Jane, Warrior of Decura Chapter 14

A Little Beach Fun

Ni'cetsukichi continued to twirl and dance atop the tavern's table, a confident smile on her face. Filled to the brim with curiosity, Jane tried to ask the tiny kassi some questions, but Ni'cetsukichi just threw her hand up. “One moment human” she said before resuming her dance, causing Jane to raise an eyebrow at William, who simply shrugged back.

Several minutes later, Ni'cetsukichi finally stopped twirling and looked up at Jane and her friends. “Well you're an odd looking group” she giggled before pointing her chestnut staff at her onlookers. “Two humans, a reyn, a dwarf and a...” Ni'cetsukichi gave Emina a confused look for a moment before clearing her throat. “You've got your own golem? Interesting... I didn't think the lesser races had figured out how to make them yet. Which one of you made her?”

Jane's party all gave each other perplexed looks. “Oh, we didn't make her” Jane assured. “We just found Emi all alone and brought her along.”

“And Emi has been so happy ever since!” Emina cheered before giving Jane a hug.

“Golems are a rare sight in Decura, miss Ni'cetsukichi” William explained. “Including miss Emina, I've only ever seen three in my entire life.”

“Interesting...” Ni'cetsukichi muttered to herself. “Would you all mind sharing your names?”

“Not at all” Jane replied. “I'm Jane, Jane Lim and these are my friends Nate, Will, Patti and Emi. It's a pleasure to meet you Nice.”

Ni'cetsukichi raised an eyebrow. “Whose Nice?” she asked.

“Don't mind Jane” Nate said, having finally stopped laughing. “She has a bad habit of not using long names.”

“Well that just won't do!” Ni'cetsukichi huffed. “I insist you all address me as 'Ni'cetsukichi, the Amazing' at all times! Don't forget the 'Amazing' part!”

Nate looked up at Jane, who was giving him a condescending stare. “Jane, I think I'm going to have to agree with you this time” he said after sighing, causing Jane to smirk. “Nice it is.”

“Ni'cetsukichi!” Nice pouted while stamping her little feet. “You'd better start showing me more respect or-” Nice didn't get to finish her threat as Emina, unable to contain herself any longer, grabbed the tiny kassi and gave her a tight hug.

“Can Emi please keep Nice?” Emina asked her friends while swaying from side to side. “Emi will love her and feed her and pet her all day long.”

“Of course you can keep her” Patti snickered as everyone else tried to save the fragile Nice from Emina's rock solid grasp. “Just be sure to properly house train her.”

Finding herself unable to breathe, Nice pointed her staff at Emina's face, the chestnut on it now glowing a faint blue light. A second later, a small spark of light shot out from Nice's staff and struck Emina in between her eyes. While the attack did no damage, it did startle Emina enough to loosen her grip. “Tall human!” Nice screamed after leaping onto Jane's shoulder. “Keep your golem away from me and I'll let you be my servant!”

“The name is Jane” Jane said as Nice climbed on top of her head. “And Emi isn't my golem, she's my friend.”

“Fine, fine!” Nice yelped as Emina kept trying to jump up and pluck her from Jane's head. “Just don't let her hug me again!”

Jane smirked before giving Emina's head a gentle pat. “Hey Emi, have you ever seen the ocean before?” she asked, causing the golem girl to shake her head. “Then you're in for a treat little sis. Come on, let's go see.”

Nice suddenly stood up and planted her staff into Jane's hair. “To the beach servant!” she cheered while pointing to the tavern's exit. “I could use a good rest under the sun!”

“Me too” Jane said before shuffling her head just enough to force Nice to lay down. “Oh Nice, call me your servant again and I'll give you back to Emina.”

“I'll speak with the tavern owner and see if I can get us some rooms” William said while heading toward the bar. “Two rooms should be enough right?”

“We'll be fine so long as it's better than that room in Bhalsalve...” Jane grumbled, Nate quickly nodding in agreement before following Jane and Emina outside.

