A next morning the golden sun of Seraiya shone over the Kingdom of Seraiya.

For most people it was just another usual day.

For Jennie Queens...

It was freedom.

Though only temporary one.

---

As soon as she got out of the city gates her mood instantly improved.

No palace walls.

No constant cleaning.

No etiquette classes.

Most of all...

No Martha Morius.

---

A smile appeared on her lips.

The true smile.

One that rarely appeared lately.

Ever since she became a maid.

---

Road was stretching in front of her.

Green hills could be seen on the horizon.

Farmers were working far away in the fields.

Birds were flying in the sky.

Summer wind was playing with her white hair.

For a moment she just enjoyed the journey.

---

Inside her hair Excalibur talked to her.

"Master seems to be surprisingly happy."

"Freedom."

"You’ve been away from your maid duties for about twenty-three minutes before you reached this conclusion."

"Twenty-three wonderful minutes."

"...Understood."

---

Road came to its end.

Civilization was gradually vanishing behind her.

Stone roads became dirt paths.

Dirt paths became the wilderness.

Wilderness became unexplored nature.

Deeper and deeper she was going, the more mana could be sensed in the very air.

Ancient.

Wild.

Uncontrolled.

---

Several hours later the landscape started changing.

Tress were growing higher.

Air was getting wetter.

An emerald mist could be seen between the tree trunks.

Crystals were appearing from the soil.

At first they were small.

Then larger.

And finally enormous.

---

Jennie stopped on a hill.

For a brief moment even she was speechless.

---

In front of her there was spreading Crystal Marsh.

A unique wetland as if it was taken from the other world.

Countless lakes were reflecting the sunlight as mirrors.

Colossal emerald crystals were growing from the water.

Some of them were as high as towers.

Others could be compared with mountains of living gems.

Mist was swirling over the marshlands.

Glowing green light was glowing under the surface of the water.

Mana could be sensed everywhere.

Visible.

Beautiful.

Alive.

---

The entire region looked like some sacred land forgotten by the Gods.

Unaffected by time.

Home to the legends.

---

Jennie slowly exhaled.

"Beautiful."

---

Even Excalibur was impressed.

"A rare sight."

---

Sword King was descending the hill.

But when she was entering the marsh there was feeling that something was immediately changing.

Beauty was remaining.

But something else was hiding beneath it.

Dangerous something.

---

The air was unnaturally silent.

---

No birds were singing.

No animals were moving.

No insects were buzzing.

Silence was feeling unnatural.

Like as if whole ecosystem was holding its breath.

---

Jennie was narrowing her eyes.

Instincts were immediately telling her the reason.

Predator.

Powerful predator.

Someone ruled this place.

All others knew it.

All others were afraid.

---

The further she was going, the stronger it was becoming.

Mana was thickening around her.

Ancient crystals were lining the landscape.

Ground was glittering beneath her feet.

Small streams were carrying glowing particles through the marsh.

---

And then...

She was finding it.

---

Clearing.

Deep inside the Crystal Marsh.

Surrounded with crystal walls and water.

In the center of the clearing there was blooming field.

---

Hundred.

Thousand.

Perhaps ten thousand.

---

Green Poppy Flowers.

---

Glowing emerald petals of these flowers were shining softly in the sunlight.

Crystal buds were located at their centers.

Tiny mana particles were floating around them.

They were trembling gently in the wind.

Like emerald sea.

Like living jewelry.

Like artwork created by nature herself.

---

For several minutes Jennie was admiring the view.

Even having lived two lives...

Some things were still capable to impress her.

---

"So that’s what Martha wanted."

---

These flowers were priceless.

Rare.

Beautiful.

Overflowing with mana.

No wonder why royal palace cherished them so much.

---

Jennie took a step forward.

Then another.

And...

She stopped.

---

Something was changing.

---

Wind disappeared.

Mist stopped.

Even the water stopped.

---

An invisible pressure was filling the marsh.

Heavy.

Ancient.

Predatory.

---

The Green Poppy flowers’ field was shaking.

---

Jennie’s crimson eyes were slowly moving to the lake behind the flowers.

---

Water was trembling.

---

Once.

---

Twice.

---

And then the lake suddenly burst.

---

BOOOOM!

---

Monstrous wall of water was instantly rising in the sky.

Earth was shaking.

Crystal formations were cracking.

Waves were surging across the marsh.

---

Something was appearing.

---

At first Jennie was seeing only the scales.

Emerald scales larger than shields.

Then a neck.

Then claws.

Then golden eyes.

---

And it kept rising.

Higher.

Higher.

Higher.

---

Until its enormous body was towering above the entire clearing.

---

The Green Serpent.

---

Not just a monster.

Not just a magical beast.

---

Ruler.

King of predators.

---

Its body was stretching over the wetlands like a living river.

Crystal formations were covering its back.

Ancient scars were marking its scales.

Golden eyes were burning with intelligence.

Not animal’s intelligence.

True intelligence.

The intelligence of a creature surviving for centuries.

---

It was looking at Jennie.

At the tiny human standing on its territory.

On its flowers.

On its domain.

---

Deep growl came from its mouth.

It was echoing over the entire marsh.

Water was trembling.

Crystals were vibrating.

Even the sky itself was seeming to shake.

---

Leave.

This single message was clearly transmitted to her.

---

Leave.

Or die.

---

Most people would run.

Most adventurers would retreat.

Most knights would call for help.

---

Jennie smiled.

---

But the Serpent immediately understood something was wrong.

Something terribly wrong.

---

Little human was excited.

---

Not afraid.

Not nervous.

Not intimidated.

---

Excited.

---

"Oh."

Jennie’s smile was widening.

"You are stronger than I thought."

---

Mana was starting to flow through her body.

The blessing of Goddess Miasa was awakening.

Water from the surrounding was responding to her call.

---

First droplet of water was rising in the air.

Then another one.

Then hundreds.

Then thousands.

---

Water streams were spinning around her.

Floating.

Dancing.

Listening to her commands.

---

Ancient runes were appearing under her feet.

Beautiful blue runes unlike any runes used by the mages of this age.

Water was condensing.

Compressing.

Perfecting.

Every droplet was becoming sharper than steel.

---

Eyes of the Green Serpent were widening.

For the first time in centuries...

It was sensing danger.

---

Inside her hair Excalibur was sighing.

Long suffering sigh.

---

"Master."

---

"What?"

---

"Please don’t destroy yet another geographical landmark by accident."

---

Jennie’s smile was widening.

---

"No promises."

---

The Green Serpent was roaring.

Marsh was exploding with mana.

And the battle began.