CHAPTER 3.

The next morning I awoke, or perhaps Sariya did. My night was rough and tense, the pain from my side distracting me from thoughts of the soul and what it meant to be a person. The food Yulie had brought me was finished and the empty bowl sat on the dresser. The soup and bread were hearty, but I had felt unfilled even after finishing both.

Hours of thought, laying in the short bed unable to sleep left me much in the way of self exploration. I came to realise that my day was too much. Perhaps I was making mistakes because I was stressed. I needed to approach this world with a plan. This body clearly had its own instincts, but I could try and fight them, or try and adapt them to my needs.

My needs, those were something else I thought long and hard about. What did ‘I’ need? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs stated that one needed stages completed before you could consider the long term goals.

First was physical needs, Food and water, sustenance in other words. Clothes and shelter were also immediate concerns. Nelson’s money would not last forever, and I had no desire to ask for more.

Money is important in this world. And as the needs grew more complex, moving up from immediate physical needs to long term safety needs, I would need money. And a stable way of getting it.

The higher level needs were my goals for the future.

Maslow however was a hack. And if you forgive my foray into academic philosophy, I claim that his ideas hold no water, and that his methodology was flawed. A system built to explain the needs of only the top 1% "most fit" was not useful to me, or anyone else.

And yet, we still had needs, and there was an assumption that we need certain things more than others. Or perhaps more accurately, we need certain things more immediately than others.

The highest type of need was also the least likely to be achieved, whims and dreams.

And a dream I’ve always had was to become a hero or champion in a magical world, the desire to leave everything behind and become someone important. An idea instilled by reading fantasy novels and stories. The 'Hero's Journey' as it were.

Perhaps I ought to have given up on such dreams. Indeed, people of this world had to fight monsters, presumably also wars. Could I devote myself to such a life? Killing was something that my old self would be shaken up about, and yet here, I felt confident that I could if needed. That scared me, to have my sense of self diminished as such. But, if the new me was better suited for pursuing my dream, perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps I should dedicate myself to ‘myself’. In my old life I had felt restless, living in a world where I was afraid of the people around me and fearing for my own place. Here, I was given the unique opportunity to be different and special. Was there a God who made these choices for us? No. There could not be, and if there were I would resent such a being.

My melodrama was making the morning drag. I watched the lazy rays of the sun drift into the room. My body still hurt from the fight yesterday and I had blown off Nelson, who had asked that I meet with him. I was wasting time here, and yet I didn’t want to get up. Never before had I been so away from distractions. No books, no phones or computers. I was honestly torn between soul-crushing fear that I had been killed and replaced by this new person inhabiting my memories, and complete and utter boredom.

I stood from the bed at this thought, Picking up the clothes I had discarded. I would need to source new ones as soon as I could. These were not unwearable, but strangely, not tailored to be able to be taken off, or put on easily. Whatever transpired in my being moved here, clearly didn’t understand how hard it was to put on or take off pants when your feet were larger than the leg holes.

Some careful maneuvering and a few minutes meant I was ready to leave the room. I had taken care in the night to preen my wings, and more, once I awoke. I had found out how to begin or stop excreting the strange preening oil. The instinct and muscle memories of the act were foriegn to me, but it was strangely easy to bend and twist in order to reach every feather.

I had also grown more used to using my talons to interact with the world more. My hips and limbs were flexible enough that, when seated, I could easily reach my legs above my head. Which made things like using a spoon to feed myself, awkward, but possible.

I used the edges of my wings to lift up the tray the food came in on, and opened the door with my foot.

Entering into the hallway, at what I could only guess was late morning, greeted me with a much more empty main room. Yulie was nowhere to be seen, so I approached the new person behind the counter, a young man dressed in regular clothing, but with an apron draped over to protect them from the soapy water he was using to wipe down the counter.

I had committed myself to treating this world with more care. I would be living here for the rest of my life if there was no event that sent us back.

My first day had been a whirlwind of activity, of panic and confusion, making me act in a distorted manner. Part of me desired to inflict my will upon the things around me in order to clear my overstimulated mind. Not that I wasn’t confused any longer, but rather I had spent the last evening rethinking what I wanted to do.

“Hello” I called out to the man behind the counter. “I am sorry I did not bring this out last night.”

It felt like a good idea to try and have a real conversation,

“Oh, uh, no worries.” He responded. “How was your night?”

