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"Hey! What's the big idea? Why do you want to fight me all of a sudden, I said, backing away from him.

nWhile Mex Himself didn't bother me, the massive black blade in his hand was a different story. I clicked the button on my lighter, and my flame blade extended out, and I held it with two hands and prepared to fight.

nMex drew back the sword quickly but let it go behind him, sending it through two trees before it disappeared back into the black how that it had come from. The hole had just appeared out of nowhere, and he had been able to get the weapon out reasonably fast, maybe even faster if he wanted to.

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"Interesting, I am sorry about that, but I needed to test some things, and I am still not done, but the rest can be done on the way. Now, about Nixi, You can see how easily I can wield that massive blade and the power I can put behind it?

" Mex asked as he shrunk back down and the two trees crashed down behind him.

n

"Yeah, that's wild how strong you are, and I am glad you didn't swing it at me,

" I said as I clicked my sword off and the heat from it stopped.

nIt was hot enough out here already; even with only shorts on, I didn't need to be carrying a torch.

n

"Nixi does use weapons; she is the weapon with her magic and grossly disproportionate strength compared to her size. You can't even tell when she is mad, except for the increase in fear, but that seems to be an issue with you, and I am not sure if it's good or bad,

" Mex said, looking at me curiously.

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nYeah, thanks, little birdy.

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nSorry! Thanks, Oh Great Eye in the Sky!

n

n

"Monsters don't and can't scare me, but I am still aware of the danger that they could pose,

" I explained to Mex.

n

"Oh, well, that is a good thing for you then. Now, about Nixi, I am sure that our friend Jilly explained to you about my mother and other grandmothers, right?

" Mex asked, and I nodded, so he continued.

"Well, she won't eat my wife, but I know she is just waiting for me to marry Nushi. Nixi will be desperate because the firstborn has always been a daughter, but I wasn't, and now she has had to wait.

"

n

"What is the point of all of it? Why is she eating them?

" I asked.

n

"I can't really tell you because I don't know myself. The woman despises me and thinks my kindness is weakness, but I am sure that you can see that my kindness is just a facade to get others to do what I need, right?

" Mex asked as he waved me forward, and we walked around the fallen trees.

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"Yeah, Jilly had explained, but that was the reason we came to you and not the town. So then, who are we going to meet along the way? Won't it make us come back in the night?

" I asked as a path seemed to carve itself in the forest for us slowly as we walked.

n

"I rule over this part of the Island, and even though I am not yet as powerful as the others, I am the ruler of this domain, and nothing will challenge me. As you can see, even the very forest bends itself for me to make us a comfortable path now that we have slowed. The four we are going to see are for Primary Elemental Creatures that are constructed from the energy that is pulled from a different plane,

" Mex explained, and I could feel my heartbeat quicken slightly.

n

"Elemental beings? What, like Titans or something massive?! I don't know much about… this stuff,

" I said, a bit worried, but I was about to say fantasy, but I was far beyond that; every part of this was genuine.

n

"No, nothing so grand as a Titan; those ones are on the mainland. Don't worry; these all have a bark worse than their bite, but they will be a good place to train over the next few days. It will be safe for the girls to come with you as well. I will groom the first part of the trail for you on the way back. Then there is a direct path to all of the four, and then to the fishing village,

" Mex explained to me as we came up to a clearing.

n

"Why are you doing all of this?

" I asked, stopping.

n

"Isn't it obvious? I want you to take care of my little girl? Nixi has killed every other adventure once they got too strong, and every one of them died the same, frozen in fear. There is also the point that you might actually be able to figure out what her game is if you can talk to her. None of the others could speak, and that is why she didn't bother you anymore earlier,

" Mex explained.

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"Really? You want me to go sit and have tea with the women that killed all the other adventures before me? Is it good tea?

" I asked hopefully, and Mex started to laugh and waved me forward.

n

"It's good stuff, and you will do fine. My wife says she is fond of jokes, those two seem to get along, but Nixi put a seal on Clesh to prevent her from telling me anything they talk about! The woman is infuriating!

" Mex rage as we walked into the stone-covered clearing.

n

"That old wrinkly red bag of bones giving you trouble again?

" Asked a slow and gravelly voice that was coming from a big pile of small stones and dirt.

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