A Party Forms pt. 2

Chapter 5 -A Party Forms pt. 2.-

"Did you say 'my head bitch'?" Jabulani couldn't help but chuckle at those words.

"Yes, your head bitch!" she reiterated.

"An interesting question; I guess for now, that would be between you and Filia," he stated, releasing her chin.

"You also mentioned breaking Seraphina, but let's clarify one thing. I'm not here to break anyone. I'm not here to destroy any reputations or ruin any relations. My offer to help them was genuine. Now that I'm officially a member under their lord's command, my loyalty is guaranteed. But that doesn't mean I won't play a little," he paused, deep in thought for a moment. "Actually, a lot with that knight, the lady, and the daughter. I will enjoy each of them as I lend them my power and protect what is most important to them." His words brought a grin to the beast woman's face.

"Ooooh, you just want to be a little naughty and spread your seed a bit? Then that means I won't have any competition when you are ready to create offspring," Adalwolf said, licking her lips as her eyes beamed with happiness.

Before anything more could be said, the sound of horse hooves grew louder, approaching them. Seraphina had acquired both a carriage and a driver.

"You two, get in. We've wasted enough time, and we have an hour-long trip," Seraphina said after the carriage parked, flinging open the door.

The first hour of the trip passed in silence. Seraphina stared out the window while Jabulani meditated, attempting to connect with spirits before reaching their destination. Adalwolf fell into a trance like Seraphina, fixing her gaze on the shaman. At the same time, he communed with spirits, unable to look away until he was done.

The next thirty minutes were devoted to Jabulani answering Seraphina's questions.

"Well, since we are going to be allies for the foreseeable future, I want you to explain how your magic works to me," she said, turning her attention to the shaman.

"...What?" he simply asked.

"I want you to explain your magic to me. While I might not know much about magic, I do know that wizards carry spellbooks from which they store their spells and read. They also make various gestures or incantations or follow strict regimens to cast their spells. Except for incantations, you seem capable of casting spells whenever you want, and all you carry is a bag of holding and a staff. So, do you memorize all your spells, as you say you commune with spirits? But is that all? In fact, what else can you do? I've seen you command fire and animals, but can you also control people's minds?" She questioned him as if it were an interrogation.

Adalwolf, who sat next to Jabulani in the carriage, twitched out of annoyance from one of her Alpha's comrades questioning him in such a manner but held her tongue. Seraphina didn't notice this, as her attention was entirely on Jabulani.

The shaman smiled, closed his eyes, and spoke, "That's fair. After all, if this helps you build trust between us as a party, then so be it."

Seraphina looked genuinely shocked at his answer; she had expected him to be much more resistant to her request.

"Shamanism is what the magic of my people is called, but referring to it as magic isn't entirely accurate. While it may appear as magic to outsiders, it is, in reality, our religion. Through communion and honor, we form deep spiritual connections with the elements, nature, and the spirit world. As a shaman, we act as an intermediary between mortals and spirits by channeling the spirits to foretell the future or gain insight. We can even commune with ancestral spirits or spirits of the departed to acquire lost knowledge, although that is much more challenging.

It is through these spiritual connections that we can cast our spells. As for the rest of your question, every shaman learns some basic spells for healing, defending, attacking, and supporting. However, we channel the power of specific spirits to significantly enhance the potency of spells that align with a spirit's domain or to gain knowledge of more potent spells—some that can even reshape the very world we traverse," he explained thoroughly, with both Seraphina and Adalwolf listening intently.

"So, I can fulfill any role we may need—be it healer, attacker, or even channeling the spirit of battle to serve as our vanguard if necessary. But, as I mentioned, this is a religion, and the spirit must choose to answer your call. Their powers usually come with a price or require specific tasks to maintain that power. I have spent years earning the favor of many different types of spirits, allowing me to perform a wide range of abilities," he concluded just as the carriage stopped. They arrived at a dying village where most inhabitants appeared barely alive.

"You also asked if I can control others' minds. Theoretically, if I channel or commune with a spirit of domination, I can gain enchantment magic that allows me to manipulate, control, and dominate the wills of others. But I've never called out for such spirits, as they are dangerous to try and negotiate with, being spirits of domination. They will attempt to turn the shaman into their puppet and possess their body," the shaman seemed to say nonchalantly as he was the first to climb out of the carriage.

