Chapter 25: 1-H1: Hello

(Finally, I can write more than notes since Terra is asleep in bed with- that's not important. What's important is I can write a slightly longer version of what I told my cousin Ilyah. - Hayli.) (YOU WHAT)

"Couldn't we have sat elsewhere?" I ask staring at my plate of food. It had long since gone cold. 

"It's the only seat in here where I can sit in the bar and still be at a table with you."

"Yes, but its dirty and full of drunken men."

"Most bars are, Hayli."

"I don't want to be near a bar, Sairah."

She rolled her eyes and continued to chew on her meat. From behind us a group of rather drunken soldiers were eyeing us and whispering to each other. I felt my stomach twist. When people did that to people like me it was usually one of two things. Especially when it was men. Especially when it was drunk. And both were even badder news for me.

I nibbled at my food try to not look at them, not to encourage them, not to provoke them. I feel my tail swish back and forth, my horns threaten to rise. I patted my hair to push them down more. That would definitely get them to bother us. I tried to just listen in on other people's conversations to distract me.

Their drab babbling was unfortunately too droll to keep my attention, so I unfortunately caught the eye of one of the drunkards and he and his gang sauntered over and stood over us.

"Oi.  Demonlings. Who the hell let your ugly asses in here?"

"Ey, Jasper, lay off. They ain't as smart as us humans, ya know?"

Oh good, it was the racism. That was something I could deal with. Okay, Hayli just tell them off. No need to be nervous, it's just big drunk soldiers with swords, just tell them off. 

"Um, e-e-e-excuse me, but you're- you're being ru-rude." 

Good job, me. Perfectly delivered. Not at all showing any fear.

"Oh, scales spoke up. Look boys, it's a talking lizard."

Sairah glared and slightly stood up, "You two and company are insulting a high priestess," She motioned at herself, "and her main disciple, not to mention on of the-" She was cut off as the second drunk spoke up.

"What city, urp, are ya allowed to be a priestess in, ya bear? The woods? Get it? Because you're a bear?" He laughed, nearly doubling over from finding his own joke so hilarious.

"Where did you learn insults? A mirror, I'm guessing." No, Sairah, don't antagonize them. You're supposed to diffuse situations for me, not make them worse. 

 "Oh, she's trying her hand at comedy."

"How is she?" A new voice asked.

"Unbearable." (Both Ilyah and Terra refused to believe me this line was said. It was. Sairah would back me up if she could. -  Hayli)

"P-please, s-sit down." I ask, calmly and sternly.

"Oh? The lizard says sit down boys. Where should we sit?"

"On the rugs we could make out of them"

"I was going to say we could just sit on them as they are. Not like they're human."

Sairah was now fully standing up, "You are walking on thin ice."

A soldier drew their blade and pointed it at me, "Oh, are you threatening us?"

"P-put your s-s-sword away, or else you’ll regret it.” I said raising my tail up.

"Oh? Or else what, ugly lizard who is ugly." I was getting embarrassed for them now.

"Maybe she'll hiss at us with that forked tongue of hers."

"I-I don't even have a forked tongue." Seriously what species did they- oh, right they did call us demonlings. And I shouldn't have expected racists to know much about humons. 

Sairah flipped them off, "Sit down you drunken brigands before you have to sit down to get around."

"Oh, really? How you stocky shit covered beasty?" The soldier drew his sword and jumped at Sairah who easily blocked it with her staff. The others now all had blades drawn at us. 

I grabbed a steak knife and stood up, trying to keep my eyes on all the drunks who now surrounded us.

A large soldier was rapidly attacking Sairah, as she parried each blow with little effort. I was glad she was my shield. "I'll turn you into a new rug, you beasty."

I meanwhile was being jabbed at with swords as I barely managed to dodge them, running around the nearly empty bar. I was glad no one else was going to get hurt by the drunks, but really? No one was helping?

I dodged more, eventually getting more and more tired. But they were getting tired as well. I grabbed some silverware and began to throw them at the group attacking me in hopes perhaps one would poke out an eye or something.

But then I heard one call out, "Oy, Manfred get over here and help us hack this lizard."

