Learning to Fly (7)

Berkah glanced at Ariel who was struggling to keep his composure.

[Oh yeah, this stalker once mentioned something about his dad being a knight when we first met, did he get killed by humans?]

"What do you think Ariel?"

Berkha decided to leave the decision to someone who's actually had a negative experience with humans.

"..."

Ariel glanced at his little sister who was waiting expectantly for his reply.

[If Ava can forgive... I should too...]

[No... I can't...]

He mused, and averted his gaze from Ava.

In truth, Ava really didn't hate humans because she wasn't born when her father died, so she didn't feel that much grief about it.

But she had always noticed how much anger Ariel carried with him, causing him to isolate himself and barely live his life so she had made it her life's mission to rid him of all the anger that he carried.

There was no better time to do that than now, if she can get him to forgive the Human in front of them, it would be crucial for Ariel.

"Big brother..."

She muttered, anxiously twiddling her thumbs.

"I don't know... I can't make a decision right now..."

Ariel replied with his gaze to the floor.

[It must be hard on both of them...]

Berkah ruffled his feathers.

"Hey why don't we just make a decision tomorrow? I mean it is kind of getting late!"

Tori stepped in and broke the awkward silence. She too was a part of those who wanted the human to be set free.

"Then who will stay here with her?"

Berkah raised his eyebrow and directed his question at Tori.

"Do we need to? Look at her she's really injured, she's not going anywhere. "

"We'll come check up on her in the morning."

Tori's words prompted Berkah to glance over at the human, he then nodded after noticing all of her injuries.

[I doubt she'd be able to walk out of here with an injury like that.]

"Okay, fine, we'll all come back in the morning."

Berkah declared.

"Woman, what's your name?"

Berkah put on the sweetest smile.

"M-my name is Jane."

The woman stuttered, still wincing in pain.

"Jane... What a lovely name. "

He said, in a tone that matched his smile.

"You said you would do anything to atone for your actions right?"

Jane nodded.

"Then... Please stay here for the night and then we'll come and discuss everything in the morning okay?"

Jane bit her lower lip and nodded reluctantly.

"Don't worry, the odds seem to be in your favor."

Berkah patted Jane on the shoulder and began walking away from her.

"You guys all heard right? We'll come back in the morning."

[Finally I can go bath! I'm so sticky!]

Berkah rejoiced inwardly and left the scene.

The others stayed behind to tighten her restraints and gave her food and water, the clubhouse was well insulated with feathers and grass, so the night cold was no threat.

///

"Ah... Finally I'm home!"

Berkah celebrated after climbing the tree to his home, the sweat on his forehead reflecting the dim lights of dusk.

This was the house that they had rented ten years ago, Hawke and Anaise liked it so much that they decided to buy it and raise Berkah in it.

He reached for the doorknob.

[To think there would come a time when I'm actually happy to come home.]

Berkah smiled brightly and marinated in the warm feeling he never felt even once in his old life.

*creak*

He opened the door...

"Booo!!"

Hawke was waiting for Berkah behind the door for the sole purpose of startling him when he got back home.

"*Gasp!*"

"Are you crazy dude?! You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days!"

"Haha! I'm only teaching you to always be prepared Haha!"

Hawke laughed out loud, with his fists on his waist.

"Don't lie dude! I know you enjoy it!"

Hawke continued laughing despite Berkah's apparent rage.

In truth, Berkah already knew he was behind the door, but since Hawke would always try to startle him, Berkah just played along with it.

"Haha! Come inside son!"

Hawke made way for Berkah to come inside the house.

"So, why were you so late? You got yourself a girlfriend?~"

Hawke whispered, a proud smirk adorning his face.

"Huh? None of your business old timer."

"Hey come on, I can give you advice you know."

Hawke wrapped his arm around Berkah's shoulder.

"Pfft! From you? Don't need it."

Berkah snorted.

"HUH? What's wrong with me you little brat?"

Hawke put Berkah in a choke hold.

"*Cough!* Okay, Okay, let me go I'll ask for some advice later, can I go bath first?"

Berkah pleaded, tapping Hawke's forearm that was around his neck, and afterwards Hawke released him from the choke hold.

"Hey Berkhah, welcome home."

An ageless beauty stepped into the room, Anaise, Berkah's mother.

Anaise embraced her son and welcomed him home.

"What were you two talking about?"

She asked, glancing at Hawke then at Berkah.

"Oh nothing, I was just giving him advice on how to improve his form in swordplay."

Hawke replied instantly.

"Oh nothing, he was just giving me advice on how to get girls."

Berkah replied a split second later, leaving Hawke with a blank expression and his mouth agape.

"You did what?! Berkah is only turning 12 you know!"

Anaise shouted and stomped toward Hawke.

[Keke, goodluck old timer.]

Berkah walked out of the room with a smirk on his face and entered the bathroom.

He beheld a large circular bathtub crafted in steel and wood, it was so spacious that it could probably fit around seven fully grown people.

Berkah extended his hand towards two red and blue crystals that were at the bottom of the empty bathtub.

[I can never get used to this.]

Berkah pressed the blue crystal and water began pouring out of it, filling the bathtub, he the pressed the red crystal and the temperature of the water began rising.

[Mana crystals... These would sell for billions back in my old world.]

Mana crystals were crystals that could store the different elements of mana, be it fire,wind, ice, etc...

They were convenient for day to day use and sometimes even as weapons for those not gifted by Mana.

But they were probably also the reason for the lack of technology in this world.

Berkah sank in the warm water and his sweat and fatigue melted away.

Afterwards he went to have dinner with his family, they then spent hours happily talking about random things and at times Berkah and Anaise would make fun of Hawke for this and that.

Just like that hours went by and they bid each other a goodnight and slept.