#ryn tempest

[fishandships]

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Nixie: Chapter One

Universe: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Ryn Rewrites Tensura by @singingdeepinme Word Count: 2,355 i've been sitting on this for a while because the AU it takes place in belongs to my dear friend @singingdeepinme, in which her SI, Ryn, takes the place of Rimuru in the story. she mentioned that she's thinking about posting her fic now and so i decided to go ahead and post my spin-off, too! so this is kind of a fanfic of her fanfic alsdkjf BUT i've done my best to write it in such a way that one doesn't really need existing knowledge of either That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime OR "Rynsura" AU, but one thing that might not be entirely clear is that in this version, rather than being consumed, Veldora is shrunken down to the size of a chihuahua and is able to be carried around in Ryn's bag, and therefore can participate actively in the story. all that said, i really hope my fanfic-ception can be enjoyed as its own entity ;w; Chapter Two

      Meetings were the worst. 

      Not only were they beneath someone as great as Veldora, the Storm Dragon; they were also incredibly boring. Usually Veldora passed the time reading manga, leaving the uninteresting parts to his partner. Ryn was far better at things like diplomacy and strategy. Truly, she was the brains to his brawn. But this time she was preoccupied elsewhere, and had left him with instructions. “It’s just a routine check-in with our city planning team,” she’d said. “Rigurd will take notes, so all you have to do is make your appearance, listen respectfully, and if they ask you to make any decisions tell them you’ll consider it carefully.”

      She made it sound so easy. Now, twenty minutes into a discussion about problems with the new running water system, Veldora was wondering for the umpteenth time how Ryn managed to stay focused during these excruciating things. The temptation to find some excuse to leave was nearly unbearable. But Ryn was counting on him. To let her down was unthinkable. And that was aside from the matter of being stuck in his now-miniaturized prison bubble, unable to move unless someone carried him around. So Veldora stifled a yawn and did his best to focus on the report being read to him. 

      Relief came unexpectedly with the sudden blossoming of a familiar aura in their midst. All present save Veldora jumped, startled. The Dryad Treyni materialized in her customary green glow, leaves drifting around her as she bowed to Veldora, worry clouding her lovely features. “My Lord, forgive the interruption, but I have urgent news.”

      Veldora perked up immediately. “What is it?” he asked, forgetting to disguise his interest.

      The Dryad clasped her hands in front of her. “A nearly unprecedented aura suddenly appeared in the Northernmost reaches of Jura Forest this morning. I’ve never seen anything like it. Its power is certainly catastrophe class.”

      At this Veldora sat upright. “Stronger than me?”

      Treyni held up her hands. “No, no, my Lord! Of course not! But whatever it is, it is certainly more powerful than myself and my sisters.”

      “Is it hostile?” he asked.

      “No, my Lord,” she said again. “At least, not yet. We Dryads didn’t dare approach it, but thus far it has remained in a very small area of the forest, beside a river.”

      This time Veldora remembered to temper his reaction, and made an effort to hide his disappointment. If it wasn’t an emergency, it was no excuse to bail on the meeting, not when Ryn depended on him. “I see. Well, in that case, I have other matters at hand that must be attended to first. Keep an eye on that aura, and update me if anything changes. I will investigate after Ryn returns.”

      “Lord Veldora,” Rigurd said, “if the Dryads need you, I can handle things here.”

      Veldora hesitated. On one hand, even if this strange aura remained harmless, it was certainly worth looking into. On the other, remaining at his post would surely result in Ryn praising him when she learned how stalwart he had been. He waved a hand dismissively. “Bah, whatever it is, it’s no match for The Storm Dragon! It can wait a day or two.”

      Treyni looked a little surprised. Then she smiled. “That’s our Lord Veldora for you! As long as you are confident, we can always rest easy knowing we are safe under your protection.” 

      Veldora threw back his head and laughed. “Of course I’m confident! No ill will ever befall this forest as long as I stand guard!”

      She bowed again. “We will continue to observe the anomaly as you requested.”

      With that, she vanished, leaving a few petals where she had been standing. Veldora turned his attention back to the meeting and steeled himself. “Now then, where were we?”

--

      “I still can’t believe you forgot about a catastrophe-class something-or-other in your own forest,” Ryn said in exasperation.

      Veldora, carried as always in her bag as she marched through the same forest en route to investigate the disturbance, squirmed uncomfortably at her displeasure. “We were all a little preoccupied with the orc invasion!” he protested. “Besides, it hasn’t moved in weeks!”

      “That’s weird, though!” Ryn replied. “You know that’s weird, right? It could be something hibernating, building power, preparing for goodness knows what.”

      She turned to Benimaru, who, together with Soei and Shion, had come along for additional muscle. At least, that was their excuse. No one in the company really believed that Ryn needed backup. In fact, it was abundantly clear that everyone aside from Ryn was hoping for a fight. “What I said earlier about a diplomatic approach notwithstanding,” Ryn said, “we do need to be prepared for anything.”

      “Of course, Lord Ryn,” he replied coolly. “And we are, as always.”

      Everyone present could feel the aura. It had started from several miles away, a sensation Ryn could not place until they had drawn much closer. Now it unmistakably felt like they were standing beneath a waterfall, the energy relentless and pressing, powerful but not malevolent - at least for now. At this point Ryn’s primary concern was that her trigger-happy companions would start things off on the wrong foot with whatever awaited them. No sense in unnecessary tension and drama, as far as she was concerned.

      “Someone has been here recently,” Soei said suddenly. He pointed out a tree branch jammed into a fork at head height. “It’s a directional sign.”

      “Could be a trap,” Shion suggested a little too excitedly.

      “Let me go first,” said Benimaru.

      Ryn held up a hand. “Wait. Soei, scout ahead and see if you can get a look at what we’re dealing with.”

      He bowed. “Yes, Lord Ryn.”

      In the blink of an eye he was gone. 

      The party waited.

      It was not long before a shout rang out, the voice unfamiliar. Abruptly the waterfall-like aura exploded in force and power like a collapsing tsunami. Benimaru whipped out his sword. “Soei needs backup! Let’s go!”

      Avi leaped from Ryn’s shadow in anticipation of her summoning. “Leader!”

      With her heart in her throat, Ryn swung up onto Avi’s back, and the Direwolf followed Benimaru and Shion towards the source of the immense power. 

--

      The party soon arrived at the bank of a river. Soei was slumped at the base of a tree, a blue-skinned figure crouched over him. With a roar Benimaru rushed to defend his kinsman. Shion followed, pausing just long enough to call over her shoulder, “Stay back, Lord Ryn!”

      Avi drew up, and Ryn took a moment to assess the scene. She watched the stranger startle at the sight of the Kijin bearing down on them. The stranger leaped back, fear plain in their expression. They ducked and covered their head with their fists. A bubble appeared around them, iridescent like soap, and when the Kijin’s weapons simultaneously struck it, it shattered, knocking both of them back several yards and leaving the stranger unharmed. The stranger glanced over their shoulder at the river just a short distance away. “They’re a Nixie!” Benimaru roared, switching his sword to his opposite hand and shaking out the sting from the impact. “Don’t let them get to the water!” 

      So that’s what they were. That didn’t really mean much to Ryn. Of course she was familiar with the nixies of Germanic folklore, but she had no idea how much would be true here, particularly given that the water sprites tended to vary wildly in levels of malevolence. Veldora, on the other hand, seemed very interested. “A Nixie! Jura hasn’t hosted a Nixie in my memory.”

      Is that good or bad? Ryn wondered.

      Shion leaped like a deer, clearing the stranger’s head with a graceful flip and landing between them and the river. The fear on their face escalated to panic. They held up their hands defensively. “Wait, please, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt him!” 

       Benimaru pointed his sword at them. “No one ‘accidentally’ overpowers one of ours.”

      He tensed to attack again. Shion did the same. The stranger flung out their hands towards each of the Kijin. “Stay back! Don’t come any closer!”

      The air grew cold. What had been a pleasantly warm spring afternoon suddenly felt like a blizzard as a wind whipped up, swirling around the stranger and forming ice crystals the size of shovelheads and sharp as blades…and strangely very familiar to Ryn. “Benimaru, Shion, hold up a minute,” she called. 

      She slid from Avi’s back and approached. The blizzard began to howl with the speed of the biting wind. “Stop! Stay where you are!” the stranger cried. “I don’t want any trouble! I really didn’t mean to hurt your friend!”

      “Ryn,” Veldora said urgently. 

      “Hang on,” she replied, loud enough to be directed at everyone present rather than just Veldora. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

      She shifted her attention to where ‘Soei’ had collapsed. As she had expected, the body double faded at almost the same moment she checked on it. The real Soei - at least, she assumed it was the real one, since she could never really be sure - appeared beside her. “Indeed,” he agreed.

      Benimaru risked a glance at him. “Explain.”

      Soei nodded to the stranger. “You have impressive reflexes.”

      They looked perplexed. “I— I don’t know what’s going on…”

      “I think I do,” said Ryn. 

      She spoke evenly and kept her movements slow as she gestured to Soei. “He jumpscared you, didn’t he?”

      Hope sparked in the stranger’s odd dark eyes. “Yes! I swear, I didn’t mean to hit him!”

      “I believe you,” she assured them. 

      To Benimaru and Shion she said, “At ease, guys. I don't think they’re a threat.”

      “With that kind of power?” Shion replied. “Our attacks bounced off their shield like they were nothing!”

      And you can feel that aura, Veldora added, using Thought Communication now that the stranger was in hearing. That’s definitely catastrophe class. They may be hiding behind fancy shields, but they’re capable of a lot more than that.

      Ryn addressed the stranger again. “How about you cool it before someone gets frostbite, and we can all have a chat to sort things out?”

      The stranger hesitated, glancing between the Kijin again. “…I don’t want any trouble,” they repeated.

      Following Ryn’s cue, Benimaru sheathed his sword. “Neither do we.”

      The ornate ice crystals shattered into flurries that quickly dissipated as the air temperature returned to normal. “I’m sorry,” the stranger said again.

      “No harm done,” Soei replied, staring them down meaningfully.

      “That’s enough,” Ryn said, now just slightly exasperated. “Let’s start over and try again.”

      She extended a hand to the stranger. “Hi, I’m Ryn.”