From what they had just heard, Adalwolf and Seraphina were left stunned in their seats. Adalwolf was stunned that he would reveal so much information, while Seraphina was shocked that he would just tell her he could dominate minds and wills.

"What the hell, are you serious right now? Do you know how much of a threat that makes you? I already barely trusted you before, but now..." Seraphina started yelling as she nearly jumped out of her seat and out of the carriage.

Standing a few feet away from Jabulani, her hand on her sword and concern on her face.

"Can't trust me? For what? Telling you what I could possibly do? Revealing my religion and how I use magic to you?" He spoke sarcastically as Adalwolf touched her rapier, ready to strike.

Seraphina's eyebrow twitched as she knew the logic behind his words. If he genuinely wanted to betray them, such information was better kept secret and used in the shadows.

"Well then, tell me, what spirit did you commune with this time?" She demanded to know.

"By roots that weave and leaves that sway,

In nature's dance, I now convey,

With whispered words and gestures true,

I beckon forth life's vibrant hue.

From earth and soil, your strength shall rise,

To reach the skies, to touch the skies.

With verdant grace, the land you'll drape,

Awake, arise, oh life, reshape!

Plant Growth!"

The grass around him rapidly began to overgrow.

"Nature, the answer is a spirit of nature." He said with a grin before looking back at the village.

Seraphina fixed her gaze on the shaman as he entered the village, with the grass and plants around him still growing.

Enchantment magic that allows him to dominate someone's will... why would he openly admit to something like that? What could he possibly gain by revealing it? The knight pondered, her eyes never leaving the shaman.

Maybe I'm approaching this the wrong way. What does he stand to lose by disclosing this information to me?

Seraphina considered the situation carefully. She knew there had to be a reason behind the shaman's confession, and her instincts told her it wasn't a simple act of recklessness.

She watched as the shaman made his way into the village, ensuring she kept a discreet distance behind him, accompanied by the beast woman she had just recalled was present. She was taken aback by how the wolf woman displayed neither fear nor concern about the shaman's recent revelation. She stood next to him, or at least a few inches behind him, her gestures taking on a more submissive tone whenever she spoke to him.

_Has he already dominated her? Wait, if he has, then how would I know? I never knew her before we rescued her, and after we rescued her, the only person who had really spoken with her was him... _Wait, could the lord and lady already be under his control? The lady seems to favor him, but that's to be expected since he saved her and her daughter's lives.

Her thoughts immersed her so deeply in her own world that the knight didn't realize she had become the center of attention. Jabulani, Adalwolf, and now two other individuals were constantly trying to capture her attention.

"Lady Seraphina, are you there?" a young woman standing beside an older man asked.

"N... no, sorry, I was lost in thought. I didn't even see you two come up," the knight replied with an awkward laugh.

"Mr. Mayor and Ms. Alice, it's been a while. I've finally been able to get here to deal with the monster problem, and I apologize that this has taken so long," she said apologetically.

"No, no!! Please, we're glad you were able to get to us! The village is in a rough place between the monsters and the bandits. We'll barely have enough food for the winter, but at least we know the bandits, for the most part, have been taken care of. Thank you for returning our kidnapped girls home, even if it's hard for them right now," the elderly mayor said before coughing up blood into his hand.

"Father, you need to return to bed now. I'll take care of this," the woman in her late twenties said. Alice appeared to be about twenty-five years old with deep green eyes, standing the same height as Seraphina. Her figure was more round and curvy than the more toned and athletic knight standing before her. The young woman wore simple, earth-toned dresses made of rough, durable fabric adorned with hand-stitched patches to mend holes and tears.

"I apologize for my rudeness. I've recently fallen ill, making it rather hard for me to do my duties as the mayor," the older man said, ignoring his daughter's plea while balancing himself using a wooden cane.

"But who might your guests be? I fear that I don't know either of them," he continued, pointing to the shaman and the magus before coughing into the handkerchief he held. "It's been a long time since I last saw a Xandari or a beastkin."

"This is Jabulani; he is a shaman who is currently in our employment. He is also the one who saved all the women being used as sex slaves. And this is Adalwolf; she is a traveling magus. Both are here to assist us," Seraphina introduced the two.

