The early morning sun shone through the canyon, basking in light. Morvadeus' wounds from the feather-head had healed, he was ready to head out, to continue his journey towards the mountain.
Looking at feather-head, he commanded him "Take me outside the canyon, I will let you leave after that". The bird gripped his arms with his talons, flapped his wings, soaring towards the sky, ready to head out from the canyon.
Morvadeus enjoyed the flight; the little warmth of the sun and the cold hum of the waterfall combined with the beautiful orange sun, shining through the canyon, gave him a real feeling of freedom.
The mist from the waterfall tickled his skin and he laughed while the bird soared silently. The feather-head was already growing tiny little new feathers on its head, looking like a newborn chick.
Both of them had a glimpse of a beautiful forest, with breathtaking trees having blue fruits on its canopies that bloomed from an orange flower.
These canopies weren't as wide as the other forest, and the tall trees had only branches on top. The sunlight easily shone through it, making the second journey of Morvadeus, a brighter one.
Landing before the forest, the bird was standing there pridefully as if he did a good job, waiting for the praise.
"Not bad, feather-head, flying with you was satisfactory,"Morvadeus praised.
Seeing his smug look, he was ready to punch some sense in his dumb head.
"You're free to go. I won't hold you anymore," Morvadeus, looking straight into his eyes told him.
Surprisingly the bird wasn't relieved but instead a little sadness appeared in his eyes. Folding his wings, he stood stubbornly beside Morvadeus.
Raising his eyebrows at the bird, he sighed. He knew that somehow he had made a new companion along his path.
He wasn't a bit bothered, considering it all, it was his first friend so he looked at him and he asked:
"Do you have a name?
The bird thought for a moment, then it began to scratch the ground, as if it was trying to write something. His swift claws kicked up dust, making Morvadeus cough.
As the dust settled, an elegant name with beautiful strokes appeared. These characters were so beautifully written that it surprised Morvadeus.
"Palingenesia Caeruleus",
"What a beautiful name for a black feather-head like you," Morvadeus exclaimed, slapping the feather-head's head as both looked at his beautiful writing.
The bird rolled his eyes at him.
"I will call you Leus, is that alright with you?" he asked him, grinning so wide his teeth showed.
The bird nodded and so Leus, his new friend, remained with him. They took the challenge of the new forest together.
---
A bird and a boy were running between the orange trees when they suddenly heard a popping sound, stopping them in their tracks.
Both looking up, they saw that the Crysos-Sphaera radiating light was absorbed by the beautiful trees' flowers, which fed the blue fruits. Every now and then the blue fruits bloated, and an orange essence dropped from them.
The sound of droplets echoed, as a beautifully orange rain flooded the forest.
Every drop falling on them ,made them feel as if an energy boost went through their cells.
For Morvadeus it wasn't anything much, because his cultivation was low. But the Leus cultivation was already at the Peak - Vitreous Zenith.
The drops of the blue fruits boosted his cultivation little by little, surprising him. At this rate he would be able to get close to his breakthrough..
Morvadeus curiously tasted them, a delicious sweet taste in his mouth, but as he swallowed it a burning feeling rushed through his body.
It was strengthening his muscle fibres; his skin prickled as his body automatically used it to toughen him.
For a cultivator, it was a blessing, for a mortal, a toxic liquid capable of killing on the spot just by touching it.
Just when they enjoyed their euphoric feeling, not far away from them, a tiny roar disturbed them.
Looking ahead, a beautiful, little bunny-sized creature was on its four paws, looking at them. Before they arrived, she was enjoying her cultivation, letting the fruits drop, flowing through her ley-lines.
She was actually very surprised when she found out that the drops, flowing through her body, made her ley-lines wider, allowing her to have faster cultivation and more energy output.
Her orange-white, fluffy fur shone gracefully in the sunlight. She had a beautiful, big ear in the centre, with white borders. Her three eyes, laid in a triangle pattern, were looking at them aggressively.
"Leus, don't you dare to move, this is a legendary creature, my aunt once told me stories of."Morvadeus whispered to him
She could erase us from this world together with the whole forest," he said, while thinking of something that could salvage the situation.
Leus likewise trembled hearing him, thinking 'This tiny creature is such a menace?'.
Morvadeus knowing her origin, was very much surprised by her presence here.
