LivingBeing!

3.

He wakes up.

The room is a room with ceiling. It is a simple room with a bed that made from simple planks of wood, a shelf that used to place books without panes to cover. It is empty as he opened it to looks at it again . An aroma of wood got into his nose . Rhinne snorted like a cat and closed it.

Rhinne got himself a pair of shoes that made from wood. A wooden pair of soft wood that protect him from the cold floor. He scared of that coldness so he has brought pairs of shoes from the case and placed them around the house , as he don't have too great health. A small pot of earth quietly lying on a corner of the room, and from it small, round branches sprouted about six bountiful, red apples that round and full of temptation toward anyone who have even a little fond toward food. He opened the door.

- Ah.

Rhinne turned back and picked up an empty can before he went out. A drop of sweat appeared on his forehead. He walked along the stair that lead toward the above floor that seems to have no bound. The gaps between each steps of stair threatened the walker that they will pushed them to their death with just a single mistep, as this place as just an empty space aside the moving planets. He walked above the colorful stars and suns. He found a spot where water reside after walking up the stair for an unknown amount of time. It came from a river that flowed from a big tree from unknown distance as the tree itself resided from an unknown distance.

It was visible for him and no matter how much he try to walk toward it, the distance seems never shortened. It stands there , majestic yet humble. It exist there , static yet living. Faraway, even mountains, streams of light and water exist in this etherial place and a few clusters flying through the sky. A few have the shape of a plate, more of them have the shape like a vortex made of dots of light. The small figure crouched down next to the river.

The water flowing sounds soothe minds of busy people . It projected the infinity space through it beautiful and pure face as a maiden , shy away from a man's looking and a flower before the wind . The water pushed the stars to follow them , as it was trying to show the childs of sky what lie in the end of the stream that they was traveling . The small figure moved and the shadow of a man carefully taking a can of water dancing like a celebrating beings on the unrealistic ground. Clear sounds of water flowing seems like music of nature, and it truly are worthy of that name. A plant that have soft body as high as a building crouched down like it was trying to catch the wandering guest into it glistering flower. An aroma of flower and dusts from it that carry light like firefly fell down. Rhinne jumped back.

- Oh no you don't, this guy .

He laughed, evaded the bite of the flower and he patted the hard body of the mouth, which jumped out from the beautiful flower lightly. It body writhed. The plant clearly enrage as it has failed in the attempt to eat the small man that taking water from the river of stars that originated from the towering tree. Rhinne put his hands on it purple soft part that bigger than his body and jumped one more time when it try to eat him again, laughing purely as a child just discovered it favorite toy that was hidden by it parents.

- Haha. If everyone as slow as you then how anyone can catch a pray?

Then he jumped around, laughing and humiliated it with ancient language while dancing like a clown. It eyes contracted and extended. He continued :

- You seems just like a pot that used to boil water.

The plant got angry and it tried to swallow him with movement that abnormally fast compared to it size. He still evaded it. It dashed to the can of water.

- Hey this sly guy!

It threw the can of water to the river and he glared at it. The plant's body danced a random dance, and it created a strange song. Rhinne confirmed that it have roots in the ground before throwing himself to the river of stars to retrieve the can. The water was heavy and thick, cold as ice, and the can was shook up and down due to the violent wave. The plant has threw the can into the violent zone of the river. He cursed, that damned of a plant was too sly and intelligent. He swimmed through a wave and a bit of the river water got into his mouth. He gulped down and tried to advance. The can got near and he extended his hand.

He just nearly catched it before a wave hit the can. It flowed even further and he must swim further along with it. The dark water that brightly reflected the galaxies was very cold and the wet clothes dragged him down in the swimming. He wanted to take them off for easier swimming, but he don't want to walk back naked. It isn't like there are someone in the way back but walking back with a losing clothes may earn him a scold.

With a full minutes of chasing game with waves and can, he finally got the can into his hand but a low sound echoed like a beast groaning because of a arrow of the hunter and he instantly swam back to the shore. He felt he was too slow as the shore seems too far. He still not release the can that he spent a lot of effort to take it back from the trick of the man-eating plant.

UMMP!!

The dark water bursted out and a gigantic body lashed out like a water dragon. The scales shone brightly and it long body returned to the water even created many bridges from just it body alone. A scale that as big as his fist even from this distance. The thorns that was connected with each other by a thin flim on it back seems like a curved blade of metal. It clearly trying to encircle it pray. The big side of it body crashed against the water surface and the waves of dark water it created seems like mercury in a giant smelting pot, and he was swimming in this pot of liquid metal. He cursed out loud this time.

- You are so clever. If you are this intelligent, you must know that eating me won't worth it.

It isn't like that curse will stop it. The head of the creature got out of the water with it effort in locating it pray, and it small eyes, which like needle compared to it big head stuck at the swimming figure that invaded it territory. The pit black irises like pure ink full of furious, desire to destroy and eat everything looked at him make him wished he was in the middle of a desert right now , as he felt only there he will be safe before this hungry ancient being. It glared at it pray until the big head completely fall back into the everlasting deep darkness and it made a regret cry as it lost the sight of it pray. He swim back with all his power. The long body that seems to be able to curled around a planet was circling back to charged at him, he know that because of the tail - the part that located at the end of the body - had finally disappeared into the river.

