Fate Breakers

Harpies

On a clear morning. Riel and Seira had already started to continue their journey. They are getting more familiar now, Riel has never even imagined the face of Aira when she saw Seira. For Riel now they were really two different people.

"Hey, Riel. Looks like you're gonna have to buy some new equipment, huh?" Seira asked in her human form.

"uh? Why why?" Riel replied while cleaning up the dirt in her nostrils.

"At least try to speak politely, Riel!" Seira turned her face away as she saw what Riel was doing.

"uh? What the hell are you doing?" Riel replied insensitively.

"Whatever!" Seira puffed her cheek a sign she was upset with Riel.

Riel just scratched his head. He did not understand what had upset Seira then he looked back at the road in front of him while cleaning his other nostrils.

"Just calm down, Seira. Up ahead there should be a pretty big city. We can rest there for a few days while looking for a job." Riel.

Seira did not respond at all. He just kept silent and continued walking without even glancing a single bit towards Riel.

"Corn, of any race women are women." Complain Riel.

"Why? If you don't want to walk with me anymore, that's it." Seira uses her transformation magic and flies away leaving Riel unceremoniously stale.

"Eh? Woy! Ah, crap! Why are women always so hard to understand?!" Riel ran after Seira who was getting away.

--

30 Minutes had already passed since Riel ran after a golden eagle that was flying leisurely on top of her. Without realizing it now he was at the end of a very high cliff. His steps stopped, his eyes staring at the bottom of the dark abyss. Dark, moist, like endless. Riel wanted to take a detour but she was afraid of losing track of Seira who easily passed through the abyss with her eagle form.

"CHAIR!!!" Riel shouted with all her might.

Seira who stopped and turned towards Riel. But what the eagle's eyes saw was not Riel, but a flock of Harpies that were darting towards Riel.

"Riel!!! Watch out!" Seira also darted towards Riel so that the Harpies could not hurt Riel.

Riel, who had just realized that she was being targeted by a flock of half-bird women, reflexively dodged when one of Harpy's legs tried to grab her shoulder. But good luck has not sided with Riel. Another Harpy grabbed Riel's hands tightly and carried her flying away from the edge of the cliff where she had stood a few seconds ago. If only this Harpy released its grip, Riel could instantly die from falling from a height of 45 meters.

Seira returns to her Elf form but this time she has a pair of golden wings on her back. He held a short sword in his right hand and a shield in his left. He was ready to fight. 3 The Harpy flew freely and 1 the Harpy carried Riel in its grip.

"Come, dove!" Ejek Seira's.

"Only a young Elf but daring to challenge us." Answer a Harpy in the middle of the line. Looks like he's the head of the Harpy herd.

"Hey! Just so you know, yeah. I'm getting married, so don't rape me with your fowl's body." Oceh Riel who was getting tired was in the grip of the Harpy.

"This human boy is no less noisy." Replied Harpy who kept gripping Riel's arm from earlier.

These harpies do have pretty faces. Equipped with an ideal body curve that can make anyone tempted to see it if only part of his body is not covered by brown fur.

"Ril! Explode, I'll catch you!" Seru Seira's.

"Ah, exploding takes a lot of power, Seira. I'm lazy to do that." Answer Riel limp.

"Hey Hey! You could be lazing around in that ugly Harpy grip." Ketus Seira's.

"You jealous?" Riel smiled wryly.

"Please, Riel. We're not kidding!"

The Harpies seemed confused by the chatter of the two teenagers.

"WHISPER!" Harpy who was carrying Riel tightened her grip to make Riel's hand hurt.

"Agh! Hey, I didn't even attack you. You stupid bird!" Riel is getting serious now.

"Stop them!" The command of the Harpy chief while raising his wings.

"Sphellytes." Riel recited the blast spell while whispering.

BOOM UP!

Harpy's leg clutching Riel's hand was badly burned. Riel slipped out of her grip and began to slide to the bottom of the abyss.

"You're gonna get me, aren't you?" Riel Excited.

Seira prepared to catch up with Riel who was already in the middle of the cliff preparing to hit the ground. However, the Harpies were not that easy to let go of Seira. They dart together and collide with Seira to make him bounce and lose balance.

