How did you pull this weird plan of yours?

The fox, her ethereal black ears trembling rhythmically, radiated a delighted curiosity as she said, "I have been wondering, who are you? Why did you help me again?" The fox approached the butterfly with curiosity but received only a wordless response.

The butterfly was not ignoring the fox. rather, she immersed herself in profound thinking. Her mind wandered, pondering a simple question, "What is my name?" She struggled to reclaim recollections of her former existence, retaining fractured recollections of an experiment and limited knowledge about herself from her past, which included a brief recollection of being a man before regaining awareness of this strange world she knew nothing about.

"Oh! I am sorry for not introducing myself before! You may refer to me as Selene. And you? You wouldn't want me to call you any sort of name, right?" with a gentle giggle, and asked the fox with a touch of a little mischievous and curiosity. Her eyes recalled a fluttering candle that had once seemed to fade. Yet now, they lustered with a freshened liveliness, breathing life into her very being.

In the depths of her thoughts, she stumbled upon the number known as 22. This encounter sparked an acknowledgment, transforming her identity into the mysterious code name" IRIS," engraved within the confines of the vessel she now inhabited. As she delved deeper into her consciousness, pieces of her past stayed shrouded in mystery, leaving her with little understanding of who she actually was.

"I..." IRIS, a name carved in the pod, arose in her head, echoing, and grew into the image of her newfound identity. Robbed of her past, she rebelled against the concept that one's history defines its worth. She decided she'd make her own path with a new name and identity, determined to engrave her newfound life into the beginning of her history.

"I?" Selene wondered curiously, her eyes fixed on the butterfly. She had expected a proper introduction, perhaps a name or a glimpse into the butterfly's world. Instead, all she received was a simple pronoun. However, Selene's curiosity was eager, and she tilted her head, her tails swaying with excitement, eager to hear her name.

"I am Iris. Nice to meet you, Selene," she whispered softly, her lips curving into a gentle smile. It was a name she had chosen that they left along with her like a long-forgotten past. With the name Iris, she had accepted a newfound identity, shedding the remains of her forgotten old life like a cocoon cast aside.

Though she has fully embraced her newfound identity, a persistent determination has lit up within her, driving her to uncover the forgotten past until, piece by piece, it forms a bigger picture. With a gentle flicker in her eyes, she stretched her hand towards the unknown. Iris, a name once a mere code, has become her very being—a symbol of the past, present, and future she will create as she moves forward. She will bloom with grace and elegance, like the vibrant petals of the iris flower.

"Iris... such a lovely name you possess. Iris~ Could you please refresh my memory as to why you helped me? Hahaha, while I must admit that it was slightly embarrassing for you to say, strangely I was touched by your word, hahaha. Therefore, I'm very thankful to you, Iris." Selene playfully gave her gratitude, with a mischievous in her eye.

"As the giant smoked before me, fear gripped me as I trembled uncontrollably. Yet, when I caught a glimpse of your eyes, slowly losing their light of hope, it reminded me of myself back then when I was losing hope..." At that moment, Iris entertained Selene's teasingly asked question.

"I see... I'm sorry, Iris. I didn't mean to talk about something that would remind you of something uncomfortable," Selene's expression softened, her teasing behavior replaced by genuine concern. 

"It's alright, Selene. Really, it's not that uncomfortable," Iris managed to smile but a weak one, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and sadness. 

"Iris, could you entertain me for a moment? I'd like to have this chance to talk and get closer to my savior," A moment of quiet passed between them before Selene spoke again trying to change the subject, her tone gentle yet curious.

Iris nodded, willing to satisfy her newfound friend's request. Curiosity sparking in her eyes, she said, "Of course, what do you want to talk about?"

"How did you pull this weird plan of yours?" Selene asks with a trace of force not to laugh.

"How on earth did you come up with such a weird plan?" Selene asked, a mix of playful to her tone that Iris noticed. 

"Are you mocking me, Selene?" Iris couldn't help but chuckle at Selene's remark, she too found her plan a bit weird.

"My my, calm down, Iris; I am genuinely curious," Selene assured her, her voice was gentle.

"*Sigh* Alright, alright, I'll tell you," Iris replied, deciding to share the story behind her weird plan. Iris narrated the difficult experience of her encounter with the wolf and the pack of monkeys's food on the cliff's edge.

---

"I'll be back," Iris whispered to herself as she walked into the unknown, her determination fueling her steps. She explored the surroundings for any sign that might aid her in freeing the captive fox and preparing an escape plan from the clutches of the giant.

Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes sent her heart pounding. A growl, low and menacing, filled the air. With a wave of adrenaline, Iris fled, her legs carrying her quickly away from the wolf, a monstrous creature resembling a lion in size and ferocity, and was relentless in its hunt.

Iris knew her speed was the only reason why she was still alive despite the chase of a fast predator; any ordinary human would have died by the beast's chase long before they could run. But her speed was different, it was not a human possessed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of running, they reached a cliff. On the cliff edge, a pack of monkeys feasted on mangoes, and the monkeys darted away at the first glance of the predator. Their smaller forms took her attention, the monkey was way smaller compared to what she knew.

"Kyahhhhhh!" Iris cried out as she slipped through the leftovers of the monkeys' food, But there was no time for rest as the wolf closed in, slipping on the scattered mangoes and crashing into Iris with force pushing her into the cliff.

In a desperate bid to save herself, Iris grasped onto a nearby branch, her fingers clinging to it with desperation. But she knew her strength wouldn't hold out forever, and she knew she didn't have any more energy to hold after the long run with the predator.

"Come on! How do you fly? This is the right moment when I need these wings!" Iris pleaded in desperation. And then, as if in response to her plea, a strange sensation flowed over her, a tingling warmth spreading through her body.

And then, something unexplainable, her wings began to glow, a light emanating from the complex patterns carved upon them. With her instinct and faith in herself, Iris released her grip on the branch and flew into the open air.

Iris also narrated the miraculous flying she had learned, the joy mingled with surprise as she soared the skies above. She also spoke of gathering materials, crafting sharp weapons, setting a trap, and planning their escape from the hand of the giant.

But in the middle of success in her story, she still has no single idea of how to fly at will despite being able to fly during that moment.