Chương 16

"Mama?" My question obviously broke her out of her head as she half startled and looked at me. Dropping to her knee to put both hands on my shoulders.

"I'm Sorry Dorah, this is… You shouldn't have to deal with them, thi-""Mama. I don't care." I said reaching up and putting both hands on her cheeks.

"Honestly I'm more worried for you than me."

"They were being mean to you. You-""Nah I don't care. At all. Like seriously. They are rude, so who cares."

"You… You're a good girl." She whispered, bending in and pressing her forehead to mine. I smiled, feeling my ears wiggle as I pressed against her.

"I just wanted you to have fun. To see what being a Ranger is like."

"I think some of them have been nice." I replied carefully, which she noticed.

"We… We should just leave."

"What? What about the whole thing?" I waved behind me and Mama laughed, leaning back and shaking her head.

"I've already gotten the important update about the Trolls. Why don't we just leave?"

"It's already night time." I pointed out and she nodded then sighed, with a slump.

"Maybe we'll leave in the morning."

"Sure. Whenever." I said agreeably. If she didn't want to stick around I didn't care.

"I can't believe they pulled this on you. Really! I'm going to have to send a letter to father, this is beyond the bounds of what can be accepted."

"Will… Grandpa? Do anything." Mama snorted at my hesitant words and then smiled.

"I never told you about your grandfather did I?"

"No. We don't really talk about family."

"I know… It's complicated my Light. Your father and I wanted to wait until you were older to have all the family drama dropped on you. We both agreed that was for the best… And then he invited his Uncle over without telling me." She grumbled, and I smirked, Grunkle Zo'Talana had caused a lot of grumpy Mama time. Papa had of course eventually won her over. Whether that was because he had forgotten what he had done and so she just dropped it or he did something to earn her forgiveness I wasn't sure.

"Okay, whenever you are ready to talk about, I'm not that bothered." I responded, and she nodded firmly.

"So… Can we get some more snacks?" Mama looked at me for a long time then her mouth split and her demeanor changed back to what it should be.

"You're gonna get fat if you keep eating so much."

"Am not! I'm eating lots so I can grow big! I need to be big so I can punch out all the Trolls!" I told her, making a punch motion and Mama just laughed, That was better. Happy Mama was better than angry Mama. —-- We packed up our stuff in the morning, Mama went around with me, as she refused to split from me, and told a few of the Rangers she knew she was leaving. Word had obviously got around as more than a few glanced at me, before nodding in understanding. Yet, as we hit a few more, one of them called out.

"Felomin, wait, before you leave, I would like to speak to you." The voice wasn't one I recognized, but Mama perked up and shifted her stance standing up straight and looked serious.

"Of course, Did you-?"

"Yes actually. We've been going over the appearance records, and Eastern Outpost 4 is giving us some concern."

"Is… Is there an issue with my reports? I-""No, no. Nothing like that, my apologies. Your reports are excellent, it is the number of them that is growing concern. The numbers along your border are growing fast. Enough to be a concern. I was hoping you wouldn't mind if another Ranger moved into your area?"

"What? Of course not. I've been saying we need a stronger presence for some time."

"Excellent. I imagine Liarren won't be a disrupting choice?"

"Will he accept? He has his son."

"Which is actually why he wishes to be placed closer to the border, he wants to range with his son and teach him. Two additional Rangers, even if one is young for the price of one." Mama looked at me and smiled.

"I understand his desires well. Very well. Will he need lodging?"

"No, that will be taken care of, but he will likely rest in your village. Please work together well, for the safety of our people, and for the safety of yourself."

"Thank you Talanas. That is a relief." Mama said back and I frowned. So the Trolls were becoming an issue? Why did I keep being told not to worry about it when it was obviously a problem? Then to my surprise the man turned to me and smiled.

"And are we going to get another Ranger in a few years?" He asked cheerfully, obviously used to talking to children.