“Miss Patti, do you mind sharing a room?” William asked.

“Sure, why not?” Patti sighed. “Jane's not the worst roommate.”

William raised an eyebrow. “Oh you want to stay with miss Jane?” he asked. “I was going to have us share a room but I'm sure miss Jane won't mind if you stay with her.”

“Oh no! We can share!” a blushing Patti gasped after nearly falling out of her chair. “We can absolutely share!”

“Well, I don't want to burden you with my snoring miss Patti...” William said, Patti immediately running up to him a second later, her face bright red.

“I... Insist” Patti growled while taking deep breaths through her nose.

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Meanwhile, Emina stared out in awe at the vast blue ocean. “Wow...” was all she could mutter.

“Wow indeed” Jane mumbled, also amazed at how beautiful the water looked in contrast to the white sand of the beach. “I don't think I've ever seen a beach so beautiful...”

“It's pretty amazing” Nate said while taking off his green tunic and black boots. “Care to join me for a quick swim Jane?”

Jane blushed and averted her eyes from Nate's chest. “Go ahead, I'll be right behind you” she mumbled, causing Nate to nod and sprint toward the sea. Not wanting to be left out, Emina immediately took off after Nate. With the threat of Emina hugging Nice no longer imminent, Jane sat down in the sand.

“You look like you've had a long day” Nice said after leaping from Jane's head onto her shoulder.

“You're right” Jane sighed while watching Nate and Emina reach the ocean. “I've been pulling six people around in a carriage for the past week. It's been an entertaining, but exhausting journey...”

“I know a thing or two about exhausting journeys” Nice said while sitting down. “It took me weeks to cross the sea. I almost died many times.”

“Sounds like quite a story” Jane said, laughing when she spotted Nate begin to splash Emina, who reeled back in horror like Nate had just committed the ultimate betrayal.

“Can we hear it?” a voice hissed.

Jane turned her head and found a handful of mirian children had managed to sneak up on her and were staring at Nice. “We love a good story” one of them said with a smile that would have looked adorable to Jane were it not for the several rows of sharp teeth contained within the child's mouth. “Please miss kassi, pretty please! It would mean the world to us.”

The huge smirk appeared on Nice's face and she shot to her feet. “So you want to hear one of the amazing Ni'cetsukichi's legendary tales do you?” she asked after putting one hand on her hip. “I guess I could share one for the right price.” Nice pointed her staff toward the mirian village. “Go! Bring me sweet food!”

As the mirian children eagerly scurried back to their town, Jane gave Nice's head a gentle bump with her finger. “You could have just told them without a bribe” she said with a raised eyebrow, causing Nice to stick out her tongue.

The children returned a few minutes later with a basket full of fruit and bread, playing it in Jane's lap before sitting around her. Nice was quick to dive into the small mound of food, devouring a surprisingly large chunk of the bread loaf in seconds. “Alright, get comfortable and prepare yourselves for a tale of a rebel who refused to be bound under the shackles of rules” Nice cheered while laying atop a bunch of red berries. “Be sure to listen closely Jane, I'm only telling this once.”

“Don't worry Nice, I'm listening” Jane grumbled after rolling her eyes.

“According to the tales passed down from my ancestors, my people used to have villages spread all across Decura” Nice explained. “We'd keep to ourselves for the most part, offering shelter or healing to those who need it. However, one day we were dragged into a war with a new race that suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Honestly, we don't even know who started it.” Nice looked up at Jane. “Humans they called themselves and they were far more organized and disciplined than any of Decura's native races.”

The mirian children all looked up at Jane before shuffling away from her slightly. “Did the humans do bad things?” one of the asked.

