her leave to finish putting out fires and healing the land.

"You have wooden basins! Do you have buckets? Maybe large clay jars? I have been looking for something to cure meats with." Melody asked the gnomish people.

They tried speaking to her, but she could not understand them. That is when the pixie that brought her spoke up.

"The Brownies speak the language of the forest. You won't understand until you learn how to communicate through nature."

"Communicate through nature? How long will that take to learn the language?" Melody asked apprehensively.

"I don't know. But once you learn how to use your Nature magic, you should be able to communicate emotionally with them. Do you know of Brownies?" The pixie asked.

Melody shook her head, telling the pixie that there was much about the races she did not know. But the phrase, 'communicate emotionally,' did that have something to do with what the grove mother meant by understanding? Melody tried to think of what it might mean but came up short.

"That is fine! They do understand the common tongue. Is there anyone who could let her use the Appraisal skill?" The pixie asked. A female brownie with a blue cap stepped forward.

"Thank you. Identify." Melody gave a small smile.

Brownie: Name: None. Age: 16. Danger Level: Low.

A Brownie (female). Brownies are a peaceful race who love to do housework, build, repair and maintain homes.

"Hey Melody, what was that skill you just used?" The pixie asked.

"It's called Identify, I think," Melody replied.

The pixie asked the Grove Mother if she knew of the skill.

"Yes. It is similar to Appraisal. The difference is that it covers a wider range of information, though it is more difficult to raise the skill. Appraisal is best used on goods. It also does not give as many in-depth details. Identify can be used on anything and gives more details the higher the skill proficiency. Another downside to the Identify skill is that it strains the mind with each use, leading to headaches and memory loss. How often do you use it, Melody?" The Grove Mother asked.

"All the time, really. Especially new things. I just hope I might be able to get a new skill from the mole. But I have never felt the side effects you mentioned." Melody said, looking toward the mole.

"New skill?" The Grove Mother asked.

"Yes, typically, if I eat the brain, I have a tiny chance to pick up a new skill. I got one from a Reaper Wolf, another from a Stampede Boar, and the last was from a Crash Deer." Melody looked at the Grove mother and others.

The Grove Mother's glowing eyes were round in surprise, while most others' jaws were hanging open.

After asking more questions about Melody's skill, how she used it, and if she noticed any side effects, the Grove Mother held her head by the end of the questioning.

"Unbelievable. This is something unheard of, Melody. Your skill must be the most proficient in the world. To learn such information from things with no repercussions."

Melody used her skill on the mole.

Demon Mole (Dead): Name: None. Age: 48. Danger Level: None. Element: Fire.

A Gaian Forest Mole (female) that absorbed a large amount of miasma, turning it into a demon. Digs rapidly through the ground using its long and sharp claws. Best to drive it above ground to defeat. Can use fire magic.

One of the spriggans helped out by manipulating a branch to reach over and lift the mole corpse into the air. The Brownies set the basin underneath, and Melody slit the throat to begin bleeding it out.

While she waited for the corpse to bleed out, Melody turned to the elder spriggan.

"Grove Mother, I wanted to ask, why is it no one seems to have a name?" Melody asked.

"Naming a monster or spirit takes a large amount of magic or a large number of beings acknowledging a name." The Grove Mother replied.

"Could I try naming someone? My mother named me." Melody asked.

"Hmm. Let's first get your magic flowing and see if you can. Please give me your hands." The Grove Mother held out her hands

Melody tentatively put her hands onto the Grove Mother's. Though the elder spriggan's body was made of wood, Melody could feel that there was a warmth to the tree woman.

"This process should be easy. Now, do you feel it?" She asked Melody as she began to course magic through her.

"It's like, a warm, tingly sensation." The feeling traveled from Melody's left hand, up her arm, through her chest, and out of her right hand.

"Yes, now. I want you to take hold of the feeling in your chest and try to feel that in the middle of your body." The Grove Mother pulled her hands away.

Melody sat down. Hmm, try to imagine that feeling between my heart and stomach… Melody focused her attention just below her sternum. It took a few minutes, but she was able to find a similar feeling. It was dense yet airy, sitting in her core.

