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

- - -

"Where are you going?", the guard snapped when I stepped out of my room. Or should I call it my cell?

"Restroom.", I said.

"What are you hiding under that rag?"

I opened it, exposing my body which had only a triangle-shaped cloth that dangled from my waist to cover my intimate bush. "What can I hide? I don't have anything. But I feel cold, so I thought of wrapping myself in it."

The guard snorted and waved her hand for me to go.

Luckily, they never thought that I would head to the portal. No harpy ever left the Lost Isles unless it was on a mission, because we have nowhere to go.

We glow in the dark, and our white skin, white hair, and bright eyes stand out during the day, so we are easily spotted.

However, Serina told me that in the human realm, no one would care. There are many white people who color their hair and wear contacts lenses that change their eye color, so unless I reveal my glowing skin in the dark, I will be easily mistaken for a human. If I don't show my wings.

Well, thanks to the potion they forced on me, I can't reveal my wings, even if I want to, so there is that.

First, I went toward the restroom.

It's a cave that is slanting downward with an opening at the end that allows all the nasty stuff to fall into the lava river below.

My job in cleaning is to use a hoe-like tool, and push feces which a natural stream of water didn't carry down the end of the opening for heat to disintegrate it.

I took the tool and leaned it on the wall, closer to the ending. Like this, they might think that I fell into the lava below.

I don't know if it will work, but if it provides even a minor distraction, it should work.

I weaved my way through the less-traveled passages, and I reached the portal.

I arranged the rocks in a familiar pattern, and I was pleased to see that it still works.

Before stepping out, I grabbed one fist-sized rock and took a deep breath while hoping that only one guard is on the other side.

"Please forgive me for what I'm about to do…", I murmured and stepped through the portal.

- - -

~ Crete, Greece ~

When I got out of the cave, the sun was high above and it took me some time to adjust to the light, but it was marvelous.

The big sun was in the sky, providing warmth and light, just how Serina described it.

I wanted to take my time and admire the surroundings, but I knew that I shouldn't linger.

By now, they probably noticed that my restroom break is taking too long, and it's only a matter of time before someone thinks of a possibility that I left the portal. Even if they don't think about it, I knocked out the guard at the portal, and she didn't see me, but they will connect the dots.

Well, no more nasty cleaning duties for this harpy!

I didn't mind their verbal insults. It hurt, but I could brush it off because they didn't know the full story and they believed that I chose to help a stranger over our kind.

Other than cleaning restrooms, I was cleaning the floors in the dining area. I saw when they spilled some nasty things on purpose, only to make my job more difficult.

Clean it yourself now! Treva is out!

But which way should I go?

I picked a direction and started walking.

The sun was descending, and I shivered due to chills. The Lost Isles are always warm and humid, because our home is in a volcano, and this was cold. Too cold.

The fact that I was barefoot didn't help at all.

I remembered how Serina was sweating and complaining how it's hot and I didn't understand why, but now I do. I even remember how many garments she had on her when she arrived. I wished to have more fabric to wrap my body in.

Normally, a harpy could manipulate winds to create a small barrier that would prevent cold from touching the body, but with my sealed powers, I was helpless.

The darkness didn't bother me, but cold and hunger were getting to me.

I found myself among trees that had roundish green and dark brown fruits and my eyes lit up when I recognized that those are olives. Edible!

Eating raw olives is not a pleasant experience. The bitterness made my lips tighten, but I was hungry, and I couldn't be picky.

"Who goes there!?", an angry raspy voice made me freeze.

I never heard such a deep voice and I wondered if that's a man that Archousa spoke about. She said they are vicious and they like to capture us and keep us for their entertainment.

But Serina said that not all people are bad, so maybe he won't try to imprison me.

"Thief!", he shouted, and I saw a ray of light moving until it landed on me.

"Please, don't hit me.", I said desperately, unsure what to do.

I wanted to flee, but to be honest, my feet were hurting like hell and even if I tried to run, I wouldn't reach far. I stuffed the last two olives from my hand into my mouth and clutched the dirty cover around me.

I realized that my exposed head, feet, and hands are glowing. Will he realize I'm a harpy? Or will he think I'm a ghost?

"You are eating olives?", the man asked with disgust obvious in his voice.

"I'm hungry.", I admitted and repeated, "Please, don't hit me. I only ate a few."

"You are not from around here.", he said, and the ray of light fell on my bare feet. "How are you walking around without shoes? Are you running from some trouble? Are you alone? Is someone chasing you?"

I had no idea how to respond to those questions, so I lowered my head and started backing away from him. "No trouble. I will leave now."

He exhaled loudly. "Don't be afraid. Come with me."

He turned the other way and started walking. I was not sure if it was wise to follow him, but I had no idea where I was or how to reach the boot-shaped piece of land that Serina told me about… so, I started moving after the light.

A few minutes later, we reached a single-story house made out of white stone.

The room we found ourselves in had a wooden table with a bench on one side and two chairs on the other. There was a sofa on the left and two doors on the wall behind it, and on the right was a small kitchen.

I stood at the door, unsure if I should get in.

He placed the stick which produced a ray of light on the table and turned to me.

I never saw a man, but I knew that I was looking at one.

He was old, with wrinkles all over his face and his skin was dark. I had no idea how to estimate his age because harpies don't get wrinkles. We are wind spirits, and we don't age.

"My name is Kosta.", he said before asking, "What's your name?"

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