The Enchanted Feather
The ceremony was winding down. Tents were being folded away one by one, and the elves lingering in the plaza began drifting off in small groups. I was about to head out when Kaelion approached.
"Would you care to step inside for a moment? I have something for you."
Kaelion led the way down an inner corridor of the palace and opened the door to a small room. On the table sat a pouch the size of my palm. When I picked it up, I felt the space inside unfurl.
It's a Subspace pouch.
Peering in, I saw it packed with small boxes and jars of food. A rich stew aroma mingled with the sweet scent of pastries wafting from the opening. Touching a jar, I felt lingering warmth—magically preserved, no doubt.
Food can wait.
I pulled out one of the boxes below and opened it to find neatly arranged jeweled ornaments. I picked up a red gem first. Tilting it toward the window light, it gleamed transparent inside, shifting from orange to gold with the angle.
Oh...
Another box revealed a crystal ornament etched with silver patterns. Tracing it with my finger, I felt the bumpy texture snag my skin. A gentle shake sent tiny light flecks scattering like stardust onto the table. I shook it again. More fell. After shaking it for a good while, I opened the next.
This one held a fingernail-sized green gem, its inner light flickering between green and blue, drawing my eyes relentlessly.
This one's the prettiest.
There were more boxes. I wanted to open them all, but that could wait for a leisurely inspection back at the nest.
"I hope these please you. That said, we couldn't include mana-infused items—they're heirlooms passed down through our kingdom for generations."
Only then did I recall how he'd hesitated before the mana-charged gems yesterday.
"No, this is plenty."
I tucked the items back into the pouch and stored it in my Subspace.
"Thanks. I'm off now."
Kaelion gave a slight bow. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
For some reason, it put me in a great mood, and I couldn't help grinning. "Yeah."
Kaelion smiled quietly too.
As I walked down the corridor, I glanced back. He stood motionless in that spot.
...Well, I can always come back for more food.
I stepped off the balcony railing without a second thought. Pffft! Black mist exploded outward as my massive wings unfurled. My falling body caught an updraft, and one flap sent me soaring into the sky.
The wind felt wonderful. Riding the currents with my wings spread wide, the breeze whispering through my feathers was refreshingly cool. Subspace stocked with snacks and shiny trinkets.
Not a bad day trip.
The sun dipped low, painting the sky in shifting hues. Red light clung to the World Tree's trunk, the forest below darkening as monster eyes glimmered faintly through the leaves.
That's when I sensed commotion from below. I descended, peering down to see magic beasts tangled in fights across the woods near the World Tree's depths. Undeterred by the encroaching dusk, they tore into each other—biting, clawing, rolling.
It hadn't been like this when I first arrived. Quiet and vast, with occasional big ones lumbering about, but nothing like this chaotic brawl everywhere.
How do magic beasts even fight for territory?
Curiosity piqued, I dropped lower and glided slowly toward the nearest group. Up close, three double-horned beasts were cornering two similar-sized tusked ones. They'd lower their heads to charge, only for the foes to dodge sideways and rip into their flanks. Blood and dust filled the air.
But something was off. As I drew near, one horned beast abandoned its half-torn side mid-bite, bolting without looking back. The snarling pack locked eyes with me—and in unison, veered the same way, vanishing into the woods. A turf war turned instant rout.
The same everywhere I looked. Approach, and they'd scatter mid-fight.
...Boring.
I beat my wings hard, climbing altitude again. The evening breeze had chilled, and a faint fishy whiff—Kar's signature—drifted down from the World Tree's crown.
He's back.
I polymorphed to human form and settled into the nest. The familiar bite of branches met my soles. Kar, already there, greeted me eagerly.
"M-Master! You're back!"
"Yeah. You?"
"I just got in too."
His eyes half-lidded—he'd clearly woken from a nap. I plopped down in one corner of the nest.
"Kar, check this out."
I opened my Subspace and started pulling out jars. Lids off: two pottery bowls of stew, a bag of dried fruit, and a jar of oil-pickled goods.
"Palace kitchen sent these. Sniff."
Kar crept closer, nosing around.
