Chapter twelve

Nume's body stiffened. Somehow, the gnarled creature seemed oddly familiar. "You seem startled. Is a low form of life like you jealous of my godlike form?" It spread its wings. "I give you my permission to admire me." "Admire?... The only thing that I want to do when I see something like you is retch." Nume tightened her hands. "In that case, die!" The creature bolted toward Nume, slashing her hip with its gigantic claws. Blood spurted on the withered grass. Nume thought about Shira, sleeping there, in their tent. Shira was one year older than Nume, better than her in almost everything. Luck was always on her side, she never lost. Nume, on the other side, was weak, timid and kind. Some people said she would never amount to anything, but tonight was not the time to be scared. Nume was facing an unknown monster that could have any powers imaginable; she had to be ready for anything anytime. "That really sent you flying" laughed the creature while Nume stood up from a broken tree. For now, it was just casting simple, but powerful attacks. The girl was so much as a toy for the vile beast to play around with. She couldn't land a single hit. Her shoulder was dislocated and bleeding. Nume concentrated and ran toward the creature to chop it, cut it with her blade and forget this night like it never happened. However, luck was not on her side this time. Nume missed and crashed into an old oak tree. Everything around her darkened and faded away like morning mist. Nume had a dream. Shira came to help her with the beast. She said that it is a harpy, so it possessed sound related abilities. Then her sister smiled and Nume woke up. Nume was still on the same spot, but this time Shira was shielding her. So it wasn't a dream? Nume stood up, ignoring the pain. "No, you've fought enough! Nume this isn't a joke!" Shira was concerned about her sister. "N-no, I must help you." She said, wearily. Her strength finally left her and she dropped on the ground. Nume was panting, gasping for air like a fish, taken out of water. Her ears rang, her muscles ached, her heart beated so hard, she could feel it echoing deep inside her head. Yes, she was wiped out, but unlike Shira, Nume would never back down, she would never surrender. The girl gathered her remaining strength and stood up. With Shira by her side now, she was more sure of herself, more determined that tonight, she would be the winner. She put back everything that held her back and jumped. It was a truly majestic move. She flew, only without wings, like a goddess of her battle, skewering the cursing, furious harpy alive, like a shish kebab. The creature smirked and opened its mouth. Only then, Nume's blank head was struck by a sudden realization: harpies can send sound waves over 10 meters away. "No!" Shira ran, enraged, to the squirming harpy. She split her head with one slash.