Beautiful -- Her body, even though covered by a dark leafy green insect carapace armor, she was very noticeably fit and slender. Her well proportioned breast could steal any boys attention back in my world, but what would really turn heads is her very elegant, long and milky beautiful long legs.

Around her neck was tied a peculiar, blue thin ribbon, which looks cute on her. On top of her head were two mantis like antennae, under those two antennae were a wavy, silky long coal dark hair. Her dark eyes and her face was emotionless around her when she picked up and used the net to haul the boar. Then... Her eyes widen and antennae began to twitch up and down when she caught me staring at her and began walking towards me.

I lift the barrel up between her eyes and pulled the trigger but the gun just clicked...

I scrambled my feet to lift me up but then something pulled me away from her encroachment. It was Edmund's hand that stole me away from her when everyone around charged their spears or swords at her. But she leapt away with ease with the half body of the boar on her shoulder. She leapt like a grasshopper reaching the forest with in just a few long majestic leaps.

"Wendy! Lilly!"

I slipped Edmund's hand and ran with full speed to the forest.

Almost all of the guards with me followed me, Edmund was telling me to stop and was behind me but what about Wendy and Lilly. We cannot just leave them! I barked at Edmund when we were just at the first trees of the forest.

"Then don't go alone!"

He grabbed me and shoved me to in the middle of the guards where one of them gave me an arming sword. Same with Edmund, he was given an arming sword by the soldier who was holding a spear and raised it upwards to the treetops. Everyone was.

I was in the middle of this porcupine like formation. Three spears faced upwards while the gunner, Benjie, looked with one eye aimed his gun. While me and Edmund and one spear man was covering the front.

Everyone was wary at the rustling tree top leaves or the branches of the ancient woods, it felt like these men expected the trees would grow a spear and impale them as we slowly trudged the forest. Fortunately, Wendy, Ivy, Lilly and Charlotte hailed us when they found us and warned about the monster. Too late for that, we told them everything before hightailing out of the forest.

That wasn't the only problem though.

"O'Brian, don't tell this to May, please!"

"Sally, Art, take your party and escort Prince Edmund and Lady Juliana back to the Manor."

He ordered and shrugged off Edmund's hand on his shoulder.

"Brian! You know what she will do to Elfien!"

I could see the flood of sweat flowing down Edmund's brow.

"Elfien, you and your friend, follow me."

O'Brian ordered me and began to walk back towards the walls while Edmund, and Lilly were loaded up in a carriage.

"Brain!"

Was what I heard last from Edmund's cry.

Yet, when O'Brian reported everything to May, she just gave me a hug. A long hug and rub on my back before going away with O'Brian. She enlisted as a guard, though she said she didn't want to retain her old rank everyone seemed to think this was her announcement of coming out of retirement, at least that's what Serafina told me. The only time she went home is to get her black armor on and gave me instruction that the Inn is closed until she returns.

"When?"

I held her hand like she was a glass wine bottle that was an inch away from falling.

"Soon."

She said while giving me smile of trust before crowning her dark helmet... That was 23 days ago.

23 mornings of shoveling off snow from our front, 23 afternoons telling soldiers and other loyal customers that the Inn was closed and 23 nights that my window clattered and rattled by the gushing and thrashing snow storm. It was those nights that my mind was a constant worry about her situation out in this torrents of snow. The only time I could distract myself was work. Even when the morn' hasn't risen up I tidied up the Inn and dusted the place. Cleaned any corner that my cloth and broom's feelers could reach with the false of feeling that any moment May would open the door. And the door would open, except Serafina would come in and would scold me Inn why I was working so early.

It's either honey and bread, strips of smoked meat, or the ever favorite veggie soup she made. After which, Wendy would come along around lunch time and get me out where we either went on shop to shop or would spar with me with the rapier she custom made. Apparently she bought two rapiers and was excited to spar with me. I got my ass handed to her several times over. No fair since she already had months of training.

Aside from those activities, almost every night. Whether the snow was lazy or when it whipped and clattered every window of the Inn. My heart and mind couldn't do anything but pump worry about May again. Tomorrow is the 24th day she said "Soon" to me and the clouds never fail to deliver it's daily quota of snow.

"She's tough as they come,"

Mayor Ronald, on his visits, said to me as I asked about May's status outside.

"So much for saying she's not a warrior garrison." I muttered.

"But her, out there, is boosting the morale for the guards out in this cold time of the cycle." He gave me a smile.

"What are they doing out in the cold anyway? Isn't the whole land covered by snow and monsters inside their lair?"

