Without wasting any time, Valon went inside one of the empty houses in Happiness Village. He watched the townspeople depart to the neighboring village earlier with their supplies ready for infiltration. He already knew what was going to go down but the lingering discomfort that always greeted him every time another big thing was going to happen in the MGQ's storyline always made him anxious. Even more so when said event deviated from what was originally intended.
His mind was still focused on the mistake he made earlier by accidentally telling everyone a brilliant idea. It wasn't as bad as the other miscalculated actions he made before but it still annoyed him. Mishaps like that are much more dangerous than one can imagine.
It was decently executed, if he was being honest, as it felt necessary to warn the townspeople and give a reasonable excuse to stay. But it wasn't like they weren't going to do it anyway. The townspeople weren't stupid, some were obviously going to stay in the village. He couldn't help but mentally slap himself for thinking that way.
Another wandering thought was about Luka. He approached him earlier to see if he was alright. And even if he claimed that he was, the technician knew that the boy was lying.
I am the master of lying after all.
But he knew, even if he didn't put that much into consideration, that Luka was acting weirder than he normally was, or at least, weirder than how he should be behaving at this point in the story. There was indeed something that was bothering him and the most minor of details that transpired around Luka's behavior could be correlated. He didn't put too much thought into it but with the way he had observed Luka lately, especially during those times he fought the Bee Girl and the Harpy Girl, he knew that something was wrong.
He already thought of it initially when he suspected that Luka might be feeling down because of what he did to him back at Iliasburg, but it also didn't make any sense. If it was because of the explosion, then giving that strange sense of gloom would be the worst possible reaction. He was expecting fear or anger or even annoyance, not despair or depression.
He wished he could put more time into contemplating it and maybe even tell Luka some form of encouragement, or perhaps a small pep talk—anything really. But by the time he had the initiative to approach, the young hero was already leaving alongside the large crowd that consisted of the townspeople.
Valon may have underestimated the amount of time the gathering meeting was going to take and with having no clue exactly what to even tell Luka what he needed to say, Valon just sighed and hoped for the best that Luka would be able to accomplish the task of bringing the men back to Happiness Village and establishing peace between the neighboring villages.
He would have to set those thoughts aside for later as for now, he had more important things to do. He had asked one of the villagers earlier if he could borrow one of the houses where he can work with his devices in peace and the villagers were kind enough to lend him a spacious dwelling area that was suitable for his needs. They also already prepared him some food, only needing to be reheated to be eaten for later, which Valon was incredibly grateful for.
The technician went near a large table on what seemed to be a place where they harvest the honey as he placed down his backpack. He grabbed all the scrap metal and various electronic equipment inside the bag and scattered them orderly on the table. Before the usual inventory check, Valon first inspected his M.A.D. He first checked if his exoshield was ready to use, only to be surprised once he found an interface popping out.
"Extended Period?!"
Valon didn't mean to shout out loud, but knowing that he was the only one in the vicinity he figured it was okay to be more vocal with his thoughts. Besides, he was really surprised by what he just saw. He read the information displayed in the user interface, frowning once he was done.
"Yes, Valon. Lie to Alice that Granberia broke your exoshield module why don'tcha? Turns out, it wasn't completely a lie!" Valon groaned in frustration. "But where did this come from? It wasn't like this before..."
Did that savage harpy damage the module?
Whatever caused the damage, Valon was sure that he won't be using his exoshield anytime soon. He tried to fix the settings through his M.A.D. but after doing more troubleshooting, he sighed in defeat. There really wasn't anything he could do at the moment. And if he planned to improve the module, like say, reduce the cooldown time, he would need a lot of time and apparatus.
Not wanting to entertain any more of his problems about not having an exoshield on standby, he decided to move on to the other modules in his M.A.D. After inspecting the inside modules, he checked the rest of the settings and interface displayed in the M.A.D.; including another self-scan just to see if he had any traces of the Arevirus, which to his relief, he had none. Everything was going smoothly until he remembered that he no longer had a functional grappling hook.
I'm gonna need a new one pretty soon, but I don't have the necessary materials yet with me.
With nothing else to inspect in his M.A.D., Valon proceeded with his equipment. The first thing he noticed was his broken goggles. He contemplated that he could just use his collapsible helmet in replacement but having goggles would be more convenient and would lessen the unnecessary time duration of using the helmet outside of emergency situations. But he acknowledged that the goggles weren't the most important thing he needed right now, so he decided to postpone its repairs.
As for his other equipment, there were some things that he could work with or make something entirely new out of. He still had some kaboomerangs but he noticed that he was running low on them. He had plenty of flashbombs and foambombs left, but he might need to make more soon. There was the broken propulsion cannon. There were also the remains of a beacon which he used some of the scraps from but there was still something in it that can be salvaged, the collapsible gauntlet that broke when he punched Granberia in the face, and finally, the laser rifle that was still charging its power and in need of a few tweaks to be used.
He also had the portable hydroponic plant box that he no longer needed and three recon orbs that he had packed in his bag. The rest were various pieces of scrap metal he obtained from that man back at Iliasburg and from the G3 Snare Turret he found in the Irina Mountains. Valon pondered on what to work on. With a plan slowly forming in his head, he began his work. The technician started by making a replicate base for his explosive boomerangs. He turned on his fabricator and began welding the scrap metal.
Bits of sparks started flying across the room as he welded the metal into boomerang shapes. He dismantled the hydroponic plant box and calibrated the wires for multifunctional use. He used some of the various electronics inside the propulsion cannon and arranged them to be placed inside the boomerangs. With a little tinkering of the available microchips and letting the fabricator do its thing, Valon was successfully making more of the boomerang replicates.
"Oww!"
He suddenly yelled in pain as he clutched his right forearm. His forearm was covered in the signature armband that he always wore. But underneath the accessory was a rolled bandage that covered the injured area of his arm. He quickly looked around him to make sure that no one was spying on him before carefully removing the armband and unrolling the bandages.
Beneath the white binding was a big crimson gash marked on his forearm. Surrounding the gash was clear and apparent teeth marks—an image that one could see in a gory horror movie that involved cannibalism or great white sharks. Valon gritted his teeth in agony when he felt the instant contact of air against his wound. He then shortly stared at the wound, reminding him of the horrifying encounter with a true savage monster.
He didn't know what to do with his injury. It left a large mark on his arm and he didn't know how long it would take for it to heal completely, or if it ever will. It would obviously lessen his performance not only in his work but also whenever he would be in a situation where he needed to fight back. He also didn't know how his companions would react when they see it.
He could just lie that he had it before he even met them but he knew better than to do that. Alice was the one who treated his wounds during his fight with Granberia and it might put him in hot water once his companions caught on whenever he'd feel this sudden pain in his arm.
Would it matter anyway?
It was from a monster after all, and he could just make an excuse that there was some carnivorous flesh-eating monster in the Irina Mountains. Alice won't mind the information he would share about it but the uncertainty of the effects in bringing up that issue unnerved him.
GODDAMN THIS PAIN!
Valon gritted his teeth in pain once more. Sighing in annoyance, he grabbed more antiseptics in his backpack. He applied the antiseptics as he hissed in pain from the coolness of the disinfectants, before applying a new roll of bandage over his right forearm. He covered the bandage with his armband and continued working on repairing his equipment. He didn't want to think of anything related to his burning wound at the moment.
He left the fabricator on autopilot in manufacturing the finishing touches on the projectiles. He momentarily glanced at his broken collapsible gauntlet, an idea forming in his head. He put aside his other equipment and laid down the broken gauntlet on the table. He disassembled the broken pieces of metal and separated them from those that were still intact.
He continued working as the unwanted pain from his arm emerged at random intervals. It was frustrating whenever he felt the agonizing electric-like pain whenever he was hammering the scrap metal, but he didn't have a choice. He would have to make do with what he had in his current situation and if that meant a stab in the arm whenever he moved it, then he'd have to endure it.
As he forged the object he was working on, Valon contemplated on what else he could do. There were still a good amount of scrap metal and electronic parts in his disposal but the repairs needed in most of the equipment he had needed more integral parts, especially his laser rifle. He had a lot of time to think of, which was funny in a way, as even though all he did was think to himself ever since he agreed to be with Alice and Luka, it felt like he didn't have enough time to think properly.
But now he needed that peaceful yet still efficient contemplation in maximizing his time in repairing or making new gear. Because he knew that he won't get a lot of opportunities to do what he was doing right now later on. This was one of the reasons why he wanted to stay behind—to inspect, repair, and make new equipment; apart from the fact that he didn't want to join Luka in confronting the harpies.
While he was making something with the broken gauntlet parts, the technician couldn't shake the feeling that he shouldn't be here in the village while most of the action is happening far from him. How else would he know if something changed?
Now that he thought about it, though, Valon found himself being slightly paradoxical with his choices. Shouldn't he be near Luka whenever he was fighting monsters? Not necessarily near him of course, but just enough to watch him from a safe distance to make sure that everything was still on track. That Luka was fighting the way he was supposed to and he wouldn't lose, or else, not only would he now be traveling alone with Alice, but he'd also be somewhat responsible for letting something bad happen to Luka.
And that is if those bad case scenarios wouldn't escalate into something worse such as if Alice just abandoned them completely or Luka possibly being raped to death. But with the given variables, Valon gave Luka the benefit of the doubt. Now with Angel Halo on his side, the young hero no longer had a reason to hold back. He can go all out with his attacks without really harming his opponents.
After finishing his craft, he proceeded to make something else that might help him. There were some spare scrap metal from the gauntlet that he didn't get to use and he figured that it would be a waste if he didn't do something about them now that they were just lying on the table. As he was in the middle of working, however, he thought about the next opponents that Luka would face.
