Jakob stared past the birds. The angle was awkward… but the residual mana flowing out of the rifts… was tangible. Wisps of mana flowing out, enriching the area. He felt as if he'd been injected with a dozen mana crystals.
Haven moved his head past the white rift, weapons, armor, all manner of war items lay strewn about in a chaotic mess. The hall was dark, some piles had white sheets over them, dust covering every available surface. He could leave it here… but then he would not have access to it.
Beloved gasped as she hugged her big snake. "Psst, my big snake, my god Haven, you can open a rift, take any you like, feel free to be brazen!" Beloved giggled.
Ashton shrugged as he looked around, "I rarely use it, most made by Ru, I don't fight often, so left here in ruin."
Alexei couldn't see much… but what he did see made him want to drool. Even covered in dust, neglected for beast gods knows how long, most of the items were glowing with power. Even a novice could see those weapons were fit to slay dragons! Possibly… gods.
Haven glanced around the room with interest, using his nose he rummaged through a pile to unearth a pair of silver talon guards. He recalled seeing Nix wear them once… though they had been little more than decoration.
Beloved grinned as she leapt into the rift, throwing things aside until she found a pair of her own. "Oh! I remember these! Not very comfy, but wicked their speed!"
Haven decided he would have to visit when he had time… time away from these covetous mortals. He dropped the harpoon among the clutter. It would seem he needed to learn how to open a rift.
Haven watched the rifts close, then he eyed Nix. If he was not mistaken… Ru had helped forge similar harpoons. Ru might not deign to use poison, but that didn't mean he wouldn't help kill gods he found himself at odds with.
Ashton blinked up at Haven innocently, "I am innocent! You cannot accuse! Ru is a warmonger, but he comes from the front, refuses to lose."
Beloved blinked, "Ru wouldn't kill, he'd capture and keep, an endless battle, deaths on repeat." Beloved added as she nodded seriously.
Haven's lips quirked, he'd heard of the lesser gods who challenged Ru. Forced to battle for the lives in a space where they could not remain dead. It had caused quite the stir, but since only challengers were forced to remain, they had not bothered to pursue Ru or Nix for justice.
Neolani shivered… captured by a god… unable to die. That didn't sound like something Ashton would condone…
Beloved glanced over the dying ember. Then turned her attention back to her big snake. "Yes Ru is moody, quick to a fight! But his heart of gold, shines super bright!"
Ashton clapped, "Let us return to our quest! Big snake you should rest! A feather to find, the best yet to decide!"
Beloved grinned as she tackled her big snake so he was on his back. She grinned, "Yes! Big Snake you should sleep, our search your best feather we'll reap!"
Ashton leapt to cover Beloved's mouth, "Your injury healed, rest in the sun, do not mind small birds, listen to our birdsong." Ashton stared at Beloved until she covered her mouth.
"Right! No secrets we keep," Beloved promised shaking her head, "but you should still sleep." She added while nodding emphatically. "We'll keep you warm, we'll keep you safe, do not mind us birds, rest here in peace." Beloved coaxed.
Sebastian stared dumbfounded… it was like announcing to the world they were hiding something from a snake god… surely… surely they were doing it on purpose… right?
Jaxon's face fell… they looked so… earnest. Patting the giant snake's belly, coaxing him to sleep. He felt like he was going to have a brain aneurysm. Jaxon watched as they put the giant snake to sleep… then started searching the feathers on his stomach.
Novak stilled as he noticed something… two dainty foot impressions where the girl had been holding the snake's head. They weren't deep… maybe a quarter of an inch. But... Novak shivered as he felt a predator's gaze land on him. He looked up to see her looking at him with an innocent smile.
Sebastian noticed Novak tense… but he didn't understand why he suddenly looked wary of Lady Beloved.
"Grandfather, did you want… more tea?" Calix asked as his grandfather watched the assassin.
After another two hours of searching each feather, the council of birds agreed to meet. Each had selected the feather they considered the best. Ashton sat in a circle with the others, each listening one by one as they presented why the feather they selected was the best.
Ashton nodded along. Hito had the sturdiest feather. Futa the bluest. Mit the widest, which was also the shiniest. Yot selected the brightest red feather. Itsu found the softest feather. Mut darkest feather. Nana found a feather almost as dark, light revealed a rainbow sheen. So far, most agreed Nana's feather was the best currently.
Yat found the darkest green, while Kokono found the lightest green. Each arguing theirs was greener. Tou on the other hand found a feather that was large enough for all of them to lay on, almost as soft as Itsu's, and sturdy enough to not bend unless they jumped on it. A real contender.
Beloved selected a large purple feather with a green undertone. She kept circling it, happily explaining that when light was reflected, a barely noticeable blue hue could be seen.
Ashton admitted he was biased. He'd found a red feather that could almost be mistaken for one of his own. He'd taken great care examining it, finding the faintest bit of gold along the spine, and silver white down.
