Chapter Five The Youngest Slayer

The Wyvern

"I have a job for you as your first job as a fully licensed slayer." Zaryb said as he passed it over to her. He sipped his beer.

Why is he always drinking beer? And at this time? It's just not normal.

"At least let me settle for a little here!" Strena snapped.

"Didn't in the assassins guild and I won't be here." He pointed out, gulping down the beer.

She nodded sullenly. Looking down at the paper and looking to the side.

Honestly…why does he want me to do this?

"But, you will have plenty of time to write and clean your clothes…and that sword." He purred as he looked at it with his cruel face.

She looked at her strange blade and beamed as her attention moved back to the poster.

Dragon 

Help Needed

She frowned. Her eyes raised up to him questioningly. 

"Another dragon?" 

"Not quite."

She rolled her eyes and looked back up at him with a raised eyebrow. However, knowing better returned to the poster.

"Read on."

She signed passively.

One day he will tell me things straight.

There is a dragon terrorising

the small village Dragnior.

It has been for the past year

and we can not reason or talk

to it at all!

One survivor described the 

beat having two wings and

 two legs and dark black green

Vylla Cort

She then looked up and then thought about what she had just read. Then she realised what she had just read. She then remembered the young dragon and the wyvern that she had killed. Her eyes became alert as her mind sharpened.

"It's a wyvern."

"Good work! Now go and get ready."

She nodded and ran to her room and packed her things. Yet she soon noticed that she was growing out of her clothes. She would have to buy more and sell the old ones. Apart from the dress that still connected her to her homeland. She wanted to keep hold of that as long as she could. She then spotted that she looked at the clothes that she was wearing and noticed just how small they were. She put on her coat. She then realised that she would soon have to sell that too! Yet she would do that only if she had to. She finished packing the rest of her things and put her sword on her hip. She soon joined Zaryb at the door.

"Ready?"

She nodded as she left the tavern. 

"Urm…Master Zaryb…"

He nodded.

"Yes I know. We'll get more later. I must say, you're growing up fast!"

"Yes. I know."

"Time to go."

They caught the public carriage.

"Where to?"

"The village Dragnior."

"Sure?"

"Sure. And they do not have a dragon problem!"

"Oh? And what is it Zarry?" Asked Garpy.

"A wyvern." Strana sighed.

"Still with him? Are you alright? Has he hurt you?" 

He looked all over her.

"Not recently."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. You have your own job."

"And you don't have to worry about me. I have a sword!" She said as she showed him.

He looked at it and his face immediately became pale. His eyes widened as he looked at the girl terrorfied. In fact she could see that he was slightly shaken. He let out a high pitched laugh.

"C-can you unsheathe it?"

"Yeah why?"

He looked at her both afraid and in awe.

"D-do you even know that sword this is?"

"No. But I took it from a tyrant king after I killed him."

"You k-killed him?"

"Yeah, why?"

"D-did he make you?"

"No."

"You-you know I-I will be off. I'll take the one after." He said and he got off.

They then set off.

"What was that all about?"

Zaryb looked at the sword and went back to her.

"May I see it?"

I unsheathed it and handed it to him. He took it and looked at the blade. He stroked it and then looked at the hilt. He then checked the balance which was perfect. He then passed it back to her. He then looked at it almost as if it was confirming something.

"I guess that we ought to look into it some time."

"Yeah…I'd like that."

She then looked at it and put it back in it's scabbard. She then looked at the hills. She enjoyed the silence and arrived before they knew it. They both climbed off the public carriage. Strena sniffed the cold damp air. They walked on for a while before they arrived at a stone bench.

"Now sit."

She sat down on the bench and looked at him.

"Get out your quil and journal."

She did this without question.

"Tell me, have you put down the attributes of a wyvern?" 

"No."

"Put them down."

She then turned to her journal and wrote it down as fast as she could, using her magic to dry the ink before she turned another page.

"Right. Done."

"Good put a title on it. Label it Dragon Family Tree."

She did and nodded once she was done.

"Now, I will teach you all about the dragon family tree. Let me begin by saying that the closest to the dragon in inelegance is the Hydra. They have many heads. When you cut one off two more grow in their place. Now even though there are those who believe that you can kill a Hydra by cutting off the centre head, I will tell you that this is nothing but a fanciful lie. I would know!" He explained with a slight tone of repressed anger at the end.

"So, how you can kill this creature is by somehow getting to the body and slicing its stomach. Yet there is another weakness that you can use, is the fact that all heads have their own personality."

"So a Hydra has as many personalities as heads?"

"That is what I said."

Interesting…

She put this down.

"Now, there is another type of dragon called a long. They have long bodies and they have been known to have fur and four legs. They are the wisest of them all, however the closest relative to them are the sea serpents and the drake. The way to differentiate the sea serpent and the long, is that one can speak and the other cannot, one has webbed feet and the other has fins with talons. The drake, however, has a shorter body,  just imagine a dragon without wings. Yet it has a mind like a wyvern however some are capable of speech yet they do not possess dragon like inelegance. Almost like a parrot."

She looked up at him to show that she was done.

"There have been known members of the fashion family such as the lindwrun which looms and acts a drake with only two legs, then there is the amphiptere, spelt A M P H I P T E R E, this creator looked more like a wyvern but without legs and a wyrm which looks like a giant snake with a dragon head."

"So a cross between a dragon and a snake?"

"Yes."

She then finished.

"Note, as a slayer, you should know these things. After all, one mistake could cost you not just some coins but also your life. When a mistake is made, how much of a mistake it is you have made, depends on that mistake." He said, clearly out of experience.

She rolled her eyes as she realised what he was implying.

"And where did they come from?"

"There are many myths and legends about dragonkind coming from another land in another sky, although I do not put much stock in them."

Once she had done she jumped to her feet. They then followed him.

"Anything else? Or can we get this job done?"

He chuckled.

"And why are you so keen on finishing the job?"

"Because I need to memorise these pages."

He patted her on the head.

"Good girl."

They soon arrived at the voyage area. They were approached by a skinny man with his clothes barely clinging to his body.

"You must be the slayer that I have sent for?"

He shook his head.

"Even though I am a slayer, I am not the slayer that has taken your job." He explained as he pointed to Strena.

He looked at her with a deep crown in his forehead. Then he burst out laughing. He parted the man on his shoulder.

"My deer boy! You must be joking! How old is that child, nine, ten?"

"Ten and no, he is not. Now the dragon, where is it?"

"Oh? Ohhh!"

"Just tell her all she needs to know. And if you pat me like that again you will lose that hand! Do you understand?" He shaped as he clutched the man's wrist.

"Y-yes. Yes!" He said as he gave her a map. "Could you let go of my wrist?"

He let go.

"You will find the dragon in this cave. That's where we found it." He said, with a talk-down tone to his voice.

I don't like him.

"Thank you. Now I think we ought to be heading off!"

He smiled.

"Yes" he said as they followed the map.

"By the way, why did you not correct him?"

"I don't like him. So why should I?"

He laughed heartily.

"Good girl!"

Together they reached the cave. It was smaller than she expected. She looked down at the map and then up at the cave.

"What is it girl?"

"The mouth of the cave is too small. Tell me, do you think that this wyvern was born here?"

He looked at it and nodded.

"I think you're right. But I think we need to get in nevertheless."

She nodded and they soon entered the cave. She looked around and she saw a few claw marks in the walls of the cave with burn marks blackening them. Some of these marks were closer and others were stretched out across large distances. Some were longer and others were shorter. She also noticed that there were charred skeletal remains of the soldiers that tried to take the wyvern down.

Then she was the wyvern in the center of the cave. It was in the middle of it's meal. She took out her sword and then looked around and spotted a rock on the ground. She then closed her eyes and willed the rock to rise. She concentrated hard on it, yet she felt her energy drain and though she was able to throw the rock at the wyvern it only scraped it.

