Chapter 21: Reluctant Teacher

--Sara's POV--

I was running through the alleyways from some thugs. They approached me acting nice and offering help but something told me to run so I did. While running away I ended up running into someone. It was a young woman with Silver hair that reflected the moonlight and Crimson eyes that seemed to glow, and those eyes were glaring right at me.

I tried asking for help but trailed off when I noticed her appearance. I mean, who wouldn't? This was the monster girl, I was just talking about her earlier with Old Lady Kreen. Now that same person was staring at me, but I'm not getting any bad vibes from her, is she really bad? Then she pulled her hood back up, covering her features.

"... Bye." That's all she said, and now she's leaving. Wait she should be strong right? She wouldn't have fought a Hunter if she didn't have strength. If what Old Lady Kreen said was true anyway.

"Wait, hold up! Help me!" I cried out desperately. The people chasing me could probably catch me whenever they want. I can tell. The only reason I haven't been caught yet was because they were toying with me. And honestly I don't feel like I'm in danger when looking at her. I don't feel safe either but it's better than being caught by my pursuers.

In response to my cry, the Silver haired girl turned to look at me, her Crimson eyes glaring at me. That did send a sliver of fear down my spine. But not enough for me to think she was planning on harming me. It kinda looked like she was studying me. Then she turned to look down the alley I just came from.

"... Looks like I took too long to leave." She muttered to herself. I also turned to look down the alley already expecting to see the group chasing me. Sure enough there they were.

I decided to hide behind the Silver haired girl and peeked at the group from behind her back. The man standing up front and the woman slightly behind him both said something when they spotted us. I also noticed all five of them looking at me with lust in their eyes. Those stares felt like wrong, I felt like something slimy was crawling all over me.

"Disgusting." The woman said. Looking at her eyes they looked even sharper than before. Her face which already had a slight frown on it turned into a grimace. She looked at the group with so much contempt it was palpable.

When they heard what she said two other members of the group spoke up, one was angry and the other just called her rude. He also asked her to remove her hood, she just refused and asked if she could go. Wait I can't let that happen!

"Hey don't go we're in the middle of a conversation. Stay where you are and don't struggle." Apparently the leader of the group didn't want her to leave either, but I feel like I've heard this dialogue in a novel before.

"Please don't leave I swear I can get you almost any reward you want!" I also expressed my desire for her to not leave, but for completely different reasons from the thugs.

Crimson colored eyes turned to my direction in surprise. Apparently she forgot I was here. But she's staring at me again and muttering to herself. Wait I think I hear a voice responding to her, it's hard to tell but shes having a conversation with someone. Still staring - well glaring - at me though.

"...You guys won't let me leave no matter what?" She asked turning back to the thugs. Then she pointed her thumb in my direction, "...You also won't leave her alone, right?"

"Got that correct."

"... Fine." With a sigh she took off her hood revealing who she was.

What happened next was a fight that started so quickly and ended just as fast that I couldn't keep up mentally. There was blood and dead bodies all over the ground before I knew it. It was honestly scary. But she wasn't done yet. She proceeded to then use magic to erode their heads away. It was very graphic and I felt sick just watching.

"... Now then." She turned to look at me. Hood down, face revealed. Her eyes staring into mine, looking into my soul. She slowly approached me with even measured steps. The world slowed down around me. The aura she was giving off was so intimidating my sense of danger started going off. I was scared, but also excited, strangely enough. I stayed rooted in place, even when she stopped directly in front of me.

She was so close she had to visibly look down to meet my eyes. She still had a glare and frown but I'm starting to think that's just how she looks. I also couldn't help but notice when she was approaching me there didn't appear to be any blood on her apart from the gloves and knives she had disposed of. Now that she was so close it was very obvious there wasn't even a drop on her, she managed to avoid the splattering of blood while fighting.

"...Well?" She said.

"...."

"...."

Am I supposed to do something? Well I guess I could thank her for saving me. "Th- thank you for saving me." I manage to croak out.

"...I wasn't doing it for you." She said bluntly. "... I had a few reasons, and one of them was the fact they weren't going to leave me alone. You just got lucky."

"Al- alright."

Silence again. Is she trying to intimidate me? I have no Idea what to do here. She was still just looking at me. Oh wait. Is she asking what her reward would be? Even if she wasn't trying to protect me she might have done it just for the reward anyway. She said there were multiple reasons after all. She's surprisingly shy.

"Um I did offer a reward if you saved me... Is there anything you want?" I offered.

"...What can you even give me?" She asked incredulously.

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." I sighed, she apparently wasn't after the reward then. "Then can I ask you something?"

"... Sure...."

