As Aru, barely clinging to life, endured the dizzying blood loss and the searing pain of the flames, on the other side of Tsurumi Island, an open field bloomed with all kinds of brilliant flowers, blossoming within the mist.
Unfortunately, ever since the mist had enveloped the entire island, even when standing close, one could only see a small patch of flowers at a time, no longer able to see the full expanse of the fields.
Just then, a thunderous roar suddenly came from the sky, shaking the surrounding mist.
Not only that. The next moment, the massive body of an enormous eagle tore through the mist shrouding the island and appeared above the fields.
It was Kapatcir, who had been gone for three days, returning to the fields to fulfill her promise with Aru.
But Kapatcir circled the sky several times and scanned the fields below. She saw only blooming flowers and endless green grass—no sign of Aru.
She grew annoyed. They had made a promise. Why hadn't he come?
Then she remembered what Aru had said that day: if he didn't appear, she should call his name, and when he heard her voice, he would come to see Lady Kapatcir and sing for her.
Thinking this, Kapatcir descended into the sea of flowers and, mimicking a human voice, began to call Aru's name.
"Aru! I'm here!"
She controlled her voice and called out once, but it was too soft. It didn't carry far through the mist before fading away.
So she stopped holding back. With all her might, she called out Aru's name.
"Aru! I'm here! Do you remember our promise?"
She tried calling a few more times. But unfortunately, no matter how many times Kapatcir called, Aru never appeared. She began to doubt whether he had forgotten their promise, whether she had frightened him away.
Why hadn't he come?
A flicker of anger rose in the Thunderbird, but her rationality as a powerful being gradually calmed it. Why should she be angry over such insignificant creatures? Perhaps Aru had been delayed. Perhaps he hadn't heard her.
She decided to call a few more times, just to let Aru hear her voice.
So Kapatcir opened her throat and called out across the fields.
"Aru! Aru!"
Her full-throated cries rang out like thunder across the entire island of Tsurumi. Even the sky, affected by her voice, darkened with clouds. Even the earth trembled beneath the sound, as if a disaster had struck.
Seeing the churning thunderclouds and feeling the trembling earth, all the people grew terrified.
At that moment, at the altar, hundreds of adults surrounded the sacrifice, watching the ritual unfold. They cheered as Aru's blood flowed and as the flames consumed his body, crying out the guardian deity's name and Aru's name.
But just as they were celebrating Aru's sacrifice, a thunderous roar suddenly struck the island. People clutched their ears in shock. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the ground shook beneath them. It was as if a god had grown angry, as if the end of days had come.
The villagers panicked.
"This is terrible! The guardian deity must have learned we lost the original sacrifice—she's furious!"
"Is the ritual not finished yet?"
"Hurry! Offer Aru to the guardian deity to calm her wrath!"
"It's going to rain!"
"Finish the sacrifice before it starts!"
"We're too late—it's already raining!"
"Did you hear that? Those roars were calling Aru's name! Is the guardian deity calling for him?"
"Offer Aru! Send Aru to the guardian deity!"
The villagers scrambled to complete the ritual, to deliver Aru's blood to their goddess and make him part of her.
At that moment, amid the burning flames, Aru endured not only the agony of blood loss but also the searing pain of the fire.
Fortunately, due to the blood loss, his legs, arms, and body had gone numb, losing all feeling. Only his head remained responsive, only there could he still feel the fire's heat.
He wished for death. Only death would end his suffering.
Then, amidst his torment, he heard Kapatcir's voice, like thunder. He recognized it instantly. It was Lady Kapatcir, calling his name! She had come to fulfill their promise!
Aru wanted to go to her. But he couldn't move. He was dying. The villagers had offered him as a sacrifice to Lady Kapatcir.
Even as he endured the agonizing torment of blood loss and flames, Aru felt no hatred toward Kapatcir. Only guilt.
He was sorry for breaking his promise. Sorry he could no longer sing for her.
Just as the flames consumed his body and his head, a strange strength surged through him. His mouth opened, and with his last breath, he sang.
"Lalala—"
"Lala—"
It was the song he had composed for Lady Kapatcir—a song in her praise, a song of friendship, a song for a friend.
But he had no chance to sing it for her.
As the final note faded, he closed his eyes and let go of life.
In that instant, the world fell silent. Only Aru's faint song lingered, drifting through the flames and mist, carried across the fields, along the paths of blooming flowers, to the ears of the Thunderbird Kapatcir.