      The stranger accepted, slowly and hesitantly. “Hi Ryn. I’m sorry.”

      “You’re new here, aren’t you?” Ryn asked gently. 

      They hesitated. “…you could say that.”

      For the first time, Ryn took a good look around at the scenery and realized they were standing in the midst of a humble camp. There was a fire ring, a sturdy lean-to shelter of sticks and leaves, and a few odd square frames constructed of what looked curiously like scavenged planks. “You’ve been here all alone for months?” she asked. 

      The Nixie nodded. “Yeah.” Distress suddenly returned to their features. “Shit, am I trespassing? I’m sorry, I had no idea-“

      Ryn held up a hand to stay them. “It’s okay, we’re not mad. We knew you were here.”

      Their brow knit in confusion. “Then…why did you seem so surprised to see me?”

      “We didn’t know what to expect from someone with so powerful an aura,” Benimaru explained.

      The confusion did not dissipate. “Aura…?”

      “Your power is literally palpable,” Ryn told them. “That’s why my friends here were so quick to jump to the defensive. We weren’t sure whether you’d be a threat.”

      “I’m not, I promise!” the Nixie said quickly. “I really, really don’t want any trouble. I’m not a fighter or anything, I’m just a nerd— um, I mean, a researcher.”

      “It’s okay,” Ryn reassured them with a kind smile. “You can relax. I think there’s a lot we can talk about, if you’re willing. It sounds like you probably have a lot of questions?”

      None of the tension left their frame, but they looked relieved. “Yes! Um, jeez, I mean, my camp isn’t really built to be nice for guests, but if you wanna grab a seat on a log…Oh, um, I have some fish jerky if you’re hungry?”

      The party exchanged glances. Hospitality was quite the unexpected change of tune. Avi licked her chops and looked hopefully to Ryn. I would like some fish jerky.

      The Nixie’s eyes widened. “Oh wow, was that you? Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, I just— that’s new. To me, I mean.”

      Mindful of her bag and its precious cargo, Ryn settled on a log near the fire ring. Her companions followed suit, Avi sitting beside her with her tail wagging slowly in anticipation of the promised snack. “I’ll try some too, thanks,” said Ryn. 

      One by one the Kijin declined, Shion making a mild face of distaste. “Is that all you’ve had to eat for the past few months? You poor thing…”

      The Nixie ducked their head. “No, ma’am, I’m pretty good at foraging and campfire cooking, so I’ve been doing alright.”

      They gave Ryn some food first, then Avi. Ryn couldn’t help but notice how their expression softened and relaxed in the way they smiled fondly at the direwolf. “So,” she began, “let me cut right to the chase. You aren’t from this world, are you?”

      The anxiety and hesitation immediately returned to the Nixie’s features. “Um…can you elaborate?”

      “I’m from the United States, myself,” Ryn said outright.

      The Nixie’s eyes widened. “You are!!! Me, too!!! Oh my gods, I didn’t want to just outright say so because it sounds insane. How did you get here?”

      She shook her head. “I’m…not one hundred percent clear on that.”

      They looked around at the others. “What about you guys?”

      “Lord Ryn is the only Outworlder among us,” Benimaru replied. 

      “Lord?” the Nixie repeated in surprise.

      “It’s a long story,” Ryn said. “Let me try to summarize…”

[fishandships]

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Nixie: Chapter Five

Universe: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Ryn Rewrites Tensura by @singingdeepinme Pairing: Rigur/Kawa (sort of, we're just getting started :3c) Word Count: 4,349 Chapter One || Chapter Six

      Town Hall was an impressive building; it was about four stories based on the placement of its numerous windows, and looked somewhat European in design. There was a large fountain out front adorned with a statue of Veldora in a dramatic flying pose. The muse himself made certain to point this out to Kawa. “Not a bad likeness, eh?”

      Kawa nodded, studying the statue thoughtfully. This was of immense interest to them: their first encounter with a piece of art in this new world. “It’s very striking,” they said thoughtfully. “The bold planar style showcases your strength while at the same time leaving room for the unfamiliar viewer to speculate about the details - impressive and aloof.”

      Veldora puffed up to almost twice his size. “I couldn’t agree more! It’s a grand testament if I do say so myself!”

      “This is one of Myrd’s works,” Ryn said.

      “Oh!” Kawa noted that in their sketchbook. “He is indeed extremely skilled.”

      The pair - plus Veldora - stopped inside the building. The foyer was as impressive as the exterior, boasting two staircases and classy decor, including carpets. “Wow,” Kawa said quietly. “This reminds me of a fancy hotel I once visited.”

      “If you ever need help, you can find it here. I’m here a lot, and so is Rigurd,” Ryn told them. “This building is mostly offices, plus a sort of staff lounge with a little kitchen. There’s pretty much always someone around, even in the middle of the night - you probably figured out by now that monsters don’t need to sleep nearly as much as humans. Or Dwarves.”

      This last comment was delivered with a slightly weary little smile, but Kawa was still processing the information given prior. “Monsters don’t need to—…I thought my insomnia had just kinda. Come along with me. But I did think it was weird that I almost never feel tired now. Like, I never slept before, either, but I was always tired.”

      “The more magicules a monster possesses, the less sleep they need,” Veldora explained. “I myself can go for weeks without a wink.”

      “We do have soothing teas and things like that in case you do still have insomnia,” Ryn added kindly. 

      Rigurd poked his head out from one of the offices. “Did someone need some soothing tea? Oh, good morning Kawa! Did you rest well?”

      They nodded. “Yes, thank you. You were absolutely right about the beds - it was the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in.”

      He beamed. “Excellent! I’m glad to hear that! Was it you who needed the tea? I can have some sent to your flat.”

      Though habit dictated that Kawa should politely refuse, the idea of a nice hot cup of tea to soothe their unendingly frazzled nerves sounded like a lifesaver. “That would be lovely, if it’s not any trouble.”

      “Not at all!” He looked pleased. “Honestly, I have more than I know what to do with.”

      “Thank you,” Kawa said again, thinking of their own tea-collecting habit and how nice it would be to indulge in that again in this new life.

      Rigurd addressed Ryn. “Is there anything else I can do for you this morning?”

      She shook her head. “No, I’m just giving Kawa a tour. Sorry to interrupt your work.”

      He lifted a massive hand in dismissal. “I was between things anyway. Where are you taking them? Should I send ahead for preparations?”

      “Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” Ryn replied. “Mostly I want them to meet some more people.”

      Rigurd gave a nod. “Understood.” To Kawa he said with a smile, “May you forge many new friendships here.”

      They smiled in return. “I hope to. Thank you.”

      “Oh, Lord Ryn!” a soft voice called.

      Turning, Kawa saw a young lady Kijin in elegant pink robes approaching. “Hello,” she greeted them. “You must be Kawa. My brother told me about you.”

      Her identity was immediately evident. Kawa bowed at the waist. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Shuna.”

      She hid her mouth behind her sleeve for a polite little giggle. “You may call me Shuna. And how should I address you?”

      “Just Kawa,” they said. “I don’t have a title.”

      After a nod of acknowledgment, she turned to Ryn. “You’re just in time - I thought you might bring Kawa by, so I made some of your favorite treats to share with them.”

      “Thank you, Shuna,” Ryn said with a fond smile. “Would you join us? Of course you’re welcome, too, Rigurd.”

      Both assented, and Kawa followed them to a lovely little seating room, spacious and bright. While of course Veldora, Ryn, and Rigurd were of lofty status, it was Shuna’s presence that made Kawa feel the most self-conscious about their manners. Every movement she made was graceful and calculated; clearly she was highly educated in etiquette. Upon tasting some of the little cakes and cookies she had made, they concluded she must also have been well-educated in culinary arts. “These are incredible,” they told her. “You’re an amazing confectioner.”

      Again she hid her mouth behind her sleeve as she giggled. “You’re too kind! Thank you. I like making food for others.”

      “So does Kawa,” Ryn said. “They’re on the unofficial Veldora’s Chef for a Day’ list.”

      Rigurd looked up from a cake that looked comically tiny in his huge hand. “Should I be keeping track of that?”

      “No, I’m joking,” Ryn assured him. “But seriously, you two should swap recipes. I know Shuna would love the challenge of making some of your favorites.”

      Kawa felt a little twinge of heartache in their chest. “We should,” they agreed quietly, forcing a smile.

      They must not have been as convincing as they’d hoped, since they saw Shuna’s own expression grow solemn. She gently laid her hand atop theirs. “They won’t taste quite the same in different company,” she told them, “but I’ll do my best to bring back those memories, and help you make some new ones, too.”

      Her intuition took them by surprise. They blinked at the sudden watering of their eyes and smiled, touched. “Thank you. I look forward to it.”

      The princess withdrew her hand, smiling softly back. “It might take some trial and error figuring out what corresponds between your memories and what we have in our world, but it will be an exciting challenge.”

      Kawa perked up a bit. “My Unique Skill can help with that. It identifies things I was familiar with back then.”

      “Oh that’s very helpful,” Ryn commented. “I might have to bug you to help me figure out a few things later. Especially when it comes to food.”

      Rigurd nodded thoughtfully. “You might be able to help us more efficiently recreate things Lord Ryn describes.”

      “I’m happy to assist in any way I can,” they replied.

      “Just don’t try to spread yourself too thin,” Ryn told them with a smile. “I was serious about that research job. That will surely keep you busy.”

      A smile of their own sprang to their face as they felt a little rush of excitement at the thought. “That sort of thing is hardly work to me. I love doin’ stuff like that.”

      “What kind of research is it?” Shuna asked. 

      Kawa’s spirits rose as they explained. “Lord Ryn has asked me to gather information on local ecosystems to get a better understanding of how to manage the land and continue harvesting resources sustainably.”

      “I see,” Shuna said, smiling at their enthusiasm. “You should speak with the Dryads. They should be able to provide you with a good start.”

      “Treyni and the Dryads served as guardians of Jura Forest for centuries while I was imprisoned,” Veldora informed Kawa.

      “That’s true,” said Ryn. “Kawa has met Treyni, but I haven’t brought up this research project yet. Thank you, Shuna.”

      “Yes, thank you,” Kawa echoed.

      “Of course.” Shuna politely covered her smile with her sleeve. “Oh, when you do see Treyni, would you please tell her to stop by my workshop sometime soon? I need her to try on a new dress I’ve been making for her.”

