Winged Beasts

Gerard stood outside the warehouse in the afternoon.

~Jerrick, I'd like to go in alone, if possible. I'll get him ready to confess.~

"What are you going to do?"

~I'd like to scare him enough into giving us the information we need, but I'll resort to a little torture if I have to.~

"Torture? That's-" Delilah tightened her lips, and her eyebrows softened.

~Only as a last resort.~

[Liar. You hope he doesn't spill anything so you can torture him to your heart's content.]

Gerard almost let out a little laughter, but kept it contained.

~Oh, I smashed the leader's jaw last night. Will he be able to talk?~

"I healed all of their injuries. Even if they're enemies, I don't like seeing people in pain."

~You've got a good heart, Delilah. What a nice gesture.~

Delilah smiled and fidgeted with her hands.

"We'll wait for you here, then." Jerrick sat down on a nearby log.

Gerard nodded and entered the warehouse. Davik was right about it being empty. Aside from a couple of tools, the only other things inside were the bandits.

All of the bandits' hands were bound behind their backs, and Gerard knew a few had soiled themselves even without being able to smell it. He could see their discomfort.

He approached the bandit leader and leaned down to his level.

"What do you want?" The leader spat in Gerard's helmeted face.

~We didn't have a lot of time to talk last night, so I'm here to ask a couple of questions.~

"I'm not saying anything to you."

A couple of bandits around the room nodded and murmured.

~You think you're tough?~

"I know it."

~Ah. This will be fun.~

Gerard removed his helmet slowly to reveal his ghastly appearance. Several terrified screams bellowed out of the mouths of the bandits, but the leader maintained his glare.

"I knew it. I knew your strength couldn't be human."

~I guess you would know that after delivering that variant ghoul to Addis last time, right?~

"What? How do-"

~I know more than you could possibly imagine. Now, the question is, do I torture you until you're an inch away from death, heal you, and repeat the process until your mind is broken? Do I kill you and raise you as an undead with your soul intact as a slave for all eternity? Perhaps you would prefer me to curse you to live inside your worst memory until you beg me for death?~

[All of those methods of yours aren't even possible with your abilities, Gerard.]

Fear set into the leader's eyes. His body shook and he inched away from Gerard. Gerard's cold, unemotional stare penetrated the depths of his soul.

*That's a better expression.*

"Please, don't do any of those! I'll talk! I'll tell you anything!"

~It's not me you need to speak to. Tell the adventurers about Addis and everything you've done for him. Do that, and we'll hand you to the knights in Solares.~

"Of course! I'll do it!"

[So your falsified methods of torture worked at breaking him. Are you disappointed?]

*Honestly? I was starting to think it would get pretty boring to listen to his screaming through torture after seeing him break just from a couple of threats.*

---

Jerrick and the adventurers listened to every word spoken by the leader. Every so often, he looked over his shoulder at Gerard and sighed when he received a nod.

They learned about stolen children, men, and women in the villages, human experimentation, and the secret entrance into the institute that they used to transport people and monsters.

"All of that is really happening at the Magical Research Institute?" Quinne, speaking to Gerard for the first time, looked worried.

~Sadly, it is. But this is just one bad egg in a place full of brilliant researchers. The rest seem to still be doing their best to benefit society.~

"I'm glad. My father is a researcher."

~He'll be fine, I'm sure of it.~

*It's not like I've murdered most of them in this life.*

"Thank you."

Jerrick led the bandits out of the warehouse, and by the stains in their trousers and Jerrick's occasional coughing, it seemed Gerard was right about them soiling themselves.

"Get moving!" Jerrick shoved a bandit.

In a single file, the bound bandits walked towards the recently repaired wagon. In total, they captured eight bandits and their leader.

~Hold up a minute. I feel no sympathy for those that would kill others so easily, but even I understand what it must feel like to have their dignity as soiled as their underpants.~

Gerard walked up to one of the bandits.

"What are you-"

*Cleanse.*

The bandit's clothes and dirt-covered face cleared up in seconds.

"The cleanse spell?" Delilah smiled with a curious frown.

~Yeah, I learned it from a guard a long time ago.~

Gerard used the spell on the other bandits until they were all refreshed.

"What was your class, before you became an undead, may I ask?" Delilah broached an unexpected topic.

*Sprite, what class would have allowed for magic and melee combat?*

[A battlemage.]

*Thank you, Sprite.*

~A battlemage. Why?~

"Incredible. That explains a lot."

~It does?~

"Of course. Your sense of self, your readiness to help others, your skills in combat, and your arsenal of spells. You must have worked hard to be promoted to such a high-ranking class."

~I did. It took many years of hard work.~

Delilah looked at him with a softness in her eyes he had yet to see.

Jerrick finished loading the bandits onto the wagon, and a man came forward. From the night's festivities, Gerard knew he was the village chief.

"It's not much, but we'll sell you two of our finest horses to help you cart these criminals back to the capital."

"How much?" Jerrick grabbed the pouch from his waist.

"Twenty silver per horse."

"Deal." Jerrick took two gold coins from his pouch and dropped them into the chief's hands.

"But this is too much!"

"Consider it payment for the wagon, for hiring the warehouse for the night, the food and drink last night, and the stay at your inn."

"Thank you, Jerrick of the Red Lotus."

Before the gate of the village, they prepared for their journey.

Quinne sat at the head of the wagon with the reins in hand. Emille examined the bandits, probably for potential opponents, while Jerrick wished the village chief well. Rose and Delilah approached the wagon with a few bags of supplies in their arms, speaking quietly to each other.

