Herothion

A knock on the door, and a little girl answers, staring at him with a strange expression.

Girl: (Cautiously) Who are you?

Okays: Sorry to disturb you. Is Mr. Taris here?

Girl: (Still cautious) Yes, this is his house. Who are you?

Okays: I'm Okays, son of Erlina. Do you know her? She told me to come here.

Okays calmly removes his mask, and the girl becomes even more wary. When she sees that he's a hybrid, she panics and slams the door in his face.

Okays knocks again. This time, an old, strange man opens the door.

Old Man: Hello. Are you Erlina's son?

Okays: (Could this be Taris?) Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you.

Old Man: Come in, and you can take off your mask. I know you're a hybrid.

Okays: (Cautiously) Alright, I'll come in. So, where's Taris?

Old Man: (Yawning) That's me.

Okays: (Just as I thought) I'm sorry I didn't recognize you.

Taris: (Laughs) How could you? You've never met me before.

Okays follows Taris inside the abandoned house, only to find the interior completely different from the exterior. The walls are lined with ancient books, and the air smells of herbs, creating a sense of comfort and calm.

Taris leads Okays to the living room, where he sits on a worn yet comfortable chair. As Taris starts talking about mysterious matters, the little girl brings a cup of black tea known in the Beast Continent as Thawudh Tea.

Girl: (Smiling) Here you go. This tea will give you strength.

Okays takes the cup, feeling its warmth in his hands. He takes a sip and notices the unique flavor—a blend of bitterness and depth that gives him a sense of energy and clarity.

Taris: (Smiling) This tea is one of the finest here. It will help with what you need.

Okays sits, filled with anticipation, eager to uncover the purpose of this meeting.

Taris: So, Okays, what brings you here?

Okays: My mother told me to come to you for help.

Taris: About your mother—where is she? I haven't seen her around lately.

Okays: (Lowers his head slowly) She's gone.

Taris: (A deep sadness crosses his face) I knew this time would come. She was a good friend.

Silence fills the room. Taris looks up at the ceiling, his eyes glistening with tears. The atmosphere grows heavy as memories flood his mind—moments of laughter, conversations, and how Erlina was always a source of hope for everyone around her.

The world outside grows quiet as the room is engulfed in profound stillness. Okays feels the ache of loss but knows that his mother's memory will live on in his heart. He also understands that he must continue his journey.

Taris: So, what kind of help do you need from me?

Okays: My mother told me to come to you to find a way to leave this place.

Taris: You mean leaving the walls?

Okays: (Nods) Yes.

Taris: Forget it. There's no way out of here.

Okays: (With a sad expression) Please, just think about it. I'm sure my mother believed you knew of a way.

Taris: Alright. If it was her last wish, I'll tell you. But it's an old story, and I don't know if it's true.

Okays: That's fine. Tell me.

Taris begins his story:

"300 years ago, I heard of a beast that tried to escape the walls. It failed, of course, but the story says it used a creature capable of flying very high. If it used it, why didn't it succeed? Because above the wall, there are beasts that prevent anyone from passing through. But the bird it used was a rare one, appearing only once every century, called the Valley Bird."

Okays: (Excited) Where can I find this bird?

Taris: I just told you—it appears only once every century.

Okays: Are you sure it doesn't have a specific place where it rests?

Taris: I don't know about that.

The Little Girl: (Interrupts their conversation) Grandpa, are you talking about the bird that's on the hill over there?

Taris: (Annoyed) Kalira, why are you interrupting the adults?

Okays: It's fine. Tell me, what bird are you talking about?

Taris: Alright, alright, I'll tell you. The bird is on the hill, but I didn't want to mention it because it's very dangerous to go there.

Okays: Don't worry. I can handle myself.

Kalira: I'm sorry, Grandpa.

Taris: It's okay. You've ruined my reputation anyway.

Okays: I'll head there now.

Taris: Oh, are you planning to leave without knowing the way?

Okays: (Embarrassed) I didn't think about that.

Taris: Yes, you're definitely Erlina's child. (Laughs) Kalira!

Kalira: Yes, Grandpa?

Taris: Go with Okays and show him the way.

Kalira: Alright. I was going to the hill anyway to pick Thawudh leaves.

Okays: Thank you.

Taris: Be careful. The mountains are very dangerous.

Okays and Kalira leave the house as Taris watches them with concern. They reach the intended hill and begin ascending it. The trees are dense, home to v

arious small beasts. Suddenly, they hear a noise among the trees. Kalira hides behind Okays.

To be continued...