Stood in the office, a figure writes on a piece of paper, his three talon move the feather filled with ink with precision.

  Mhm he looks out the window his sharp, golden eyes as he overlooked a sprawling city of floating sky islands. Airships drifted lazily through the clouds, their sails catching the sunlight as they moved between the islands.

  The view was breathtaking, a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the people who had built this place.

  The office itself was a reflection of his status—polished wooden floors, shelves lined with books and artifacts, and a massive desk covered with papers and books. A map of the sky islands hung on one wall, dotted with pins and notes, while a collection of trinkets adorned another. Why did I remember that.

  A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He turned, his golden feathers catching the light as they shifted with his movement. The door opened, and a young harpy with silver feathers poked her head in. "Hey, boss man, we need some help. The council is arguing again," she said, her voice tinged with urgency.

  The young man nodded, his expression calm but focused. "I’ll be there shortly," he replied, his voice moderate and soothing yet commanding.

  He took one last look out the window, the memory of his past briefly surfacing. But there was no time to dwell on it now. He straightened his posture, hands behind his back, with his wings folding neatly behind him, and strode out of the office.

  Sora woke to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the cave’s ceiling. The warmth of the morning rays brushed against his golden feathers, a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive darkness he had endured for so long.

  He blinked, his golden eyes adjusting to the light as he sat up, his body stiff and sore from the previous day’s events.

  The memories came flooding back—the warlock’s transformation, the battle with the demon, the chieftain’s intervention.

  It all felt like a nightmare, but the aches and bruises covering his body were a painful reminder that it had been all too real.

  He glanced around the cave, his makeshift sanctuary, and took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts.

  I survived, he thought, his talons flexing against the stone floor. But I can’t stay here forever.

  His stomach growled, a sharp reminder of his most immediate need: food. He hadn’t eaten properly in days, and the exhaustion from the battle had left him weak and drained. He needed to find something to eat, and soon.

  Sora pushed himself to his feet, his wings twitching as he stretched them out. The feathers were still ruffled and

  singed in places, but they were functional. He glanced down at his body, noting the cuts and bruises that marred his skin. The Divine Light had healed the worst of his injuries, but he was far from fully recovered.

  Before heading out, he decided to check his status. Focusing his mind, he summoned the glowing screen that displayed his stats and skills.

  ____________

  Name: Sora Calem

  Species: Harpy

  Level: 19 (13/1000)

  HP: 117/205 (+9/h)

  MP: 20/105 (+6/h)

  ST: 140/275 (+24/h)

  Titles: First Blood, Made Possible, Tenacious Survivor, Lone Wanderer

  WILL: 19 > 29

  STR: 19 > 24

  AGI: 39 > 50

  DEX: 19 > 21

  VIT: 26 > 31

  PASSIVES:

  Basic HtH Combat Lv 8

  Survival Instinct Lv 6

  Stealth Lv 7

  Enhanced Vision Max

  Tracking Lv 4

  Grit Lv 4

  ACTIVE:

  Screech Lv 5

  Gust Lv 6

  Divine Light Manipulation Lv 4

  ____________

  Eyes lingered on the Divine Light Manipulation skill. It had saved him more than once, but it was also draining, especially in his weakened state.

  He would need to be careful not to overuse it until he had recovered more of his mana.

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  Closing the status screen, Sora took a deep breath and stepped out of the cave, his talons scraping against the stone as he emerged into the sunlight. The forest stretched out before him, lush and green, the sounds of birds and rustling leaves filling the air.

  It was a stark contrast to the dark, oppressive atmosphere of the warlock’s lair, and for a moment, Sora allowed himself to feel a flicker of hope.

  But he couldn’t afford to let his guard down. The orcs were still out there, and he had no doubt they would come after him again. For now, though, his priority was finding food and regaining his strength.

  Sora moved cautiously through the forest, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain for any signs of danger—or prey. His Enhanced Vision made it easier to spot movement in the underbrush, and his Tracking skill helped him follow the faint trails left by small animals.