"Please, why are we still standing? Come into our home. I wish we had something to offer you, but due to the problems..." Before she could finish, Jabulani waved his hand dismissively.

"We are here to fix those problems. I'll need you to show me to your farmlands while Seraphina and Adalwolf will take care of the wolves. By the end of the day, you will have two problems taken care of, I assure you," the shaman said confidently.

The mayor and his daughter stared at him in disbelief. They had only expected them to deal with the monster problem, not the farm issue.

"And I'll even look at you to see if there is anything I can do to cure you," Jabulani said, pointing at the old man. "But first, young lady, if you'd be kind enough to escort me to your farms, I can get started."

"B... but if I do that, he will take them to the area where the monsters congregate?" she asked cautiously, obviously worried about her father.

"Are you daft, girl? Finding them isn't hard. They are in the woods just outside the farms. All they need to do is follow you to the farms, and they will find their way into the woods," the old man said to his daughter in a mocking tone, causing her to flinch.

Her expression changed to regret, followed by a soft sigh from Seraphina.

"Go on, you daft girl. Take them where they need to be so we aren't wasting any more of their time. I'll go around the village and inform them you all are here," the old man said, walking off and leaning on the cane while coughing into one hand.

"Well, let's get going," the shaman said. After receiving a single nod from the mayor's daughter, the group began walking toward the farmland. An awkward silence seemed to linger before, finally, the shaman spoke.

"So, for how long has he been putting you down like that?" he asked nonchalantly.

Seconds passed with no answer, but Alice spoke just as it seemed the atmosphere was thicker.

"It wasn't as bad as it has been lately. I'm not actually his biological daughter; I'm his daughter-in-law. His son and I got married nine years ago, but he was never in favor of me. Yet, he held his tongue regarding our marriage because his son was his pride and joy. Even if he didn't accept me, as long as his son was happy, then he would tolerate me," Alice said, speaking slowly as they walked.

"That didn't stop his snide remarks or comments toward me, though, and I didn't care because I was with the man I loved and living a happy life with him. Yet, that all ended when the beasts attacked the village about four years ago. I was out in the field with him; I had just finished the house chores and decided to bring him a drink and a light snack... out of the forest they came. If we had been a little further out, we would've been the two killed first, but another farmhand was attacked first. This gave my husband time to grab the hoe and push me away, telling me to run for help while he tried to hold them all off." Her voice began to crack as tears started swelling in her eyes.

"I'm sorry... I... I can't anymore," she whimpered.

"Then don't. I shouldn't have asked," the shaman said, shaking his head.

"No, no, it's fine. I got back to the house and told my father-in-law what happened, but by the time he was able to gather a group of men and go to the farms... it was already over... crops were destroyed, bodies torn to shreds, and even some... missing... and my husband was one of the missing," she stopped and stared down at the ground.

"I feel that deep down somewhere, my father-in-law blames me for the loss of his son, which is why his verbal harassment increased, and despite already not liking me, he is a very traditional man, so he never tried to **** me out of the house of my husband or hand over any claims to the farmlands," she stated.

"Wait, are you saying the farmland and home are yours and not his?" Seraphina asked questioningly.

"Yes," she replied.

"And he never challenged the rights to it?" Seraphina asked again.

"No, he gave the farmland to his son as a wedding gift. Even if he isn't happy that it's now mine, his pride would never let him try to take it back," she said as she stopped walking. "We are here."

The farmland was twice the size of the village itself, but what should have been a sprawling cultivation of crops looked like an attempt at half-grown plants, destroyed land, and produce.

"That's a lot of land you own there," said Adalwolf with a whistle.

"Yes, on top of being the mayor, my husband and father-in-law were the wealthiest people in this village and basically employed most of the village on the farm, with the handful remaining running things like the general store or tavern. Our farm was the heart of our village, and with it constantly attacked by monsters, we can barely grow enough food to survive on," the daughter-in-law replied.

"Alright, I'll get to fixing this. You two, have Ms. Alice show you where you need to go, and then Alice, please return here. There is more I need to discuss with you," the shaman said as he took a seat on the ground at the edge of the farm.