Oh great. I braced myself for another one to fight. I really wished Sairah could risk using berserker magic but there were still innocents around. 

A few seconds later I heard a voice scream, "YOU HURT MANFRED YOU BASTARD!" followed by a very loud snap and the sound of a body hitting the floor.

Sairah ran over to me and nodded as she dodged a sword swinging reversed her opponent into a headlock. I was blocking the last soldier's sword swings with a serving tray, when a flash of light came out of nowhere and I was just barely able to close my eyes. I took advantage of the blinded soldier and slammed my tail into his neck, bringing him to his knees before braining him with my tray and running over to the Sairah.

The old man who greeted us at the door came over and apologized, "I am so sorry. I'm just glad you weren't hurt."

"Yeah, thankfully someone here wasn't a coward." Sairah replied.

"I'll go and get the guards to take away those ruffians."

Sairah turned to me, "You okay, Hayli?" 

"Y-yeah." I took a deep breath. "Are you?"

"You think any of those drunks could have taken me?"

"All of them at once could."

"Well thankfully they had their attention split three ways."

"Oh, who was it who helped us?" I ask. I think it was a guy, but I really didn't get to look at them. I hoped it wasn't a guy- I had to thank them and it was easier for me to sincerely thank a cute or strong woman than a guy. 

Sairah looked around and then pointed at someone at a table of two. I turned around and saw them for a split second before my vision blurred.

I could see me, and a girl and a girl fighting side by side. I could see a ring, on my finger. I could see me doing things that I cannot say in public. Many, many things. But most importantly I saw the figure before me, was the same as me. 

The same as me. A girl like me. One that was not seen as one at birth.

As the vision ended I heard her name, "Terra." 

"Uh, Hayli? Are you okay? I said we should go over and thank him."

"Oh! Y-yeah." I shook my head and followed Sairah over to the table.

Terra was scarfing down a piece of chicken, dirty blonde hair a mess from our fight. Across from her was a very cocky looking twink with his black hair in a low ponytail and a toothpick between his teeth. Sairah tapped our savior on the shoulder and reached out a hand. Terra stood up and shook it, clearly shocked at how tall Sairah was. People usually were.

“Thank you for helping us out back there. My name is Sairah Heartfell, a priestess of the third order, and this lovely lady I’m accompanying is-”

"H-Hayli. My name's Hayli. Um, nice to me-meet you." Ugh, why was talking so hard. Sure, I saw the two of us naked in my head a minute ago but that's not what's in front of me now.

"I'm Earth Thornell." Terra replied. I squinted. Clearly, she wasn't out yet. Or maybe even knew she was Terra.

"So, who is this, may I ask?" Sairah motioned toward the twink.

"I am Vern Thornell. This guy's older brother." The twink said in a very cocky voice.

"And a lazy jerk." Terra said under her breath.

"Well, a pleasure to meet you." Sairah said shaking the twink's hand.

“So, what are two humons like you doing in town?  I would think going to a place where the chances of meeting a simple-minded idiot with twisted ideals would deter you.” The twink asked.

“You haven’t deterred them yet.” Terra responded to which the twink responded with the bird.

“Well, you see I am here for Hayli. She is here because of her destiny. The destiny of a Hero of the Chosen.”

Really Sairah. I thought we said to not use our titles on people.

“O-oh, really. Eh, small world I guess.” I hear Terra chuckle.

“Small world? How so?” Sairah asked.

“He means that it’s surprising that we should meet given our shared destinies in such a large city.” The twink responded.

Sairah looked confused. I asked the two for her to move the conversation along, “W-what do you mean by that?”

“He means that he is a Hero, and I would happen to be his Shield.” Terra says. Oh. She's a Shield. Wait... that means she'll be with us on the Island. No. Why am I think of an island when we just met. Step at a time. You have to crack the egg before you eat out an omelet.

“Wait, so the shield is the one that saved us?” Sairah asked.

“I can’t help it. The food was too good. Besides, by letting Earth do it he grows.”

“You only refused to help out of sloth. As you always do.” Earth sighs.

“Well, thank you again, Earth… Huh?”

