Author's note: this is from Treva's point of view

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~ Lost Isles ~

It's been a while since Serina left the Lost Isles, yet Archousa and Manteio still can't let go of their grudges.

I mean, I knew that they are power-hungry and that they saw Seraphina as someone who can help harpies to regain their former glory, but I underestimated how angry they will be to find out that Serina escaped.

I remember fondly my many interactions with Serina, especially after her display of might in the lake, when she created powerful winds and whirlpools. That was awesome.

In order to coerce Serina into staying, Archousa and Manteio gave Serina one of the best rooms, and her diet was enriched with fresh fruits and nuts that I've got to enjoy as well. Ah, those were the days.

Now that I think of it, only Serina shared her good stuff with me. Other harpies that have access to those luxuries are contemptuous and they will rather let food go bad than to share with us, the lower-ranking members.

I was upset when they replaced me with Liatris. I only asked Archousa about escorting Serina to the portal, and I got a huge demotion.

It's not like I had a big standing before. I was a regular guard, with powers barely enough to qualify, but my diligence allowed me to maintain my standing.

Escorting Serina was like getting a glimpse of how I could live if I was gifted, but then it was all taken away from me for no fault of my own other than being naïve.

I was dejected to hear that Archousa and Manteio planned to use incense in order to make Serina addicted to pleasures and to keep her here. It was not the right thing to do, so I decided to foil their plans by helping Serina go to her father, the place where she belongs.

I thought I did it covertly and that no one will find out, and I was not wrong. No one saw me do it.

Unfortunately, I was the only one close to Serina, and since Liatris appeared in front of Archousa with a big bump on her head, before the after feast activities ended, they quickly connected that I was responsible.

Both Archousa and Manteio raged, and they also feared that Aldus Mezzanotte will come to seek retribution. Sure, they didn't succeed in keeping Serina here, but they were planning to and Serina found out, otherwise, she wouldn't escape like that.

The guard at the portal that allowed Serina to leave was demoted and she is working in the garden now.

As for me, I was imprisoned, and I got reduced meals and occasional beatings.

It took some time before they allowed me to get out of the dark cell that didn't have a single glowworm.

I thought that my punishment was over, but they led me to the stage where ceremonies are performed, and in front of everyone Archousa announced that I'm a traitor to harpies who is responsible for preventing harpies to rise to their well-deserved glory.

Talk about being overdramatic.

Archousa's speech got everyone riled up and they were shouting curses at me, and then Manteio came and cut my hair short as a sign of the shame I should feel. In front of everyone.

All harpies have beautiful long hair. All except for me.

I was labeled a sinner, an unworthy one, the one without regard for her own kind.

No one asked me why I did it. It's not that I was not guilty of helping Serina leave, but I thought that if I get a chance to explain how she is a good person and that we had no right to keep her here and force her to do our bidding, maybe someone might side with me, and my punishment will not be so harsh. No one cared.

I thought they will kill me, but they didn't. Instead, I got assigned to the dirtiest jobs no one wants to do.

I was convinced that things will settle after some time, and I will be able to return to my old life, the one before Serina came.

A month, a year. How long can they be angry?

To make things worse, a few days after cutting my hair, Manteio forced me to drink a potion that suppressed my wind magic, so now I can't even sweep the floors unless I use the broom.

Manteio would come occasionally and curse me and sometimes slap me. I guess that whenever she remembers Serina, she comes to find me and vent her anger.

I saw Liatris a few months ago and I asked her if she knows how long I will be punished, and she laughed and left. What is that supposed to mean?

I would ask Archousa or Manteio, but they refuse to talk to me, saying that I'm too lowly and I will get them dirty just by approaching them.

I get a few hours a day of rest, which I spend on my creaky bed, thinking about all the stories that Serina told me. They were stories about the outside world which I loved because I never left Lost Isles.

Sunshine, beaches, forests, people, cities… and I could hear Serina's voice clearly as she said, "Come with me. I will arrange for you a place to stay, and you will have entertainment and as much tasty food as your belly can handle."

"Tasty food… huh?", I mumbled to myself.

I would give anything for any food. Even boiled roots make my saliva run wildly because I'm starving.

Why was I so stupid to reject Serina's offer? Why did I call this my home? Why did I think that they will not punish me harshly?

I was naïve, and I realized too late how selfish and vile other harpies are. They ignored me or bullied me and the part that hurt the most was that I thought of them as my sisters.

If I could go back in time, I would take Serina's offer not be stuck in this… hell. Anything is better than this.

"…visit me when you get a chance. I'm staying in Genoa. That's in Italy. If you fly high and look from above, the land is shaped like a boot. Look for the property of the Mezzanotte family…", I could clearly hear Serina's voice, and I wondered if I'm hallucinating from hunger or fatigue. Maybe both.

But even if it's a hallucination, that's what Serina said before giving me two granola bars, one hug, and then she disappeared through the portal.

I pushed myself into a seated position.

Yes! That's it! The portal!

I just finished with my duties, and I have a few hours of rest.

If I rush to the portal, I might be able to flee before the guard notices I'm missing. They should switch shifts soon, so this is my best chance.

I took the dirty cloth that served as my bed cover, and I wrapped myself in it. Like this, my natural glow is suppressed, and it will be easier for me to move without others noticing me.

Here I go!

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