"Melody, once you feel it, you have to spread that feeling throughout your body, expand it. Like the feeling of inhaling cool air on a winter morning."

Melody understood the grove mother's example and took a deep breath. The first inhalation, nothing happened. She tried again, trying to force the feeling of breathing into her magic. Several breaths later, it began to move. As Melody inhaled, her magic surged out, then back to normal when she exhaled. She felt she understood it a more now, comparing it to a third lung. Steadying her breathing, Melody focused on 'inhaling' with her third 'lung' expanding her magic within herself. It continued to grow through her torso and extended out to her limbs.

Melody opened her eyes, "I did it!" She could feel the power flowing throughout her whole body.

"Oh my… Melody, you have an enormous amount of magic!" The Grove Mother was taken aback.

"What? How can you tell?" Melody asked.

"That feeling is your magic. Now that you have a grasp of it, you will be able to use it. Try focusing some extra magic on your eyes."

Oh, is this to give me magic vision?! Melody did as she was told and was surprised by the amount of magic swirling around her.

"Wah! T-this is my magic! It's so wild!" Melody inspected her body. A green-colored aura whipped and spun around her.

The Grove Mother instructed Melody to store her magic again by drawing back to her center.

"When you spread your magic like that, you strengthen your body, but you make yourself easily found and lose magic at a constant rate." The Grove Mother explained.

Melody turned off her body strengthening by 'exhaling,' storing her magic once more, but she could still feel it within her.

"This is amazing! Thank you so much, Grove Mother!" She hugged her.

Some of the spriggans got annoyed, but the Grove Mother returned the hug with a titter.

"Now then, Melody, I think you would be able to name someone. It will take a lot of your magic, but I would safely say you could name one or two every few days with good rest or using a mana source to recover."

"Great! Then… could I name you? Or do you have a name you would like? You have done so much for me. I want to pay you back." Melody's question had the Grove Mother shocked at how quick Melody decided.

"Hmm. Very well. Choose a name for me." She replied after some thought.

Hmm. Tree, Spriggan, nature magic, mother of the grove… "How about Gaia?" Melody felt a little over ninety-five percent of her magic be used, causing her to feel woozy.

"I... thank you, Melody. I am now Gaia, mother of the hidden grove." Gaia graciously bowed in thanks.

The various forest spirits around them cheered.

"Could I get a name too?!" The little pixie flitted about Melody's head.

"Now, now. She just gave out a name. If Melody tried now, she could risk hurting herself." Gaia said.

The pixie got sad, but Melody told her that she already had a name picked out for her and would name her in a few days, which brightened the little pixie's mood.

"Yay! You and I will be best of friends!" The pixie rested on Melody's shoulder and hugged her cheek.

Melody skinned and butchered the mole and checked its organs.

Demon Mole Brain: If eaten, raw or cooked, it gives a minor chance to learn a skill of Demon Mole.

Demon Mole Heart: If eaten, raw or cooked, gives permanent increase to strength, magic, and fire resistance

Demon Mole Claw: A long claw used for digging and attacking. Hard as steel. If magic is channeled into it, it will generate heat.

Demon Mole Liver: Temporary Immunity to fire.

She consumed the heart and brain after cooking them on a grill the Brownies provided and lit.

Let's see… Oh! New skill! Dig… She stood and went to a charred part of the ground, knelt, and put her hand on the floor.

"Dig. KYAA!" Melody fell into a hole that appeared below her.

"Melody! Are you okay? Was that a new skill?!" The pixie asked, looking down to see a tangled-up Melody.

"Y-yeah. One sec. Dig!" The ground came back up, lifting her out of the hole. "New skill, Dig. It lets me create or fill holes where I touch. That will be useful for trapping! No more having to manually dig the spike trap pits!" She said happily.

Several Brownies approached with just as many empty trays.

"They said to load the trays with the meat. They will cook it for you. They are very good at it, I guarantee it!" The pixie translated.

Melody removed one of the claws that was a few inches longer than the tusk knife, and she quickly swapped out the blades of her knife.

