Chapter 304: Wings of Freedom (5)

The news about the meadow spread rapidly through Icarus. Since the birdfolk had limited hobbies like hunting or napping, their curiosity about the meadow quickly grew.

At first, everyone doubted Icarus’s claims, but when he presented the undeniable proof, the gargoyle’s wing, that alone was enough to plant the thought in their minds of whether it was true. Eventually, it was only natural that the birdfolk decided to see the meadow with their own eyes.

"Th-this is the meadow Icarus spoke of...?"

"Move aside, let me see too!"

"Hey, stop pushing!"

Following the path Kai and Blizzard had carved out before, hundreds of birdfolk went to see the meadow.

Watching from a distance, Blizzard turned his head and asked, "Master, is this what you were waiting for?"

"Yeah. Because their hearts are still filled with fear."

If he simply demanded that they escape the island in that state, all he would receive was resistance.

"But I still don’t understand. What does their fear have to do with seeing the meadow?"

At Blizzard’s question, Kai let out a chuckle. "Blizzard, do you know what’s most necessary when overcoming fear?"

"

Hm...

Courage?"

"That comes later. The first thing you need to feel when overcoming fear is..." Kai turned his gaze toward the birdfolk, staring blankly at the vast meadow. "Rebellion."

"Rebellion?"

"‘Why do I have to endure this fear? Why should I live like this? Wait a second, this is starting to piss me off. No, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is! That’s the kind of thought process rebellion creates."

"I see!" Blizzard nodded, impressed by Kai’s insight. "As expected, Master, you are incredible. How do you know such things?"

"Well, back in school, I used to help friends who were getting bullied, so I know a fair bit about it.”

As Kai shrugged, Blizzard asked another question. "Then, what’s the next step?"

"The first piece is successfully put in place. The birdfolk now feel the thirst for freedom. But will a momentary sense of rebellion be enough to overcome centuries of fear?"

"I believe that would be impossible."

"Bingo. That’s why we have to keep showing them."

"Showing them? Showing them what, exactly?"

"The ones who oppress them. And how, in reality, they’re nothing."

"You mean...?" Blizzard’s eyes gleamed.

Kai nodded and said, "Watching the thing they feared fall so easily. That will be the second piece of the puzzle."

***

"Faster!"

Whoosh!

"Your movements are too slow. The birdfolk are a race with the freest spirits of all. There are no limits to how you can move. Let yourself fly!"

The warmth that was usually in Gust’s voice was nowhere to be found. Instead, his strict commands rang out relentlessly as he trained Icarus.

Ugh... I feel like I’m going to die.

As much as Icarus loved flying, the training he was undergoing now was on a completely different level. It was like someone who enjoyed playing in the water suddenly being thrown into intense swimming lessons. But that didn’t mean the training was ineffective.

Gust’s gaze remained sharp as he watched Icarus, though he was more surprised than anyone.

This rascal, I thought he was just a troublemaker, but...

His wing muscles were more flexible and resilient than those of any other birdfolk. That meant with each flap, he could conserve energy while flying farther than the rest. And true to his nature as a hawk, his flight speed was exceptional.

Of course, right now, he’s struggling.

Until now, Icarus had only known how to fly straight ahead at full speed. Now, he was being taught to maneuver freely, so it was only natural that he was having a hard time.

But if he absorbs everything I teach him...

Then, he would truly become worthy of the title emperor of the skies.

Besides... The day is drawing near.

The Apostle, known as the savior of the world, had arrived. It meant that the birdfolk, who had been trapped in their cage for so long, had finally reached the time to spread their wings wide.

"Icarus! Fold your wings at that point and move even faster!”

"

Argh

... Yes, sir!"

Gust increased the intensity of the training a little more.

***

A month had passed since the birdfolk had been introduced to the meadow.

During that time, Icarus had undergone many changes. First, his body. His once slender frame had grown so noticeably over the past month that anyone who saw him was taken aback. He had grown taller, and his muscles had become more defined.

Young birdfolk were often startled when they encountered him because the aura he exuded was something they had only ever felt from the elders of their tribe. It was the sharp and distinct presence of a true birdfolk warrior.

"Come to think of it, it's about time..."

After taking a light drink from the village lake, Icarus headed toward a clearing a fair distance from the village.

Waiting for him there was none other than Blizzard, who had once been a figure of admiration.

"You've arrived."

Of course, now, he had long since become more of a figure of fear.

"Come at me."

After learning birdfolk movements, flight techniques, and theory from Gust, Icarus put that knowledge to the test against Blizzard, making it his own step by step. Of course, Blizzard didn’t face Icarus with his full strength.

Without moving his feet, one hand tucked behind his back, Blizzard stood firm. Breaking through that single hand and taking the necklace hanging around Blizzard's neck was the practical training Icarus underwent with him.

"Then, here I go."

Spreading his wings wide, Icarus prepared to leap forward. In the next moment, his eyes gleamed, and he forcefully moved his wings. The dirt beneath him scattered as he launched himself at Blizzard with tremendous speed.