"Nope. I'm going to be an Explorer. Once I'm old enough I'm going to head south and see the entire world. Even back across the ocean. I want to see it all." I told him, and his face shifted in surprise before smirking.

"Huh. Well maybe our Rangers need someone going even further beyond our borders." He offered a wink.

"Dorah is very firm on her idea to travel." Mama offered with a bit of a sigh.

"Dangerous, but a good dream. I look forward to hearing from you in a few decades about your journey." I blinked, taken a little off guard.

"Really? Most people don't seem all that interested in what's beyond our land."

"Well I'm a range so knowing more is always good, but I think a lot of us want to know what else is out there. Right now we just don't think there is anything."

"I see." I whispered. I already planned on making a Quest Journal for my travels, maybe I'd add to it a bit, and turn it into something more like a book? I shrugged. Oh well, it didn't matter. —-- We were on our way out of the camp packed up and ready. The Young Ranger Event was coming up in a few hours, but I didn't have much interest in it, and Mama was seemingly quite ready to bring me away from all of this. Yet as we headed off from the spire there was someone waiting.

"Falomin."

"Sister." My Aunt spoke as she watched us, leaning up against a tree.

"Leaving without even saying hello?" She snapped, and Mama stilled, looking her over.

"You've grown Falomin. Well, by the looks of it… But I won't let you or Feromin to mess with Dorah." Mama said firmly, and the teenager's face shifted into a scowl as she stepped away from the tree. She was wearing gear, probably her equipment for the event, but my eye wasn't on the leathers or the bow, but the sword on her hip. It was a good sword, I was a bit jealous.

"And you! Running away. I know you're a child but I wanted to challenge you." She grumbled at me, and I blinked realizing she was talking to me, and I hadn't been listening.

"Challenge me?"

"Tsk, you had my sister's instruction all this time, I wanted to see if you had any talent." You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Falo… Dorah is eleven. She completed the family test, quite well, but she's still young."

"Whatever. Run away and don't come back then." She said, hotly, and I tilted my head.

"If you don't want me to come back… Beat me then." I said, and Mama stilled at my side and turned to look at me.

"Dorah, what-""I'm no good with a bow, and you're about to go into that event right? So you should know how to use that sword on your hip." I commented idly as I sauntered away from Mama towards the trees, kicking the leaves of the Eversong, I rummaged around before finding a branch. Lifting it up, I picked up the piece of wood. Pushing my foot down as I lifted to tear off some of the branches, I lifted it up… Hmm not quite.

I brought out my knife and went to work, a few quick slashes, it wouldn't be perfect, but, I knew it didn't need to be. I trimmed the bark off as quickly as I could as I walked back, then sheathed my knife and whipped the branch back around grabbing it at the now cleared section. The branch was slightly curved, and it had a single extra stick on one side with a leaf still hanging from it. Not exactly the most fearsome weapon.

Mama had watched me silently, and Falomin my aunt watched on in utter confusion, and when I pointed my branch at her, she laughed.

"You must be joking."

"Nope. I've gone through a lot of trouble because of you, and what's her face. You tried to get me into trouble, because you have some issue with me, well, here it is. Your chance to do what you want."

"Dorah!"

"I'll use my sword branch, and you can use that sword on your hip. Defeat me, and I'll never come back to the ranger meetings again." Not that I had any intention of showing up anyways, but well. I really wanted to smash a stick into her face. Mama looked half like she wanted to take me away, and half way just wanted to see what would happen.

"Dorah, that's a real sword."

"So?"

"You can get hurt."

"Then I'll heal, and it'll be an important lesson." I said bluntly, my mood thoroughly irritated.

"Well? I am Alah'Dorah, daughter of Felomin, a proud Ranger, and you have talked enough shit for me to want to smash your face in."

"Dorah!" Mama gasped at my curse, but Falomin's face shifted into a toothful grin.