I leaned in close to whisper to Sairah, "Ask Ter- Earth if they want to be a girl."

“I don’t think I could ask that without embarrassing-"

"Okay, just don't act weird. I got a vision and Earth is like me. Her name is Terra." I stopped for a second. "Ask how old they are- not for any bad reasons."

"Oh yeah, fine. Uh huh, got it. Hey, how old are the two of you?”

The twink made a sarcastically annoyed tsk sound, “Don’t you know it’s rude to ask a man his age, but if you are to know… I am twenty years old.” I wanted to punch him.

“Eighteen since last month.” Terra replied. Same age. Good to know.

Sairah smiled, “Oh, good. Well, I am 288 moon cycles and Hayli is 203 cycles old.”

“Oh. Huh. She’s the same age as me? I had both of you pegged for being younger than that. I mean than you said, I only thought Hayli was younger than me.” She was clearly expecting me to be younger.

“I’d of thought Sairah was in her thirties.” The twink said.

“So, are you two from the Western border? You look like it.” Sairah asks.

“Uh, yes we are. How could you tell?” The twink replied.

“You look like it. Hair, eyes, facial structure. The accent is a bit gone but I can still here it in the vowels. Plus the last name being regionally common for there.” She answered. She had a proud look on her face. She loved showing off her knowledge of how people from different regions were unique. It was one of her more endearing quirks. Could sometimes get us in trouble however.

I walked over to Terra and poked her in the side of her ribs. “Um, T-T-E-E." No, it's not Terra yet, just say Earth. Then I thought of a quick test. "Ahem, S-sir Earth, I would l-l-like to, um, thank you a bit b-better than j-just saying it.” 

I looked at Terra as I said Sir, seeing a twinge of disgust and sadness temporarily spring across her face. Interesting.

Sairah smiled. “Well, I guess we could invite him over to our room in the castle. I’ll even tell the guard on duty that it is fine to let you in.”

“Are you sure that’s fine?” She asks.

Sairah glanced at Hayli then turned back to me, “Trust me, Hayli couldn’t stand it if we didn’t do something for you helping us out.”

“I didn’t do that much honestly.”

“Well, you did enough to leave an impression on the young lady here. Honestly, she’s more nervous now than she was before. Usually takes a real cute girl to get her like this.” She nudged me. I was pretty sure she wouldn't get the hint or would take it the wrong way.

“I guess I can come. Vern don’t go walking in the woods while I’m gone.” What.

“I won’t. Besides, I think it only happen with the both of us.” Okay, what are these siblings talking about?

She laughed, more of a cross between a chuckle and a giggle and turned back to us, “So, when should I arrive?”

“In a few hours, no less than three, no more than eight. Um, and also the High Mother is with us. She can be odd with new people, but pay it no mind. Unless she tries to bed you. Don’t let her. The pay isn’t worth the pain.” Sairah glared at her. I also glared at her but I was pretty sure Sairah alone was terrifying the girl into not taking Bianca up on any offer. I was left alone by her thanks to Sairah threatening her, not as if I would have taken any offer from her- not a good match for me.

“I guess I’ll see you then.” Terra bowed slightly

We began to leave before I turned around, “Y-you better show, La- Sir Earth.”

I see a slight upturn of her mouth at the La before the Sir brings it back down.

“I will Lady Hayli.”  Well, at least she knows how to address me.

"So, you should wash up. You are drenched in blood."

"And you aren't?"

"I'm not the one greeting a girl."

"She's clearly not out yet."

"You can't force her. Take it slow. Befriend her."

"I saw her and me... you know. It's hard to take it slow."

"Wow, I wish I could have visions of my having sex with my wife."

I swish her with my tail, "S-shut up!" 

She laughs as I chase her all the way back to the place we were staying.

---

I lay still in the water, letting it engulf me. I am in my element, creating currents in it to massage my body.

Terra was likely to arrive in the next few hours. 

Terra.

The image of me and her kissing, me inside her appeared in my head. Her naked before me, baring herself to me wouldn't leave my eyes. 