I placed the tray on the counter, careful not to spill the bowl with the difficulty of the action.

“Well.” I said entirely to be polite. In all honesty it may have been the worst night of my life.

“Do you need the key back? Can I pay for another couple of nights now?” While speaking I fished the money-pouch out from under my shirt.

He stared at me as I placed the pouch on the table. I had put the key in it as well and it jingled as I placed it on the counter.

"O-of course." he seemed afraid of me for a moment so I smiled to the best of my ability. "Would you um, like breakfast as well? It's a bit late, so we don't have the normal fare, but we have leftover soup?"

"That would be good." I nodded at him. The food yesterday was filling, but I felt incredibly hungry at the moment. Maybe this body was consuming calories very quickly.

He left the pouch on the table and disappeared into the room behind the counter, where I heard him talking to someone who had a lower voice.

While he was gone, I made the monumental effort to open my coin pouch and remove some money, so I wouldn't have to ask him to. The leather fought valiantly but with the pair of alula and a clever use of teeth, the bag spilled open and I was able to count out the coins onto the counter.

Soon enough the young man returned, and with him he brought a bowl filled with thick soup. There was also a large bone sitting in the bowl, likely the broth bone.

The stool I was seated on allowed for adequate support, so I leaned and began to lift a spoonful of the soup towards me. My talon was slightly too large to hold the spoon easily, but somehow my leg and foot were as steady as a hand, allowing me to eat without spilling the meal.

I had made a decision. I would treat this chance as the world I had always dreamed of. The freedom to be whoever I wanted and to do whatever I wanted. Was there nothing more human than hiding from one’s fears under a veneer of optimism?

Between bites of the soup I noticed the man behind the bar was watching me.

“Have you never had a client eat with their feet?” I asked, hoping for my good humour to reach him.

Sadly it did not.

“No…” He realised he had been staring and my comment clearly did not achieve its goal of easing the tension, but rather the opposite.

“Sorry, I was not trying to bother you, but it is really my only option.” I gestured my wings with a shrug, “What is your name?” I asked, then added, “I am Sariya.”

He hesitated for another moment.

“My name is Carwyn. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Sariya.” he greeted with a surprisingly formal tone.

I continued to eat, focusing on the task without falling off of my seat.

Miss. That was something I had actively avoided giving much thought to throughout the evening. So, with that in mind I once again relied on the incredible powers of avoiding a sensitive idea or thought.

"Carwyn, can you tell me about your money?" I wanted to clear up something I had neglected to get detailed in the church. "As you can likely see, I am new in town and, if I intend to stay, I will need to earn my keep. The church mentioned something about 'adventurer' being a job title."

Carwyn seemed like he would rather be anywhere else.

He stared at me with an odd look, then replied

"Uh, well if it's money you need, I'm pretty sure you can just take packages and messages. You can fly right?"

A surprising point. I hadn't considered the advantages of this body past its physical power. "Certainly, but does this town have such a need?" I lied smoothly. Or it wasn't quite a lie, I was fairly sure I could fly if I wanted to.

"Well, I mean, I don't think people would pay you to fly between houses or anything. But, you could take things between towns or deliver supplies to adventurers out in the field?"

Courier work was certainly an option. But people only got levels in this world from fighting, and having been defeated so thoroughly yesterday, I was eager to get to work training.

It was this point in the conversation that I had finished the soup. The bowl was fairly empty aside from the large beef bone sitting in the middle. With a casual urge, similar to how I knew I needed to preen, I picked it up and bit into it.

Carwyn looked mildly horrified as there was a cracking crunch, the bone giving way to my sharp teeth, splintering into delicious fragments.

I hadn't expected to need this but I knew that certain types of birds ate bone. And it would certainly explain my colouration. the colouration of my plumage.

I mused over this as I deliberated on my options for the day. In all honesty, I would have liked to not do anything. Take another day to sleep, hide away from the new world and figure out more about my new body. I wished to pose certain philosophical questions. Is Theseus’ Ship the same after having most of its parts replaced?

Indeed, most of what made up ‘me’ had indeed changed, and yet I still was -or at least believed I still was- myself.

While these ideas ran through my mind I could see Carwyn still staring at me. Not wishing to harass him further, I attempted to word my next statement as to not offend or antagonize him.

