When I woke up from the dream, I felt a throbbing pain from a wound I hadn't noticed yesterday. But without even checking the wound, I headed to Theodore's side as if possessed. Theodore seemed to have been waiting for me, his face full of delight.
There was no particular reason why I kept my distance from him. I was just feeling lazy and on edge because of the injury, and I was wary of everything. I was also worried about rabies. I didn't think Theodore would hurt me, but it was more of an instinct. I guess that's why injured animals act so fiercely.
Besides, the treatment seemed like it would hurt too much. I couldn't check in a mirror, but I didn't think it was a big enough wound to require treatment. And all he would do was crush herbs and apply them to the wound, just like I did. Just imagining it was awful. I even felt sorry for Theodore for putting him through that.
Still, he looked so anxious and pleaded so earnestly that I eventually approached him. He was so grateful to me for treating his wound and doing him a favor. It was only natural that my prickly wariness melted away in an instant.
After that, I didn't avoid Theodore's touch. He was overjoyed and wanted to pet me, but he seemed to be holding back, afraid that I would run away because I was annoyed. As long as he didn't handle me too much, I didn't mind.
After the treatment, I suddenly became hungry and approached the fish that Theodore had grilled in advance. But he moved the fish away. Hey, why waste it?!
"It's been grilled for too long, so it won't taste good. I'll catch you a new one, so wait a little."
Theodore readily strode back into the river as if it were no trouble at all. Then he suddenly held out his arm to me.
"Shall I show you how to catch fish?"
Seeing his face, which showed no expectation despite offering his arm, I flapped my wings and landed on his arm. He had been considerate enough to sit far away from me when treating my wound, so this was the first time I had been this close to him.
Theodore was startled and widened his eyes, but then his eyes curved into a gentle smile. It was the first time I had seen him smile so brightly. I suddenly felt awkward and pecked his hair lightly, but he didn't seem to mind. Instead, he burst out laughing. It was like carbonation popping, or like a flower bud blooming as it shook off the morning dew. It wasn't the kind of feeling I should have for a dark-haired man of the same gender, but it was.
I wiggled my toes for no reason, and Theodore, who had been smiling pleasantly, looked down at his arm in confusion. It seemed to be because his arm, which should have been hurting from my claws, was fine.
"Your claws... Could it be that they've all been pulled out?"
"Screech, screech-!"
Pulled out? That's so extreme! I giggled at his urgent question and lifted one foot, tensing my toes. Seeing the claws pop out, he finally relaxed and smiled again.
"This is quite a talent you have."
His tone was full of laughter, as if he were treating something precious. Embarrassed, I stomped his arm with my foot, as if throwing a tantrum. He gently stroked under my chin with a slightly awkward touch.
"Haha, I understand. I'll catch you a real fish now."
"Screech."
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As the sun began to set, casting long shadows. I was about to go into the forest to find some dinner when I heard people talking in the distance. There was also the sound of metal clashing. Aside from the residents of the small village nearby, there were hardly any visitors to this remote forest. It wasn't the kind of sound you would expect to hear.
With an ominous feeling, I went closer and saw armed men searching the forest.
"We have to find him and deal with him before he recovers. Move quickly!"
"Yes, sir!"
They finally came all the way here to find Theodore. I quickly turned around and flew towards Theodore with all my might.
Theodore, who was tending the fire, looked at me in confusion as I flew to him in a hurry. This is not the time for that! I grabbed his collar with my beak and tugged at it, and he stood up in a panic.
"What's wrong?"
"Screech-!"
Theodore's face hardened as he looked around after seeing me flapping my wings and screeching. He must have sensed the presence of people as well.
"I wish I had a weapon..."
He looked around, but there was nothing he could use as a weapon. Forget weapons, there's a place to hide nearby, so follow me! I grabbed his collar again.
"You want me to follow you?"
"Screech-!"
He nodded and I flapped my wings. I flew low to guide him, making sure he could keep up. I didn't forget to look back from time to time to check the distance. If we went a little further upstream, there was a small cave. It wasn't big, but it would be enough to hide until his wounds healed.
As we were moving, we ran into some of the armed men. They must have split up to reduce the search time.
"He's here-! We found him-!"
"Your Highness, you were here."
Were these the knights who betrayed him? Why did they betray Theodore? It wasn't mentioned in the original story, so I couldn't know all the details. But I had grown fond of Theodore in a short time, so I didn't like those guys. No, I don't need to like them. They're traitors anyway.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize. I won't die here anyway."