      Kawa nodded. “You’re a seamstress as well? You must be very busy, Miss Shuna.”

      She waved her hands dismissively. “I like being busy! And, truly, it’s such a privilege to have the resources available here in Tempest. I’m able to do things I would never have even dreamed of before.”

      “That’s very fortunate,” Kawa said.

      While their verbal response was simple, this statement was of particular interest to Kawa. It seemed to be a running theme - Tempest was different, even for the standards of this world, and so far it seemed to be different in good ways. Deep inside, the tiny ember of hope that had begun to stir inside Kawa when they first arrived in the city started to flicker just a little brighter. Maybe it wasn’t too good to be true. Maybe, just maybe, this could be their new home.

      The rest of the conversation was light and pleasant. As the number of treats dwindled, Ryn asked, “Shuna, do you have a little box or something we can put a few of these in? I want to take some to Geld.”

      She smiled. “Of course. That’s very kind of you, Lord Ryn.”

      Rigurd leaned toward Kawa. “Geld is the king of the Orcs,” he told them. “A warrior of immense strength and an incredibly hard worker.”

      Internally Kawa felt their anxiety returning. They still didn’t understand why Ryn wanted to introduce them, of all people, to all these royals. But they simply said, “I see.”

      Ryn, Veldora, and Kawa bid goodbye to Shuna and Rigurd and departed with a generously-sized package of goodies that Shuna must have prepared in advance. Kawa got the impression that this was a regular occurrence. As the group made their way through the town, Kawa noticed the sound of hammering. Presently they realized that this was the direction in which Ryn was heading. Before long they could see the bare frames of developing buildings. Teams of Orcs were hard at work all over the construction site. A few little Orc and Hobgoblin children played with scrap wood not far away, mimicking the builders. As the group approached, one small Hobgoblin abruptly began to cry, dropping her toy hammer and clutching her thumb. Kawa and Ryn both immediately changed course with the intent of checking on her, but an Orc stepped in. Gently scooping up the child, he rumbled some quiet reassurance as he looked over her injury. “Nothing serious, I hope?” Ryn called as she and Kawa approached.

      “Not for one as brave as Kokobu,” the Orc replied.

      He set the child down and smoothed her hair. Satisfied, she ran back to her project. The Orc turned to Ryn, Veldora, and Kawa and politely bowed his head. “How can I be of service, my Lords?”

      “We’re not here on business,” Veldora told him. 

      Ryn presented the box of desserts. “We brought treats - plenty for your whole crew.”

      The Orc blinked in surprise, his ears standing straight up. He laid a hand over his chest. “Thank you, my Lords. That was kind of you.”

      “It’s the least you deserve,” Ryn told him in the same gentle but firm tone she used when delivering similar affirmations to Kawa.

      He relented with a small smile. “Thank you,” he said again. 

      Ryn nodded, then said, “By the way, I wanted to introduce you to someone. This is Kawa, a researcher. Kawa, this is Geld.”

      Kawa was taken aback. They had expected the Orc King to stand out from the others, as Rigurd did. But Geld wore simple clothing with no adornments just like the rest of the workers around them. He smelled of sawdust, a scent that immediately filled Kawa with fond memories from their past life. Bowing their head, they said carefully, “It is a privilege to meet you, King Geld.”

      He bowed his own head in return. “The privilege is mine. Just Geld will suffice.”

      Again, a king was bowing to them. Kawa masked their confusion as best as they could with a polite smile. “Geld and his people are responsible for much of our infrastructure,” Veldora informed them. “You’ll see their work all over town.”

      “We are simply doing our part,” Geld insisted, but there was a glimmer of fierce pride in his eyes.

      “My grampa— er, my grandfather was a carpenter,” Kawa said softly. “I have a great deal of respect for the profession. And I understand your team built the apartment Lord Veldora and Lord Ryn have lent me. Thank you.”

      Another small smile from Geld, along with a nod. “Myrd was the architect, although I’m certain if he had known a Nixie would be residing there he would have designed it to be much more luxurious.”

      “It’s perfect exactly as it is,” they insisted. “I’ll be sure to thank him as well.”

      “Kawa met the Dwarves earlier this morning,” Ryn told Geld. “As it so happens, Kawa knows how to make paper, and they were able to get the Dwarves started on papermaking tools and printmaking machines. We’re a step closer to getting you some proper blueprints.”

      “We have been managing just fine with what we have,” Geld insisted.

      “I know, but we can do better than wooden slabs,” she replied.

      “That does sound inconvenient,” Kawa murmured. 

      They couldn’t help but glance discreetly at the Orc King’s hands. Like the other Orcs, he too had hooflike structures at the end of each digit. Kawa wondered how dexterous such appendages were. Despite the unfamiliar detail, even Geld’s hands reminded Kawa of their grandfather’s, craggy and worn as they were. This proved ever more true when Kokobu came wandering over again, and Geld rested his hand ever so gently atop her little head. 

      Kawa decided they liked Geld.

      “The children could use paper for their schoolwork rather than slabs,” the Orc King said thoughtfully. 

      “We’ll make sure there’s enough for everyone,” Ryn told him. “In the meantime, we should leave you to it.”

      “Keep up the good work,” Veldora said.

      “And enjoy the goodies,” Ryn added.

      “Thank you,” Geld said again with a polite nod. To Kawa he added, “Don’t be a stranger. If you need anything, the Orcs will take care of you.”

      Kawa offered him a little smile. “I will keep that in mind, thank you.”

      As the touring trio walked away from the construction site, Kawa glanced back to see the Orcs gathering around to share the box of treats. “It’s funny,” they said quietly, “no one I’ve met here is anything like the depictions of monsters in our world.”

      “Right?” Ryn agreed. “I have to wonder what happened there.”

      “Some of the dragons in your stories are particularly grievous misrepresentations,” Veldora sniffed.

      “Veldora is very interested in our pop culture,” Ryn explained to Kawa. “He has a sort of mental link with me, so he can see my memories of movies and books and such.”

      “Oh!” This was extremely interesting to Kawa. “Were there any you did like?”

      Veldora perked up. “Indeed! I enjoyed the chronicles of Son Goku and his companions!”

      “Dragonball Z was one of my favorites,” Ryn said. 

      Kawa smiled. “I liked that one, too!”

      The trio chatted about various media while they walked. They reached a little park, a lush green space dotted with shade trees and showcasing a fountain in the center topped with another statue of Veldora. As they paused to sit beside the fountain for a moment, Ryn asked Kawa, “How are you doing? In general, I mean. This isn’t too much, is it?”

      Kawa hesitated. “No…”

      “But?” Ryn prompted gently.

      Again they hesitated before admitting, “There’s one thing I don’t understand that bothers me a lot.”

      She folded her hands in her lap and gave them her full attention. “What’s troubling you?”

      The familiar rush of chest pressure and dizziness overtook them as the weight of their emotion sank in and words came flooding out. “I don’t understand, first of all, why you’re introducing someone like me to all these kings and princesses – and they all treat me like…like I’m somehow their equal. Hell, you’re royalty, too, aren’t you? And Lord Veldora is nothing short of a god. And you guys are hanging out with me like this and…I feel like I’ve….misled you somehow, to make you think that I’m special, or…or worth their attention, or yours, for that matter. I’m truly sorry, I never meant to be dishonest–”

      Ryn held up a hand, and Kawa, despite their panic, fell silent. To their surprise, she rested that hand gently over theirs. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Believe me, to everyone here, you are special. I understand it sounds kind of strange to put it that way, but for whatever reason, this world imbued you with the kind of power that isn’t often seen here. And in this world, power is everything. Whether we like it or not.” 

      She paused for a moment to let them process, then continued. “But, power or no, you are equal here. Everyone is. The people I’ve introduced you to are people I think would like to connect with you, professionally or in friendship. Yes, there’s a hierarchy of leadership, but this isn’t, you know, England or anything. You’ve already shown that you’re very polite and respectful. That’s all we ask.”

      “I would like to see you develop and utilize your abilities,” Veldora added. “Especially in combat, but I am intrigued to see what you accomplish in the role Ryn has found for you.”

      Kawa looked from Veldora to Ryn and back again. Their lips parted, but they could not find the words to respond. Ryn gave their hand a gentle squeeze. “What we’re saying is, it’s okay. You’re welcome here. Just as you are.” 

      For the second time that day, Kawa’s eyes began to water. “I want to believe that. So, so badly. I think…I think it’s just gonna take some time to sink in.”

      “That’s okay,” she assured them. “I’ll keep reminding you in the meantime.”

      They felt their heart swell with emotion. “Thank you,” they said with a grateful smile.

      The group continued wandering in the park. Kawa recognized all the species of trees there from their time in the forest, though none were quite a match for any they were familiar with from their own world. Their curiosity prompted them to take out their sketchbook. “As long as we’re between things,” they began, “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a look at my sketchbook and possibly identifying some plants and animals for me. They’re just rough sketches, but hopefully you can make sense of one or two.”

      Ryn smiled. “I can certainly try! No promises, though - I’m not super familiar with the local flora and fauna.”

      She accepted the sketchbook and began leafing through, holding it at an angle that allowed Veldora to see, too. “These are what you call rough sketches? They’re better than anything I’ve seen in any of the books around here…”

      “They’re so lifelike!” Veldora exclaimed. “You must draw me sometime.”

      “Ah. Thank you.” Kawa fidgeted a little. They’d never been good at accepting accolades. “I had an art degree in my past life. I like to draw animals especially.”

      “It shows,” Ryn remarked. “Sorry, I don’t know what any of these are, to be honest. And not because the sketches are lacking. I just haven’t really had the time to look into that sort of thing.”

      Veldora coughed. “Me, either…always very busy, you know…”

      Ryn rubbed her chin, thinking. “I know who can help you, though. Rigur is in charge of foraging, so he knows all about this stuff.” Handing their sketchbook back to them, she gestured for them to follow as she strolled off down the street. “He should be around somewhere at this time of day. Let’s look for him.”

      Once again Kawa fell into step with her, hugging their sketchbook to their chest. It was not long before Ryn stopped a passing group of spear-carrying Hobgoblins and addressed their leader. He was a good half a head taller than the next tallest in the group, with a sturdy build evident even under his loose-fitted clothing, and silvery hair partly hidden under a red bandanna. His eyes, however, were the key feature Kawa noticed: they were of a beautiful rich amethyst color, framed with long lashes, and spoke of a calm, gentle interior. 