With a roar it looked up at her. It had range in it's amber eyes. It then dived to her and let out a blast at her. She dodged out of the way. She then rolled forward and she slashed under the jaw, but this did nothing. She then slashed again but this did nothing again. She did this again but this did nothing again. 

Yet she knew that age had to change her tactics. So she waited for the wyvern to open its mouth again. There she was ankle to see a spark in the centre of the mouth. Yet she was able to see a flashy pallet in the back of the wyverns throat. Then she ducked as the fire was released from the mouth. She ducked and tapped the jaw as a way to detract the creature from her plan. She then stood erect and then waited for it to open its mouth again and then drove the blade into the back of its throat, slicing the pallet clean off.

She spotted the spark and when the fire came she ducked out of the way and she willed the fire to go back into the mouth of the wyvern. It then stopped and stayed to cough and cough. It moved back and washed his head side to side like a tail. Then it looked at her and opened its mouth again. The moment that she saw the spark she willed the wine to spread fire into its throat. It coughed and coughed even more. She then willed for the fire and alone to flood the lungs. She then raced to it as it backed away from her she then drew the blade up and with all her might and will she was able to cut into the windpipe and then dig deeper with the next slash. She was able to drive it into its back and the head rolled off.

"Now let's see if that starved pig pays up." She sighed, as she picked the head up and lobbed it on her shoulder.

He chuckled.

"Now, I have finally influenced you."

She closed her eyes, masking her shock and forced a smile on her face.

"Who else do I have in my life?"

"Good point."

They walked back to the village by sun down. The moment that Vylla saw head over her shoulder his eyes widened. He looked at the duo and his eye darted firm Zaryb to Strena. He did not mask his bafflement upon the sight.

"So, was it really the girl that took the dragon down?"

"Yes. Now pay up!"

"But-"

"Or do you want a rumour to spread that you are the one that put that dragon in that cave."

"And how can you prove that?"

"The mouth of the cave is far too small for a dragon that size. Now pay up!" She threatened drawing her sword.

"O-on it!"

With a shaky hand he took out the coins and gave it to the girl. Yet he noticed that she was counting each and every coin. So he knew that he could not cheat her and gave her all he had put on the flyer. Once she had all the coins she dropped the head and followed Zaryb and late at night they arrived at the Slayers Guild.

The Syren

Strena woke up early and looked at all the jobs. She knew that she would have to choose something challenging but not too challenging. She knew that if she did not then Zaryb would. She looked at the jobs again but almost all sounded too hard for her. Yet she picked the one that sounded the easiest to her. She picked it as she winced slightly as she knew that it was going to be hard nevertheless. Maybe too hard for her but she knew that it was the easiest that was on the board at that moment. 

She then returned to Zaryb who was sucking on his third beer. 

"Here. It's the only one that I could find at my current level."

He put the wooden mug down as he looked at it. He then looked up at her and then at the board and then nodded. This told her that she was right which gave her a sense of relief as he looked back at the poster.

Kill the siren

For the past four months, Sryne the siren has been

A plague for the island Village,  Aquem located in

The hills of Ercelin.

We have tried to reason with her but every man we

Have sent ended up being waged up on the 

Shoreline almost all eaten. We have even tried to

Kill her ourselves but that ended with the same

Result.

Please, our men and women are being eaten, our

Supplies are running out and we can not leave to

Get more. We do not know how much time we have

Left. So please Gerry here before it is too late.

Signed

Luellet Cyendotr

"And you think that you can kill this creature?" He asked with the corner of his mouth curling up. Trying to resist a smile.

"With your help, then yes." She admitted as she played with her necklace. 

His eyes shone slightly as his smile widened.

"Alright!" He sang. "Well pack your things and I will pack mine."

She nodded, drinking the last of her apple juice and finishing her breakfast. She ran to her room and packed her things and they were both soon on the road before they knew it. She noticed that there were more people looking at her sword and her with fear. They were soon riding the public carriage. Strena stayed quiet, yet the thought did strike her that they might already be too late. Yet she might not, however either way, she would be either saving or avenging the village.

She spotted that the grass had become paler with a pistol blue tint. She spotted that the gravel on the road had become chalk. with royal blue and Olympic blue flowers dotted all around. It looked like a strange winter wonderland with a sky without a single drop of a cloud in the sky.

"This looks quite beautiful." She said out loud.

"Yes, yes it is."

She then smiled and she spotted that he carried a strange smile. A sad smile. The kind of smile that one could only smile after going through Demon Realm for years and had suddenly remembered how to smile. It was filled with a bittersweet sorrow that Strena never thought that Zaryb could ever have. 

She frowned as they arrived. She then pushed what she had seen out of her mind as she got off and then waited for Zaryb. 

They walked to an empty doc. She shivered at how eerie it looked. She knew that they would have to get to the village on their own. They soon found an empty boat.

"Master Zaryb, there's a boat over there."

"I know, but you need to sit."

"Why?"

"Remember what I said about questions?"

She tensed up and nodded. She sat without a word.

"Take out your quill and book."

She did.

"Title?"

"Mermaids and Sirens."

She wrote it down.

"Now sirens, unlike what many people day, are not and I repeat, are not, women that are part bird, no they are furies and harpies. Now sirens and mermaids are very close cousins. Yet even still there are differences between the two. One, sirens do not cover their breasts with shells, two, although they both have enchanting singing voices, the siren's are more powerful and can be prophetic, three, sirens have sharp teeth almost like a parana, meanwhile mermaids have long sharp canines like a vampire. Four, sirens have thinner fingers and higher webbing between each finger. Yet even though they both are very beautiful creatures, sirens possess a cold beauty, meanwhile, mermaids look more innocent. None are to be trusted. Yet even though mermaids can take human forms via magic, sirens cannot. However the only exception of mermaids that can be trusted are the mermaid tribes of the Seaside Kingdoms, who have a strong connection to each other." He said as he waited for her to finish.

"Are there any mail sirens and mermen?"

"Yes and they are just as deadly in fact they can be more dangerous. Anyhow, there are many cousins of the merfolk and the sirens. Such as the silky who look like ordinary seals, however after they come to land they can shed their skins and reveal their human form which holds great beauty. They have a passive personality which can lead to them being forced into becoming the marital partner of humans. This can be true for both generates. Then there are a group known as the blue people that look like humans but they have blue scales and webbed hands and feet. They are usually mistaken for evil monsters so they usually end up being caught and killed by fishermen that do not know any better."

She finished what he had said.

"Is that it?"

"Yes. Now let's move on."

She boxed as she packed it away. Then they took a boat and she started rowing. As she did she could feel her muscles stretch and get warmed up. She found the silence and the stillness of the water slightly chilling. The only thing that kept her sane was the soft sound of the rowing and even that became eerie as it reminded her of just how quiet this place was. She found herself getting colder and colder.

"Do you think that we should see the village first?"

"Why?"

"To see if anyone's alive. If they're not then all this would be a waste."

He smiled.

"Good point."

He then helped row the boat to the island in the centre of the lake. She saw that the doc was all but abandoned. She saw that there was a small man sitting at the docs, he was boney with old clothes barely clinging to his body. His eyes were dead and it was all too clear that he was only there for the pay cheque. He would have been at home if he was not paid. He would have enjoyed his job and greeted then with a smile, had the siren not taken that away from him. She then docked the boat.

"Who are you?"

"A slayer that you ordered."

He nodded.

"Come with me." He said as he walked slowly to the village Hall.

"They are here!" He said weakly.

"Good." Said another man that also looked like his clothes were barely clinging to his body. He shook as he clung onto his walking stick.

"Your payment will be given once I see her head. In the meantime do you need anything to help you Sir?"

"No. And I'm not the slayer that took your job." Zaryb corrected.