I reach down between my legs and closed my eyes. I tapped up and down in a rhythmical pattern as I began to fantasy about Terra. Faster and faster until quickly I felt a shock of pleasure shoot through my body and then out. 

I panted, breathing heavily. I should get ready I thought.

I quickly dressed and tried to dry my hair before brushing my hair before walking over to the top of the stairs and called down:

"Sairah! Is Terra-" I freeze hoping Terra would miss here that before quickly moving on. "Earth here yet?"

Sairah shouted back she was in the sitting area so I quickly went down the stairs and into the sitting area to greet Terra, memories of my recent... activity still fresh in my mind. 

"H-h-h-hello, Sir Earth." I greeted her.

"Hey. And you can just call me Earth."

You are reading story Not Chosen at novel35.com

Oh my god she really was upset over the Sir part. I sat down on the smaller chair next to her, the very comfy pillow inviting me into it as I mumbled about how my vision was definitely right and not me having a hallucination.

"It'll be thirty minutes." Sairah announces. She strode over to me and whispered, "Let me guess, you got ready in a rush and haven't gone yet. Go now before the meal or you aren't going to get to say good night to her. Don't worry, I won't embarrass you while you're gone."

I glare at her and then do as she says making my way to the downstairs latrine and doing the very awkward action of peeing in the dress I was wearing. I hate to admit it, but I also relieved myself in another way once again.

I returned back to find a certain bear in my chair with a content look on her face. I stare at her and put my hands on my hips, "Um, Sister Sairah, would you give me back my chair please?"

Sairah smirked and gave me a slight wink, “You forfeited your claim to this chair when you got up.”

“But- But then where am I to sit?” I pretended to look around, knowing there's only one spot.

“Earth’s chair has room for both of you. I mean it's basically a couch.”

Ugh, that would be embarrassing, with what I had done once more, but it was the only option. I ignore Terra's response and tell her I'm fine and sit next to her. It feels wrong, the way she feels against me. The her now and her in my head are different. That one is more relaxed and open; this one is stiff and rough. I mean I was clearly not helping her, anyone would be enthralled by my beauty.

We sat in silence until food was ready and quickly ate before sitting down again. Sometime during a conversation between Terra and Sairah I dozed off.

I was then woken up when she got up to pee, and panicked, tearing a hole in the couch and my dress. She then left after Sairah tried to kill her with a hug. I couldn't stop my tail from wagging as I waved goodbye. I went back to my room, leaping over a drunken High Mother who had escaped her chambers to say goodbye- and probably try for something more.

I really wanted to fast track Terra. I think asking to be friends is good enough. Hit her with a "I have future vision and it said we'd be besties" type of deal.

I went into Sairah's room to tell her my plan.

"You sure you'll be able to do it?"

"Y-yeah."

She narrowed her eyes. "You could barely ask a cute girl for a room on the ride here and the future Terra is someone you clearly have even more of an issue with."

"I will. Just be with me."

"So, when?"

"Tomorrow. LDC."

"You think she'll show up."

"I mean probably. I hope."

Sairah shook her head, "Fine but I'm not helping you crack her beyond that. That is all you and her- if she wants to."

I thanked Sairah and got ready for bed.

---

"You came up with this plan. You can't chicken out now."

"I-I know that but it's just so weird to ask. I mean who asks someone to be friends just like that."

"Me."

"You married Medie in a week Sairah."

"Yeah, and she saw a vision of our future. Like you had with Terra."

"But that's different. She didn't see you become different to what you were."

"She saw me become a married woman."

"That's not what I mean!" I pout and sulk. 

"Look, there she is." She pointed at Terra who had her head on the table pointed towards a very white wall.

"I really don't think this is going to work."

Sairah grabbed my hand and sat us down, greeting Terra with a "Hello, Thornell."

Terra lifted her head and groggily replied. Sairah asked her why the twink left her by herself and then replied to that. I was stuck in my own head, going over disaster scenarios when Sairah nudged me and asked if I agreed.

"O-oh, y-yeah." I stuttered out, hoping that was the appropriate response.

“Thanks? Sorry for last night by the way.” Terra said.

“Why?” My shield asked.