Valon remembered that at this point was when he'd encountered the Queen Harpy. He also knew that Luka would first fight the Harpy Twins; then the Queen Harpy, which he remembered, was the first actual boss fight that Luka would encounter in the game.
The first Alice fight is obviously unwinnable. So is Granberia. And I don't exactly count the Dragon Pup as a boss, even if she kinda is one? But even if she was, we didn't even encounter her or any of the four bandits. Just great... another problem that I'm still worrying about.
The Queen Harpy, even early-game, was no doubt a formidable opponent. She was a queen-class monster who could tank a lot of hits, even if she really wasn't giving her all during that fight. And Luka hasn't acquired the Meditation skill yet, so there was no way that he could heal during the fight. Not to mention that Valon remembered reading a source once that the Queen Harpy was technically the highest leveled monster native to the Ilias Continent.
The amount of information certainly terrified the technician. He didn't accompany Luka this time not only because he was starting to trust Luka more to handle the battles by himself but also to minimize his level of interaction with the hero that could potentially lead him to interfere again. He figured that he should also be doing his own battles by himself anyway as this was his journey after all. It was his quest to become strong enough to fight the Monster Lord and eventually Ilias, and Valon was not about to steal the XP levels that were supposedly Luka's.
But then a venomous thought climbed its way into his mind.
Didn't the Queen Harpy have this one move where you're not supposed to attack her or else you'll auto-lose?
After much thinking about Luka's latest performance as well as those little moments he made that made him different from in-game Luka, he didn't need to think twice before realizing that something bad was going to happen. The Luka he was traveling with 'seemed' to have his free will and definitely showed at least some distinctions from his video game counterpart.
Oh no...
Valon quickly finished developing his new gadgets as he packed his things in his backpack. Without thinking back, he rushed outside the house he borrowed as he made his way deeper into the woods ahead. He thanked the universe that he could see the treehouses from where he was, as it helped him know where the Harpy village was.
The technician wasn't completely clear-headed when he decided to check on Luka. Besides, that's what he was doing, checking, yes. It wasn't like he was going to just shout at Luka to not attack when the Queen Harpy does that one attack of hers, of course not. Why would he do that? That would be extremely dumb. He was just going to observe the fight and make sure that Luka does what he needs to do.
Valon could feel the excruciating pain that was practically pulsating beneath his armband as he ran to the neighboring village. It was annoying but he pressed on. It didn't take long for him to finally reach his destination.
Upon reaching the village, he was first greeted by a group of people hiding amongst the bushes. He didn't need to be the next Albert Einstein to figure out that they were the villagers from Happiness Village. He could see them in a large circle, almost filling a radial perimeter around the village. They were waiting for Luka's signal before striking. They all had their backs turned away from him so he suspected that they didn't see him arrive just now, that was until the ones near him finally spotted him.
Before they had the chance to speak, Valon's mind went on autopilot as he quickly talked to them.
"I'm with Luka. I'm one of the adventurers traveling alongside him," Valon stated matter-of-factly. "I know I said that I was going to stay but plans have changed. I'm supposed to be with him but I got delayed for a little bit but I'm here now."
The villagers looked at each other with odd looks and finally turned to him, before giving him an approving nod.
"Do you also wait here with us or—"
"No, I will assist him with fighting their leader," Valon interjected. "But you guys should remain here."
"Alright, then good luck, mister."
Huh, they didn't question me any further... that's good I guess?
Valon nodded before running to the open field inside the perimeter away from where the villagers stayed. He didn't know what he was getting into but it certainly involved trying to help Luka in some way without directly interfering. He honestly just wished he had stayed back at the house, or if he was going to be involved, stayed with the townspeople that were lying in wait.
But a stubborn part of his mind was crying for desperation. He couldn't afford just waiting back there knowing that something bad had already happened to Luka. It wasn't that his faith in Luka that he just recently established was dissipating... or maybe that was it? But it's mostly because he acknowledged that it was still somehow his responsibility to take a watchful eye on the hero.
To make sure he stays in line... or at least... close to that line.
With no time to consider his conflicting decisions, Valon ran around the village as he checked the treehouses. He didn't know if the hero had already fought the Harpy Twins but he felt that the smartest decision he could come up with was to go straight to the tallest treehouse, as that was where Luka would fight the Queen Harpy. And if he was still fighting the twins, then he'd have more time to think of a way to warn Luka about the Queen Harpy's devastating counterattack.
He finally spotted the tallest tree in the village. It grew massive in size accompanied by series of small houses on the branches and a giant hut at the highest point. He would've marveled at the sight when he heard a sound nearby. He went around the tree to inspect the source of the sound, his eyes suddenly filled with horror.
He watched a boy get tossed in the air, hitting a tree with a loud thud. The boy screamed in pain, dropping the large sword he was holding. He was then tackled by a winged monster girl who pinned him down further with her talons. Valon felt terrified from how fast the monster flew towards him but he was more scared from what she might do to the boy.
Especially since Valon knew exactly who that boy was.
"I am sorry, child. You have fought valiantly, but it's over now. I have won," the monster girl declared. "I didn't want it to end this way but you forced my hand. But do not worry, I will at least make your defeat pleasurable."
Thoughts started swarming in Valon's mind. He had so many questions. What was happening? Was that Luka, that was Luka, right? What happened to him and why the hell did he fly across the field like he was flung by a catapult? Also, that monster girl, that wouldn't happen to be... her, right? Was she the one who flung him like that? And did she say that she won?
The monster girl started to remove the boy's clothes. The boy was too weak and tired to fight back and he was pleading for her to stop, but the monster girl ignored his pleas. Valon didn't know what was going on but he did know that whatever was happening wasn't supposed to be happening. He reached for any of his mini-bombs from his belt but he quickly realized the error in that decision.
His feet responding first before his mind could as he ran towards the monster girl. He jumped in the air and performed a tornado roundhouse kick to her face, flinging her off to the side. The monster girl showed some resistance when she felt the impact but it was enough to push her off of the boy. The technician shifted his attention to the purple-haired boy who was slouching on a tree.
"Luka!"
Valon called the exhausted hero, nudging his shoulders to check if he would respond. The technician immediately recovered Luka's clothes when he realized that he was practically naked.
"V-Valon?"
The hero's voice was faint but it was enough for Valon to hear. The technician didn't make an immediate response as his concentration fell elsewhere. He saw how Luka flew through the air before hitting a tree. From his initial experience of being hit by a tree, they were nowhere near pleasant. He should know, he spent a few hours from that pain when he first arrived in this wretched video game world.
Luka was tired, that much was obvious. He was panting heavily, slouching in an uncomfortable position on the tree he was sitting on, his eyes barely open, and he had one arm that was clutching the side of his back; no doubt feeling the impact of that sturdy trunk. But other than that, he didn't appear to be too beaten. He had no wounds, no dripping blood, and no noticeable bruises. He also saw his sword Angel Halo lying on the grass beside him.
"Luka! What happened?" Valon called him again. "Are you alright? Does your back hurt? What did she do to you?"
What am I saying? Of course he's not alright! And I freaking saw what happened to him. He literally got flung to a tree!
"I uhh... owww!"
Luka tried to get up from his spot but his body twitched in pain, making him fall back down. Valon quickly caught him before he fell completely to the ground.
"Woah, woah, woah, easy there, buddy. Just, maybe don't move too much?" Valon suggested as he placed his backpack down. "Here let me..."
Before Luka could protest, Valon had already rubbed a gel-like substance from the ointment that he took out from his bag on the hero's back. Luka felt a little judder of pain when he felt the cold ointment on contact with his skin but it gradually subsided and was instead replaced by a soothing feeling.
"This is a pain relieving ointment. I applied some on your back. As for the rest of your body, I don't see any noticeable bruises, at least from what my eyes can see. You still need better treatment than this but this is all I have for now."
Valon had finished rubbing the pain relieving gel before placing it back in his bag.
"Can you put these on? Or?" Valon asked while holding the hero's clothes.
With a distressed sigh, Valon didn't wait for Luka to respond as he put his clothes on him. He carefully positioned his legs to the side before putting his pants back on him and he did the same with his shirt and his vest. Luka didn't seem to be saying anything while Valon was putting his clothes on him as he was trying to catch his breath. It was only when he saw him starting to put on his cape that the hero said something again, albeit with difficulties.
"The... leader... of the harpies..." Luka stated while panting for air. "I... tried... to fight... her... but..."
Valon stared back at him in concern after putting on his cape. He didn't want to admit it out loud but it hurt him to see the hero like this; too exhausted and weak to fight back. Almost like that time back at Iliasburg.
Remembering that moment gave Valon this indescribable yet familiar rage. His fists silently clenched, that event reminding him of grim memories from the past but he didn't know why. But it was more directed to himself, he knew he was the one to blame for letting that incident unfold. And the lingering anxiety that followed was directed to uncertainty. Uncertainty about what the hero's journey was slowly becoming.
He stared back at Luka, slouching at the tree where he was tossed at. It made him uncomfortable every time he witness the poor boy getting violated by monster girls all the time. But he knew he should stay back, he knew that he shouldn't interfere with his fights. But he also knew that majority of the monster girls Luka fought used pleasure attacks to fight back.
So why did it look like that Luka just came out from a brawl? At least he wasn't wounded but maybe a few broken bones? The boy could barely stand up without hissing in pain. He kept panting for air like he was out of breath and he looked really lethargic like his life essence was sucked out of him, even though Valon knew that wasn't the case.
"But... wait... why are you here, Valon?" Luka asked curiously, his words uttering in between his gasps for air. "I thought... you... were staying... at the... village?"