"I may need to hone the blade edge a bit more when I get home." Melody thought aloud as she checked the blade's edge.

Several Brownies became excited and started motioning toward Melody.

"What did they say?" She asked the pixie.

"They asked if some of them could come live with you. I would recommend giving a number, or your place will be flooded with them." The pixie advised.

"Oh, um, I guess let's go with two? Um, for now." Melody replied, super excited that she was no longer going to be alone anymore.

The brownies began cheering and dancing about, Melody's heart melted at how cute it was.

Before long, to Melody's adorability gauge breaking, the Brownies began playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who would go.

Melody butchered the mole, and the Brownies who seemed to have lost carried the meat off to cook.

"I am really looking forward to this! I have only had salt to cook with. And now I will have people to talk to!" Melody happily declared.

The pixie giggled and promised that anything the brownies make is always delicious.

"Melody. I want to introduce you to this spriggan. She does not have a name, don't worry about naming her, I will do it once I evolve over the next few days," Melody gave Gaia a confused look,

"Oh, I can tell by your expression that you don't understand."

Melody nodded.

"When monsters or spirits are named, they have a chance to evolve into a stronger form. Evolution can also occur if conditions and level requirements are met. It is affected by many factors. Feelings between the two, amount of magic, level of the one giving the name, whether or not the naming party is evolved themselves, and several others. Most monsters would not know if they will evolve or not, but in the case of those closely linked with nature, we can tell if we will or not if our perception is high enough. In the case of myself, I know I will evolve. Into what I do not know." Gaia finished her explanation.

Melody was happy and thanked Gaia for the information.

After an hour, the Brownies brought out a bunch of cooked meats, vegetables, and other dishes. A golden liquid was placed before the spriggans. Vegetables and fruits were set all about the large table. A massive pile of meat was in front of Melody.

"Oh. Um, I'm not sure if I can eat all this…." After Melody said that, some of the brownies got sad. "But hey! I will try my best! Hahahaha!" The brownies got happy once more.

I think my stomach is going to hurt… Mmm! This is delicious! Such flavor! She began rapidly eating, loving the taste.

Her pixie friend brought over a small wooden cup with some of the golden liquid. She explained that it was nectar.

"Oh! Honey?!" Melody took a large swig before the pixie could stop her, "Bleh… Sooooo bitter…" Melody cringed.

"Sorry, Melody…" The pixie felt terrible, but Melody forgave her.

The party celebration lasted long until it was night. White orbs that were hanging from the trees lit up, brightening the area.

"Wow, hurp, so beautiful. I should… Ask Gaia for some." Melody was sitting on the ground, leaning back onto a tree, her stomach too full.

"Are you okay, Melody?" Her pixie friend asked.

"Yeah. Too full. Can't move…." Melody looked uncomfortable.

A brownie girl with a blue cap came over with a cup of a green liquid, and the pixie translated. "She said it is a stomach medicine. Promotes digestion and soothes the stomach." Melody identified it out of curiosity about what it was made of.

Umppa Fruit Drink: Drink made from Umppa grapes. Effects: Soothes, stomach aches, improves digestion and bowel movements. Honey was added to counteract the bitter taste.

"Oh, thank you." She drank the medicine.

Melody asked if she would be one of the Brownies coming to her home, which the little girl began smiling and gave a thumbs up.

"I look forward to living together. I promise I will give you a name too, after my pixie friend here." Melody promised the little Brownie.

The Brownie hugged Melody in thanks.

She is sooooo cute! Melody picked up the Brownie and hugged the giggling girl to her face.

Once Melody could move, she was shown to a hollowed-out tree with a nice-looking bed her size.

"Wow, did you guys prepare this for me?" Melody asked.

"Oh, brownies are very familial. They usually all sleep on a big bed like this. This one was just the right size for you." Her pixie friend explained.

"But what about the ones who normally sleep here?" Melody asked, worried about being a bad guest.

The pixie giggled. "They made a big pile of themselves, don't worry, they are happy that way and happy that you get a comfy bed to yourself."

Melody thought for a moment and asked if the pixie and Brownie wanted to sleep with her. They both agreed.

