Ch.2: Everyone should learn how to fly without worries.

Just then, there was a loud rustle of leaves as all the South Birds landed closer to Dragon. The one standing closer to south, which he assumed to be leader, cawed out,

"Dragon, you are blessed to become one of us after saving our important underling, the Hercules Beetle. Consider this as our thanks." A vein popped out of Dragon's forehead,

"I didn't want to become a South Bird! This is a curse! And I don't remember saving any damn Herucles Beetle! Ahhh~! Turn me back!" The bird chief looked at him dumbfounded,

"…You don't want to be a South Bird?"

"NO, I DON'T!"

"…"

"…"

"…You don't want to be a South Bird?"

"I ALREADY SAID I DON'T!"

"?"

"YOU'RE TOO DAMN SLOW, BIRDBRAIN!"

"So how can I turn back? I have a dream to accomplish." After exploding all his anger and confusion on the featherbrains, he felt calmed and relaxed again. After all, if there's a way to change, then there's always a way back… Right?

"Sorry, but we don't know how."

"Eh?" He repeated,

"We don't know how."

"Then how did I turn into this?"

"We prayed to our god, Notus."

"Notus?"

"Yeah, he's the South Wind God. We worship the south and guard his forest from outsiders. In exchange, he grants us the gift of controlling bugs with our voice."

"Hmmm… Then where is this Notus?"

"He is in our hearts." Dragon slapped him with a wing and the bird chief chuckled, "I was just kidding! He's in the heart of the forest."

"The very center?"

"Yeah, I can take you there if you want." With that, chief unfurled his wings and flew. Dragon blinked as he realized something,

"Oi, wait! I don't know how to fly!" Chief gaped at him incredulously,

"You… You don't know how to fly?"

"I used to be human, remember?"

"Oh, right! Humans don't have wings! That's so sad…"

"Shut up. Wings aren't the world. We have knowledge and many things besides that."

"But do you have freedom? To freely fly in the sky, leaving behind all worries?" Dragon blinked. Okay, maybe birds were smarter than he thought.

He paused and thought about the world and mankind and the word freedom. Slowly, he said,

"Many of us have freedom… But the ones who can truly roam freely without worries or a single care are the pirates."

"Pirates?"

"Yup, the pirates. They're people who do whatever they want. Laws, government, or society doesn't bind them… All they answer is the calls of the ocean and maybe their nakama."

"Sounds like interesting people. Are you one of them?"

"Nah, I'm a Revolutionary. I will change the world and bring a sky that anyone can fly freely in. Not just pirates. But everyone…" Especially them. Them that are waiting for me in the East.

"Then, you really need to know how to fly! It's the greatest feeling, leaving the world to have fun!"

"…Yeah."