On the races of the world.
Vogel:
A race of humans with bird-like features that manifest in various different forms. The most common feature are small feathered wings that can grow on either head, back, calves, or on the back of the hips.
These wings are small, and thus don't allow Vogel people to fly or slow down a fall. However, just like how races with scales like Reptilia and Nagmia have unique Body Strengthening techniques, Vogel people can train to make their wings become stronger, bigger, and allow flight that can last up to an entire week if trained for a lifetime.
The Vogel race are characterized by being, on average, shorter and smaller than people from other races—although some Vogel can be really tall—and for their amazing eye-sight and incredibly fast reaction time. Some unique characteristics can vary between person to person.
This race can experiment unusual mutations when displaying bird features. Some develop talons, others display a mutation that changes an arm for a wing.
Vogel are a numerous and common race in the world, to the point that most kingdoms on all three continents have Vogel living in them.
A varied race that can manifest in multitude of ways and can live practically anywhere and have stood the test of time in this world.
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We hightailed out of that place as fast as we could, with me carrying Titiana and a bag of her goods to sell while I used some Body Strengthening techniques.
"Don't leave me behind!" The man who fell from the sky was following us from behind, he had his eyes closed and I could see his tears sparking while he ran behind us.
"What are you doing following us!?" Titiana roared from my arms at the man following us. "Quick, Grey, he's catching up to us!"
Even if she said that, I couldn't go any faster than I was going at this moment. It actually surprised me that he could match my speed without even using a noticeable Body Strengthening technique.
"I swear I'm not a bad guy, please! I need some help!" He yelled in desperation. I could feel him clasping his hands in a plea for help.
"No, no, no, no! We already have too much to handle ourselves. We can't get indebted to anyone!" Titiana crossed her arms and shook her head, looking behind me toward the man following us.
"On the contrary, I'd be the one indebted to you, my saviours!"
"Do we help him?" I asked.
"Mhhh..." Titiana pondered for a long second while we kept escaping from that industrial side of the city. "What exactly do you want?" She yelled out her question while I jumped over a canal.
"I need protection! I've seen how you fought against those mafiosos. You're really strong, sir!"
"You're like, what? In your late twenties? Why are you calling someone younger than you sir!"
"It's a nice showing of respect," both him and me said the exact same thing with a calmed tone despite our running.
"Even you, Grey!?" She complained while thrashing around a bit, but not enough for me to drop her.
"Let's stop and hear him out," I commented while full stopping and slowly dropping Titiana off.
"Ah, so many gratitudes, kind sir! I am truly in your debt," the man said, prostrating himself and hardly smashing his forehead on the ground. "Thank you for agreeing to help this poor soul!" He lifted his head and we saw a pink bruise and blood on his forehead.
"We didn't say we'll accept! Only that we'll listen to you," Titiana remarked while crossing her arms.
"Ah, but of course! Truly, a smart decision."
The man had fluffy canine ears and tail that I couldn't quite identify and point to a single race—he could be either a Berus, an Ulf, or a Kisune. He wore ragged clothes that looked like they weren't washed in ages. His silver hair and multiple scars on his forearm stood out particularly to me.
"My saviours, I go by the name of Manjaro. And recently, a mafia family has been pursuing me," he explained, wiping the blood flowing from his forehead.
"Off to a bad start," Titiana stopped him. "No one is pursued by the mafia for legal reasons. If you asked to be loaned money, or you have some kind of shady deal you messed up, we're not helping you!"
"Oh, no! My saviours, I may have problems caused by my gambling addiction. But I'd never risk my life asking for money I couldn't later return."
"He just admitted to being a gambling addict just like that," I whispered, surprised.
"As you may know, my saviours, this kingdom of Gtomika suffers from a big problem with the mafia—to the point were it's rumored that the king is just a show for the normal people, while the six big families rule the kingdom from the shadow. I was just a poor sap living life to the fullest, but the mafia suddenly appeared one day asking money from me since they were protecting the neighbourhood. But, in reality, the ones causing crime in the neighbourhood was the family itself."
"They caused the problem while pretending they had nothing to do with it, then created a solution and extorted the people for money," Titiana summarized.
"Exactly! Isn't that foul, my saviours? Creating a perfect situation to extort people for their money."
"And you want us to deal with them?"
"If you'd be so kind to save me from their terrible claws, my saviours, I'd be delighted and eternally indebted to you both."
"Against a whole mafia family? Mind you, Grey is the only one who can stand up to them right now," Titiana pointed at me.
"Ah... you are indeed speaking the truth. Having only this Reptilian boy fight against a whole mafia family would be abusing your generosity, yes!" He quickly nodded his head while walking side to side.
"Of course, I'm fine with kicking the mafia out of the neighbour. But I'd increase the rewards for harder work."
"If we agree to help you—and I repeat—if we agree, we'll ask for lots of things in advance." Titiana used a firm and demanding tone that she tends to use when dealing with annoying customers.
"Ask away, my saviours, and I'll see to it that you are compensated for helping me out."
"We want a place to live for the foreseeable future. He needs identifications and documents. I want a bow and arrow, and a place to practice my shooting skills. We want to be introduced to well-paying jobs to buy our stuff."
"T-that's kind of a lot for me, my saviour..." The canine-eared man had a drop of sweat flowing down from his forehead at the requests of my partner. "B-but I'm sure that I can get you all you need if I make some calls!" He commented with more energy.
"Bring us to a place we can rest and discuss if we should help you," Titiana practically ordered him while turning around and crossing her arms. "If you don't, then you can forget about our help."
"Of course, my saviours. Let me guide you to a nice place you can both live." The man smiled greatly while walking in front of us.
"You get slightly scary when you act like that," I jokingly whispered to Titiana.
"Ugh..." She flinched. "D-don't say it like that... it's embarrassing."
"I wasn't saying it was a bad thing. I think the gap in how you actually are and how you can act in these circumstances is rather cute, actually," I chuckled.
Titiana made a full stop. "S-stop teasing me, Grey!" She complained while pointing at me. Her cheeks were a vibrant red that matched the color of her hair, and her finger trembled in embarrassment.
"Oh, where are my manners." Manjaro spun and looked at us in the eyes. "I am a Ulf, as you can tell by my wolf ears and tail. But I certainly am not as powerful or cold as most Ulf. Which means that your comment about my age hurt me a lot, my saviour." He rubbed his eyes with the back of his fingers, cleaning tears in his now crystalline eyes.
"What!?" Titiana asked, confused.
"I may look like this. But I am actually only seven years old," commented the grown man, tall enough to be a perfect basketball player, with a growing beard of a week that was yet to become extremely hairy, his scars and visible muscles from his ragged, torn clothes fitted someone in his late twenties at the youngest.
"Don't mess with me!" Titiana yelled out angrily while stomping the ground.
Then he began to laugh before he turned around and resumed guiding us to a place to rest. Of course, he was only teasing us and making some light jokes that Titiana didn't really find all that funny.
However, he muttered something Titiana didn't notice because she was complaining, and, even if I noticed him murmuring something, I couldn't hear exactly what he said.
.