      “Just the guy I was looking for!” Ryn exclaimed. “We could use your expertise. This is Kawa, our newest resident. Kawa, this is Rigurd’s son, Rigur, Prince of the Goblins and Captain of the Wolf Riders.”

      His gaze met theirs, and they saw his eyes widen. An expression Kawa didn’t quite catch flitted across his features for only a second. They assumed that he, like everyone they’d met so far, was surprised by their appearance. He bowed slightly at the waist. “It’s an honor. I’ve never met a Nixie before.”

      Yet again Kawa was flustered by the overly formal treatment. They made certain to bow more deeply in return. “The pleasure is mine. Pardon my ignorance, um, should I address you as Your Highness or Captain?”

      He waved his hands dismissively, seeming a little flustered also. “Neither, just Rigur, please.”

      Turning to Ryn, but almost immediately allowing his gaze to drift back to Kawa, he asked, “What can I do for you?” 

      “Kawa is interested in the wildlife around Jura,” Ryn explained. “They did some drawings of things they want to identify. Can you help them out?”

      “I can certainly try,” Rigur replied. 

      He had a kind smile. Kawa found themself relaxing just a bit as they held out their sketchbook to him. The moment he opened it, his expression changed to one of surprise. “Oh…When you said you had ‘drawings’, I expected something… simpler.”

      The other Hobgoblins crowded around him to see for themselves. “It looks so real!” one of them exclaimed.

       “Is it magic?” asked another.

       “No, no.” Kawa flapped their hands awkwardly. “Just years of practice.”

       “They’re very good, aren’t they?” Ryn said. “So do you know what it is?”

      “Of course. It’s a elatior flower.” Gingerly Rigur touched the inky leaf. “The root is very flavorful.”      

      He carefully turned the page. “Oh, a lunule bird! Wow…”

      As bashful as they were, Kawa’s curiosity was stronger. “I saw one scratching around in the leaf litter, but it saw me and flew away. Can you tell me more about them?”

      “They’re not good eating,” one of the Hobgoblins said with a look of disgust. “They’re really gamey.”

      “I meant more like…habits, diet, things like that,” Kawa explained. 

      Rigur rubbed at the back of his neck, thinking. “They eat bugs. I’ve seen them piling up a heap of sticks on the forest floor and then standing on it to perform. They use their tail feathers to make music.”

      Kawa’s eyes widened. “That’s incredible!”

      He smiled. “Is it? I suppose I’m so used to them I never really thought much of it.”

      One of the other Hobgoblins interrupted by trying to turn the page. “Hey, careful!” Rigur scolded him. 

      “I wanna see the rest!” the other protested. “Oh, hey, meeminni deer! Now those are good eating.”

      “This isn’t a menu,” said Rigur, and resorted to holding the sketchbook above his head out of the smaller Hobgoblin’s reach as he tried again to turn the page.

      “He has his priorities in order,” Kawa said quietly with a restrained smile of amusement.

      The smaller Hobgoblin ceased jumping for the book and flashed them an impishly charming grin. “An army marches on its stomach, you know.”

      “Gobta has a point,” Ryn put in. She turned to Rigur. “You know I’ve been concerned about how fast we’re using up our local natural resources. As it so happens, Kawa here is a naturalist. I’d like you to work with them. Teach them what you know, and then hopefully the two of you can come up with a plan to make sure we’re not causing any extinctions.”

      Rigur and Kawa nodded and responded in unison, “Yes, Ma’am.”

      To Kawa, Ryn said, “I have some other stuff I gotta do today, so I will leave you in Rigur’s capable hands. Thank you for a lovely afternoon. I would love to see any new sketches you make. Please keep me updated and let me know if there’s any supplies you need, okay?”

      “Okay,” Kawa said with a nod. “Thank you, I will.”

      As she walked away, conversing quietly with Veldora, Rigur turned to Kawa. “Would you like to sit down somewhere while we go over the rest of your drawings?”

      “Alright,” they agreed. “Do you have the time for that?”

      “Of course.” He smiled warmly. “Have you been to the snack bar yet? It’s brand-new.”

      They shook their head. “I haven’t!”

      “Well, then, let’s go there,” he said decisively, “and I’ll buy you a drink to welcome you to Tempest!” 

      To the other Hobgoblins, he added, “As for you lot, you should get ready for your evening patrol.”

      Gobta grumbled. “Oh, I see how it is. Get us out of the way so you can take the Nixie hottie out for drinks. Smooth.”

      Kawa’s eyes widened. Was that what was happening here? But when they looked at Rigur, he was mortified. “It’s— that’s not how it is and you know it! I gave you a direct order, now go!”

      Gobta grinned cheekily and saluted. “Yessir, Captain. Have fun on your date.” 

      As his squad moved off, Rigur turned back to Kawa, embarrassment so clearly written on his face they had no doubt his companion was just giving him a hard time. “I’m sorry about Gobta. He lacks discipline, but he’s a skilled warrior and a good friend…for the most part.”

      “I understand,” they reassured him with a little smile. “It seems like the two of you are close. Comes with the territory, right?” 

      Rigur looked relieved. “For better or worse. Anyway, shall we get going?”

      With a nod of affirmation from Kawa, the two set off down the street. 

[fishandships]

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Nixie: Chapter Four

Universe: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Ryn Rewrites Tensura by @singingdeepinme Word Count: 3,326 Chapter One || Chapter Five

     The aroma of baking gently stirred Kawa the next morning. For a moment they were confused and disoriented before remembering the events of the day prior. Immediately a dozen questions flooded their brain, foremost being about what time Ryn would want to meet them. They got up, somewhat reluctant to leave the comfort of their soft bed, and went to the bathroom to wash their face with cold water and fix their bedhead as best as they could in front of the polished metal mirror. Now more awake, they dressed and ate several more of the pastries given to them by their Orc neighbors. Then they wandered outside to the balcony attached to the staircase. There they leaned on the railing as they looked around at their new living place. Though the sun had only just risen, the streets were bustling with activity - people running errands, children playing, goods exchanging hands at various shops. Everyone appeared happy and relaxed. Despite this, Kawa couldn’t help but feel melancholy. Surely, they thought, there had to be a catch. Something that seemed so good could never come without a price. 

      “Good morning, Kawa!”

      It took Kawa a moment to realize they were being addressed, unused as they were to their new name. Surprised, they looked down to see Fukuo waving at them, leaning on a broom at the back door to the shop. “Have you eaten yet?”

      “Yes, sir,” they replied. “I had some of the pastries you gave me. They were amazing - I liked the ones with the red fruit filling best.”

      “I’ll remember that,” he said, looking pleased. “I’m glad you enjoyed them.”

      Faintly from indoors they heard Osono ask, “Is that Kawa?”

      A moment later her kindly face appeared around the doorframe behind her husband. “Good morning, Kawa! Lord Ryn asked me to let you know that she’d like to hear from you when you’re ready.”

      They nodded. “Okay…is it acceptable to just use Thought Communication…whenever?”

      “Yes, of course,” she replied. “She is waiting for you, after all.”

      “Okay,” they said again. “Thank you, and good morning to you both.”

      They returned to their room to retrieve their sketchbook before taking a deep breath and trying out Thought Communication. Hey, Ryn? Um, good morning. Are you there?

      Almost immediately they got a response. Oh, good morning, Kawa! How did you sleep?

      Like a rock, they replied. Rigurd wasn’t kidding about the beds. Um, Osono said you wanted to talk to me?

      Yeah! I wanted to check on you and see if you felt up to a little tour, and then some lunch later.

      Their heart picked up its pace in a little thrill of excitement. Yes, please! How can I find you?

      I’ll come to you, she assured them. Is it okay if I drop by in about a half an hour?

      Yes, thank you, they said. I look forward to it. 

      Me, too! See you then.

      This new method of communication felt strange. Kawa wasn’t sure what to make of it. Nor were they sure what they should do with themself for the next half hour before Ryn arrived. So they wandered downstairs to the bakery and found Osono setting up a window display. “Hi again,” they greeted her. “Can I help out here at all while I’m waitin’ for Ryn?”

      She looked surprised. “Oh, no, that’s quite all right. The work around here is hardly befitting a Nixie.”

      Kawa was, in turn, taken aback by this. “Oh…I don’t mind, though…”

      Osono flapped her hands dismissively. “No, no, go explore! Meet some people! If something comes up around here, I’ll let you know another day.”

      “Okay,” they replied after a brief hesitation. “Um…see you later, then.”

      Exploring was indeed a tempting option, but given their long-standing struggle with directions and getting lost, they decided it would be best to stay put. There was a bench near the bakery entrance, so they sat and began to sketch the scene before them, paying particular attention to correctly copying the unfamiliar lettering on the signs. Almost immediately they noticed nearly every passerby was staring at them. Some even whispered to their companions. Kawa felt their face heat up. Though they did their best to focus on sketching, they could still feel eyes on them. They were just about to get up and go inside to wait when they heard a friendly voice. “Hey, Kawa!”

      To their relief they looked up to see Ryn headed their way. She was alone this time, save for the same leather bag she’d carried the day prior. Kawa jumped to their feet. “Hello! Thanks for comin’ to meet me. I would certainly have gotten lost if I’d tried to find you on my own.”

      Ryn smiled. “No problem. I’ll have someone bring you a map. We haven’t really figured out paper yet, though, so the maps aren’t exactly convenient.”

      Kawa brightened. “I know how to make paper. I could show you - er, or someone who would handle that for you.”

      “That’s right!” she exclaimed. “You made your sketchbook, didn’t you? Oh, man, that would be great. Paper is so expensive and hard to get here - making our own would be a huge help.”

      “Then you could write down some of your stories,” said a voice from Ryn’s bag.

      “Lord Veldora! Forgive me, I didn’t realize you would be joinin’ us!” Kawa stammered. 

       Veldora poked his head out of the bag. “Where Ryn goes, I go,” he declared.

      “I see,” they said. “I’m glad to see you again, your Lordship.” Here they winced, uncertain if that was an acceptable term of address. Veldora didn’t react, so they went on, “I wanted to apologize for inconveniencing you when you and Ryn named me.”

