Yes, actually. A hero.

The trees are looking smaller now. The forest looks younger. Maybe that means the really high-level section is behind you.

"Mmmm," comes a small groan from your shoulder. You look down to see Mienna beginning to wake. She lets out a wide yawn and brings one hand up to rub at her eyes. "Mama?" she asks as her eyes begin to focus. She turns her face up to look at you. Too cute!

"Yep; Mama's got you. Did you sleep well, my little angel?"

"Mm," she nods. Finally her eyes focus on your face. A deep, crimson blush spreads over her features and she looks down quickly.

"What is it?" you ask curiously.

"No, it's not-! I didn't-! I mean...Yeah! It's no fair! Why is your actual name Mama?!"

You put on your best pouting face--and with your luscious lips, it's quite the pout. "You don't want to call me Mama?"

"I-I-I don't-! I didn't-! You-!"

She seems so much more flustered now than she was earlier. Maybe it's because she's just waking up and is still off-guard. "It's alright, I'm just teasing you. You can keep calling me Mama."

"Mm," she agrees before realizing it. She whips her head up to glare at you, but you just laugh. Even with tears gathering in the corners of her eyes, she's really cute.

You give her a small peck on the forehead. "Good morning. I think we're almost out of the woods."

She turns to look around you--probably glad for the excuse to look away--and lets out a small gasp. "Stillwater Woods! This area is sub-50, that's much better! Well, still too much for me, but-"

Her thoughts are interrupted by the loud roar of a monster. "Frenzied Bear. Wounded, too," Mienna explains. She hops out of your arms and runs over to investigate. You chase after her, amazed at how fast those small legs can carry her on 2 AGI. She finally comes to a stop behind some bushes, so you crouch down beside her. Somehow she's found a hole just her height to watch through.

A lone knight is battling with an enormous bear. From what you can tell, he's winning; but this definitely isn't a fight he'll be able to repeat endlessly. He has some scrapes and bruises and half his HP. The Frenzied Bear, though, is staggering and barely still upright. A fraction of its health remains.

The beast rears up for another attack, roaring its challenge at the knight. He obliges, rushing at the mob with his sword at the ready. The beast's claws descend, his sword rises, and the two meet in the middle. The beast roars in pain, but the man is sent tumbling backward, too.

Mienna surprises you when she begins cheering. "You can get him! Show that bear what you're made of! The people of Stillwater Lake are counting on you!"

The man is stunned briefly, probably even more surprised than you. He looks over to see who's making the noise, but all he can see is a small hand waving above the bushes. Then the bear roars, pulling his attention back to the issue at hand. Though he does yell a vigorous, "Yeah!" in reply.

In the next exchange, he rushes past the descending paw to stab the beast through its chest. The claws chase him, battering into his back; but that only propels his blade forward more. With a final roar, the bear falls dead and disappears in a glimmer of pale light.

The man stands for a moment to regain his breath, then turns to see who his surprise cheerleader was. Surprise turns to outright shock as Mienna steps around the bushes, soon followed by yourself. "What is-" he begins, turning to look at you.

"I'm an adventurer!" Mienna cuts him off, sulking a little that he was about to ignore her. "I just, uh, got...cursed." Her voice was very small by the end of that sentence.

"Cursed into...a child."

"Look, I know it's weird, okay? But I'm a hero! I can prove it! The quest your doing is a request from the people of Stillwater Lake. They need you to hunt at least twelve of the Frenzied Bears that have been appearing in the forest recently. They've been attacking villagers who wander the woods, and the lumberjacks are getting the worst of it. When-"

"I, uh, didn't actually listen to any of that. The guy just said I needed to kill twelve bears, so..."

"Whatever! When you finish the request, you'll receive a hundred twenty gold pieces and a bear-claw necklace, which is actually an amulet that increases your Strength by twenty-five." Finished, she frowns and mutters under her breath, "Stupid grinders. Never care about the people they're helping."

"One twenty? And a cheap necklace?" the knight replies, looking a little crestfallen. "I spent a week traveling out to this backwater and that's all I get for this?"

Cheap necklace? That would double your current STR.

"Yeah, yeah, woe is you," Mienna cut him off. She seemed pissed about something, but you couldn't tell what. "If you don't want the necklace, could I have it?"

"Didn't you already finish this quest?" the man asks suspiciously.

"Yeah, like forever ago. But then I got cursed, see? Now I can't access any of the gear I had."

"Well, that sucks for you."

"Come on! It's not like you're going to want it, right? You're what, level 38? You've gotta have a necklace that's ten times better than that by now."

"So? Giving it to you doesn't do me any good."

"But-!" Mienna begins to protest. You interrupt her by putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Sir knight," you begin, putting on your best smile, "surely you can spare such a small trinket to help us in our plight? You see, Mienna's...curse can only be cured if she gains some levels, but without any gear a child can use..."

"I still don't see what's in it for me."

You do a good job of keeping your smile there. You think you have an idea of why Mienna was peeved from the get-go. Maybe this calls for a slightly different tactic. You swap out the smile with some smolder, slowly strutting your way over to the man. Now you have his undivided attention. Leaning in close, you whisper into his ear, making sure he can feel your hot breath against his skin.

"If you can fulfill my request, I'll make it worth your time."

To emphasize your point, you let one hand rove down his body until it rests against his crotch.

His eyes are as wide as dinner plates. "I-I-I..." He snaps his mouth shut and clears his throat with a small cough. "I guess you're right, it is better to help those in need," he declares. What a switch. "That was the last bear anyway, so I can escort you into the town and let you have the necklace before I leave."

"Thank you so much! You really are a kind knight, aren't you?" you ask with a totally fake smile.