Chapter Sixty-Three: The Boy and the Bird

Banar Federation, tropical rainforest.

The rainy season had passed for a week now, and the vast pools of water within the forest were gradually receding. Bathed in sunlight, the entire forest burst forth with a powerful vitality and verdant energy. Amidst the shimmering beauty of rain and dew, flocks of large birds soared and cried out in the sky.

Yet, as these birds called loudly to each other, a long whistle echoed beneath the canopy. Two green birds, each as large as an eagle, hesitated for a moment before swooping down from the branches.

“Nick, Donna, good children, come here—this is for you to eat. I just caught it!”

A boy, half-grown, squatted cheerfully before the two birds, holding out two small fish for them. The birds tilted their heads, inspecting the fish, then glanced at Hughes, finally stretching their necks to accept the offering, quickly swallowing the fish whole.

Seeing Nick and Donna eat what he had brought, Hughes grew even happier. With a mix of hesitation and a touch of fear, he addressed the birds:

“Nick, Donna, may I touch you? Like this.”

Afraid the birds might not understand, Hughes mimed stroking his own head, showing them what he meant. The two birds exchanged curious glances, tilting their heads at each other and then at Hughes, utterly baffled.

“Heh, since you didn’t answer, I’ll take it as consent,” Hughes laughed, though his heart raced as he slowly reached out his right hand toward Nick.

Nick, the bird, watched Hughes’ approaching hand closely, but showed no signs of aggression. Slowly, Hughes’ hand brushed the feathers atop Nick’s head, and, as Nick trembled with nervous excitement, Hughes finally rested his hand fully on the bird’s head, gently smoothing the feathers.

Perhaps finding it pleasant, Nick’s tense muscles relaxed, and he half-closed his eyes in comfort. Seeing this, Hughes’ excitement could barely be contained.

“See? I won’t hurt you, right?” Hughes murmured, his face alight with joy as he turned to the other bird, Donna.

Donna, meanwhile, was watching her companion Nick with curiosity, then tilted her head to gaze at Hughes, looking utterly adorable.

“Donna, come here, let me give you a massage too. It feels good, I promise! Just don’t peck me like last time.”

Hughes tried to appear as gentle and friendly as possible, reaching out his left hand to Donna. This time, Donna was not nearly as skittish as she had been days before. Instead, she seemed eager to try, and even pressed her head willingly into Hughes’ palm.

“I touched her! Finally, I touched her,” Hughes exulted inwardly, suppressing the urge to shout with joy.

Hughes was nothing more than an ordinary thirteen-year-old boy of the Simon tribe, mischievous but not extraordinary—at least until the Sacred Tree revealed its spirit. A week ago, Hughes had noticed that whenever he played outside, many large birds would perch on branches around him, watching with wide-eyed curiosity.

From that moment, Hughes began to climb the treetops and attempted to play with the birds. Though adults in the tribe had warned the children not to provoke these formidable creatures, Hughes had forgotten all about those warnings. From his first encounter, the birds, though wary, never attacked him.

Over the following days, through persistent effort, Hughes befriended the two boldest birds, offering them food and earning their trust. A week passed quickly; through whistles and gestures, Hughes built a deeper bond with Nick and Donna.

Today, for the first time, he touched them.

Looking at the affectionate behavior of the two birds, Hughes felt pure joy. He wanted to parade Nick and Donna through the tribe, but recalling their shyness, abandoned the idea.

So Hughes kept stroking the heads and bodies of the two birds, overjoyed. Other birds flew by, all drawn in by the unusual spectacle. One by one, then in growing numbers, birds with sharp beaks and talons gathered on the surrounding branches, watching Hughes and his companions.

They chirped softly among themselves, gazing curiously at Hughes, tilting their heads this way and that. To these birds, Hughes did not seem quite human; he was more like a large, earthbound chicken unable to fly.

Yet, unlike other humans, Hughes did not repel them. In fact, they felt an urge to approach him.

This feeling was strange and inexplicable, but it stirred the birds on the treetops.

A few minutes later, one bird could no longer resist. It flew down, landing five meters behind Hughes. Watching Hughes, it hopped forward a couple of steps, then paused, observing that Hughes still hadn’t turned. It hopped forward again.

Gradually, as this bird approached within a meter behind Hughes, the other curious birds on the branches followed suit. One after another, they flew down and, imitating the first, hopped closer.

Within ten minutes, Hughes was surrounded by more than a dozen large birds.

Oblivious at first, Hughes only noticed when the boldest bird extended its head from behind. Startled, he met its gaze.

The bird’s eyes were full of curiosity and liveliness, while Hughes was bewildered.

“What’s happening? Is this bird not afraid of me?” Hughes wondered.

Regardless, the bird seemed utterly unafraid, hopping to Donna and Nick’s side.

“Chirp, chirp~”

It called softly to Nick and Donna, who replied in kind. Then it looked up at Hughes and began calling to him.

“Uh? Do you want me to touch you?” Hughes asked, excited yet hesitant.

The bird merely tilted its head, its eyes inscrutable.

“Well, here goes. Don’t bite me, okay? I’m really afraid of pain,” Hughes said, his brown skin flushed as he nervously and eagerly extended his not-so-clean hand toward the bird.