Reborn As An Evolving Monster

"As I said, they're mean. They see me and run away."

'Is she dodging or...?' Mark scratched his head as he walked, unsure of whether she was refusing to answer the question or not.

"Where are you going?"

"Outside."

"You said you had others you help? That's nice."

"I guess..."

"Tell me about them."

"Why should I?"

She shrugged.

"To pass the time as we walk, I suppose."

"How far are we from the Barrier?"

"Not too far." She answered. "You'll be outside soon, probably." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't entirely truthful either.

"I don't want to talk about them... About her." Mark corrected himself.

"Her? So it's just the one?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"What are you doing once you're back outside?"

"I'll help."

"That's nice. Help with what?"

Mark stared from the corner of his eye before looking away.

'A Spirit like Yarnha. But different in that she doesn't recognize that she's a Spirit? That she's this place's Spirit? It's something like that, isn't it?' Mark thought. Still, it was strange. 'Just like Yarnha... No, even more than for Yarnha...'

"You're not answering any question."

"Are you Human?"

"I think so? Aren't you?"

"I'm not."

"But you can talk."

"Ha! So?"

"I... Uh... Don't know? I read books about Humans, and I look like those drawn but... The Humans don't all look the same. They can all talk though."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes...?" She looked around. "Why?"

"Never mind." Mark shook his head. "Just because they talk doesn't mean that they're human."

"Mm... So you're not?"

"I'm not."

"What about me?"

"I don't... Are you seriously asking that?"

"No, ha... Haha..." She scratched her head.

'Embarrassed? So she is serious?'

"What uh... What makes a Human human?"

"They look like you."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Then you could be one?"

"How do you arrived to that conclusion?"

"You look like me. Except for the scales... The wings... The tail... The nails-"

"Claws."

"Mm?"

"Claws. Not nails."

"What's the difference?"

"Claws are sharp."

"Nails can be sharp too."

"The edge is curvy. It's flat for nails."

"Oh..." She looked at her hand. "That is true."

Mark didn't want to ask. The last thing he needed was someone asking for help.

But it was a strange situation, and he was curious.

"What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I asked."

"I'm... Just here."

Mark clicked his tongue against his fangs repeatedly and silently.

Do I want to ask this? He thought to himself for a bit.

"How long have you been here?"

She turned towards him, lowered her gaze, raised it, and turned to face forward.

"A while."

"Did you get here somehow?"

"I... Don't know."

"The Barrier doesn't let you leave, is that it?"

"Yes, it is." She lied.

"Remember anything about what's beyond the Barrier?"

"No, not really."

"Do you eat or sleep?"

"I sleep. A lot."

"You said you read books."

"I did! I mean... I do! Do you want to see them? I can show you."

"Where do you keep them?"

"At home."

"At home?"

"Yes."

"You have a home?"

"I do. All Humans have homes. Do you have one?"

"No, I don't. Not all Humans have homes."

"I see..."

"Did..." Mark scratched his cheek. The answer to the question and her reaction would decide it, whether this was a well-

crafted plot or not. "Someone teach you how to read? How to talk?"

"I don't think so, no. Is that something that's taught?"

"For Humans, yes." Of course, this was a different World. Still, Mark assumed it would be the same. "Can you remember anyone who took care of you when you were little?"

"I don't... I don't like this. Can we talk about something else?" She was distressed, and it was obvious.

'Not Human. Or at least... Not completely? It could be that she just doesn't remember for some reason but...' Mark shrugged as he thought. 'It's probable that it just didn't happen. The same way Levi and the Fire Spirit could talk naturally... It is weird though.'

"Can you tell me about them? Those you want to help."

"I-"

"Oh!" She interrupted suddenly. "There, my home! See?" She pointed, before running forward.

Two issues immediately arose.

One. The home. It could truly be called a home. Mark hadn't expected that to be the case, but it was. A wooden cabin or shack. It was pretty large, and lacked one wall, probably where the door would be. Had Mark passed it earlier? It's definitely a possibility. The ringing, the dizziness, and the crowd around him might have kept him from noticing it.

Two. A Spirit born from this place. Where did the cabin come from? Who built it?

'Same for the books... Where did she get them? The birth of a Spirit... Did she just wake up and find them there? Did she... How does a Spirit like Yarnha even come to life? It just appears out of nowhere in the middle of the forest? There's too much that I don't know... About Spirits... And about her.'

The white-scaled Monster walked closer.

"How did we get here?"

The cabin's floor was about fifty centimeters thick, making its surface fifty centimeters off the ground. While keeping her bare feet on the cold grass, she took a seat on that floor.

"Mm?"

"I didn't pass by this place earlier."

"Huh? You chose the direction we took though."

"I did. I turned 180 degrees and started walking. Why are we here?"

"I don't know. Are you sure you didn't walk by and miss it?"

"When I woke up, you were in front of me, not behind me. Which direction did you come from?"

"The one you were heading towards before you fell."

Mark scratched his head and thought silently.

"Well, since we're here, I'll show you my books! There's..."

He raised his gaze.

'Light that's only there when seen... Once the Moon exits my field of vision, I can't see any light that comes from it. Even when it's because my hand covers it. I don't know how it works yet but... The Barrier messes with the light. To which degree, I can't tell yet but... It's possible that...'

Mark suddenly turned away.

"Can you see the forest?"

"Huh?"

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