"Then who is?"

He points to the girl. This caused him to frown.

"Is she not too young for this?"

"Maybe, but it was the only job that I saw that was the easiest."

"I do not understand. Why would you let one so young be a slayer? Who or what are you preparing her to kill?"

Zaryb's face became dark and serious, however there seemed to be both pain and shame in his eyes.

"Never you mind, old man! Now come, if we take any longer I don't think that they will like long enough to pay you!"

"Yes, good point. The only reason I came here is to see if you're all alive anyway."

They then set off to the rocky cliff face. There they saw a cave, where she saw the coins made of silver, gold and other precious stones carpet the bottom. Some had coral already growing all around them and some were embedded in the coral. She saw some bones there too, some were human and some fish. With some living fish swimming in the clear water.

"Why here?"

"Sirens and mermaids love caves." He whispered. 

"Like dragons and wyverns?"

"Yes. Now keep quiet. You do not want to alert syren. Once a siren knows that we're here she will start singing and none wants that. Do you hear me?"

She noted as she climbed. They soon climbed in. Strena had to bite her lip to stop herself from crying out in pain as the rock cut into her fingers and the salt in the air made her cuts sting. She soon spotted the siren sitting on a rock in the shape of a giant arrow. She was combing through her jet black hair with a comb made of bone. She could hear her humming a tune that was being amplified by the shape of a cave.

"She sees not the demon within,

She sees that it makes him sin,

She thinks that monster is the man,

She can not kill but another can!"

"Cursed by the brother he killed,

Vengeance in his heart instilled,

Vengeance that he wants to fill,

Vengeance he wants her to kill!"

"His suffering will end,

Not other than a defend,

Laying down for family and friend,

Final joinery will finally go and send."

"She will do all to make him free,

The one Death will never ever see,

She with names three,

Will be led by destiny!"

She frowned as she looked back at Zaryb and noticed that he had entered into a trance. His face was pale and his face carried a strange child-like look. She noticed that he was making his way over to the siren. She then rushed over to him and slapped him out of whatever it was.

She too felt affected by the song. It was like a knife was piercing her outer hard shell that she had formed over the past four years and pulled her true self out and was hugging her, like a mother.

"Little girl who is great,

And long unending fate,

Though years she will wait, 

Her jaws never take the bait."

"Hear me now should you wish

To see that you miss the most,

Take my sweet and deathly dish,

And die on this rocky coast."

"For you and another on another shore

Will be cut off from death forevermore!"

She frowned yet she knew that it was her that she was singing about. This also meant that all that she sang would come to pass. Yet she could not figure out the rest. However she wanted to walk over to her, curious to listen in and learn more. She found that she was getting close and closer to the creature. Then Zaryb whacked her.

"Do your job girl!"

She looked at him and nodded. She then drew a tiny dagger at her throat. With a screech she fell into the water. She was about to dive in knowing that the wound would be far too shallow for it to prove fatal. Yet Zaryb stopped her. She looked at him questioningly.

"She knows these waters."

She nodded.

I have to get her out of the water then.

"Remember that story I told you about the boiling toad?"

She went pale as age understood what he meant. She then turned back to the water. She then closed her eyes and then started to heat it up. She started to do this slowly so as to not draw too much attention to the rise of temperature. She then willed the heat to rise slightly even more. She then raised the heat to become slowly hotter and hotter. Soon it was at a high temperature yet it was not boiling yet. She then raised it higher and higher still. She then heard the scratching along with the sound of bubbles dusting. 

She opened her eyes as she felt her energy draining get the better of her. She then looked up and spotted the siren dive to her. She was covered in blood and blisters and boils. She flicked out her sword and caught the head by the hair. She bit her lip as the water scaled her fingers. She then looked at him.

"Time to collect."

They then climbed back out of the cave and over the rocks. She could feel her body feel heavy as she walked back barely raising her feet as she did. She almost slammed the head on the table. They looked at it and then her in shock.

"I would like my money now!" She panted.

They gave it to her and she put it back in her pocket. They then left and she almost collapsed as they rowed back. She then just managed to stay awake as they walked to the public carriage. Once they sat she leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes, but then Zaryb punched her in the face. She jumped as she looked at him.

"Did I give you my permission to fall asleep on me?"

"No. I'm just tired, that's all! Also-"

"Refrain from expecting any comfort from me."

She narrowed her eyes and looked aside and nodded. She curled up and hugged her sword. She hid her upset well as they rode to the slayer's tavern in silence. Once she reached her room she collapsed on the bed with the sword gripped in her hand. She let her mind be quickly taken by sleep, with the siren's song on repeat in her mind. Somehow soothing her soul as she just cried herself to sleep missing her parents most of all. She was feeling so lost as she was growing and her parents could not even be here to see it.

The Werewolf

Strena looked at the jobs, humming the siren's song under her breath. She just could not think why, but for some reason, she just could not get that song out of her head. As she liked the song and the tune, she did not mnd. 

She soon found a job. Even though she did not know if she would be able to do it, she knew that she should at least try. If she was able to pull it off then she knew that she would be able to eat and buy whatever she wanted.

She then grabbed it and walked back to Zaryb as he finished his third mug of beer. She had noticed he seemed to be drinking a lot recently. She has thought of asking him why but she was far too afraid to. She knew that the amount that he was drunk was not a good thing. She showed him and he looked at the slip and then back at her with what looked like concern.

"Are you sure?"

"No, but I should at least try."

He nodded as he passed it back to her. She then looked at it more closely as her breakfast arrived.

Slay The Werewolf

There has been a werewolf that

has been terrorising my local parents.

He has been doing this for the post

three months. I have tried to send my

soldiers and knights after him but they

were no match for him. Even I, the 

king, have tried and failed!

So please send you best

King Seljor Chyronogh

Master Zaryb's right, this sounds hard. I wonder if I can get this done? Does it matter? It seemed the easiest to get so this one I will do.

She put it down as she ate her breakfast. She soon wiped her mouth and then left and packed. They soon were on their way and in a public carriage. She felt slightly nervous. However she did well to mask her emotions. If there was one thing that Strena was learning to master was how to mask her emotions. She hoped that she was being good at it. Yet she knew that she had to master it. 

They ate on the public carriage and they arrived at nightfall. She knew that they would have to get signed into a tavern or inn. Zaryb looked up at the moon. It was almost full. He then looked at her, again she thought that she saw concern on his face.

"What?"

"I will do your lesson on were creatures tomorrow. Meanwhile in the morning you should have a lie in. But do not get used to it! You can only have them when dealing with creatures that you can only kill during the night."

She smiled to herself and nodded. It felt good to know that she would not need to ensure that she got up at an early hour. She jumped off the public carriage and they walked to the nearest inn. They signed in and collected their keys. She cleaned herself and her clothes. Then the moment that she hit the bed she fell asleep half an hour before midnight.

Strena saw a young Zaryb in her dreams. She saw that they were in a room that looked like it belonged to her homeland. She saw a man that looked identical to her father but younger, by far. Yet Zaryb carried a shy look in his young eyes. Yet the man that looked like her father carried a gleeful cruel look in his young eyes with a twisted smile on his face.

"W-what are we doing here brother?"

"Well Zarry, I am afraid that I am here to hurt you again."

He looked down and nodded. He looked sorrowful and scared. He looked almost like he was about to cry. Yet he bit his lips.

"Please no. Please not again! Please stop it! Why do you keep doing it?"

"Because! Now if you tell mother and father about this I will hurt you more. But don't worry this will be for the empire."

She then heard an evil laughter. It filled her heart in fear and she woke up screaming. She could not place why, but she was filled with an uncontrollable fear. She shook and could not stop shaking.

What in the Demon Realm was that all about? Who was that? Why did father look so evil? My father was not evil! He was good! He was good! So why did I dream that?