  After a while, he came across a small stream, its clear water glinting in the sunlight. Sora knelt by the bank, cupping the cool water in his hands and drinking deeply.

  The water was refreshing, and he felt a small surge of energy as he quenched his thirst. Before continuing his search, his talons crunching softly against the forest floor. The sounds of the forest were calming, but he remained alert, his senses heightened by the constant threat of danger.

  After a while, he spotted a rabbit darting through the underbrush. His heart quickened as he crouched low, his wings folding tightly against his back as he prepared to strike. The rabbit paused, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air, unaware of the predator lurking nearby.

  With a burst of speed, Sora lunged, his talons outstretched. The rabbit tried to dart away, but Sora was faster, his AGI giving him the edge he needed. He caught the rabbit in a swift, precise motion, his claws closing around its body.

  The struggle was brief, and Sora felt a pang of guilt as the rabbit went still. He had never enjoyed killing, but survival in this world left him no choice. He quickly prepared the rabbit, using his talons to skin and clean it before starting a small fire to cook the meat.

  As the smell of roasting meat filled the air, Sora allowed himself a moment of respite. He sat by the fire, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering flames as he waited for the food to cook. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on his mind, but for now, he focused on the simple act of survival.

  When the meat was ready, Sora ate quickly, savoring the warmth and nourishment it provided. He felt his strength returning, his body slowly recovering from the ordeal he had endured.

  As he finished his meal, Sora’s thoughts turned to the future. He couldn’t stay in the forest forever. The orcs would come for him, and he needed to be ready. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace, the sunlight filtering through the trees and the sounds of the forest surrounding him.

  He was alive, and that was enough. For now.

  As Sora sat by the small fire, the aroma of roasting rabbit filling the air as he waited for the meat to cook. His golden feathers glinted in the sunlight, and his sharp eyes scanned the surrounding forest, ever alert for danger.

  But what he didn’t notice—at least not right away—was the trio of goblins lurking in the bushes nearby, their beady eyes fixed on him with a mix of greed and curiosity.

  The goblins were huddled together, whispering in their guttural language, their voices low but animated. They were small, wiry creatures with green skin, pointed ears, and mismatched armor cobbled together from scraps.

  The first goblin, named Snaggle, was the tallest of the trio, and the self proclaimed leader though that wasn’t saying much. He had a crooked nose that looked like it had been broken one too many times, and his left ear was missing a chunk, giving him a lopsided appearance. He wore a patched-up leather vest that was too big for him, and his belt was adorned with an assortment of shiny trinkets he had scavenged over the years.

  The second goblin, Grizzle, was the shortest but the most muscular. His arms were thick and covered in scars, and he carried a crude wooden club that looked like it had been carved from a tree branch. His face was perpetually scrunched into a scowl, and his teeth were yellow and jagged. He wore a tunic made from what appeared to be a rat’s hide, and his boots were mismatched—one was too big, and the other was missing a sole.

  The third goblin, Nibbles, was the smallest and skinniest of the group. He had a nervous twitch in his left eye and a habit of chewing on his fingernails, which were already bitten down to the quick. He wore a tattered cloak that was too long for him, dragging on the ground as he moved. Despite his timid appearance, Nibbles was the brains of the operation, always coming up with plans—though they rarely worked out as intended.

  The trio had been tracking Sora for a while, drawn by the glint of his golden feathers in the sunlight. To them, he looked like a walking treasure trove, a shiny yellow rock that could fetch a hefty price if they brought him to their leader.

  Snaggle leaned in, his voice a harsh whisper. “Look at dat bird-thing! Shiny, shiny! Like a big yellow rock! Boss love shiny things. If we bring it to him, he give us lots of gold!”

  Grizzle nodded eagerly, his club resting on his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah! We grab it, tie it up, and take it to boss! Easy-peasy!”

  Nibble, however, wasn’t so sure. His oversized ears twitched as he glanced nervously at Sora. “But… but what if it’s dangerous? What if it bites? Or pecks? Or… or flies away?!”