“Yes, but my ancestors say most races committed countless atrocities on each other” Nice answered. “For example, the giants seemed bent on annihilating the entire human race, slaughtering even human women and children who had done them no harm. They probably would have succeeded were it not for their limited numbers and the humans sheer willpower.” Nice gave Jane a warm smile. “Don't put all the blame on humans. After all, you seem to be getting along much better if you're letting them stay in your village.”

“I promise not to cause any problems” Jane chuckled as all the mirian children cautiously stared at her. “Don't worry about me.”

“Anyway, my people wanted no part of the war” Nice continued. “So we all gathered together and used our magic to create a colossal ship from a whole forest.”

“Was it like the magic you were doing before?” one of the children asked.

“You bet, but at a much larger scale” Nice said. “I'm still a beginner when it comes to magic.”

“You can use magic? Jane asked, her eyes widening with amazement. “Actual magic? Like... Shooting lightning from your staff or summon a blizzard?”

“No, nothing like that” Nice said while scratching her head. “Kassi magic is a lot more focused on using plants in various different ways. Like healing or creating golems from wood. I'd show you my skills right now, but I'm worn out from showing off to the mirian all day.”

Nice was bout to explain more about her magic, but one of the children cut her off. “What happened next in the story?” he asked, hoping to get Nice's story back on track. “Did all the kassi get in the ship?”

“They did” Nice said before biting into a red berry. “My ancestors sailed to an island far out to sea. There they built a new home and my people have been there ever since, isolated from all other races. Well, until now.” Nice chuckled. “I bet the king is so angry right now. He's got to be roaring mad.”

“Are you not supposed to be here?” Jane asked with a raised eyebrow.

“We have some stupid 'never leave our island' law” Nice sighed. “But the island is sooooooo boring... So I made my own boat and left. It took me a few weeks to find this land and the ocean almost killed me several times, but I'm sure it'll be well worth it.” Nice smiled and turned her gaze toward the sea, only to let out a scream as Emina's drenched hands wrapped around her.

“Nice! Come and see the ocean!” Emina cheered before bolting toward the water.

“Put me down this instant!” Nice roared, unable to free herself from the golem's strong grip.

“I guess that concludes story time” Jane snickered before whistling to get Emina's attention. “Hey Emi! Do you mind bringing Nice back here?”

“But big sis... Emi was going to show Nice the water” Emina pouted while running back to Jane.

Jane held out her hand. “Don't be rough with Nice little sis” she said. “Give her back.” A sad Emina slowly complied and placed Nice in Jane's hand, who quickly scaled Jane's arm and hid atop her head. Once Nice secured herself, Jane looked out toward the ocean, spotting Nate deliberating flexing for her. “Show off...” Jane chuckled to herself while blushing.

“Nate is weird” Emina giggled, a little confused as to what the reyn was doing. “Are you going for a swim too big sis?”

“Maybe later Emi” Jane said before stretching out her arms and turning her head, spotting William approaching from the village.

“We got the rooms all sorted Miss Jane” William said. “They're a little small but we should be fine.”

“Where's Patti?” Jane asked.

“She's giving the rooms a full inspection” William replied before shrugging. “I have no idea why though. She said she wanted to 'check the bed's sturdiness' or something like that.”

“Hey Mr. Will!” Emina cheered.

William chuckled when he spotted the drenched golem. “Hello miss Emina” he said with a smile. “Have you been enjoying the ocean?”

“Emi has!” Emina replied before pointing at Nate who had finally stopped flexing and started swimming. “Emi got into her first ever splash battle! Nate said Emi lost but that's ok, she will win next time!”

“I'm sure you will” William said before noticing Jane was completely dry. “Not going in miss Jane?”

“Maybe in a bit” Jane replied before looking upward toward Nice, who look fairly comfortable sitting in her hair. “Right now I'm a little preoccupied with Nice.”

“I've had a long day” Nice said while sprawling out on Jane's head. “I need a good rest.”

William smirked. “Well then miss Ni'cetsukichi, would you like me to take you to one of our rooms?” he asked. “I'm sure I can put together a bed for somebody of your stature in no time.”

