Today, let me introduce you to the creature with the nastiest tongue alive… her name is "Amber," and she belongs to the spirit race.
My father knew her and sighed as if recalling something old.
She said in a soft, sarcastic voice:
– Oh… is that how you speak to your only friend?
Since when did you become my friend?
For the first time, we saw my father interact with someone other than us… and it seemed they had a good relationship.
Amber, pointing at us, asked:
– So, who are these children?
My father replied:
– They are my beloved daughters.
She raised an eyebrow with a smile:
– Hmm… and are they okay with that?!
Then she looked at me as if waiting for an answer.
I felt a little nervous… I hadn't spoken to anyone other than "Dad" and my sisters since I came here.
I said shyly:
– Yes… he's my dad… my dad and my sisters.
She looked at me with surprise as if she'd discovered something, then said:
Wow! How kind of you!
She came closer and began hugging us, saying:
– You're so adorable!
"Hey! Get away from them, you're scaring them!" — Dad shouted as he pushed her away a little.
She said sarcastically:
– Come on, Oleas… you can't keep them all to yourself.
Then she turned to us:
– By the way, what do you think about playing with "Philo"?
She shouted behind her:
– Philoooo!
A strange creature appeared that I had never seen before.
Dad said surprised:
– You actually named a griffin "Philo"?
– Do you have a problem with that? — she replied smiling.
– Come on, Philo… play with the little ones, I have some things to discuss with their father.
Philo began playing with Cathy, Dona, and Stazia, while I sat petting his wing a little.
---
[Motz's Perspective]
Amber stared at me and said:
– Wow… did four little girls really change you? I thought your life here was hell… but you're smiling a little now.
I replied calmly:
– I wanted to have a family… I saw in them something that brought back a feeling of nostalgia. I'm ready to do anything for them.
– Have you seen your old self in their eyes? — she asked softly.
I was silent for a moment, unsure how to answer.
She placed her hand on my shoulder:
– Don't worry… I'll support you. I want to see you smile from time to time. These children remind me of you when I first came to this forest.
---
[Amber's Memories — Years Ago]
– Come on, Philo, let's head to the royal palace before Lilith gets angry.
I was flying on Philo's back on a rainy night, heading to the demon queen Lilith for an urgent mission.
Suddenly, Philo stopped in mid-air, staring down.
– What's wrong? We need to hurry!
But he didn't move, so I decided to look where he was looking.
There, in the middle of the "Forest of Death," was a man kneeling, surrounded by monsters on all sides.
– Philo! Hurry, we have to save him!
We descended quickly. I jumped off and ran toward the man, raising my hands:
– (Avistis!)
Earth magic exploded, covering him with branches and a magical shield, and the monsters immediately backed off… they don't harm me.
I turned to Philo:
– Thanks for the warning.
I approached him to see his face… he was human!
A human?! What was he doing in this forest?! This area is forbidden for humans and extremely dangerous.
I shouted:
– Stranger! What are you doing here? Do you want to die?
He slowly raised his head, and I will never forget that gaze… empty eyes, as if his soul was dead.
He whispered in a broken voice:
– Are you… too?
– What do you mean?
– Are you also… not going to let me die? Do I not deserve the mercy of death? Wherever I go… no one lets me go.
I felt deep pity. The rain was mixing on his face like tears…
– Come, let's shelter from the rain.
I cast a small dome spell (Aviasi Lo Sheil) and pulled him inside using gravity magic. We sat near the fire, but he remained still, like a lifeless body.
– What's your name? And which kingdom are you from?
He said:
Where are we?
I was surprised:
– You don't know? We are in the "Forest of Death," between the human kingdoms to the east and the half-human kingdoms to the west, with seas to the north and south.
He said in a weary voice:
– I… am from nowhere. I was a stranger… and I will remain a stranger.
I introduced myself:
– I'm Amber… the spirit of the forest.
He hesitated and said:
– I think my name is… Motz.
"I think?"
"Yes… I no longer know who I am."
I said to him:
– Then start anew… your name is now "Oleas."
You can live a new life.
But he refused:
No… I want to stay here. I don't want to see anyone.
I left him that day… but came back after a few days to find him trying to build a cabin, his expression still rigid as if waiting for death. Yet I continued visiting him occasionally.
I talked to him and sat in his house, but his face remained unchanged, frozen.
...
[Back to the Present]
Amber laughed and said:
– You were a hopeless person… and now I see you raising four girls of different races! You're truly unique.
He said words I never expected:
– Thank you… for giving me a chance at life, to meet my children.
I looked at him in surprise.
"Oh… did he really thank me? Seems you've changed!"
So… tell me, where did you find them?
I said calmly:
– Well… you might not believe it, but they came down from the sky on a cold night.
Amber looked at him with eyes full of pity and said:
– Have you finally gone crazy?
I smiled faintly:
– I knew you'd say that… even I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.
Four lights descended from the sky near my cabin… and when I approached, I found the girls there, covered in blood and wounds.
I nearly lost my mind from what I saw.
She raised an eyebrow:
Okay, I'll believe you now… but it's still not convincing.
She approached them, and when she looked closely, she froze and widened her eyes:
– That… is impossible! No way!
I said worried:
– What's wrong?
They… have mixed blood flowing in their veins!
What do you mean?
She said with strange seriousness:
– No creature can have mixed blood, even when different races mate. Usually, the child inherits the blood of one parent's race only. But these children… their blood is a mixture of multiple races! That's impossible. And if they are born, they should die on their first day!
I said:
– Apparently, they have gone through very harsh conditions for children… and until now, they haven't told me anything about their past.
Amber put her hand on her forehead and said:
– Ah… I feel dizzy from what I'm seeing.
I looked at her with muted anger:
– So, will you hate them?
Amber snapped:
Hate them?! Impossible! Who do you think I am, for heaven's sake? I just… haven't seen anything like them in my two hundred years of life. They are a miracle… they should be sacred!
I have to present them to the queens.
I won't allow you to do that! They're under my protection now, and I won't let anyone touch them.
She said harshly:
– Do you want to keep them locked in this forest all their lives because of your selfishness? They are not yours, Oleas! They should live in the royal palace of the queens of races.
And will you make me fight you?
A heavy silence fell, tension rising, while the girls stood a few steps away, looking at them in astonishment, their hearts pounding with worry…