Tap~tap~tap~tap.
Daichi's fingertips tapped the hardwood desk absent-mindedly.
His elbow numb against the hard surface—his cheek flat against his palm as he slumped in the chair.
It's been over a damn hour; I've been sitting here for over a DAMN HOUR!
THUD!
His fist slammed against the desk.
He stood up, making his way over to the door.
Soft palms hugged the metal handle—trying again and again.
"Perfect; I'm locked in here."
Sigh.
Strolling back, he sat on the edge of the desk; feeling his pockets.
"Huh?" He stood straight, hands tearing through his pockets. "Shit, shit, shit—" His eyes darted around the room, scanning every corner "—shitt!"
"No, no, no! My phone!"
He stopped.
I left it in the withered forest—yeah, I can go get it when I'm out of here.
Sitting back down, his eyes scanned the room; a bright gem hung from the roof—illuminating white light to every corner.
Kinda reminds me of a bulb—Click.
His head snapped to the door as it opened slowly.
Daichi's body tensed.
Two Harpies stepped through.
Click.
Watching the two—he sat silently as they closed the door behind them.
An enforcer, and a woman who held paper, ink, and a quill.
His gaze traced her features: round glasses, her frame complemented by a black military jacket with gold buttons clasped down the front—flowing black hair with purple ends that matched her brown wings and unusual violet feather tips.
Daichi flinched as she sat across from him.
"Who are you—"
"I'll make this brief; you and the girl are suspected of disregarding the sacred forest of Nervaal."
Her eyes met the other Harpies'—it walked over with a bag, dipping its cloth-covered hands in.
Thud.
A blue tusk landed on the desk—the wood turning black from the scorching heat.
Daichi's mind flooded with memories. Horrible memories.
"Do you know what this is?—"
"No! No, I don't."
He blurted out, his glance shifting between her and the tusk.
But her eyes met the paper; the scribbling only made the atmosphere more unbearable.
She looked at the enforcer once more—he nodded, stepping forward with a smaller bag.
Thud.
Something much smaller met the hardwood.
"Well—do you know what this is?"
Daichi's heart leaped, and his gaze lingered a moment too long.
My phone...
The scribbling continued—before he could speak.
"Get an Aether-sense gifted in here, would you," she ordered as the enforcer left without hesitation. "Do you know your tier for either primary or secondary life-fog?"
"Primary or secondary?" Daichi's fingertips went cold. "Could you be more direct?"
She picked up where she left off—the quiet scratch of pen on paper filling the room.
Shit, shit, shit—What is she writing?!
Click.
The door slid open, and a male stepped in—who instantly caught Daichi's attention; wearing a black vest with a purple and gold embroidered collar over white puffy sleeves—his wings also brown with purple tip feathers.
But his eyes weren't just layered like the other Harpies.
They were grey with a faint pupil—the limbal ring around it spiked with a purple edge.
Daichi flinched as their eyes met.
What the—hell.
"Vaera—Where did you find this man?"
He asked, running fingers through his coppery brown hair.
"Loric, do what you were called here to do; time is ticking."
Daichi's eyes flickered between the two. His body was tense—feeling out of place as he silently listened.
Loric let out a dragged sigh.
His eyes met Daichi's again.
"Tier two primary," Loric paused, a small smile appeared on his face. "And tier four secondary."
Vaera's head tilted up slowly—raking down Daichi's form.
"Tier four?" Refocusing, she returned to writing. "If we push him hard enough, he could be the candidate King Avenor asked to bring him, no?"
Candidate? King Avenor? PUSH ME HARD ENOUGH?!
Daichi's palm slammed against the desk as he rose.
"I didn't agree to any of this—"
"I suppose so," Loric turned, ignoring him. "I'll bring word to the council."
Vaera's eyes followed him.
Another candidate, I'll be sipping the finest wine in Nervaal when this gets to Avenor.
Click.
The door closed behind him.
"Can I know what's going on?!" Exhausted, Daichi palmed his face. "This whole candidate stuff, and secondary or primary nonsense."
"Can I please get some answers?!—"
SLAM!!
The door barged open, crashing against the wall.
The two jumped.