Valon felt a painful mental slap after hearing what Luka said. He was too concerned on one specific problem that he forgot the other ones that came with it. He was no longer back at Happiness Village. He was right here with Luka who was beaten up. He didn't know why he looked that way but he knew that he shouldn't. He also remembered that he was supposed to be fighting a powerful monster at this very moment.
Then he remembered that he kicked said powerful monster, in her face no less.
A plethora of emotions bombarded him. First, he felt shocked that he was where he was. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't directly interfere with the hero's journey again, and yet here he was, doing exactly that. Second, he felt worried. Worried about everything that led him to this point. Worried for Luka who took a bad beating. Third, he felt slightly angry. Angry at whatever reason that caused Luka to be like this. But he was more angry with himself for letting this happen.
He wasn't supposed to be here with Luka. He was supposed to be back at the village like he told everyone. Luka was supposed to deal with the problems between the neighboring villages by himself. Luka was supposed to confront the leader of the harpies like he planned to and he was supposed to beat her. Then he'd convince everyone to reach some sort of compromise and establish peace between humans and harpies.
"Now this... is certainly unexpected..."
Valon felt his boiling blood freeze instantly. Everything he thought of in his mind came into a skidding halt as he acknowledged the presence of another person near them. The technician turned to the source of the voice, standing only a few feet away from them.
She had periwinkle hair adorning a golden headwear. She had a simple yet elegant upper garment complemented by the pulchritudinous accessory around her neck. Her most defining features were her numerous silky soft feathers covering most of her body and her enormous wings. Her mere presence exuding a regal aura fitting for a powerful monarch. Lastly was her glistening green eyes that conflicted her intimidating expression of annoyance.
There was no doubt in his mind, it was the Queen Harpy in the flesh. He already knew that it was her who was attempting to violate Luka earlier but he was more focused on Luka to fully acknowledge her presence.
The technician could do nothing but tremble in fear. This was like the battle against Granberia all over again, except that he was in full control of his emotions this time. He was working his face off in trying not to interfere especially in an important battle that'll affect Luka's development, and yet here he was, face-to-face with the first legitimate boss of the game.
What should he do? Should he even do anything? He brought himself to this trouble, now what? Should he try to convince Luka to fight? But he is no condition to fight right now, is he going to fight on Luka's behalf? But what would happen if he did? Would he even stand a chance against a queen-class monster? Is fighting her the wisest decision right now? Is it the only decision he could make? What would happen to Luka's journey at this point then?
He could feel his head throb in sync with his injured forearm as countless questions swarmed in his head like an uncontrolled storm. He took a look at the Queen Harpy who stood with royal intimidation then he glanced back at Luka who was still lying near the tree. He did bring himself to this situation, but that was only to observe Luka and maybe try to help him without interfering too much. But now that plan was ruined and there was no escaping his fate. He just wished he could execute a good plan quick enough before even more drastic things happen.
"The boy claimed that he was alone, but that's not the case now, is it? I assume that you're with the boy?" the Queen Harpy asked in a neutral tone. "Hitting a queen in her domain is a rather serious crime, you know?"
Valon was inwardly shaking in his shoes. If this was anything like he knew how this would play out to be, he was downright screwed.
"It seems I would have to extend his punishment for lying to me," the harpy narrowed her eyes, darting from Luka then to Valon. "And I will personally carry out your punishment as well. For trespassing in our village and for attacking me."
He was aware of the situation and how it's going to change everything in the storyline and there was no going back. Siding another glance at Luka, he tried to think of a plan to at least reorient the current situation to how it should be. The hero had the same fearful expression he had, his eyes held sadness and regret.
Valon knew that what he was about to do was the definition of stupidity. He gave a weak yet determined nod to Luka before facing the feathered monarch. Uncertainty still creeping on his nerves, he prepared a defensive battle stance.
Well... here goes nothing...
Valon quickly grabbed one of his flashbombs from his belt and threw it at the ground near the Queen Harpy. The trajectory wasn't as accurate as he intended because he was more comfortable using his left arm than his injured right arm, but it got the job done.
The harpy, expecting him to charge at her, didn't expect the man to throw something near her that resulted in a blinding flash of light. She closed her eyes in pain from the bright flash and reflexively covered her ears from the nasty ringing sound that came with it. She felt dizzy and disoriented, all her senses were in agony.
Valon didn't want to do anything too drastic as besides the fact that he wanted to lessen his levels of interference, he didn't want to go too overboard in attacking that might upset the feathered monarch more than she already was. Planning to beat her up while she was under the effects of the flashbomb wasn't ideal and he knew that it was foolish to underestimate the harpy's combat prowess.
Sure, she wasn't Granberia, but apart from his injured arm, he knew he wouldn't stand a chance if the Queen Harpy was fighting seriously. And even if he managed to overwhelm her from the start, he'd eventually grow tired and end up passing out again like what happened in Iliasburg. Stalling an opponent is only as effective if one managed to endure through the end.
He didn't know how long she'd succumb to the flashbomb's effects, but a queen-class monster like her would probably suffer at a less time compared to normal monsters. He needed to be quick, he needed to act immediately. He needed to execute his plan now.
"Luka, listen to me," Valon spoke in a serious tone. "I know you're in pain right now and I know that you're too tired to fight back and probably confused about everything like I am."
"Wha—"
"But I also know that you're fighting for a good cause, to bring back the men to their village. You're here for a reason, fighting their leader because you had no other way of convincing her to let the men go peacefully, right?"
"Yeah... but..."
Valon approached Luka, kneeling down to his level, his face meeting the his own.
"Look, this is your fight, your battle. I probably sound like the most inconsiderate idiot who had ever lived, convincing a beaten dude to go kick a harpy royalty's butt. But this is your chance. Your chance to prove yourself and to everyone, that you have what it takes to be a hero."
Valon didn't show it but he felt sick to the core, manipulating the poor boy into doing something he wanted him to do. It didn't appear malicious but deep down, it felt wrong. But he knew that he needed to do this. It was Luka's job to fight and win against the harpy so that he can establish peace between humans and harpies. This was the starting point for Luka's potential in becoming not only the greatest combatant in the game but also as an effective ambassador of peace.
"It's scary and difficult but you can't go down now."
He could sense conflict within Luka through his expression, but him suddenly avoiding his glance was a sign that what he said had an encouraging effect on him.
"B-but... I... lost..."
"What? You did not," Valon stated, only resulting for Luka to give him a 'really?' look. "Okay, you look pretty beaten up right now. But are you really going to just sit here and let her have her way with you?"
"I-I... couldn't... fight... back anymore. If it... wasn't... for you... I'd—"
"What did you just do to me?"
Luka wasn't able to finish what he was saying when he and Valon heard a booming voice. Valon turned to the source, spotting the feathered monarch who was vigorously shaking her head, still feeling the effects of the flashbomb.
"Listen, I'll try to stall her as much as I can," Valon stood up, turning on his collapsible helmet. "You stay here and recover. But you will be the one to finish this fight."
Luka widened his eyes surprise before looking away from his companion. "H-huh? But... why? Shouldn't... you just..."
The hero's words turned to murmurs in the air that became quite hard to understand, but Valon knew what he was trying to point out.
He wants me to just finish the fight myself... no, Luka. I can't do that. I can't do that to you.
Luka's tone held a strong sense of doubt and hesitation. Valon figured that Luka was simply feeling fatigued, hence, he didn't see what the tone of his voice really carried. But he had already considered that kind of response from him.
"I can't, my weapons won't really be enough to incapacitate her."
"Then..." Luka paused, his voice almost turning into an audible whisper. "Why don't you... use... this?"
Luka lightly stretched his hand where he held Angel Halo.
"What?!" Valon recoiled reflexively. "I can't use that! I... I... my arms can't wield any sort of weapon at the moment..."
"Huh? What do you—"
Something started to manifest on Valon's arms. The armbands he now wore expanded across his arms up to his hands. Most of the covering appeared to be made up of a soft but durable synthetic material and all over it were pieces of metal that were embedded on the fabric. There were his new gauntlets, more slick in appearance and design, and this time, he had on both of his arms instead of one.
"But I can still punch things... kinda..."
Valon shifted his attention away from the hero, coming face-to-face with the Harpy Queen who had an annoyed expression on her face. She was no longer disoriented but she could still hear the ringing noises in her ears, albeit significantly weaker than before.
She narrowed her eyes at the stranger who somehow did this to her, whatever that spell or black magic that was. She also noticed that the man was now wearing some sort of helmet that covered his head but it also had a visor that made it possible for her to see his face.
"I must say, I've never met a human who was able to do what you did. Tell me, stranger, are you a spellcaster? Perhaps trained in the arts of the arcane magic? Or do you simply wield magical artifacts?"
Valon didn't know if it was a good idea to respond. Not purely because he wanted to avoid changing the outcome of this encounter more than he had already intended to but the last time he tried to talk while Luka was fighting a monster girl ended up in him nearly being violated. What was supposed to be encouraging words for Luka became an unintentional but offensive insult for that Mandragora Girl.
And what would he even say? That he had futuristic weapons from another world that can do never-before-seen stuff? He already had enough trouble dealing with Alice's gluttonous curiosity.
"Not talking? Hmph, not only did you have the nerve to attack me while I was carrying out the boy's punishment but you do not even speak when a queen asks you to? Very well, I shall make this fight quick."
And in an instant, she burst her wings, carrying her speedily through the air. Valon had to move forward further as to not get Luka involved directly in the chaos. He reflexively raised his new gauntlets, defending himself from the incoming assault. He had his helmet on, but he wanted to protect his face and upper body as much as he could. Without his exoshield in operation, he needed to improvise.
Valon felt a strong impact through his gauntlets. He gritted his teeth as his injured arm felt the strong force, though, he held on thanks to the fabric acting as a cushion from inside the gauntlet. He kept his gauntlets raised, absorbing five hits before he felt the harpy's talon hit his side. Valon staggered from the blow, leaving him open from another attack.
