Choosing A Side
Haro sat down and crossed his legs which looked really strange since he was an owl. "That's... interesting," Ammine silently said to herself. She never knew owls could do that.
"Sorry, did you say something?" Haro asked.
"No, it's nothing," Ammine said as she quickly turned her head away.
"In that case, let's begin!" Haro announced, dramatically throwing his wings into the air.
"..."
"Ahem." Haro cleared his throat and began to speak. "Alright children, the first thing you need to know is that there are only two greater undead left that are competing for rulership over this forest-"
"What happened to the rest?" Kies asked, interrupting Haro.
"The rest were either wiped out or have pledged loyalty to one of those two."
"Hm..." Ammine put her hand on her chin. "By any chance, does one of them look like a giant mess of bones with a bunch of holes in it?" she asked, recalling the monstrosity that they saw.
"Oh, you've met the Bone Whistler before?"
"That's its name? Well, I guess that name suits its appearance," Ammine agreed.
"I'm surprised you two got out unscathed after interacting with him. He's quite fearsome," Haro told them.
"Wait, that thing has a gender?" Ammine asked.
"Everything has a gender!" Haro paused for a second and then corrected his statement. "Well, everything in this forest at least. I'm not sure of the things outside this forest. But I can understand your surprise. The Bone Whistler doesn't exactly look like a he, or a she."
"Alright, enough of that. Can we get back on track?" said Kies. Strangely for once, it wasn't him that was getting sidetracked. Normally, he would be the one that drifts away from the main goal or purpose of anything.
"Ah yes. Ahem." Haro cleared his throat again. "Since you've met the Bone Whistler, that saves me a lot less explaining. The other competitor is the White Witch."
"White Witch? Does it look like the banshee we fought?" asks Kies.
"No. She more closely resembles a human, a very pale human if anything else," said Haro. "Anyway, she knows how to use a very powerful type of magic called curses. For this sole reason, she is much stronger than the Bone Whistler. And because she is stronger than the Bone Whistler, he is forced to avoid direct confrontation with her and has to rely on schemes and trickery. And before you ask about what curse magic is, it is the opposite of blessings. Instead of enhancing one's strength, curses eat away their strength."
"Can the Bone Whistler not use magic or something?" Ammine asked.
"Hoot, he can. It's just that his magic is ehhhh..." Haro tried to find the words to explain the Bone Whistler's magic. "One of a kind," he finished.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Haro still hasn't answered Ammine's question of what magic the Bone Whistler used.
"It's not something I can explain," Haro told the two. "You have to witness it to understand it. But let me warn you, even though the Bone Whistler's magic cannot compete with the White Witch's, it is by no means weak."
"Okay, got it," said Kies. "We just need to choose between the White Witch and the Bone Whistler right? Since the witch is stronger, wouldn't it be a lot easier if we just help her?"
"Hoo hoo hoo," Haro laughed. "Child, you're not the first one to think that."
"What do you mean?"
"Most of the greater undead that swore allegiance swore to the White Witch. They had the same mindset as you," Haro explained. "In fact, there are only two who swore loyalty to the Bone Whistler while the White Witch has over a dozen who pledged to her."
"Wait, the number difference is that big and yet that bone monster is still holding on?!" Ammine asked. It was unbelievable how the Bone Whistler hadn't lost already. "If that is the case, then the Bone Whistler is definitely not an easy opponent."
"Yes. And that's precisely why you need to think carefully about whose side you will take," Haro hooted. "Though I would recommend the White Witch. She's much easier to converse with."
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