Unfortunately for them, word of Nell’s possible origins had spread even further by the next day. At this point, she was pretty sure the whole community knew.

  ‘Ves, is it just me or do people seem more wary of us than normal…’

  “No, no, it's not.”

  A part of Ves wanted to believe Setsu’s words from the day before, but there was a chance the others still blamed her for what happened to Yujiro. She certainly did. It also didn’t help that everyone had learned the slavers had a target. Many who were hiding during the fight assumed it to be Ves.

  “You said you were not a monster!”

  Looking down, Ves saw the gaggle of dragonewt children. With the little boy, she explained monsters to before looking at her with a glare.

  “I’m not, though.” What in the world brought this question on?

  “That’s not what we overheard. I heard the adults talking this morning that you’re some sort of monster.” The boy paused and turned to the girl beside him. “What was it again?”

  “Void-sent,” the little girl answered.

  “Who told you this?”

  “All the adults have been talking about it all morning when you’re not around.”

  Ves looked up, she could see several of the dragonewts who overheard the children go pale as they looked at her. Did they really think she hadn’t noticed? By the gods, dragonewts seemed to gossip like nobles at a party.

  “You don’t have anything to worry about, void-sent are not monsters. Remember no core.” Ves said as she ruffled the child’s hair.

  “Now, have any of you seen Lady Setsu?”

  A short time later, Ves sat in a room with Setsu and Farren.

  “Ves I haven’t told anyone Lady Senotraxia’s theory on Nell’s origins. Aside from Farren, whom I also trust, kept it private.”

  “I’m not blaming you or really anyone. I think the issue is more, what now? I think many were wary of us. Now some are outright terrified.”

  ‘Ves, I’m not sure I understand. Why is everyone so scared of what I might be? We are already in a forest filled with deadly beasts. Let alone the slavers’

  “Nell, that may be true, but those are also all dangers the people here understand. Void-sent are an unknown. They are the things that bump in the shadows which mothers tell their children about to scare them into behaving.”

  When Setsu and Farren gave Ves a confused look, she filled them in on what Nell asked.

  “While that is true, it’s also a matter of scale. From what I heard, the invasion in the north required the combined efforts of several nations and the temple's assistance to be driven back. Even then, the peninsula they took over is now a barren, dead land. It probably won’t be fit for people to return to for decades. Slavers and beasts just don’t compare.” Farren explained.

  “The temple already has a Justicar searching for a monster that I assume is one of the escaped void-sent. Likely the one who had Nell’s egg.”

  “Where are you going with that?” Setsu asked.

  “The slavers already have this village in their sights. What if the temple becomes an issue as well?”

  ‘Ves… I’m sorry. I had no Idea I was dragging you into this.’

  “Perhaps, but I’m not too concerned. The temple won’t act rashly, and for better or worse, they would just be after you. They would leave the rest of the people here alone.” The old fox mused.

  “They may worry you're infected like me.”

  “We can cross that road if it happens.”

  “What now then? Do you want us to leave? We understand if you do” Ves asked, though she couldn’t look Farren or Setsu in the eye while she awaited the answer.

  “Ves, as I said before, I’m the one who asked you to stay with us. I won’t cast you or Nell aside. That said, if staying here makes you uncomfortable, I understand. Though I would suggest you at least stay long enough for Queen Senotraxia to return.”

  “As to the rumors, I think we need to get ahead of them. It will do no one any good to let people speculate on their own. I think we should address the issue openly with the whole community. Before the rumors gain a life of their own,” Farren added.

  “Would that actually work? It’s not like we actually know any more than the rumors ourselves. Even the guess that Nell is related to the void-sent is just that, a guess.” Ves mused, not that she had much doubt herself. Her worry was that when people asked questions, they wouldn’t have any answers.

  “What about a demonstration of benefits? Didn’t you mention Lady Senotraxia said you should explore your abilities?” Farren asked.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “A demonstration? I think everyone has already seen me fight at this point. It’s half the reason they are wary of me. See, shoot someone with a bow, and it’s fine. See us do it with a claw, and suddenly I’m a monster.”

  Ves regretted saying that immediately.

  ‘I’m sorry, Ves, I didn’t know…’

  “Nell, that’s not what I meant. I’m not blaming you. I’m pointing out the hypocrisy.”

  ‘You don’t need to make me feel better, Ves, I can see for myself how people react around us. I know what I’ve put you through.’

  “Nell, you put me through nothing, we are in this together, remember?” Ves spoke warmly and softly.

  “Ves is something that matter?” Setsu asked.

  “Sorry, just working something out with Nell. Anyway, my point stands. I'm not sure how I can demonstrate beyond what I have already done.”

  “Ves, our biggest problem is a lack of numbers. Very few of us have any experience fighting. You, Hiroko, and Ryuko are pretty much it. No matter how strong you are, three people are not enough for a group our size.” Farren paused. “So, what if you can help make up for the numbers? I heard you had a wolf that helped you out against the slavers. Could you do the same again?”

  “Hmm, could we?”

  ‘If we could somehow capture another suitable beast, we could.’