The technician fell to the ground from the Queen Harpy's wing attack. He groaned in pain, his back hitting the hard grassy soil. He barely had time to react when he saw her talon falling towards him. He quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the harpy's claws. He used his arms to get up but the moment he pushed with his injured arm, he groaned in pain as he collapsed back to the ground, clutching his right arm in the process.
He used his arms again, slowly raising himself from the ground. While he was standing up, the harpy performed a tornado roundhouse kick straight to his chest. But this was more powerful than the one he did to her as the impact sent him flying straight to a tree, almost similar to what happened to Luka. Valon screamed in agony, not welcoming the all-too familiar pain of a sturdy tree trunk against his back.
"Valon!"
Luka cried out, seeing his companion suffering the same fate he did. The Queen Harpy momentarily glanced at him, her eyes meeting his in perfect sync. Luka immediately recoiled in fear when their eyes made contact but the Queen merely closed her eyes before slowly approaching his companion. Her gaze focused on the man wearing a helmet. Through his visor, she could see him panting heavily, almost as if he was out of breath.
"I respect your courage for defending the boy. And I know you have good intentions," the Queen Harpy declared. "But let's not make this any more difficult than it already is. Surrender, and accept your defeat. And perhaps, I might go easy on both of your punishments."
Valon was unmoving from his spot, his eyes were down. The Queen Harpy didn't know if the man had fallen unconscious after taking that massive hit. Eventually though, she saw movement.
The technician's arms moved first. He placed his palms on the ground, slowly and carefully pushing him up. Then followed his legs, as he came to a crouching position before fully standing up. His left arm clutched his right arm, the armband hiding the painful injury within it. His panting slowed down, facing his feathery foe with a tired face. Alongside his fatigue came fear and uncertainty. But beneath his visor, he also had a determined expression in his face.
Without saying anything but keeping his serious gaze on the monarch, he raised his gauntlets.
"Oh? You are still willing to fight?"
Valon remained silent, keeping his defensive stance, unmoving from his spot.
"Your resolve is admirable, human. But know that you brought this upon yourself."
"No, wait! Please! D-don't... hurt... him!"
Luka's pleas fell on deaf ears as the Queen Harpy burst through the air once more. She prepared to reorient her wings for a fast-paced attack but was surprised when the man avoided her. Valon sidestepped at just the right time, narrowly dodging the monster's giant wing. The harpy was quick to notice his evasion and quickly prepared another attack.
Valon, knowing he wasn't quick enough to avoid her second attack, settled for blocking. He raised his left gauntlet, meeting the force of her talon kick. The impact from her attack made Valon slide for a small distance, but he held his composure. The Queen Harpy charged at him with her wings, continuing her assault. Valon wasn't fast enough to avoid her second attack but the recoil reaction allowed him to utilize his movement to duck from her third attack.
From his crouching position, he quickly turned and stood up while parrying her wing with a clumsily-positioned kick. Due to his growing fatigue, the pain coursing through his body, and the poorly executed kick, the result of his attack left him nearly stumbling to the ground. The harpy used this opportunity to continue on the offensive.
The scuffle progressed with the harpy being fast but in control of her movements and attacks while Valon was on the suffering end. Her movements were elegant, smooth and graceful while at the same time swift and strongly executed. If Valon could comment on her fighting style, he would be confident to conclude that she was like a ballerina dancing to a deadly music.
But for his credit, he managed to block, dodge, and parry a few of her attacks. One wing flap there or another talon kick here, the technician was able to match some of her strikes with a strike of his own. Impressive as it may be, the entire fight looked incredibly one-sided. The Queen Harpy was managing both of her offensive and defensive techniques well while Valon was solely stuck on the defensive and was barely holding on.
Though, on one occasion, the harpy kept her forward onslaught while Valon kept his gauntlets raised. She would then quickly redirect her attack on a part of his body that was vulnerable such as his legs or the side of his stomach; sometimes she'd put more effort and make a dash attack from behind, completely catching him off guard.
This time, however, Valon anticipated her fly-dashing behind him, and with a calculated reaction time, he thrusted his gauntlets at and arc angle, punching her squarely to the face. Both parties were surprised after the hit; Valon from actually managing to hit her in his current state and the Queen Harpy from the abuse her face had suffered during their brawl.
Totally not mad from the man's audacious strike, the harpy floated in the air in a fixed position. With a flap of her wing, she controlled the direction of the wind that was being generated by her movements, flinging the man away through the air.
Valon landed on the ground with a loud thud. He already had his hand on a foambomb to soften his fall when he realized he was a few feet in the air, but he was too exhausted and weak to react accordingly.
He was tired. He could feel the lethargy consuming him and his entire body was in pain. He tried to stand up using his arms, feeling the burning sensations within his muscles as he fought the urge to collapse. But even in his state, his mind was still somewhat aware of everything. One such question that came to his mind was why wasn't he unconscious yet?
He fell down to the ground. The Queen Harpy could've used that minimal window of time to finally finish him off. His eyes trailed his opponent, who was slowly walking towards his direction. Valon was confused as to why she hadn't done anything to finish him off yet while he was still trying to stand up. She was faster than him, and in his current state, he'd have no chance to fight back.
As much as his current predicament terrify him, his survival instincts focused on a different matter. The distance that resulted from that wind attack of hers just allowed Valon to think of a decent plan to further stall the battle. Carefully sliding his hand behind his back, he reached for a flashbomb as well as a foambomb.
Timing his chance, he first threw the flashbomb towards the harpy. But the distance between himself and his opponent was enough for the harpy to react accordingly. She flew to the side, avoiding the despicable orb that gave her the nastiest side effects she had experienced so far. Though she was successful, the impact from where the bomb landed was still able to catch her off guard.
The effects weren't as potent as she only felt slight dizziness with her eyes blurring for a second. But this was enough for the technician to execute his play. He aimed the foambomb he prepared earlier, throwing it using his uninjured arm with all his might. The second the orb-shaped explosive made contact with its victim, the foam stored inside grew and expanded in size.
The Queen Harpy now found herself covered and trapped in a heap of sticky and slimy viscous sludge. She tried to struggle out but the slimy substance latched on to her like glue. She tried to expand her wings but her feathers were drenched by the sticky foam, making it difficult to generate air needed for her to control.
Valon watched the harpy flail around as hard as she could to get out of the now-solidified foam. It wasn't exactly like cement but it would be infuriating to get stuck in between that mass of sludge after it settled for a few minutes. He didn't have time, however, to admire his trap work when he heard the monster girl's cry of rage—a queen's roar as one would say.
The technician was only halfway on approaching the still-fallen hero when he halted his steps. Through his visor, he could see the rapid and violent movements from her wings. Her feathers appeared as if they were alive, convulsing vehemently as they tore through the slimy substance like paper. Valon panicked, sweating inside his helmet when he realized his initial plan wasn't going to work anymore.
The Queen Harpy's sinister feathers made quick work of the foam, but the remnants of the substance were still present from within her wings. She tried to fly but her drenched feathers made it difficult to become airborne. The small gesture of flight from the harpy made Valon overreact as he quickly aimed his right arm towards her direction. A cylindrical barrel appeared on top of his gauntlet, firing a shell-shaped projectile that burst through the air in moderate velocity.
The shell collapsed midair, now replaced by a swirling projectile, rotating as it flew through the air. Valon clenched his teeth when he noticed that the trajectory of the projectile was way off. He didn't expect for the harpy to burst through the air again, knowing that she would have difficulties flying due to the foam remnants in her wings. But the projectile did hit her talons just as she was about to fly.
The rotating projectile enveloped the harpy's talons the moment it made contact. Its turning velocity decreased as it continued enwrapping her like a snake. Finally, it fully enclosed its talons, the cords that became more apparent restrained her in a rope-like bind. Her attempts of flight was stopped by the rope snare that restricted her talons. Her instincts went lose as she felt restrained from another trap, flailing her body wildly in the air in attempt to break free from the binds.
Valon then rushed towards the end of the cord that extended out of the knot, grabbing it as hard as he could. When the Queen Harpy felt the added weight from the rope bind, she started going berserk as she desperately tried to free herself. She flapped her wings faster and stronger, the force of her flaps started to generate large amounts of air around her.
Then with reckless abandon, she absorbed the gathered wind using her feathers before bursting through the air. Valon felt his entire body airborne as he was carried away by the frenzied monarch. He was thankful that he was wearing his helmet or else his screams would attract unwanted attention around him, not that it really helped, considering it was still highly audible through the visor. And from how the Queen Harpy was acting right now, waking up her fellow subordinates in the village wasn't out of the picture. And he regretted everything he did up to this point.
A war between humans and harpies was getting dangerously possible as he felt his body glide through the air. He was holding on to her like a kite, except the kite was carrying the person instead of the other way around. To his luck, though, they weren't flying high at all. Both of them were just levitating a few feet above the ground, but the flight was nowhere near comfortable due to the speed that they were going through.
Valon concluded that the foam that remained in the harpy's wings most likely made it difficult to ascend higher in the sky, but it didn't stop the feathered monarch from increasing her speed. They were buzzing through the trees with incredible velocity, and with the nauseous effects starting to take over his mind, Valon threw a flashbomb near a tree that they were closely approaching.
As he expected, the time of the explosion was accurately placed on her flight path. The fact that she was probably flying wildly with no coherent directions ironically helped in his favor. What Valon failed to consider was that he was still holding on to the cord that still bound the harpy's legs. With the Queen Harpy's flight disturbed, they both plummeted midair.
