CH 9

Maki and Chiharu looked towards the voice and saw the newcomers just as their wings folded neatly. Bird people! Maki looked at Chiharu excitedly. So there were others aside from dog people after all!

They were a pair; a man and a woman. Their folded wings were white like a dove. As for their bodies, they were much like Zynis with wings. Human, but slightly taller than most. Also, both of them had hair that was as white as their wings. Their eyes were yellow.

“Why did you come here?”

Zynis said in a severe voice.

“This is the office of the king. There are separate landing areas for birdfolk. Did you leave your manners at home?”

“You are one to speak of manners, Zynis. As if this human king who attempts to hide the Saintess deserves any respect.”

Hide. Arthur sighed.

“It is no secret. The Saintesses have only arrived two nights ago. It is because of fools like you who cannot control themselves, that you were not immediately informed. And that was my decision, not the human king’s.”

Zynis said.

Maki had been very excited at the sight of these guests, but she quickly realized that the atmosphere in the room was quite different than what she felt.

“How did you even find out?”

“The miasma has thinned.”

“Impossible!”

“It is a level that most people would not have noticed. Yet we birdfolk have a stronger affinity with the air than other beasts. And the only reason we could think of for this change was the Saintess.”

And then their eyes turned to Maki and Chiharu.

“And then we came here, and just as we thought, the level of miasma is much lower in the human territories. You said it was the day before yesterday, Zynis. But it is not possible to purify the land so quickly. The king must have been hiding the Saintess.”

“And I am saying that you are wrong. Does your ruler know about this?”

“Of course. Everything was left to us.”

So saying, the two bird people entered into the king’s room.

“Two? Which one is it?”

The female one said as she beat her wings.

“Kyah!” “Kyah!”

Maki and Chiharu both closed their eyes in surprise. But they were simultaneously pleased by how cute they sounded.

Not that that was important now.

“What are you doing! You surprised Maki and Chihaaru!”

Aeris immediately came forward to protect them. He always tried to protect them. And Chiharu didn’t hate this at all. For some reason.

“Sister, which one is?”

“Brother, they both have the mark.”

Maki and Chiharu both felt their foreheads. The wings had beat at them in order to move their bangs. The really could have just asked them. These guys were dangerous. Maki thought with suspicion.

The sister spread her wings yet again. And just as everyone’s eyes were drawn towards her…

“Chiharu!”

Chiharu had been captured by the brother. He had suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her. Just as she lost her balance and was about to fall, she was scooped up. Now, Chiharu was being carried under his arm, and could not move. At first, Chiharu looked on dazedly like a cat, as she was hoisted by this 2-meter tall birdman. But she quickly began to resist. Though there was not much she could do while being suspended in the air. She tried hitting the arm that was around her, but he didn’t budge.

“Do not struggle, Saintess. We will fly in the sky. Do you wish to fall?”

He whispered into her ear, and a chill ran down her spine. But I’m not good with heights!

The sister held the others back with her spread wings as the brother moved to the balcony. Wait, wait! Are we really going to jump from the balcony?

“We will now take you to the beast territories. You will be returned once things have settled there. Until then, we promise to treat you well.”

This is a very bad start! I am not something that can be rented out! And what about the sea? Chiharu thought morosely. Maki’s voice shouted at her.

“Chiharu, relax!”

Just as Chiharu allowed herself to relax and droop inside of his arm, something came. It was the same moment that the brother looked at Chiharu quizzically.

It was a roundhouse kick from Maki that came flying. Maki knew karate. A drunken Maki had once boasted that she could perform such a kick on anyone who was at least 170 cm tall. However, this guy was 2 meters. Chiharu ducked as low as she could to stay out of the way.

Bam! Maki’s foot landed on his shoulder, and for a moment he was stunned, as the strength left his body. Now! However, Chiharu was not quite as fast. Before she could start struggling again, he quickly tightened his hold on her. If this was how it was going to be!

Chiharu allowed herself to go even limper inside the birdman’s grip. And just as he tried to adjust his hold on her, she bent backward as fast as she could. Boom!

“Gyaa!”

She heard a voice that sounded like nothing she had ever heard before, and then her head began to hurt. She had gone wild when his grip had loosened and slipped out of his hold. Good! Aeris was quick to sweep her off the floor.

“Brother!”

The birdwoman quickly went to her brother who held his face and stumbled. Zynis and the prince stood in front of Maki and Chiharu, who was supported by Aeris.

“Calm down!”

The king’s voice shouted. His office was a wreck. Documents were scattered, the bird people moaned, the Saintesses were frozen near the wall, the guards were about to attack.

Thinking about it now, he really should have left it to the guards from the beginning. Or so Maki and Chiharu thought, as one rubbed at her sore foot and the other her head.

“Do you intend to start a war?”

“Of course not. This is all the fault of the humans.”

The sister accused. The kings replied in a quiet voice.

“It is true that Saintesses have not been sent to the lands of the beastfolk. But that was something that the Saintesses of old had decided by themselves. Taking them by force may have resulted in faster purification, but what of the strain on them? How could we treat them like that, when they came all the way here after being separated from their families? Saintesses are not objects. We cannot lend them out against their will.”

“We must give them to time to get settled. They have only just arrived the day before yesterday.”

Zynis adds.

“But that does not match the speed of purification.”

“It is likely because there are two of them.”

“Two…”

Come to think of it, Maki remembered. They knew that both of them had the mark, but then why had they only gone for Chiharu? She didn’t want to be abducted, but it was a little damaging to her confidence to not have been chosen. However, they later asked about this and were told that they chose the one who looked easier to carry. Chiharu was not happy about this, which Maki found amusing.

“We were just in the middle of discussing the possibility of them visiting the beast territories, but now they are likely to never come. All because of you.”

Zynis grumbled. The two bird people looked at Maki and Chiharu with surprise.

“They would come this time?”

“That is what I said.”

Maki then realized something.

“Is this the reason that the basket is shaped like a box?”

“Yes. Because this tribe of curious and quick-tempered people would try to take you away.”

Maki and Chiharu had now learned this first-hand. They would definitely be riding in the cages without complaint now.