  “Nell thinks it would work, but wouldn’t that still scare people?”

  “It’s a matter of how we frame it. It’s not as though beast tamers are not already a profession. If we can show the group, you can protect them with a group of beasts. It should be a comfort and close enough to normal for people to accept it.”

  “Big problem though, I’m not a tamer. To be blunt, we controlled that wolf by shoving a slug in its ear to take over its body.”

  “Again, it’s how we frame it. We can avoid the details and focus on the added safety for our community. At the very least, we do desperately need help. If you can capture some beasts to add to our fighting force, it will go a long way. It’s not a matter of if we are attacked again. Just when.”

  “Ves, Nell, I think Farren’s plan has merit. Are you willing to try?” Setsu asked.

  ‘Ves, are you sure about this?’

  “I think it’s worth giving a try, not sure if it will make people fear us any less, but at the very least, it can help keep people safe. Helping to protect everyone here, even if they view us as a monster, that’s how myself and Nell want to honor Yujiro.”

  “I heard you were training with Hiroko. I take it that is why?” Setsu asked.

  “It is”

  “As I said before, his death is not your fault, but if this helps you move on, I won’t object.”

  “Thank you, Elder Setsu. Now question is how do we go about capturing a creature strong enough to be useful?”

  “We enlist the aid of the loose-lipped individual who inadvertently started the rumor in the first place.”

  According to Setsu, Ryuko had been overheard mumbling to herself. A habit she had when she was stressed out. Mostly, it was things surrounding how much she missed her brother and worries for the clan. As the best hunter in the community by a wide margin, Ves could understand the pressure. The game she brought back, along with locations of edible wild plants, were one of the only reasons they could feed so many mouths, even if it were just barely.

  The issue was that this also included her concern around Nell, likely being a void-sent. Thankfully, she was more fearful for Ves and Nell’s safety. Unfortunately, once people around her overheard, there was no stopping the rumors. With the fear of the unknown contesting the fact that they had fought and bled for the dragonewts. Ves knew the current plan would only add more fuel to the fire. All she could do now was hope it landed on the side that viewed them as a boon rather than a threat.

  As Ryuko was obviously grieving for her brother, Setsu told the woman she could take her time, though they really didn't have any. Thankfully, Ryuko already had an animal in mind. She had been tracking an injured dire bear that was starting to come dangerously close to their camp. She told Setsu it would only take a few days to track it back down.

  In the meantime, that meant it was time to prepare another egg. To avoid too many questions, Ves and Nell largely sequestered themselves out of sight during the few days it took the egg to develop. Yes, some people had seen how they could stuff themselves with an immense amount of food, but that typically only took a day to digest. Add that people would question where she got so much food in the first place. Not a great look when some were barely getting enough to eat as the raided supplies from the slavers started to dwindle.

  To keep busy, Ves and Nell took the time to discuss plans for future body modifications that could better prepare them for the future. Turned out eating the remains of the horned bear provided a stronger material Nell could use to reinforce their own body. While they may not be body cultivators themselves, eating powerful beasts or monsters could produce a similar effect. The issue was said beasts were very difficult to eat. Take the horned bear, for example, eating the bones would be a struggle, let alone time-consuming process. Even breaking them down into a size they could fit in their mouth was difficult, as the bones were harder than stone.

  To this, Nell had a horrifying solution. The nearly invisible they were so tiny, worms that lived inside their body did most of the work that used to be handled by the stomach and almost all other organs in the lower part of the body. This included two major functions, digesting food and organic construction, such as the formation of the egg. In turn, Nell’s idea was to ask a question. Could these worms live outside of their body? Like in a pool of water, for example. A pool large enough to dump an entire carcass in without the need to break it down into bite-sized chunks. One, they could create things with without being restricted by the size of their abdomen or the excruciating and uncomfortable process of birthing it out afterwards. To test this out, they poured some of their blood into a cup of water. As their blood was so thick with the worms, it appeared black. It turned out that, provided with food, the worms could still thrive and multiply. And more importantly, they could still be controlled. Nell even theorized they could absorb nutrients and materials back into their body by submerging in the pool. Still, as excited as Nell was to test her ideas further, they still had to deal with the egg currently growing inside.

  During this time, Setsu had asked Alice to assist them and keep everything she saw a secret. With Ryuko so busy, the woman had already started to help Ves & Nell more and more with day-to-day tasks like changing without destroying her own clothing. Though Ves chalked that more up to the woman being sick of needing to mend said clothes.

  The issue was that Alice and Setsu kept a watchful eye on them like mother hens during the egg's incubation. Something Ves found to be equally endearing and embarrassing. While uncomfortable, the actual process of laying the egg was not that bad due to modifications Nell made after the first time. Still, no matter how many times Ves or Nell tried to explain this, both women continued to fuss as though the laying came with all the same risks as a normal pregnancy. Even so far as to Ves’s mortification, Alice actually assisted with the laying, just like a midwife would, as if it were a normal human birth. Still embarrassing memories aside, the egg was ready. It was time to find the bear.