This strange thing makes the sky over Tsurumi Island clear, but it surges forth waves of thick fog that envelop Tsurumi Island.
Kapatcir has the ability to clear the fog, but this fog does not affect it, so it is too lazy to bother.
What puzzles Kapatcir is why the hairless monkeys on the ground like collecting its fallen feathers so much?
And if it drops more, they become happy—are they fond of my "hair loss"?
This time, the illustration tells the readers that this thick fog has nothing to do with Kapatcir.
It does not want to protect humans; it simply regards Tsurumi Island as its own home.
The feather drifts far away again, leaving only the last place without thunder. The group arrives at the Chirai Shrine, where they finally find Ruu.
Although Ruu is still a bit angry, he is more worried about the Traveler—the thunderstorms on Tsurumi Island have become more dangerous; what if someone gets hurt?
Kama steps forward at the right moment, which immediately dissipates Ruu's anger.
Ruu tells the Traveler that as long as he is offered, Kapatcir will definitely be happy, but the Traveler does not think so.
To prove who is right, the Traveler takes out the feather once again.
Once again fiercely inserted by the illustration, the scene shows a Thunderbird and a hairless monkey cub.
[???: "What an interesting tune. You, insignificant little one, are you not afraid of thunder and storm?"]
(To be honest, when I saw this sentence, I imagined that woman's voice.)
These are the words Kapatcir said when Ruu and Kapatcir first met.
The Thunderbird heard Ruu's singing—this was a beautiful sound it had never heard before, so it came to take a look.
This song penetrated the thick fog, overpowered the thunder, and transmitted a small light to it.
Ruu replies that he is embarrassed to sing in the village and asks the Thunderbird if it likes it—did it disturb you?
[???: "I have heard the songs of trees, the songs of dark clouds and rain, the distant chants of the azure flying dragons from the far north, and the trembling concerto of foxes, rabbits, and insects in the ground when I land."]
["But your song is special. Different from the songs of forest boars, fish, and pelicans."]
Ruu does not understand after all that is said; actually, the Thunderbird just thinks it sounds good.
However, the Thunderbird itself has never experienced this emotion before—it also cannot judge if it likes it, but it allows Ruu to continue singing for it in the future.
Ruu asks for the Thunderbird's name; the Thunderbird shakes its head—it has forgotten the name "she" gave it, because it has been too long since anyone called its name.
After hearing this, Ruu decides to give the Thunderbird a name.
In the scene, Ruu smiles very sunnily—a "sunlight" that even the thick fog cannot block.
[Ruu: "I'll call you 'Kanna Kapatcir'."]
In the Ainu language, Kanna means "thunder," and Kapatcir means "eagle," so the name also carries the meaning of "great eagle of thunder," which fits the Thunderbird's image perfectly.
Thus, the Thunderbird has a name.
[Kapatcir: "...Inexplicable. But I don't particularly mind."]
The two bid farewell; Ruu and Kapatcir agree that next time, he will sing for it again.
"When you come again with the thunderstorm, I'll sing a different song for you!"
In the final scene, Ruu still smiles so gently and says:
["I won't forget—see you!"]
Seeing this, the readers' bad premonitions grow stronger. Although they do not know the process, they know the ending—this is definitely going to be a tragedy!
In the story, the four arrive at Mt. Kanna—this is the last place the feather drifts to after flying away.
Here there is a "Thunder Manifestation"; upon seeing it, the Traveler directly tells Kama to take Ruu and run.
Kama is a professional—he does not need the Traveler to say it and has already taken Ruu and run.
[Weird monster: "...You actually took Ruu..."]
["Ruu's song..."]
["...Why..."]
After the monster disappears, the Traveler uses the feather to summon a feather from the past.
That's right, illustration again. This time, the scene shows the Thunderbird flying through the sky with thunderstorm; it searches the entire Tsurumi Island, but it cannot find that boy.
Didn't we agree? When I come again with the thunderstorm, you will sing a different song for me?
It said it might forget to look for Ruu, but in reality, it wasn't long before it started missing Ruu's singing.
But it cannot find him—nowhere, the Kapatcir in the scene surprisingly shows a human-like "anxiety" on its face.
Finally, on the altar beside Mt. Kanna, it senses Ruu's aura.
On that high-built "sacrificial platform"—that is, the stone slab of its perch—is placed a golden cup filled with Ruu's blood.
The singing boy will never return; their previous meeting was the first and also the last.
This is different from what we agreed, isn't it?
Anger and regret fill Kapatcir's eyes; it spreads its wings and lets out a piercing cry!
Its feathers "bristle" open—just looking at it stings the eyes.
Thunderstorms sweep across Tsurumi Island along with its cry; even the sea cannot withstand the surging lightning.
Such terrifying momentum—even Seirai Island can witness this anger.
["...Since you let the one and only song turn into blood and flow uselessly into this land..."]
[Then, until I, "Kanna Kapatcir," hear that person's... that "Ruu's" song again, this land shall suffer eternal calamity...!]
I, Kanna Kapatcir! Hereby declare judgment!
Kapatcir vents its anger, burying this island—its own home—together with the boy.
The great eagle of thunder brings down utter disaster upon the people, all for one person's song.
Under the terrifying thunderstorm, the insignificant tribe is utterly destroyed; the hourglass the priest used to time the ceremony now records the moment of destruction.
The unfulfilled promise drives the Thunderbird mad with regret—this is its "erosion"; its wings wrap thunder and rain, raging across Inazuma.
Driven mad by "erosion," it ultimately dies at the hands of the Raiden Shogun—that lightning even it could not withstand.
In the final scene, Kapatcir falls; the madness in its eyes gradually fades, its beak slightly moving but making no sound.
After its death, in that violent thunder, a voice seems to emerge.
Listen—the sound echoing among the clouds is its lamenting resentment... and a small wish.
It just wants to hear that person's song once more.
However, this small wish is doomed to never come true.
I have a new name, yet still no one calls me.
Ruu, I am called—Kanna Kapatcir. Your song, I think, I do like.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice-Over · Raiden Ei: About Kapatcir
"I was merely protecting my subjects. If I had to choose again, I would still shoot that arrow."