Forest Arc: Candlelight

It was late now, the sun had set and the monsters were starting make their presence known within the forest. Sven had learnt from a nearby hamlet that garlic would offend their noses and block out the scent of humans and other prey animals, meaning that they would avoid hunting nearby sources of garlic. As a human living away from big cities with gates, garlic was more important than food and water, a lifeline between himself and the creatures that lurked in the dark.

However scent was the only thing that it covered for, if a monster happened to be close enough then it could still hear him then it could detect him that way - garlic wasn't about to protect him from that scenario.

Sven sat at his table as a candle burnt by his side, he was dressed now having returned for his clothes during the day when he was sure the bird lady was in recovery. In the straw bed nearby said lady snored softly away, Sven was thankful that she was quiet, it shouldn't be an issue if she was only this audible. In the night she had flopped over revealing her chest to him, her boobs sagged to each side ever so slightly, a hole in her shirt revealing a nipple that Sven kept on sneaking shy glances at. He never wanted to look for too long because she was facing his way, and at any minute she might-

Sven's blood ran cold as he returned his gaze back to her face to find silver eyes staring back at him, they glittered even in the low light of the candle. Sitting up unsteadily she glared defensively back at him, she was still shaky from the ordeal but held her gaze locked onto him, anticipating his every move.

"Who are you? Where am I?" She asked firmly, her voice was deep and raspy and sent shivers of pleasure down his spine.

"My name's Sven, and you're in my home in the black woods." Sven answered calmly once again showing his palms to her letting her know that he was unarmed.

"Sven." The woman repeated. "Why am I here? I don't.. I don't remember why I'm here and- ouch." She turned in a way that made her puncture wound near her abdomen present in her mind. Touching the spot she noticed that she had been patched up with needle and thread and some gauze to stop the bleeding. "You, you helped me?" She questioned half knowing the answer already, Sven nodded with a smile.

"Helped me?" She repeated again, her head was swirling as she fought off sleep. "No one's ever helped me." She stared into Sven's eyes the entire time, her eyes were steeled as if not believing the situation she was in, or perhaps that she was waiting for a 'favor' to be asked of her as recompense.

"I found you out on the waters up near the waterfall semi-passed out with a poisonous dart lodged in your stomach area." Sven explained, the harpy lady touched her wounded area to make doubly sure. "I just so happened to have an antidote on me, honestly though I had no idea you were a... a harpy, you looked very errr, different back then." Sven hesitated to call her a creature, she might get the wrong impression. The harpy lady eye's opened ever so slightly at the mention of her other form.

"You healed me in my beast form? Are you mad?" She asked a little too loudly, Sven hushed her and she seemed to get the picture. "Why would you? In that form I can't control my emotions, and I... can't..." She began to trail off as it was then that she noticed his arm that he was dressing with fresh gauze. His arm was pretty badly shredded with her bite marks, the bleeding had stemmed for the most part but she took in first hand what she had caused. Looking away guiltily she could hardly face his stare anymore.

"I see, that explains it then." Sven said in an understanding tone. "I did wonder why you weren't listening to me after knowing you were a harpy and not just a giant bird." At that she looked down glumly.

"Well, what do you want then? It seems I owe you for, for helping me." She said that last part begrudgingly as if she didn't believe it to be true still. Sven looked at her questioningly

"Want? Do people usually want things for helping others out?" Sven wondered as he prepared something in a bowl. She looked back at him with a raised brow.

"Yes? Of course they do, you don't just do something without gain. Everybody knows that." She rested her back against the base of the tree that made up Sven's walls. Sven approached her and handed the bowl to her, surprised the harpy took the bowl from him apprehensively.

"Here, have some soup. See? I give this to you without anything expected in return, this is how I think mystics should act. We should help others in need, not exploit them." Sven said as he smiled down at her, she looked down at the lukewarm soup in shock, no one had ever been kind to her before, she had always gone through life thinking of herself because nobody else had - she had lived her whole life thinking this was just the way of the world, that everyone was only out for themselves and so why should she be any different. In that single moment her whole worldview came crumbling down as she felt feelings she didn't know could be felt, let alone by herself. Tears began to fall into the soup as she could no longer contain the whirlpool of emotions swirling around inside of her. Sven went to put a comforting hand on her shoulder but she batted him away in distress.

"Get off me damn it!" She cried, wiping the tears that continued to fall against her feathered forearm. Sven stood back as he gave her space, he didn't know what she was going through but could see that she wasn't interested in being comforted right now. Some time passed as the harpy ate whilst crying to herself, she wouldn't show him her eyes but ate away hungrily at the contents of the bowl. Finally finishing the bowl, she placed it down with a burp that made Sven chuckle.

"T-thanks, I guess." The harpy lady said with a blush for having belched. "My names Claur'etha, but I'll let you call me Claire. That works as payment, right?" Claires expression gave off the impression that she desperately wanted her perceived 'debt's to be paid.

"You don't owe me payment, but sure knowing your name is payment enough." Sven laughed sheepishly as he saw that wasn't the answer Claire was wanting, or at least how he answered it wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"Fine, how about I... How about I teach you Dire?" Her eyes shot open as she realized she had something to offer him, Sven's eyes also lit up at the mention of the ability. Dire was the skill those academy students were learning in Blackwood city, abilities he couldn't learn anywhere else within reason.

"You know how to use Dire?!" Sven had to cup his mouth as he realized he was being too loud, smirking Claire nodded her head. Now happy that her debts were settled her entire posture changed to a more confident version, relaxing back into her bed she turned her back to him.

"Tomorrow, I'll teach you everything I know." And before Sven could say anything in response she began to snore again. Just how fast could she fall asleep? At any rate, it made Sven happy that she trusted him now enough that she would fall asleep knowing he was around. However, now comes the part he hadn't planned for; where was he going to sleep if she was in his bed?