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"How am I supposed to go save people underwater? I can't breathe down there, you know that, right?

" I asked, giving him a single raised eyebrow.

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"I know that, but don't worry about it, nothing we can do for now. All right boys, go back in the water, this handsome young chap will help you out when he can, but he will need a day or four,

" Mex told the horrifying creature.

nGood lord, that was a face that even a mother would have trouble not leaving them in the first cardboard box they saw! Mex's statement didn't really seem to help the problem of his crying, but the Sahuagin did head back to the group and started shoving them all back to the water.

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"Can we really just leave them like this? Like, are the girls safe? Barracuda are like Sea Wolves, right?

" I was concerned.

nThis world was just a series of problems stacked on top of each other, but this seemed like the most urgent one I had found yet. Still, not like there was anything that I could do unless I started to breathe water all of a sudden.

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"There isn't anything that either of us can do. My domain does not stretch past the shore, so I can't help them, and you can't hold your breath long enough. You just aren't ready to deal with the beasts that hide in the watery abyss. I will help you gain what you need because our interests align,

" Mex told me.

nThe sunset was a beautiful glistening ball of orange fire that was being swallowed by the sea as I watched the fishmen head into the water. There was an old-looking blue Demon that was wearing only shorts.

nIt looked to be made out of the same heavy material as us, so this must be the standard for demon men on the island and maybe for the world. The man's wings were much smaller than Mex's, but he did have some.

nI had noticed in the Keep that the guards and the few demons that had been working in the yard that had been male had no wings. Maybe it was part of rank or the next set for a demon before getting the light skin, but I was not a Demonologist.

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"Thank you Mex, it was starting to upset the women and children to have to listen to that howling all day long. You know there isn't another village for fifty miles in either direction, and they still feel the need to come here to cry!

" The elder complained as he walked up, and then he bowed to Mex.

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"Yes, I know, Dack. If I could figure out how to make them less ugly or their women less loose, I would. Anyways, this is Kazz, and he will be doing some work for me and helping out, so next time he will take care of them,

" Mex said as he introduced me with some hand waving in my direction.

nThe old man looked at me and smiled.

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"Interesting, I thought he was a slave or something at first. You never come out with these hero wannabes, so what makes you so helpful all of a sudden?

" Dack asked with suspicion, but he was eyeballing me.

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"You know I never do anything without some kind of plan for results in the future. Let's just say that I have a modicum of faith in this young man,

" Mex said, and I sighed.

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"You know, I don't mind that you call me a young man and boy, but you do know I am thirty-two years old, right?

" I asked Mex with a strained expression.

nBoth of the demons looked at each other and then proceeded to fall over and start laughing and rolling in the sand like Hyena. I crossed my arms across my chiseled chest and waited for the children to finish their fit of laughter on the ground.

nThe two helped each other up off the ground, dusting themselves off and wiping tears from their eyes. Mex composed him, but he still had a big ** eaters grin.

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"Okay, so what's so funny, wise guy?

" I asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

nI would have usually hurt someone at this point, but this world was teaching me a bit about watching and waiting. If everyone listened to Mex and even the forest moved for him, I would probably take his jokes with a grain of sand if I wanted to survive.

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"Sorry, but I think that I have earwax that's older than yours. Dack here is three hundred and eighty-two years old and still a spring chicken. I think I was there when he was born…

" Mex said, trailing off and fingering his chin in thought.

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"No, you were there as most of my life, but you were there when I was made, according to my mother,

" Dack said nonchalantly.

nOne of my eyes almost popped out from my face as it attempted to perform some daring stunt of spiking one eyebrow while my eyes bulged. I was having trouble keeping up at this point; what was next?

nWas I going to have to save more children from this… ah piss, he was a Demon, so I could hardly fault him for being dastardly.

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"Wait, your Mex's son?

" I asked in disbelief, but the two studiously ignored me.

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"How is your mother?

" Mex asked curiously.

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"Not dead yet,

" Dack said flatly.

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"That's unfortunate; the bad ones always seem to live the longest. Well, like I said, I will send the body to come help next time there is a problem, but we have to get back now,

" Mex said and started to turn back to the forest, but I stopped him.

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"Wait, does the village have anything that they would trade like food or clothing? I want to bring back something for the girls,

" I said, but Mex shook his head.

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"No need for that; there is plenty of all that in the Keep. We have cooks and such to prepare it for you all. Do not worry, we will,

" Mex tried to say, but I stopped him again.

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"I'm no great cook or designer, but I just need the stuff, and I will prepare everything for the girls,

" I told Mex, waving him forward, but he didn't move.

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"So then, you're going to train and do this every day? Even when we get back? Are you not tired?

" Mex asked in confusion, but this time I got to smile.

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"Not all of it the same, but as a fighter, I needed to eat a lot, and I wasn't pro yet, so I had to make all my meals. I had to repair my gear too or get new stuff, but that cost money, and it was just easier to patch things until they were completely worn. I got this,

" I said with a smile as I started to walk into the forest.

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