Hearing somebody use her full name caused Nice's ears to perk up and she quickly got to her feet. “That sounds wonderful human” she said before motioning William to extend his hand. “I command you to take me to the tavern and construct a suitable bed for me immediately.”

William held out his hand and Nice immediately leaped to it. “Miss Emina, why don't I show you your room too” he said with a smile. “I'm sure you'll love it.”

“Ok!” Emina cheered before turning to Jane. “Are you coming too big sis?”

“I'll be right behind you little sis” Jane said before giving Emina's hair a gentle pat. “Just let me go get Nate first alright?”

Emina nodded and began to follow William and Nice back toward the town. “Does Emi get to share a room with Nice?” she asked, causing Nice to give her the meanest of glares that screamed a single word... No.

Wanting to hear more stories, the mirian children ran after Nice, leaving Jane sitting alone on the beach. A smirk appeared on her face when she returned her gaze back to the ocean and spotted Nate, pretty far from shore, swimming in a large circle. “Time for a little fun” she thought while taking off her boots.

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Satisfied with his workout, Nate stopped swimming in a circle and turned toward the shore, hoping to see Jane smiling back at him. However, what he saw instead were Jane's gauntlets, boots and pants sitting together. Strangely, they'd been enlarged enough to fit Jane at forty feet tall. Unfortunately, Nate didn't get a chance to question where Jane was as a huge black shadow appeared under him. Before he even had a chance to move, the shadow shot up toward the surface. Nate's terror quickly vanished when Jane's large head burst from the ocean a few yards away from him.

“Hey Nate” the forty foot Jane giggled.

“Don't do that!” Nate snapped before splashing Jane's face.

“Did I scare you?” Jane asked with a smirk.

“Startled” Nate corrected before giving Jane another splash.

“If you say so...” Jane said before using a flick to splash Nate back. “So I heard you defeated Emi in a splash battle. Care to take me on champ?”

Nate thought about it for a moment before smirking. “Alright, but because of your size advantage, I get one free shot” he said. “You have to close your eyes too, I want my ultimate attack to be a surprise. Does that sound fair?”

“Absolutely” Jane replied before closing her eyes and smirking. “But you'd better make it a good one, because after that you're toast.”

“Alright, here I go!” Nate cheered before unleashing a move so powerful, it would defeat the forty foot Jane in a single blow, a single tender kiss on the giant girl's lips. “So, did I win?” he asked after finishing his twenty second long kiss.

“Completely...” Jane whispered before gently using two fingers to pull Nate in for another kiss. “Now let me give my hero his prize.”

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As the sun finished setting over the horizon, Jane and Nate returned to the tavern. They quickly spotted Nice, who appeared to be meditating, more like napping, atop William's head, much to Patti's dismay who seemed eager to get the old knight to rest. Emina was sitting nearby, most likely plotting to snatch Nice away when an opportunity presented itself. “So... What do you think of the 'legendary' kassi?” Nate asked.

“She's cute” Jane replied with a smile. “A little arrogant, but I'm used to being around someone like that, Nathaniel Fargrove, greatest hero of Decura.”

Nate gave Jane's thigh a playful thump. “I have been pretty heroic these past few months” he grumbled.

“I know” Jane chuckled before giving Nate's cheek a quick kiss. “Now, I think I need to get some sleep. I'm completely exhausted from that mountain trail. Mind letting everyone know for me?” Nate nodded and Jane asked the mirian behind the bar to direct her to her room. Despite almost collapsing from fatigue several times, Jane successfully made it to her room and flopped onto her bed, passing out a second later.

Unbeknownst to Jane, a lone robed figure stood in the darkness outside and stared through her room's window. After placing one gloved hand on the glass, the robed figure's head began to violently twitch in all directions, almost causing its hedgehog mask to fall off.

TO BE CONTINUED....