Limits.

I asked "What are you exactly?" . She looked at me and said "It"s not nice to ask me what am I but anyway . My name is Laly, it was given to me when I received this form . To answer your question, I"m Eterian . This is what you humans call my race" . I looked at her and asked "What is Eterian?" . I asked because I never encountered that name before . She probably knew that and answered "It"s a race of beings that do not possess body when they are born" .

I asked again "Does that mean you are a ghost?" to which she shook her head and said "No, we are not ghosts or spirits . We are simply born without a body like you humans . When I received my body and name, I became Eterian" . I was confused and asked "Then how are you born? You have body of a human and whatnot, similar features, you have veins and walk on two legs . You can also speak our language and show great intelligence . So if you have no body, how can you be born?" .

She smiled and said "Just like you, but I have no body . If you took away all the skin, muscles and what not from a baby, you would see a baby Eterian" . I was even more confused at that point and decided to just let that go . I had other questions, I wanted to know the answers to . I asked "Then how do you receive your body? Do you kill a human or something like that?" to which she said "No . We don"t do that kind of thing . We create it from special materials and when a baby is born, it is then connected with that body then given a name . It"s actually a great ceremony when that does happen" .

I asked "So why did you say that it is "Sort of" how you look like?" to which she responded "Because we as babies are born looking the same . We are given body that was made by our parents as well as name . Our parents need a lot of effort to create a body for us and so the birth of Eterians is quite rare" .

"So this must be some kind of rare race that has difficulties reproducing . I wonder why there were never any records of such race in history . Well, maybe because I lived in village and didn"t need to worry about other races" I thought . I decided to ask "Why are you here then and not with your parents? Or with your race?" . She became visibly angered and sad at the same time . She said "Because humans killed my race as we didn"t want to become their slaves" . I could feel the coldness from her words towards me as a human but she didn"t try to kill me . I said "Then why didn"t you kill me?"

She said "Because you are different . That was why I watched you for a while . You don"t seem to share the same ideas that those other humans have . I also wonder why?" . I said "Maybe because I didn"t have many interactions with those humans, Nick told me to avoid cities and villages as they can spoil my character and progress . I did that till today . I also killed a lot of humans so I guess, I"m not a very friendly person" .

She smiled and said "That is why you were different . You don"t hate our race . It seems you were only upset about those things you saw in the forest and because I watched you" . I looked at her in the eyes and said "I have no prejudice against your race or any race . I"ve been a slave so I know how fellow humans can treat one another" . She asked "Is that why you train so hard?" to which I nodded and said "Yes, I promised Nick that I would master my arts before I go to any city or village . I didn"t break that promise… . Well I bent it a bit . It was when Sh.e.l.ly and I razed a village to the ground but other than that, I avoided settlements" .

I then asked "So did humans kill all Eterians but you?" to which she shook her head and said "No, it was impossible for humans to kill all of us . We"ve been here longer than humans and our roots extend much further than they can imagine . I have couple of friends far away that are Eterian . We communicate sometimes just to check up on eachother but it takes a lot of my power so we don"t do it often" .

I thought about something and said "If I were you, I would still kill me" She seemed surprised and I continued "Not that I want to die but maybe that is what your race lacked when fighting against humans? Maybe you were not as decisive?" . I think this struck a wrong cord with her and she seemed very mad but didn"t do anything and soon calmed down . She then said "Maybe you are right . No, you are right . This is what we lacked . You were able to figure this out just from general descriptions I gave you" .

I looked at her and said "Sorry, it seems you"ve been through a lot but all of us been through some things . What do you plan on doing now?" . She sighed and said "What can I do? Alone or with couple of Eterians? Our race hides in the shadows and for a long time now . We don"t want to risk another fight anymore . As long as humans think that only a few of us were left alive and we are no longer a threat, they will never seek us" .

I had my own thoughts about that "Maybe but I wouldn"t bet on it . As far as I know something about humans, it would be that they will exterminate a threat completely . No loose ends" . I didn"t tell her my thoughts, there was no point . I asked "Do you intend to spend the rest of your life here then?" to which she smiled and said "I don"t know yet . So far I"m living here . I can live much longer than a human so to me 10 years is not a long time" .

I thought about her skills and decided to ask about them . "Those skills or traits as you call them . Can you teach me something?" to which she narrowed her eyes and said "Why should I teach you anything about my abilities? Why do you want to know them?" . This seemed to be a taboo subject with her . I answered "Because I train in the same stuff . I train stealth as well as bow and hidden weapons . I don"t have a bow now but if I had one, I would train my aim with it . I can also make some basic medicines and poisons" . She said "Then learn your things, why ask about my abilities and traits?" .

I was at a loss . "What did I say that she is acting so differently now? Is this really some sort of taboo and they would be offended by me asking?" . I decided to ask about that "Did I offend you by asking to teach me? I don"t know your race so maybe you have different customs . I admire your skills or however you like to call them and would like to improve mine . I wouldn"t ask you if I was stronger than you" . She seemed to calm down and answered "You didn"t offend me but I can"t teach you any of that . The processes are too complicated and it requires something I am not prepared to do" .

I was confused but I dropped the subject nevertheless . Instead I asked "Then what now? You told me all of those things and whatnot . Are you going to kill me or something? I don"t understand why you would answer my questions and let me go like that?" . She seemed to struggle a bit about something and said "Well . . " but nothing else .

I said seriously "Then I will ask you one more question . What do you want from me? I know you want something because normal person, creature or whatever it was, wouldn"t stalk me for months for no apparent reason . Especially me, when all I did was some everyday training . Everyday the same stuff . What is it that you want from me?" .

