Elixir of the Sky
I diligently licked the sole of my paw with my rough tongue.
They call it grooming, but honestly, I had no idea why I was doing it right now. It was the same kind of instinctive act as a leg that won't stop bouncing — the feline equivalent of fidgeting with a pen when you're wound so tight you can barely breathe, all while pretending nothing's wrong.
What was that? Did I imagine it?
I kept up the pretense of licking my front paw while staring hard into the darkness.
Nothing there?
I could have sworn something had been watching. The reason I'd startled was simple: the shadow lurking in the underbrush had looked unmistakably human. The thing had been walking on two legs, hidden among the foliage. For a split second, I even thought I'd seen a weapon in its hand.
Shit.
The curse slipped out on its own. Was it human? A demihuman? Or some kind of humanoid monster?
Every hair on my body stood on end. My nerves stretched taut as wire.
Danger.
A wild animal's instincts were screaming at me. Knowing how to use a weapon meant intelligence — and if something that smart had been scouting this place...
Reconnaissance!
This was bad. Emergency. Worst case, I might have to fight off an entire raiding party.
"Grrngh! Grrngh!"
I dove into Savage Talon's nest, scrambled back out, then buried myself in the feathers and peeked out with just my head.
What do I do?
I wanted to stay calm. I really did. But I was a tiger cub, and whatever was out there was a weapon-wielding sapient being!
I forced myself to think it through. If the enemy was human — if they had a sword or a bow — running was the only smart move. What was I supposed to do if they suddenly started throwing out aura blades or magic? I needed to get out of here. Now.
I'd made up my mind and was about to leave the nest when—
"Grrngh."
The elixir that Savage Talon had been guarding flashed through my mind.
...What about that?
Wait. Hold on.
I stared at the plant radiating power. A single thought cut through everything else.
What if that's what they're after?
An aura this strong — every monster in the area had to have sensed it by now. The only reason they stayed away was because this was Savage Talon's territory. And it was a high cliff, on top of that. Large beasts that tried to climb up usually got attacked by big brother and died for their trouble. This place was naturally defensible against ordinary animals.
But if the ones after this elixir had intelligence?
Damn it!
I scrambled outside and peered down the cliff face. I focused my vision, straining my eyes as hard as I could — and then,
—Kerruk!
I spotted suspicious figures making their way up the opposite slope. At least a dozen of them, maybe more. And in their hands, gleaming blades.
The puzzle snapped into place. They'd found a detour — a back route to assault this nest.
Those bastards!
The one silver lining: they weren't human. If humans went around crying "kerruk," that would have been a whole different kind of problem.
Either way, I needed to get out of here immediately.
That was way too close.
I confirmed their approach route and started looking for an escape path. How was I supposed to contact big brother? I couldn't exactly leave a note. And the elixir — what the hell was I supposed to do with that? My head was spinning. If I left it, they'd take it for sure!
Hmm.
I went back into Savage Talon's nest and stared hard at the plant pulsing with power.
Damn it.
Right now, this was the only option I could think of.
Sorry, big brother.
"The Elixir of the Sky?"
Count Friedrich of Bloodmoon looked up at Lia's question.
"Yes! Sigmund Magic Tower says they're going to create an elixir that rivals the Elixir of the Sky!"
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Lia held out a sheet of parchment stamped with the words Magic Tower Magazine. Friedrich scanned the contents with a grave expression, then shook his head with a look of pure exasperation.
"Tsk. Mages and their endless bluster."
"Huh? Why?"
Lia blinked her eyes wide. Having no real experience with the world, she seemed to have fallen for the false advertising hook, line, and sinker. Friedrich kindly filled her in.
"This isn't the first time the Magic Tower has waved around words like 'Dragon Heart' or 'elixir' while announcing research breakthroughs."
"Really? So the Magic Tower actually made those things?"
"No."
Friedrich recalled the gold coins he'd once thrown away thanks to the Magic Tower and managed a bitter smile.
"Ten years ago, the Tower put out an announcement just like this one. Back then it was a 'Dragon Heart.' They claimed the research would take five years, and plenty of nobles lined up to invest."
"Wait... you don't mean...?"
Friedrich's face turned mournful.
"Yes. Your father invested too."
"What?! That business where you lost a thousand pounds — that was investing in the Magic Tower?!"
"Ahem...!"
For reference, a thousand pounds in gold bars was more than double the annual budget of a poor barony. For House Bloodmoon, it amounted to roughly a third of their yearly income. Friedrich had been thoroughly henpecked in front of the children over that one. Honestly, getting off with just that had been a mercy. Even now, the memory made him dizzy. Fool that he was, he'd actually dreamed of becoming a multimillionaire in five years.
Damn it! When was Dragon Heart stock ever going to rebound...!
"If they ever actually develop a Dragon Heart—!"
"Ugh, those people are total scammers."
"Mm."
Friedrich shook his head. His mistake had taught his daughter a valuable lesson, and that was enough. Wait — why was everything looking so blurry?
