– Freed’s POV –
Nearly two months had passed since the day we clashed with the wolves.
Since then, our journey had slowed to an almost lazy rhythm as we drifted across the sky atop my wind platform. The steady current of mana beneath our feet humd softly, carrying us forward above the endless sea of forest.
From this height, the world felt strangely peaceful.
The forest below stretched in every direction like a living ocean of green. Vast canopies rolled across the land, broken only by the occasional rocky peak that pierced through the trees like jagged spears.
Most days passed without incident.
Monsters rarely approached us. When they did, they were usually Red Wolves. Yet the mont those beasts spotted us from afar, they imdiately turned tail and fled.
Aza believed they still rembered the death of their leader.
Given the intelligence those creatures possessed, it was not impossible.
Every now and then, we spotted scattered bones deep within the forest. The remains of monsters bleached by ti. So skeletons were enormous, while others were little more than piles of shattered ribs.
Evidence of violent territorial conflicts, or perhaps trophies left behind by the Red Wolves.
Either way, it reminded us that the forest below was far from safe.
Encounters with flying monsters were even rarer.
Len explained that most aerial creatures preferred the center parts of the forest where tall mountains rose above the canopy. Those heights created stronger wind currents and hunting advantages.
Which ant that the sky above this region was strangely quiet.
Until today.
“Fifty C-Ranks. But it’s strange. Their speed is like A-Ranks.”
Len’s calm voice broke the silence as she gazed toward the distant horizon.
“They are coming!”
The mont she said it, her hands moved.
A ripple of mana spread from her body.
Transparent barriers began forming one after another around our platform. Layers of shimring shields stacked together like sheets of glass, each one reinforcing the next.
At the sa ti, I halted the wind platform.
Only a few seconds passed.
Then it happened.
A violent sound burst through the air.
Several of Len’s barriers shattered at once.
I didn’t even see what struck them.
The sound reached first, sharp and sudden, like sheets of glass being crushed by invisible claws.
Another crack followed. Then another.
The barriers fractured one after another, splintering into fragnts of mana that scattered through the air like glittering dust before dissolving into nothing.
It all happened so quickly that my eyes barely had ti to process it.
By the ti I focused on the space ahead of us, only two layers of barriers remained intact.
And only then did I finally see them.
Two birds.
They tore through the sky like streaks of turquoise lightning, their bodies slicing across the wind with terrifying speed.
Their feathers shimred with an elegant aqua hue, reflecting the sunlight like polished crystal. Long and narrow wings stretched outward as they glided effortlessly through the air, every movent graceful and precise.
Despite their beautiful appearance, the pressure radiating from them was anything but gentle.
Behind the two leading birds, a massive flock surged forward.
At least four dozen more avians followed them in formation, every single one bearing the sa brilliant blue plumage. Their wings beat in eerie harmony as they cut through the sky like a tidal wave of feathers.
“Thankfully, it's just two birds leading the charge,” Len murmured.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand again.
Mana surged from her body like a flowing tide.
Another dozen barriers materialized around us, their translucent surfaces stacking together one after another until they ford a dense defensive sphere surrounding our platform.
Only then I activated my Appraisal.
—————
Na: -
Age: 32
Race: Frostwing Falcon
Title: -
State: Normal
Mana: 3873/3873
Vitality: 2001
Strength: 3026
Magic Power: 3570
ntal Power: 3026
Agility: 58575
Dexterity: 5477
Magic Resistance: 3723
ntal Resistance: 3042
Status Point: 15
Elent: Wind, Water, Ice
Active Skills:
Elent ManipulationFrost GalewingFrostbite CycloneFrostclaw
Passive Skills:
Winter GlideMana Detection(7)
*Trust: 0%
*You need the target’s consent to manipulate the target's status
*Target does not et requirent for Immortal Bonds
—————
“What’s that agility!?”
The words burst out of my mouth before I could stop them.
My eyes remained fixed on the status screen hovering within my vision. The information displayed there struggled to keep up with the movents of the monsters themselves. The Frostwing Falcons darted across the sky so quickly that even the tracking display flickered as it attempted to follow them.
Before I could process it further, Aza’s voice echoed inside my mind.
【I have their information. Despite their C-Rank classification, they are treated as A-Rank threats due to their exceptional speed and abilities.】
Her explanation continued imdiately.
【Their velocity increases significantly during the winter season. Their claws can freeze their targets upon contact. Their wings generate wind magic capable of forming gales and cyclones. The blades of wind they produce are extrely sharp and carry intense cold that chills their enemies.】
【They are usually found in colder regions or appear during winter months.】
Their movents were already hard to follow now.
If their speed could increase even further…
How are we supposed to defeat sothing we can barely keep up with?!
“But it’s still autumn!” I protested.
Aza replied calmly.
【They may be migrating northward. Winter will begin in roughly one week.】
Beside , Len kept her gaze fixed on them.
“I’ve heard of an island west of Dragon Island. The winters there are extrely harsh.”
Her tone suggested she was already connecting the pieces.
Which ant one thing.
These Frostwing Falcons were likely heading there.
And unfortunately for us…
We had drifted right into the middle of their migration route.
While we were still talking, the two leading falcons gradually pulled away from our barrier sphere.
They did not retreat far. Instead, they hovered at a careful distance, their powerful wings beating slowly as they watched us with piercing eyes.
The air between us grew tense.
Then they spoke.
Chirp! {“That hurts!”}
Chirp! {“You're blocking our path!”}
I blinked.
For a mont, I thought I had misheard. But the aning of their chirps echoed clearly in my mind.
