Fitoria sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. It had been a while since she had allowed herself to relax like this, surrounded by her kin, away from the burdens of the world.
Yet, even as she tried to savor the moment, an unease settled in her chest.
Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, her senses stretching beyond what the eye could see. The wave was approaching—it was inevitable. But something felt… different this time.
She didn't know why, but a strange heaviness pressed down on her, a weight that had nothing to do with the usual dread of the waves. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Fitoria shifted uncomfortably, her wings twitching. Something was coming. And for the first time in a long, long while, she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.
She slowly lowered herself to sit, nearly squashing a smaller filolial beneath her. The tiny creature let out a startled chirp before scurrying away, its feathers ruffled in alarm.
Fitoria let out a soft sigh, offering a brief apology before turning her gaze back to the horizon.
The land stretched endlessly before her, peaceful and undisturbed. Yet, that peace was an illusion. She could feel it—a shift in the air, a weight pressing down on the world itself. The waves always carried a sense of dread, but this… this was something else entirely.
Her body tensed as an unfamiliar sensation settled deep within her chest, one she hadn't felt in a very long time.
Fear.
She attempted to shake off the growing dread, forcing herself to focus on something—anything—else. Her eyes landed on the large bug that's been scuttling across the field in front of her, its green shell glinting in the sunlight.
Fitoria tilted her head, watching it move with an almost lazy curiosity. It twitched its four antennae, oblivious to the weight of her gaze, before continuing on its way.
For a brief moment, the tension in her chest eased. But it didn't last.
That oppressive feeling was still there, lingering like a storm on the horizon, whispering that something far worse was coming.
"Hey there!"
The sudden noise shattered the quiet, sending the filolials into a frenzy. They chirped in alarm, their feet kicking up dust as they scurried to hide behind their queen, pressing close to her for safety.
Fitoria's feathers bristled as she turned sharply toward the source of the sound. Her eyes narrowed. That feeling of unease she had tried to ignore surged back, stronger than before.
But what she saw replaced her fear with… confusion. Bewilderment. She wasn't sure what to feel because the entity before her was tiny—smaller than even her humanoid form.
Her sharp eyes scanned it over, taking in its strange appearance. Round body, short limbs, a snout…
"A pig?" she mumbled to herself, tilting her head.
She meant no disrespect, of course, but she was already on edge. And out of all the things she had expected, this was certainly not one of them.
The small figure smirked.
"I could say the same about you big one, a bird of your size would need to consume dragons, haha!"
Brushing the insult aside, Fitoria leaned down, her features relaxing as she observed the tiny creature more closely. Whatever it was, it didn't seem threatening—at least, not in the way she had expected.
"What do you want, beastman?"
"Oh I want many things but right now I want your cooperation."
Fitoria blinks in surprise.
"You want my help?"
The small figure begins slowly pacing back and forth. "Yes, I want you" The pig points his rake at her. "To help defend the heroes during the next wave."
"And why is that?"
"Well, a certain brat has decided to rebel against his father, and it's safe to say he plans on attacking the heroes during the wave."
Fitoria was even more confused now, was he purposefully trying to be cryptic, or did he simply enjoy speaking in riddles? She narrowed her eyes, trying to decipher his words.
"A brat rebelling against his father?" she repeated. "And what does that have to do with the wave?"
The small figure crossed his arms. "At the moment everything."
Before Fitoria could respond, the man continued, his tone unwavering.
"If you don't go, our great heroes will be dead in a few hours."
His words hung in the air like a storm on the horizon. Fitoria's eyes narrowed, scanning him for any sign of deception, but there was none—only certainty. The weight behind his statement sent an uneasy shiver down her spine.
Fitoria's eyes narrowed, her sharp instincts picking apart the weight behind his words. "You're saying the heroes won't survive this wave?"
The small figure gave a slow nod. "Not unless you intervene."
A cold breeze swept through the plains, rustling her feathers as she processed his statement. The first few waves were weak, trials meant to strengthen the heroes to help them deal with the stronger waves that proceed them, not death sentences. If they were truly at risk of being wiped out so soon, something was terribly wrong
Her gaze lingered on the peculiar being before her. His presence unsettled her—he was small, insignificant in stature, yet something about him felt… off. Dangerous.
"…Who are you?" she finally asked, her voice firm.
The figure smirked, his expression unreadable. "Just a concerned observer."
Fitoria's frown deepened. "If you're so concerned, why not intervene yourself?"
At this, the figure let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Because I have other priorities. I'm searching for something… and unfortunately for your heroes, it takes precedence."
Before she could press further, he turned as if to walk away—and in the blink of an eye, his form flickered. One moment he was there, the next, his body dissolved into a swirling black mist. A faint red glow pulsed at its center, like a smoldering ember in the darkness. The mist twisted unnaturally, writhing for a moment before scattering into the wind, vanishing as if he had never been there at all.
Fitoria sat frozen, her feathers ruffling in the unsettling silence he left behind. His words echoed in her mind, a warning she couldn't ignore.
She didn't have time to hesitate. If she wanted to reach the heroes in time, she had to be ready to move the moment they were transported to the wave's battlefield.
Three hours.
That was all she had.
And frankly, it was all she needed.
With a deep breath, Fitoria spread her wings, her sharp gaze fixed on the horizon. The uneasy feeling in her chest remained, but she pushed it aside. Whatever this "concerned observer" was after, she would deal with it later. Right now, the only thing that mattered was ensuring the heroes survived what was coming.
Looking back at her flock, she offered a brief but reassuring glance, silently promising her return.
Then, with a powerful leap, she took to the skies, vanishing into the distance like a streak of light.