~Is everyone ready?~

"Yes." The adventurers said, one after another.

"Gerard, Sir!" Davik rushed over.

~Yes?~

"I know you said you didn't need anything else, but if you ever need my help or the help of the village, everyone, including the chief, agreed to offer you any aid you need in the future."

~I'll keep that in mind. But Davik, please consider any debts between us settled.~

"If that's what you want."

~It is.~

Gerard pushed his thoughts to everyone around him.

~Let's go!~

Quinne flicked the reins, and the wagon churned into motion. One of the bandits fell to their side. Delilah and Rose quickly caught up.

---

Sitting at the front of the wagon with Gerard, Quinne and he watched the countryside pass them by. On the roads, they were making good progress. When one person needed rest, they would get on the front of the wagon with Quinne, and when Quinne needed rest, she would swap with Jerrick who also knew how to handle the reins.

Even though Gerard felt no exhaustion due to what the adventurers knew as a curse, they insisted he rested as well. While keeping watch at the front, he looked at Quinne.

~It seems as though you're okay with talking to me now. Why didn't you before?~

"Oh, well, I trust you a little more than I did. You look like a monster, and as someone of the ranger class, I hunt monsters and wild animals better than most. I'm used to hunting monsters, not talking to them, and there's this strange feeling that I don't like you, even though I know you're not bad."

*Sprite. Is there a chance her hatred of me that festered inside of her for years is still there after my second reincarnation?*

[Don't ask me. I still don't even know why this happened to you.]

*Yeah, I guess you're right. We'll have to find that answer ourselves.*

Gerard focused back on Quinne.

~That's strange. I hope you'll find it in you to trust me someday.~

"I'll try."

~Thank you. Well, I should swap with someone else now.~

Gerard shifted his body and climbed into the back of the wagon.

~Emille, get up, keep a lookout with Quinne.~

"You've got it!" Emille stood up, climbed over, and sat beside Quinne.

"I guess I should take over for Quinne." Jerrick passed Gerard on the way to the front.

Gerard grabbed his shoulder.

~Wait a minute, Jerrick. What would you say if I offered to give you a skill?~

"Give me one? Well, that's impossible."

~And if it wasn't impossible?~

"I'd have to ask what the skill is and what you want in return."

~It's a movement skill called 'Blitz'. It allows you to momentarily move extremely quickly. Paired with your swordsmanship, I believe it would be a skill that saves your life at least once.~

"But Blitz is an A-Grade skill. Can you gift something like that to me? At what cost?"

~No cost. Just promise you'll use it to protect yourself, your loved ones, and the weak people of this world.~

*That, and I need to know if I can steal skills from people.*

"If you're not trying to fool me, I'll accept this gift."

~It would suit a melee fighter like you better than it would suit me. The stronger my companions are, the better my chances of surviving become, don't you think?~

"I already said I accept! You're a persistent one..."

~Stop the wagon, please, Quinne!~

The wagon came to a halt, and Gerard stepped down.

Gerard focused on his body. He felt the mana flow through his body.

[Blitz has activated.]

Gerard disappeared from the adventurer's sight again and again. Gerard focused on the residual feeling it left on his body after using it.

Quinne pulled the wagon to a stop to watch the event, and even the bandits found their eyes glued to him.

~I think I've got it.~

Gerard touched Jerrick's face and closed his eyes. He pictured what he believed to be the Blitz skill inside his body, in his soul.

*Transference!*

Gerard opened his eyes. He felt no different.

He checked his status screen. Sure enough, Blitz disappeared.

~Jerrick. I think it worked. Picture where you want to be, imagine yourself getting to that place faster than you could ever imagine, breathe deeply, and run.~

"Okay."

Jerrick focused his eyes on the wagon. With a deep breath, he bent his legs. In a flash, he disappeared before a loud noise shocked everyone.

Jerrick had crashed into the wagon and lay on the ground, holding his right arm. They all rushed over to him.

~Are you okay?~ Gerard extended his empty gauntlet.

"Yup. I just dislocated my shoulder. It seems you can't move through solid objects when using the skill."

Gerard laughed, ~You seriously tried to end up on the other side of the wagon? It's a movement skill, not that kind of ability.~

"Well, now that I think about it, it was kind of stupid."

"Damn right!" Rose popped up from the shadows and slapped his chestplate.

"Don't make us worry like that..." Delilah breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let me fix that arm for you." Emille grabbed Jerrick's arm and, quick a quick motion, pushed his shoulder back into place.

"I could have healed him, Emille," Delilah pouted.

Quinne sighed and jumped back onto the wagon, Emille as well, and Rose disappeared back into the shadows.

"No, save your mana, Delilah. I'll take over for Quinne." Jerrick followed his companions and stepped up but stopped as the wagon shook.

The horses whinnied and shrieked, trying to pull free from their bindings.

"Something has them spooked. Be on your guard!" Jerrick stepped back down and unsheathed his sword.

~Enemies?~

Rose appeared from the shadow of the wagon.

"I haven't sensed or seen any enemies in any of the shadows."

"Oh well, whatever it might be, I'm itching for a fight!" Emille spun around excitedly, scanning the environment.

There was no place to hide. No trees, no rubble, just plains and hills as far as they could see.

The light of the sun above them darkened.

"A cloud?" Delilah looked upwards and gaped in horror.

Jerrick looked up and copied her expression.

"Everyone, get ready! Wyverns!"

*Sprite, are wyverns stronger than me?*

[Yes.]

*Good.*