She shook her head trying to shove it out of her head. She had to get up and sit on the loo and let all her urine and dung out. She wiped her behind with a sponge and cleaned her hands and went back to her bed.

It's just a dream. It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't! She repeated in her head.

She then calmed down and then tried to get back to sleep. Yet she could not. She did not want to hear that laugh again. Nor did she want that look on her father's young face. She closed her eyes, yet even though she was not able to drift off, she was able to achieve a light and dreamless sleep nevertheless. This forced her to think about that dream. She wondered why she had dreamed that.

She was the first down the stairs. She ordered a hot chocolate and curled up by the fire. It was the only thing that was comforting to her. She wished that someone would comfort her and give her some love.

She was given her mug which she gulped down then stared into the fire. Her mind was still fixed on her dream.

What has Zaryb turned me into? And why did I dream that? Why can I not shake it off or get it out of my head?

She did not keep time for how long she sat there, by the fire. She had ordered another hot chocolate and by the time she finished that her hot chocolate had become cold.

"You are up early! Did I not day that you could have a lie in this morning?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Nightmare?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me."

She did, not seeing any reason why not to. He looked aside. It was all too clear that he knew what she was dreaming about. He looked slightly vulnerable and almost as if he was about to cry. He closed his eyes for a moment as he carried the look of someone about to make an important decision. Then he came to the decision when he opened his eyes. His eyes became misty and sullen. He shivered.

"You know what my dreams mean don't you? You always seem to have. So, why do you never say?"

He let out a sigh and shook his head.

"I'm getting a drink."

"Master Zaryb?"

"No, and may I remind you that I do not need to answer your questions. Yet even if I did you would neither believe me nor would you like the answer."

She rolled her eyes as she looked down realising that he was right. He did not need to answer any of her questions. After all, she was not his ward, she was his prisoner and, with the Artemis necklace around her neck, she was his slave. Which meant that even though she had magic she still was powerless against him.

Yet then her mind brought up the lyrics of the siren's song. Then it went over what Zaryb had said about his family. Then out went over her dreams. Her mind then took her to the Hunters Tavern. About how alike she looked to both her father and Zaryb. Even she had noticed how strange it was that she looked very much like Zaryb. Then she remembered her father's last moments and how he had reacted to him.

Could it be? That my father is the brother that he talked about?

No! That is stupid, that is a stupid thought! Why would I even think that? No, Father was nice, he was kind, he was good! That dream meant nothing! He's just toying around with me! He's only pretending to understand so that he can confuse me! Yes, that's it! So stop thinking about it.

But then why? Why would he lie? 

You know why! Because he's evil! And he's making me evil too!

"I hope that you haven't got any foolish ideas in that head of yours girl!"

Can he read minds too?

"No!"

He smirked.

"Good. Then get your breakfast. Then get your things. Your lesson will begin straight after."

She nodded. She got her breakfast and soon ate her food. She collected her things and then rejoined Zaryb at the table. She pulled out her journal, quill and ink.

"What title?"

"Were Creatures."

She nodded, writing it down.

"Now, let me start by saying that, even though the werewolf is the most famous of the were-creatures. There are more out there, some of which are not as harmful as a werewolf, yet there are those that are worse. This depends on what creatures the were-creatures are.

"Now the reason that the werewolf is the most famous is because it is the easiest to become. One can become a werewolf by any number of ways, like being bitten or scratched, selling your soul to a demonic force, taking an enchanted wolfskin and putting it on. All of which lead to a painful transformation. Though any were-creatures in human form are stronger and faster than normal humans and faster too and they do have superhuman senses that you can use against them. Which, I trust, that you are smart enough to use. Another weakness is the fact that they are all allergic to all types of wolfsbane." He said as he carefully read her.

She kept her mask up as much as she could, but in front of Zaryb she knew that she might as well be naked. So all of this was all practice to get to the point that she could mask her emotions in front of him.

"Done!"

"Good."

"Is three anything more?"

"No. Are you ready?"

"No."

He smiled challengingly at her.

"Do you want to turn back?"

"No."

"Then let's go."

She nodded and they were off. They all looked around and she asked the people all about the werewolf all of which pointed to a florist and then bought a mistletoe branch each. Zaryb pinned it to his breast pocket and Zarb picked off the leaves and thorns. He then weaved it in her hair. They then walked around the town and kept an eye out for anyone sniffing like they had a cold yet not having one. When they found none after going through the entire town they walked back to the tavern.

"What now?"

"Looks like we have no choice but to wait for tonight."

"So what are we-"

"You look tired. Take a nap."

She nodded and walked to her room. The moment her forehead hit the pillow her eyes closed and, after a few hours later she wine. It was already getting dark. The full moon was rodding. Quickly they gathered their things. Then they soon came to the bottom room. They noticed that the inn had become rather quiet. Too quiet.

Then Strena heard the sound of flies and the cent of death clung to the air. This made her stomach churn as her body tingled as her hair stood on end.

"Master Zaryb, do you think that it is at all possible that the innkeeper was the werewolf?"

He looked at her with shock. He looked all around and sniffed up. His eyes widened. He picked her up and ran with that inhuman speed of his. They then heard a woman scream. Zaryb then followed the sound of the. They came to the innkeeper on the ground screaming as a pair of jaws snapped and the head and shoulders fell. 

Strena looked in shock as the blood dripped from its nose. She slipped off and looked at the dread woman by her. She soon had flashbacks to get deaf parents. She saw their bloody corpses and then Zaryb the way that she saw him back then. With the blood on his hands and the cruel look on his face.

He then hit her and she snapped out of it. She then looked at the werewolf and she drew her sword. She then took some mistletoe and coated it with its juice. She then ran to him. She then swung to the head and she was hit in the side. She landed and looked down to check the damage. Fortunately there were no claw or bite marks. She then looked up to see it was already almost on top of her. She only just rolled out of the way and flicked the blade up. The claws threw out and dug it into the wall and pulled it up before he was hit.

This gave her the opportunity to get up. She then tried to slit the throat again but it backed away and growled at her. He then dived at yet again and she almost was scratched as she dived out of the way. She was almost able to cut off its hand. It threw the other hand at her and she was able to duck underneath it. She then threw a branch of the mistletoe at the werewolves eyes. This caused it to look away and she was able to slash the head off.

She shook all over as she collapsed. She let herself take a break as she calmed down. She only got up once she was ready. She collected the head and they made their way to King Seljor Chyronogh. They collected their money and walked to the public carriage. He checked her for tooth and claw marks. Upon setting that there were none, he let out a sigh of relief. Once she returned to the Slayers Guild she washed herself and slept well only to wake feeling sore all over.

The Fairy

Srtena waited for her to recover until she took the next job. She looked at the board. She soon spotted a job that sounded line one that she could do and easy, yet she remembered what she had been through. She knew that these kinds of jobs would help her test her magical abilities. So, despite it all, she took it. She walked back to the table as her breakfast arrived. She showed him the job for a second opinion.

Save Slephenjor From Tyroia

Tyrroia the dark fea arrived last year. She has

taken over one hundred children. She started by

taken in the children of the streets and the 

orphans so that we would not mind, however we

still would not mind once she moved onto the ones

with parents or guardians that would look after

them, if they were working for her as a job, however

we have found out that she has been experimenting

on them!

We have tried to get them back however we could not!

She is just far too powerful for us and the moment 

that we tried they took the wives of those who tried

to take their children back. She did not stop either,

 for once any woman fell pregnant she would take them. 

She claimed that this was to ensure that we would not

try to resist her again, however we do not believe this.

So please, help us and send your best.

Lord Leexanate

Zaryb looked at her and gave it back to her.

"Why do you want to take this one?" He asked sucking his beer.

"I want to test my magic."

He raised his eyebrow then his eyes narrowed.