Rhinne swam back with all his power disregard his stamina, as he will really die if that creature got a hold of him. The disappointed cry of it echoed at this large world. But it ended abruptly. His instinct warned him and he looked back, although the water got into his eyes, forcing him to rub his sore eyes. It was doing something as it sucking the water into it mouth. The long neck expanded and contracted like a person sipping from their cup, and the scales on it body also moving. Then, it raised it head.

- Oh. - He stared blankly - You are a damn smart being, I admit it.

It just want to spurt water at him, but the force of a being at that size will kill him for sure unless he have a carapace of a cockroach and it ability in swimming. So it was the end? No. He dived into the water instantly and try to get as deep as he could to lessen to impact as much as possible. The water is as dark as the creature's eyes. pure ink. The galaxies is floating in the water like a fairy river, and an incredible blast of water pushed him into unknown direction. His hand still hold the can tight. A bit latter, he touch something like sand and he clumsily try to get out of the water. It was shamefully clumsy, but he still succeeded. He clear out all the water in his noses, eyes and looked around. He is a bit further from the previous spot, and the creature dived back to the water with a small sound when it entered his ears. The mercury water surface got back to it peacefulness before that being going for a hunt.

- Oh, oh, och.

He stumbling like a blind man as he got to the shore, and he shook the can. Still safe. He looked around and saw the ways back is a bit far from him. He checked that water has been filled before hugging the can, brought it back to his home. He get far from the range of many trees and plants. A hedgehog climbed up the tree he just passed by, and a group of squirrels jumped with dexterity from branches to branches. A flower pulled out itself from the ground.

Krrruck.

The falling sound of dirt and gravels was produced from the ground below it. The plant have the face of a kangaroo then spread it petals widely, rotated it and flew to the sky with it roots dangling like an arms of a strange creature. A few roots of it have the spikes like the legs of cockroaches, and the arms was twisted strangely like they was the arms of a creature who have four joints of bones. The sounds of the flower resembles a scream of a wounded beast, but it was it normal sound. The scissors of a wandering crab waved slowly when a crab, with ten legs coated with hard carapace and thorns exist in all parts of it body along with the size of 4 metres height moving under a shade of a big plant. He dragged the can of water slowly with his body to passed this forest to came back to the stair of crystal. He felt hot from his sweat albeit he was soaked with cold water. Sky turned cold.

Drops of lights floated in the high and low air from mounds protruded from volcanoes was blown away by winds. From his spot, he can see thin lines of sticky red magma flowed down from the top of one volcano among the group of mountains the spat out substance of boiling earth. Maybe among them contained diamonds and other treasures, but he paid no mind. He will die of of age if he try to mine the obsidians and blackened stone from cooled magma. A rumbling sound echoed across the earth. A few drops of water in the can got splashed out, made a small spot of dirt darker than the surrounding. He struggled to kept the can still. Rhinne pat the long vest and a band with the characters of '' Rhinne Kagaras '' embroidered in it by himself - he often took pride in himself as an crafty boy among his peers in womanly stuff when he was young - as he put down the heavy water can for a light rest.

He coughed as the cold made his lungs shivered. The soaked clothes need to by dry, or not. He was familiar with it, to be honest. He warmed his cold hands up and continued to the arduous task that he set for himself, dragging the can down the stair while lookind the the space that have no end. He will die if he fall down, or not, as he never dare to try that action. The river he take water from is pretty peaceful, so he just be content with that. A ball of tentacles and teeth that bigger than a ancient tree was moving by using it long limbs as legs to cross the mountain. It eyes that located among it large, round body darting around.

Rhinne carefully stepped down the stair of stars and galaxies. A comet flew down, scattered into dust as a great person has perished in the large world. He prayed for that great being who may had sacrificed their life for a noble cause. The water in the can shook everytime he placed a foot to the step of the stair, as he was walking horizontally like a crab right now cowardly. He isn't a rabbit, but he just being careful. Another long way before he got to his home. The door opened creaking with sounds of metal against wood.

He put off the wet shoes. The man with a scar on his body came back with a soaked body like a rat, along with the reward from evading a mythical monster, a whopping, enormous, gigantic and huge 30 l****s of fresh water.

He put it down, ran to the small bath that only a square room of roughly an child's height length and cleaned his cold body with a heated pot of water. The warm water made him alive again, and he use a simple cloth to dry his skin. No light here, as there was no lamp ran on animal fat and no firefly lamp. He has released the firefly yesterday and due to the wet body, he had forgotten about catching a few firefly to use today. He became a true assassin by blending into the darkness of the bathroom, the first achievement of any assassin. He wrapped himself like a newborn kid and selected another set of simple clothes, which also have a band from hard tanned blue leather with white letter " Rhinne Kagaras '' hanging from his left shoulder to the left waist like a decorative ornament. He cleaned his old glasses , which now slowly have brown spots from time again. It has become a true decoration as he not using it any more unless he want to.