The creature somehow heard his whisper, looking at the boy with eyes widened, she was ready to get rid of him. If her secret being here leaks out, the world will hunt her down.
Explosions suddenly began in her body, each making their hearts clench, making breathing difficult.
Suddenly, she grew in size, from the size of a bunny to the size of a dog and a horse and finally a 15-meter creature.
Her bloodthirsty aura leaked, making all the creatures in a massive perimeter escape; their own instinct kicked in, and they escaped from the danger.
Her cute orange eyes transformed into veiny red glaring eyes, the veins slowly transforming her body, going through her fur, as if she was cracking.
Two massive tails protruded behind her. She stood on four paws, ready to tear them to pieces.
Morvadeus, who could barely move, recklessly raised his hand, unsheathing a knife with his hands trembling.
The creature chuckled at his ignorance. 'A desperate move fit for a desperate child' she thought.
Getting ready, she lunged at him, her massive size easily crushing the towering trees. Behind her, tornadoes roared as her rotating tails made her instantly close the gap between them.
The bird was already seeing his ancestors, welcoming him in heaven. He was melancholic, thinking of perishing here, never finding his own again.
He also wasn't a coward who would escape without the boy.
But then the orange creature stopped in its tracks, deeply embedding its front paws into the ground. Her eyes got bigger, looking shocked at the rune carved with the knife in Morvadeus' hand.
Her aggressive red eyes instantly changed to a kinder, orange coloured gaze.
Her massive size generated so much wind, even though she stopped, both Morvadeus and the bird were flung towards the air. To their surprise, the creature's two tails easily caught them as cushions and brought them to the ground.
Morvadeus was grimacing a little, as blood flowed from his hand, a relieved smile spread across his face, thanking his aunt in his mind.
He bravely stood there as blood continued to drop from his hand onto the ground, each droplet echoing in the silence.
He succeeded carving the rune in his hand swiftly before the creature could reach him. His sweat-beaten forehead and loud beating heart calmed down.
Thank you, aunt Elyndra, you were right. These creatures didn't forget our ancient friendship. Morvadeus thought.
"My dear friend, I'm sorry for attacking you. I didn't know you were also a part of them, as you didn't have their ears" the orange creature spoke without opening its mouth.
The brave child, who stood proudly even while facing her presence while his blood was dripping, earned a respectful praise from her.
Her third eyes shone, and a golden rune flew into Morvadeus' hand, healing his wound. The bird just stood stupified beside them not understanding a word.
"My name is Morvadeus. How can I address your ancient self?" he asked her respectfully.
"You can call me orange, I can't tell you my name," she smiled at him.
"Aren't you afraid alone?" Morvadeus asked her, while Leus poked his side, for asking such a powerful creature so naive questions.
But the creature knew what he meant and just smiled, transforming back into its little form.
"Worry about yourself, little child, what are you doing in a dangerous forest like this?" Orange asked him curiously.
"It's my challenge from my father, I want to get stronger, and this is the only way", Morvadeus words surprised both of them.
If only they knew who his father was, they would understand, but albeit they weren't gods.
"Just to reach Myo, you need to go through this forest? You're something else," Orange answered.
'I will take a look at this child, and who his father could be. Every cultivator normally could reach Myo, and wouldn't need to risk their life here.'
"Interesting, let me come with you," Orange said, her words more of a fact than a question, who would dare to refuse them.
Looking at the destroyed forest around her, Morvadeus wasn't naive enough to refuse her kind words.
The bird just silently listened to them, after seeing her stunt just now, he would just remain close beside Morvadeus.
"He is my friend, his name is Leus," Morvadeus told her.
[Do you have ill intentions, that's why you travel with him?] She asked Leus with a raised eyebrow.
[Maybe he can't. But I could see through your disguise. Be careful little bird, he has close ties with my clan, a word of mine would be enough to wage war against your whole race.] She warned him through sound transmission, her orange glaring warningly.
Leus's legs nearly gave up hearing her warnnig and looking at her eyes, he swiftly answered.
[Don't tell him, I don't have bad intentions. I will tell if the time is appropriate]
Morvadues intercepted, seeing both of them silent, thinking they didn't have anything to say. Leus get us some fish, I am hungry, the stress made me empty.
Orange chuckled at him. 'If the boy, only knew who he is commanding to hunt fish for him.'
She couldn't hold her laughter, rolling on the ground the fluffy creature laughter echoed in the forest.