“And what about you?” I looked around the inn, “There doesn’t appear to be many people here around this time of the day. Are you helping your parents?”

“Y-yes. When it’s not too busy I can watch the front while my father prepares for the lunch and dinner rushes that will come this evening.” He stammered at first in surprise, but grew more confident as his explanation ranged into conversational territory he was used to.

I nodded, thinking about all the tasks and jobs I helped my family with over the years.

“How well received is the church around here? I am unfamiliar with the area.” I decided to ask rather bluntly, hoping to play off how exotic I was to learn basic information.

“Well.” He looked quite puzzled. “The same as about any town here.” Then he thought for a moment. “You’re not from a different country are you?”

“I am.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“In that case, the Church is pretty close to the Duke here, he fully supports their missions and encourages the people to pray regularly. The fact that they help fight monsters proves that they can’t be bad.”

It was a fairly basic view of religion, but perhaps the idea had some merit.

“Thank you for breakfast Carwyn.” I said as I rose from my stool, trying to put on a nice smile.

He gave back an odd looking smile and looked away for a moment, “You’re welcome Miss Sariya.”

Satisfied in my ability to leave a conversation without offending I headed out the door.

[][][]

The town was lively that day. People were milling around clearly occupied with tasks. Fewer of them looked my way, but I still got some stares. As awkward as I felt, I decided to push past them and hurry to my destination.

The building was built slightly separate from the others around it, to give it space. The lazy clouds above gave a mottled texture of shadows over the area.

Nelson’s house was surprisingly large for someone who moved into town only a month ago as he claimed.

I approached the face, moving up and rapping on the door with my talons. A sharp staccato of three clicks as the hard door was tapped.

“I’ll be right with ya!” A voice called out. I heard shuffling from the room beyond the door and in a handful of seconds the door was pulled open.

Nelson looked up at me,

“Well I’ll be. Yew came around. Heard about what yew got up to yesterday, yew alright?”

His accent was oddly out of place in this world, but I placed little thought on it. I was more worried about what he had heard.

“Nothing too bad I should hope?”

He chuckled for a moment,

“Only that yew made the strangest decision to try and spar the captain. What did I tell ya girl? Levels are important here.”

I cringed for a moment, remembering the way I strode up looking for a fight.

“I am sorry, I was stressed out, and wanted some way to ease my mind.”

He looked puzzled at my apology.

“Watch’ye sorry for?” He scratched at his hair. “I just mean it’s a little silly that’s all, why not train for a little so yer used to that body o’yers.”

It felt a little unfair, but I knew that he was right. What I did was foolish. I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted by him.

“Do ye need healin’?” He asked. “I heard yew took a nasty hit there.” He pointed to my chest and I was suddenly reminded of the pain of yesterday, at the time I had thought I had broken a rib, but as the night went on I felt no more pain.

“No. I believe that the blow wasn’t as bad as I thought it was. Unless… Is there some sort of healing factor in this world?”

“Not without levels or magic, most folk heal the same as our world. Exceptin’ the lack of medicine standards of course.” He explained. “But Reodrich was fairly certain he broke a rib before ye ran off. He wanted to apologise but yew were nowhere t’be found.”

“At the time of impact and shortly after I would have believed him, but I feel fine now, I was honestly feeling fine before I got to sleep.” I admitted. “Maybe it’s a unique feature of my race? I can imagine Harpies would be unlikely to survive long if a single broken bone took them out of flying.” I raised a wing to my face and rubbed my cheek in thought. “The church mentioned that all the mana produced by my body was rerouted back into it to allow for flight and other enhancements, but I can’t cast magic in return. Perhaps that is the cause.”

“Too bad.” He looked me over for a second. “It sounds like yew ave made a good mage, with how much thought yew put inta things.”

“Er. Thank you.” I was certain if he was making fun of me.

“Well enough a standin’ in tha doorway. Come on in.” I turned and stepped into his house, the room behind him filled with furniture that looked quite different from one another. I ducked my head as I followed him. Looking around at the mismatch.

“The folks ‘round here gave me old pieces when I moved in.” He gestured to one particularly worn looking cabinet. “Now if ye don’t mind me asking. Can yew tell me ‘bout the old world? What changed in the two months I’ve been gone?”

