The Mortal

An (almost) serene journey

Riding on a pegasus was like the achievement of a dream. It was like I was flying by myself. And my pegasus was fast but nice to ride because he took care of me. The first part of the travel was calm and pleasant. We could see the cities and all of the landscape scroll below us. It was absolutely fabulous. The most fabulous part of our travel was the moment when we saw the lake Erie appear on the horizon. Stars were shining in my eyes at this very moment. And when I watched my companions I saw that they were as joyful as me.
« It’s just stunningly beautiful » Leah said
« It’s more than that » Kyle answered
While we were looking at this magnificent show our pegasus noticed something. They started to act like we were chased by monsters. I looked behind me and immediately understand why they were acting like that.
« Guys ! Behind us ! » I yelled
« Not already ! » Kyle said turning back to face the monsters
« What are they ? » I asked
« Harpies ! » Kyle answered « And that’s not good for us ! They can manipulate the air ! We have to land ! »
« I think I can handle it » I said
I focused and let magic energy flow through my veins. In a few seconds I had accumulated enough energy to do what I wanted so I let it explode and a fireball started to appear in front of me.
« Don’t do… » Leah started
But it was too late. I had already sent my fireball in direction of the harpies. I was sure that it was all good and that I won the fight easily. But it wasn’t the case. They were still here.
« Harpies are immune to lava and fire ! » Leah said « You just achieved to make them mad ! »
I must have missed the lesson on the harpies because I didn’t know that.
« Now listen to me ! » Kyle said « We have to land if we don’t want to give them an advantage ! »
We started our descent while harpies were starting to use their powers over the air. A sudden and sharp gust of winds made us fall from our pegasus. The problem was that we were still high in the air when this happened. Landing was going to be painful.
« Noah ? Can you do something please ?! » Leah asked « It’s urgent ! »
I tried to focus harder than ever (my life was at stake after all). I felt magic energy coming around me and tried to make a force field to slow down our fall but another wind attack made me fail. I saw the ground get closer at a disconcerting speed. I tried harder and achieved in slowing our fall. We landed nicely on the ground (we were in a field near a city named Gardenville) but we didn’t have time to realize that we were alive that the harpies were already attacking us again. Leah tried to use her bow but they were using incredibly powerful wind attack to make us fall again and again. I had to do something. I used my magic abilities another time to create a barrier between them and us. They couldn’t hear nor approach us but it wasn’t so powerful since night had not yet fallen.
« I can’t maintain it too long » I said « We’ll have to survive until nightfall. My powers are way more powerful in the night ! »
« Just try to push them away so I can use my bow to distract them ! The night will fall in a couple of minutes. We can do it if we work together ! » Leah answered
« I’ll protect you if one of them come closer » Kyle added taking his sword out of its sheath
« Let’s go then ! » I said
I used the barrier to push the harpies away. I pushed them as far as I can and then tried to protect Leah while she was shooting arrows. All of her shots were perfect but none of them did reach his target because harpies diverted them from their trajectory using the wind. The fight started to turn bad for us when the harpies have managed to get closer again.
« Not good » I said looking at the sky « We still have to wait 3 minutes for the night to fall ! »
I started to think of another idea to give us enough time and I found one. I focused another time on my magic and made another fireball. I knew that it wasn’t usefull but since they were immune to it I thought that they wouldn’t take the pain to avoid it. I looked at Leah and said silently « Arrow ». She understood me. She shot an arrow and this time it didn’t miss its target.
My plan had worked ! The arrow was hidden behind my fireball so when the harpy saw it it was already too late. But I didn’t have time to celebrate this victory. Two harpies were still there and they were not really happy to see that one of them had been killed.
« Look ! » Kyle said suddendly looking up at the sky « It’s the night ! »
I tried to use my magic another time but this time it was more powerful than ever (I had never tried to use it overnight since I was still learning). I looked around me and immediately knew what I could do. I made another barrier to keep the harpies away from us.
« I know what to do guys ! » I said
« Go ahead ! Say it ! » Leah answered
« I’ll send these rocks on them so they will be distracted. I think I can maintain it as long as you need it. You can take this one » I said pointing the one on the left « I’ll take the other one »
I started to focus and looked at the rocks. I let the energy move slowly towards it and saw it starting to fly. In an effort of will I sent them directly on the harpies while making the barrier disappear.
« It’s now or never ! » I said
I ran to the harpy I had to fight taking my own sword out of its sheath. I had to win quickly because the simple fact of maintaining the rocks attacks required a considerable effort. I started to attack with my sword while using the rocks as shields or weapons. The harpy has to focus on two different things but it was still hard for me to fight against her. I managed to hold on until she uses the wind to make me fall. I was devolved and rocks the stones immediately fell. The harpy attacked me but I managed to dodge her attack and used my sword to hit back. She backed off and I took the opportunity to use magic again. I used my powers to create another barrier but this time I did so that it surrounds her. At the cost of an enormous effort of will I maintained it until I get closer and I made it disappear a second before I send my sword against the harpy's neck. It didn’t give her any chance. I won.
I watched my companions and saw that they were winning too. Leah shot an arrow that killed the harpy barely a minute after I won my own fight.
I was exhausted but we were alive.