The harpy skidded across the rough patch of grass while the force of interaction that took place during the explosion caused Valon to hit the tree before he was dragged down to the ground.
"AGHHHH!"
Feeling the solid log make a loud impact on his injured arm made him scream in agony; the fabric from the gauntlet did nothing to sugarcoat the pain. He could feel the harrowing reverberation from his wound, his nerves shivering in anguish. He didn't have time to pay attention from the soreness though, when he noticed that his other arm is being pulled by something strong.
Valon was still holding on to the cord that formed a restrictive coil around the harpy's talons. He was unsure what to do at this point but he realized that the monster was desperately trying to break free from her binds. Acting without hesitation, he used as much of the reserved energy he had left to rush towards the struggling harpy.
He quickly used the cord to tighten the knot around the harpy before she could use her wings, but her constant sporadic movements caused the coil to slide up to her waist. Her legs were no longer bound as she stood on the solid ground, but Valon was able to counteract her attempts of escape when he successfully tightened the coil from her waist up to her abdomen. Rearranging the cords took a monumental effort for the increasingly exhausted man.
For a few minutes, the two individuals were in an intense tug of war. Valon was pulling the cord as he tried to restrain the harpy but the monster was doing everything she could to break free. The technician didn't want to get near over the risk of getting in contact but it was becoming more difficult to contain her. The Queen Harpy showed no signs of fatigue as her flailing gestures were getting stronger. Not to mention that Valon probably made her angrier than she already was which did not help in his case.
The man was running out of plausible options. He thought of trying to throw another foambomb but he was now using both of his arms to hold the cord. He needed his uninjured arm to maintain the grip and his injured arm, which was searing from the burning pain, was not in the condition to either maintain the grip by itself or execute a good throw.
"Luka! I-I don't know how much more I can hold her," Valon stated while panting furiously. "Now might be a really great time to..."
The technician made a sidelong glance at his companion. Luka was in a kneeling position, his legs making an effort to stand upright, trembling in the process. The hero's arms were grasping his weapon, using it to support himself. But a sharp pain from his body made him stumble to the ground.
Valon didn't know how long the hero was trying to stand up; an educated analysis told him that he was already trying to get close, given the small distance away from where he initially was. He surmised that his companion's actions were long before he attempted to speak to him. But whether it was the strange slowness of time while he was fighting the Queen Harpy or Luka simply being more in pain than he initially thought, he needed to change his course of action.
"Look, I know it's hard... but... I know you have so much more you can show. You have... goals to pursue... and I know you have more... to prove to yourself and to others."
Valon's breath was starting to fog his visor, his hands still holding onto the cord.
"You can't give up... not now. Not when you still have... gahhh... so much more to give. So much potential to unlock..."
Valon could feel his hand progressively slipping away from the cord; his voice becoming hoarse and more erratic.
"Starting on something... isn't always... easy—ahhh!" Valon made a high-pitched yell when he felt his arms being dragged. "You will no doubt... encounter problems on the way, sometimes you—aghhh my legs!—haven't even gone far... and you feel like... staying down."
"But... when you fall down... you try TO GET UP!" Valon gritted his teeth, unintentionally raising his voice which he quickly regretted doing. "No matter how much... we struggle... how much pain we endure... we all have to find ways to rise up to the challenge. Because when we're too far down... the only direction we can go... is up."
The technician glanced at his companion; his eyes meeting his own through his visor.
"You want to become a... real hero, right?"
Valon paused briefly. He was waiting if Luka was going to respond, but it was more because his hands almost slipped while he was holding the cord.
"I... I don't... really know much about... those who became... heroes or... s-s-s-successful heroes, but I know without a doubt... that they worked so hard... to get where they are now."
Okay, maybe not a lot of them but I mean we have... Heinrich... and also your dad...
"They... TRAINED! Gah... they... trained and honed their skills to achieve their ambitions. Yes, some aren't as... noble... as they seem," Valon found it increasingly difficult to hold on to the cord that bound the angry monarch. "But even if we have only just met... for a few days, I know you're different from them."
"I don't know you much, Luka..."
Which technically isn't a lie. I may know a lot about him from the game but seeing him in person... feels different.
Valon didn't know why his chest suddenly felt like it was being squeezed, but he was more focused on his arms being squeezed to acknowledge.
"And yeah... I... I guess it's my fault... for not really interacting with you or with Alice that much..."
Another moment of silence permeated the atmosphere, excluding the noises coming from the still-bound harpy.
"But I do know this... you're..."
Valon contemplated what to say next.
"You're... becoming closer to a real hero. Because... unlike those who... just wanted to get... discounts or privileges just because they're 'heroes,' you have a real goal. You have a noble ambition that not everyone... is willing to stand for."
Valon let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Not hearing any response from Luka, he continued his impromptu speech.
"But in order for you to see your hopes and dreams come true... about coexistence—grrghhhh... you have to keep fighting..."
"I..."
Valon felt his heart rate increase when he finally heard a response from the boy.
"I... I-I... can't..."
"Huh?"
"I said I can't!"
Through his visor, his eyes widened in surprise after hearing Luka shout.
"I... can't..." Luka emphasized his statement but it was drowned out by the pain that he still felt from earlier.
The purple-haired boy arranged himself to a sitting position on the patch of grass; one of his arms stood firmly on the ground while the other one was clutched to his back.
"I'm... no real hero... Alice said so herself," Luka sighed. "A fake hero. And technically, with what you said, I'm not yet one either..."
"W-w-well... I mean... yeah, but... you have the potential to become one..."
"Valon, I just got... beaten! Oww..." Luka gently rubbed his back after moving so suddenly. "And... I... I don't think... I can still fight... after this..."
The technician inwardly panicked, but he figured that he needed to motivate the boy further, even if he thought it was stupid to say it out loud. The sudden tension between them made Valon temporarily forget about his fatigue.
"Yeah... b-but... you can't g-give up... now. You can't let one defeat define your actions, especially not when you have goals to achieve. You can't go back now, now that you have already started. Okay, I admit, this dream of yours about coexistence is... a little... unattainable to achieve. And even if a lot of individuals have tried making it into a reality before, that shouldn't stop us from trying, right?"
Valon paused, waiting for some sort of response from the boy. When he heard nothing, he continued.
"Monsters and humans are in a large conflict that's been going on for generations. A lot of us are asking ourselves if peace between two different races was even possible to achieve. Many have tried but as we are now, all have failed to make this ideal state of peace come true."
The technician felt his muscles sore when he felt the tugging from the cord he was holding on, increased in intensity. He was certainly surprised that he was still able to hold the feathered monarch in his lethargic state. Although, he already had numerous speculations in his head as to why he was still standing.
"To the point that the mere thought of this concept was absurd. But you, you're tired of that, right? Tired of this constant conflict and disagreements. Because you've seen and experienced the effects of prolonging this strife. No one benefits from it; neither humans nor monsters are satisfied with this long-time arrangement. And because of that, you wanted to make a change. Not just a minimal change, but a worldwide change."
"No one paid you to do any of this. And the impossibility sure as hell didn't stop you from setting off on this adventure in the first place. Because you're not only doing this for yourself, you're doing this for everyone. For the sake of a better world, a better future. Not for money, not for fame, not for the bonuses one gets from being a self-proclaimed hero."
"But because you want to make a difference in the world. And that as a human such as yourself, you're aware that this current enmity between humans and monsters would only bring more harm than good; and would no doubt be the cause of this world's inevitable demise, if that ever happens. Even if you don't fully understand monsters, you're willing to set your differences aside to reach some sort of compromi—"
"I know that!"
Valon stopped midway in his speech when he was interrupted by Luka's vocal response.
"I... I know that... but that's not really... the issue... I..." Luka groaned in pain, now staring at the eldritch blade on his hand. "I... I don't think... m-m-maybe... I'm not... fit for this..."
Valon was disheartened by the boy's tone. He knew that it was most likely his negative thoughts that were enhanced by this humiliating defeat against the Queen Harpy that was speaking for him.
"What do you mean you're not fit for this?" Valon asked with slight curiosity, thinking of another way to encourage his dispirited companion. "Okay so maybe you had a rough start. But that's just because we're on... you know... the learning process... of things..."
"But... I always mess up..." Luka looked away in shame, not bothering to look at the man directly even if he had a helmet on. "And every time I do... bad things... happen."
Valon considered making a counterargument but decided it was best for Luka to finish his statement.
"I... messed up a lot. The mistakes I made... put you and myself in even more danger. I mean... I wasn't fast enough to save you from that Slime Girl when we first met..."
"But... she was already on me even before you arrived," even if Luka couldn't see it, he felt the man's eyebrow raise from what he said.
"That slug girl... I couldn't even fend her off!" Luka argued, his voice sounding a little louder. "I had to use the salt I had just to do anything against her."
"Yeah, but... I mean, you still got her in the end. That's what matters. And to be fair, I-I don't think my stuff could've done anything to her either."
"What about the Mandragora? That was completely my fault, and her scream paralyzed me to the point where I couldn't move. You got affected by her scream too. Not to mention that she almost raped you! All because of my carelessness."
"W-well... I mean... I... I was at fault too, you know? If I wasn't so busy getting distracted with my thoughts and just focus on my surroundings, I probably could've warned you about it."
"Granberia!" Luka's tone became louder. "When I fought her! I... I couldn't even do anything! Yeah, I learned that new move Alice taught me but... not like it did anything to help me!"
"B-but it did help you," Valon quickly picked up on his own words. "Well, not in that fight but... it's a... skill! That you are now able to fully utilize. Now that you possess a weapon like Angel Halo. It did help you win those previous fights you had after we left Iliasburg, right?"
"But look at me now..."
Luka's teeth were silently clenched. He wasn't necessarily directing his anger towards Valon but the technician couldn't decipher that otherwise. Valon was going to say something when Luka continued his statement.