"Tch. So there's no way to get an Elixir of the Sky, then."
"Hmm. Why the sudden interest in the Elixir of the Sky?"
"I wanted to use it for that magic I told you about."
Ah, that absurd... — he almost said it out loud. But she was researching elixirs now? This was starting to look serious. Sure enough, Lia's eyes sparkled as she poured on the charm.
"Daddy! Can't you buy me an Elixir of the Sky?!"
"Hmm."
"You will, right?! It's not even half of what you lost back then! And you make so much more money now!!"
"...Ahem."
My dear daughter, what kind of argument is that? Friedrich swallowed his tears and shook his head.
"I'm afraid a genuine Elixir of the Sky is nearly impossible to obtain."
"What?"
The Elixir of the Sky was a peculiar elixir that grew alongside a divine beast. Said to be condensed from the power of sky and wind, merely consuming it was supposed to enhance physical ability and bring mental tranquility. And more than that—
"The Elixir of the Sky grants the power of fire to the falcon that guards it."
"I already know that!"
Lia huffed.
"But it's just a falcon, right? If we bring knights along, we should be able to get it easily enough, shouldn't we?"
"Mm."
Friedrich nodded. Lia clearly knew the elixir's effects, but not what kind of creature guarded it.
"The divine beast that protects the Elixir of the Sky is no ordinary falcon."
"It's not?"
"No. When the creature is in danger of losing its elixir, it flies into a rage."
"You mean it goes berserk?"
"Something like that."
Friedrich considered how best to make his daughter understand, then nodded.
"When it rages, it becomes a monster stronger than a griffin."
"Whaaat?! A griffin? The kind that guards the World Tree?!"
"Yes."
"That's impossible!"
A griffin could casually carve through three or four knights on its own. That meant you'd need a commander of Banneret Knight rank or higher — and at that point, you might as well be going to war. Factor in the market price of the Elixir of the Sky, and the whole venture made zero financial sense. The elixir wasn't even meant for knights or mages to consume. Unless you were a tamer raising divine beasts, you'd be better off looking into other elixirs entirely.
"So that's why you said it's hard to get!"
"Exactly. And if that falcon ever flies into a rage..."
Catastrophe would sweep across the entire region.
"Everything would be reduced to ash."
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Savage Talon was preparing a special meal.
"Kyaak!"
The face of a small beast flickered through his mind — the little brother who called him "big brother" and had first awakened him to the taste of meat. And that wasn't all. He was the one who had taught him courage. On top of that, he carried the potential to become a king someday. How could Savage Talon not feel fond of him?
With deep satisfaction, Savage Talon lifted his catch. Along the way, he'd even stumbled upon medicinal herbs unique to this gorge — ones excellent for the body. It had been a remarkably lucky day.
And then—
Someone has seized the Elixir of the Sky.
An unexpected alarm rang through his mind. Savage Talon raced back to his nest at once.
Near the nest, vicious goblins from beyond the gorge had already fanned out in a surrounding formation. Those vermin dared—? Rage surged up, but Savage Talon first searched for the elixir's aura.
Nothing. He could even sense that the flower which had borne the elixir had been snapped.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaak!"
Savage Talon's pupils ignited, blazing to life. The more the great rage swallowed his reason, the sharper and harder his beak became.
"Kyaaah!"
A roar no one would ever mistake for a bird of prey's cry erupted from him, and his body accelerated. The goblins encircling the nest slammed into something and went flying in every direction in an instant.
"Kruk!"
"Kyaaak!"
Panicked goblins scattered with shrieks of terror. An old goblin clutching a large wooden staff stepped forward.
"Kruuruk! St-stop! Savage Talon!"
"...!"
Savage Talon silently stared at the orb the old goblin shaman held out. As the shaman raised the crystal sphere and chanted, it projected the memories left upon the earth like a phantom vision.
"...Kiruk."
It showed an intruder entering his nest. The small beast had hesitated for a long while, as if wrestling with a decision — then finally reached for the elixir.
"Kyaaaaak!"
Savage Talon's pupils trembled. He couldn't believe it. He flew straight to the nest and checked for himself.
The flower that had held the Elixir of the Sky was dead. And the clear paw prints stamped all around it left no doubt as to who had taken the elixir. Looking at those small beast tracks scattered across the wrecked nest, Savage Talon let out a desolate cry.
"We... help... you!"
"..."
The old goblin shaman raised the crystal sphere once more. It showed Savage Talon the small beast's location. With wavering eyes, he stared into the orb.
There was the little creature — stronger than before — breaking through the goblin encirclement and fleeing. The lingering resonance of the elixir radiating from him finally clouded Savage Talon's eyes for good.
Tadak, tadadak!
As if his fury had taken physical form, seething flames completely engulfed his feathers.
"Kyaaaaaak!"
Consumed by blazing rage, Savage Talon soared into the sky.
Whoosh!
The goblin shaman stood dazed, watching Savage Talon set his own nest ablaze and vanish into the distance — then finally opened his mouth.
"Prepare... yourselves!"