Of All Things, I Became a Crow

*Rainelle’s POV

"I, I'm sorry, Rainelle! Are you surprised?"

I flew up to the closet and tried to catch my breath while shouting,

“Caww!”

Gee, I'm really surprised!! If you suddenly pat me on the back, my heart is going to fall!!

I couldn't transform into a human while sitting on the closet. As I got angry by cawing, Karmeut smiled apologetically and said,

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you. I came to you to see if you’re okay because you’re trembling."

That calmed my pounding heart a little. I was startled by his apologetic gaze and my anger subsided. After calming myself and flattening my puffed-up feathers, I flew to Karmeut.

I felt a little sorry for yelling at him, so I sat on his shoulder and rubbed my beak on his cheek. The softness and warmth of his cheek reached the tip of my beak.

---It's possible to apologize in human form, but I think I'd be too ashamed if I did, so I'll just say sorry in my crow form.

Karmeut smiled a little at my actions, then he raised his hand and tickled my cheek. His touch was sweet, but his voice that followed was full of mischief,

"If you're going to say sorry like this, I like it better if you turn into a human."

I pretended not to hear that by turning my head away.

...who are you trying to shame? Hah! I won’t look at you!

As I kept looking away with that will, a sigh filled with regret can be heard.

But then I soon turned my head at the gentle touch on my wing and was met with a smile along with golden eyes.

...I always thought so, but he really has pretty eyes. They have a gold-like shine, but they’re also transparent like a diamond, I think? They looked prettier than the jewels I played with before. I can say so because I’ve played with them to my heart’s content.

It’s really nice to see those eyes tinged with joy or happiness as they bent gently...

Just imagining it, I felt heat rush to my face, so I turned my head away again. I heard a voice filled with curiosity calling me, but…

My face feels like it’s going to blow up, so I can't look back!

I'm glad I'm a bird! If I had a human form, I’d probably have been caught red-faced by Karmeut! Oh, so embarrassing! What am I going to do If I get so embarrassed just thinking about it?!

When I felt like I have calmed down a bit, I carefully turned my head back yet again to look at Karmeut.

As if he had been waiting for me to turn around, my eyes met with his golden ones. The eyes that were bent with joy were so pretty that I stared at them blankly as if I was possessed for a moment.

"Why are you acting so cute today, Rainelle?"

At the same time as a small chuckle could be heard, I opened my eyes wide. Karmeut then grabbed my body and lifted it. I couldn't move because he held my body’s sides with both hands. The next moment, Karmeut lightly kissed me on my beak.

"It's a bit disappointing that you’re not in your human form... If you act like this, I can't stand it because you're too cute."

...you just rush in when I’m defenseless like this? Even though you have a handsome face, if you do things this way, it’s really...!

I couldn't even get angry at Karmeut's action of cuddling me in his arms while smiling.

Me who spaced out while opening my beak wide might just be funny. Besides, my wings were restrained, so me puffing up my feathers might not be too effective...

"We're alone right now... can't you turn into your human form?"

He whispered in a soft voice while I tried hard to pretend not to notice Karmeut’s scratch below my head

...how can I transform into a human after you’re doing something like that!! You want me to die of shame?! ? I don't want to! I definitely don't want to!! I'm not going to turn into a human!

The reason why I didn't leave Karmeut's lap even though I uttered words of protest in my heart was because this place was warm, firm, and felt comfortable. I was pretending not to know what Karmeut was saying while enjoying his hand that stroked my head when I heard knocking,

*knock, knock, knock*

"-Come in."

Karmeut's voice was low and stern, as if he had never spoken gently and softly.

---Doesn't he seem a bit nervous for some reason? Who is it anyway? No one has visited Karmeut these days.

I tilted my head and watched the door being opened. The person who opened the door and entered was very familiar to me.

'He’s Galenos, right?'

It must be true because he was wearing a knightly robe and had reddish-orange hair. But why did he come? I don’t seem to have seen Galenos come unless he was called.