"Okay," she said before signaling for the other two to follow her along the edge of the field and toward the forest.

Alice led Adalwolf and Seraphina along the edge of the farmland, which was now a stark contrast to its former glory. The once vast and thriving fields were half destroyed and unkempt. Weeds and overgrown vegetation had claimed large portions of what were once fertile lands.

As they ventured deeper into the area, the extent of the devastation became even more evident. Crops lay trampled and withered, the remnants of what might have been a bountiful harvest now reduced to a sorry state. The farm's buildings, once well-maintained, now showed signs of neglect, with broken fences and dilapidated structures.

The trio halted at the forest's edge, just before the dense canopy of trees loomed ahead.

"I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, but this is as far as I can go, sadly," Alice began with a touch of regret. "But the monsters come out of this area, so I can only assume their nest is somewhere here. Please be careful; from what I've seen, some of them get quite large." She then gave a meek bow before turning to make her way back toward the shaman.

Alice's departure left Adalwolf and Seraphina standing at the precipice of the forest, gazing into the foreboding darkness beyond.

"Tell me, can you hear or smell anything weird?" Seraphina asked the beastwoman.

"Yes... and what I'm smelling can't be real," the wolf woman replied, continuously sniffing the air.

"What are you smelling?"

"I'm smelling hydras... a few of them. It shouldn't even be possible. Hydras are very territorial creatures and only collect in groups to mate," the beast woman explained.

The female knight looked at the wolfgirl in disbelief at what she just heard before gazing back into the forest.

"Hydras? Are you serious?" Seraphina glanced back into the forest. "Fine, it doesn't matter; we have **** but to help this village."

Adalwolf unsheathed her rapier and began chanting:

"Arcane weft, enchanted thread,

Guard me now in time of dread.

From head to toe, a shield I wear,

Invisible armor, strong and rare.

By ancient words and mystic art,

I call forth protection, shield my heart.

With Mage Armor's power, I'm endowed,

A shield of magic, unbowed.

Mage Armor!"

Arcane energy swirled around her body, solidifying and then disappearing. The beast woman held the rapier up to her face sideways, placing two fingers at the base of the rapier's blade as she began a second chant:

"With arcane might and mystic grace, I conjure power to this place.

Surround my blade with energy,

Arcane ****, enhance and see.

Arcane Blade!"

As she chanted, she ran her fingers from the base of the blade to the tip, and the arcane energy enveloped the blade, enhancing its durability, sharpness, and piercing ability.

"I'm ready!" The wolf girl said, rushing forward into the forest, leaving Seraphina to chase after her.

___________________________________

Alice complied with the shaman's request and returned towards him. However, on her journey, she encountered something that left her utterly astonished. The farmland appeared to be in motion, shifting and undulating. At first, she doubted her own eyes, thinking she might be hallucinating, but then she witnessed a plant root springing from the ground before swiftly retreating back into the earth.

Cautiously, she observed in awe as the roots skillfully cleared away debris and dead plants while preparing the soil for replanting. In minutes, the roots accomplished what would have taken hours, if not days, of manual labor. She finally returned to the shaman's side but remained fixated on the farmland. The sense of wonder never left Alice's eyes as she eventually shifted her gaze toward him.

"T... that's amazing? Are you doing all this?" She asked.

"This is nothing noon your entire farm will be ready to be harvested... which reminds me, I better remember to put each row about a week apart so you all will have consistently fresh crops." The shaman said, his hand on the ground as he poured mana outwards to the spirits of nature to continue following his commands.

"This...wait... how will you grow anything without seeds?" She questioned.

"That's simple; I just revitalized the dead plants' seeds."

"You can do that?" She almost screamed.

"Oh, of course, I can, im a shaman after all!" He said with a grin.

"But that's not why I asked you to return earlier. I offered to heal your father-in-law before fully understanding the situation. Do you genuinely want him healed? Are you not angry or tired of how you've been treated?" The shaman's unexpected question caught her off guard.

"I... I... What do you mean? Of course, I care for my father-in-law," she stuttered.

The shaman turned his gaze onto the woman for the first time since her return. As his eyes pierced her, she looked away, attempting to make herself seem smaller.

