I never thought a human girl would be this strong. Granberia thought as she looked at the stones that were cleanly split in two. Then again, I pretty much raised her. A slight smile appeared on her face. You've come a long way little Herja.

VWVWVWVW

8 years ago...

I was 16 years old. I was wandering around a forest between Safina and San Ilia, looking for someone to fight. Instead, I found a human child, no older than 8 years old. She was sitting under a tree with her knees tucked in, crying her eyes out.

"Hey kid" I said, "this is no place for a little girl to be all alone."

She looked up at me with red, teary eyes. Just as she saw me, she panicked and pressed up against the tree. "M-monster! Please don't eat me! I don't taste good!"

"Woah, woah." I put my hands out to show I'm not hostile. "Calm down, I'm not here to hurt you. Now what are you doing all the way out here? Where are your parents?"

At the mention of parents she froze up and went right back to sobbing. "A m-monster got d-daddy..."

Not all monsters kill their 'prey' so I asked her what kind of monster.

"A big spider lady" was the response. Odds were that her father was meat paste at that point.

"What about your Mother?"

"I... I never knew my mommy."

So I guess she is on her own... kinda like I was until Salamander took me in. Before I knew it, I wrapped my dull tattered cloak around her, leaving me in just my armour. "Come on kid, I'm your big sister from now on."

She looked at me in disbelief, as if I just told her fire was cold. Well, to me it can be. Being dragonkin and raised by the fire spirit will do that to you.

"R-really?" She asked, tears still filling her eyes.

"Yeah, really. I'm Granberia. What's your name?" I offered my hand to help her up.

She smiled and wiped her eyes, then grabbed my hand "My name is Herja"

AN: I wrote this in about a half hour on my phone while in bed... Oh Illias, I'm tired.

Anyway just an idea thats been nagging so don't expect much from me. If anyone is interested I might work on it more. Or laziness and school will sh on me. But you never know; this was more planned than some presentations i've done.

Oh and to clarify, Luka's quest happens when Granberia is 24 (Herja 16), meaning if I do continue this, Herja may run into Luka and Alice. I still don't know!

EM