Rhinne came out with a commfortable mind, but when he remind himself of the creature of deep water of the starry river, he patted his own head and thanked that he is still alive. Then, he carried the water in the can with small box of bamboo and go to water the apple tree, which only as high as half as him and a few other plant in his house. A plant that gave fruit like been is also there. He especially loved a cherry tree, which gave bright crimson fruit that spiked like a hedgehog and a bit hard like a apple. He poured water for them lovingly and watched them swaying as the water flowed down. The fruit that spiky like a hedgehog produce fruit only bigger than his knuckle a little bit. It was red and sometime, it also created light that like dust of glowstone.

- Live well, okay? Hahaha .

He love the tree and it fruit. Next to it, there is also a normal orange tree which have no special thing about it. He also looked after it, and the aroma of it made him feel easy. Dry his hands , Rhinne got himself a thin book that wrote about ancient language and read it while lying on a hammock . He enjoy reading for a few moment before an intruder appeared . It was a woman who wore a set of leather armor , muscular yet somehow still look thin and ..... weird . Her horns are a bit too long for her head , as this is her other form . With her original form , these size was great but now it seems like antlers of a deer, but the sharpness of them absolutely threatening him from the idea of touching them, unlike her wings, which was always folded neatly on her back. She cracked her neck like a tired person and sat down on the floor.

- Did you mastered the ancient language?

- I did it two days ago, i think. - He got up but lied back down to it when she waved her hand. - I don't understand why you forced me to learn it.

He pushed the hammock with his legs and it moved left and right. Rhinne looked at the orange tree for a bit, as the oranges looks great with their gentle colors. He asked:

- How long did i learnt it?

- I won't tell you, but if it was your twin, she would have succeeded sooner than you.

- She is still fine if you said that. - He got up, picked an apple and threw it to his friend then lied down - Here, eat it.

- Thank you.

She caught it and cleaned it with her finger. She said without answering his question:

- I have chosen what to teach you.

- I am waiting.

Now, her height as same as him. Her skin now are pink white that without thick, sleek scales. Not that the hardness has change: he ran up to welcome her and met with terrible result, broke his already weak body when he subconsciously thought that she is soft. The result of welcome her like he run at a cement wall at full speed with flesh body. She is as hard as granite as always.

- I have consult with my brother, Schezade. - She sit down on the table - Your sister will have better efficient in training of .... powers. So you will do that. She suited for personal strength and great tactic, while you can't be that good at your physical education class.

- Thank for your compliment. - He kicked at her side jokingly .

- You need to support your retainers. So next to the fighting and travel to resolve conflicts, let give you techniques to build and control armies of robots, weapons or even warships. - She pull out a piece of paper thick as his nails. - Here, your plan of development.

- Thank you. So in short, i would learn a bit of Schezade's strong point.

He read it through and met with a bunch of strange signs. It was like runes and worse, they were moving like worms, a changing language. It made the previous language he have learnt felt like a newborn's play . She combed her hair while looking at the fruit on her hand.

- What are these? - He asked - I can recognize a few letters .

- Our language. - She pointed at a static part - We has modified that language into a better one, and the previous lesson i gave you built for you a basic ground to learn this. It is great in preserve important information.

- I couldn't read it. - He put it down dejectedly. - But what does it help me for?? It is not like i can use these to convince my enemies.

- Then learn. It won't take long. - She smacked his leg, which is kicking at her wings like a clock - I told you to learn, then you must learn it.

- ...... - He sighed - You are so dominant.

- Yes, i am a dominant. - She nodded right away - And i'm also very headstrong to boot. It is never easy to sway my decision.

- Anyone that marry you will suffer. - He looked back at the plans - I understood. Then i will learn it as you said.

He really worked himself for learn to death, even after he got kicked out of school from that long ago. Rhinne looked at the only female friend or exactly, the only one he has met since who knows how long ago and asked:

- Eat it.

- Why you telling me to eat this? - She looked at the apple - Did you put drug into this?

- Stop fooling around and eat it.

He raised his fist and she fallen to the ground. She said :

- Help. I has eaten a poisoned apple.

- You still not eaten it. - He retorted .

- Help me to take the apple pieces from my mouth.

- I won't kiss you unless you haven't eaten the apple yet.

She rolled on the ground and laughed like the world is being turned upside down and yet everything is keeping it position. He laughed to and jumped at her, try to push the apple to Monera's mouth, forcing her to eat it.

- Eat this! - He laughing while trying to force her to eat it - It really have no poison, i promise.

- I won't eat it.

- Then look.

He bite at the apple and bite around it . He said :

- See?

- Okay. I will eat it but not now. - She taken it back and said - I will go back. Just ask if you have questions.

- Yes, go, go, shhh.

He chased her away then turned to looked at the plate, and a book she has left to him. Then, he immediately went a full research with a len which helps enlarge the letters, stacks of white paper for translating. He pulled a case out, get himself a feather pen and an ink bottle to write. The unique heavy smell of ink emitted to the room and he dipped the pen into it, start to decipher the plate. He picked a apple and eat it.

- Heh.

Monera laughed outside the door, bite down at the fruit and left.