"You... can't..." Luka sighed, struggling through his words. "Can't you see... Valon? Those fights I had? I... I'm weak! All my fights were poorly performed, pathetic even. I always mess up and then I pay the price because of it!"
"W-what are you talking about?"
"I... I screwed up many times! But... you..." Luka gasped for air, not wanting to say what he had been keeping to himself. "You... you were always there..."
"H-huh?"
Valon's eyes widened in shock. The atmosphere around him suddenly felt stale.
"You... you... were always there to help me. To fix my mistakes..." Luka didn't bother looking at his companion. "You were the one who helped me in fending off that slime girl."
...
"You were the one who gave me a clue on how to beat that Slug Girl since my weapon didn't work against her. You were the one who encouraged me to break free from the paralysis that the Mandragora Girl inflicted on me. You were also the one who saved me from Granberia, and you fought her in my place... because... because... I was pathetic! You had to fight her because... I couldn't do it! I failed, I lost. I stood no chance against her!"
...
"And look where that got you! Because I couldn't fight her on my own... because I was too weak. You... you," Luka's voice trembled in a mixture of guilt and shame. "You... were beaten really bad. You... I thought... you... were... d-d..."
Luka instantly cut off his statement, not having the courage to finish that sentence.
"And even if you told me that you were afraid of monsters... you were always willing to... risk yourself. I-I... told you and I even promised myself that I'll protect you... because... because I'm... a... h-hero. That it was my job... to protect because... you told me that... you were... uncomfortable around monsters..."
"But here you are again... doing what a hero should be doing... protecting those who are weak... l-l-like... me," Luka's tone became more depressed as he spoke more. "Because I failed... again! And every time I think of that time I saw you bedridden back... at Iliasburg... I get reminded of how I failed... you. And then my thoughts... get really... annoying... and it always affected me... especially when I fight."
"B-because I know... that... I'm weak. Someone like me... shouldn't even wield this... weapon. Someone like me... shouldn't even be... traveling on this journey. Someone like me... shouldn't even... be called a... h-hero."
"But you... Valon. You've done... so much. I-I'm not like you. Strong... smart... always knows how to deal with... things. And you have your... really cool... gadgets that... do a lot of... cool things. While... I'm... just..."
"L-Luka... I..."
Whatever Valon was going to say, wasn't going to be heard anytime soon. He nearly stumbled on the ground from the powerful pulling force that he felt before feeling another force hitting him. He yelped from the strong force that knocked him out of balance when he felt another strike from behind.
"N-no! Wait, stop!"
Valon suspected that it was Luka who was suddenly shouting but he was too overwhelmed by the sudden barrage of attacks that hit him in different directions. He was too exhausted to fully process what was going on and how he was being hit at an incredibly fast rate. All he could see from that point was that there was a small red dot from his radar that was speeding around in his interface; zipping through his screen like a homing missile.
The tired man settled on raising his gauntlets to hopefully minimize the damage he was suffering from, but it did little to protect him. Finally, a forceful wind attack swept him from his feet, and he felt like he was floating in the air for a few seconds before falling down to the ground. As if the damage wasn't enough, he was flung towards a giant rock where his injured arm felt the full force of the attack and the solid object at the same time, eliciting a pained yell from the man.
"AAAGGGHHHHHH!"
Valon quickly clutched his right arm. The overbearing pain made him unable to move from his spot. He was currently slouching near the rock he was hurled to, his legs laying on the grass. His mind was too focused on the burning affliction in his body, especially on his arm, that he wasn't able to properly hear what Luka was saying. Nor was he aware that someone was looming in the distance, approaching him menacingly.
He felt something solid on his waist. He also felt something sharp, but it didn't pierce through his clothes. Then amidst the painful sensations came something soft and fluffy. He looked down on his lower body through his visor and saw pink cloud-like objects that appeared to be crawling on him. They moved suspiciously gentle, but the odd gestures somewhat relieved the agony he was experiencing.
Almost instinctively, Valon looked up at the person that was now above him. She, too, was also staring at him; the man's visor didn't hinder their eyes from meeting. He recognized who this lady was, but he was too tired and beaten to care. The only reaction he could make was to look down and calm his breathing. He didn't bother knowing the expression the lady who pinned him down held.
Then, he heard her voice; low and calm.
"You fought well, human. But not well enough."
He didn't know if she was being cold or if she really was complimenting him, it was difficult to tell in his current state
"And now—ack!"
The Queen Harpy wasn't able to finish her statement when she felt something move in her peripheral. But she wasn't fast enough to react when a powerful object struck her body. It didn't feel solid but she felt a strong magical force that emanated from said object. It completely caught her off guard, knocking her off of the man she had just pinned down.
The harpy hastily brought her attention to her assailant. It didn't take long for her to sense another incoming attack, forcing herself to fly away from its source. She quickly composed herself as she gazed at the familiar-looking boy in front of her.
He had the distinctive purple hair she recognized, standing in front of the man wearing a helmet who she just previously brought down. He was in a battle stance, an abomination of a blade in hand, and a conflicted expression on his face. The boy had a small stature but his appearance didn't fail in exuding intimidation, especially with the weapon he was holding.
"You..." the harpy uttered as she narrowed her eyes.
From his awkwardly placed position, Valon watched in amazement as he witnessed a boy who practically just teleported near him in a blink of an eye. Maybe it was his eyes playing tricks on him or his utter exhaustion but he saw that Luka's hands were slightly trembling as he wielded Angel Halo.
Also was it just him or did Luka's ring produce a faint glow just then?
There were also too many factors to consider with his recent exchange with the aspiring hero but that would have to wait. Because an epic battle was taking place right in front of his very eyes. He saw Luka charging towards the feathered monarch, almost like he was bursting in the wind. His movements were vigorous and forceful but they were strained. He also noticed that he was unconsciously placing his hand on his lower back briefly from time to time, no doubt still feeling the occasional back pain.
But Luka wasn't the only one who was having a hard time. He was surprised to see that the Queen Harpy also wasn't as combat-efficient as she initially was. Sure her movements were still as strong and graceful, but Valon observed that her defensive maneuvers weren't keeping up with Luka's progressive assault, which wasn't the case back when he was fighting her.
It could be because she was also growing tired. Or it could also be the fact that her flight opportunities were minimized due to the slimy remnants that still lingered in her feathers, which would also explain why she was no longer using her heavy aerokinetic-based attacks. Whatever the case was, the battle between the hero and the monarch was no longer one-sided.
Luka would perform a Demon Decapitation and the Queen Harpy would respond with a talon kick and vice versa. With a sword swing here and a wing swipe there, both parties showed no signs of giving up in their assault. It would've been impressive to look at, though, it all felt weird for Valon. He couldn't exactly determine why but it certainly had something to do with how the actual fight was turning into.
That was it, it was an actual fight. With two opposing forces clashing with each other.
Not some sex battle that involved how much one could endure from pleasure-based attacks.
Valon didn't know why that fact bothered him but his attention was caught elsewhere. The once fair battle between two combatants was slowly becoming a one-sided match once again. Despite the Queen Harpy's difficulties, she was slowly gaining the upper hand. Luka's recent experience of loss was putting him at a disadvantage, and it didn't help that he hasn't fully recovered yet.
He was being put into a corner with the harpy's continuous assault until he was pinned down once more. Valon's thoughts went into overdrive when he noticed the risk of Luka losing again. With another glance at the hero's enervated expression, he set aside his doubts and decided to act quickly. He stood up as fast as he could, his left arm still clutching his injured right arm in the process.
Valon gritted his teeth, fighting the pain that urged him to stay down. He glanced at his M.A.D. to check if his exoshield was ready. He felt a mixture of rage and relief when he realized that it had already been operational a few minutes ago. Shaking his head in annoyance, he activated his defensive module as he reached for his belt.
"Luka, heads up!"
His voice caught both Luka's and the harpy's attention. He raised his hand, revealing a light blue orb-shaped object. He positioned his uninjured arm to take aim before throwing the object at the harpy. The feathered monarch widened her eyes when she immediately spotted the familiar-looking projectile being tossed in the air, and with incredible speed, she flew away to completely avoid the projectile.
Luka, however, wasn't fast enough to avoid the object. He was just near the harpy before she flew away. What Luka didn't expect was for the orb to hit the ground beside him as he was waiting for something to happen but after a few seconds, the orb just remained motionless on the grass. Although no one else could see it, Valon couldn't help making a smug smirk as he ran towards the still bewildered hero.
Heh, I should make more duds...
He offered his hand to the boy who was down on the ground, which the hero accepted with slight hesitation. They stared at each other for a brief moment, both of them catching their breaths under the effects of their own lethargy. Valon knew that there were a lot of things that Luka wanted to say to him, and he knew that he had a lot of things to tell him too. But the technician acknowledged that they would have to set their unspoken words for later.
"I don't really know if this is a good idea but..." Valon started, gasping for air from within his visor. "Wanna finish this? You know... together?"
Luka didn't know what to say after hearing Valon's proposal and Valon himself didn't know whether what he said were really his words or not. Both were at a loss for expressions. Both had doubts that lingered in their minds, especially after their most recent exchange.
For Luka, he never once considered actually fighting alongside Valon. He still had his issues to deal with, even more now that he basically revealed what he felt towards his companion. He assured himself that there was no spite against his companion and was more of an anxiety from himself and his inability to accept his limitations. But even with his insecurities, there was just something about the idea of 'teamwork' especially with someone like Valon that appealed to him. Like that feeling that you finally found that home you never thought you had.