The man bit his lip for a moment, and then nodded. The knights drew their swords all at once. Even if he was Theodore, could he really handle them all in his injured state and without a weapon?
As I rolled my eyes in anxiety, the knights rushed at Theodore all at once.
"Screech-!"
My worried cry was drowned out as Theodore quickly subdued one man, snatched his sword, and beheaded the man next to him. This could work! I can't just stand by.
I circled around, scanning the area, then extended my claws and swooped down, deeply scratching the back of the man farthest away. It helped that he was wearing leather armor to increase his mobility. I can easily pierce leather with my claws!
"Agh-!"
Taking advantage of the man's stumble, I grabbed his collar with my claws and dragged him towards the river. The man, who suddenly lost his balance, helplessly fell into the river. The current was quite strong upstream, so he was quickly swept away. I felt it when I dragged the fallen Theodore to the riverbank. I was quite strong. I wouldn't be able to lift these guys up and fly away, but I could do this much without any problem.
"What the hell is this damn bird?!"
While everyone was distracted by me, Theodore cleanly beheaded the last man. He roughly wiped the blood splattered on his face with the back of his hand and approached me.
"Are you hurt?"
"Screech."
"That's a relief. Let's go."
At that moment, an arrow flew past us and lodged in a tree. They even brought an archer?! They're really determined! I quickly flew towards the direction the arrow was fired from, grabbed the guy's bow with my beak, threw it away, and dug my claws into his back.
"Ah-!! Help, help!!"
I twisted my wing to avoid the sword swung by the knight next to him and flew back into the air. My heart was pounding, but I wasn't trembling as much as I did after dealing with the wild dogs. Still, attacking people felt much creepier than attacking rabbits or wild dogs. But I shook my head and brushed away the hesitation. I have to save myself and Theodore first!
Theodore, who had run like the wind, cut off the arm of the knight who was trying to swing his sword at me. I almost threw up at the sight of blood spurting from the severed limb after a moment, but I held it in.
Okay, let's not be swayed by this. I need to get used to it. You're an eagle. You're an eagle.
I cast a spell on myself and scratched the arm of another knight who was trying to attack Theodore with my claws. Leaving the guy writhing on the ground, clutching his arm, I flew back into the air to find my next target. But an arrow flew from somewhere and lodged in my wing.
"Screech-!"
"No!"
Before I could do anything, I fell helplessly to the ground. My wing felt like it was on fire. It seemed that there was another archer among the attackers who had joined.
It was dangerous to stay here, so I tried to move somehow, but my trembling wing could no longer move due to the pain. Besides, I wouldn't be able to fly anyway since the arrow had pierced through it. The blood flowing from the wound stained the grass.
"Screech..."
It hurt so much that I almost cried. Through my increasingly blurry vision, I saw Theodore gnashing his teeth and rampaging as he looked at me.
"Don't fall asleep! Stay awake!"
If my wing being pierced by an arrow hurts this much, you must have been in far more pain…. A wave of pity suddenly washed over me. Maybe it was because it hurt too much. Maybe his body and mind hurt so much that he thought it would be better to just disappear, because if everything ended, it wouldn't hurt anymore. Is that why he burned it all down?
The flames that started from his fingertips shot out towards the attackers. If he uses mana like that, his condition will get worse. Well, I guess this isn't the time to worry about him.
Theodore, who had dealt with the attackers by alternating between magic and sword, rushed to me and carefully picked me up. The wounds on Theodore's body, which had been slowed down by the poison and were still on his body, suddenly ignited with flames. When the flames died down, all his wounds had completely vanished.
What is this? Is this the secret to how Theodore was able to return to the palace unharmed in the original story? Or did he suddenly awaken? I was surprised, but I reflexively flapped my wings because of the pain. He hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead as if to reassure me.
"Shh- good boy... I'll heal you soon, so just bear with it."
He put the sword on his side, wrapped his arms around me, and started running at an incredible speed. He was so fast that it was similar to the speed at which I fly.
"Screech..."
But where are we going? I mumbled in a daze, and Theodore kissed my forehead again even as he was running, and whispered kindly.
"Let's go with me. My name is Theodore. When we get to my palace, I'll give you a beautiful name too. And let's punish the guys who betrayed me and hurt you. Just bear with it."
No, wait a minute. Go to your palace? This isn't right! If I go to your palace, won't I get burned later?! Is this how you repay kindness?! Do you know how much I suffered because of you?! There were so many things I wanted to say, but I was getting sleepy, probably because I was relieved.
Alright... I don't know anymore... It'll work out somehow... I quickly gave up in the face of the oncoming sleepiness and just closed my eyes.