But it seemed that I was the only one who was puzzled because Karmeut opened his mouth after letting out a brief sigh like he had expected Galenos to come.

"Are you here to spar?"

"...please excuse my rudeness, Your Highness, but I think that you shouldn’t neglect your training now that you’re going to participate in Bozcourt soon. Of course, it will not be the same as facing a sword in human form, but I think it will be helpful in its own way."

As Galenos lowered his head while saying that, Karmeut let out a long sigh. I was puzzled by his behavior which was somehow accompanied by a dissatisfied expression on his face.

...Galenos seems to have thought of helping Karmeut in his own way, but why does Karmeut look like that? His loyalty is evident in the original storyline, right?

I wondered why Karmeut responded like this, but there was no way I could return to my human form now. And I also didn’t want Karmeut to die.

I flew lightly from Karmeut's lap and landed on Galenos’ shoulder. As if flustered, the knight shook a bit, so I balanced myself by putting more strength in my claws. Then I cawed while looking at Karmeut.

Confusion permeated his golden eyes, and it soon faded and was then dyed with the light of resignation. He was laughing like he really couldn't win, then he nodded his head.

"Okay, Rainelle. I'll do as you say."

"......?"

"Sir Windster, wait at the training ground until I’m ready."

"-----!! Yes, My Lord."

Looking at Galenos's face, which brightened at once, I clicked my tongue inside.

...he won’t be able to fool anyone. His face really exposes everything.

Anyway, my goal is achieved.

And so, before Karmeut called, I had spread my wings, flew over, and landed on his shoulder. When Galenos got up from his seat, said his farewell, and left the room, I raised my wings slightly to him.

"You’re going to follow me to the training ground, Rainelle?"

I cawed with the meaning of: "Yeah! I'm going to go out of this room for the first time in a long time and fly! "

Karmeut chuckled a little, stroking me on my back, and said,

"But you can’t go far, alright? Because the same thing as last time could happen."

When he said ‘the same thing as last time’, I remembered that bastard Luwellin. It made me feel sick just thinking about him, so I hurriedly nodded my head.

Karmeut added with a gentle smile,

"It's fine if it’s around the training ground, as long as you don't get out of my sight. You can fly around the training ground as much as you want while I’m sparring. Understand?"

Oh, really? Thanks!! I was just feeling stuffy since I always stayed in the room!

As I rubbed my face on his cheek with gratitude, the sound of soft laughter tickled my ears. I enjoyed the touch that came after which made my heart flutter.

***

The training ground that I came to with Karmeut was wider than I expected. Various tools were placed on a corner of the training ground. They were arranged on a lot that had flooring which was made from neatly arranged stones. It was to the point that there was not a single blade of grass that can be seen. There were wooden swords, protection gears, and things like that.

With a curious mind, I sat down on the stand on which the wooden swords were leaned and looked at them. Karmeut chose a wooden sword and picked it up.

"Sir Windster."

"Are you ready, Your Highness?"

Perhaps he had prepared in advance as Galenos was not wearing a knightly uniform, but rather a lighter-looking outfit. He was wearing only a white shirt, trousers, and a simple protective gear that covered the main areas of his body, but strangely, he looked sharper than when he came into the room earlier.

Somehow… I don't know if this metaphor is right, but… it feels like a beast that’s stretching before hunting…?

I swallowed my saliva, feeling as if there was an invisible thread in the air that was being pulled tautly. Without realizing it, I put my feathers closer to my body.

Karmeut opened his mouth,

"I don’t want you to go easy on me."

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After a brief nod, Galenos straightened his posture as he stared at Karmeut who also took his stance. Then he ended the talk in a calm tone,

"I will let Your Highness make the first move."

"Don't regret it. Haap!"

I was startled when Karmeut ran straight toward Galenos with his wooden sword swung in just a moment, but that thought was quickly overshadowed as Galenos calmly blocked that.

'Damn, that's amazing.'

Karmeut wasn't slow, but what about Galenos who blocked that attack? I thought that it was half amazing and half awesome.