"LORIC!" Startled—Vaera's voice cut through the air. "What is the meaning of this!"
"That child!—she's a High Witness," Loric panted, words spilling between heavy breaths.
"What?" Vaera rose quickly, and Daichi's brows furrowed. Confused. "Are you sure?"
"Do I look stupid to you, woman? Release the man before she loses her temper further—come show your respects."
Loric stormed off. Vaera followed closely—the paper crumpled in her hand.
What the hell just happened...
Daichi stood, peering cautiously through the door.
Stepping out, he slowly made his way toward the room where Rhea was kept.
With every step closer, the silence got sharper.
Sighing, he tried to ease his mind.
Can't be that bad, right?—of course it is! These Harpy people looked like they were about to piss themselves!
He stood at the door, the metal cold beneath his hand.
Get Rhea, and leave. Get Rhea and leave. Get Rhea, and leave—simple as that... yeah.
He turned the handle and kicked the door open.
"RHEA!!!"
He froze.
"Uhh... Rhea?"
"You're lucky I DIDN'T TOAST YOUR FEATHERY ASSES!!!"
Rhea's foot stomped on Loric's head as he groveled on the floor.
"How could you be so IGNORANT, so STUPIDLY IGNORANT!!!"
Her halo flared wildly above her head. Blue with flickers of orange.
"We're sorry... forgive us," Loric's voice low and remorseful.
"And YOU!" Rhea's focus switched to Vaera.
She flinched.
"Why did he come here on his own, huh?!—I specifically told this idiot to tell you to BRING HIM TO ME!"
Her foot twisted and ground into his head, disheveling Loric's hair.
"Okay, okay, I see what's happening here," Daichi walked around the two on the ground, pulling Rhea's foot from atop Loric's head.
"Hey, what are you—" Rhea clicked her tongue. "You two had better find somewhere nice for us to stay, or I'm turning this whole damn pretty bird kingdom to a pile of burnt feathers and bones—got that!"
"Eeek," Vaera flinched. "Yes, ma'am, we'll see it done before the night ends."
"And that enforcer that brought us in, have him execut—"
"Ohhhhkayy," Daichi held her arm, already on his way out with her. "No need for any executions, leaving is all we need to do—"
Daichi stopped.
My phone.
He turned back, sprinting down the hall and back into the room where he was being held.
Its still here!—well... obviously.
Grabbing it, he hurried off. But stop again. Looking over his shoulder—the blue tusk peacefully sat on the desk.
Hmm... you might be worth something.
His eyes scanned the room. Landing on the bag the blue tusk was brought in with—he grabbed it, stuffing his hand inside—picking up the hot blue tusk with the material of the bag.
His palms hugged the frame of the blue tusk, warmth seeping through the cloth bag, leaving a faint tingle in his fingers.
Holding the opening shut, he quickly made his way back to Rhea.
Daichi slowed until he made it to the hallway's entrance, glancing back into the first room—Loric and Vaera froze in place.
Loric's forehead pressed hard against the stone floor—and Vaera stood still, static, and almost pale the same position he left her.
What the...
His brows furrowed, creating a ridge of tension across his forehead.
Is she...really that terrifying?
Slowly, he turned away, pulling the door shut.
I'll just, leave you two to it.
Walking a bit further, he stopped by the door leading to the hall of weapons.
The knob twisted under his hand as the door slid open.
Orange flames came alive. Rhea's halo flared as her eyes met Daichi's.
"Hey, hey!"
He blurted out.
Sigh.
"Let's go...before those two catch on," Rhea walked off—her steps light against the ground. "Stay close, alright."
He walked closely behind, as the gentle sway of her halo held his gaze.
His chest twisted—the memory of Loric and Vaera replaying again and again.
Terrors of the south... and you're mimicking them—Rhea.
Reaching the exit, Rhea slowed her pace, took a deep breath. And slowly, she exited.
The guards carried on, laughing and chatting with one another across the entrance.
A ring of orange flames emerged from the building—their breaths stopped, held as their eyes met Rhea's frame then the gentle sway of her halo.
A High Witness.
Daichi's fingernails pierced the cloth bag, digging into his palm.
Rhea...