A Morning Flight to the Divine Realm
The sky was beautiful even from early morning. Perched on the edge of my nest, I looked up to see the top of the World Tree shining through the clouds. I recalled what Verat had said last night. 'Let's check it out today.'
I released my polymorph. My wings caught the morning breeze and spread wide. Kar was snoring in the corner of the nest.
"Caw."
(I'll be right back.)
All that came back was a rumbling crrr... snore. Leaving the sound behind me, I launched from the nest. This time, not down, but up.
Piercing through the World Tree's summit always opens the sky, but today I went even higher. Breaking through the cloud layer, cold, clear air seeped between my feathers. Beyond it lay the barrier.
The same one I'd rammed my beak into before and given up on because it wouldn't budge.
'Verat said it should be possible if I'd eaten enough.'
As I drew near, something inside me reacted. My stored mana resonated, the vibration spreading to the tips of my feathers. The barrier's surface began to glow faintly—no resistance this time, unlike before when it repelled my wings.
The moment my wingtips touched it, they were gently pulled in like slipping into water. As my whole body passed through, something brushed over every single feather. A light that was neither warm nor cold enveloped me. Even with my eyes closed, it was bright.
'...What’s this feeling?'
Once through, the air against my wings changed completely. It was light. If the ground air was like water, this was mist. A single flap sent my body gliding much farther. Drunk on the sensation, I slid along for a while until something appeared ahead.
A massive stone island. The World Tree's peak supported the barrier, and the island floated in the space beyond it. White buildings lined the top.
I flapped up onto the island. From outside, it looked like one small rock, but inside, it stretched endlessly. Meadows continued into the distance, with the faint outline of mountains beyond. The air was sweet. Even breathing felt different.
'...Nice.'
I beat my wings hard once. My body shot forward like an arrow. The airflow splitting around my wingtips felt like silk.
'This is cheating.'
Catching an updraft, I rose, and the full vista of the Divine Realm unfolded below. Meadows dotted with white buildings, silver rivers, distant mountains—all bathed in a soft glow. It went on forever. I banked and skimmed low over the meadow. My massive wing shadow briefly flickered across the water's surface before vanishing.
Flying for a while, I sensed faint presences from the buildings. Amid them, one stood out sharply. The energy I'd felt countless times through the communication orb. Michael.
I turned toward it. It was in the area clustered with buildings.
Michael paused his pen and looked up. Mana had been detected inside the Divine Realm. A familiar energy that shouldn't be felt here resonated clearly.
'Why is Nox's mana appearing in the Divine Realm?'
He set down the pen and read the energy. No doubt about it—Nox's mana.
'No way... it can't be.'
He had sent Astraea, but there was no way it had leveled up enough to pass the barrier—
The mana began to move. The distant presence drew closer. Fast. It passed a few buildings away, then sharply veered straight toward him.
As Michael started to stand, the mana's position halted right above his head.
Thud!
The temple shook. Dust fell from the ceiling, and the towers of scrolls on either side of his desk wobbled precariously. Something had landed on the roof. And it wasn't light.
The window darkened. A massive shadow loomed beyond the glass. Black silhouette covered the entire frame, plunging the office into darkness.
Michael slowly raised his gaze to the window. His eyes met the enormous one peering in.
Nox.
"Caw."
A friendly cry echoed from beyond the window. A single feather shed from the six wings drifted in on the breeze, landing lightly on the desk.
Michael glanced at the feather. Then he thought of the massive crow perched atop the ceiling.
He looked up above the window. A huge talon gripped the marble railing on the temple roof. Fine cracks spiderwebbed across it.
"Nox. I cannot guarantee the temple will hold, so would you please come down?"
Presences gathered outside the temple. Wingbeats overlapped from afar, urgent energies converging from all directions.
Only then did the problems hit him. Unauthorized barrier passage. Reporting procedures. Incoming angels.
He closed his eyes. The list of things to handle stretched endlessly in his mind.
"Caw, caw-kak."
(Got it, just a sec.)
I descended from the roof and cast polymorph in front of the building. Black mist swirled as my viewpoint lowered. I opened the door and stepped inside.
"Hey, Michael. Came to visit."
Michael stood by the window. His face, with dark circles down to his jaw, looked at me, his halo dimmer than usual. The scroll towers on either side of the desk must have toppled when the building shook—they leaned halfway over. Scrolls littered the floor too.
Michael spoke.
"...How did you pass through the barrier?"
"Just flew in."
Michael swallowed.
"'Just'..."
"It worked while I was flying."
Michael rubbed his forehead. He exhaled long, glanced at me briefly. His dark circles sank another layer.