      He waved a small clawed hand. “Inconvenience? Hah! I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’ve named so many subjects we can’t remember most of them.”

      Ryn looked a little regretful. “That’s true, despite my best efforts. Thank goodness for Rigurd - he keeps track of everyone.”

      Kawa wondered why a king was acting as a record-keeper, but said nothing to that end. “That’s incredible. The number of your subjects, I mean.”

      Veldora puffed himself up proudly. “I am as benevolent as I am powerful. Therefore it’s only natural for monsters to seek my protection in droves.”

      “Keeping us very busy,” Ryn added good-naturedly. “Which is why a morning off to chill out and show the new person around is a very welcome distraction. I figured we’d start with the Smithy and go from there. Oh, wait, have you eaten breakfast?”

      They nodded. “Yes. Osono and Fukuo kindly gave me a huge basket of food. They’re incredibly skilled bakers.” Lowering their voice, they added with a smile, “And I like the names you gave them. Very fitting.”

      Ryn lit up. “I’m delighted you caught my reference! I never imagined anyone would.” She pressed her hands together in a silent clap. “In that case, we can head right over to meet the Dwarves. Er, the other Dwarves.”

      “To start makin’ paper?” Kawa asked.

      “No. Well, yes, but that’s not the reason for our visit.” She shook her head, stopping and turning to face them. “I appreciate how willing you are to contribute to our community, but there’s something more important I want from you first.”

      They grew solemn. “Yes?”

      With a gentle smile, Ryn held out her hands, palms up. Kawa carefully placed theirs in hers, unsure of what was coming next. “I want you to relax,” Ryn said. “You don’t need to ‘earn your keep’. Focus on doing what you need to do to settle in. And I’d like it if you made some friends, though obviously that takes time. That’s why I want you to meet Dord and his brothers. I think you have a lot in common.”

      “Do we?” Kawa asked, not intending to sound as uncertain as they did.

      She patted their shoulder. “Don’t worry, I promise I don’t intend to overwhelm you with too many new people and too much information at once. My main point is that you don’t owe us anything, so I don’t want you to stress about paying off some arbitrary debt.”

      After a pause for thought, she asked, “Did you ever play Stardew Valley?”

      Kawa brightened. “Yeah! It’s one of my favorites!”

      Ryn beamed. “Me, too! Ok, so if it helps, think of it like that. You’re just starting out, so, yeah, you want to get a few crops in the ground, but your main goal is to get to know the town layout and talk to some people.”

      “Okay,” they replied after another pause to digest. “It’s gonna be an adjustment, but I get what you’re sayin’.”

      “Good,” she said, pleased. 

      Veldora, having clearly been waiting for a pause, suddenly blurted, “What’s Stardew Valley?” 

      Ryn explained to him as they continued walking, inviting Kawa to chime in on their favorite parts of the game. In no time they reached a brick building with a massive pipe billowing smoke from the roof. A sign hanging near the door depicted a hammer and anvil. Ryn pushed the door open and strolled in, apparently unbothered by the blast of hot, dry air that met them. Four Dwarves and another Kijin - much bigger than the trio Kawa had met the previous day - looked up from various stations. “Hey, sis,” one of the Dwarves hailed. “Who’s this?”

      Introductions were made. The master blacksmith was Kaijin. The other three Dwarves were brothers; Dord, an artisan craftsman, Garm, an armorer, and Myrd, jack of all trades. The Kijin was another blacksmith named Kurobe. When Kawa shook hands with the five, their own hands came back darkened with soot. “I know you guys have a lot on your plates already,” Ryn said, “but Kawa could use some more suitable clothes.”

      “These are very comfortable,” Kawa protested. “I like them.”

      “I know,” she replied, “but you’re going to want something that’s not going to weigh you down when you’re in the water, right?”

      Kawa was surprised. “....Is that an option?”

      The Dwarves had a chuckle amongst themselves as though Kawa had told a little joke. “Of course,” said Garm. “I’ve been waiting for the chance to test out my idea for water-wicking fabric.”

      Dord was already sketching with a piece of chalk on a slate, talking half to himself. “...with a swimsuit underneath, woven from that armored material…”

      Myrd peered over his brother’s shoulder with a grunt of agreement. “Mm-hm!”

      Watching them, Kaijin grinned. “There they go. You’ll have new clothes in no time, whether you ‘need’ them or not.”

      “My brethren told me about you,” Kurobe said, a good-natured twinkle in his dark eyes. “They said you have enormous potential as a warrior. What weapon do you wield?” 

      “I’m not a fighter,” Kawa said quickly. “I don’t have a weapon.”

      Kaijin’s smile dimmed just a bit. “You’ll need one. Sooner is better than later.” 

      Poking his head out of Ryn’s bag, Veldora put in, “You’re certain to have challengers. Only someone as powerful and unmatched as myself can avoid that. But why would you want to? Imagine the fun you could have!”

      “Our Master, Hakuro, might be interested in teaching you,” Kurobe mused, rubbing his chin. 

      “We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Ryn cut in just as Kawa was starting to feel alarm creeping in. “Today is a day for introductions, mainly. However, Kawa has something you’ll be interested in.”

      She nudged their shoulder gently. “Show them.”

      Five pairs of curious eyes were suddenly on Kawa, and they immediately felt embarrassed showing their clumsy field work to a group of master craftsmen. But they held out their sketchbook, open to a blank page. “Um. Ryn says paper is hard to come by,” they said shyly. “But, um, I know how to make it, so…I could show you sometime. Uh, this is really crude, since I made it out in the woods without proper supplies, but with the right materials I can do a lot better.” 

      Dord carefully took the sketchbook from them and inspected it closely, running his fingers over the paper and thumbing the edge of the book to feel the texture. His brothers crowded around. “It’s really not half-bad,” Dord said. “You clearly know what you’re doing, if you can make something this decent without real tools. Explain the process.”

      Encouraged, Kawa went over what they knew - how to grind wood fiber down to pulp, to soak and strain it with fine cloth screens set in a frame, to press it and dry it, and to bind it with sinew and glue. At the brothers’ urging they sketched a few quick diagrams and tore out the page to give them, which was met with much stroking of beards and pondering hums. “In Dwargon, we get our paper easily enough through trade,” Garm told Kawa. “So we never really bothered making it ourselves. We use slate tablets for temporary note-taking.”

      They nodded. “That makes sense. And certainly slate tablets will still be useful, especially until printing-presses can be developed. I know a little about that…er, well, I should say I know how to make prints, but I…don’t know about the press itself.” 

      “Can you describe it?” Dord asked. “We’ve been able to make quite a few things just off of Lord Ryn’s descriptions.”

      Another diagram later, the dwarves were again nodding and stroking their beards. “This will be easy,” Dord said. “It’s very similar to a wine press. We should be able to make a couple of these in no time.”

      “I want this project prioritized,” Veldora announced imperiously. “So that Ryn can write down her stories, and they can be printed and shared.”

      Ryn looked a little flustered. “Hold on, now, it’ll take a lot of time to write something that I can actually show to other people.” Turning to Kawa, she said, “Seriously, this is really helpful. As in, this is going to change a lot of things. I’m sure as an educator yourself you appreciate the importance of being able to spread knowledge and information.”

      Kawa nodded. “Absolutely.”

      An almost mischievous twinkle appeared in Ryn’s eye. “So you agree that you’ve just contributed to our society?”

      Now was Kawa's turn to be flustered. “But I didn’t do anything. I just talked and did some rough sketches. These guys are the ones who will be doin’ the hard work.”

      “That’s true, but you just helped us re-invent printmaking in, like, half an hour,” she insisted. 

      “Lord Ryn is right,” Kaijin, who had been observing all this with interest, put in. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

      They hugged their sketchbook to their chest and resigned themself to defeat. “Okay. If you say so.”

      “We say so,” Kaijin and Ryn said in unison. 

      The conversation shifted naturally. The Dwarves explained some of the inventions and technology they, with Ryn’s instruction, had brought to Tempest, including the use of heat runes for hot water. Kurobe and Kaijin showed Kawa some of their own work - exquisite armor and weapons sharp enough to split a hair and shining so that Kawa could see their face in the metal. Eventually Ryn said, “We really should get out of your beards and let you get back to work. It’s been two hours already, somehow.”

      Kawa was surprised. “It has?”

      “Time flies, right?” she said with a smile. 

      After thanking the Dwarves and Kurobe, they left the forge to a chorus of goodbyes and well-wishes, which were replaced by loud metallic hammering nearly the second the door closed behind them. Ryn shook her head fondly. “That’s the other reason I wanted to bring you here. It forced that lot to take a break for once.”

      “Oh!” said Kawa. “That was thoughtful of you.”

      Ryn flashed a somewhat wry smile. “That’s one of the hardest things about my position - getting people to rest. That’s why I’m trying to start you off early.”

      “You’re one to talk, Ryn,” Veldora huffed. “Getting you to rest is a task of heroic proportions.”

      “Heh. Guilty as charged.” She only looked a little remorseful. “Anyway, it’s almost lunchtime, so let’s grab something to eat, then we can stop at Town Hall.”

      Although Kawa had not gone hungry during their time in the forest, the lunch they shared with Ryn was the first proper meal, eaten while sitting at a real table, they’d had since their arrival in this world. It was, similarly to the town itself, much like they would have expected to find at a Medieval re-enactment: hearty bread, sharp cheese, cured meat, and fresh fruit from the forest. Kawa did their best to focus on their table manners and keep themself from wolfing everything down. During the meal, Avi materialized from Ryn’s shadow and sat hopefully beside the table. Ryn did her best to ignore her, though Kawa couldn’t help but glance apologetically at the Direwolf now and then. 

      It seemed that Ryn’s mind was never still, always coming up with more projects that needed work. Even while eating her food, she had a pensive line in her brow. Eventually she said, “Another thing we really need to get on top of is agriculture and livestock. There are no domesticated animals here for meat or milk or wool or anything like that. I’ve heard there are in other countries, but bringing them in would be extremely expensive, not to mention all the hazards along the way, so I was hoping we could start breeding native species. Would you happen to know anything about that?”

      Kawa took a swallow of water before speaking. “A little. Domestication takes time, as in, hundreds of years’ worth of generations.” They thought a bit. “Is there some form of magic that could be applied? This…could be questionable in terms of ethics, but perhaps they could be gentled that way to reduce risks to their handlers until the process is complete?