My immediate thoughts ground to a halt. Of course the people here would be anxious to hear about their friends, families and the world back home. Had I been blinded by the opportunity of a magical world that I had forgotten about that?

I began to explain to him what he had missed. Covering the news in broad strokes, and narrowing down whenever he interjected to ask for more details, or about a specific event.

He was an avid listener, and despite stereotypes his accent afforded him, clearly quite smart. Questions were often related to various international politics and his responses to certain pieces of news were often to sigh or shake his head.

Quickly though, two months of news ran out and the two of us were left without a broad conversation topic.

Over the next hour or so I reversed the questioning. Asking similar things to what I had asked Carwyn this morning, but, knowing my situation, Nelson answered in much more efficient detail, which was pleasing.

I learned about the relationship between the countries -worryingly unstable- and the nature of the church.

The church was an odd institution. Clearly seeking to help the people who were brought over. Nelson explained a similar story to what they had told me, but from a different angle. It seemed that the world had undergone a change before people started appearing here from the game. Monsters and Dungeons appeared seemingly out of nowhere and the church was using them to functionally ‘powerlevel’ the natives and the newcomers.

It seemed like a good plan from my point of view, circumstances had forced each nation into motion. The monsters appeared around the continent, which meant that if one did not take advantage of them, your neighbours' armies would overtake yours in level.

A sort of magical arms race was happening.

Nelson made lunch for the two of us. Sandwiches, which despite their intention, I actually found fairly hard to eat.

"Why are you here?" I asked Nelson. He had just finished telling me a story about how some of the otherworlders he knew had fought a great beast and gained the treasure it was guarding. “Why did you ‘retire’?”

Nelson looked sad for a moment, then shrugged.

“I just don’t have it in me.” He scratched his hair again. “Y’know, to kill things.”

I was left more than a little confused by that statement.

“What do you mean?” I stared at his eyes to see if he was joking and I had misinterpreted his body language. “Did you not kill often in the game? I understand that it’s different if they’re actually alive. But monsters are evil by nature, correct?”

“Well that there may be true, but even if that’s the case, I don’t feel good doing it. The levels ain’t worth how I feel afterwards.”

It may just be that he was the sane one, but my mind recoiled. Transported to a world of magic and monsters. Ones that threatened people and society. To not kill them was practically immoral.

All that, and yet, here he was. Could I accuse him of being a coward? No.

Nelson had made a life here, he was a member of a community, people clearly liked him enough to donate furniture to him. He was friendly and outgoing. He was the kind of person I could never be. But perhaps that was okay, the world needed people like him, to share ideas and help others. I was just someone who took. I would take and take until those around me grew to resent me.

Nelson was all that I wasn’t. And yet, I felt no jealousy. -Well, maybe a little- He was not going to earn fame, or become a hero. He was going to stay here and make people’s lives better.

I stood up.

“Thank you Nelson. I believe that you will be able to help these people regardless.”

Nelson smiled at me, a charming grin, despite being on a man’s face.

“Thank ya.” It was a simple goodbye, but we both felt it time to move on with our day.

“I’ll pay you back when I can. And again, thanks.”

“It’s nothing, just take care of yerself, I don’t wanna hear about the local harpy getting kicked around by the sergeant any time soon.” He laughed, and I smiled, even if it was a joke at my expense.

[][][]

The sky had cleared up by the time I was walking away from Nelson’s abode. The town had picked up more life, and I saw more people out and about.

The fort remained the impressive stone edifice that overlooked the town, not a symbol of tyranny for these people, but one of hope, anyone could be great in this world. Levels, and magic, did not discriminate, so the fort was open as a training ground for all.

As I approached it once again, it felt like I was seeing it for the first time. People who worked here had respected jobs and the people who visited found purpose. I strode directly through the open gates, passing by such people.

Teroldus was watching over some people doing physical training, but I saw his ears flick towards me as I approached.

“I am sorry.” I called out. “For yesterday I mean.”

He turned to face me, giving an appraising stare.

“What do you mean? Everybody is welcome to come and train here.” It was clear from the straight look he was giving me, and the tone of his voice that he was trying to politely dodge the issue.

I didn’t take the easy way out this time.

“I was angry and more than a little confused yesterday. I attempted to bypass the training methods of those more well informed than I, and placed both myself and your student at risk.” I gave a sort of half bow, lowering my head below his for a moment.