"Shpejtsi." Riel recited a speed spell just before her body hit the tree below. His hand quickly grabbed the tree stalk and his body turned then quickly his feet rested on the stalk and then shot back up towards the Harpies.

"Hi." Riel was already in the presence of one of the Harpies with a bow ready to release her arrows.

Shoot it!

Riel deliberately turned her bow and chose to shoot the creature's wings instead of shooting at its head.

The creature whined in pain and flew to and fro as it lost its balance due to the wound Riel had put on its left wing.

Seira immediately took the opportunity to capture Riel and ran away from the fight.

"Hey!" Complain Riel.

"We're outnumbered, Riel." Answer Seira briefly.

"Ci-h..." Riel pursed her lips a sign of her disappointment at not being able to finish her fight with the Harpies.

After feeling quite far away, Seira dropped Riel at a temple ruins in the middle of the forest. They rested at the altar of the temple. There is a 3 meter tall statue that still looks very sturdy and not damaged in the slightest. They looked at the altar from corner to corner until they could finally confirm that the Harpies were not chasing them.

"Open your shirt, Riel." Seira said suddenly.

"Ehh?! Y-you.this is not the time..." Riel's face flushed instantly.

"What? I want to treat your wound stupidly!" Seira replied annoyed.

"Ohh sorry." Riel replied while enduring the shame.

Riel took off her shirt. Now Seira can see the muscles in Riel's body that are formed thanks to years of exercise that has been covered by clothes. Although she was hundreds of years old, Seira had only first seen the male body directly to the point of even touching it as it is today. Seira tried to endure the turmoil that was in her heart at the moment and tried to stay focused on treating the wound on Riel's hand with her recovery magic.

"I'm sorry." Said Seira while lowering her head.

"Why are you apologizing?" Riel was confused.

"I was angry and left you just because you were peeling."

"Tu-wait. So you're angry just because of that?" Riel did not believe Seira's words just now.

"Ehehe what?! I'm worried, you idiot! I thought I said something you didn't like until you got mad like that!" Riel protested while holding Seira's head and turning it to Riel's face.

"A-" Seira's face flushed red.

Their eyes looked at each other, the faces of the two were so close that Seira could feel Riel's breath.

"Riel." Seira turned her eyes the other way.

"Umm, sorry." Riel took a few steps back and leaned against the temple wall.

"I used to have adventures with humans before you." Seira's expression suddenly changed.

Riel did not answer. Just focus on listening quietly.

"He's a good man. I learned a lot from him. How to survive in the wild, how to judge someone is good or not. I learned from him. I was kidnapped by a witch organization. They tried to kill me that day. But he came to save me. Then I asked him to come back to the village. But I don't want to, because maybe he'll be killed by the elves in my village. So I asked him to take me on an adventure with him. He finally agreed to it after arguing with me."

"Where is that guy now?" Riel asked as Seira stopped telling stories.

"Dead."

Silent moment. Riel seems sorry to have asked Seira that question.

"Elphs and humans are very different. I was 25 years old and she was my age. But our growth is very different. He died at the age of 60 due to illness. I accompanied him as he breathed his last breath. He said something I didn't understand at the time. He said he loved me. But now I understand the meaning of his words. If only-" Seira's tears began to flow down her thin cheeks.

"If only he had said it from the beginning. I can definitely keep him alive with me until now. I can take him to the elf leader of my village to turn him into an elf nation like us. Why such a cruel fate." Seira's cheeks are now filled with tears. His voice was a little choked.

"Finding me with love but not letting me feel it. I understand what love is when it's gone. Why was I too stupid to realize it then?"

"Seira, nothing is in vain in life. His departure also gave you something valuable and you can use it until now, right? I may not be as good as him. Not as good as him either. But as much as possible I'll be a great partner to you. So stop crying if you still want to go on an adventure with me." Riel showed a warm smile.

"But don't try to fall in love with me huh Seira." Riel's smile turned into an annoying face.

"Stupid. You want to be the second person to die in front of me before we get married?" Seira answered while she said her tears.

