Learning to Fly (8)
"Happy Birthday!!"
[!!]
Morning had come and Berkah was abruptly woken up by the voices of Anaise and Hawke.
He forced his eyes open and put on a bitter smile.
[Do they have to do this every year?]
[Well... I'm not complaining. ]
"Thanks!"
He smiled brightly and got out of bed.
"We have prepared all your favorite food downstairs, let's go eat!"
Anaise said enthusiastically.
"Okay, but let me go wash my face first."
[Fuck... She didn't cook right?]
[The last time she cooked I had diarrhea for a week straight.... Non stop...]
He glanced at Hawke who had a sadistic smile on his face.
[Shit...]
He then walked into the bathroom to wash his face, and then went into the kitchen.
"Woah..."
Berkah's eyes shone gluttonousley at the absolute gourmet of food.
Harpy dishes were a bit simple compared to what Berkah, or rather Simon, was used to, but he still appreciated the food.
"Haha dig in son!"
The two proud Harpy parents watched as their son munched down on the mountain of food that stood before him.
A few minutes passed and most of it was already gone.
"You really have the appetite of a wild beast, haha!"
Hawke declared.
"Thanks for the food!~"
Berkah patted his stomach.
[Hm? There's someone coming up here?]
He sensed a presence climbing up the tree of his home, and based on the fact that the person was climbing instead of flying he knew it was one of the kids from the clubhouse.
[Ah... Is it time to go check on the Human?]
He mused, preparing himself to go greet whoever was at the door.
"Berkah~ me and your father have prepared some gifts for you."
[Oh? Gifts?]
He shifted his attention from the person climbing the tree to his mother.
"Do you want to present your gift first, Hawke?"
"Nope, you can give him your gift first. Kuku."
[Hm? This blue-haired dude... why is he giggling like that?]
"Okay!"
Anaise went to another room and came back carrying something in a wooden bowl.
"I baked you a Lime cherry muffin, you used to love the fruits when you were a baby remember?"
Anaise said joyfully, presenting the muffin to Berkah.
[Fuck!!!]
He turned his attention back to the figure that was walking toward their door.
[Hurry! Hurry! Hurry up and knock damn it!]
"Berkah ~"
Anaise put the muffin in front of Berkah.
[Hurry up!!!]
He cried inwardly.
*knock*,*knock*
[Finally!]
"I'll get it!"
Berkah sprung out of his chair and ran to the door and opened it.
"Hey mom it's Ariel! There's something we need to do so I'll come later okay?"
Anaise nodded and Berkah made his way down the tree with Ariel.
[Fuck... I won't survive another week of diarrhea...]
"Thank you Stalker-kun, you just saved my life."
Berkah patted Ariel's back.
"Huh? Why do you always talk in strange words? What does that even mean?..."
Ariel narrowed his eyes at Berkah.
"Nevermind that... Where are the others?"
"*sigh*... Ava made breakfast for the Human and she was so excited to give it to her that she left in a hurry."
"The others went with her."
Ariel said, pinching his eyebrows.
"Haha really? When did she leave?"
"She left as soon as the sun rose."
[So, about an hour and a half ago...]
"Alright then let's go, they must be tired of waiting for us."
The two of them made their way to the clubhouse.
///
"Can you stop pestering me?! I'm not giving you another rematch man!"
Berkah's shout echoed throughout the dense forest.
Ariel had been demanding a rematch for the entire duration of their walk there.
[!!]
[What the...]
As soon as the clubhouse came within the range with his Mana Dome, Berkah sensed something that made his heart almost skip a beat.
"It's because you refuse to use Ma—"
*Bang!*
Berkah lunged towards the clubhouse at terrifying speed.
[No... No... No... This can't be...]
A cold sweat soaked his feathers.
In a matter of seconds Berkah entered the clubhouse and his eyes trembled upon witnessing the kids all laying unconscious on the floor with heavy injuries and some with broken bones.
"The fuck..."
His breath trembled.
He took a few steps forward.
*splash!*
He glanced down his leg and noticed his foot drowning in a pool of blood.
Turning his eyes to the source of the blood Berkah's heart sank.
There, laying on the floor, he saw Ava who was bleeding profusely from her back on two gaping wounds.
The snow white wings once adorning her back, no where to be seen.
"What the fuck... Happened."
Berkah's entire body shuddered, his heart beating out of his chest.
[Shit... I have to save them!]
Berkah finally snapped himself out of his daze and drew his Mana.
■■ Mana Cure! ■■
*SWIRLLLL!*
A blinding golden light burst forth from his palms and entered the bodies of all the kids.
*Uwong!*
Their bodies shone in a golden hue and all their injuries faded.
Except for one...
*Groan!*,*Groan!*
The kids dragged themselves off the floor and stood up.
"...Berkah?"
Tori called out, but Berkah did not respond, his bright blue eyes focused on the bloodied figure in front of him.
"Hey Berkah! What was the rush?! *huff*,*huff*"
Ariel entered the clubhouse and caught his breath.
"Hm? Why do you guys look so beat up?"
Ariel glanced around.
"Y-yeah but we think Berkah healed us."
One of the kids replied, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Ariel glanced at Berkah who was just standing there frozen like a block of ice.
"Hey Berkah, what are you doing over there?"
No response...
[No! No! No! Why isn't it working?]
[Was I too late?!]
Berkah cried inwardly, despair gradually tucking at his being.
■■ Mana Cure! □□
■■ Mana Cure!□□
■■ Mana Cure! □□
Golden smoke swirled and gushed out of his palms, but it refused to enter Ava's being and just swirled back into his palms.
"Fuck..."
His voice trembled.
"Hey! What are doing over here?"
Ariel pulled Berkah's shoulder.
"Didn't you hear me calli—"
"Wha... Ava?"
"Ava!!!"
Ariel ran to the lifeless body of his little sister and shook her in an attempt to wake her up.
"Hey Ava wake up! What happened to your wings?!"
Ariel continued shaking her lifeless body, his palms gradually being dyed by her blood.
"Hey Berkah! Please heal her like you did with the others!"
Berkah grit his teeth and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"I can't... it's too late..."
Berkah responded in a pained voice.
"No... NOOOO!!!"
Ariel cried out, despair and grief swallowing him whole...