However, Blizzard remained unfazed, calmly swinging his hand to deflect Icarus’s talons.

"Did Gust teach you to charge in so recklessly?"

"Of course not."

Icarus, flung backward, suddenly spun 360 degrees before extending both legs.

Blizzard blocked the attack with one arm, but the force pushed him back. Had it not been for the black lizardman's tough scales, the sharp talon strike could have easily torn through flesh.

Seeing his attack blocked, Icarus let go without hesitation, spinning his body another 360 degrees, this time horizontally.

"

Hmm...!

"

Blizzard swiftly raised his arm to block the incoming kick. A sharp pain radiated through his forearm from the force of the attack. However, Blizzard was a summon capable of overpowering most players with ease.

"That won’t be enough."

Blizzard grabbed Icarus’s ankle and slammed him straight into the ground.

Icarus coughed repeatedly as Blizzard released his grip and said in a low voice, "The attempt was good, but your movements were too big. You had no backup plan in case your attack was blocked."

Then, a voice cut in, contradicting him. "If this had been a fight to the death, you'd be right, Blizzard."

"Master...?" Blizzard asked back, unable to understand.

Kai, who had been watching their sparring session, smiled and said, "Kids always find ways to surprise you."

"What do you mean...? No way—" Blizzard hurriedly glanced down at his neck.

The necklace that was supposed to be there was gone.

"

Hehe

..."

Lying on the ground, groaning in pain, Icarus grinned as he lifted his left arm. In his grasp was the missing necklace.

"When did you...?"

"Blizzard, when facing an opponent, it’s crucial to understand their traits," Kai said.

"The birdfolk's strengths are their ability to fly and their speed, aren’t they?" Blizzard asked back.

"There are two more." Kai picked up a sharp feather that had fallen to the ground and lightly waved it. "One is that feathers can be used as throwing weapons."

"Then..."

"It was just luck." Icarus sat down and caught his breath. "When I spun 360 degrees, Blizzard, your eyes were completely focused on my spinning kick."

"

Ah

... so that was when you took it."

Icarus had planned to launch a feather at that moment to sever the necklace.

"Just as Master said, you really are clever. But that is one of the skills a warrior needs to overturn an unfavorable battle. This time, it is my defeat."

Blizzard acknowledged his defeat without hesitation.

Icarus, looking embarrassed, waved his hands. "What are you saying! If you had gone all out, someone like me would have..."

"There’s no need to be so humble. That was the rule from the start. Accept your victory with confidence."

"Victory..." Icarus repeated the word a few times.

Naturally, this was the first time in his life that he had tasted the feeling of victory.

Ever since I met Kai hyung, I’ve been experiencing so many emotions for the first time.

Feeling grateful, Icarus got up and asked Kai, "Now that I think about it, didn’t you say before that if I took Blizzard’s necklace, you’d have something to request of me?"

"

Ah

, that’s right." Kai flashed a bright smile and said, "You’re going to have to fly quite a bit."

***

During the month that Icarus spent training with Gust and Blizzard, a new trend spread among the birdfolk. It involved gathering mushrooms, fruits, or vegetables from the forest and sitting at the forest’s edge to gaze at the vast meadow.

"

Oh

, Mom. Looking at the meadow just makes me feel so refreshed. It’s like something burst inside me!"

"

Haha

. You feel that way too?"

"No matter how long I look at it, I don’t get tired of it."

"I can’t believe there’s a place where the wind blows this strongly...

Ah

, it’s making me drowsy."

Given their nature, birdfolk had the perfect affinity with the wind. Naturally, the coastal island meadow, where the wind blew strong, became their favorite spot.

Of course, while most were satisfied with just watching, some began to desire more.

If just looking at it feels this good...

How would it feel to run across it or look down on it from above?

Icarus actually did that, didn’t he? And he’s fine... so maybe it’s actually okay.

It was often said that progress begins with curiosity. Young birdfolk, in particular, could barely contain their boiling excitement. After all, they had spent their entire lives trapped within a tiny forest. However, while they had the desire to fly, none of them had the courage to put it into action. If someone had possessed such courage, the existence of the meadow beyond the forest would not have remained unknown for so long.

"

Ugh,

I want to fly."

"It must feel incredible."

As the young birdfolk constantly imagined themselves soaring over the meadow, Icarus, who had been absent for a while, suddenly appeared at the forest’s outskirts.

"

Huh?

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Icarus."

"Wait. Was Icarus always that tall?"

Just as everyone tilted their heads in confusion, Icarus looked at the vast meadow and, without giving anyone time to stop him, spread his wings.

"W-what is he...!"

"Icarus! It’s dangerous! You have to come down... you should come down... but..."

A child of the birdfolk had broken the village’s taboo, leaving the forest and spreading his wings freely. Moreover, as he looked down upon the vast meadow, his eyes shone with a joy greater than ever before. At that moment, he should have been scolded for breaking the law, but his free figure was dazzlingly magnificent.

The sight of someone soaring freely above the forest kindled a small spark within the hearts of the birdfolk.