Valon, on the other hand, was just rambling through ideas that threatened to pop up in his head. He was also crossing a lot of lines that he wasn't supposed to but the multiple change of situations forced him to compensate, even in the least logical way possible. Though, he'd lie if he didn't feel somewhat conflicted with his issue about avoiding interference. Like perhaps, this was something that he really needed to do.
Valon was the first to react. He quickly positioned himself in front of Luka with his exoshield absorbing the Queen Harpy's charge strike. He then retaliated by pushing her off of him with the help of his exoshield.
"I'll help as much as I can but you have to be the one to go for the offensive."
Luka glanced at Valon and then at the sword he was holding. He stared at the eldritch horror of a blade, its red eye on the weapon's guard staring back at him. His doubts were still fresh in his mind, his hands trembled with uneasiness as he held the blade that Alice gave him. He looked back at Valon again, meeting his tired but expectant eyes. Luka was uncertain about his next course of action.
He stared at the weapon one last time, gazing at the sinister depictions of the angels carved on the blade. After a while, he made up his mind. He was still hesitant but remembering what Valon told him about his ambitions about coexistence helped in slightly relieving his stress. Then with a newfound resolve, he nodded at his companion before launching himself at the Queen Harpy.
He prepared a slash attack which the harpy failed to avoid. Once his attack successfully registered a direct hit, he positioned himself for another attack. This time, the harpy was able to avoid his attack by flying to the side as she prepared her own attack against him. She was surprised, however, when instead of hitting the swordsman, her talon was met again with the transparent layering that covered Valon's body.
Using this opportunity, Luka jumped in front of Valon and prepared another Demon Decapitation straight to the harpy's neck. She staggered back from the attack, leaving her open with a kick to the face from the technician. Picking up the rhythm, Luka then struck her back with another slash. With a kick and an exoshield block from Valon and a slash and swing from Luka, both individuals were starting to overwhelm the feathered monarch with their coordinated assault.
But their attacks weren't always perfectly executed due to the fatigue that was slowly consuming them both, which allowed the Queen Harpy to fight back. She was still competent and showed mastery of control with her movements as she was able to counteract some of the pair's attacks. She would use her advantage of flight to quickly avoid the duo's attacks and she would use her wings to perform graceful maneuvers to retaliate whenever Luka or Valon failed to hit her.
Up until it reached that point where the Queen Harpy was gaining the upper hand once more. After missing her by a few inches with his sword, the harpy flew a few feet in the air before swooping down and knocking the hero off balance, before kicking him to the ground. She quickly used her wings to block an incoming kick from Valon, before rotating her wings at high speed to flip the technician over.
Luka was able to get up but was quickly met with another talon kick that hurled him across the vicinity. The harpy was about to pursue the boy when she felt something grab her talon. She looked down to see Valon, his right arm holding onto her. She pulled her wings back and pushed him off of her with great strength. The exoshield was able to cushion the man's contact with the ground.
The Queen Harpy considered going after him but gazing at that weird annoying layering that made it difficult for her to touch him directly made her change her mind. Instead, she looked back at the hero ahead of her, who was slowly getting up to his feet. She didn't look as badly beaten unlike those two but she was certainly exhausted.
Luka stood up from the ground with the help of his weapon as he slowly raised it up, ready to strike again. The Queen Harpy just looked at him with a tired expression on her face. She gave an exasperated sigh before bursting into the air. She still found it difficult to ascend higher but she could increase her speed. As her charge neared the fake hero, she suddenly heard beeping noises.
The beeping noises became louder and could be heard in shorter intervals. Her eyes might have played tricks on her but she swore she saw something glowing on one of the trees ahead of her. Just as she reached that point where that tree was, all she saw was a large shade of orange and red that suddenly overwhelmed her vision, which was then followed by a loud sound.
From a distance, Luka witnessed the harpy getting flung off in the air from an explosion that happened right beside her. He didn't know what or how it happened but he already suspected who was responsible for it. After seeing the leader of the harpies plummeting to the ground, Luka realized that this was his chance. He fought the pain that persisted in his body with every energy he had left as he dragged himself forward.
The Queen Harpy groaned in pain, feeling the full force of the explosion that happened in front of her face. She used her wings and legs to stand up on the ground, coughing from both discomfort and exhaustion. Once she fully stood upright, she prepared to unleash her royal wrath on the one responsible for that despicable assault.
What she didn't expect was the sudden feeling of weakness that consumed her. She gasped in shock when she felt most of her energy unexpectedly vanish. She felt her magic quickly dwindling, her entire body in a state of shock. It almost felt like nothing physically hurt her, but the lethargy that spread inside her felt like she could no longer move.
The Queen Harpy noticed that the boy she was charging after was no longer in her sight. Using what was left of her willpower, she slowly turned around. And there she saw the young boy behind her, with his hand extending the sword he was wielding in the air, almost like he had just slashed through something in a large arc. She didn't know why or how the boy suddenly got behind her in a short time. Then it dawned on her.
"Heh... you were fighting for a cause, huh?"
Those were the monarch's last words before she collapsed to the ground.
"Gahh!"
Valon hissed in pain after applying another set of antiseptics to his injured arm. The wound was no longer bleeding profusely but it was still throbbing in agony. The soothing ointment that he used wasn't doing it for him as it did with Luka. He silently cursed himself for letting himself get involved in a troublesome situation that led to this predicament. He just wished he could still patch up his blunders.
He also wished that he heard that knock on the door.
The technician was too focused on the giant gash on his arm that he failed to notice another presence in the room. It was only when he heard her voice did he finally acknowledge her.
"Oh... umm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, mister..."
She had reddish-brown hair, and her eyes almost the same hue. She was barely clothed but the feathers that covered her body compensated for her near-naked form. On her wings was a bowl that was filled with a clear liquid and a piece of cloth.
Valon didn't know why but the harpy standing in front of him looked vaguely familiar.
"But... umm... my Queen wanted to give you this—oh... your majesty you're..."
"It's alright, Pii, I'll take it from here."
Behind the young harpy near the door came down a regal-looking harpy, flapping her wings until she reached the ground. She carefully led the young harpy outside before stepping inside the room where Valon was. The harpy, named Pii, gave her a timid bow before handing the monarch the bowl and cloth that she was holding, before leaving the vicinity.
Valon didn't know what to do. The harpy in front of him was in fact, the Queen Harpy herself. The same harpy that he and Luka fought earlier. Fear crawled within his nerves as he tried to remain on guard. Her presence wasn't exuding any form of intimidation and as much as he wanted to stay vigilant, he preferred to maintain the peaceful atmosphere between them.
"You'll have to excuse her," the Queen Harpy initiated. "Pii tends to get shy around humans. But she means well and though she doesn't say it out loud, she actually likes being around them. Though lately, she's been feeling down."
Valon remained silent. He was unsure what to even say and as respect for the monarch, he decided that he'll listen first to what she had to say and answer only when she asks him to.
"I know you have a lot of things to say but I would first like to sincerely apologize for my actions yesterday. I let my... emotions get the better of me. I acted first without thinking straight."
The technician felt a mixture of relief and shame after hearing the monarch's apology. He felt relieved that the harpy wasn't holding any spite after the events that took place yesterday. He also felt a connection to her emotions deciding her actions. But his mind dwelled on the fact that yesterday's events weren't exactly what he had planned and that none of those things he did justify his objectives, primarily his supposed avoidance of intervening with the hero's journey.
"Valon, that is your name, right?"
The technician was initially surprised when she asked him for his name but he figured that she would've known that anyway, considering Luka had probably already told her about him. With that in mind, he simply nodded in response.
"Well, Valon, I'm sorry for hurting you and your friend," the harpy said with remorse. "I usually don't resort to violence but things hadn't exactly been going well around here. And that, along with our unpleasant relationship with the neighboring village, affected my state of mind to a degree. But still, those weren't good excuses for my most recent actions and decisions. And for that, I apologize."
Valon contemplated whether it was wise to just acknowledge her sincere statement in silence or make a form of response to further alleviate the tension between them. He sighed before choosing the latter option.
"Well... I don't really hold what you did against you. You were just protecting your people. You are their leader after all... and we were trespassing on your grounds. If anything, we should be the ones to apologize for, you know..."
"What has happened has already happened. We both made decisions that we regret, but let's just put the past behind us."
Valon was surprised by her response as well as her quick acceptance of the issue. He wouldn't be shocked if she'd display a little hostility after their battle but he was honestly relieved about her present demeanor. She was still a queen-class monster after all and the last thing he wanted was to be on the other end of her current hospitality.
He wanted to ask something, specifically about her emotional state during the fight. He meant what he said that he didn't really blame her for her actions but Valon scrutinized that there must be something else to her reasoning. Because if it was only the issue of capturing men to avoid the possible extinction of the queen's people, she would've done the same thing she did in the original game.
But he obviously knew that there was something wrong if the Queen, who didn't normally resort to violence, went for a more ferocious approach for the sake of her subordinates. And though he wanted to ask it outright, Valon had different assumptions as to whether she was really fighting her all yesterday or not, and his judgment was on the latter.
She was certainly desperate... but why I wonder?
Valon's thoughts were cut short when the Queen was suddenly in close proximity. He didn't want to say it out loud but she was close to him more than he was comfortable with. It didn't help that he could smell her intoxicating scent suddenly flooding his nostrils.
"May I see it?"
His sense of logic was instantly lost right after he heard her question. He was paralyzed, his body not making an effort to move from how close she was to him. It was also difficult to determine the context of her question with how ironically serious her face was. Oh, and did he mention how close their faces were to each other?
"Uhhh..." Valon 'intelligently' uttered like the true intelligent human being that he was.
The Queen Harpy raised her brow, waiting for a further response, also confused as to why the man in front of her was lost for words. Eventually, though, she giggled in amusement, her half-lidded eyes gazed at the man who now had a faint blush on his face.
