When my consciousness comes back I feel sluggish, but also warm.
My head is reeling and my vision blurry.
But from what little I can see, I seem to be inside a large log cabin decorated with hanging moss and a random assortment of boxes.
Beneath me is a simple leaf bed and sitting right besides is a small glossy wooden cup with water.
Looking around I don't see my spiral horn or 'balloon'.
Parched, I down all the water in the cup.
Slightly more clear headed I am about to stand up when the door props open.
Once my eyes recover from the sudden light, I am finally greeted with my apparent saviours.
Two tall and skinny humanoid figures covered with blue feathers. Long, sleek wings attached to the underside of their arms.
In place of a human's head they have a sharp falcon head with a small, black striped yellow curved beak.
Rather than naked they seem to be wearing skintight clothes of matching colors and patterns.
Strings of small bones and fangs are attached to the feathers near the sides of their head, where their ears should be.
And in their webbed 4 fingered hands are beautifully decorated spears with feathers and pieces of cloth attached near the singular sharp bone head.
"Awake? Good" The slender birdman speaks amicably.
"You have intruded on Linio Pluma Radiko. You will answer our questions, understood?"
The relatively larger birdman chirps with authority
"I understand, and thank you for saving me"
Despite standing up, I still have to look up to face them
"What is a Terano doing in our Radiko?"
I am not sure why I can understand them.
Some afterservice of whatever dragged me here, I suppose.
I joke, blatantly ignoring the terrifying implications.
"I was traveling from far away when I got ambushed and robbed of all my belongings"
I lie smoothly without even batting an eye.
The birdmen look at each other briefly with an unknown expression before continuing their interrogation.
"What Titol nobel family are you from?"
"Titol nobel? Sorry, I must have been hit too hard in the head, I don't remember much"
I shake my head and try to sound sincere.
However, it is evident, even with their bird faces, that they don't believe me
"Do not lie Terano. Plebej do not wear such quality clothing"
Their chest puffs, posture intimidating. As their 4 fingers tightly hold their spears.
Their previously hidden muscles let out a sickening crunch as they draw tight. Their strength evident.
My scalp tingling while I try my best to remain calm.
"I promise I cannot remember anything"
Both threatening figures do not move.
"..."
"The only thing I know is my name. I don't remember anything else. "
I take a step back and try to make myself small
"I have no reason to be hostile to your… Lino Plumah. It's not like I can do any sort of damage by myself and with no weapons."
"My name is Thomas, by the way"
Seemingly convinced, the smaller one relaxes slightly
"Aro" says the slender birdman, pointing at himself.
"Sira, and it is Linio Pluma" With what I believe is a sigh, the other, larger falcon introduces herself.
Their race should be Linio Pluma then. Makes sense considering they are feathered.
"You are not from the Kudrus Empire? Right." Aro speaks, again answering himself
"No, I don't even know what that is."
"Truly ignorant" Siro intercepts with a click of her beak
Barely stopping my eye from twitching, I ask.
"Could you explain?"
"Largest Teranoj empire. Powerful."
"And greedy" Siro adds to Aro's simple explanation.
"Attacks are frequent. But their emperor is wise."
Sira seemingly agrees with a chirp and declares.
"You are to leave our Ombrel Forest by heading northeast. Unaffiliated outsiders without Pluma Sigillum are not allowed in our Radiko."
Why do they speak so formally and… weirdly? It's kind of awkward.
I mean what can expect from an entirely different race from probably another world.
"I don't have anywhere else to go."
"You want to stay? Arbetestro Oran can give you Pluma Sigillum."
"Arbetestro Oran resides inside the main trunk. Otherwise, go to the edge and use the lif"
After explaining curtly, Sira hands me back my white spiral horn and the balloon.
I thank Sira and leave the cabin with them in tow.
They are quite the imposing pair, but they are kind.
Once outside I am hit directly by huge clouds.
Hidden beyond the mist I can see the thick trunk and leafy top of the same umbrella trees seen everywhere, only this time it is many times larger and taller.
Arranged around the trunk are rows upon rows of magnificent small wooden buildings decorated with colorful feathers and pieces of fabric, as well as bones of different beasts.
