Flightless

Cover by Rinochannn
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The world was once ruled by demons that terrorized all the other races. The races banded together and formed an alliance, wiping out most of the demon race and forcing the survivors to go into hiding. With the fall of the demons, the races were finally free.

However, the peace did not last for long. Twelve years after the war, the human race broke the truce and attacked the other races, killing and enslaving all of them. Finally, with all the other races out of the way, the human race declared war on one another. After many years of bloody conflict and betrayal, only two human kingdoms remain out of the original seven.

Kies is an orphan that was adopted into a noble family that is known for producing powerful magic-users. He finds that he can use magic, but since his magic lacks offensive capabilities, it is deemed useless. The war rages on between the two kingdoms and Kies knows that he will eventually be caught up in it, so he needs to find some way to become stronger. But as he does so, he discovers that not all things are as they seem...

The Heart of the Winds

Haro watched quietly as Ammine explored the cave. 'Child,' Haro called out telepathically to Kies who was resting. Kies originally wanted to practice the new magic that Haro had taught him but the owl suggested that he needed to rest for a while to help fix his magic circulation after having completely drained everything. Even though Kies wasn't entirely sure what Haro was talking about, it sounded important so Kies just did it anyway.


'Your friend is awake... and I think there may be something... 'wrong' with her.' Haro explained the situation to Kies. 'She's shouting at the empty air. You best wake up and talk to her to see what's going on.'


'She's shouting at nothing?' Kies asked. Kies woke up from his nap and got up from the floor. He looked around and saw Ammine hunching over at a wall. "Ammine?" he called out to her. But she didn't respond. She continued to lay her head against the wall as if she didn't hear him at all. Kies slowly walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder.


Ammine whirled around and punched Kies hard in the gut, sending him tumbling back onto the floor. "God, stop pestering me!" she yelled. Ammine shook her head and pressed her back against the wall and slid onto the floor.


Kies got up and looked at Ammine with a confused expression. "What's wrong?" he asked. "You're acting very strange. Did the banshee do something to you?"


"Hm? Wait what?" Ammine stood up and went over to Kies and shook him.


"Wait, you're real," Ammine said wide-eyed.


"What is that supposed to mean?" Kies asked.


"Oh sorry, I thought that I was still trapped inside the banshee- wait..." Ammine walked over to the owl that was perched on a small rock. "..."


Ammine stared at the owl and the owl stared blankly back at her. "What is it child?" Haro asked. "Is there something on my face?"


"Yes dear, I am indeed a talking owl," Haro responded nonchalantly. He then turned to Kies and said to him, "Now child, if you will." He pointed his wing at Ammine, motioning for him to explain to her the situation.


Ammine turned around and looked at Kies with a face demanding an explanation. "What's going on here?" she asked.


Kies calmly explained to Ammine that the owl was named Haro and how he had helped him free her from the banshee. He then went on to explain that the owl was going to help them with the situation in the forest. Ammine listened to the entire story and after Kies finished, she sighed and shook her head.


"Is something of the matter?" Haro asked.


"No, it's just a lot to take in right now," Ammine told him. "Especially after having wandered that endless maze for days."


"Days? It was only a few hours," said Kies.


"Hoot, it's not unusual for time to pass differently in the banshee's mind," Haro explained. "Poor child, you must have suffered."


"Eh, I've experienced worse things," Ammine told Haro. "Anyway, why are you helping us? You still haven't told us."


"Well you see, I owe Kies's predecessors a favor or two for saving my life," Haro explained to Ammine. "So you don't have to be so wary of me," he added, seeing that Ammine was suspicious of him.


"Yeah, we can trust him," Kies vouched for Haro.


"Okay then." Ammine found a smooth stone and sat down on it. "You said you'll help us, but how exactly?"


"Well, firstly, how much do you currently know of the situation in this forest?" Haro asked the two.


"Other than the greater undead fighting for control of the forest, practically nothing at all," Ammine told Haro.


"I see," Haro hooted. "In that case, I have a lot of explaining to do."


Grammar errors, story errors, other errors, and advice, email flightless05@gmail.com


Finally Awake