We drove away the Jungle Hounds and rescued Calicall.
We got involved in an unexpected incident, which took a lot of time, but we had to return to our original objective. The sun had already begun to set outside. We had to hurry.
“So, if you’ve learned your lesson, don’t go anywhere on your own again, okay?”
“Ugh, well, I’ll go home today.”
Perhaps she had truly learned her lesson, she trudged off home. We had to find a place to camp before it got completely dark. We proceeded through the forest, watching our steps.
“I’d like to find a place with a river. By the way, Piyo, you were amazing just now. Just like a Harpy. Being able to fly like that.”
Everyone else nodded in agreement while looking at Piyo. She tilted her head, though. Seeing this, Elana let out a small scoff.
“That’s not right, that was magic. It’s not possible to fly like that normally. Wind magic. Well, she is a Flower Harpy, so it’s not strange if she can use it.”
So that’s how it was. Come to think of it, I recall Elana teaching me how to fly using Wind Magic before.
“Amazing, Piyo! To have mastered Wind Magic without me even realizing. So you were already using it during the Gryphon fight and when you fought the summoned wolf, weren’t you?”
I had assumed a divine wind had simply blown coincidentally, but it was actually her own power. She still tilted her head. It meant she did it unconsciously. In a way, that might also be a talent.
After walking for a while, we could hear the sound of running water nearby. We exited the dense thicket of thin trees in the dim forest and emerged into a place with many thick, moss-covered giant trees. Giant trees that looked well over a hundred years old, and a beautiful stream flowing nearby. Despite the dimness, it felt as if that spot was somehow dimly lit. It felt different from the forest we were in before. Mystical and enchanting…
Everyone seemed to feel the same, gazing up at the surrounding giant trees with curiosity. Suddenly, something moved in the corner of my eye. Calicall’s brother was standing on a fallen giant tree. He met my gaze, jumped off the tree, and ran off behind us.
“Ah, maybe he wants us to follow him.”
With nowhere else to go, we had no choice but to follow him. Calicall’s brother weaved through the trees, almost gliding over the unstable ground.
“W-wait for me! I’ll lose you! Piyo, are you keeping up?”
Piyo, who was freer than anyone in the sky, was losing stamina on the uneven ground below. Then, he stopped abruptly. Thinking he might have something to say, I looked ahead and saw a dilapidated old house faintly visible in the darkness. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the chimney of the small house, standing alone.
“Could that be the sage’s house?”
“It looks like it. He’s a pretty decent guy. Not bad, is he?”
Nina said with a laugh, looking at Elana. Elana avoided her gaze, pretending not to notice.
“It seems my sister was in your care. Though I’m reluctant, I don’t want to be indebted. So, farewell.”
With those words, he disappeared into the darkness. He must have known we rescued Calicall. Now, here’s where the problem lies. I hope the sage will listen to us without turning us away.
