Building My Empire in the Frozen Apocalypse (Riley Carter) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 The Beast–Girl

Riley felt a headache coming on.

Was this girl trying to protect the deer, or did she want the meat for herself?

“Worst case, I just grab my axe and dip.”

She took a step forward, hefting the other axe in her hand.

The girl’s reaction was immediate. She clearly saw the movement as a threat.

Then something happened that Riley absolutely did not see coming.

“Woo-!”

The girl let out a sound that was supposed to be a roar but landed somewhere closer to “about as intimidating as a squeaky toy“.

Then her body twisted and warped in a strange shimmer of light.

In the span of a heartbeat, the small girl was gone. In her place stood a massive… brown bear?

Wait. No.

Riley squinted.

This “bear” had the right silhouette, sure–big, bulky, intimidating at first glance. But its fur was a little patchy in places, and the long, bushy tail behind it? Not exactly bear–standard. That thing was still swishing nervously back and forth.

And the eyes. Those weren’t a predator’s eyes. They held the kind of anxious “stay back, I’m dangerous” energy of a kid wearing a Halloween costume that was way too big for them.

“Is that… an illusion? A shapeshift?”

Riley was surprised, yeah. But scared? Not really.

She could feel it. This big creature wasn’t actually a threat.

She let out a small sigh, relaxed her aggressive stance a little–but kept the axe ready. Just in case.

“I’m not going to kill it.” Riley pointed at the bleeding deer, keeping her voice low and even. “I just want my stuff back.”

She pointed at the axe still stuck in the deer’s leg, then at herself.

“The axe is mine. I get it back, I leave.”

The “bear” tilted its head, amber eyes narrowed, clearly trying to process her words.

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Chapter 14 The Beast–Girl

For a long moment, it just stared at her. Then, apparently deciding the two–legged thing wasn’t about to attack. it shuffled half a step to the side.

Still tense. Still ready to spring. But that half–step was something.

“Alright. Good.”

Riley circled wide, careful not to make any sudden moves that might look like an attack.

When she reached the deer, she glanced down at its dying form. A pang of regret hit. That was good meat, going to waste.

But the “bear” was still watching her like a hawk. She bit back the urge to finish the job.

Not worth the fight.

“Thunk.”

Riley gripped the axe handle and yanked it free in one smooth motion.

She backed up immediately, putting distance between them.

Right on cue, the “bear” shimmered and shrank, the girl reforming in a flicker of light.

She didn’t even glance at Riley. Instead, she dropped to her knees beside the deer, pressing her palms against the wound.

A

int green glow flickered from her palms.

Then–something incredible. The bleeding slowed, then stopped, the wound knitting together under the soft light.

“Healing magic?”

Riley watched, transfixed. Druid? Priest? Some kind of nature magic?

But the girl’s power clearly had limits. After just a few seconds, the green light started flickering, then cut out entirely.

The girl’s already pale face went even whiter. Her body swayed, and she slumped against the deer, breathing hard.

The deer wasn’t bleeding anymore, but it was barely hanging on. Still flat on the ground, barely moving.

“Tch.”

Riley watched the scene unfold, something stirring in her chest. Curiosity, maybe. Or something else.

A shapeshifting girl. Healing magic. Non–human.

She thought for a second, then pulled a piece of black bread from her inventory–the stuff she was always

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Chapter 14 The Beast–Girl

complaining about. Bland, rough, barely food.

But it was food.

She broke off half and tossed it over.

“Here.”

The bread landed in the snow in front of the girl.

She flinched back, eyes wide, then leaned in cautiously and sniffed.

No poison smell. Just the bland, grainy scent of cheap bread.

She looked up at Riley, confused.

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