The Higher Plain Ch 17: A Breakfast Disaster & an Unexpected Visitor

(Krelzor)

The morning frost clung to the air like an unwanted guest, making Krelzor shiver as he pulled himself out of bed. He rubbed his arms, grumbling to himself about how the fire must have gone out in the middle of the night. Wrapping his blanket around his shoulders, he shuffled toward the kitchen, already thinking about the warm breakfast he'd have to make.

But as he stepped inside, he stopped in his tracks.

Faylina was standing by the stove, her back turned to him, humming to herself as she stirred something in a pot. She wore the same button-down shirt and tan pants from yesterday, but her sleeves were rolled up, and her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. The entire kitchen smelled... strange. Not bad, just... different.

Krelzor raised an eyebrow. "Uh... what are you doing?"

Faylina turned, flashing him a proud smile. "Making breakfast!" she said brightly. "You've done so much for me, so I thought I'd repay your kindness by changing things up a bit."

Krelzor eyed the pot warily. "Oh. That's... nice of you." He took a hesitant step forward. "So... what exactly did you make?"

Faylina gestured to the pot with excitement. "A classic Xylarion morning dish! I had to improvise a little since your realm doesn't have all the ingredients, but it should taste just as good!"

Krelzor peered inside. The contents were a deep, murky green with an odd bubbling texture. It looked like something that had been left in a swamp for too long. His stomach flipped.

Still, she had gone through the trouble of cooking, and he didn't want to be rude. With forced enthusiasm, he grabbed a wooden spoon and scooped some into his bowl. Faylina did the same, beaming as she lifted her spoon to her lips.

They both took a bite.

And immediately spit it out.

Krelzor choked, dropping his spoon as his tongue rebelled against the thing he had just eaten. It was bitter, slimy, and somehow both too hot and too cold at the same time. Faylina, with drool hanging from her mouth, smacked her lips in disgust.

"That's... disgusting," she mumbled.

Krelzor, still wiping his tongue with his sleeve, couldn't help but giggle. "It's just a work in progress," he said, patting her shoulder as he picked up the dishes. "But thanks for trying. Really."

Faylina groaned, setting her bowl down as Krelzor moved to the stove, preparing to make breakfast all over again. Just as he was about to crack an egg, there was a loud, heavy knock at the door.

Krelzor frowned. "Huh. Wonder who that could be?"

He wiped his hands on a rag and walked over, pulling the door open.

Standing outside was a massive man clad in silver armor, his chestplate adorned with an unfamiliar crest. He had a thick, golden beard, piercing blue eyes, and a greatsword strapped to his back that looked like it could cleave an entire tree in one swing.

Krelzor blinked. "Uh... can I help you?"

A Knight's Demand

The knight stood tall, his silver armor gleaming in the morning light, his sheer presence filling the doorway like an immovable wall of steel. His piercing blue eyes bore into me as if he were already passing judgment.

"I am Sir Gavron Hailford, Co-Captain of the Royal Guard of Valtheron," he declared, his voice as firm as an iron gate slamming shut. "By the order of Prince Aldric Vaelthorne, I have come to demand the presence of the creature that destroyed our kingdom."

I raised an eyebrow, doing my best not to gulp. Great. Just what I needed today. A self-righteous knight with a grudge and a sword that could probably split me in two.

Before I could even form a response, heavy footsteps approached from behind. Faylina stepped up next to me, her head tilted curiously as she peered at the knight. "Who's this?" she asked, completely oblivious to the tension.

Sir Gavron's eyes locked onto her, and his entire body stiffened. His face twisted with anger, and his hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword.

"Monster..." he breathed, his tone laced with quiet fury.

Oh, wonderful. That was definitely going to de-escalate the situation.

I quickly stepped in front of Faylina, raising my hands. "Alright, now let's just pause for a second. Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong."

Sir Gavron's grip tightened around his sword as his glare flicked to me. "Wrong? Do not play me for a fool, farmer. She matches the witness descriptions exactly."

I forced a nervous chuckle, glancing over my shoulder at Faylina. Yeah... it was hard to argue against that. She did match the description—towering height (when she wanted), otherworldly features, and a very recent history of unintentional property destruction.

But still. That didn't mean she was some villain.

"She's not what you think," I insisted. "She's not a monster, and she's definitely not here to destroy—"

Sir Gavron unsheathed his sword in one fluid motion and pointed it straight at Faylina.

"Move aside," he commanded coldly. "Or be cut down."

I swallowed thickly as the steel glinted in the light. This man wasn't bluffing.

Behind me, Faylina tensed. "Krelzor, step back," she murmured.

I shook my head. "Not a chance."

Sir Gavron's face hardened. "Then you leave me no choice."

He raised his sword high, preparing to bring it down in a deadly arc.

I braced myself, closing my eyes tight. This is it. This is how I die. All because I let a giant woman into my home and thought, 'Hey, this will probably be fine!'

But the killing blow never came.

Instead, I heard a whoosh of air, a loud clang, and then a yelp of pure, unfiltered surprise.

When I cracked one eye open, I was met with a very different sight than I had expected.

Faylina was no longer her human-sized self.

She had grown.

And I don't mean just a little. She was massive again—her head nearly brushing the treetops, her long black hair flowing like a dark river down her back. She loomed over me, her expression calm but firm. And in her enormous hand...

She held Sir Gavron.

He was dangling from her grip like an angry little doll, his legs kicking wildly as he struggled against her fingers. His sword had clattered to the ground, completely useless now.

I exhaled the breath I didn't realize I had been holding. Okay. Didn't see that coming.

Faylina brought Sir Gavron closer to her face, her golden eyes narrowing. "I will go with you," she said, her voice strong and unwavering. "But only if you leave Krelzor out of this. He had nothing to do with what happened."

Sir Gavron scowled at her, still wriggling in her grip, but he was smart enough to realize his position. With clear reluctance, he gritted his teeth and spat out, "Fine."

Faylina nodded, then gently lowered him back to the ground.

I let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of my neck. "Well," I muttered, glancing at the knight. "That could've gone worse."

Sir Gavron shot me a murderous glare as he adjusted his armor.

I was really starting to hate this guy.