The buildings supported by a wooden foundation probably around 2 kilometers above the ground.
Despite looking tribal, their woodworking is incredible.
And to obtain such a large amount of wood and process it all, their organization and logistics must also be quite developed.
"You are impressed? Of course you are."
Aro must have noticed my face as he nods, his feathers rustling.
"This Arbet is merely one of many. It cannot be compared to our Ĉielnesto, a unique high-grade artefact." Sira speaks with her curved beak held high.
Artefact? Is it something magical?!
"Only Linio Ombra is better than us"
Sira gives him a sharp look, but doesn't correct him
"Thank you Aro and Sira"
They just nod as I leave.
I can't really tell what they are thinking.
It's not like I am a bloody bird.
Stepping on the shiny wooden foundation I look around.
The cloudy mist obscuring most of the details. But I still manage to discern a few key things.
Birdmen wander the 'streets', very few humans mixed in between.
Not all Birdmen are blue feathered falcons. In fact, most of them aren't.
Some bat-like figures walk by, their dark and skeletal wings obvious during the day.
Other colorful Pluma of varying sizes and shapes also tread along the sturdy wooden floor. Their sharp talons not leaving a single trace on it.
While admiring the sights, the surrounding crowd and I are drawn to a deep guttural sound a few meters away.
The sound came from a narrow chested tall figure with gigantic metallic wings, Its beak thin and colorful with broad shoulders and narrowed eyes.
In front of it is a human with dark blonde hair and brown eyes. Anger evident on his face as blood drips from his thigh.
"Ter-viando, you have dirtied my wings."
"Do not insult me, Sovaĝa. You hurt me with your wings. How will you compensate me for this?"
The man's words seem to make every Pluma in the crowd change faces.
"Excuse me."
A woman in leather armour smoothly pushes through and stands in front of the man.
Quickly a faint blue transparent cloak appears over her armour.
Her hand near a sheathed sword's hilt while facing the metal feathered Pluma calmly.
"I apologize on my employer's behalf, respected Kernulo. We are from the komerca Ligo, here to discuss iron shipments, not to cause any trouble."
"Woman, do not overstep–"
Before he even finished his words, she stepped back and struck his head at an incredible speed, knocking him out.
Then, with a single motion she put him over her shoulder. Carrying the unconscious man like a sack of potatoes.
And without changing her measured face, she throws a leather pouch to the 'Kernulo'.
"We are willing to compensate and pay for cleaning."
The Pluma doesn't say anything, simply grabbing the pouch midair and leaving with a metallic rustle.
What was that cloak? How did it suddenly appear?
Is it an artefact? Or something else?
The crowd soon disperses
And with questions in my mind, I soon arrive at the tree's massive trunk.
Now closer its size makes itself more evident. Standing proud at an immense height and thickness comparable to a mansion.
The surrounding area is devoid of any other building.
Previously hidden by the distance and clouds I spot something on the bark.
Carved into the bark and adorned by huge vines are artistic drawings of battles past.
The carvings are simple but also beautiful. The rustic life of the Linio Pluma clear, as are their artistic talents.
Most of the battles don't only involve humans. The clear drawings of other beast-like races I have not seen can also be discerned.
I walk around the trunk, searching for an entrance. Multiple armed pluma stare at me but do not say anything.
Soon enough I do find it.
Guarded by two heavily armoured birdmen are a pair of wooden doors directly carved into the tree.
"What is your business with the Arbetestro, Terano" The guard on the left commands with seriousness
"I am looking to get the Pluma Sigillum"
Both guards relax slightly
"You must be the Terano Aro and Sira brought, then. Very well, pass on through"
The left guard knocks on the door with his spear, the door opening soon after
I lift my eyebrow in surprise but don't ask. Thanking them as I enter.
The two falcons must be pretty famous.
Once the door closes, I step into a corridor lined with armored birdmen.
A rattling cackle ominously echoing from deeper within.
Its noise making my hair stand straight.
The brightness from outside is gone. The interior is dark, the path forward marked only by fluorescent mushrooms glowing faintly.
A musty stale smell suffocating me at every inhale. As small green lizards scuttle by the mushrooms, their long tongues grabbing the foolish insects buzzing over the light.