"You're lying; your gestures say otherwise." Under his scrutinizing gaze, she felt herself shrinking, nervously playing with her dress.

"How dare you! You don't know anything about me!" she responded, trying to defend herself.

"You're right; I don't know you. But watching how your father-in-law treats you in this short time frame told me enough."

In one swift motion, the shaman seizes her dress sleeve, pulling her toward him and causing her to tumble into his arms. "Or are you implying you're a woman who enjoys being dominated and controlled, especially by a strong man?" he inquires, gazing down at her.

Alice initially stares up, bewildered by the sudden movement. Slowly, realization dawns, and she blushes crimson though she remains in place.

"Being dominated and controlled it is," Jabulani grins, lifting her chin with one hand.

"You know, you're actually quite a cute woman," he remarks, his hand trailing down her neck. She swallows hard, hesitating to move, speak, or divert her gaze.

Her blush intensifies as she recognizes that this is the first time she has genuinely captivated a man's attention since her husband's ****. Deep down, she acknowledges that she's enjoying it.

"How about this—I'll give you a choice, and you must provide your answer before those two return. Your response will determine what I'll do to you, my... little... pet," the shaman declared, causing Alice's eyes to widen with concern as she gulped anxiously but held her gaze steady.

___________________________________

"Watch me, Alpha. I'll bring you this creature's head, and then I'll be the first to gift you a powerful child," echoed the wolf girl's mind as she surged into the forest. As she breached the foliage, she confronted the very sight she sought—a hydra, its scent guiding her unwavering pursuit.

Her steps were swift, the forest canopy casting dappled shadows on her determined expression. A formidable adversary, the hydra loomed ahead, its snakelike heads swaying with sinister grace. Undeterred, the wolf girl's instincts merged with a desire for combat after being in chains that had bound her up until recently.

With agile grace, she navigated the underbrush; her senses heightened as the scent of the hydra grew stronger. The thirst for battle permeated the air like a storm on the cusp of breaking. As she closed in, the hydra's heads turned toward her, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The wolfgirl raised a gleaming rapier, its blade infused with arcane energy from earlier enchantments. A primal growl escaped her lips, harmonizing with the hydra's roars. With a burst of swiftness, she surged directly at the creature from the front. The rapier, wielded with lightning speed, became a blurred streak to the average human eye.

She cleaved through the air in a single, audacious strike, meeting the hydra head-on. The arcane power coursing through her weapon enhanced its sharpness and durability. The rapier sliced through one of the massive necks with unyielding precision, and the hydra's head tumbled away. The wolf girl landed on the other side, glancing over her shoulder as another head launched a counterattack, its gaping maw ready to snap shut.

Yet, despite the imminent threat, the beast woman remained motionless, standing her ground.

"Have you gone mad?" Seraphina yelled from the side, rushing out of the bushes and positioning herself between the beast woman and the hydra.

With a forceful motion, she slammed her shield into the hydra's mouth, preventing it from fully closing.

"Why the hell didn't you try to dodge it?" the female knight demanded, her foot pressing onto the hydra's tongue and lower jaw, showcasing her formidable strength as the creature struggled to free its head.

"Because I knew you would come. The fact you could keep pace with me told me there was much more to you than meets the eye," the beast woman teasingly replied. Swiftly, she darted around the side, evading the third head of the hydra and slicing through the second, decapitating it in a display of unmatched skill and precision.

Seraphina deftly withdrew her shield from the decapitated head's mouth, swiftly dashing to the side in the opposite direction of Adalwolf.

"We need a plan," Seraphina yelled.

"Nah, plans and overthinking take the fun out of battle; just let your instincts take over!" Adalwolf responded, quickly maneuvering behind the hydra, attempting to split the attention of its seven remaining heads.

As Adalwolf danced around the hydra, her movements were a blur of uncontrolled instinct. Now momentarily confused by the dual threat, the creature shifted its attention between the two warriors.

Time remained a crucial factor as the first of the two headless necks began to regrow.

"What?" Seraphina screamed the first to notice the unexpected regeneration.

"Its body part regeneration shouldn't be this fast; it should take at least a day," she exclaimed just before darting towards its leg, determined to disrupt the hydra's swift recovery.

