I did it!

Finally, I did it!

I now have a human body!

...

Well, not exactly since I still have two giant butterfly wings stuck on my back.

But it doesn't matter because I can retract them, thus making me look like a normal human!

The first thing I do is to run to the nearest lake to see my reflection on the water.

Hmm, not really bad looking, if I say so myself. Too scrawny though. Perhaps that's because I'm a butterfly? Though, there are girls who like that kind of feminine-looking boys.

Then, I realize that I am utterly naked. I can see my junk hanging from my crotch.

Guess I'll have to fix that if I want to fit in among the other humans.

------------------------------------------

Well, it's a bit loose (and a little bit smelly too), but this fits fine enough.

I'm glad I had the foresight to bring the old couple's drawers with me too. They don't really have much clothes though, must be quite poor.

Now, how shall I get to the capital?

I assume the villagers would have people going there frequently, like with that young man. But I don't think I can just hitch on one of them. They won't recognize my face and will ask questions. And there's the fact that I'm wearing the old man's clothes, which may raise suspicion.

Should I just walk then? The capital seems quite far and--

Oh wait, I am such a dumbass. I have WINGS, goddamnit!

Then it's decided. I shall leave this evening. Best be not seen with my wings if a traveler on the road happens to look up. Hopefully, the night's darkness will aid me in concealing myself.

--------------------------------------------

Well, my flight so far has been quite uneventful. Not a single living thing on sight.

Oh, except my chicken body that I bring with me, of course. Don't want to leave the poor little guy behind. And it's not like he couldn't be useful for gathering information and spying, due to its small body.

The night is pretty warm. I suppose this part of the land is tropical.

The skies are clear. You can see the moon and the stars shining brightly. How beautiful they are.

The road I'm following so far hasn't branched, which is a good thing considering I wouldn't know which road to choose if they do branch; at least without the help of a sign telling which way is to the capital.

Then, I notice something in the distance. Lights, peeking out from under the blanket of darkness in the distance.

A town is close.

-------------------------

When I arrive there, the town is mostly asleep, except for a couple of bars and inns here and there.

I certainly don't think this is the capital. Sure, it's bigger than the village but it's still not big enough to be one.

I enter one of the awake establishment to ask for confirmation.

"Ahahahahaha, of course not! Our dear ol' town is certainly no match for the good ol' capital! The capital is bigger than this place, and it has this huge giant there right on the middle of it! Used to be the palace of the Fairy Queen before Lady Mira kicked her butt outta there."

What's this about the Fairy Queen?

I decide to ask more. This is a good chance to gain more lore info on this world.

"Ah, you really are not from here, are you, Mister?" The bartender pours some drink into my glass. "On the house. Sit tight. This is gonna be a long one."

I gladly drink the concoction he has so kindly given to me for free. I don't have any human money after all.

"You see, back in the old days, the capital used to be a thick and deep forest. We called it "The Forest of The Lost", for anyone who enters it never comes back outside. It was the fault of the fairies, you see. They lived in that forest and their kid had no sense for human rights whatsoever. They would just play around and kidnap whomever they liked, especially the menfolk whom they loved to tempt away from their lawful wives."

The bartender paused his speech to pour another drink, this time for himself.

"One day, they became more uppity than usual. They started going out from the forest to nearby villages, bewitching any human male they liked. Us humans were powerless against them, since they possessed wicked magic that we could never rival. We appealed for help to the king, but those folks at the court were too corrupt to care about us small folks. And we were too poor to purchase the help of a decent mercenary group."

The bartender drank from his glass, finishing it off in a single gulp.

"And then, she appeared. Our great and beautiful Lady Mira. 'Course, back then, she was just a simple traveler. But even then, folks could already tell she was special. She had a certain aura to her that told you that she wasn't just any simple adventurer. After seeing the injustice committed by the fairies, she entered the forest by herself. And the rest is history."

"W-wait, so you don't know how she defeated the Fairy Queen?" I ask. This is the most important part. I need to have clues on what she's capable off.

"Not exactly. But I reckon it had something to do with her dragon. I remember hearing from the folks living near the forest that it was the one who burned the darn thing down, making way for the capital right now."

Fire-breathing dragon? Thanks old man, it's not like anyone already knows about that.

"Well," I rise from my seat, "Thanks for the story. At any rate, I have to leave now."

"Oi, this is in the middle of the night, you know? You're not staying?"

"No, no, I prefer travelling in the night. Less distractions that way."

The bartender sighs. "Just be careful, lad. I know the roads are safe now since Lady Mira took charge but there may still be one or two unscrupulous sorts out there walking around."

"I know, I know. Oh, and thanks for the drink too."

And then, I leave the tavern; new knowledge fresh inside my mind.