  Snaggle rolled his eyes, smacking Fizz on the back of the head. “Shut up, Fizz! It’s just a bird-thing! How dangerous can it be You supposed to be the smart one?”

  Grizzle grinned, showing off his missing tooth. “Yeah! We’re goblins! We’re sneaky! We’re clever! We’re… uh…” He paused, scratching his head. “What’s dat word again, Snaggle?”

  “Formidable!” Snaggle declared, puffing out his chest. “We’re formidable!”

  Nibble blinked. “I thought it was ‘smelly.’”

  Snaggle smacked him again. “No, you idiot! Formidable! It means we’re strong and scary and… and… uh…” He trailed off, his confidence wavering. “Well, it’s a good word, okay?!”

  Grizzle nodded sagely. “Yeah, yeah. Formidable. Like me!” He flexed his scrawny arms, which were about as impressive as wet noodles.

  Nibble whimpered, wringing his hands. “But what if it’s not just a bird-thing? What if it’s magic? Or cursed? Or… or a demon in disguise?!”

  Snaggle groaned, rubbing his temples. “Nibble, you’re such a worrywart! It’s just a bird-thing! Look at it! It’s sitting there, all shiny and dumb, cooking its little rabbit. It’s not even paying attention!”

  Grizzle grinned, raising his club. “Yeah! We sneak up, use net , whack it on the head, and grab it, bring to leader. Get gold. Buy food. Lots of food!”

  Grizzle frowned, scratching his head. “But… we no have net.”

  Nibbles paused mid-chew, his twitching eye going still for a moment. “Uh… right. No net. Hmm.”

  The three goblins sat in silence for a moment, their tiny brains working overtime to come up with a new plan.

  “What about… rope?” Snaggle suggested, his crooked nose twitching. “We tie rope around bird thing. Pull it down.”

  Grizzle snorted. “Rope? Where we get rope?”

  Nibbles pointed to Snaggle’s belt. “You got rope. Right there.”

  Snaggle looked down at his belt, which was indeed adorned with a length of frayed rope. “Oh. Right. Rope here.”

  Grizzle rolled his eyes. “Fine. We use rope. But how we get close? Bird thing see us, it fly away.”

  Nibbles grinned, revealing a row of crooked teeth. “We distract it. Throw rock. Make noise. Bird thing look other way. We sneak up. Tie rope.”

  Snaggle clapped his hands, nearly knocking himself over in the process. “Yes! Good plan! We do it!”

  The trio nodded in agreement, their confidence growing despite the obvious flaws in their plan. They crept closer to Sora, their movements clumsy and loud, but the harpy was too focused on his meal to notice.

  Nibbles picked up a small rock and hurled it into the bushes on the opposite side of the clearing. The rock landed with a loud thud, and Sora’s head snapped up, his golden eyes scanning the area.

  “Now!” Snaggle whispered, his voice barely audible.

  The three goblins lunged forward, their plan already falling apart. Snaggle tripped over his own feet, landing face-first in the dirt. Grizzle, trying to untangle the rope from Snaggle’s belt, accidentally tied it around his own leg. Nibbles, the only one still moving, charged at Sora with a wild yell, waving his arms like a madman.

  Sora turned just in time to see the goblin barreling toward him. His eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively spread his wings, leaping into the air as Nibbles crashed into the spot where he had been sitting.

  The goblin tumbled to the ground, his cloak tangling around him as he let out a high-pitched squeal. Snaggle and Grizzle, still struggling with the rope, looked up just in time to see Sora hovering above them, his golden feathers glinting in the sunlight.

  “Uh-oh,” Snaggle muttered, his crooked nose twitching nervously.

  Grizzle growled, finally freeing himself from the rope. “Stupid plan! Now bird thing mad!”

  Nibbles, still tangled in his cloak, tried to stand but only succeeded in tripping over himself again. “Run! Run!”

  The trio scrambled to their feet, their earlier confidence completely shattered. They turned and bolted into the forest, their screams echoing through the trees as they disappeared into the underbrush.

  Sora watched them go, his head tilted in confusion. HUUHHH!????