The next day...

Isra: I'm still not sure this is such a good idea. Mael: A little experiment won't hurt. Isra: I released the ward on the girdle like you told me to so that he can remove it if he tries to. If my pet flies away... Mael: If he attempts to, we'll be right there to catch him. Isra: Assuming you with your weak wings can. Mael: *snarls* Look at it this way: if your pet does attempt to fly away, we prove that I'm wrong; he's still alive inside. Isra: I'm telling you he is! Mael: I'm telling you he's dead! Anything that still looks forward to living would have tried to escape ages ago. Isra: My pet loves me! He likes being here. Mael: Is that what you've been telling yourself? *snorts* Isra: You're a lot more jealous than I thought! Mael: And you are a lot more simple than I gave you credit for! Isra: Hey! Mael: Look. Just keep quiet and we'll watch what he does.

Mael: Are you sure you told the servant leave the door of his cage open wide? Isra: Yes, I did. And I removed the wards around it too. Mael: Good. He'll be going right out into the open then. Our bestiary is pretty close to the Gate. Isra: . . . You seem sure he's going to head straight for the Gate. Mael: Are you feeling a little less sure of yourself? Isra: No, I'm not!

Isra: Look, why hasn't he moved yet? Mael: I'm sure it'll take a while for him to realise they've left his cage open. Isra: . . . Mael: Okay, now he's noticed the open door. Isra: So? He's still not moving.

Mael: Your pet seems to be thinking. Isra: Only living things think, I'd say. Mael: Hush. He's moving.

They watched as Isra's pet makes his way out of his cage and out into the open grounds.
He walks towards the stretch of wall that marks the way towards the Gate and pauses.

Mael: . . . Isra: So...he's just standing there. Mael: Strange... Isra: Why strange? Mael: Since he's started walking, he should have kept going towards the Gate, not stop...

Mael: Could he be tired after that short walk? He's got miles more to go. Isra: Hey, the servants feed him during our meal times!

Isra: He just doesn't want to leave me, Mael. Mael: . . . I don't think so. He barely knows you. Isra: He knew me enough to want to come with me! Mael: I thought you caught him. Isra: I did. Kind of.

Mael: What do you mean by that? Isra: It's none of your business. I saw him, I wanted him, and he agreed. Mael: Just like that? Isra: *tosses his long hair aside* Of course. Mael: . . .

Isra: Whatever you think, he's not 'dead'. Mael: Well, he sure acts like it. Isra: It's because I've been too busy to play with him! Mael: Hm... Isra: Stop that, and just leave it.

Mael: He's making a move.

Isra: He's turning back, Mael. Mael: . . .

They follow Isra's pet back into the bestiary, to his cage...

Isra: Isn't he a good pet? Mael: . . . you overdid it, didn't you? Isra: Now what are you on about? Mael: He must have tried to escape before and you tried to control him. But your spell was too strong and it just wiped out all the boy's personality. Isra: . . . I don't know what you're talking about. He's always been like this. Mael: After you killed him. Isra: I didn't KILL him! Mael: Just admit it when you mess up! Isra: You're just jealous you don't have a pet like mine! I'm through talking with you about this!

Isra storms off.

Mael: You're an idiot, Isra. I was right and I'm still right. You broke the boy. *sighs* What a pity; what a pity. To think that he had so much potential too.

Mael strokes the pet's wing feathers and leaves.


Short moments after, a tiny sob chases the echoes of his footsteps.