      “I’d have to look into that,” Ryn said, stroking her chin, “but it’s worth considering.”

      Looking across the table, she asked, “Did you get enough to eat?”

      They had cleaned their plate, but were now comfortably full. “Yes, thank you. I’ll have to treat you next time. And you, Lord Veldora…uh, pardon my asking, but do you eat?”

      He looked a bit petulant. “Not in my current state. Nothing can get inside this prison bubble. But-! My magicules, as they are, can sustain me for quite some time yet.”

      Kawa processed this. “So…before you were trapped in there, a couple hundred years ago, you had even more magicules…and were even stronger?”

      Veldora lifted his head proudly. “Indeed! And once Ryn gets me out of here, all I need are a few good meals and I’ll be right back to my prime in no time!”

      “When that happens,” said Kawa, “I hope you’ll allow me the honor of cooking for you sometime.”

      Ryn laughed softly. “You’ll have to get in line for that. Just about everyone in town has the same hope.”

      Veldora smacked his scaly, toned abdomen. “Fortunately for you, my appetite is almost as mighty as my power!”

      Standing, Ryn stretched a bit. “Well, Kawa, I hope you do have a bit more room, too, since I was hoping to get dessert at Town Hall.”

      Kawa followed her lead, though they did not stretch. “Is there a cafe nearby…?”

      “No, but Shuna is always making snacks and bringing them in. Her desserts are the best,” Ryn smiled fondly. “She’s Benimaru’s younger sister, the princess of the Ogres.”

      The difference between Kijin and Ogres still eluded Kawa, but they nodded. “I see. I would certainly be happy to try some desserts.”

      Before departing, Ryn took a small scrap of meat which she had set aside on her plate and gave it to Avi, who swallowed it in the blink of an eye amid furious tail-wagging. The Direwolf then accompanied the little party as they set out again.

[fishandships]

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Nixie: Chapter Three

Universe: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Ryn Rewrites Tensura by @singingdeepinme Word Count: 3,565 Chapter One || Chapter Four

      Looking back later, Kawa would mark their first glimpse of Tempest as the moment their new life truly began. Cresting a hilltop, they were suddenly met with the view of the sprawling town below, crisscrossed by water channels and bustling with activity, the distant figures like busy scurrying ants. “There it is,” Ryn announced with a note of pride. 

      The sunset was just about to begin when the little group reached the town proper, the last rays bathing everything in a warm golden glow. The semi-modern buildings were a stark contrast to the survival lean-to Kawa had been sleeping in for two months. But as they drew closer, it was the people who interested them far more than the architecture. There seemed to be two different types of citizens in the monster town: some with green skin, prominent noses, and downturned ears who otherwise seemed mostly humanoid, and others who looked like bipedal boars with, curiously, five-digit appendages that would have been identical to human hands had they not ended in miniature hooves. There were none who looked anything like Kawa. All were dressed in fairly typical post-Medieval, somewhat rustic clothing, making Kawa feel extremely self-conscious in the simple tunic they’d fashioned out of a cloak from a traveler’s cache.

      Heads turned as Ryn’s entourage approached, with many shouting fond greetings to her. Before long, Kawa realized that many people were staring - not at Ryn, but at them. They hugged their sketchbook to their chest. “Lift your head,” Shion encouraged them. “No one here has ever seen a Nixie before. Let them have a look.”

      While not intending to be belligerent, they instinctively ducked their head to hide their face. “Sorry,” they mumbled when they realized what they were doing. “I’m not used to attention.”

      “You’ll have to get used to it,” Shion said, not unkindly. 

      “If you decide to stay, which is fully up to you,” Ryn added. 

      Kawa did soon forget some of their shyness in favor of looking around. Many buildings had interesting script on their signage, a few of which Kawa could guess at based on the storefronts. Some things were somewhat familiar, albeit a bit like a Medieval “living history” town: they passed a pub, a butcher, a fruit stand. Despite this, the newness all around them was overwhelming. They wanted to stop and look at everything. So many questions buzzed through their mind that they could not get their mind around one before another interrupted, and their brain was so far ahead of their tongue that they were left completely dumbstruck. Their brain was too busy even to settle on a question that their Unique Skill, Field Guide, might be able to answer. It was the residents, however, that were the most intriguing to Kawa. Ryn had spoken earlier of how the citizens of Tempest had come together, but had not mentioned which races were which. Kawa managed to wrest control of their tongue long enough to ask, “Who are these people?”

      “Veldora’s people,” Ryn told them. “All intelligent monsters in Jura are under his protection.”

      “I mean—…sorry, I don’t mean to be rude,” Kawa said carefully. “I mean, what are they?”

      “Oh! Gotcha. The green guys are Hobgoblins and the pig-people are Orcs. They make up the vast majority of the population here, along with the Direwolves,” she explained.

      As they walked, a retinue of young Hobgoblins and piglet-like Orc children began to follow close behind, all wide-eyed over the visitor. “I feel like the Pied Piper,” Kawa murmured.

      Ryn chuckled. “Man, it’s gonna be nice to have someone around who gets my references.” 

      She addressed the entourage in the kind voice of one both well accustomed to and very fond of little ones. “This is our new friend, Kawa.”

      The inclusion immediately opened the gates for a flood of questions from the chorus, the majority of which were, “Why are you blue?” and “Where did you come from?” The more times Kawa patiently repeated, “I’m a Nixie” and “the forest”, the bolder the children grew, and soon Kawa had a small hand in each of their own. The little ones provided a welcome distraction from Kawa’s nervousness - before they realized it, they were smiling as they chatted with the gaggle. “You’re the most interesting thing to happen to them this month,” Benimaru observed with a hint of amusement.

      “The feeling is mutual,” they replied. 

      He turned to Ryn. “Lord Ryn, with your permission, I have some things to attend to.”

      “As do I,” Soei added.

      She nodded. “Of course.”

      Both left the party, Benimaru walking away and Soei seeming to phase out of visibility. Kawa had no time to process this before a  pair of vastly different figures emerged from the building at which the group had paused. The first was an absolutely immense Hobgoblin, easily over six and a half feet of solid muscle, an intense expression set on his craggy features; the second a stunningly beautiful woman with flowing green hair and vines twining around her elegant figure. “Lord Ryn!” the woman hailed. “You’ve brought us a Nixie! So you were the source of that powerful aura I reported a while ago.”

      “A Nixie!” the Hobgoblin thundered. “Never did I think I would live to meet one.” He bowed deeply. “It’s an honor.”

      Immediately Kawa’s anxiousness came rushing back. They bowed awkwardly in return. “Um, thank you, it’s a privilege to meet you, too.”

      “This is Kawa,” Ryn announced. “Kawa, may I introduce Treyni of the Dryads and Rigurd, King of the Goblins.”

      Kawa was utterly stricken. Why was a king bowing to them? They took a deep breath to stay their panic. “Um. Sorry, I mean, forgive me, Your Majesty, ma’am, my manners are probably kind of…um, lacking.”

      “Not at all! Please, just Rigurd is fine,” the monarch told them with a smile.

      Treyni giggled behind her hand. “Oh dear, they look so flustered.”

      “Don’t worry about it,” Ryn assured them. “We’ll get you up to speed on etiquette. For now, though, let’s get you settled somewhere with a shower and a real bed.”

      “Poor Kawa has been sleeping on the ground in the forest for months,” Shion said pityingly.

      “I had a very decent little shelter that I made,” Kawa said with just a touch of defensiveness.

      Rigurd nodded in understanding. “Believe me, the beds here are even better. You’ll sleep better tonight than you ever have in your life!” He drew himself up and flexed. Even under his jacket, his biceps were clearly outlined; they were the size of Kawa’s head. “My back problems have vanished completely since I started using one!”

      Kawa couldn’t picture someone in such fit form as Rigurd being troubled by a bad back, but they nodded politely. “I look forward to it.”

      “Tell me, Kawa,” Treyni said, “where did you come from? You popped up so suddenly, I was surprised I didn’t sense your approach.”

      Kawa looked to Ryn, who nodded encouragingly. “I’m an Outworlder,” Kawa said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I just sort of…woke up here.”

      “How very unusual,” Treyni mused. “An Outworlder Nixie. I don’t believe such a thing has ever happened before.” 

      “Oh,” they said lamely. 

      For the umpteenth time they found themself wondering, why me? They hadn’t been anyone of note in their previous life. Now that they were the center of attention, and apparently something of an oddity, they didn’t know how to react.

      “Maybe you can offer them some insight as a fellow Elemental,” Ryn suggested. “They have a lot of questions and I don’t have anywhere near all the answers.”

      “I would be happy to!” Treyni chirped. “After you’ve settled, come find me at the snack bar. I’ll make you something nice to welcome you to our town.”

      Kawa was touched. “Thank you, ma’am.”

      She giggled demurely again. “So formal! There’s no need for that - Dryads and Nixies are kin, so you may address me by name.”

      This was an interesting piece of information, but Kawa didn’t quite know what to do with it, so they simply nodded. “Thank you, ma— Treyni.”

      Rigurd cut in. “On the subject of getting you settled, the Orcs have finished adding lofts to a few of the older buildings recently. We can have one prepared for you. It will be very basic at first, so just let us know if there’s anything you need and we will do our best to accommodate. Likewise, I will send the Dwarves by to take your requests for clothing.”

      “And I can have our cooks make you some food from home, if you want,” Ryn added kindly.

      As these generous offers sunk in, Kawa felt a lump rise to their throat and a telltale tingle in their nose. They looked at the strangers surrounding them and swallowed hard before speaking. “I don’t understand. I haven't done anything to earn special treatment.”

      “We’re not giving you special treatment,” Ryn told them, her tone gentle but assertive. “We’re giving you basic needs. Food, shelter, clothes, a place to get clean. I meant it when I promised you that. They’re things everyone deserves regardless of who they are or where they come from. And like I said, in Tempest, everyone gets them.”

      Kawa swallowed again and nodded. “I…agree. I’ve always thought the same but…that was not the case where I come from.”

      “I know,” said Ryn. “Things are different here. The people of Tempest take care of our own. You can be part of that, if you want. But you don’t have to decide right now. Get clean, rest up, and I’ll meet you tomorrow to talk about your options here, alright?”

