Published: February 1, 2026
Happy New Year!
Looking up at the clear blue sky without a single cloud, Nahas walked briskly across the training ground.
The training ground, one of the largest within the royal palace, was devoid of obstacles—simply the perfect place to move around freely. The grass that should have been laid there had been torn up and flattened by the claws of a demonic bird, revealing the bare earth dotted with remnants of its former self.
Stepping confidently on the ground marked by the demonic bird’s claw prints, Nahas searched for his partner. He had brought the bird from the stable, thinking to let it fly freely in the royal palace sky for a break, but just as he was about to send it off, other regiment members called him away.
Other members were always present at the training ground, so letting the bird roam alone was no problem. However, since flight activities always had supervision, he couldn’t just tell it to go play ahead.
“Hm?”
Though demonic birds vary in coloring, to outsiders, they look quite similar and are indistinguishable. However, cavalry members never confuse their own partners, and Nahas was no exception. Even from a distance, he spotted his beloved demonic bird among others at the training ground.
“Hungry or something...”
Nahas’s demonic bird was scratching the ground vigorously.
Back when the training ground was still grass—before Nahas himself was born—there was no such scene. He smiled, thinking how adorable it was, perhaps searching for worms.
The demonic bird kept scratching the same spot with its sharp, sturdy claws until the claw marks were deep enough to swallow an adult’s hand easily. Then it stopped, stepped back, and quickly thrust its beak into the hole.
It pulled out its beak immediately, tilted its head while peering into the hole, then poked several times, repeating this pattern. Laughing softly at this behavior, Nahas spoke to it.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t find any prey?”
“Gya,” came the bird’s call.
“I’ll bring you some Seed-Eating Worms next time. You like those, right?”
Saying so, Nahas ran his hand gently along the feathers at the base of the bird’s neck.
Adjusting the reins to keep them comfortable, he stroked the only fluffy chest feathers vigorously. Pleased, the bird nibbled on the hair near his ear in return. “Ouch,” he said, but let it be.
No one here would refuse the playful side shown only to their partners. Even if such behavior from a monster, which normally wouldn’t trust humans, was due to magic, the affection shown was genuine.
“All right, sorry to keep you waiting. I have patrol duties later, but until then, go ahead and fly freely.”
Nahas patted the bird’s beak gently. It tilted its head slightly, bowed, spread its wings wide, and swiftly lifted itself into the sky.
Watching the beautiful figure soar, a sight he never tired of, Nahas glanced at the cavalry members running across the training ground. Though he was technically the supervisor, he didn’t have to watch constantly and thought he might join the others in training.
Enchanted by his partner’s high-pitched calls echoing far and wide, Nahas took a step forward.
The morning had been hectic, the slave man thought as he leaned against the cage absentmindedly.
People had said things like “get ready,” “take your positions,” and talked about mana and the cavalry regiment before disappearing. However, a few remained, seemingly busy with some tasks. Though he hadn’t asked what they were doing, it looked like they were packing up.
He wasn’t even sure why they had come to this country, but it seemed they’d soon leave this place. The man shifted his crossed legs and glanced back inside the cage.
There was Rizel, sitting on the bed reading a book. The man watched quietly as she skillfully pulled a blanket, draped over her shoulders, closer with her hands that had grown used to the handcuffs.
“As soon as the purge is over, I’ll invite you to Sars.”
Someone had said that before.
So leaving here wouldn’t mean goodbye. Maybe after returning to Sars, they’d still be together. That thought made him nod once, pleased.