Haven opened one eye, watching the birds jump through rifts to chirp about the feathers they selected. Honestly, if they wanted feathers, he had no qualms giving them away. He probably lost hundreds of feathers a day. Sometimes when he awoke from particularly sound naps, there was an outline of fallen feathers. They held no power, could not be used to track him, nor were they a symbol of his godhood.
The only reason the Ophion priests held them in such high regard is because he would deliberately stuff them with mana. It didn't take long, but the mana would naturally disperse. Unlike the birds, his feathers were like discarded human clothes.
Eventually, the twelve was narrowed to three, then two. Finally, they appeared to agree on one.
Ashton circled Tou's selected feather, sizing it up repeatedly. All of them periodically chirping in agreement. Now. To obtain this feather. A sudden breeze sent them all sprawling, only to be caught in gentle whirlwinds.
Beloved let out a surprised cry of delight as she was tumbling around.
Ashton grinned as he felt the current, quickly righting himself. After a moment Ashton grinned wider as he flipped until he looked like he was diving headfirst from the sky, using his body to balance as he spun.
With a short burst of mana, his whirlwind bumped into two of the smaller golems whirlwinds. All three merged as the golems started copying him. Unfortunately, three combined whirlwinds were too strong for their much lighter frames.
Ashton laughed as he directed his growing whirlwind toward his Beloved who was tumbling like a flower in a storm.
Haven watched as the birds were easily distracted. Soon the smaller ones were darting around, playfully catching each other, or tumbling together like leaves. Eventually, Nix caught all of the whirlwinds, then separated the smaller birds into groups of three. As the groups clung to each other, a smaller whirlwind would separate from Nix's.
Haven guided the whirlwinds, coiling his body so they had enough room to play, but not leave his line of sight. The small birds were quick learners. Darting around each other in a game of chase. When they were eventually able to fly, this would be good practice. As the birds were entertained, he examined the selected feather.
Keeping one eye on the birds, he tried to figure out what they found so interesting. It was a feather on his left wing. Nearly identical to the hundreds surrounding it. Were it not clearly marked with a floating flame no matter how he shifted, he might not even be able to find it. For them to have searched so diligently, there had to be a deeper meaning.
Haven watched as Beloved started to rise up, then broke free of her current whirlwind to crash into another, catching the smaller birds off guard. They were so easily distracted… there had to be a reason.
Calix watched as Lord Reece easily glided around in the gusts of wind. He was kind of envious… it looked like a lot of fun.
Sebastian didn't bother to hide his smile, their playful banter was… peaceful. Watching them, made the problems the empire was struggling seem so… far away.
Beloved grinned as she set her sights on her big snake. He was only half paying attention. With a mischievous grin, she started to slowly make her way closer to his face. Nix quickly caught on, guiding all their whirlwinds toward her big snake. He eyed them for a moment, before turning the majority of his attention back to their selected feather! She must distract him!
Ashton grinned as their whirlwinds crept ever closer. The area inside the coil wasn't so large that they need make some elaborate plan. Their game of chase had zigzagged between his coils repeatedly already. Ashton started to absorb the whirlwinds, the golems learning to keep their body in a dive position so they didn't tumble like weeds. Soon they were all sharing a whirlwind.
Beloved spun in tandem with Nix at the lowest part of the now large whirlwind. Their siblings barely managing to space themselves safely, waiting for her signal. Nix slowly let himself rise over her. When he was directly over her, he reached, taking hold of one of her feet.
Before Haven could notice their new game, Ashton yanked Beloved close as he tucked into a ball. Using the momentum, he spun himself, and Beloved, then threw her out of the whirlwind. The force sent him sprawling into the golems. They were now like scattered leaves in the wind, swirling about without control.
Beloved extended herself as soon as Nix released her. Landing on her big snake's face with a delighted song of triumph. She immediately started to shower him with kisses. "A kiss because you're pretty, a kiss because you're smart! A kiss because I want to, a kiss to show heart's song!"
Haven had of course noticed their approach, but… a welcome surprise all the same. Haven smiled as he lowered his wing, if he could not see why they wanted the feather, he would have to ask. Using the curved claw on his wing to carefully lift her up before sending her back to play with the flock.
Haven blinked when half a second later, another incoming projectile landed on his face. Then a third, forth, fifth. Until Nix gently landed, laughing as the flock started to hop and chirp excitedly.
Ashton grinned as he strutted around, "You take us too lightly, think us easy to please! Wait for it great wind god! Let us show you the meaning of greed!"
Haven decided to play along, raising a brow as the flocked puffed their chests out, brimming with confidence. "Oh? This should be interesting."
Beloved grinned, swinging herself down to strut around with Nix. "I am demanding! Much I desire! My wants can be endless! Like wood burnt in a fire!"
"But we are not ruthless! We are willing to trade, what we want now, your best feather! What do you say?" Ashton asked giving Haven an exaggerated side eye.
Sebastian almost choked on his tea. Did they… not understand how greed worked?