"I see. Well, she is a fairy. Though I think that it would be wise to have the lesson here. After all, if we had our lesson at the location then she would be tipped off to our plan."

"Why wouldn't she be tipped off here?"

"She is now expecting us."

She frowned. He rolled his eyes.

"Do not act under the assumption that she knows about this or you for that matter. Yet even if she does I don't think that she will take it seriously."

"Do-do you know her?"

"No, but I do know someone who does. After all, they had a brief encounter after she had kidnapped a Royal born out of wedlock that he had targeted."

"Why did he target her?"

"She was being used by her father to trap his rivals by bearing their children. So he wanted to put her misery to an end."

She nodded, trying not to focus on that. She used eating her food as a distraction.

"When do we start?"

"After breakfast. Once you have packed."

She noted as she continued to eat. She ate as fast as she could and the moment that she finished she ran up the stairs. She then packed her things and ran down the stairs and took out her journal and ink.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Right, write down Fairies. So let's start with the fairy in question, Tyroia Firnheart is a fairy of the Unseelie Court, which are the fairy kingdoms filled with all kinds of evil fairies."

"I'm guessing that they're not the kind to play harmless tricks?"

"No, though that is how they start their children off. No, they are the kind to steal a child under their parents noses or kill them. Some would manipulate the children that they had captured to become loyal to them. Others would no longer know who they even were. However I will tell you this; you do not want to provoke a fae of the Unseelie Court to anger. It would either lead to your death or worse. So are you really certain that you want to take this one?"

"Yes. After all, once she's dead it will not matter after that."

"Then, if you do not wish to die, make sure that you do not interrupt me again."

"Now their rivals are the Seelie Court which are kingdoms filled with good fairies, however, they too are not to be underestimated. After all, they all know how to fight and the royals and nobles all start their training no older than four and a half!"

She was about to comment but decided against it.

That is even younger than I was!

"Have you got that all?"

She soon finished.

"Yes. Will you be getting to the weaknesses?"

"The only weaknesses that I can say is better skill and inelegance. Which of you have been trading those books that I ordered you to, then there is a good chance you could take her down. Have you?"

"Yes, after all, I can't disobey an order." She said, playing with her Artemis necklace.

He looked at this and smiled.

"Good! You remembered."

"Well, with you, I know that I have to have a good memory. Now, is that it?"

"For now."

"Then I think that once we're ready we will be off then?"

He chuckled.

"Do I need to bring you back to Merth?"

"With you, I can never leave Merth! Why?"

"You seem to be getting far too cocky."

She nodded, putting on a false smile.

"'Seem' is a good word to use. And isn't this what you wanted?"

He smiled and chuckled.

"You are a good girl!"

Her smile dropped.

Once she put away her things, they set off and went in their way. They soon arrived at the village of Slephenjor. They were soon noticed by Tyroia, who unknown to the two, had been waiting for them. She smiled and watched the pair until night until she came to the two. She witnessed they were about to sign into the only inn. She flew to the innkeeper before the two even saw him.

Meanwhile a moment later they signed in and Strena ordered her drink and her meal. The waitress arrived with their food with an extra bowl of soup.

"I didn't order this."

"It's on the house, for a girl on her tenth." She said as she left.

"How did she know?" She asked, realising that it was her tenth birthday.

She turned to her food until Zaryb placed a hand on hers. He shook his head. She nodded.

Good thinking.

"Right."

She spotted a mouse nearby. She looked around and used her magic to pull it to her. She caught it and then took a teaspoon and took a small amount. She then fed it to the mouse. She observed it for a while before she looked up after nothing happened. He nodded and she let the mouse go back on the floor. She then dug in and she had never tasted such a rich flavoured vegetable soup. 

"To my tenth!" She said as she finished. 

She then spotted the mouse by her.

She then fed it a small portion of her food to see if it was safe and seeing that it was she ate the rest. She then gave it a taste of her apple juice. Seeing that was safe she gulped it all down. He too used the mouse to check his food before he ate his food too. They then booked one room.

"Why?"

"I do not want to let you out of my sight."

"Do you think?"

"Yes."

She frowned as she started to feel sleepy. At first she thought that it was due to a long day. Yet, as her eyelids were getting heavy, she could tell that it was not. As they walked to the room, her walking became sloppy and she was barely able to raise her feet. Her mind became foggy and she felt weak.

She looked down to see the mouse asleep on the wooden floorboards. Someone stepped on its tail and this did nothing to stir it. The only evidence that it was alive was its rhythmic breathing.

"Zaryb-" she mumbled as she fell. 

Zaryb soon followed. Tyroia soon flew to them and took them away. They woke up in a stone cold room with stone walls. With only an iron door in front of them. She noticed that there were metal cuffs on their wrists and ankles, chaining them to the walls.

Where…

Then came the sound of crying and screaming children, begging for their pain to end. This soon told her all she needed to know. She kept calm after all she knew that she would not allow her to become a victim like them.

"So, you're awake!" Said a childish voice.

"Yes."

"It's about time you arrived!"

She looked at the woman with a small body with silver skin and the hair the colour of a well polished blade. Her narrow long eyes were an unsettling white. She wore a long black dress that was made of silk.

"Hello I'm Tyroia Firnheart. Yes I have been expecting you, my dear Destined Deathless." She said, stroking her jaw.

She frowned.

"What?"

She giggled.

"I saw you coming!"

"I gathered that. Now, why do people keep calling me Destined Deathless?"

"Because, if you wanna die, you better do it quickly for you're destined to never die! How you are to, will reveal itself when the time comes and once it does, you won't be able to die after! So if you wanna die you're gonna have to die at my hands!"

She rolled her eyes as she looked all over. The fairy giggled as she pulled out her sword and looked at the sheathed sword.

"By the way, do you know what this blade is? Or its name?"

"No."

She smiled.

"Can you unsheathe it?"

"Why don't you give it to me and I'll show you?"

Her mouth opened as she smirked. She then looked at her as if she was a cute pet.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then. If only you knew what that meant."

She narrowed her eyes.

Never mind this, I have to find a way to kill her right here and now.

She sighed, masking her emotions.

"Oh, and what does it mean?" She asked, hoping to keep the fairy talking.

"Oh? Wouldn't we like to know!"

She walked up to the girl and placed her hand on her head. She felt something tingly on her forehead. She focused her magic to will the hand away from her, yet she knew that she would not be strong enough to keep her back so she changed her plan. She then turned her magic to her cuffs. She drove all her will to break them and the moment that she heard the click she whipped her arms forward. Her hands clutched her wrist.

"Oh! You're good!"

She brushed it off as she thought about the books that she read. She then remembered something about killing a fairy.

"The only way to kill a fairy is if you will it so."

No, there must be more.

"However one must do it with the state of mind with a black heart."

She then remembered that moment that she killed that witch that told her how she had magic. She knew that she had the mind of a black heart then. Back when she poured everything evil into that potion. It suddenly came to her. The thought that in doing so she might have accidentally turned that potion into a poison.

Knowing this, she closed her eyes and remembered how she was back then. How she let all her anger and sorrow pour into that potion. How she did this until she wept. She then drove herself back into that state of mind and then reenacted the memory substituting the potion with the fairy. She remembered to put her whole will into this.

"Are you trying to kill me?" She mocked.

Ignore her. Keep going!

She continued.

"Oh,  I dunno…if you can draw this, maybe you could…"

She ignored this and drove the dark will into the fairy's heart. She then felt the fairy falling as she started panting. The fairy tried to pull her wrist out of her hands but her grip was stronger. She then squeezed her hand until she had a vice-like grip. She then felt the fairy slap her, but she had been through enough pain to not get distracted by the slap. She heard the fairy scream and scream, each becoming more weak than the last. She was slapped again and again. Then the fairy turned to punching her yet she was far too weak for it to deliver any true pain. Then the scream stopped. The weight of the arm rested on her hands. She then heard several high pitched moans soon, even they ceased. By the time she opened her eyes the fairy was dead.