The hydra began displaying evident irritation from the relentless onslaught it endured. Each remaining head crackled with energy, a prelude to the impending release of devastating breath weapons. Each head pointed in a distinct direction and, with synchronized fury, unleashed a destructive torrent of energy, causing mass destruction visible even from the distant farm.

The shockwaves reverberated for miles, sending tremors through the land.

Back at the farm, Alice and Jabulani witnessed the colossal explosion. Still cradling her in his arms, Jabulani swiftly turned, shielding the woman as the massive shockwave followed suit. It slammed into the farm, rattling the barn and the farmhouse, causing moderate damage but fortuitously not knocking them down.

"I didn't expect something of that magnitude... they are going to need me after all, it seems," Jabulani mused, turning his attention back to the worried woman.

Without uttering a word, he pulled her into a kiss, catching her by pure surprise.

"For good luck," he said as he stood, pulling her to her feet, the shock leaving her weak in the knees.

"Now, you get somewhere safe..." he instructed before dashing towards the direction of the massive explosion. With a swift motion, he triggered his flight spell, ascending into the air and disappearing towards the epicenter of the chaotic encounter.

The tremendous **** unleashed by the mighty beast sent both warriors hurtling through the air, leaving them moderately injured. Adalwolf, shielded by mage armor, managed to dampen the majority of the attack, mitigating the impact. In contrast, despite the timely combination of her shield and armor, Seraphina bore a more substantial injury. The **** of the blow not only wounded her but also resulted in a broken shield arm, a testament to the sheer power of the hydra's onslaught.

What was once miles of dense forest now lay as an open crater in the ground, dominated by the colossal presence of a twenty-foot-tall and forty-foot-long hydra standing menacingly in the center.

Struggling to rise, the two girls hoisted themselves to their feet, Sabrina moving more slowly than Adalwolf. By the time they regained their footing, the hydra's eight heads had fully regrown, and the ninth had already begun the regeneration process.

The air crackled with tension as Adalwolf swiftly pulled herself to her feet, the ground beneath her still shaking from the hydra's devastating power. She gripped her rapier with instinctual prowess, ready for the next clash.

Adalwolf's gaze locked onto the regenerating hydra, its multiple heads now fully restored and poised for another ****. Without a moment's pause, she lunged forward, rapier flashing as she engaged the colossal creature.

"Damn it, this isn't working!" Seraphina exclaimed, hastily scanning the barren landscape of the massive crater for anything that could serve as a makeshift splint and strap.

Her urgent search abruptly halted as a looming shadow cast itself over her – the hydra's tail descending with the intent to slam down on her.

With adrenaline coursing through her veins, Seraphina's survival instincts kicked in. Time seemed to slow as the hydra's tail descended, and she dove to the side with a swift, instinctive roll, narrowly evading the crushing blow.

Regaining her footing amidst the destruction, Seraphina knew she couldn't afford to dwell on the pain or the lack of resources. Her shield arm injured and the environment offering no assistance, she focused on evading the next onslaught.

Adalwolf, on the other hand, continued her relentless ****, targeting the creature's necks one after another. However, this time, her efforts met with less success. The hydra, displaying heightened regenerative powers and a capacity to learn and adapt, no longer operated as a unified entity. The heads weren't defensively coordinating with each other; instead, some heads were being strategically used as bait for easier killing attempts. The battle had evolved into a dynamic struggle, a dance between the warrior's agility and the hydra's cunning adaptability.

The dance between Adalwolf and the hydra intensified; each movement from the wolf girl was purely instinctual, and the two continued to be countered by the other. Once a synchronized ****, the hydra's heads now displayed a level of autonomy that made predicting its actions a formidable challenge.

Despite her injured arm, Seraphina assessed the situation, searching for a strategic advantage. She spotted a cluster of jagged rocks nearby, partially concealed by the remnants of the forest. With a determined grimace, she headed towards them, planning to use the uneven terrain to her advantage.

Unable to administer first aid, she felt the lifeblood draining from her wounds at an alarming pace. By the time she staggered toward the jagged rocks, the struggle to remain on her feet had become a fierce battle against the encroaching weakness.

