The bird flapped twice, sharper, more restless than before, as Frieren stared at him.
She ran her fingers across the bed's fabric, a quiet farewell lingering in the gesture.
She brushed her hand over her hair, then held the cloak, ready to wear it.
She stared at the mirror and blew gently on her silver hair; it waved like a gentle mist as she checked the brimmed hat.
Hmm… it doesn't match the cloak, she thought.
A faint breath escaped her, somewhere between annoyance and resignation.
The bird tapped once against the window, waiting for her decision.
"Doesn't matter…
"what matters now is paying them for the nights I've stayed," she whispered.
Then she stepped toward the bird slowly; they both stared at the passing cars and the distant people walking like ants.
She held the paper, reading the rest of it.
"The traveler bird, huh? You know… just by hovering in the air, it'll understand that you're ready."
Frieren returned the message to her pocket, then stepped out the window
The bird angled its wings, mirroring her stillness in eerie synchronicity.
A soft shimmer of mana pulsed around her ankles.
Frieren's fingers tightened faintly around the window frame, an old habit she didn't realize she still kept.
The bird flapped quickly, as if it were ready.
One of the hotel guests glanced up at the window and froze when he saw her legs suspended midair.
By the time he blinked again, the window held nothing but empty sky; both Frieren and the bird had vanished from sight.
"Maybe I'm just hungry," The Hotel Guest laughed as he stepped inside.
Once the worker entered Frieren's room, she gasped when she realized Frieren had vanished.
The worker placed a hand on her temple and another on the Lazy Susan's metal, worried.
She scanned the room, then saw something gleaming on the desk beside the key, pulsing like a quiet heartbeat.
It glowed more brightly than anything else in the room , the only thing in the room that seemed truly awake.
The worker's shoulders tensed, a cold prickle crawling up her spine.
The glow flickered once, as if acknowledging her presence.
A small raw diamond lay there, sharp-edged and impossibly bright.
"That's worth a ring…" she whispered, awe softening her voice.
She hesitated, unsure whether to touch it or call someone.
She slipped it into her pocket, a quiet grin forming. "Looks like retirement came early."
Her pulse quickened, the thrill of unexpected fortune warming her cheeks.
She glanced around once more, making sure no one had seen her.
Then she froze when a voice from the hall called, 'Mellisa! haven't you finished yet?
"I'm coming!" she said, grabbing the key and closing the door behind her.
Frieren and the bird broke through the clouds, the city shrinking into distant gray blocks beneath them. Frieren reduced her speed, letting the bird guide her.
She noticed the mana coming from it.
So… mana still exists, she thought.
Frieren narrowed her eyes, feeling the familiar tug of ancient magic brushing against her skin.
Their magic drifted through the sky like scattered stardust as they flew.
Something appeared in their sight: an airplane cut through the clouds beside them, leaving a long white trail
Frieren stared at it for a moment, then focused on her path.
How curious, she thought.
After a while, the grey bird halted midair, wings beating steady.
Frieren stopped with it.
The wind around them softened, settling into a calm whisper.
Clouds drifted past like slow-moving islands.
Her cloak swayed gently, untouched by urgency.
The bird looked back at her, its eyes steady and patient.
That means we've arrived, she realized.