Well, we are all women, so it should be fine. Melody stripped off all her armor, kept on her set of make-shift underwear to preserve at least some of her modesty, put up her weapons, and laid down in the bed. The Brownie girl left to change while saying she wanted to let her family know something. The pixie joined Melody on the bed. A few minutes later, the Brownie girl returned in an adorable set of blue and starry pajamas.

After climbing into the bed, the Brownie spoke, and the pixie translated, "She said that the Brownies are going to be making you a gift. She won't spoil what it is, but she is sure it is something you will like."

Melody smiled and thanked them, then they turned in for the night, and for the first time in months, her sleep was peaceful.

The following morning, Melody walked out into the grove in her armor along with her two little friends.

"Good morning, Melody." Gaia welcomed her as she approached.

The spriggans were all gathered up in an open space, seeming to absorb sunlight.

"Good morning, Mother Gaia!" Melody replied cheerily.

"Mother Gaia?" Gaia tilted her curiously.

"Um, well, you are kind of like a motherly figure. It just feels right." Melody smiled, shifting back and forth nervously.

"Hmm. Very well." Gaia nodded her head in satisfaction. Melody thought Gaia looked bigger than she had yesterday. She wondered if it was due to Gaia evolving.

"By the way, Melody. I wanted to ask if you could use your identify ability on me." Gaia asked.

Melody obliged and listed what she saw to her.

Elder Spriggan (Evolving): Name: Gaia. Age: 236. Danger Level: Very High.

An Elder Spriggan amid an evolution. Elder Spriggans are high-level Forest Spirits that have lived for centuries. Can communicate through nature. Uses Forest Magic.

"Hmm, your skill gives quite a bit of detail. Thank you, Melody. Will you be heading home today? Or will you stay?" Gaia asked, finishing her sunbathing and turning her attention to Melody.

"I will head home for today. I left in a hurry, so there are many things I need to finish. If it is okay, could I come back tomorrow? I really would like to learn how to use Nature Magic." A part of Melody wanted to stay permanently, but all the hard work she put into her home made it more… her's.

"Of course, little fern. You can come back whenever you want. Also, have you tried identifying yourself?" Gaia asked.

Melody's jaw hung open, and she felt like slamming her head into something hard out of embarrassment. But her embarrassment faded quickly to excitement, "Identify self!"

High Giant: Name: Melody. Age: 14. Level: 36. Danger Level: Extremely High.

A High Giant (female), an evolved form of a giant. High giants age at a slower rate than giants increasing their life span. High giants also grow larger than normal giants. This giant is highly intelligent. Expertise in survival, hunting, trapping, stealth, and archery.

Health: 5230. Stamina: 6670. Magic: 4740/8480.

Strength: 580. Endurance: 620. Dexterity: 400.

Intelligence: 340. Wisdom: 400. Charisma: 280.

Skills: Abnormal Condition Immunity (10). Physical Boost (10). Nature Magic (10). Magic Boost (10). Survival (7). Identify (7). Stealth (7). Archery (6). Dismantle (5). Consume (5). Cooking (5). Forester (5). Construction (4). Charge (4). Housework (3). Ram (3). Magic Manipulation (2). Terror Howl (2). Dig (2). Magic Sense (1).

Melody was frozen for a bit until her pixie friend spoke up. "Melody?"

"Huh?" Melody was startled.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I just got a ton of information on myself. Skills, stats, and apparently, I am a High Giant, an evolved form of a giant. All of my stats are above three hundred, with my lowest, charisma, at two-hundred-eighty. My highest is my endurance being over six hundred."

"M-Melody, are you telling the truth?" Gaia asked in shock, which Melody nodded.

"My goodness. Spirits have a method of roughly telling our own status and skills to a point, and I have to say that your numbers are abnormally high. That Demon Mole from yesterday, I would have guessed its stats around two hundred at most." Gaia said.

"Uh… So I guess I am crazy strong then?" Melody asked, which got a melodic titter from Gaia.

"Yes. You are 'crazy' strong. Could I ask you to check me once more, Melody? I would like to know my exact numbers." Gaia asked.