Even that insect like girl that jumped on us a few weeks prior should have at least went into hiding. Probably in a belly of a warm cave stomach filled by the sliced wild pork and using the hide as a hairy blanket by now. Probably using the net as hammock too, if she's creative.

"Well, mostly bandits or highway men that robs small time merchants and travellers. This is the best time of the cycle to travel and not ganged up by monsters." He answered and asked for hot ale which I got him and I got my own though it was watered down ale.

"Thank you, child. Also, it's been a while since I saw May's Inn sparkle like this. The beams and tables are sparkling, your father would proud of you, if that monster ever have some pride to spare that is."

He clanked his mug to mine and took a hearty sip.

"But unfortunate that she became a widow. I understand why she has to go through lengths to prioritize your safety, but I think this is out right paranoia,"

That, I drank with him.

"It's a downside and not good for my image if we ever marry. If I was her I would have razed the whole forest down."

"Why wouldn't they?"

I asked sipping down some more that warmed my blood.

"Because to burn that forest is an affront to the goddess herself,"

Echoed Serafina who was sitting a far from us seemingly unaffected by the cold.

"What's more it contains many herbal resources that is vital for our cities medications and mana production for the church."

She proclaimed.

"Even so,"

Replied Mayor Ronald.

"We can agree that we cannot stagnate and hide behind our walls forever. That forest must soon be razed or reduced to support our growing population and lessen the risk of monster raids. Think of the trade, the freedom of our farmers from terror."

"There are other directions to expand. Mayor Ronald."

Even if her face seems cool and soft her voice boiled like a kettle.

"Zealots."

He whispered and sipped his mug.

He didn't say it out loud but it was enough for me to hear but I'm sure that comment was too far for Serafina to hear.

Once the church bell rang three strikes Mayor Ronald and Serafina left their feud with them to the snowing street. Saying good night to me and left me with just the crackling fire as my only company again. I hugged my knees when the wind and snow was whipping again that whipped my mind for May again.

Until I heard a knock and familiar energetic childish tone.

"Onion chain! Onion chain! Open up! I said the password! Onion chain!"

He kept rabbling while pounding the door.

"Greenwood?"

I said opening and letting the snow battered child in.

Covered with a baggy, thick robe, muffin gloves thick like a bear paw and snow all over him and his furry boots.

"What are you doing here?"

I would let him thaw his freezing body near the flames but his jade green eyes was aflame with energetic youth that seemed to made him immune to the kiss of freezing numbness as he said there was no time with puff and urgency.

"What do you mean?"

He then reached inside his pocket and gave me a piece of paper. Half crosswise and a writing in elegant cursive -- a hallmark of Neil. I would give Greenwood some bread and hot water but he was waddling off into the snow saying he has to go for Serafina. I didn't question why because when my eyes began reading the first few scribbled sentences it gave me the answer.

...We've already cleared the forest over four times already, the innkeeper probably scanned it herself five times by now and the only monster that we found in this woods is her damnable determination. How human is she anyway? Last night she didn't return to camp and scoured the entire forest herself. Can you believe it!? I fear for her health. I'm beginning to see signs of fatigue and frost bite on her fingers whenever she removes her gloves. She's only relying on the sword to heal herself which I always have thought to give the user strength but...

I didn't continue the next three paragraph that talks about her diet and sanity. I ran up stairs and took my gambeson and hooded cloak and rushed out to the cold.

"Elfien!?" And when I opened the door Wendy, and even Lilly, was reaching for the door knob.

I showed them the letter as I gave them hot ale.

"She's not going home until she killed that monster."

I was walking to and fro in front of the hearth,

"Even if I reached her and tell her to go home with me, she's just going bark at me to go home. So please, I need your help."

I looked at the two.

"I'll help you. Whatever it takes to bring her home," Decided Wendy as she stood up.

"Mrs. May will without a doubt would rather send you home if you just tell her to go home. Allow me to become your negotiate partner."

"By the way,"

Called Lilly as her eyes squinted on the missive I gave,

"This missive is from the goddess's heroes: Neil, Roland, and Allan, right?"

I nodded and asked what about them.

"Then who is this..."

She pointed my name.

"Ugh."

I rolled my eyes, crumpled the paper and buried down my pocket.

"Look, whatever name is in this message doesn't matter now. Please..."

I don't want to lose someone because of me again.

"Hey, we're here for you."

It was a soft delicate hand that made me realize my fist were clenching when Lilly began to caressed them and gave me her reassurance that we will think of a way.

"There might be a way,"

Spoke Lilly, "It's a risky plan and might not work, but I think this will be our best chance."

I took a chair and asked her to tell her plan. We were all ears because what she said might give is a thread of chance persuading May to come back home.