Chapter 2: Argentavis

She liked the feeling of flying, of cutting the wind. The eyes on the inside of the goggles grew wide, as though it took in the blue ocean deep. She felt the sea breeze of summer. No matter what terrible state the world may be in, it felt like summer here. The girl—Rarona—had her crimson hair combed upwards, giving the appearance of blood pouring out. Though she’s a woman, it didn’t reach her shoulders this way, and though it’s a trivial matter, the girl came to like this hair style. If her hair were too long, it’d become a pain against strong wind during her flight time. Though such a short hair cut didn’t have a hint of female-ness, she did have a sort of wild charm. With such fierce determination showing on her face, you couldn’t be able to quickly tell that she was someone so young. The wide ocean under her similarly blue pupils of her eyes didn’t have a single spot that was cloudy. It was a clear day today.

There was just something she wanted to confirm. She had checked many times during her flight, but for some reason she still felt she had to confirm it. It was like a habit by now. The girl flying in the sky dropped an odd object, and so the habit-like work to confirm the thing might seem natural. First, on her body she wore a light half-breastplate that is easy to forget about. It’s more of a formal way of giving a distinction among the military forces. In the middle of the breastplate, there is a silhouette of a bird along with a lance and a dagger crossing each other: the crest of the “Flying Light Armor Unit” shone brightly. On the hip of her short, olive-colored pants is a dagger for combat. She was wearing navy blue knee socks that needed replacing soon. They were there to protect her legs during long flights.

“Huh!” She controlled the reigns with excitement. Despite only being 15 years old, she’s already used to the movements. Currently, she is flying in the refreshing air. Transporting her was a “bird.” Even though I say “bird”, it is not a normal kind of bird. It is a huge species of bird on par with dragons, at least in terms of wing span.

Argentavis. People ride on it, it flies people, and it is a giant bird. It has the outward appearance of a falcon, and the intelligence to match the dignity of such a look, in spades. They are trained by military forces all over the world, and are called by the familiar name “giant birds” by the public. Though small, Rarona had the willpower to ride this tool of transportation for a very long flight—she had a lot of that sort of willpower. Compared to a dragon, this was cheaper and easier to get your hands on, so it opened to the public many new ways of travel and reconnaissance. However, if anyone tried to sell a lot at once, they would also see a lot of military forces at once as well. Rarona’s generic military unit would be one such group. The Forces of the United Kingdom of the Mariisua Southern Sea: “Flying Light Armor Unit” is the formal t.i.tle. Scattered about the Continent of Demeter are islands. One territory among these is a military state, which is Rarona’s mother country. In the mountains of a little territory of the great continent is where she was raised, and she has always loved the sea. That’s why she joined the patrolling company. She can’t be bitter about being able to enjoy a nice, quiet job.

“Tail! This feels great!”

She straddled the back of the giant bird, which she used as a saddle; ever since joining the forces, she’s wanted to talk with her “partner”.

The bird Tail responded back with a high-pitched animal cry which sounded like “kyue!”.

“Yup, yup. That’s right!” Rarona crackled and laughed. From the cry of the animal to the expression, she understood what the animal meant. This is because of the ability she picked up with her more natural upbringing, and there’s a whole story as to how she became a rider of the great bird.

Mariisua is the name of the Ocean Empire’s corps, but within the Demeter continent, there is a large mountain range near the border. There, the mountain people, including Rarona, grow with the birds together. Due to the rugged terrain, the giant birds were an important mode of transportation. On top of this, ever since her family was killed 10 years ago in a border dispute, the birds have been her family. To her, to speak with her family feels natural. To use this power, she was taken in by the military force and she gets to view this bird as her partner. To those around her, this ability seems rather incredulous, but to her it is a very honest and serious skill.

——-

Her expression suddenly became very grim. She noticed that the scent of the salt changed. No, rather than the smell of the salt, the mood of the location is what changed. As if the atmosphere heavily coiled about. She confirmed where the horizon was, and drew closer to the part of the water where the mist was.

“Just a little more and the ‘mermaid sea’, eh?”

