The Winged Race

Day fourteen of the adventure.

Rhode and Serie encountered the Winged race.

This was a race created by the Goddess of Life, humanoid with feathered wings on their backs, somewhat resembling the angels of legend.

The figure had been flying in the sky, but upon spotting Rhode and Serie on the ground, they flew directly toward them, startling Rhode into thinking it was an attack—he nearly hurled a strike their way.

Fortunately, Serie stopped him.

After all, in theory, her Elf race and the Winged race were allies.

Pure white wings cut through the clouds as a Winged race woman landed lightly before the two.

Silver soft armor hugged her frame, pale golden hair flowed, and her azure eyes regarded them with a hint of curiosity.

"Elves?" Her voice was pleasant, but she frowned slightly when she saw Rhode. "And a... human? What an odd pair."

The fact that she recognized him as human made Rhode a little excited.

He couldn't help stepping forward half a pace. "Hello, we're travelers. Where have you seen other humans?"

"Human and Elf travelers? That's rare."

The Winged race woman muttered a few words, neither answering Rhode's question nor looking at him. Instead, she folded her wings first, sunlight gilding the edges of her white feathers.

"I am Messenger Lia. Have you seen a dwarf village? The chieftain there is named Amuro."

Rhode and Serie exchanged a glance, and the latter spoke: "Fly east for half a day's journey, and you'll reach it."

"Thank you."

With that, Lia spread her wings, ready to take off. Rhode quickly looked at Serie, and as if reading the meaning in his eyes, she asked, "May I ask why you're seeking out those dwarves?"

Lia thought for a moment, then decided there was no need to hide it from an ally.

"It seems you don't know yet. The Winged race, Elves, and Dwarves have joined forces to launch a thorough purge of the Monsters. This time, we're assisting the new Dwarven King in rallying scattered dwarf clans across the world."

The world was simply overrun with Monsters, severely threatening the survival of every race.

This forced them to temporarily set aside their conflicts and turn against the Monsters—a common enemy of all races worldwide.

Serie frowned slightly. She hadn't expected such a development so soon after leaving the Elf Forest.

Still, it wouldn't affect her and Rhode's journey, since her goal from the start had never been those Monsters, but the gods.

"Then, about the humans you mentioned earlier—where did you see them?"

Lia pondered for a moment, then said, "About ten years ago, I saw them in the Gremir Forest to the west. But it was a very small tribe, maybe just a few hundred people. I'm not sure if they're still there."

In Lia's eyes, the human race was far too weak.

So weak that she paid them no mind at all. If not for seeing Rhode, a human, she probably wouldn't have even recalled the race.

"Gremir Forest," Rhode repeated softly. Finally hearing news of humans from this era made him a little excited.

Lia spread her wings. "If you're going there, I'd suggest avoiding the Death Swamp. There have been Demon Race activity there recently."

The Demon Race was few in number in this world, but each Demon gathered a large horde of Monsters around them, and they could even control those Monsters—a massive threat to any living being.

Serie nodded. "Thanks for the warning."

Lia flapped her wings and took off, her white feathers gleaming in the sunlight. Before leaving, she added, "May the Goddess of Life bless your journey."

Both the Elf race and the Winged race worshipped the Goddess of Life, so her words were unremarkable.

As for Rhode, a human, the Goddess wouldn't withhold her blessing. Besides, humans didn't seem to worship any gods—and even if they did, Lia wouldn't care, since they were just weak creatures.

After all, in the Mythical era, the phrase "may you receive the Goddess's blessing" couldn't be thrown around carelessly. It was only proper between races that shared the same faith.

If you said it to a race that worshipped a different goddess, they'd think you were trying to convert them, which could easily invite trouble.

Once Lia's figure vanished into the sky, Rhode turned to Serie. "Let's go. Gremir Forest—conveniently, it's also to the west."

Serie looked at Rhode's eager expression and said flatly, "Gremir Forest is only a month's journey from here. But if we detour around the Death Swamp, it might take three extra months."

"A month's journey, huh." Rhode rubbed his chin, his gaze drifting to the western peaks. "Three months is a bit long."

Back when he had no goal or direction, he'd traveled alone through this world for so long without feeling rushed. But now, hearing news of his own kind, he was starting to grow impatient.

Serie lightly kicked a pebble at her feet. "Or we could just cut straight through the Death Swamp."

"Didn't that Winged race woman say there's Demon Race activity there?" Rhode looked at her in surprise.

Deep down, Rhode didn't want to take risks, even with Serie by his side.

"So what?" Serie's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "This is a good chance for you to see firsthand how terrifying the Demon Race can be."

"Spare me, please. I don't think I can beat a Demon."

Every Demon was born from countless Monsters, and their strength was likely monstrous. Rhode had no confidence in that.

"Relax. Don't you have me?"

Rhode shot a sidelong glance at the overly confident Serie. If this were Serie from thousands of years later saying that, he might believe it. But this Serie, only a few hundred years old? She should get past the famous violinist Miss Aura first.

Suddenly remembering something, he pulled a yellowed parchment from his pack. It was the map Amuro had given him before they left, though the information on it was a bit outdated.

"There's a small path next to the Death Swamp." He pointed at a faint mark on the map. "If we take this detour, it might only add half a month."

Lord Serie leaned in for a closer look, her golden strands brushing against Rhode's cheek, carrying a faint, delicate fragrance.

She furrowed her brow slightly, immediately spotting the map's aged traces. "This map of yours is already over a hundred years old."

"Cough, cough—it seems to be one Amuro used on his adventures back in the day, but it should still be usable, right?" Rhode's tone was laced with doubt.

Lord Serie turned her head. "Suit yourself. But if danger comes—"

"I know, I know," Rhode said with a grin as he shouldered his pack. "I'll be the first to hide behind Lord Serie. When that happens, I hope Lord Serie will take pity on this humble servant who's served so diligently and save my skin."

Hearing Rhode's somewhat comical remark, Lord Serie gave a faint smile. "Mm, I understand. I'll protect you when the time comes."