She hung there, panting as she felt overwhelmingly tired. Once she was rested Zaryb picked the lock and she was able to get up on her feet.

She then took her sword and unsheathed it and severed her head. She then willed the treaty of the body to be set alight. She then pulled the key out and opened the door. She then freed all the prisoners before she came to Zaryb. She then said nothing as she walked back to the village with all of them freed. She collected her coins and returned to the Slayer's Guild and collapsed. She placed her head on the pillow and was fast asleep before she could do a thing.

The Hydra

Strena was at the board again. She looked at the posters and wanted to pick a job that would get her straight to the job and not another lesson from Zaryb. So she took the job of a creature that Zaryb had already taught her about. She knew that it was going to be a challenging one and she might just have to use her head with this one too. This gave her confidence when she took it. 

She soon was making her way to the table. She had noticed that people were looking at her from the corner of the eye. Their looks were strange and yet hard to read. Yet there was one thing that they, regardless of how well they tried, could not hide and that was fear. She knew that it was not of Zaryb but of her. Yet she did not mind as much as she knew that she should have.

"I-is that her?"

"Yes."

"Is-is it true, that she's a fully fledged bounty hunter and assassin"

"So I hear."

"But she's too young! How old is she?"

"I turned ten a couple of days ago!" She called over to them.

They all looked at her completely horrified. Then,when they noticed that she was looking at them, they forced themselves to mask their emotions. They then turned back to their conversation. They spoke quieter and tried their best to not look at her. 

Why do they treat me like that?

She shook her head as she sat at the table.

"Here!"

Zaryb looked at the slip of paper and smirked.

"Do you remember what I said about this creature?"

"I do. You did make me write it down."

"Good."

She then started to reread it.

Save Us From The Hydra

A Hydra had appeared three weeks ago in my

kingdom Grebiblesshart.

I sent my best men and knights to kill the beast 

but the creature killed them all, despite bringing 

back four heads. They proved no match.

Even I have tried to kill the beast, which I almost 

lost my life in doing so. However my survival came at

the cost of my left leg and right hand. It was only by 

the grave of the Great Being that I survived.

Please we are desperate and do send your best!

The Serving King

King Choriz

"King Choriz hur? This ought to be interesting!" Zaryb purred, with that evil and cruel smile of his.

"You know him?"She asked, despite her better judgement.

He shook his head.

"I've heard of him. He's a follower of a new god known simply as The Great Being."

She nodded.

"Right." 

She soon dug into her breakfast. She soon finished and then ran upstairs. She packed as quickly as she could. She then made sure not to miss a thing. She was soon at the door, as quickly as she could and to her surprise, Zaryb did not beat her. She soon saw Zaryb coming down the stairs. He had a troubled look on his face.

"I beat you!" She said childishly.

He rolled his eyes.

"Seems that you have!" He said as he tapped her on the head.

"What was that for?"

"Being childish."

"But I am a child!"

"Oh, yeah!" He said tapping her again.

"What now?"

"Grow up faster."

"I don't know if that is possible Matter Zaryb." She said as they left.

He shrugged and they took the public carriage. 

"Actually, don't grow up faster."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to have a teenager on my hands."

"Oh."

Strena kept herself to herself as she read the notes that she had taken. Once she had done that she then turned her attention to her sword. She stroked it as she thought about what people had said about it.

I wonder what sword this is. Why do people make such a fuss about me being able to wield it? I am pretty sure that all that would become clear if I learn its name. Yet I do not think that I have the time to think about that.

Looked up at Zaryb. She put it back into its scabbard. Out of boredom she started playing with her bracelet. She had noticed that the bracelet had grown with her wrist. Then she looked at her coat and how that had started to get harder to get into.

"Master Zaryb, I need a new coat."

He looked at her and nodded.

"Yeah."

They then got off at the kingdom. They soon made their way to the castle and soon in front of the king. He had replaced his leg with a wooden stick. Which made him look like a strange cross between a pirate and a caring benevolent king. Yet the moment that Strena looked at him, she felt a strange peace and warmth like none other than she had ever known before. It was like there was something about him that immediately put her at ease. She could feel like there was a light in her dark world.

"I see that you are the slayers that have taken my job."

She nodded.

Yet she took a glance at Zaryb who was looking pale and was shaking slightly. However there was a strange look on his face. It was almost like a wild animal that was trying to make himself look bigger than it actually was. Yet he looked scarred in a way that she did not understand. Which made her scared more and too worried about what he would do if she should ask.

"You will free this man." He said to Zaryb.

He then looked at Strena.

"Light will win and bring itself to your dark world and life. You, who will lead the one that will expose the truth of the gods, will do so at a price."

She frowned.

"Alright, where's the Hydra!" She asked, wanting to get things back on track.

"In the east of the kingdom."

She nodded.

"Thank you."

She walked out of the cattle. She then walked to the alcohol shop.

"Why are we coming here? Especially after that first time!"

She laughed.

"To make the thing easier to kill." She said as she turned to the shopkeeper. "How many heads does the Hydra have?"

"Eight."

"Alright. Also since when did you complain about going near alcohol?"

"Don't get smart with me!"

She then bought sixteen wine bottles, beer bottles and rum bottles. She then put them in her backpack. She then bought eight barrels. She had to ask for help to carry them.

"Honestly girl, what is all of this for?"

She smirked.

"You'll see!"

He frowned.

"I seriously hope that you're not planning on fighting that thing drunk."

"No, well yes but I'm not going to be the drunk one."

His eyes widened as his pupils dilated. He then smiled with his jaw dropped.

"Then we will need moonshine too."

"And how much is that?"

He chuckled.

"Good point."

She smiled as he guided her to another alcohol shop that was tucked away. There they bought more beer and rum. They were then back on their way. They soon came to the cave and she was glad to put the barrels down. She soon started to fill the barrels. As she filled the fifth barrel the Hydra came out. She then filled the sixth barrel, forcing herself to ignore the Hydra being closer and closer. She filled the seventh and was starting to fill the eighth when it arrived. It looked at her as she filled the final barrel.

"What is this, little girl?" Asked one head.

"A drink for you."

They looked at her suspiciously.

"I noticed that you have been eating a lot but I think you ought to have a good and tasty drink too. After all, you can't just have water and blood all the time."

"You make a valid point."

They looked at the barrels and sniffed. One looked at her suspiciously, but one was already drinking away. Once the head had finished, she then refilled the barrel. Then the suspicious head drank up. That was when the others drank their barrel. She then quickly refilled barrel after barrel. They soon gulped it all down. She then refilled the barrels again. She soon ran out of wine and she moved onto the beer. They all gulped it down again and again until age ran out of beer before she moved onto the rum. She watched them carefully as the creature started to sway. She then spotted that the heads were starting to sway and the legs were wobbling. She smirked as she refilled the barrels with the rum. Once the rum was gone she had the creature completely drunk.

This gave her her chance. She ran under the creature and drew out her sword and cut into the stomach and ran forward. She drove the sword along the upper abdomen right down to between the legs, slicing off the reproductive organs and cleaned the blade. It then roared out in pain as she ran to the centre and cut to the left and the right. She knew that  she should get out of it but it then collapsed on her before she could do a thing! Fortunately she was in the centre of the open wound. Unfortunately she was in the stomach. It stunk and was hot. She let out a scream as the stomach acid touched her skin. 

She bit her lip as she ran to the curve of the stomach. She then stabbed the wall again and again, she could feel the acid burn her feet. She bit her lip as she forced herself to hack at the stomach. She started to sweat as the blood fell by her. Yet she had to continue chopping at the side. She started to find it hard to breathe as she chopped on. She found it harder and harder to breathe as she kept hacking. Soon she found that her strength was starting to fail her. The air was so thin and this caused her mind to become faint. Her sword fell and she collapsed. She tried to get up but she could not. Her mind was being dim and her vision became blurry. She heard scrapping and a hand pulled her out.