"My, my, mister Valon. Where has your mind gone off to?" the Queen Harpy purred. "You may have taken me down yesterday but I assure you that I'm not someone you can fully handle, especially when I'm eager to 'let loose.' Though, I would lie if I say that you don't strike my fancy. Perhaps, I might consider... that is if you're willing to."
"W-w-wha..." Valon stammered, his face turning a deep shade of red.
"Oh, that expression is truly adorable!" the harpy exclaimed as she giggled in delight. "I merely jest, fufufu. No, but I'm pertaining to your arm."
Valon's embarrassment immediately turned to fear when he saw her pointing to his right arm. The Queen Harpy quickly caught on to his immediate change of expression.
"You don't need to hide it. You kept on clutching to it since yesterday. But that is why I brought this," the harpy stated as she soaked the cloth in the bowl that was filled with a clear liquid. "Do not worry, this is just our healing elixir that one of our specialists prepared. It's safe and it totally works on humans."
Valon looked away, unconsciously clutching onto the armband that held his injury.
"Please... I mean no harm. Not only because I want to make up for what I've done but I really do want to help you. I won't judge if this is something your pride can't—"
"No, no, no... it's fine, it's just... well, never mind..."
Valon sighed before removing the armband on his arm. He unrolled the bandages, hissing in pain when his wound was exposed to the cold air. He grunted in discomfort when he heard the monarch gasp.
"What... happened?"
"It's... just... an unfortunate accident..."
Valon gritted his teeth, aware that the harpy didn't believe his reason. Though, he was thankful that the harpy didn't pry further. She gestured for him to stretch his arm. He silently relented as she started to rub the gash with the cloth that was soaked in the healing elixir. To his surprise, he felt no pain from the contact with the wet cloth and instead, he felt a soothing sensation on his arm. After a while, the harpy finished applying the elixir.
"There, that should be sufficient. It won't heal immediately but the lingering pain should subside shortly. Afterwards, it will work its magic and help your skin regenerate quickly. It's up to you if you would still apply bandages, but you don't need them anymore. It's not as potent as mermaid's blood but it is still effective on almost any injury."
"Oh... neat. Uhh... thanks, I appreciate it."
Valon still felt a little awkward in the monarch's presence. He also felt slightly embarrassed during the process as the way her feathers subtly brushed against his skin as she rubbed the cloth on his arm felt incredibly relaxing. He didn't want to admit that out loud and he certainly didn't want to figure out if that was intentional or not. Her eyes on him, while she was doing it, were definitely telling him otherwise, but he quickly discarded those irksome thoughts.
After the brief internal debate, Valon lightly touched the gash that was still present on his arm. He could still see the giant red wound that marked itself on his arm. But when he felt that the pain it produced wasn't as palpable as before, he couldn't help but smile. He decided that he would still keep the bandages on before covering them with his armband.
"I must say, I've never seen those things before."
Valon was caught off guard by the harpy's question. His confused look was not lost on the harpy.
"I meant your... gadgets, I think that's what they're called?"
Crap... please no...
"They're certainly interesting. I lack an adequate understanding of technology, especially human technology. I did not possess the luxury of exposure to... makinas, as I heard most people refer to it, but I do know that some of my younger subjects are acquainted with them. I assume that you're a rather intelligent person, a man of science, perhaps? If you possess such objects, I can only presume that much. Although, I won't judge you if you're not. I was just curious."
At least she doesn't look too irritated after what I did to her with some of them...
"Oh... well..." Valon pondered for a good answer. "I guess... you can say that? I mean, I'm still not a professional in this field myself. I'm just... a student in that regard. I'm still learning new things... you know?"
"Ah, I see," the Queen Harpy nodded in acknowledgment. "Well, I think that learning about these things is an interesting pursuit. And I would also say that your friend has an admirable ambition of his own."
Huh?
"Luka, he is your friend, right? That boy indeed has a noble goal. Coexistence... that's something I've sought for so long but with everything happening in the world, I found myself feeling hopeless in yearning for such a dream. And I think you motivating him about it before was... meritorious."
"Huh? What do you—"
"Please... you thought I wasn't listening in on your conversation when you were restraining me?" the harpy gave a small giggle. "While that experience was rather unpleasant... I admire your friendship with each other."
Valon felt two things. First, he felt uncertain after hearing about his supposed attachment to the purple-haired hero. He didn't know whether being 'friends' with him was something he wanted or if it was because he felt that he didn't deserve such a bond from someone like Luka, especially from the fact that they were both from two very different worlds. Second, he couldn't help but feel scared by the sinister smile she gave him after hearing how she felt when he constrained him with his cord trap.
Okay, maybe she's still irritated...
"But perhaps, this is the right time. That finally, we embrace peace between ourselves and reach out to our human neighbors with welcoming arms. I've always avoided war and violence when I lead my subjects, unlike my predecessors," the harpy smiled before it was replaced with a sad frown. "I admit, it has been rather difficult though."
The technician opted for her to continue, curious in hearing what else she had to say.
"If you must know, our village is... lacking, I guess you would say."
Yeah, I heard that the reason why the queen basically allowed the kidnapping of men was that the harpies were slowly going extinct or something close to that.
"We used to be in large numbers but after how my previous predecessors treated their subordinates, our population was decreasing. I allowed my subjects to capture any men that strike their fancy as long as they do not hurt them. It was the only feasible method I could think of to avoid extinction, knowing that most men would outright refuse if we simply asked nicely."
Yeah, I already know this.
"Lately though, my subjects started going missing."
"What?"
Huh? Missing?
"It began a few weeks back. One of my confidants decided to scout for the nearby villages when we realized that we had practically taken all the men in the neighboring village. I didn't know how long she would return. After three days, I started to get worried. Then I called a few of my other confidants to look for her, but they never returned either."
"It's not uncommon for my subjects to leave our village. I don't force all of them to live here. If they want to live someplace else, I let them. A few had flown to the Sentora Continent to live in Grand Noah, I heard that the city had a reputation for human-monster cohabitation. When my first confidant left for scouting, I initially just thought that maybe she had found another place to live in. Though, I'd appreciate it if she came back to me first to inform me at the very least."
"But when the others didn't come back, I had a feeling that something was wrong. Of course, them being killed outside the village isn't uncommon either. Either they were killed by humans or other monsters or that they were captured, could be one of those circumstances. That was what the logical side of my mind was telling me anyhow."
"But then a harpy whom I'm close to, named Pina, decided to check if they were in the nearby mountains, specifically the Irina Mountains. She was Pii's twin sister, that harpy you saw earlier; Pina's the older one. She claimed that some of my confidants who she's friends with often visit the mountains for numerous activities. Either group dates with their partners, intense training or just spending time with one another."
"She left three days ago, and as you guessed it, she hasn't returned."
Valon's nerves suddenly went numb. It was more than the ominous statements the monarch spoke of but rather the small details she gave him.
"I left a day after to check for her myself. I flew to the mountains to look for her or any of my confidants, but I saw no one. No harpies, no monsters, and no humans. I remembered that some of the men who my confidants lived with volunteered to come with them for the search but I saw no signs of the men either. I would be less frantic if it were only them but Pina... Pina would never leave her sister. They were too close with one another and shared an unbreakable sisterly bond that I admired the both of them for."
That harpy I fought back then. She couldn't be... could she? There's... there's no way... right?
The Queen Harpy stopped herself, staring at the man, who she was venting her frustrations to. "My apologies, I didn't mean to make you feel uneasy. It's just... rather concerning. I haven't exactly been in a good state of mind since yesterday. Again, forgive me for my actions."
Valon's discomfort did not leave his body. Not after hearing the monarch's distress.
"I once again apologize but if it would be alright to ask, do you know what's happening in those mountains or anything weird happening there? I know that the Irina Mountains aren't exactly a common place for humans to visit and I've only heard rumors. I wasn't fortunate enough to find anything out of the ordinary on my last visit. Forgive my curiosity. Though, it's perfectly fine if you don't know anything."
Valon felt his body freeze like stone. He silently prayed for anyone out there in the universe that she wouldn't suspect his inward panic or his rapid change of expression.
"Uhh... no... not that I know of..."
Crap! Crap! Crap!
Valon noticed the intense gaze that the feathered monarch was giving him. Eventually, she sighed in exasperation as she stood up from where she was sitting.
"Well, if you say so," the Queen Harpy calmly stated. "I suppose I have taken too much of your time. I only came here to help heal your wounds as well as to personally apologize but I definitely appreciate our conversation. Thank you for your time."
"Oh... uhh... no problem, your... majesty..." Valon blabbered. "Sorry... I-I'm not used to addressing royalty... I-I... uhhh..."
"That's quite alright, I don't mind much," the Queen Harpy chuckled. "Oh, you're expressions are certainly amusing. Not quite as cute as your friend's but, adorable nonetheless. Fufufu..."
With that, the leader of the harpies left the confused technician in a stammering mess. Though, his embarrassment was short-lived as his mind started to fully process everything that just transpired.
"I am so screwed..."
I'm back! Lots of things happened but I was able to finish this chapter at last. This was, without a doubt, the hardest chapter I've written so far. After more than a month of work and after a total of nine rewrites, I was finally satisfied with how it turned out.
Also, I'm gonna say this now: lots of details in this story would be very different from the canon stuff in the game. Mostly the backstories and history of some characters and other elements in the game, as I would put my own variations and stuff. This is an AU after all, so if you noticed a small detail or some information that isn't accurate from the game like maybe how one's backstory should be, now you know why. As much as I like the idea that I'm just making a cheap excuse for my lack of attention to detail, I do have plans in the future involving different stories that would fit the ideas I had in mind. And possibly some logical explanations in them.
