The faint but palpable aura of dark energy enveloped me like a protective cloak, erasing all traces of my injuries as though they had never existed.The heat emanating from behind the orc was suffocating, each step I took feeling heavier than the last. Once a formidable chief known as Took-ra, he now moved sluggishly, his breath heavy. His once-sharp edges had dulled, now serving as a shield rather than a weapon. Encased by a veil of fire, he seemed impervious to any conventional attack. To defeat him, I would need to shatter that shield.Though I knew what needed to be done, summoning the courage to act was another matter entirely. As I approached unnoticed, doubt gnawed at my resolve. Would the dark cloak protect me? What if I failed? The thought of death loomed large in my mind, clearer than ever before.There was a time when my life belonged to me alone when I had nothing to lose. But now, it was shared with my mother, Iris, and Silas. I couldn't risk losing it now, not when I had finally found the courage to truly live.Pushing aside all unnecessary thoughts, I launched myself at the orc, attempting to tackle him. He stood firm, his hollow gaze fixed on me as he uttered incomprehensible sounds. Suddenly, my flesh ignited, searing pain coursing through me as I screamed in agony.Gradually, the dark cloak surrounding me expanded, extinguishing the flames and healing my wounds. But as soon as one set of burns vanished, new ones took their place in a relentless cycle. Numbness replaced the pain, and with determination, I began striking him wherever I could land a blow. He groaned deeply in response, his movements slow and predictable as I moved in circles, using my wings to attack from all angles. His body proved resilient, shrugging off my punches with ease, prompting me to seek another approach.Retreating a hundred paces to his blind side, I charged at him full tilt. Instead of striking, I seized him tightly and soared into the air, his massive form perched upon my shoulders. It felt like I carried the weight of the mountain, making my ascent a monumental struggle. He thrashed about, throwing off my balance as I fought to maintain control.
Once I had ascended high enough and Emberfield had dwindled to a mere speck below, I cast the orc from my shoulders. His body plummeted at a tremendous speed, his growls fading into the distance as he flailed his limbs in vain. Soon, he vanished from sight, leaving me alone in the vast expanse of the sky. The rhythmic beat of my wings and the chill whistle of the wind were the only sounds to be heard up here, where the air was crisp and the moon cast its gentle glow. Finally, I could breathe freely again.
"It's peaceful here," I murmured to myself, closing my eyes briefly.In that serene moment, I forgot all about Emberfield and the chaos that had transpired. The battle was won, and I found solace under the starry sky, far removed from the troubles of the world below. It was then that I truly understood the cruelty of banishing an avian from their home—it was akin to stripping an eagle of its wings, for the sky was our home. Just as a fish without fins ceases to be a fish, so too does a bird without wings cease to be a bird. What, then, becomes of an avian without their wings? Are they human, or something else entirely? Despite my disdain for my heritage, it was an integral part of who I was, and as much as the earth was now my home, so too was the sky.These reflections filled my mind as I lingered above the clouds. Despite seeking freedom with my family, at the first sign of trouble, I fled into the sky, seeking refuge far from the bonds of the ground. But now, it was time to return.As I descended, the weight of my wings pressed heavily upon my back, and a searing pain radiated across my chest. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out all other sounds, while each breath became a struggle. Clutching desperately at my chest, I fought for air, but it eluded me. My hands trembled, and the once-mighty wings ceased their motion. I was falling, descending into darkness.Slowly, the world around me faded into a blur of colors, until darkness enveloped me entirely, and consciousness slipped away.Amidst the chaos of distant cries and clashing steel, I felt nothing—no pain, no sensation. My body was numb, and I was unable to move or see, left only to the haunting echoes of desperate pleas for aid."Mommy! Where are you, mommy?" a child's voice cried out."What's happening? I can't see!" I called out into the void."Valerian! You're awake!" a familiar voice pierced through the darkness."Silas! What's happening?" I demanded."You fell from the sky! Your bones were shattered—I feared we had lost you. But then, a strange smoke enveloped you and healed your wounds!" Silas exclaimed."Is there a battle? I thought we had emerged victorious!" I exclaimed."Yes, for a time. But a new horde of orcs has arrived, slaughtering those who remained to defend the village," Silas replied solemnly."And what of Mother and Iris?" I asked, my heart gripped by fear.Silas fell silent for a moment before responding, his voice heavy with dread."I haven't seen them."All other sounds faded into the distance, drowned out by a single cry that pierced through the chaos. Silas's voice reached my ears, but his words were muffled, overshadowed by the desperate plea of a child."Mommy, I'm scared! Where are you? I hid as you told me to, but the monsters found me! Mommy!" The boy's cries echoed through the air."What do we have here?" a deep voice rumbled nearby."Looks like an orphan," another voice replied."Hmm, a young one he is. Just the right age to be sold as a slave. Take him with the others!""No! Let me go! I want my mommy!" The boy struggled against his captors."Quiet!" A sharp slap silenced the boy's protests.With no sight and no sensation in my legs, I found myself instinctively moving towards the source of the cries."Valerian! Where are you going? Come back!" Silas's voice called out."Let him go! Release him!" I shouted.The cries for help intensified, blending with the screams of the wounded and the grief-stricken wails for the fallen. Amid the chaos, a dark thought clawed its way into my mind."I should have fled with my family. Why did I fight for something that wasn't mine to protect? I should have fled. These lives are not my burden to bear. I should have fled. Stop screaming! I should have fled. It's not my responsibility! I should have fled."Lost in the turmoil, I couldn't tell if I had spoken those words aloud or merely thought them. Gradually, my vision returned, revealing the scene of a battlefield strewn with corpses. The smoke around me thickened and darkened until a whispered voice reached my ears from the shadows."Let it roam free," it urged.Relaxing my body, I watched as the darkness expanded, swallowing the orcs and the lone boy I had sought to protect. He vanished into the abyss, unaware of his fate.As clarity returned, I realized the truth of what had transpired. For a fleeting moment, I had lost control—it was as if another entity had taken control of my body and mind. Yet, even knowing this, the self-loathing that washed over me was overwhelming."I'm nothing but a filthy murderer," I whispered, collapsing to my knees, consumed by guilt.A distant horn sounded from the east, and the mellow humming of many voices soothed me as I drifted into an uneasy sleep.