'...Gotta keep him pinned down here first.'
"Nox. Since you've come this far, how about trying some Astraea?"
"Astraea? The ones you sent last time?"
"Yes. Picking them fresh makes a difference. Allow me to guide you to the garden."
Michael kicked aside floor scrolls and walked out. His pace was quicker than usual. Following him out of the office, I looked around. Nameless flowers bloomed along the path, their faint scent clearing my head.
'Gotta take a lap around later.'
Then, a white wing peeked from behind a pillar on the next building and vanished. Turning, I saw an angel in attire like Michael's, half-hidden behind the pillar, peeking. Our eyes met; he flinched and ducked further in.
'...Huh, there's more besides Michael.'
Similar presences from other directions. White wings flitted beyond building windows, along roof edges. Hiding when eyes met was funny.
'Weird. Let's go say hi.'
As I turned that way, Michael was suddenly beside me. My arm was grabbed.
"This way, Nox."
His tone was the same, but his grip was firm. He pulled me toward the garden. As I tried to look back, he tugged harder.
"Hey, what's over there—"
Michael paused, then spoke.
"The garden is close. The Astraea might spoil, so let's hurry."
"Astraea grow on trees?"
"...Nox."
His grip tightened a bit more. Not uncomfortable, so I let him lead. Michael stopped, and the view opened wide. A garden spread before us. Trees lined up, branches heavy with Astraea. Even the air tasted faintly sweet.
'Oh.'
I plucked one from the nearest tree. Heavier than the ones Michael sent. Crunch! One bite, and cold, sweet juice filled my mouth, rushing coolly to the top of my head. The sweetness tingled my tongue and slid slowly down my throat.
'Is this the same fruit?'
'One more.'
Another one—delicious. Juice dripped down my chin unnoticed as I reached for the next and opened my subspace. At some point, storing outpaced eating.
"...Nox. One tree should suffice."
"Plenty on the tree."
After emptying one, moving to the next, Michael looked away. By the time my subspace was decently filled, my stomach started feeling full. I plopped down on the grass under the tree. The blades were soft; light filtering through branches was warm. Only the wind rustling leaves sounded.
Munching another, I looked up at Michael standing over me and patted the spot beside. He hesitated, then sat carefully.
We sat side by side in silence for a while. On the grass, an old conversation with Michael popped into mind.
"Oh, Michael."
"Yes."
"You said there were two others besides me. The ones sucked in with me. What happened to them?"
Michael stopped fiddling with an Astraea peel and looked at me.
"Born into noble families in a human kingdom."
"How old?"
"...Infants. Barely starting to walk, if that."
"Poor things. Memories but bodies that won't keep up."
Chewing Astraea, I imagined it. Adult mind in diapers—shiver.
"Well, they're eating well, right?"
"Noble family, so no shortage of food."
"Good enough."
Another bite sparked curiosity.
"Did they get something like me?"
"Hard to say. Deal details are private to the parties involved."
"Hmm..."
I flicked the peel aside.
'Oh, and.'
"Where are they?"
"Human kingdom. Outside the World Tree, on the continent."
"Far?"
"...Quite. Too bothersome for you to visit personally."
Michael thought, then spoke.
"There is a way for them to call you instead."
"Call me?"
"Humans who can handle mana perform beast contracts at a certain age. The talented sometimes contract divine beasts."
"Ooh. So I qualify?"
Michael gazed at me thoughtfully.
"For you... nearly impossible. Even lower-tier divine beasts are rare contracts. You, far stronger than the Four Kings you caught... no."
Listening while munching, he continued.
"Summoning you would be..."
"Then I'll just go to them."
Michael's face stiffened. Short silence, then quick words.
"...Rather than that, let me look into it. Since you're from the same dimension, it might affect summoning. I can find a way."
"Sure? See ya later then."
Michael's shoulders relaxed with a relieved sigh.
I stood, brushing grass off.
"Coming back. Fruit was great."
As I turned, Michael called.
"Nox. ...You can come again. But please give advance notice next time."
His face looked even more exhausted.
"I'll think about it."
I released polymorph. Six wings unfurled, shaking garden branches in the wind. A few flaps, and the island's edge appeared. I dove from the edge. Passing the barrier, light brushed my body once more. The upward sensation faded; familiar wind pressed my feathers. But the gliding feel lingered in my wings.
'...Gotta visit again.'
I descended the World Tree. Air grew heavier, feathers rasping. Amid branches, the World Tree's grassy scent rose. Subspace full of Astraea came to mind.
'Share with Kar and Prostia, give some to Kaelion with leftovers.'
Afternoon sun slanted down, stroking my feathers.