She was thinking about some stuff, that I could see but no answer came from her mouth . I asked "Can I leave now? I want to resume my journey north" . She snapped out of it and said "Wait! Sit down, I need to think about some things" then she left the room and went somewhere . I thought "There is no point running, I think . She is much stronger than me so I will not be able to get away . I will just wait and see" .I asked What are you exactly? . She looked at me and said Its not nice to ask me what am I but anyway . My name is Laly, it was given to me when I received this form . To answer your question, Im Eterian . This is what you humans call my race . I looked at her and asked What is Eterian? . I asked because I never encountered that name before . She probably knew that and answered Its a race of beings that do not possess body when they are born . I asked again Does that mean you are a ghost? to which she shook her head and said No, we are not ghosts or spirits . We are simply born without a body like you humans . When I received my body and name, I became Eterian . I was confused and asked Then how are you born? You have body of a human and whatnot, similar features, you have veins and walk on two legs . You can also speak our language and show great intelligence . So if you have no body, how can you be born? . She smiled and said Just like you, but I have no body . If you took away all the skin, muscles and what not from a baby, you would see a baby Eterian . I was even more confused at that point and decided to just let that go . I had other questions, I wanted to know the answers to . I asked Then how do you receive your body? Do you kill a human or something like that? to which she said No . We dont do that kind of thing . We create it from special materials and when a baby is born, it is then connected with that body then given a name . Its actually a great ceremony when that does happen . I asked So why did you say that it is Sort of how you look like? to which she responded Because we as babies are born looking the same . We are given body that was made by our parents as well as name . Our parents need a lot of effort to create a body for us and so the birth of Eterians is quite rare . So this must be some kind of rare race that has difficulties reproducing . I wonder why there were never any records of such race in history . Well, maybe because I lived in village and didnt need to worry about other races I thought . I decided to ask Why are you here then and not with your parents? Or with your race? . She became visibly angered and sad at the same time . She said Because humans killed my race as we didnt want to become their slaves . I could feel the coldness from her words towards me as a human but she didnt try to kill me . I said Then why didnt you kill me? She said Because you are different . That was why I watched you for a while . You dont seem to share the same ideas that those other humans have . I also wonder why? . I said Maybe because I didnt have many interactions with those humans, Nick told me to avoid cities and villages as they can spoil my character and progress . I did that till today . I also killed a lot of humans so I guess, Im not a very friendly person . She smiled and said That is why you were different . You dont hate our race . It seems you were only upset about those things you saw in the forest and because I watched you . I looked at her in the eyes and said I have no prejudice against your race or any race . Ive been a slave so I know how fellow humans can treat one another . She asked Is that why you train so hard? to which I nodded and said Yes, I promised Nick that I would master my arts before I go to any city or village . I didnt break that promise… . Well I bent it a bit . It was when Sh.e.l.ly and I razed a village to the ground but other than that, I avoided settlements I then asked So did humans kill all Eterians but you? to which she shook her head and said No, it was impossible for humans to kill all of us . Weve been here longer than humans and our roots extend much further than they can imagine . I have couple of friends far away that are Eterian . We communicate sometimes just to check up on eachother but it takes a lot of my power so we dont do it often . I thought about something and said If I were you, I would still kill me She seemed surprised and I continued Not that I want to die but maybe that is what your race lacked when fighting against humans? Maybe you were not as decisive? . I think this struck a wrong cord with her and she seemed very mad but didnt do anything and soon calmed down . She then said Maybe you are right . No, you are right . This is what we lacked . You were able to figure this out just from general descriptions I gave you . I looked at her and said Sorry, it seems youve been through a lot but all of us been through some things . What do you plan on doing now? . She sighed and said What can I do? Alone or with couple of Eterians? Our race hides in the shadows and for a long time now . We dont want to risk another fight anymore . As long as humans think that only a few of us were left alive and we are no longer a threat, they will never seek us . I had my own thoughts about that Maybe but I wouldnt bet on it . As far as I know something about humans, it would be that they will exterminate a threat completely . No loose ends . I didnt tell her my thoughts, there was no point . I asked Do you intend to spend the rest of your life here then? to which she smiled and said I dont know yet . So far Im living here . I can live much longer than a human so to me 10 years is not a long time . I thought about her skills and decided to ask about them . Those skills or traits as you call them . Can you teach me something? to which she narrowed her eyes and said Why should I teach you anything about my abilities? Why do you want to know them? . This seemed to be a taboo subject with her . I answered Because I train in the same stuff . I train stealth as well as bow and hidden weapons . I dont have a bow now but if I had one, I would train my aim with it . I can also make some basic medicines and poisons . She said Then learn your things, why ask about my abilities and traits? . I was at a loss . What did I say that she is acting so differently now? Is this really some sort of taboo and they would be offended by me asking? . I decided to ask about that Did I offend you by asking to teach me? I dont know your race so maybe you have different customs . I admire your skills or however you like to call them and would like to improve mine . I wouldnt ask you if I was stronger than you . She seemed to calm down and answered You didnt offend me but I cant teach you any of that . The processes are too complicated and it requires something I am not prepared to do . I was confused but I dropped the subject nevertheless . Instead I asked Then what now? You told me all of those things and whatnot . Are you going to kill me or something? I dont understand why you would answer my questions and let me go like that? . She seemed to struggle a bit about something and said Well but nothing else . I said seriously Then I will ask you one more question . What do you want from me? I know you want something because normal person, creature or whatever it was, wouldnt stalk me for months for no apparent reason . Especially me, when all I did was some everyday training . Everyday the same stuff . What is it that you want from me? . She was thinking about some stuff, that I could see but no answer came from her mouth . I asked Can I leave now? I want to resume my journey north . She snapped out of it and said Wait! Sit down, I need to think about some things then she left the room and went somewhere . I thought There is no point running, I think . She is much stronger than me so I will not be able to get away . I will just wait and see .