Cute

This was happening while Desire was drowning. A few minutes away from the present…

Liya was fighting with Mayo, the strongest human there is in the forest. Even though Liya used the grand magic of her race, she still didn't have an advantage over the man. She found it strange that there is a human of this level serving another.

Liya knew that humans were greedy, wanting to place themselves at the top. That is why it is not strange to see strong ones crushing each other in the human's world but…A strong one serving a useless lord? That's just absurd.

Liya knew that there were some special cases but due to her senses being strengthened, she knew there's something in Mayo.

While thrusting with the ice blade that she made, Liya had an expression that seems to not understand why.

Mayo brushed off the strike with his spare sword. If one was watching this battle from start to now, one could easily find that their position have exchanged.

Liya was winning in the earlier duration of the fight but now…Mayo was winning, dominating her even.

Liya thought while producing another ice blade.

'It's true that I'm running out but…It's also true he kept up with me.'

She withheld the ice blade and made it float in the air as she spoke with a hint of impatience.

"Why is a strong guy like you under someone?"

It seems like Mayo decided to partake in this conversation as he also eased up his stance. But…there are no openings for Liya to strike. She could now feel the difference in strength between them. Liya thought.

'Has he been toying with me from the start? It's definitely suspicious but…I have to keep him here if that's the case.'

Even though Mayo said something like giving his all in this battle, it didn't seem that way to Liya. Her enemy spoke.

"Hmm, you're better than I thought."

Liya responded with a thorny voice.

"What?"

"Ah, it's nothing. You asked why I am under someone, the answer to that is…"

Mayo pointed his forefinger to the sky while smiling. It was a sinister smile no matter how you looked at it. And then, he continued while releasing his aura.

"…Is because there is someone even stronger than me."

As soon as he said that, his body started to glitter with light but…A great splash of wave came about and flooded the area. It was the magic of Lyra and the others.

Liya instinctively knew that it was the magic of her villagers and so she calmly jumped out in the sky. If she forced herself, she could fly for a minute but she only needed to create a foothold.

While doing that, she looked at the fire that has lost its fangs.

She muttered under her breath.

"The flood will definitely hinder the advance of the humans but…"

Was it really wise? She couldn't let it out. She didn't want to voice a complaint now that she used a magic that costs her life force.

It was time for the next generation to lead.

As she realized who it might be the one who gave the order to use the flood magic, she smiled.

And then it happened; a wave greater than before appeared while the sun that refused to hide no matter what couldn't be seen.

The clouds were getting gloomy and dark as rain started to fall, the waves gathering from all sides to splash on the fire but...it didn't work.

The fire held on and while it turned small, it was still on a scale that could be called a forest fire.

Liya couldn't understand what was going. She could sense magical power greater than hers in the clouds and in the waves but this forest didn't have anyone like that, more so in their village.

If there was one, this problem would have been easy to solve.

That was the reason why all of them went out of their way to risk their lives in order to save their land. Though she was confused, she was relieved as well.

If this someone continued to use that kind of magic, the fire will definitely be put out.

And as she held hope deep in her heart, as if answering to her prayer, a greater storm appeared than before.

It was strange for Liya that the water on the ground wasn't increasing despite the waves and all but she didn't have to mind that anymore.

After the clash of the fire and water, fog rose. The fog and the clouds made the area blurry and the inside of the fog couldn't easily be seen.

Liya rushed off to where her comrades were and she planned on how to run from this place. If that someone was an enemy, she knew they wouldn't survive.

Ice pillars continued to appear beneath her feet, making a stable path for her to walk through the air.

Mayo who was watching that clicked his tongue and turned around. The presence and the aura coming from the person who made that storm were strong enough to make him retreat.

And so, the battle between the two came to a conclusion without a winner…

****

"Mother!"

Coming down from the ice pillars that she created, Liya heard the voice of her daughter, Lyra.

It was a voice that she wanted to hear so much but now wasn't the time and so she spoke harshly.

"Why haven't you given the order to retreat yet? The fire is out so we need only to prioritize our safety. Where's the one who got the key with them?"

The key.

What Liya was talking about was the branches growing out of their backs. It isn't a necessity for the Suckus to have them all the time so they could be put down.

The key was only needed when one went out with no other and if were tasked to carry it with them.

It was a gift given by the Dryad parent of their race in order to have homes like the Dryads.

At those words of Liya, a woman stepped out with the conspicuous key. The woman spoke with a careful tone.

"The preparations are underway but…There is a problem."

"T-that's right mother! Desire is missing!"

Lyra explained the situation of how Desire was missing and all and how they weren't able to find him despite their efforts.

It's not as if they wanted to stay here. The reason why they were being kept in this place was that Desire was missing.

At the end of it, another woman spoke. It's not visible from her skin and face but she was an elder of the village.

"Even if he is missing, shouldn't we be making our escape now? We already gathered the villagers. We don't have to wait for him just to have disaster come."

It seems like she had a few misgivings about the treatment that was being given to Desire.

Even if he was someone who was accidently betrothed to the village head, his life doesn't compare to the safety of the village. And it's true that some were unhappy about it.

"That's right! What if that magic comes again? There's no telling if we'll be safe from it!"

"We should hurry now!"

It's not as if the village as a whole was united under the sentiment of being kind to Desire.

It's been said that if there are three people in a group, factions and the like will naturally come out. That is exactly what is happening right now.

Liya was having trouble deciding. While they were engaged by the Suckus' tradition, she didn't particularly have any feelings for Desire. No, it would be more correct that she only saw Desire as a food pot, she just didn't know it.

She was kind to Desire for he was her food pot, nothing more nothing less, though the person himself doesn't mind it.

Liya was having her own thoughts, oblivious to her own inner desires.

'W-what do I do? As a village head…'

A few minutes passed while the women were bickering at each other. They were cleanly divided into two factions now. Lyra was leading the faction of waiting for Desire while the Elder was with the other.

While they were unable to come to a decision, a voice that was clearly excited entered their ears.

"Hey, you haven't told me about you yet! What race are you, Percia?!"

"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?! I have already answered plenty of your questions!"

When they turned their heads to the source of the voice, they saw Desire and…the bird that has three heads, Percia. They shifted their gazes between the child and the strange bird and their expressions instantly crumbled.

One of them spoke in a low voice.

"Ravens!"

"W-what?! Why is that here?!"

"Why…"

Instantly, the silence broke after the murmuring of ravens and the women talked amongst themselves. Fear and shock was evident in them, even Liya. That was how much influence the name ravens had.

Then, Desire who was talking to Percia turned his head towards them and waved his hand.

"Why are you guys here? Is it fine with the humans now?"

"Can't you see that the humans have run away! How stupid are you!"

Desire turned his head to Percia and made a serious expression as he spoke.

"You know…if it wasn't for your mouth, you'd be the cutest bird there is."

Everyone went silent at the words of Desire. Even the wind that carried his voice didn't blow anymore. Then Lyra suddenly spoke. She couldn't hold it in. She laughed as loud as she possibly can.

"Haha! Cute? Desire sure says some funny things!"

For a moment, only the laughter of Lyra could be heard as a vein pops in all three of Percia's heads.

With his power, it was easy to kill this Suckus that was rudely laughing at him but before he could make a move, he was stopped by Desire's voice.

"Eh? Isn't he cute? Look at those heads!"

Lyra slowly stopped and even Percia calmed down. They all thought about one thing.

'Isn't there a screw loose in his head or something?'