"Strena! Strena!" She heard Zaryb call.

Her vision came into focus and it must have been her imagination but he looked worried.

"Arielsa!"

"D-did you call me by my real name?"

He chuckled as he hugged her but very briefly. He then pulled away and punched her.

"Never do that again."

"Try not to."

She had to get Zaryb's help as she collected her bounty.

The Vampire

Strena had to stay in her room in the Slayers Guild for a whole week before she was ready to take another job, even with the white mages help. She had to stay for at least three more days before she had fully recovered. During that time all she could do was go over all the events in her mind. She knew that she needed to get more training in before she would ever try going up another Hydra again, or any member of the dragon family for that matter!

She woke up early in the morning when she knew that she was ready for another job. She changed her clothes and cleaned the old ones and her sword. She then looked at the board. She picked her job and then got her breakfast. She quickly ate it and had finished it when Zaryb walked down the stairs. He then ordered his breakfast and got a beer. He then sat in front of her and looked at the job.

Slay The Vampire

Vyren Valani

Vyren Valani had arrived at out small town of

Zyrenigh a month ago. We left him alone at

first, but then people started to disappear. These

include men, women and children. Yet none heard

any of them scream.

It was not until last week that the first body we

knew. We tried to drive him out but all that were

sent ended up dead. Yet their bodies showed no

sign of resistance or blood.

Jhoran Lohan

He looked up at her.

"This is easier than the last one, however, this one will still be difficult." 

"I know. I just want to test myself. Yet I don't want it to be as difficult as the Hydra." She said as her breakfast arrived.

"Hold on, she took down a Hydra?"

"Yes, Garpy. I did." She said, hiding the flyer as she dug in.

"What have you-"

She unsheathed her sword and pointed it at his chest. At this, he looked at her terrified as he backed away. He then left and walked to the board.

"Please hurry up?"

"Why?"

"I just want to get this over and done with that's all." She admitted as she looked around at the terrified faces looking at her. Almost like she was about to kill any one of them at any moment. 

He looked at her concerned and nodded. She then left to go up the stairs, trying to avoid Garpy. She was soon greeting Zaryb and they walked out of the Slayers Guild. They walked down a long road. They did not take a public carriage, yet they were soon arriving at the village. It surprised her to find just how close the village was. She looked around and noticed just how little people there were.

"Tell me, where do you think that Vyren is?"

"Over there." He said, pointing to a small castle at the top of a hill.

"Why there?"

"Vampires like him are incredibly vain. So they would want to live in a place that shows off their greatness."

"Right."

She raised her hand as she looked at the position of the sun. This was high in the sky and with her hunger, which meant that it was noon.

"We must get there as soon as possible. It will be harder once the sun goes down. Needless to say that vampires are at their strongest at night. Yet even though there are many people who say that the sun kills them, this is only half true. After all, vampires have extremely fair skin so it means that it is easier to burn. Which makes them weaker in the sunlight, but they don't turn to dust in it. However, if you are able to kill a vampire, they will."

"And when are they at their weakest?"

"On a hot summer's noon."

Looks like I'll be writing that in my journal later.

They soon came to the door. 

"Are we-"

"I suspect he already knows that we're here."

"How?"

"He heard us."

"Oh."

Then the doors opened. They walked forward without a word. Inside was a main hall with a set of black wooden  stairs in front of her with some ones at either end of the doors. The marble floor was well polished and there was a black chandelier lit with green and red candles.

Strena was the first to see him. He had black hair with a red shine with crimson eyes with the pupils that were a slit like a cat. He wore the black and red robes of nobility and leather boots that were well polished with a shiny silver buckle.

The moment that their eyes met she fell into a trance. Her body started to walk almost as if it had a will of its own. She made way over to him. She walked closer and closer to him. He then looked at Zaryb and then back to her. She was followed closely by Zaryb. She came within range and he clapped. 

She jumped as she woke up and she was about to draw her sword but the vampire had put his hand on her. She felt her energy start to drain. She tried to free her wrist from his grip but it was too strong. She tried to get the sword out of its sheath but his hand kept hers where it was. He then started to squeeze and her hands grip became weaker and weaker. She let go and he was bringing her hands up to his lips.

Knowing what was going to happen next she drove her foot in between his legs and he let go. She broke her wrist as she landed. She then threw out her leg and drove it into the ankle. He fell and she then flicked up and drew the sword and drove it down into his heart. She rolled over and did what she could to protect her wrist from more damage as she rolled to the left. She felt incredibly tired. Yet she was able to get to her feet and walked back to Zaryb.

"That was fast."

"You taught me well."

He smirked as she gathered the ash and left. They collected the bounty and were on their way back to the Slayers Guild.

The Dragon

Strena woke up far too early. It was still dark outside so she tried to get back to sleep, but she found that completely impossible. She twisted and turned but she could neither get comfortable or drift off. So she gave up on that, she wondered why she was so restless. She thought about it for sometime and came to the conclusion that it must have been the dream that she had. That she keeps having. Whenever she woke, she could not remember most of it, but all that she could remember was being a fully grown woman, killing that man and leaving her kingdom behind without taking the crown. She could not get it out of her head. 

Giving up on getting back to sleep, she slipped out of bed and gave herself a quick wash. She put on a jet black cotton shirt and brown trousers. She cleaned her sword and put away her cleaned clothes. She then put on her polished black leather boots and walked down the stairs.

Then she noticed that someone looked at her in outrage. 

"Great good Lok! She's awake!"

"Shh! I know but she can hear you, you know!"

"Well someone like her would!"

"But please! Keep quiet! She has that-"

"Never mind that! Did you know that she has taken down many kings, a young dragon, a wyvern, a syren, a fairy, a werewolf and a couple of weeks ago a Hydra, sure it almost killed her, but that was trying to get of it's stomach and the thing was already dead! Then last week she took down a vampire!"

"Seriously! That girl, if she continues the way that she is, will put the rest of us to shame!"

Strena started to feel annoyed.

"I know, but there's nothing that we can do about it! She is being tied to Zaryb and she does have an assassin's mark on her cheek! Also that he trains her day in and day out to a point that he pushes her beyond her limits!"

"I heard that she got that when she was seven and she became a bounty hunter at the age of six!"

One of the women burst out laughing.

"What! That's nonsense! How can someone of her age handle such jobs! Never mind that! Why don't they have any age restrictions on them anyway?"

"I don't know. Though I do have to wonder how is it that someone of her age can take down all that she had and has lived to tell about it? I mean half of what she takes down we don't have the guts to!"

"Then find those guts! And get a job that would stop me from putting you lot to shame!" She snapped, feeling both frustrated and annoyed.

"Easy for you to say! You're not the one being upstaged by a child!"

"Easy for you to say you're not the child! Nor do you know what it's like to be living with Master Zaryb! Now I'm going to get my breakfast." She sulked to the table and ordered her food. 

Her eyes glanced at the board. Not even wanting to look at the adults. No, that would just upset her. Which was the last thing that she wanted.

I think that, out of spite, I think I will push myself and take a difficult one this time. One that will shame them! After all, if I pull it off it would make them feel the same shame as I do! To the Demon Realm with caution and fighting on 'my' level!

She soon saw the one that she wanted. She smiled knowing that the one would upset them. She walked up to the board and took it. She angrily stomped over to the group and showed them the flyer.

"Here, you go to that board and beat that! I dare you!"

They then looked at it and then back to her like she was mad.

"What is going on?"

The others looked at him and then back to her. They then darted to the board. He looked at the others out of amazement.

"Never seen them so eager before!"