Her gaze shifted to Adalwolf engaged in combat with the hydra. "We can't sustain this; it's overwhelming. We rely on precision, lacking the sheer **** needed to finish it. It requires a single, decisive strike, or it will persist in regenerating," she muttered.

"Well then, lucky for us, I'm here. Nature's Healing Touch." Like a guardian angel, Jabulani descended and placed his hand on her damaged arm after triggering the spell, restoring her shield arm.

Seraphina felt a surge of revitalizing energy coursing through her veins as the healing magic took effect. The once throbbing pain subsided, and she flexed her newly restored shield arm, testing its renewed strength.

"Thanks, I could kiss you right now!" she exclaimed, genuinely grateful for his timely arrival.

"I won't say no to that, and by the way, I must say, nice breasts you have," he remarked before swiftly returning to the sky, heading back toward the ongoing battle between the hydra and Adalwolf.

"What are you ta—" she began before abruptly realizing that her breastplate was destroyed entirely. Shocked, she had unwittingly exposed her chest throughout the entire ordeal.

Blushing furiously, Seraphina quickly adjusted what remained of her armor, attempting to restore a semblance of modesty. "Well, that's just great," she muttered under her breath, a mix of embarrassment and frustration evident in her voice.

"I doubt it cares about our wardrobe malfunctions, but I appreciate the incentive." He says before starting to cast a spell.

"Beneath the boughs, 'neath moon and star,

Nature's Embrace, from near to far.

With whispered leaves and roots entwined,

In verdant magic, solace find.

Nature's Embrace!"

Emerging from the torn terrain beneath the hydra, robust vines burst forth, ensnaring the creature's tail, legs, body, and each individual neck. With precision, they tightened, forcing the hydra down to the ground with a resounding crash.

Hovering gracefully, the shaman glided to the front of the subdued hydra. "Hello there, Mr. Beast. I regret having to resort to this, but unfortunately for you, you made a colossal mistake. You harmed my women, and I can't let that go unanswered," he declared, locking eyes with one of the hydra's heads. In contrast, the others struggled against their leafy restraints.

"His women?" Seraphina said, looking around for where her sword had been blown away, but while looking, she caught a glimpse of Adalwolf smiling smugly at the beast as if she took pride in being proclaimed one of the shaman's women.

"His women?" Seraphina inquired, scanning the battlefield to locate where her sword had been blown away. Amidst her search, she caught a glimpse of Adalwolf, wearing a smug smile as if taking pride in being declared one of the shaman's women.

Rolling her eyes at Adalwolf's apparent satisfaction with the shaman's declaration, Seraphina focused on retrieving her sword. The weapon lay not far away, half-buried in the displaced soil. Snatching it up swiftly, she rejoined the group, her gaze shifting between the restrained hydra and the shaman.

"Your women?" Seraphina questioned aloud, her gaze fixed on the shaman.

"Haha, pay it no mind; it's an Xandari thing. Those considered companions, friends, or members of a specific tribe are regarded as ours, so we tend to use possessive language when referring to them," the shaman explained, offering a friendly smile.

Seraphina continued to stare, unfamiliar with the customs of the Xandari people, leaving her unable to confirm or deny the shaman's explanation.

"Well, I guess that's not important right now. You know what it is? How much nonsense this is!" she exclaimed, a moment of irritation breaking through.

Jabulani blinked in confusion. "Uh, what is, again?"

"We were fighting that thing with all we had, and you just show up and drop it in one attack," she replied, annoyance etched on her face.

Jabulani chuckled a hint of amusement in his eyes. "How is this different from the tactics of your people's mages? In your formations, the vanguards engage in combat, shielding the mages until they can unleash a spell that significantly hinders or even finishes off your adversaries."

Seraphina continued to gaze, her irritation giving way to a more contemplative expression. "Anyways, we have another problem. Why is there a hydra here? And isn't this thing way smarter than it should be? It seems to adapt to how we came at it, and its healing wasn't just faster but kept getting faster," the female knight explained.

"Is that so?" the shaman inquired, glancing back at Adalwolf, who simply nodded in agreement.

"Well then, why don't we ask him about it?" the shaman suggested, earning confused looks from the two women.

But before anything else could happen, the snapping of vines could be heard as the hydra slowly pushed itself up off the ground, freeing itself one vine after another.