“For, um, you know when I, um, I mean Hayli- um.” She was blushing. She was cute right now- even as she was presenting herself. That said, she could be cuter. She would be cuter. Or not if this weird ask drove her away from me. Oh deities, please don't mess up Hay.

“Oh, when after Hayli fell asleep on you and you got up too quickly to take a leak and startled my Hero so much she ripped the hem of her dress and tore a hole in the chair that I then informed you was a priceless antique.” Sairah wickedly smiled at Terra as she began to burn red and hide her face behind a menu. “Oh, wow, look at you all red from a little teasing. It’s like having a second, taller Hayli around. Fun”

“T-That’s not nice, Sairah.” I chastise my shield feeling that familiar warmth in my cheeks. I hated how easily I was embarrassed.

“Ah, is my little lizard disciple getting embarrassed too? I mean it was mostly your fault."

“S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-Stop!” I yelled. She was making me even more nervous. Why couldn't she just support me and not embarrass me.

"I'll stop." She looked me in the eyes. "If you ask the question. Ask and I'll stop."

"We just met t-though." I replied. Terra was drinking her water and staring at us.

“Oh, come on. You’ll have plenty of time to further your view of them, but if you wait, they might find some other person to be around.” She rubbed the top of my head.

I began to reply when Sairah placed her hand over my mouth and asked Terra, "Hey, Earth, do you think my cute little Hayli over here should tell her acquaintance that she wants to be best friends despite barely knowing them and her being scared they may reject her offer since it is honestly a weird thing to ask?” 

What the fuck, Sairah was that wording? That's gonna make her think I'm weird for sure.

"Um. Sure. I don't think anyone would reject her for friendship anyways. Kind of weird thing to ask though." 

Oh, thank deities she was weird too.

"Well, you heard Earth, Hayli. Go ahead."

I scooted my chair over and grabbed her arm and stared at her. I could just see the Terra I saw in that face, those eyes. The person I wanted to spend time with flickered back and forth with the reality in front of me lie I was flipping back and forth through the pages of a book. Her face wasn't clear in the vision so each time I changed something about Terra that I thought made her look better. I breathed in and steadied myself, ready to just ask it and get it over with. And then I saw that scene of us... you know and lost my ability to form a sentence, just blabbering out nonsense. As soon as I heard it I grew redder and felt my eyes water and continued to babble until Sairah grabbed and shook me.

"Really, Hayli, really?! You're a Hero for High Mother's sake. If you can't even speak to Earth, how will you deal with Terra? I don't want you dying because she looks pretty while we're fighting. Now ask the question."

“But I don’t think that it will be- or they'll or-.”

"It will!"

I nodded and tapped Terra on her shoulder, and she spun to face me. 

"Take it easy, Hayli. Slowly, one word at a time."

"Earth, I..."

"Yes?"

"Earth, I like you!" I manage to say something.

"Oh. Okay. That's nice." She's so dense, deities, I was glad she wasn't out yet or this would make me even more notice to see her with that confused look on her face. 

“I want you to be my friend. I've never had many friends. Or any, besides Sairah, and she's more like a mom or older sister.” That sounded so sad. Why'd I say it like that?

"Oh, deities, what?" 

"Please!" I begged, hoping to get this over with. She stared at me with the most vacant stare I have ever seen. "I-I know this may seem weird."

Then she replied either "Really weird" or "Really? Weird?"

I thought over it and decided that maybe getting her to be my friend and then Terra would be easier if I mentioned my precognition. Ugh, but that might seem like I'm forcing her- no, Hayli, no backing down. “But you see my subspecies is one that has some involuntary precognition magics and I saw you and it went: this is your best friend, your um, never mind-and some other things, but I don't know if that is something that I want to tell you in case you don't…”

She cut me off, "Okay, I like you too, but I have a condition."

"Yes! Anything." It worked, it worked, it worked!

“Look, if you realize you don't like me as a friend, don't waste your time. I'm not going to force you to hang out because of some magical stuff I can't see or know about." She said in the most serious voice. 

"Like I'd find another friend." I tease.