Anxious yet determined I look around and see something by the 'walls'.
The mushrooms are illuminating grotesque engravings of massacres, some committed by humans, others by their own kind.
Unlike the carvings on the outside, these ones are macabre–lacking any pride or compassion. Their maker's hatred clear on the deep notches, on every drop of blood etched. Inscribed on the walls is a world where there is no reason or purpose, only insanity.
Peeling my eyes away from the gory drawingsI edge closer to the source of the laughter, my nerves strung taut.
At the end of the path lies a large chamber with an elevated 'throne' made of branches, bones and animal skins in the middle.
Sitting comfortably is the one responsible for the laughter, a hulking white Pluma with a squareish head, brown around its beady eyes.
The machine gun-like chortle I have been hearing, coming out of its dark, hefty rounded beak. A deep scar running through its middle.
Unlike other birdmen, this one doesn't seem to have any humanoid arms, just a pair of stocky brown wings with some tinges of shiny cyan. Looking more like an oversized kookaburra than a humanoid bird.
There are also two comparatively petite figures, one winged, the other not.
Ignoring my arrival, the sitting Pluma stops laughing and speaks to the two with a chortle half in his mouth.
"I see, I see. So, you disobeyed Alto Pluma orders and refused to work with this Terano."
"Lord Oran, this is seriously delaying our trade. Something must be done to prevent this from happening again."
"Nonsense, why are we even trading with Teranoj. They have spilled our blood and enslaved our kin. We do not need their help."
The hulking pluma nods repeatedly.
Then, without Oran so much as shifting in his seat, a fierce wind instantly blows past.
Instead of any regular wind, this one is heavy. A tremendous amount of energy charged on it.
And with its passing, both of their upper bodies are erased in an instant.
PLOP
PLOP
The remaining half of their bodies fall down consecutively, blood pooling on the wooden floor.
My expression turns deeply serious as the bloody smell assaults my nose.
Arbetestro Oran looks at a guard next to him and speaks with a smile on his voice.
"Remind everybody that Alta Pluma's orders are to improve relations with the Teranoj via trade. Disobedience is not permitted."
None of the guards show any reaction–seemingly used to it.
While some guards carry the bodies away and clean the blood, Arbetestro Oran casually turns to me and speaks with a humorous tone.
"You must be the little Terano that got saved by the blua couple. They must have been pretty embarrassed to vouch for you."
Better be careful. Dying after all this would be quite the tragedy.
I ask cautiously after a brief pause.
"Vouch for me?"
"Since they told you about the Pluma Sigillum, that means they are willing to be responsible for your actions and become your Pluma Guarant. If you get the Sigillum, that is."
I have a bad feeling.
"How do I get this… Pluma Sigillum?"
"It's easy."
"Just cut off a finger, KA-KA-KA."
During his nauseating laugh two guards silently place a table and a steel dagger in front of me.
He suddenly stops his maniac cackle.
"So what is your choice, little Terano?"
"..."
I remain silent as I stare at the dagger.
"Refusal is also a choice" Oran adds lightly, his tone chipper.
The bloody odor still lingering.
Could be worse.
And so I decisively put my left hand on top of the table and grab the dagger with my right.
Losing a single finger in exchange for my life is not a bad deal.
I attempt to convince myself. Though, I certainly don't feel it doing a damn thing.
Breathing became work as I lift the dagger, its steel blade glimmering in the mushrooms' glow.
Not wasting time, I let the blade fall.
My ring finger separating cleanly.
"Shit!"
Cursing, I hold back any screams while clutching the open cut.
With two plain claps and a chuckle the hulking Oran says.
"Wise choice."
Blood keeps shooting from the wound, the table and my clothes both splashed by it.
Surprisingly there is not a lot of pain. My entire arm turning numb from the adrenaline.
A guard approaches and applies some form of paste on my wound, then they bandage it tightly.
They are rough but efficient, quickly finishing the treatment.
Once they are done, Oran lazily plucks a feather from his back and bites it with his beak briefly before throwing it at my feet.
Probably as an anti-counterfeiting measure.
I try to distract myself by thinking. Just like I have been doing my entire life.