"Fine. Showing you up will make me feel better too, after watching you and her walk around like her decisions only impacted herself!" A bow was tossed into the grass and a sword was drawn. A scimitar, curved blade and not very long, obviously because she wasn't fully grown. I breathed in, and then out, holding my sword to the side, hands holding onto it, really wishing I had a shield, but I would just have to live without. Don't get stabbed or chopped up now Dorah, that would be embarrassing.

"Fine." Mama said, stepping back.

"Don't kill each other." She threatened, and it was obviously aimed towards Falomin. I just waited calm and collected. It was a live blade, but Falomin wasn't Grunkle Zo'Talana. All I had to do was wait, and then strike. She circled her sword spinning in a flourish as she hunched over and then she charged in, obviously intending on relying on her size. Her blade flashed to bat away the stick.

but it wasn't there, curving around like a snake, my sword flowed around her blade, avoiding every edge and as she pushed in, she had left herself open. The THWACK of my stick smashing square into her face was very satisfying, as was her cry of pain.

"Aagh! Wha-" Sword came down, smashing into her wrist, but the strength wasn't enough to disarm her, I just used it to push her sword away and then I moved in, well into her range. I didn't have a shield, but slamming an elbow into someone's stomach still worked. Her armor gave her some protection, but I was used to shield slamming a guy with a tower shield, her feet left the floor, and I shifted throwing her over my hip slamming her onto the grass. A foot slammed onto her wrist, and then I swung down.

The sound of my sword thunking into the loam of the forest was quite loud, but I'd aimed correctly. Her throat was just touched by the stick, enough to feel the sting of the sword stopping suddenly but not enough to say, crush her throat like the blow would have. And there I was standing over her. Her breath was coming out in a rush staring up at me with wide eyes.

"I'm only a novice with a bow. As much as Mama wants me to, I just don't have much interest in them. But Swords? I'm very good with swords. Spent six months training with a Spellbreaker. He asked me to come with him to the capital as his apprentice." Then I reached a hand up to the sky, feeling the power flow through me and dropped the blast of light onto her face, where I'd probably broken her nose with my first strike. I know what that felt like.

"There. Now this little game is over, with no lasting consequences. Go fight in your event, just leave me out of any games in the future." I nodded. There, my point was proven, and I tugged my sword free and turned, letting it rest against my shoulder as I walked back to Mama.

"Let's go?" Mama looked at me, for a long while, and I could see the pride in her entire body. She really wanted to hug me. Yet she didn't, instead turning to Falomin.

"You've grown, little sister. I'm sorry that I caused you so much trouble. You feel so angry at me… But I don't regret my choices. I do miss you." Then she nodded, handed me my bag that I had stripped off, and then we were off. Walking back through the forest leaving my aunt in the grass. Thanks Mama. If you had hugged me like you wanted, it would have totally broken how cool I looked just then. —-- We traveled mostly silently, for a long while.

I did eventually ditch my cool wood branch sword as it was just heavy and annoying to carry. But as we settled in for a break and a meal Mama finally spoke.

"Sorry about all this… Again."

"Eh… It was fun." I decided to throw out an olive branch.

"I did get to hit someone with a stick."

"Dorah."

"Come on, I don't ever get to do that! But really Mama, it's fine. I'm glad I got to travel with you, and it was interesting to see all the rangers, and everything… Plus the info about the trolls isn't good."

"You don't have to worry about Trolls Dorah."

"Yes I do." I said firmly.

"Because danger is danger, and pretending it doesn't exist doesn't protect anyone."

"I've got it handled. Trust in your Mama." She said patting on her bicep which was muscular and strong.

"I do trust you, I don't trust them… But don't worry! I'll keep getting stronger and stronger, and if the Trolls ever cause trouble I'll cut them down! H'yah!" I said faking a swing, and Mama smirked looking happy.

"Of course. Dorah the brave Ranger."

"Dorah the Explorer! Adventurer extraordinaire! The woman who saw the whole world!" I argued and Mama grinned at my overblown title.