"You're so weird." Said the pot to the kettle.

“Ah, youth. So cute and disgusting. Reminds me of me.”

“Oh, shush Sairah.” I huffed at her. She was definitely going to use this to tease me until Terra became Terra- and probably after.

“Earth don’t worry about the whole barely knowing each other thing. My bestie and I became friends after a day. Then I went and I met my wife and married her in a week. I'm a rush-y kind of girl, and so is my Hayli.”

“Married?” She looked confused.

“Is there a problem?” Sairah growled.

“I thought priestesses couldn’t marry.”

“Oh, that? That only applies to those who are appointed. You can be married as a priestess if you do it before the ceremony. That’s exactly what Medela and I did.”

“Still a week seems a bit hasty.”

“Medela is a lower level oracle, so she used the future sight she had to see that our bond was unbreakable until I died in one of five ways. Never asked her what those were, probably should of, to avoid them.”

“Isn’t usually bad to know the exact future, since it will always lead you to it?”

“I see you read Builivier.” Sairah looked over at the waitress who had noticed us joining Terra's table and came over.

“Good evening… Oh! You’re those poor girls those ruffians were attacking last evening. We here are so sorry for that and wish to offer you a gift of free food.”

“Thank you. Well, that said I’ll have the fish.”

Ha

“Ah, youth. So cute and disgusting. Reminds me of me.”

“Oh, shush Sairah.” My newly minted best friend replied. Not like there was competition for that.

“Earth don’t worry about the whole barely knowing each other thing. My bestie and I became friends after a day. Then I went and I met my wife and married her in a week. I'm a rush-y kind of girl, and so is my Hayli.”

“Married?” I ask. 

“Is there a problem?” She growled.

“I thought priestesses couldn’t marry.”

“Oh, that? That only applies to those who are appointed. You can be married as a priestess if you do it before the ceremony. That’s exactly what Medela and I did.”

“Still a week seems a bit hasty.”

“Medela is a lower level oracle, so she used the future sight she had to see that our bond was unbreakable until I died in one of five ways. Never asked her what those were, probably should of, to avoid them.”

“Isn’t usually bad to know the exact future, since it will always lead you to it?”

“I see you read Builivier.” She noticed the waitress who had just arrived.

“Good evening… Oh! You’re those poor girls those ruffians were attacking last evening. We here are so sorry for that and wish to offer you a gift of free food.”

“Thank you. Well, that said I’ll have the fish.”

"Grilled Salmon for me." I smile.

"J-just a salad." Terra said.

The waitress nodded and left.

“So, Terr-, Earth. Um, where are you staying?” I ask. I was just beginning to form a plan to help ease her out and also get to actually know her.

“Moana Tyrei Sai.”

I continued to think this over as we all ate in silence, myself eating slower to think more. Eventually I finished and stood up, announcing I was done.

"Finally. You eat too slowly."

"Sorry." I roll my eyes. Sairah ate too quickly.

"See you later, comrade." 

I leaned down and hugged Terra, watching her grow red. Time to set the beginning of the plan into motion, “I’ll be at your hotel tomorrow. It’s our first outing as friends. I've never gone out with a friend. Dad never let me.” 

“Uh. Cool.” She seemed concerned.

I grinned mischeviously. “See you then.”

“Yeah, see you.” She waved as the two of us left. 

Once outside Sairah nudged me, "See, not that bad."

"No thanks to you."

"So, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"I was thinking about taking her around the city."

"No. I need a day off and I don't want to risk you being in the city to cry to me when you weird out Terra."

"I won't weird her out, that's your job."

"How about Hana."

"I thought about it but it's a bit far isn't it."

"I heard the store there has that potion though. The new one that works continuously."

My eyes widened, "Are you sure?"

"Yep. And they sell it in flasks big enough for two doses."

This... was a new wrinkle. I wasn't going to force her, but if she got to that realization then it would be much easier for her with that potion. I was grinning like a fox as we walked along, "Okay. Be nice to see Gera's display as well. I hope they have her spear."

"That's my girl." Sairah smiled as I hugged her. We arrived  and went to bed, ready to begin the Terra plan.