      They nodded again, blinking away the burning sensation behind their eyes. “Alright. Thank you. I mean it.”

      Ryn smiled. “I know,” she repeated. Turning to Rigurd, she said, “I leave them in your capable hands.”

      Kawa’s eyes widened. They wanted to protest, alarmed at losing the small amount of familiarity Ryn represented, but held their tongue and just continued nodding. Ryn gave them a little wave as she departed before turning to engage in what looked like an important conversation with Shion. By now most of the children had also wandered off. “I should likewise take my leave,” Treyni announced. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Kawa. Don’t be a stranger, alright?”

      “Alright,” they replied.

      To their surprise, she dissipated in a shimmering green light. Rigurd didn’t react to this at all, leading Kawa to wonder if this was her normal method of exit. “If you please,” Rigurd said, “follow me.”

      He set off immediately. Kawa trailed behind, almost jogging to keep up with his long-legged stride. “Where are we going?”

      “To your loft,” he said. “It should be ready by the time we get there.”

      “Already?” they asked, surprised. 

      “Of course! I gave instructions as soon as Lord Ryn told us you were coming. That was hours ago.”

      Their confusion must have shown on their face, because he tapped his temple and added, “Via Thought Communication.”

      Kawa’s eyes widened. “You can do that?”

      He nodded enthusiastically. “All monsters can!”

      “How?” they asked, intrigued.

      Rigurd stopped walking and turned to face them, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Hmmm, I’ve never really had to explain it before. I suppose it’s a bit like praying - you focus on the intended recipient, and sort of push your message to them. Like this.”

      He smiled broadly, lips unmoving as his voice seemed to fill their head. Welcome to Tempest!

      “Whoa!” they exclaimed, thoroughly impressed. 

      “Try it,” he suggested aloud. “You can use it on me.”

      They hesitated. “What if I mess it up? I don’t want to hurt you by accident.”

      He chuckled. “I’ve never heard of such a thing being possible. Perhaps deliberately, but I don’t believe you seem like the sort.”

      “Absolutely not,” they declared, shaking their head in emphasis.

      “Go ahead, then,” he encouraged.

      Closing their eyes, they did their best to focus, building a mental image of Rigurd. Additionally, they focused on sending their message as quietly as possible, unsure of how volume worked via telepathy. Thank you for the warm welcome.

      “That’s it!” he crowed. “See? It’s easy!”

      At this point, having already discovered their ability to control water and even use it to heal, Kawa shouldn’t have been surprised. Yet they found themself immensely excited. “It is! That’s amazing! Thank you so much for teaching me!”

      He chuckled again. “Nothing to it. Like I said, all monsters have the ability. On that note, if you ever need anything while staying here, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

      “Thank you, sir,” Kawa said, their solemnity returning but their smile remaining. 

      It did not take long for the two to arrive at their destination. Kawa could hardly believe it - it was like something out of a movie. “I get to stay above a bakery?”

      Rigurd nodded. “I hope it’s to your liking. Step inside just a moment so we can get your key from the owner.”

      Once again Kawa followed him. They hadn’t noticed they were hungry until the aroma of fresh baked goods filled their senses and set their stomach growling loudly. “I beg your pardon,” they muttered.

      “My goodness, it sounds like you’ve come to the right place!” a friendly voice remarked.

      An older Orc lady in a flour-coated apron appeared from the back of the shop. Upon seeing Kawa, her smile grew. “Oh! You’re the new neighbor everyone has been buzzing about! Welcome!”

      A second Orc poked his head out from the back room and waved in greeting before disappearing, presumably back to his work. The lady scooted around the counter and clasped Kawa’s hands warmly. “I’m Osono. If you ever need anything, anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask me or my husband, Fukuo.”

      Kawa couldn’t help but smile as they recognized the names, no doubt given with intent by Ryn. It really was like a movie. “Thank you, ma’am. And likewise, if I can be of assistance to you, I would be happy to do so.”

      Rigurd addressed Osono. “If you please, they need their key.”

      “Of course, of course!” She fished a key - tiny in her large hands - out of her apron pocket. When she handed it to Kawa, some flour was transferred along with it. “There’s a locating rune on it, so you’ll always be able to find it should it be misplaced. Isn’t that clever?”

      They nodded, wide-eyed. “Very clever indeed! Thank you, ma’am.”

      Fukuo emerged from the back of the shop, carrying a lidded woven basket. This he pressed into Kawa’s arms. “Made these fresh when we heard you were comin’.”

      Again Kawa was stunned that strangers would do something so generous before even meeting them. They blinked rapidly as they felt their nose start to tingle again. Their emotion crept into their voice, making it quaver a bit. “Thank you - really, I can’t thank you enough. That’s incredibly kind of you.”

      Rigurd laid a surprisingly gentle hand on their shoulder. “As Lord Ryn said, in Tempest, we take care of our own.”

      The two Orcs nodded emphatically. Kawa shifted the basket to one arm and scrubbed at the back of their eyes with their free wrist. “I promise - I promise I’ll give back. Tenfold - no, twenty.”

      “For now,” Rigurd said with a kind smile, “Lord Ryn wants you to make yourself comfortable, and rest.”

      With polite goodbyes to the Orc couple, he guided Kawa out of the shop. “Come by for breakfast any time!” Osono called after them.

      The stairs to the loft were located behind the building in a little alleyway, although it looked nothing like any alley Kawa had seen before - it was clean and clear of obstacles save a few laundry lines, and many of the windows were decorated with potted plants. “It’s probably unlocked,” Rigurd told them, “but try the key anyway, so it can get to know you.”

      “It can do that?” they asked.

      “That’s my understanding.” He shrugged. “There’s magic connecting the key and the door so only the designated keyholder can get in that way. When Osono gave you the key, you became the current keyholder.”

      “Amazing,” they murmured. 

      They weren’t sure what to expect when they turned the key in the lock, but they felt a tiny pulse of energy before the door opened. Yet again they were taken aback by what greeted them - a furnished and generously sized one-room apartment. The main room was split between a kitchenette, a small sitting area with a table and two chairs, and a bedroom. There was a bathroom to the side. “This is all for me?” Kawa asked, still disbelieving. 

      “It’s hardly befitting a Nixie,” Rigurd replied with a note of regret. “But it will take some time to arrange for more permanent accommodations.”

      “This is perfect,” they whispered hoarsely. “My own place…I never had anything like this before.”

      They set their basket and haversack on the little table so they could look around. Rigurd gestured them over to the bathroom, where they were even more surprised to see a modern toilet, sink, and shower. “Look,” he said with excitement. 

      He turned the faucet in the shower. “Put your hand in the water.”

      Kawa did as he bade them and gasped. “It’s warm! How is that possible?”

      He looked a little sheepish. “I don’t really know. You’ll have to ask the Dwarves.”

      With a nod, Kawa scribbled in their sketchbook, adding to their ever-growing list of questions. “Speaking of,” Rigurd went on, “there’s a change of clothes on the bed for you, and nightclothes. But as I said earlier, the Dwarves can make you something more suitable.”

      They nodded yet again. “I’m grateful for all of this as it is.”

      Rigurd smiled. “I’m glad you’re pleased. It’s getting late; I’ll leave you to get comfortable. Lord Ryn said you would likely want to sleep.”

      Kawa hesitated. There was one more question they wanted to ask, although it was rather awkward. “Um…before you go…is it okay if I…I mean, can I give you a hug? Is that a thing here?”

      Rigurd’s weathered features lit up. “Absolutely!”

      Before they had a chance to be tentative, he wrapped them in an almost crushing embrace. They couldn’t really breathe, but the gesture was so heartfelt and comforting they didn’t really care. “Thanks again,” they managed. “I meant it when I said I would pay it back.”

      “I believe you,” he replied, releasing them but for a massive hand on their shoulder. “Lord Ryn will help you find your place. Someone like you has the capability to do great things for our town. I look forward to seeing what those things are.”

      “I won’t let you down, sir,” they declared. 

      He nodded affirmatively and gave their shoulder a squeeze. “Just do your best, alright?”

      “Yes, sir,” Kawa replied solemnly.

      After Rigurd had excused himself, Kawa locked the door out of habit and explored their lodgings a little more thoroughly. The kitchen sink, as it turned out, also had running water, though not hot. A drawer in the kitchen proved to be stocked with candles and a small piece of wood with a bit of steel protruding from it, decorated by a symbol that looked vaguely familiar. For the first time since they’d met with Ryn and her companions, Kawa’s head was clear enough to check with their Unique Skill. Field Guide, do I know this?

      It is equivalent to an automatic lighter, using a fire rune instead of fuel, Field Guide explained.

      That was certainly a lot handier than the flint and steel Kawa had been using. It was getting dark, so they lit a candle to bring into the bathroom with them. The shower they enjoyed was the best they’d ever had. There was soap supplied, and they took the opportunity to wash their makeshift tunic and hung it to dry on the shower curtain rod upon emerging. During their time in the forest, bathing from the stream, they had taken to using their water controlling ability to wick themself dry, but now they found a towel waiting for them which they happily snuggled into. The clothes laid out for them on the bed consisted of a simple shirt and trousers and a pair of cloth boots with leather soles. The fabric was soft, and Kawa saw no reason to ask for anything else. The nightclothes were even softer, and comfortably loose on their frame when they put them on.

      Before going to bed, Kawa peeked into the basket given to them by the kind Orc couple. It was full almost to the brim with baked goods - loaves of bread, hand pies, scones, and other little pastries. Yet again their nose tingled, but this time, with no one else around, they didn’t stop the tears that flowed down their face as they chose a scone and ate the first baked food they’d had in weeks. Swallowing was difficult, but it was so delicious they had one more. Then they scrubbed their eyes on their sleeve, splashed their face with cold water from the sink, and went to bed. For the first time since arriving in this new world, they curled up under a soft blanket, lay their head on a plush pillow, and slept deeply and peacefully.

[fishandships]

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Nixie: Chapter Two

Universe: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Ryn Rewrites Tensura by @singingdeepinme Word Count: 1,985 Chapter One || Chapter Three

      Unsurprisingly, Ryn did not get very far into her account before, as she’d come to expect, the mention of Veldora derailed things entirely, albeit for a different reason than the usual. The Nixie immediately had a dozen questions. How big was he? What did he look like? Was he sapient? Ryn did her best to answer with Veldora attempting to dictate via Thought Communication throughout. Finally she asked him, Why don’t you come out and answer yourself?