I understood them.
That realization startled more than the falcons themselves.
Is this the Language Comprehension ability again?
The skill had activated before with certain monsters, but never consistently. Sotis I could understand them perfectly. Other tis, their sounds remained aningless.
I need to ask Aza later.
Before I could think further, three other falcons suddenly darted forward from the flock.
They positioned themselves between us and the two leading birds, spreading their wings wide like living shields.
Chirp! {“Princesses, stay behind us!”}
Chirp! {“Watch out, princesses! These humans are dangerous!”}
Chirp! {“They an to harm us! But they're outnumbered. We can win!”}
Beside , Len watched the scene quietly.
Then she spoke. Her voice was calm and gentle.
“Um, Frostwing Falcons. We did not an to startle you. We are not here to harm you. Can we resolve this peacefully?”
I glanced at her in surprise.
Even though Len was not as fast as these creatures in the air, I had absolute confidence in her combat ability. If a fight truly broke out, she could handle them.
Yet instead of preparing to attack, she chose diplomacy.
The falcons reacted instantly.
Chirp!? {“Huh!? Did she just speak our tongue, elder sister?”}
Chirp! {“Yes, younger sister. I heard it too.”}
Chirp! {“Do not be fooled, princesses! It is a trick!”}
The two princesses tilted their heads curiously, clearly intrigued. Their bodyguards, however, remained extrely cautious.
Len simply smiled.
“What if I heal you both as an apology?”
Before they could even respond, she raised her hand.
“Area Great Heal.”
Warm golden light blossod in the air. The magic spread outward like gentle sunlight, washing over the two falcon princesses. Their feathers shimred as the healing magic flowed through them.
Their reaction was imdiate.
Chirp! {“My head feels better!”}
Chirp! {“Wow! You are a kind human!”}
Their surprised voices carried genuine joy. It sounded like they had never experienced kindness from humans before.
Len lowered her hand and smiled warmly.
“I am glad you are feeling better.”
The two princesses chirped happily in perfect unison.
Chirp! {“Thank you, kind human!”}
Len chuckled softly.
“By the way, we are not entirely human. We are Aethralunians.”
Chirp? {“Aethralunians? I have never heard of it.”}
Chirp! {“Wait, elder sister! They are the ones ntioned by the World's Voice!”}
Chirp? {“Huh? Really?”}
Chirp! {“Yes! They are Selena Calytrix and Freed Calytrix!”}
Chirp! {“Oh! I rember now!”}
The younger princess seed extrely excited by her discovery. Apparently, they knew who we were.
Len placed her hand lightly on her chest and smiled.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Frostwing Falcon princesses.”
The younger one puffed out her chest proudly.
Chirp! {“Then consider us friends, female Aethralunian!”}
Len nodded politely. “Then you may call Selena.”
Chirp! {“Okay, Selena!”}
Before the conversation could continue, the older sister suddenly shot forward. Her movent was so fast that she appeared right in front of in an instant. Her sharp eyes locked onto mine.
Chirp! {“Your eyes are captivating. Would you like to be my friend?”}
She leaned slightly closer.
Chirp! {“Why the silence? Do you not understand our language? Or do you not wish to befriend ?”}
Her sudden approach caught completely off guard.
“Ah… I do understand your language.”
I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.
“I was just… captivated by your beautiful feathers.”
Her wings twitched slightly.
“Of course I would be honored to be your friend. I have never had non-human friends before, so this is quite exciting for .”
Honestly, the words ca out almost automatically. She complinted my eyes, so I returned the favor. But her reaction was far stronger than I expected.
C-Chirp!? {“Y-You admire my feathers!?”}
Her wings fluttered slightly in surprise.
“Yes. Although the others have beautiful feathers as well, yours stand out the most to .”
“If Frostwing Falcons had human forms, you would undoubtedly be the most beautiful among them.”
Unlike the bright aqua tones of the other falcons, her feathers carried a darker blue hue. And strangely enough, that color resonated with . Perhaps it was because of my mories from another life.
“If darkness represents a troubled past,” I said slowly, “then blue represents hope for the future.”
The falcon princess listened quietly.
“Those who walk through darkness often long for a brighter tomorrow. But that future does not appear on its own. It must be built.”
“So to , dark blue represents a future that shines even after hardship.”
“That is why I like it.”
For a mont, the sky fell silent. The princess looked down slightly.
Chirp… {“A brighter future born from darkness…”}
Her quiet murmur suggested she understood. Then suddenly another voice chirped nearby. The younger sister had flown over to join us.
Chirp! {“See! I told you your feathers are beautiful, elder sister!”}
The older sister instantly flapped her wings in embarrassnt.
C-Chirp! {“S-Shush, younger sister! It is getting late. We must hurry!”}
Without waiting any longer, she turned and shot toward the northern sky.
The younger sister hurried after her.
Chirp! {“Goodbye, Selena! Freed! Wait for , elder sister!”}
Their voices faded as they flew away.
Len watched them go with a gentle smile.
The rest of the falcon flock soon followed their princesses.
Just before disappearing into the distance, the older sister glanced back one last ti.
Chirp! {“Wise Aethralunian. No… Freed! You said I could be the most beautiful Frostwing Falcon if I had a human form, right!?”}
Her wings beat strongly as she shouted the next words.
Chirp! {“Then I will train diligently!”}
I blinked.
‘Training…?’
I was not entirely sure how that connected to human appearance.
Still, I waved my hand and nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. I look forward to it!”
The falcon princess gave one final chirp.
Then the entire flock vanished into the distant sky, leaving the quiet wind behind.
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