"Could you teach me how to fight?" The fight from before scared me but it also fascinated me. She took them all out so easily, it was so cool. Also since she wasn't after any reward from me I think she actually did save me from the goodness of her heart, but doesn't want to admit it. After all she specifically asked those people if they would leave me alone before attacking. I'm sure she's secretly a nice person. Like a knight in shining Armour!

"Huh?" Oh, wow that's the clearest I've heard her. Was it really that surprising? Even her face slackened. Her mouth is hanging open and everything. "Ehm... why would you want that, why would I even do that?" She asked, still shocked enough to speak clearly.

"Well I was looking for a teacher to teach me how to fight, and you were so cool that I want you to teach me."

"... No." She said, rejecting me. She was once again speaking softly. Well that suck,s I guess i'll look el- "... Actually I might consider it if you answer a question for me."

"Anything."

"... Why do you have monster blood running through your veins?"

___________________

Ruby watched the girl in front of her take a step back in surprise. She opened and closed her mouth but no sound came out. Apparently the shock of her monster heritage being known had her speechless. Ruby didn't really have the patience for that though. This whole conversation was too much for her.

Talking to people she wasn't familiar with was very uncomfortable and awkward, she hoped she never would have to do something like this again. It was very mentally taxing and she wanted to get back to her Inn. But meeting someone that was like her peaked her interest enough to stay. If training the girl for a bit till she left the city was all it took so what. It wasn't that much effort on her part.

"How do you know that? Only intelligent monsters from the Enchanted Forest can sense my monster half... did you meet Lady Nielia?" Sara asked eventually.

"... I've heard of this Nielia but have not met her. So are you going to answer my question or not?" Ruby pressed.

"Ah, well when my ancestor Lady Prosperty made a deal with Lady Nielia when the city was still just an outpost." The girl started. "As a result of the contract she became part monster, and her descendants would also inherit not only the blood of monsters but the contract along with it."

"... You're the descendant of the city's founder?" Ruby asked. "Why would she make this contract in the first place? Also you don't have anything to mark you as having monster blood, why is that?"

"Well the city is able to get many rare resources from the forest because of this contract. Only my family and anyone with us can enter the forest unharmed. Lady Nielia made it so that any intelligent beings in the forest can sense the monster blood flowing through us and know not to attack. In return we do our best to limit the amount of humans that try and enter the forest." She said.

The general populace did know the Prosperty family made some kind of deal with the creatures in the forest. Not many know the details of the deal or that the people leading them were technically monsters. That is especially so now thanks to Ruby's presence making people weary of human monster hybrids like werewolves and vampires.

"As for the lack of physical evidence of my monster heritage, that can be explained away by just adding dye to the silver part of my hair." Sara then pointed at the slightly off-colored part of her hair that was lighter than the rest.

"... You gave me this information very easily. You sure that was wise?" Ruby couldn't help but ask after she was done speaking.

"Well out of everyone who I could have told you're probably the least likely to say anything be a Monster-human hybrid yourself right?"

"... You don't know that." Ruby was starting to worry about whether or not she can just leave the girl to her own devices like she planned. There was a chance she'll blab about her on accident.

'Not that I'm willing to kill her still. This would be so much easier if I had the will to kill just one kid.' Ruby lamented

Ruby was still unsure what type of morality system she was working under, but she could tell killing a kid in cold blood was a no. Not even having her face being seen - which would have been enough justification to dispose of an adult - wasn't enough for her to kill Sara. For now she'll just keep an eye on her.

"Um, will you teach me now?" Sara asked timidly.

Ruby sighed. "... Sure." She needed to keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't start blabbing about her. Also having a connection with the family that ruled over the city wasn't a bad idea.

"Really?!" Sara said excitedly. "When do we start? Do we start now? Lets start now!"

"... It's late, go home. I'm also leaving. Bye." Ruby said already regretting her decision.

"Ah. Um, can you walk me back?" Sara asked. She didn't show it or even realize it herself but the whole ordeal has shaken her. She was unable to walk through the alleyways and the thought of walking back this late and by herself filled her with dread.

"... I will not." Ruby refused without hesitation. "I'm tired and I want to sleep."

Without waiting for a reply Ruby turned and started walking away. Not wanting to be left behind Sara followed her from behind. Sh'll just stay at the same Inn that Ruby was at. She had money on her, and it's not like she had that many options available to her. Plus she was safer sticking with the Silver haired girl.

-- -- --

In the shadowy depths of the night only brightened by the Glow of the moon, a Silvered haired Monster with Crimson eyes was followed by a brown haired girl with green eyes. As they made their way to their destination in silence, the younger girl couldn't help but wonder about her new teacher. Was she truly an evil monster like the Church said, or was she actually a person with a heart of gold? To the girl, her new teacher was just cold but ultimately a good person.