In Greenpath, the group continued their silent march through the towering trees that looked like gigantic weeds from another world. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled patterns on the damp earth.
Akidou looked up at Omelet, who was flying out in front. His small wings were still wobbling; it was clear he hadn't fully recovered his strength yet.
"Hey, Omelet. You used to live here, right?"
Omelet slowed his pace slightly. "Yeah... but that was twenty years ago."
Akidou leaned in, interested.
"It's a long walk and it's getting boring. Why don't you tell us a bit about your story?"
Omelet's voice dropped, as if he were being pulled back into a corner of his memory he didn't want to touch.
"Back then... the demons attacked."
Twenty Years Ago, the fairy village was a scene of total chaos. Shouts, the clashing of metal, and the roar of collapsing houses blended into a terrifying symphony. The demons flooded in like a tide of black, tearing through every corner of the village.
Omelet, only twelve years old at the time, was swept away by the panicked crowd. Adult fairy and soldiers stayed behind to fight, desperately trying to hold the line so others could escape. He sprinted back to his small home.
His father was frantically gathering stacks of research papers and manuscripts. His hands were shaking, but his eyes held a terrifyingly clear focus.
"Omelet! Take these books and go, now!"
Omelet clutched the heavy bag. His young, fragile wings trembled; they weren't strong enough to carry such a weight quickly.
"These contain records on the Demon King! Take them to Heavenfield. They... they will find a way to defeat him..."
He never got to finish his sentence. The door behind him was shredded. A demon lunged inside, its claws tearing through his father's back. Blood splattered across the floor as he collapsed.
"Dad!"
Omelet panicked, flapping his wings to stay airborne. The demon growled, stalking toward him. His father, pinned to the ground, used the last of his strength to grab the monster's leg.
"Run, Omelet! Bring hope... to humanity!"
The village had become a sea of fire. The bodies of fairy and demons lay piled together like discarded trash. Omelet hugged the heavy bag tight, trying to fly, but it weighed a hundred pounds in his mind. Every beat of his wings felt like his muscles were tearing.
Suddenly, a severed human arm was tossed out from the flames, landing right in front of him. Omelet shrieked in terror. He lost his balance and tumbled into the dirt. The bag split open, and the precious manuscripts scattered, some catching fire instantly.
From the shadows of the inferno, a mutated demon stepped out. Its body was a mass of tangled roots, with vines hanging from its head like hair. Its twisted mouth was busy chewing on the remains of a fairy, blood dripping onto the grass.
Omelet's legs turned to lead. He couldn't run; he couldn't fly. Fear had paralyzed him. The demon spat out the remains and reached a clawed hand toward him.
Suddenly, surviving soldiers charged in, thrusting their swords into its hide. But the blades were instantly ensnared by the vines and vanished, swallowed as if they had never existed.
"Run, kid! Just stay alive!"
Omelet scrambled up in desperation, dragging his scorched body across the ground. A Spirit soldier flew down, scooped up Omelet and the remaining books, and bolted toward the exit of Greenpath where a gap was opening in the thick mist.
"Live! Get these to Heavenfield!"
But they were only a few feet away when a gust of wind sliced through the air. The soldier was cut clean in half. Blood sprayed as they both slammed into the ground. He tried to get up, but another demon stood over them—a massive, armored beast carrying a giant cleaver. It stepped on the soldier's body like he was a piece of broken furniture.
Omelet trembled. This time... he stood up. But he didn't turn back for the books. He flew toward the exit, his tears mixing with the smoke and ash. He let go, leaving the manuscripts behind in the dirt.
The Present
Omelet finished his story. He stopped in mid-air and slowly drifted down to the ground. His shoulders began to shake.
"I know... I'm a coward."
Tears fell uncontrollably onto the mossy earth.
"I tried my best... but I still failed. I'm useless... I shouldn't even be alive."
He collapsed, burying his face in his hands. His long hair brushed against the damp greenery, and the sound of his shattered sobs echoed through the silent forest of Greenpath.