We’ve flown quite the way, she murmured. There, she decided where the large expense of an evil water, where the fog never settles. It is where those who ran from the “war of great inheritance”. We don’t know why exactly they are still settled in this particular area of the ocean. Research has ceased in that area. The Royal Cultural Academy’s researchers concluded that they wanted to protect the closed-off environment they made. That’s the strongest theory. Anyhow, it’s a place of water in which no one has wandered and lived to return from it. To stop research was an inevitability. In the deep of that sea, was the end of our world. Fantastical creatures of all sorts were there, was the circulating theory.

However, as far as this girl was concerned, whatever the truth of this sea, she was fine with whatever it was. Speaking of the war of great inheritance, it was the stuff of myth: it’s a story of something over a thousand years ago. From that generation, the existence of this story has continued with details being uncertain. I wonder what will happen here? What is more important right now is the mission.

Her current mission is to patrol the territorial waters. She left from the Royal Capital and flew straight here. By noon, she was almost at the mermaid sea.

The summer wind was blowing strongly, probably because she was riding Tail. The weather controls the giant bird’s range of action and velocity, so they had good luck today. Because they were going to the mermaid sea, there was little traffic during the trip. They got to this remote region without much interference.

But, on the other side across the sea was the Continent of Ruurie, which was relatively close, and it could become a route to invade the enemy, who was militarily important.

Enemy——— about 2 months ago, the Holy Purominia Empire destroyed Ruurie’s last breakwater. The Continent of Ruurie, in a mere 5 years, was under such control. It threatened the Continent of Demeter. It’s the Inheritance Empire of Filborg. To put it politely, they emphasize that they are the ones who will inherit the world. To this end, it’s proudly carved in the name of its country for all to see. Rarona fixedly watched the sh.o.r.e on the opposite side.

That Inheritance Empire that fell into enemy hands, pretty much territory of Purominia. Of course, from this direction appeared a unit of the enemy war ships, and you couldn’t see an end to them. And, since the Inheritance Empire was at war with Purominia, they were taking a certain degree of damage. It was probably about time for their rearrangement.

Again, they had made ample preparation for forces flying above the ocean trying to make a landing. That’s why the next steps Rarona would take were so important, to cut the tension so they wouldn’t think she was some enemy war troop. However, Rarona usually has a lighter personality, but the military forces below were being too serious. Now, without losing focus, she observed the horizon. Her eyes were good. Her giant bird’s body was in the necessary condition as well, and among their troop they excelled.

“Hmm…?”

She felt a presence from the carefree mermaid sea. Her sense for living things was going of. She herself could tell. Rarona’s body stiffened, and she focused her senses.

It was that instant. With an umph, an unidentifiable, piercing sound rang around her. The large sound almost made her drop her reins, but she barely was able to bear it.

And, after she appeared out of the midst of the fog, she noticed that “thing.”

“Wh-what?! That is!?”

Rarona saw the “body” under her eyes, but wasn’t able to find the words to describe it. It was something gray. That was all she understood about it.

“Could it be…a ship of the empire?”

It was above the ocean and continued in a simple direction, so a ship was she could think of to describe it. But, if it were a ship, its sail and a number of other things that are supposed to be there simply cannot be found. In spite of this, the thing was creating a white wake in the water as it floated above it, continuing to move as fast as the wind. That alone wasn’t it. The body was also very large. Even if a giant transport ship came to Mariisua’s port for trade, that wouldn’t be even half as big as this thing. Even if the Inheritance Empire is a large nation, to have this giant of a ship that is able to move without a sail…if they had such a thing, she had never heard any such information. Speaking of the Inheritance Empire’s marine force, there is a notorious band of bandits that are supposed to be centered around here, but to think that the heart of their operation would ride THIS ship is impossible.

“A…and there too?!”

Yes, there it was, coming from the mermaid sea, where nothing is supposed to leave or enter. Rarona was having quite the hair-raising experience.

“A-anyway, I gotta collect information,” she tried desperately to become calm. My mission is patrolling. If there’s something off, I just have to investigate. That’s the top priority.

“The number is 5 ships. The color is gray. They are angular, and I can’t make an approximation on the human figures on them.”

She strained her eyes and tried to see the whole situation. In regards to the ship, on the deck, the one who operates the mast’s sail might be busy or something, but there CANNOT be enough of these guys; the ship is too large and you don’t see any sails at all. Whatever it is, this must be some wonder or miracle of a ship.

“Tail! Let’s get a little closer!”

She, together with her partner, circled around and lowered to a fitting att.i.tude to try to get closer.