Despite the fact that his attack was blocked, Karmeut immediately took a half step back and then swung his sword towards Galenos’ left flank, so Galenos lowered his sword and blocked it with his wooden sword.

"As expected of Sir Windster...!!"

"Thank you for the compliment."

*Heupp!*

That was the moment when I thought Karmeut had inhaled a breath. For a while, Karmeut's body seemed to become blurred, but I heard a continuous loud noise at the same time.

*Dab! Dab, dab, dab!!*

It really sounded like that to my ears. The sound of a wooden sword hitting another wooden sword was clear, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see what was happening.

All I could see were sweatdrops scattering in the air and Karmeut's serious look. I stepped back a bit.

When Karmeut suddenly went to Galenos’ back, I was so startled that I puffed up my feathers without realizing it.

But what was even more surprising was Galenos' reaction. He calmly accepted the attacks as if he could see everything. No one should be calm if they’re going to be hit by a wooden sword that is swung with enough strength until it makes a sound like that, right?

By the way, Galenos is really strong. He blocked everything while barely moving from his spot. Is it because he's a knight? Or is it a target character buff?

I unknowingly opened my beak and looked at the two of them stupidly. They were moving so fast that I couldn't see their movement with my eyes, but I felt great. Galenos is a knight, but I didn't expect Karmeut to be this strong. Um, I have seen him kill a gnoll with a single swing of his sword before, but...

"Ugh!!"

With a loud thud, Karmeut was pushed all the way back. Sweat was dripping down from his forehead and he was short of breath.

"There’s impatience oozing from the tip of your sword. If you don't keep your composure, there will be gaps, and the enemy won’t miss the gaps. Don't create even a gap. A momentary gap can determine life and death."

Galenos, who made a move that seemed like he was flicking the sword with one hand, said that and straightened his posture. At his words, Karmeut responded with a brief groan,

"...was I in a hurry?"

"Yes, it felt like you had to beat me."

Kamut lowered his head at those words. After taking a deep breath, he lifted his head and pointed his wooden sword forward. His golden eyes looked calmer than before, and my heart was pounding for some reason.

"I'm sorry... I was obviously impatient."

...and it seemed that Karmeut glanced at me ...was it an illusion?

"I’ll ask for one more round."

"I will spar with you again and again if that is what Your Highness wants."

After those words were said, they started another round, and I felt like I was getting dizzy. Is it because I strain my eyes too much to see movements that my eyes can't follow?

I shook my head as I watched their battle. Then, I trembled lightly at my sudden thought.

Now that Karmeut is sparing with Galenos… then, wouldn't it be okay for me to sneak out of here and spy on that bastard Luwellin for a while?

Karmeut didn't want me to go far from him, so now’s my only chance. ...but is it really okay if I go alone? If caught by him, won’t I really die this time?

To be honest, I didn't even want to see the tip of Luwellin’s hair. My body still trembled and I got out of breath when I think of the broken wing and that bastard who couldn’t even be compared to dogs because I felt sorry for them. Still... I didn’t want to stay still when Karmeut might die.

The reason why I couldn't easily take action even when I thought like that was because I also thought, ‘wouldn't my actions be a nuisance?’

...Well, there was a lot of that pattern in novels. How a heroine who was incapable of defending herself was worried about others. She moved while being worried, but it became a nuclear sweet potato¹.

Sweet potato… that made me remember the time when I was kidnapped by Luwellin. It was like I was stabbed in the chest. Th, then I didn't trust Karmeut for no reason and was avoiding him, but…

Haa---

I let out a deep sigh. There was also the thought that I shouldn’t do it, but it was on par with the thought that I should. I also felt a lot of anxiety about the future. It might have been because of my actions that made things go differently from the original storyline.

It felt like my head was about to explode at the crossroads of two fierce arguments in my head. So I spread my wings and with a swish, I flew away.

***

Notes:

1 Sweet potato: A slang. It’s an expression to a frustrated or impatient feeling about a situation or a person, a feeling that’s similar to what you may feel when you eat sweet potato without any beverage.^↩