The speech and the gesture again drew attention from the gathered crowd but I spent no time looking around, instead I raised my head and looked into Teroldus’ eyes.

“I wish to train here in earnest.” He honestly seemed a little surprised by my confession and request.

“Very well, it takes a lot to admit that outright, but that doesn’t mean I’ll take it easy on you.” The wolfman shook his shoulders and made to offer me a handshake, but quickly dropped the offending appendage upon realising my limb situation.

“What is the schedule like? Do people come here every day?” I wanted to know what I was getting myself into.

“Few people come that often.” He crossed his arms as he turned to the people around us.

“Alright! Back to work! I want to see another lap each!” His voice carried across the plaza and suddenly each person who had stopped to listen in was running off, a little embarrassed.

“Like I was saying, only some people come that often, most have work to do, or simply need some time off. Many more simply stop once they’ve hit a level they feel good about, or when progress slows too much and they seek out greater challenges.”

The church had explained how levels were only gained from doing things that were difficult, and that even tiring tasks became mundane sooner or later.

“I see, I hope to be here often, are you the only instructor?” I looked around, seeing no one else leading recruits, but a few men and women in a uniform that marked them as a higher status than the guards or recruits.

“I’m here most days of the week, but I only act as an instructor on three of them.” At this point he was watching trainees do weapon exercises. Likely making note of who was in poor, or proper form. “Yesterday you took a nasty blow, are you alright now?”

I nodded, then when I realised that he was looking away from me I said “Yes, I heal quickly it seems.”

I stood with him for an awkward moment, unsure if I should try and continue a conversation.

People are like that, awkward.

I had one other plan for the day, so I left with a short farewell, and made my way out of the town.

[][][]

The Day was brightening, the clouds overhead were lazy, seemingly close above, yet terrifyingly far.

I stretched out my arms, fully extending my feathers. I could feel the sun begin to warm up the dark plumage.

Holding them out, I began to step forward, slowly.

The air resistance changed as I moved them slightly, angling them this way, and that. I had surprising control over the shape of the wing, from the way the feathers were angled to the shape they made when overlapping.

I brought them down, testing how much lift a wingbeat gave me. My chest muscles pulled tight around my ribs and I almost got off the ground with a single pull.

I broke into a jog, keeping my wings extended to their fullest, trusting the feelings I had about lift and resistance.

The air passing over and under my wings felt like a sail pulling me upwards, when suddenly I pulled down once again and leaped. I was near sprinting when my jump carried me into the air.

It was a foolish choice. Flight is incredibly dangerous, falling or even gliding into the ground at too great a speed is a death sentence. My mind sang as those thoughts were ripped away by the sensation of my legs leaving the ground and my speed increasing.

With a sharp pull I angled upwards and flapped. Ten, twenty feet in the air, thirty!

I was flying.

Not just a helpful glide, but flight. Powered by my large wings, and my body's internal supply of magic.

Suddenly my leap took me over a large flat and dark stone. And with great surprise, and possibly a scream of terror, I was lifted high into the air.

Instinctively turning into and with the thermal, I rose a couple hundred of feet up, lifted and carried by the wind.

I let my wings lock outstretched, feeling natural in doing so as my legs and spine also allowed me to almost, rest, while in the air.

It was a large and lazy circle. Drifting over the tops of the fields and hills. Seeing the land beneath me nearly standing still, despite my great speed. The distance granted an illusion of apathy to my travel.

It was calming, being up here, looking down. I was likely the only person to ever see this town from above, barring the possibility of flight magic. The houses formed a mosaic of styles and colours. I only then realised just how varied the architecture of the area was.

People were down there, as small as ants, but I could somehow make out great detail, still somewhat clearly.

I left the thermal and tilted on my own, flapping again to get used to the feeling. This was uncharted territory. But learning this was now my primary motivation. Flying was amazing in an almost indescribable way. The air rushing under my feathers felt like a gentle hand.

And when I turned myself down I could instantly feel this hand reverse its course. Pushing me towards the ground with great speed.

Pulling out of this impromptu dive proved a little harder than expected, and there was some strain on my wings, I could feel my blood shift as the g forces pushed against my maneuver.

I had loved arcade flying games. This was so much more real. If needed I could fill the next dozen pages describing how I attempted to turn and twist. I need not though. I am sure you can imagine it.