Melody said she could not see them before, but Gaia explained that one must usually have their identify skill maxed out at ten or have permission.

Elder Spriggan (Evolving): Name: Gaia. Age: 236. Level: 57 Danger Level: Very High.

An Elder Spriggan amid an evolution. Elder Spriggans are high-level Forest Spirits that have lived for centuries. Can communicate through nature. Uses Forest Magic.

Health: 2120. Stamina: 1240. Magic: 4200.

Strength: 90. Endurance: 150. Dexterity: 70. Intelligence: 220. Wisdom: 300. Charisma: 100.

Melody communicated what she had learned to Gaia.

"Thank you, Melody. Now to let you know, I am, or was, the strongest being in this part of the forest. Hopefully, my evolution allows me to stand beside you."

Holy Nova! This blows my mind! All this time, I had no idea how strong I was, and now I know! Also, what was that Abnormal Condition Immunity skill?

Melody asked Gaia if she knew, and the elder spriggan was quite surprised. Gaia explained that it was a skill that would make her immune to poison, curses, exhaustion, mental attacks, sleep, rot, death magic, paralysis, petrification, and any other condition that impeded or affected her negatively.

Whoa… How the heck did I end up with this powerful of a skill? Not to mention it is maxed out. That has to be a god-given one. At least I have answers to a lot of my old questions. Melody thought to herself.

Melody and Gaia finished their conversation, and they headed toward the entrance of the grove. Two Brownies were by the gate waiting for them with small packs on their backs. One of them was the little girl with a blue cap. The other was an older man with an impressive, neatly trimmed beard.

"He said that he looks forward to living with you. Also, he was happy that you enjoyed his food." The pixie translated.

"Oh! You were the one who cooked that! I am so happy! That food was delicious, just, um, maybe a smaller portion next time, please…." Melody asked.

The bearded Brownie laughed.

"Take care, Melody. When you return, I will be sure to start teaching you how to use nature magic." Gaia promised.

"Thank you, Mother Gaia! I look forward to your lessons." Melody hugged Gaia.

"Oh right. The Brownies made you some gifts to thank you." Gaia turned to a group of approaching Brownies.

"Wait, are those… underwear! Oh, my Nova! These are great!" They handed the underwear to Melody, "Soooo soft! This is an odd pack? What are these pouches for?" The other item was a wide pack that had several large bucket-like pouches. There were several straps for adjusting how it fit, and Melody was thankful for that as she still had a lot to grow.

Her pixie friend translated for her that it was something in case she needed to transport the Brownies between locations.

"Wow, they are really good at planning ahead. Thank you all." They all looked up at her expectantly.

What are they-?

"Now, now, you cannot expect her to put on the underwear here. She is a lady, you know." Gaia commented to the Brownies.

The female ones were relieved, while some of the males looked sad.

Bunch of perverts… The male Brownies looked a bit uncomfortable under Melody's accusing gaze.

She put the underwear in a pouch, donned the transporter pack, and the pixie and Gaia helped adjust the straps to fit perfectly. The two Brownies going with her vanished and appeared in the top pouches of the pack. When Melody asked how they did that, Gaia told her that they possessed the ability to do short-range teleportation.

"They also have other simple magic, like basic fire, water, and even mental. They like to use telekinesis to lift furniture to be able to clean under it." Gaia explained.

"That's amazing!" Melody thanked them all and left for her home, her steps light and happy. Her three new friends going with her.

Melody was sprinting through the forest. The Brownies were cheering happily while they hung onto the straps inside the pouches they were in. The pixie easily kept up with Melody as she smoothly navigated her way around trees and branches.

"You know, you move really well in the forest. Have you always been this good?" The pixie asked.

"Uh, I only had a little… trouble." Melody averted her eyes, remembering the enormous amount of bruises and scratches she got from roots she tripped over or branches she bonked her head on jumping. It had taken her weeks of practice and injuries to get to where she was now.

Melody glanced at the two Brownies having the time of their life. This must feel like a roller coaster to them. Melody smiled brightly at her new friends and picked up the pace. She hoped that tomorrow she would get the answer to why the grove was so kind and helpful to her.