"...What's all this? You were just out for a day trip—why so much luggage...?"
"There's more."
I fetched mushrooms from Subspace, lining them up beside the pickled jar for comparison. The mushrooms had a deep, fermented earthiness; the pickles were nutty with herbal notes. Different directions, but mixed? They'd layer beautifully.
Kar stared down, then ventured cautiously, "M-Master."
"Yeah?"
"On my way back from patrol... something odd."
"Odd?"
Kar folded and unfurled his wings once before continuing. "Passed Ignar's old plains and Abysal's lake. With the rulers gone, mid-tier magic beasts are scrapping over turf."
"Yeah, saw that flying in. Fights everywhere."
Kar's eyes widened. "You saw?! But more importantly..."
He lowered his voice, glancing around. "Somewhere in the World Tree depths—a mana pulse I've never felt. Different nature from the Four Kings. Ominous for sure."
"Never felt before?"
My gaze flicked to the mushrooms, then back.
"Yes. Maybe something suppressed rising in the vacuum of the three missing Kings, or an outsider... Not sure."
Kar trailed off, eyeing me, wings twitching as he gauged the moment to say more.
Spit it out already...
He wasn't budging, so my eyes drifted to the mushrooms. Pressing one—springy, alive. Broth with the pickles? What flavor would bloom?
Broth first.
Small pot from Subspace. Shredded mushrooms in, bit of pickled, low flame from fingertip—slow heat.
Sizzle— Earthy heft met oil, aroma transforming. Richer, deeper than I'd imagined for a stock.
Oh, nice.
Kar sidled closer. "M-Master, the mana pulse—I haven't finished..."
"Yeah, that."
I peered into the pot. "Might be something tasty down there."
Kar's wings drooped. "...Pardon?"
"The Four Kings were delicious. New one's a new flavor, right?"
Kar went silent, then slowly closed his eyes, face like he'd swallowed something bitter.
The broth deepened color; I ladled a taste. Salty edge, then slow nutty afterglow.
Oh.
Second sip, rolled slow—better. Now I got why the palace chef called it stock gold.
Held a spoonful to Kar. "Try."
"No, the mana pulse..."
Spoon at his nose, he parted jaws—accepted.
Kar's eyes widened slightly. "...What is this? Just boiled mushrooms—why so..."
"Right?"
Abysal ink sauce? Dropped a drop from Subspace.
Sizzle— Aroma shifted. Heavy, abyssal depths unearthed. Nest air transformed. Mushroom nuttiness under ink's umami—layers.
Taste: Salty shell cracked to profound dark bloom.
Perfect.
Kar sniffed, inching in. "...May I have some?"
"Looks good, huh?"
"Yes. No—the mana talk, we need to..."
Evening scents spread across the World Tree crown as we ate in silence. Sky bled red to dark; pot emptied.
Kar licked his bowl, paused, then spoke. "Master, about that mana pulse."
"Yeah."
"I've thought it over... Can't just ignore it. Three Kings gone—power balance shattered. If something's rising in the chaos, the lower beasts are in turmoil."
"Probably."
"I'm still a wyvern lord."
Kar rustled his wing feathers. "My kin in the mess—I can't lounge here. I should join them till things stabilize."
Flying solo's faster anyway.
"Got it. Heading out now?"
Kar blinked. "N-No. Tonight here. Tomorrow on. Just till it calms."
"Sure."
Kar hesitated, then: "...Nothing else to say?"
"Nope?"
His tail drooped.
Teased too hard... Give him something.
Plucked a hair strand. Feathers and hair—same essence. Worked.
Slipping free, jet-black strand morphed in my palm—widened, hardened. Light particles swirled into a massive feather.
Thin mana thread from fingertip, infused along the vane. Felt it seep. Feather glowed softly, settled—heavier, alive.
Works?
Held to Kar. "Danger hits, infuse mana. I'll sense it."
Kar took it gingerly in his forepaw, staring wordless. Eyes on drifting lights welled; paw trembled faintly.
"...Thank you."
Voice softer, raw. We sat wordless as night winds swept the World Tree crown.