"You better remain on your best behaviour. I would hate to lose two good hunters."
Desperate to leave this place, I choose to just grab the chipped feather and leave silently while clutching my 4 fingered hand.
His cackling still reverberating inside my mind as I exit the trunk.
The wound acting as a reminder of my situation.
Outside, I sigh in relief at the fresh air.
Where do I go now?
Making my way to the small log cabin, I find Aro carrying a box.
The moment he notices me, I lift the chipped feather Oran handed me with my bandaged hand.
"I have the Sigillum."
"You are one of us, Thomas? Good, very good" Aro chirps excitedly.
I stare at him expressionlessly with clenched fists, but in the end I can only let out a sigh.
"Yes, I suppose I am."
"You lost everything, even memories? You did. We can help."
From behind Sira approaches, holding another box.
"Thomas, I see you chose correctly."
"Didnt have much choice to begin with" I answer with some bitterness.
"You wanted to survive? This was the only way."
"Unless you are a Vekinto, if you do not know the forest, it would be impossible to leave alive. So as a Dormanto you will not last for long by yourself" Sira clicks her beak
"Besides, it is good here" Aro adds
They are probably right
But…
Whatever
"… Indeed. But what is this Vekinto that you are talking about?"
"Vekintoj can manipulate manao. Particles everywhere."
My heart palpitates at Aro's words.
Now, we are talking.
"All Kernuloj are born with the ability to control it–Benefit of our core. But Teranoj have to learn it."
"You are not Vekinto? Right, we tested you."
"Otherwise, you would not have been allowed to walk freely" Sira places the box she was carrying down and flicks her wings.
Aro points at the log cabin I woke up in.
"You want to stay in the storage shed? Small but it has a bed"
"I would appreciate that" I accept, not having any other better alternative.
"We are to take care of you, it is our duty as your Pluma Guarantoj" Sira clicks her beak.
"Oh, and why did Arbetestro Oran say that you two vouched for me because you were embarrassed?"
They both freeze, Sira looking away while Aro shifts with a rustle.
Sira lets out a short caw.
"Well, we were hunting Blanka Pikoj for their horns but one of them managed to escape. The one that attacked you and ate."
"Normally calm creatures. Stress makes Blanka Pikoj go on a frenzy."
"We don't usually make mistakes so this is our fault."
"Ovodanco, our egg festival soon. Nervous. Must be perfect."
I rub my forehead
It was also my fault. I was way too reckless. Thinking that I wouldn't die for no reason whatsoever.
"I am sure the festival will go well, I guess?"
The couple bob their falcon heads repeatedly and chirp loudly
I think they are happy?
"Could you teach me how to be a Vekinto?"
"No, any knowledge will not be given to recent pluma Sigillum. You will have to wait for a year"
"A year? Isn't there some way to learn sooner?" I ask with worry in my voice, although I am uncertain whether they are capable of perceiving such details.
"Sooner? No." Aro shakes his head.
This is bad. Seeing how other birdmen treat humans–even their own, I don't know if I will be able to stay here for long.
"Sira, Aro, please, is there really no other option for me?"
"There is nothing. Now stop it" Sira clicks her beak in irritation.
There is no way I am giving up. I have nothing, and losing an entire year is too much.
"As a human I don't even know if I will be allowed to stay here for long. What if I am forced to leave, what then?"
"I am weak, I am ignorant, I am purposeless. If I don't grow, I will die"
"I don't have anybody else I can rely on–hell, I don't doubt some pluma already want to kill me, so please…"
"Please teach me"
Aro looks at me then hesitantly at Sira.
Sira looks at me intently with her sharp eyes before answering slowly.
"Very well. I do not understand you. But we will take you as our apprentice, who do not have to wait for any knowledge to be passed onto them."
"But do know that as your Pluma Guarantoj and mentors, we will not allow any harm to befall you unjustly. Even from Arbetestro Oran. That, we can promise"
Listening to Sira's words Aro nods multiple times while repeatedly tapping his talons on the waxy wooden floor.
Despite everything so far, I couldn't help but smile at that moment
"First, clean yourself. You are too smelly."
Aro's follow up quickly erases my smile though.