He relented, and was immediately rewarded by the Nixie’s reaction of complete awe. “A real dragon,” they breathed. “Incredible. What an honor to meet you.”

      He puffed up and posed, basking in their admiration. “Indeed it is! Very few have been permitted to look upon me, let alone to live afterwards!”

      “Thank you, Lord Veldora,” they said sincerely.

      Ryn saw them catch themself as they almost reached out to touch the bubble surrounding him. “So what about you?” she asked. “You’ve just been living off the land this whole time? Making all of this from scratch?”

      “I didn’t start entirely from scratch,” they explained, not taking their eyes off the preening dragon. “I found what looked like some kind of travelers’ cache with a cloak and rope and knife and some other things. And I found some other stuff in the river: planks of wood, namely. So that helped a lot.”

     “That’s not much,” Ryn said.

      “It’s enough,” they asserted, now looking up with a glimmer of pride in their eyes. “Honestly, this has been like a vacation. All this free time on my hands and nothin’ to do but fish and explore. It’s so beautiful and peaceful here. I was able to make paper, too, so I’ve been drawing more than I’ve had time for since univ— um, a long time ago.”

      “You haven’t been bothered by monsters? Giant bugs and serpents and the like?” Ryn asked.

      They shook their head. “No, but that sounds fascinating. I wish I had seen things like that.”

      Benimaru scratched at his jaw thoughtfully. “With an aura like yours, most monsters would give you a wide berth. Besides, things have been rather busy lately.”

      They flapped their hands in dismissal. “It can’t possibly be that much…”

      “It is,” Soei deadpanned. “You’re what we refer to as a catastrophe class.”

      “Catastrophe…?” they repeated in disbelief. 

      Shion sighed. “I admit I was hoping for more of a fight when we came to investigate.”

      “Ah. Um…sorry.” They looked sheepish. “I’m not a fighter. I mean, you saw me before. I could barely defend myself, and I wasn’t really doing anything intentionally.”

      “You must want to do something with all that power,” Veldora insisted.

      The Nixie lifted their chin proudly. “I can heal. Not just myself, but any kind of living thing; animals, plants. I figured it out by accident when I cut myself on some huge thorns while pickin’ berries. I went to wash the wounds and the water healed me. Then I found a bird with a broken wing, and I was able to use water to knit the bone back together. I can restore withered flowers, too.”

      “I want to see,” Veldora demanded. “Someone stab them a little.”

      “Whoa, whoa, no! That’s not necessary!” Ryn interjected. “Shion, split that tree down the middle, but not all the way.”

      The tree she pointed to was old and sturdy, at least six feet in breadth. With an eager humph!, Shion swung her sword once and clove the tree almost in half. The Nixie stared, wide-eyed and blushing to the tips of their ears, before remembering themself. They spread their hands and condensed water droplets from the air into a wobbly orb which glowed golden. “Ring of Bright Water,” they incanted.

      With a light push they shaped the water along both sides of the split. As the onlookers watched, the glow seemed to pull the tree back together, sealing its wound and leaving it looking as though nothing had happened, not a single leaf out of place. Ryn clapped, and her comrades followed suit, Veldora a little sullenly. “I want to use this,” the Nixie said. “I think I can help people.”

      “I think so, too,” Ryn said. “Plus, you mentioned you’re a researcher?”

      “Yes— well, sometimes,” they replied. “I’m an environmental educator, and sometimes my job entails— well, entailed— field research.”

      Immediately the gears began turning in Ryn’s brain. Someone with a conservation background would be extremely helpful in preserving the ecosystem around Tempest, among other things. Aloud she said, “So that’s where the survival skills came from.”

      The Nixie snorted. “Yeah, for all the good it did me before. I fuckin’ died.”

      “What happened?” Ryn asked gently. 

      “Maybe somethin’ with my heart - that runs in the family, after all.” They shrugged. “I don’t fully remember. One minute I’m leadin’ a hike out on the dunes and the next…I’m here. It was quick, at least. I’m so grateful for that.”

Ryn made a sympathetic sound in response. The Nixie seemed rather blasé about it, although she suspected they were simply unwilling to talk about it with a stranger. “Anyway,” they went on, “do you guys want anything else to eat? I could check my fish traps for somethin’ fresher if you have time to stick around for a little while.”

      The Kijin and Ryn muttered polite refusals, at which Avi whined but said nothing. “It feels wrong accepting food when we have so much at home,” Shion said. 

      “How about you come with us back to our town?” Ryn suggested. “I imagine you’d like something different to eat as well as a hot bath and a real bed after roughing it for all these weeks.”  

      The Nixie’s eyes lit up, but just as quickly dimmed. “I don’t have any money to pay for all that.”

      “Well,” she said, “in Tempest, everyone gets food in their stomach and a roof over their head, no questions asked. We find that most tend to want to be part of the community and contribute something in return. So if you’re willing, I’d like to utilize your expertise.”

      They looked intrigued. “I’m listenin’.”

      “I need someone who can figure out the ecosystem around here - what it is, what it does, what it needs, and how we can harvest natural resources sustainably,” she explained. “So having a naturalist to research that stuff would be immensely helpful.”

      Their eyes widened. “That’s–…Let me get this right, you’re offerin’ to put me up while I study?! A real funded research job?!”

      Ryn nodded. “That’s right. Well, there is one condition.” She held up a finger. “You gotta do something about that aura. I can’t let you into town like that - people would be scared shitless.”

      “Really?!” The Nixie was shocked. “But…I don’t know how to control it. Can you teach me?”

      “Keeping that much aura contained is dangerous,” said Veldora. “One small slip, and it could all come exploding out!”

      “Like shaking a bottle of soda,” Ryn explained. “But I have another idea. Did you ever watch that anime where the characters are all named after famous authors, with powers based on their novels?”

      They grinned. “I love that one!” 

      She smiled back. “Me, too. I’m thinking we can do something like the boss’ ability to help his subordinates control their own powers. Except I can do it without the condition of you working for me. That part is optional.”

      “How do you do that?” they asked cautiously.

      “I told you names grant power here, right? With Storyteller, I can dictate that part of that power includes better control. What do you say?”

      The Nixie folded their hands in their lap and looked pensive. After a moment they nodded solemnly. “Yes, please.”

      “Alright.” Ryn felt the familiar rush of magic building up inside her as though Storyteller was rising to the task at hand. “Would you like to keep your original name, or do you want a new one?”

      “A new one, I think,” they said after another thoughtful pause. “I…feel it’s appropriate. After all, I’m not who I was anymore.”

      Ryn nodded understandingly. “Any ideas on what you’d like?”

      They thought again. “Somethin’ related to water. And in keepin’ with local tradition. I don’t want to stand out if I can help it.”

      “You’re going to stand out,” Benimaru remarked. “It’s inevitable.”

      Ryn ignored him. “The culture here has been influenced by ours already. A lot of folks have requested Japanese names, actually, so a Japanese name would fit right in. How about Kawa? It means ‘river’.”

      The Nixie positively lit up. “It’s perfect!”

      She smiled. “Alright, then.” With a deep breath to focus, she recited, “‘Aderyn Tempest gave the Nixie their new name, Kawa, along with the skill they needed to better control their own abilities.’”

      To her surprise, Ryn abruptly felt her energy pulled almost violently from her body. Her vision blacked out for a split second before a rush of magicules, hurriedly donated by Veldora, restored her. “Whew. Thanks,” she muttered.

      “Of course,” Veldora replied, sounding oddly tired.

      “Lord Ryn, are you alright?” Benimaru asked worriedly.

      “I’m fine,” she assured him. “Just got a little woozy there for a second. I’ve never named a catastrophe class monster before.”

      Now Kawa was literally lighting up. They looked at their hands as their body glowed white, then blue. “Incredible,” they breathed. 

      When the glow dissipated, they looked no different, but their aura was by far more subtle, like the heaviness in the air before rain. “How do you feel?” Ryn asked them.

      They were still staring at their hands, flexing a little. “I feel…refreshed. That was amazing.” 

      Their gaze lifted to meet hers, their expression solemn and sincere. “Thank you, Ryn.” Then to Veldora, “And thank you, Lord Veldora.”

      “It’s nothing,” Veldora sniffed proudly. “Now, Ryn, if you would please return me to your bag, I feel like taking a little snooze.”

      Ryn did as Veldora asked. The Kijin, meanwhile, stared at Kawa. “Lord Veldora is tired,” Shion said in awe.

      “Is that…bad?” Kawa asked, shifting uncomfortably.

      “It means that naming you took a lot of magicules,” said Benimaru.

      “Oh…I’m sorry,” they said, visibly concerned. 

      “You don’t have to apologize,” Ryn told them. “We knew you were incredibly powerful. It seems you were even moreso than we realized. And now you’ve gotten another boost.”

      Kawa looked down at their hands again. “Oh,” they repeated.

      Shion grasped the hilt of her sword hopefully. “You probably want to test your new strength in combat, right?”

      “No, thank you, ma’am.” Kawa shook their head, eyes wide with alarm. “I really am not a fighter.”

      “That might be for the best,” Benimaru muttered thoughtfully. 

      If it is indeed true, Soei replied, using Thought Communication so Kawa could not overhear.

      Hakuro can help us find out how capable they are, Ryn said. But I don’t get the impression they’re going to be any trouble. I think they’ll be a great asset to us.

      I trust your judgement of character, Ryn, Veldora put in, and the Kijin all replied in agreement.

      Aloud, Ryn asked Kawa, “Is there anything you need to do before we head back to town?”

      “I want to empty my fish traps,” they said. “I don’t want to leave them for things to die in.”

      So the group waited while Kawa retrieved their traps, then ducked into their little shelter for a moment to emerge with a small haversack slung over one shoulder. They picked up the wooden frames to hook over their arm. Then they looked around almost wistfully. “Feels weird to just…leave this behind.”

      “You don’t have to,” Ryn reminded them. 

      “I want to,” they replied. “I want to learn more about this place…And I want a shower.”

      Ryn laughed. “Alright, are you ready, then?”

      Kawa nodded. “I think so.”

      “Cool,” she said with a smile. “Let’s get you back to Tempest.”