[center] = [b]LIBRARY, MAGICIAN'S GUILD, BRIGHTWING CITY[/b] = [/center] [@BurningDaisies][@IceHeart] [hr] Yeah, I'm drawing a blank here. I couldn't understand a single word in all these books. Some of them have colorful and bright covers while the others are a little torn; majority of them are worn out, as if they're as old as the city itself. I tried to call on every inch of my power, taking inventory of any available spells that I can use in the situation I'm in. Alas, all of my spells can only control the wind and the weather which is pretty awesome in other times, but not on this one. December and Danielle sure are lucky to have very loyal servants beside them at all times. I made a mental note to create my own servant whenever I have available time in the future. I moved over the section of the library that's near to an open window. Perched on it is a bird with blue feathers on its abdomen, black-colored wings, and a big red spot on its head. It's pecking something on the windowsill, which I later found out was actually bird seeds that someone may have given to it. I scanned the rows of books, desperate to find something that I can show to the rest of the team. When I still couldn't find anything, I exhaled loudly and the sound of shushes filled the library. I mumbled an embarrassed sorry at a person near me who looks like he's trying to shoot lasers out of his eyes. [color=c4df9b]"I. Hate. My. Life."[/color], I said as I softly banged my head a couple of times on a wall, careful of not making any unnecessary noise to disturb the others. I glanced at the bird perched on the window, still pecking at its bird seeds. Judging from its appearance, I'd say it's roughly a year and a half old (don't ask me how I can determine a bird's age, I don't know how I knew it either). It may look a bit grumpy but I silently prayed to Abares that it's as approachable and friendly as the last two birds that I met. I warily approached the bird, careful not to disturb it. [color=c4df9b]"Uhm, hi! Hello there!"[/color], I said softly to the bird. "[color=c4df9b]My name is-"[/color] "Scram [i]hybrid[/i]", he said. What I didn't understand is that it used the word hybrid almost as an insult like how some ignorant, small-minded, and pathetic people I know on Earth would use the "n" word. I breathed in and out. Oh boy. [color=c4df9b]"Good sir, I would just want to ask you if you can understand what the texts on this book means"[/color], I randomly picked a book and showed it to the bird. "O'course I can! I ain't dumb!", he said. "But I ain't gonna give my aid to hybrids such as you. Besides, only [i]real[/i] magicians can have the full right to use the guild's library. Try-hard magician wannabes..." He returned to his pecking after that. It took all my willpower not to strangle the mean bird with my talons. I softly laughed, which got the attention of the bird, and told him, [color=c4df9b]"So only real magicians have the right can use the library right? I hope this would suffice"[/color]. I looked outside the window, put the book beside the bird, turned my gaze at the clear, cloudless sky, and chanted silently. Thunder boomed at the distance, and soon dark, heavy clouds slowly covered the skies. Bolts of lightning crackled within the clouds. Dry leaves, dust, and other materials started to create a mini whirlwind that will soon become a tornado. Weirdly though, no wind is blowing inwards the library despite the windows being open, as if the library is magically enchanted to be protected from the outside elements. "O-o-okay, okay, cut it out. I-I get it, you're a true magician. Y-you can stop now, please just stop now. You're s-scaring the others", he stammered. I turned my head. The other people inside the library seemed to notice the sudden appearance of a storm outside. Their expressions turned into a mix of shocked and scared as they slowly realized that I'm the one causing the storm. I smiled back serenely at the bird and mockingly curtsied. [color=c4df9b]"I am glad I have met your expectations."[/color] With just a flick of my wing, the storm dissipated instantly, the sky becoming clear and cloudless again. Relief is evident to the people inside the library, avoiding my gaze whenever I looked at them. Mr. Laser Eyes didn't look at me the same way again; one can argue that he's regarding me with awe now. I turned my attention back at the bird. [color=c4df9b]"So,"[/color] I said with a sneer and my eyebrow raised while picking up the book, [color=c4df9b]"will you help me now?"[/color] He shuffled his feathers. "As if I have a choice. Alright, let's see what you got." [hr] [center] = [b]REGNOPHOS: KINGDOM OF CLOUDS[/b] = [/center] High and high above the skies lies Regnophos: the Kingdom of Clouds. To the east lies the golden sun and to the west is the silver moon; the colors of dusk and dawn prevailed throughout the Kingdom of Clouds as it is forever set in eternal twilight. It is here that Abares, the Sky God, resides. He can see everything around the world via the images appearing on several swirling clouds that surround him. A particular event that caught his attention is the sudden appearance of storm clouds gathering above Brightwing City. Only a fool would fail to recognize that this is a magically conjured anomaly. What's more, the god can tell on who is behind this: Himitsu. He passed his hand towards the swirling vision and it zoomed in on Himitsu, looking outside through a window in the magical guild's library. He sees a bird talking to Himitsu. He sees the smug look on the priestess's face as she saw how it frightened the bird. The god thought that the bird does not believe she is a powerful magician, so she conjured the storm as a definitive proof of her abilities. "Greetings, [i]great[/i] and [i]noble[/i] sky god Abares." He suddenly looked west, where the silver moon is eternally trapped in moonrise. A wisp made of violet and blue clouds floated towards the god. Even if the apparition does not show any expressions, its voice is full of goading. [b]YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN MY DOMAIN, DELUBIYO.[/b] The apparition laughed mockingly. "Oh please, Abares, I am not welcome anywhere as long as you are there. Besides, I came to discuss very important matters to you." It floated above the vision where Himitsu is being talked to by the bird. "My, my, is this my new loyal subject? She seems very powerful, promising even, unlike your other priestesses." [b]YOU WILL NOT SPEAK OF HER THAT WAY. SHE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS. SHE IS SPECIAL.[/b] "OF COURSE SHE IS, JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE OTHERS!", the wisp jeered. Despite being made of clouds, it began to glow in violet light, purposely doing this to taunt the sky god. "You told them they are the chosen ones, feeding them with lies that they are the key to defeating the impending evil, and fill them with false hope. And you have spoken highly of these fair maidens, saying that they can resist the influence of the incoming darkness, yet they remain loyal to the death to [i]me[/i]." Abares floated to the other visions. The wisp followed the god to a vision showing two villages at war with each other, far from Brightwing City. "When will we stop this nonsense, Abares? No matter how special or powerful you think your priestesses are, if they cannot resist my temptations, they are worthless compared to the darkness." The sky god looked east, where the golden sun is set in eternal sunrise, bathing the clouds in golden light. [b]BECAUSE I DO NOT LOSE HOPE, DELUBIYO, the god said. I BELIEVE IN THE PROPHECY. IT HAS NEVER FAILED THE GODS BEFORE AND IT WILL NOT FAIL US NOW.[/b] They both turned towards the vision where Himitsu is. Knowing that she won, she asked the bird for its help and it reluctantly agreed. After a few moments of talking, Himitsu's eyes began to widen in surprise. "I do hope this is the one, Abares. Remember your oath, if you fail this time..." [b]I KNOW. I DO NOT FORGET, AND I ALSO DO NOT LOSE FAITH. SHE IS THE ONE. [/b] The glowing apparition laughed, like it is seeing an adorable puppy playing with a toy. "You really haven't changed a bit, dear brother. You're still a stubborn, hard-headed, little brat. How adorable you are still." The apparition dissipated, leaving behind its amused laughter. The sky god sighed and turned back to the silver moon. [b]TIME HAS CHANGED US IN DIFFERENT WAYS[/b], the god said absently, [b]YOU OF ALL BEINGS SHOULD KNOW THAT, SISTER.[/b]