Inside the Cave

  After Okays told Kalira what he had heard from the bird and how it communicated with him:

  Kalira: (surprised) "Are you saying this bird talks?"

  Okays: "Yes, it speaks through blood, as I explained to you."

  Kalira: (in awe) "I've never heard or seen anything like this before! Did you ask if it wants to help you?"

  Okays: "Not yet."

  Kalira: (sighing) "Then what are you waiting for?"

  The voice of the bird in Okays' head: "Yes, tell me, Okays, what do you want from me? I would be happy to help you."

  Okays: (seriously) "I want to get out of these walls, and I need your help."

  The bird: (annoyed) "Why do you always come to me for this purpose?"

  Okays: "Because you're the only one who can help me, and I'll give you what you want in return."

  The bird: "Even if it costs you half of your life?"

  Okays: (with a serious face) "Yes, if that's the price of my freedom."

  The bird: (laughs) "You're very serious! Do you think I'm a demon who takes human souls?"

  Okays: (sighing) "I thought you were serious."

  The bird: "Alright, alright. Since you're talking about giving something in exchange for my help... what do you think about becoming my friend?"

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  Okays: (smiling) "Of course."

  The bird: "My master disappeared long ago, and I haven't found anyone to talk to. I'm happy to meet you, my name is Torrance."

  Okays: "Nice to meet you, Torrance."

  Kalira: (looking at him suspiciously) "Are you sure you're okay? You're talking to a bird, and it doesn't talk."

  Okays: "You really don't believe me?"

  Kalira: "Of course I don't believe it. Maybe it will get hungry and eat us."

  Okays: (looking at Torrance) "Are you going to eat us?"

  Torrance: (looks at Kalira)

  The voice of Torrance in Okays' head: "Tell her to place her hand on my head."

  Okays: "Kalira, come closer and put your hand on its head."

  Kalira carefully approaches and places her hand on the bird's head.

  Voice inside Kalira's mind: "Hello, miss, I’m Torrance, nice to meet you."

  Kalira: (in awe) "H-H-Hello!"

  Okays: "Do you believe me now?"

  Kalira: (raising an eyebrow) "Well, I didn’t say I didn’t believe you... but I did say it’s strange!"

  Torrance: (laughs) "It's been a long time since I've talked to anyone. It’s definitely fun."

  Kalira: "So, will you help us, Torrance?"

  Torrance: "Of course! Okays promised me he'd become my friend."

  Okays: "Shall we leave now?"

  Kalira: (hesitant) "Wait! I want to come with you."

  Okays: "You can’t. You’ll make Taris worry if you leave without telling anyone. And we don’t know what we might face out there."

  Kalira: "If I wear a mask like you, no one will know I’m one of the monsters. Let’s tell my grandfather first what happened."

  Okays: (looking at Torrance) "Wait here. We’ll come back later to leave."

  Torrance: "No need for that. I’ll come with you."

  Okays: "But you’re too big. You can’t come with us like this."

  Torrance: "I forgot to tell you... I have a smaller form."

  Torrance shrinks into a small bird and speaks in a normal voice.

  Okays: (amazed) "This is amazing! How did you do that?"

  Kalira: (sarcastically) "Have you decided to become edible now?"

  Torrance: (embarrassed) "What?!"

  Kalira: (looking away) "I was joking."

  Okays: (laughing) "You got scared! So how did you do that, Torrance?"

  Torrance: "This is a skill I learned from my master. It’s one of the flying monsters' abilities. It allows my body to expand or shrink, but I can’t speak normally when I'm in my large form."

  Okays: "This is amazing! So, is this your true size?"

  Torrance: "Yes. Now I can go with you. Shall we leave?"

  Okays: "You seem really eager."

  Torrance: "It's been a long time since I last went to the city."

  They finally left the dark cave, heading towards Taris' house in the city.

  Torrance: (speaking during the journey) "Okays, are you sure you want to cross these walls?"

  Okays: "Yes. I promised my mother I’d get out of here and look for my own life."

  Torrance: "Alright, I’ll accompany you. But let me warn you... there are huge monsters guarding the walls from above."

  Okays: "I know that. I think we’ll have to fight them."

  Torrance: "Don’t underestimate them, they’re really strong. If you want to leave safely, you’ll need permission from the king."

  Okays: "I don’t think he’ll give me permission. And if they find out I’m a hybrid, they’ll execute me."

  Torrance: "That’s bad... we need to find another way out."

  Kalira: "We’ve arrived!"

  Kalira opens the door, followed by Okays with Torrance perched on h

  is shoulder. They enter the hall, and Kalira heads to prepare some tea and bring her grandfather Taris.

  To be continued...