"Hahaha I won't die that easily. So you're the one who has to survive to get to your village and find the elven man you can marry."

"If I invite you to my wedding, promise not to use your blast magic in the middle of the reception, will you?"

"If I invite you too at my wedding, promise not to bring in an army of hawks dropping shit from the sky in the middle of the reception, will you?"

The mood returned cheerful. Seira's sobs had already turned into amused laughter due to the stupid words coming out of Riel's mouth. Riel is indeed good at making jokes that can make Seira can not stop laughing. But actually it was only Riel's words that he said without a second thought.

Without them noticing, the sun was already starting to sink out there. They decided to spend the night at the temple. Riel immediately ran towards the forest to hunt when her hands had recovered. So did Seira who rushed to collect firewood.

---

The Sapphire kingdom.

The table in the central room of the palace is currently filled by the royal ministers. They close the pursuit of Riel who has not succeeded until now.

"So where's the next route of pursuit? Based on the hot news, there was currently a young adventurer with a black scarf who used an arrow bow as his weapon. If we look at its features, it might just be Riel the royal disgrace. According to the news also the adventurer was heading to the kingdom of Datraoch. Here's question. Suppose the adventurer was Riel, why did he go to Datraoch? He's on the run here and he's on the run to his enemy's allies? It's so stupid." Said one of the ministers tasked with gathering information from other regions outside the kingdom.

"That's really Riel." Curze raised his hand.

"Your Majesty Liveda, do you remember the task that King Legnasio gave to the wealthy merchant family in Sapphire?" Curze continued to ask the Queen.

"About the expansion of the Sapphire trade? Who ordered the family to move to Datraoch?" Guess Queen.

"Yes, that family was my neighbor first. And the son of the family was Riel's childhood friend. He asked when his best friend would return to Sapphire. Then I told him the truth."

"So he wants to start his story as an adventurer who wants to meet his best friend again?" The queen giggled.

"Yet the story won't end beautifully noble. Because his death will meet him before he meets his best friend." Simon was also present at the meeting that day.

"Alright, immediately send troops to pursue. Stop in the village or town all the way to Datraoch. He always stays somewhere. Use your best horse carriage. Now go and bring the disgrace home alive." Decide on the Queen.

Large-scale troops set out from Sapphire to designated places in their chariots. The troops were dispatched at night so that residents did not know what had happened in the royal family.

Meanwhile, a little girl with her long gray hair was hugging her mother tightly.

"Mom, when's sister coming home? Where did you go exactly?" Theresa asked Riel's sister to her mother who was daydreaming looking up at the night sky.

"Son't set his own path, I'm sure he'll be fine. Never mind. You better pray that brother is safe and come home soon and go to sleep." Riel's mother's face looked calm after everything that happened.

"All right, ma'am." Theresa replied, not much to argue.

"Let's take you to your room and I'll tell you a story before you go to sleep."

The 30-year-old woman with long, unraveled black hair drove her daughter into the room without waiting for long.

---

"HAAACHOOO!" Riel sneezes very loudly while she is tidying up firewood for him and Seira cooks dinner.

"You're not feeling well, Riel?" Asked Seira who was preparing a place for them to rest.

"Ah, no. I just suddenly sneezed."

"Something seems to be talking about you. Hmmm, maybe it was Aira who was missing you hehe." Seira showed a faint smile towards Riel.

"Currently, you have dared to tease me." Riel throws one of the twigs in her hand.

"Haha. Don't assume I'm just an elf girl who can praise you huh." Seira throws the twig back.

"But don't expect you to take Aira's place. He's still number one to me."

"Who would want to live with a weak adventurer who always relied on a golden eagle to improve the accuracy of his shots." Reply to Seira without feeling guilty.

"Once in a while I want to know the taste of a grilled bird." Chirps Riel while handing over the meat of her hunt.

"Before you taste it, I'll first taste the flesh of the grilled man."

"Based on cannibals."

"I'm sorry, Adventurer. I'm not a haha man."

"Dam. I forgot hahaha"

Their dinner was full of chatter as usual. The sound of insects enlivened their nights. The sparks of the campfire continued to float into the air warming the atmosphere.

---