"Yeah, well having a child as a slayer out matching them, would do that!" She snapped, feeling nothing but venom for the man.

He sniffed.

"So what did you choose?"

She showed him.

Take Down The Dragon

Four years ago the dragon Daggard came to our land,

Vinella. He are our homeless first so that we would not

notice. Them he moved into our men and then our 

women and soon some of our children.

We have tried to kill the creature but that has only

delayed it for three years and his attention has 

returned to our women and children.

Now both on our women and children live in nothing 

but fear. Our women are widows and some have 

lost children along with that.

Please,  send your best.

Mayor

Myckrogh Nevermore

He looked at her both questioningly and shocked. It was all too clear that he was bamboozled by this attitude and choice.

"Are you sure about this one?"

She looked at the others, knowing that she could not allow herself to look weak, not what it was she had thrown down the gauntlet.

"Yes."

"Well, this one will be harder than the Hydra."

"Yes, I know.

He looked at her in a strange look that she would have thought would be out of concern, if she did not know any better. She soon had her breakfast in front of her and she soon was digging in when he had his. She finished as he shortly followed and they soon packed. She was soon at the door waiting for Zaryb, which he soon came down.

"Which one did you take?" A man asked.

"A dragon. You?"

"Mermaid. Byr's taking on the sister of the Hydra you took down."

"Tell Byr good luck. Also, use alcohol. It will help."

"It will?"

"Yes."

He looked at Zaryb.

"Which one did you take Zarry?"

"I didn't take one. I am just taking the girl to her job, that's all."

"Are you the one that trains her?"

"Yes."

"And how many times do you train her?"

"Every time she is not working."

But it does make me wonder, why is he doing all of this? She wondered knowing that she was not going to get any answer any time soon, if at all. 

Yet she soon came to the conclusion that Zasryb was turning her into both his personal monster and weapon. She knew that after learning about her magic, he would ensure that he would make her magic work for him and him alone. Knowing this, lit another flame in her fire of anger, yet she knew better than to show it. She had to do all she could to get better at hiding her emotions. Yet she could not stop herself from exposing them every now and again.

They made their way to the public carriage and got on. Strena closed her eyes. She tried to drift off again but she could not. She tried to do it again but could not. It was strange, it was as if something was stopping her from getting off to sleep. She just could not get to sleep! She opened her eyes, giving up on that. She would get plenty later. Dealing with the dragon should tire her out enough to get her to sleep.

They soon arrived and they got out.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just a bit tired, that's all. Though I can't get any sleep."

He frowned.

"Like something is stopping you?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

He let out a huff.

"Never mind. After this, we will be leaving the Slayers Guild." He said, his face becoming noticeably pale.

"Why?"

"We have been there for far too long."

What does he mean by that?

Does it matter? Do you think that he will ever say?

"Whatever, let's go."

"Do not get cocky child."

"How do you prefer me to act? Dark and brooding?"

He smirked slightly, almost like something akin to nostalgia. She frowned, wondering what that was all about but knowing better than to all about it. She sled over to a sign post with a map encased in glass. She looked for the cave and soon found it where the cliffs were.

"That's where we need to go."

"Good girl. I think that we need to get there now."

"Sure."

They then walked down to the beach. She spotted the white cliffs. Her eyes soon rested upon the mouth of the cave and noticed how far away from where they were. She also noticed that the mouth was high up. Fortunately there was a pile of rocks beneath it. So she knew her path and ran over to the pile and started to climb. She had noticed that her clothes had white powder on them as she climbed. The climb helped wake her mind up. Yet she had to accept Zaryb's help to pull her up climbs that she was too short for. They soon came to the month of the cave and they climbed in. Soon the rocks faded out into gold coins as the rock was covered with them. As they made their way on they saw more and more coins, some of them made from precious stones. Soon they were trodding on coins. They climbed higher and higher then they saw the head of the sleeping dragon.

The first thing that she noticed was the size, the one she killed was not nearly as big as this one. The head was larger than the size of an elephant's body, its wings were as slasher as the body of the dragon that she killed and the body was longer than the height of the cliffs. Its black scales were the most beautiful scales that she had ever seen.

Zaryb became paler.

"We should either get out of here or take this one on together."

"Why?"

"Because this looks like it is a three thousand year old dragon."

"So that must mean that he is a survivor of the four dragon wars."

"Yes and the dragon invasion."

The dragon sniffed up as his eyes opened.

"You are right, human with a strange scent. Now tell me, what makes you think you of all humans could finally slay me?"

"Guess you're gonna find out!" She said as she ran to the dragon.

"Strena watch out!"

Then the dragon let out a blast of fire. She willed for the fire to part and continued. She then saw another blast of fire, she parted it again and she then jumped and landed inside its mouth. Then the jaws shut. She unsheathed her sword and then drove it down into the tongue. She then felt a vibration like waves. She then drove the blade into one of the teeth and pulled it out and then drove out back in and pulled it out. She then pulled at the tooth but it was not loose. 

She then remembered her experience with the Hydra and knew that she would run out of time until she ran out of air. She then drove it back into the tooth and drove out to the side. She heard the loud roar that almost deafened her yet she had to continue. She slashed again and again at the tooth. Soon one became loose and she was able to pull it out. 

She then drove the blade into the flesh between the bottom jaw. She then was hit by the tongue. She hit the side of the gums. She then sliced at the side of the tongue. She then saw the fleshy pallet at the back and then was about to race to it but her body raced to the parting of the teeth. She then sliced the inner cheek and the dragon let out another roar tearing the corner of the mouth to meet the slice.

She then was able to throw herself out of the mouth. She looked down and saw the fields below. She flicked her sword and drove it into the top of the mouth. She then reached her hand out the other hand and pulled herself out of the mouth and she had to cling as hard as she could as she felt the strong wind by her. Yet she knew that she could not stay here. She then pulled the sword out and then dug it into the scales higher. She then climbed up. She then dug it higher and was able to get to the side of the snout. She could feel her hands become sweaty yet the wind dried it up. She pulled the sword out and then dug it back into the snout getting higher and higher. She was soon on the bridge of the nose. She then drove it down.

"Still alive I see." He growled.

He then flew higher and higher. She looked down in alarm. She slipped down and she pulled the blade out and drove it back in and hit a higher point of the nose. She then kicked him in the eye. He let out a grunt she then had to hold on the blade as it arched over and then spun upside down. She hung there momentarily and let out a scream. But then the dragon curved horizontally and she was able to land back onto the bridge of the snout. She then pulled the blade out and then drove it into the eye that she kicked.

"Get back on the ground!"

"No!"

She then pulled out a small danger and threw it into the other eye. He roared out in pain

"Are you mad! I can not see!"

"Then get back to the ground!"

"No!"

She rooted her eyes and pulled it out. She then pulled her blade out and climbed higher and higher. She soon came to its crown of horns. She then gripped the horn and spotted the dragon was flying higher and higher. She knew that she had to put a stop to that. She then drove her feet into the neck and forced the horns up. This caused the dragon to dive down. She then pulled the horns back and this caused the dragon to fly over the hills and fields. She then flew past the cliffs. She then pulled at the right born and then pushed the left and this caused the dragon to the right. She then straightened it up and the dragon flew right into the cliffs. She then jumped off the neck. 

She hit the same and rolled herself up and gripped her sword. She looked up to see that the cliffs were now a pile of rubble and the dragon's head was nothing but a bloody mess of grey matter and scales and flesh. The treasure within covered the creature with chalk. She panted as she walked to the head. She then hacked away at the remnants of the head. She then pulled it away and then spotted Zaryb pulling himself out of the rubble. He looked at her with a shocked smile on his face. Together they pulled the head to the Hall.

She collected her money and slept on the public carriage. They called the place Youngdragonslayer Shore. This was soon shortened to Youngdragoslay Shore in time.