NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: Expectations
About a month ago, a large magical energy source appeared within the depths of the forest. It observed the energy as it kept growing more and more. It was as if another spirit had been born. Another one of its kind. The word ecstatic couldn’t even start to describe it’s feelings. It wondered how it got to this point.
How long has been since its sense of self formed…? Born alone with pool of magical energy in the cold embrace of a lake. It attracted the attention of many; some cordial, some hostile, all seeking to use it. It helped some, healing their ailments; from injuries thought to be incurable, to chronic diseases without a hope for a treatment. Eventually words spread and many more sought it out to find some sort of secrets of the world or power and wealth beyond their understanding. At some time they started to worship it like it was some sort of deity. Eventually, they tried to seize it for their own use, by trying to turn it into a convenient tool. It lashed out with all its power, some swept aside, others drowned never to see the light of day. Then there were only those who called themselves highborn that were left. They too stopped approaching it, frightened of retribution, holding both reverence and fear. Once again it was alone. Even if it tried to approach others they would flee in terror. And those that approached it were either mindless beasts or madmen trying to consume it, slay it or use it for their own, just like those before them. They too would eventually stop coming. Like a river dried up. Once again it was alone, with its only companion the frigid lake that became its cradle and the unfeeling waves. For how long? It forgot many centuries ago…
Whether it was through a stroke of luck or the whims of fate, the source of energy was coming to it. ‘Is the time of my long solitude finally ending?’ were its thoughts as it was enthusiastic to meet its kin. Going to where the energy source was at its densest, it was led to the edge of the lake. Surfacing from the depths, it briefly looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary except a large spherical wispy mass of blue evanescent light with streaks of white and iridescent. Formless balls of light are usually the indicators of lesser spirits, but with the sheer size of this one made it impossible for to be simple lesser spirit. It was hiding its physical body perhaps. ‘That had to be it.’ This meant that it was cautious of it. ‘That can’t be helped’ it thought but they also hadn’t run away yet. ‘Conflicted between flight and curiosity? Then I’ll have to earn your trust it seems.’
- “I know you’re there, there’s no need to be afraid of me.”
Maybe because of being called out they came out of hiding and she was slightly perplexed by what she was greeted with. Top half of a human girl but it's lower half that of a giant spider. Even in its long life, it was the first time seeing such a being. ‘Not a spirit? Was I mistaken?’
Doubting her previous notion of the being also being a spirit; she examined the being much more closely. And it was bemusing; it wasn’t quite a spirit but had spirit-like in nature and physical body of a giant spider, the larger, rarer variant of dire spiders. ‘At least half a spirit then?’ Despite the initial shock, it quickly recovered and noticed that the being’s eyes were trained onto it, staring straight at her eyes. It wasn’t a hostile stare, but not a cordial one either. Their body was also slightly tense, ready for action.- “I’m Alicia. Uhm… sorry to interrupt your bathing?”
Before silence set in she introduced herself. Her voice had some wariness in it.
‘An araneaemorph1Not to be confused with araneomorph(ae), but neither giant spiders nor spirits have names normally. Spiders are not the type to be tamed and named, especially giant spiders. And spirits particularly, a named one wouldn’t be wandering about without their summoner. Just what are you Alicia?’ She was perplexed; she was expecting one of her kind, a spirit, and yet she was met with something else. Nevertheless she had called out to them and the other party already introduced themselves, there’s no going back now.
- “I am the Water spirit of this lake. Forgive me, we do not usually have names.”
- “Oh, uhm, would you mind if I use the water from your lake?”
Even if she wasn’t a spirit, she could still be a good company. And besides, if it’s the one thing it had on her that was in abundance it would be time followed by water.
- “Please do.”
- “Then, I’ll be coming back again.” Thus ended their short meeting. She was still satisfied with the outcome… her days of loneliness were ending at long last. Her new acquaintance left with an unusual gait and strangely hasty movements. Stifling a small giggle she thought to herself that her coming days would not be boring.
‘Something’s coming!’ strange premonition alerted her and Alicia braced herself for possibly dangerous animals… Hippopotamus, Crocodiles even though they seemed like illogical possibilities nothing else seemed to come to her mind. Furthermore, it could be a creature unique to this world which had its reality grounded in fantasy, as outlandish as that sounds.
Reality however is often disappointing. What came out was no creature, but a woman with eyes and hair of light turquoise. And a shapely body with an apparent lack of any form of attire. She was taken aback, not sure how to react. Afterall Alicia was still a man… at heart anyway. While her mind was recovering from the shock. Woman’s gaze was persistently following Alicia. As if ‘She can see me?’
- “I know you’re there, there’s no need to be afraid of me.”
‘No she can’t… but she does know I’m here… How do I even stop stealth from working…?’ After some time fumbling, with a tingle through her skin akin light electrocution, Stealth was disabled. The other party seemed to be surprised with her appearance. ‘Even I was surprised… and it’s my own body.’ ‘I have to do something. It’s going to get awkward, especially for me since she thinks I’m a female… Well technically I am now, but mentally I’m not there yet. Just don’t look at her body, maintain eye contact, introduce myself and go away, naturally, yes naturally...’
- “I’m Alicia. Uhm… sorry to interrupt your bathing?”
‘Gaaah idiot, why’d you have to bring that up. That’s not a topic to talk about.’
- “I am the Water spirit of this lake. Forgive me, we do not usually have names.” ‘Oh thank goodness she didn’t bring that up. Wait water spirit? Heck’s that? Something like undine or mermaids? Are all spirits nudists? Ah forget about the details, I have to escape from here. Wait I need water first.’
- “Oh, uhm, would you mind if I use the water from your lake?”
- “Please do.”
‘Yes! Water secured, now I need to escape.’
- “Then, I’ll be coming back again.”
‘That sounds so wrong. Abort, Abooort! Run away!’ Without saying anything else Alicia fled the scene, with a tinge of regret. As for the reason...
‘I borderline sexually assaulted a woman, and then promised to do it again. Granted it was a spirit, but I don’t think that would hold up in court. I can’t return to her just like that… I need an extra set of clothes for her. Well maybe she has clothes I didn’t ask about that. Ah I’ll just have some on hand, it’s sure to come in handy eventually. Besides I may need to change myself.’
Source of freshwater has been secured...
‘L*ttle mer*aid lied to me about water spirits wearing seashells, corals and scales or whatever…’