"Okay… Okay. As long as you're happy Dorah. That's all I want."

"Mhh! I'll always be happy! This world is full of things to see and do! I have forever to explore it all! To get stronger and be able to help anyone I meet."

"That's a happy dream." Mama offered, and I nodded. The tension eased, and soon we were chatting as we walked through the forest, no longer on a rushed pace like we had been on our way up. It was much nicer, and my feet didn't hurt. —--- Returning home had been a return to the grind, and it wasn't long where my focus gave results. [Enchanting Lv. 19 190/190] [Apprentice] [Apprentice Enchanting: Reduce cost of Enchanting] [Journeyman Enchanting has been learned!] [Journeyman Enchanting: Minor improvement in enchantment power] It had been a pain making Wands over and over, but being able to retain the materials meant I could just keep going. And it was totally worth it. I sat back in the porch chair I'd been working on and just let my brain process. Enchantments were interactions with ambient mana in the air, you created paths, and basically formed a sort of code the mana would flow through and cause a natural effect.

And yet, despite that being the cause and effect, did that mean you couldn't tweak it? Alter the programming you were installing to get a small improvement in the effect? That was what I had just learned. I realized instantly I had to try this out, but I didn't have anything on hand to enchant to try it, so instead I raced off. The grass that grew all around the village was all the material I needed!

I swiftly gathered some up and started weaving it together just as El'Tela had taught me years ago, and as I brought it to my lips I whispered.

"Elune-Adore." And twisted the grass to seal itself tightening up around the whisper. Then I raced back rushing up through the kitchen, ignoring the calls to stop running in the house from Mama as I raced up and into my room the enchanting supplies pulled out, and soon I went to work, slowly working the forms and lines of dust shifting it with my magic as I implanted it into the material of the Whisper Band. And then it was done. Now I just had to see if it had worked.

I pulled off my old Whisper Band, and set it on the table careful with it. I'd been wearing it for years after all, I liked the thing. And then slipped the new one on my wrist. Checking my character sheet. Alah'Dorah High Elf Level 3 [10/300 XP] Strength 17 Agility 18 +1 Stamina 19 +1 Intellect 11 +35 Spirit 12 +7 It had worked. Whisper Band Enchanted with +2 Spirit. I had only used the basic +1 Spirit Enchantment. That was… Big. I quickly grabbed the Whisper band and rushed back down the stairs.

"Dorah! No running in the house!"

"Yes Mama! Sorry Mama!" I called not actually stopping as I zipped past her to Papa's Workshop and slid to a stop quietly knocking.

"Yes?" I grinned at the response as it was distracted, but not really really distracted. I popped into the door before Mama could grab me as she came around the corner and I raced over to Papa as he was sitting at his desk having been reading by the looks of it.

"Papa! Look what I did!" I demanded, wanting to climb into his lap, but he wouldn't like that out of nowhere so I instead held up my whisper band as I toddled back and forth on my feet too excited to stay still.

"Hmm?" He took it and started looking it over as Mama entered the workshop.

"Dorah." Mama was not pleased, but I ignored her as I hopped around back and forth as Papa looked over my enchantment. I could see the moment he noticed it as his brow furrowed a bit, and then eased, a smile crossing his face.

"You've improved the enchantment."

"Yes!" I said as Mama walked up dropping a heavy hand on my shoulder but Papa was perking up and Mama noticed.

"You did this?"

"I did!"

"Where did you learn to do this?" I opened my mouth to respond and well…

"I just… Figured it was right? I tried it out and it's better!"

"It is. A modest, but evident improvement… Dorah… This is amazing." He said his voice full of pride as he reached over and pulled me out of Mama's grip and into a tight hug. Hehehee! Mama can't get me in trouble if I was being praised by Papa! And from the sound of her sigh she knew that. Nice! Avoided getting in trouble this time! Today was a good day.