Nest in Chaos
As I slipped out of the Divine Realm's barrier and drew closer to the top of the World Tree, the air grew heavier. My nest came into view. Something was off. Rough mana was leaking from near the nest. Kar's aura was strung tight with tension, and beside it, strands of silver mana were tangled together.
What's that?
One corner of the nest's edge was shattered.
...It's broken. What happened?
I folded my wings and picked up speed in my descent. As I pierced through the clouds, my gaze naturally followed Kar. He stood with his wings spread, facing off against the elves, who had hands on their sword hilts.
Kaiel had kept silent the whole way up the World Tree. They were on their way to offer tribute, but things felt wrong the higher they climbed. Last time, Lord Nox's mana had pressed down on their skin from far below, growing thicker with every step. But now, that presence was gone entirely.
When they reached a distance where the nest was visible, Kaiel's feet stopped.
Instead of Lord Nox's mana, a rough, scorching energy leaked from the nest.
"Full alert."
Ching! The sound of blades scraping from sheaths spread on the wind.
As they drew closer, Kaiel's eyes narrowed. A massive wyvern crouched inside the nest, and there was no sign of Lord Nox.
Kaiel kicked off the ground and charged, channeling mana into his sword. Silver threads wrapped around the blade.
The wyvern, who seemed to have been sleeping—its eyes half-closed—lifted a forepaw reflexively as the silver blade entered its view. Mana coiled around its claws, clashing with the sword.
Klang!
The shockwave of metal and scales colliding rippled through the nest, splitting branches and shearing off a chunk of the edge—about a handspan wide. A gem that had been embedded there tumbled to the floor.
The wyvern's eyes flew wide as it shouted.
"W-Wait! We can't fight here! The nest will break!"
Kaiel didn't wait for a reply. He swung his sword back and slashed again.
The wyvern twisted away, but the blade tip grazed the nest floor, splintering more branches.
"What have you done with Lord Nox?"
Kaiel's voice was low and calm, but the mana surging through his sword was wild. The next slash targeted the wyvern's flank.
The wyvern blocked with its claws, but the impact shook the nest, crumbling more of the edge in a shower of debris.
Gritting its teeth, the wyvern spread its wings and launched into the air.
Flap!
Hovering above the nest, it yelled down.
"N-No, if the master comes back like this, I'll be the one in trouble!"
No sooner had the words left its mouth than it banked in midair and dove at Kaiel. Mana condensed in its tail, hot haze wreathing the tip.
Boom!
Kaiel raised his sword to block the tail, but the branches underfoot split, shoving him back.
As the wyvern landed and created distance, soldiers drew swords from both sides, tightening their encirclement.
"Stand down."
Kaiel raised one hand to halt the soldiers but kept his sword ready.
"Wyvern. What is your name?"
The wyvern glared at Kaiel, scales bristling.
"Iyenes Karshion. Kar."
"Kar."
Kaiel withdrew the mana from his blade and spoke.
"What did you mean by that just now?"
Kar blinked, thought for a moment, then tilted its head.
"...Master? That?"
Kaiel's eyes narrowed.
"Yes. Surely you're not calling Lord Nox your master."
"Lord Nox?"
They both froze. The wind swept through the nest, rolling broken branch fragments across the floor.
"...H-How do you know the master?"
"...A subordinate of Lord Nox."
Kaiel turned and gave a curt shake of his head to the soldiers. Multiple blades slid back into sheaths.
"Where is Lord Nox?"
Kar's wings drooped.
"Sh-She's been gone for days, so I've been looking too!"
Kaiel eyed Kar, recalling the aura he'd sensed when their blades met.
To command a magic beast of that caliber as a subordinate...
As Kar opened its mouth to speak, a sound cut through from above—the rush of wind on wings.
Flap!
Kaiel and Kar looked up together. From above on the World Tree, a massive black bird with jet-black wings descended. Mana pressure crushed down instantly, like an entire mountain range bearing down.
Kaiel knelt first, and the soldiers behind him bowed as one.
As I landed, I spotted sword gashes in the branches underfoot. Deeper up close. A faint sap scent rose from the broken edge's cross-section.
Kar came rushing over first.
"M-Master!"
Kar's eyes were wet, voice trembling. Its wings sagged, legs going weak.
The elves were already kneeling. Morning sun glinted off silver armor, their ranks sparkling in formation.
Kaiel, at the front, bowed his head and spoke.
"Lord Nox. Forgive our rudeness. It was our failing not to recognize your subordinate and to draw steel against it."
I cast Polymorph. Black mist rose, and my viewpoint dropped.
The branch right beside me was half-split and swaying; a shallow sword mark scarred the tip of Kar's tail.
"...What happened? What went down?"
Kaiel bowed deeper.
"We brought tribute, but Lord Nox was absent and a magic beast was present, so there was a misunderstanding. We apologize deeply."
I glanced at Kar, who was mouthing protests with an aggrieved look.
"I was just guarding the nest, and suddenly they drew swords and charged... The nest, the nest..."
It looked down at the shattered edge, then turned to Kaiel.
"This was you, right?"
Kaiel bent at the waist.
"...No excuse."
"Fix it."
"Yes. I'll send artisans at once to repair it."
I glanced at Kar, then told Kaiel.
"Kar's my minion. Don't touch next time. Drop the tribute and go."
"...Understood."
Kaiel nodded back, and the soldiers began unloading their burdens at the nest's edge. Elven fruits, bundled spices, preserved goods—arranged neatly, their sweet-bitter aroma mingling with the wind.
Kaiel glanced at Kar one last time, eyes still wary. Kar met his gaze without flinching.
As the elves descended the branches, their sounds faded, leaving only the spice scent.
I picked up the fallen gems one by one and stored them in my Subspace. The split ones I set aside separately.
Something was off elsewhere in the nest too. Gems embedded between branches had shifted slightly, and one corner bore a thin layer of frost marks.
...Not Kaiel's doing.
As I stared at the marks, Kar relaxed its wings and flopped down.
Its upturned eyes held relief mixed with lingering worry.
"M-Master... where on earth have you been?"
"Told you this morning. 'Be back soon.' Oh, you were asleep."
"This morning?!"
Kar's voice cracked.
"It's been 5 days! Over 5 days!"
"...5 days?"
I tilted my head. Felt like half a day in the Divine Realm.
"Woke up and you were gone, thought you were nearby, but days passed and no sign..."
"Ah, sorry. Went to the Divine Realm; time must flow different."
"Divine Realm?!"
Kar's mouth gaped, closed, gaped again.
I walked to the tribute pile and asked.
"So what'd you do those 5 days?"
I sniffed a spice bundle—similar to the market ones.
Kar scrambled after me and spoke.
"Searched everywhere. Plains, up higher on the World Tree, even down to the deep lake... nowhere."
I nodded, unwrapping preserved fruits.
"You really got around."
"Couldn't sense your mana at all, didn't know where to start..."
Kar's neck drooped, then it jerked up.
"Oh, and Lady Prostia came!"
"Prostia?"
The frost marks caught my eye. Thin layer in the corner.
"Yes. You weren't here, so..."
Kar's scales shivered.
"[Waiting.] Just that, then sat in the corner—for three days."
"Three days?"
"Three days, not a word, just there..."
My hand paused on the fruit wrap.
"Did she eat?"
"Asked if she'd have fruit—no answer. After that... too scared to ask."
Kar's voice shrank.
"Frost on the branches, my tail tip freezing, but she didn't blink..."
"Your tail okay?"
"Fine now, but then..."
Kar sneaked its tail behind it and continued.
"So cold, slept outside. Morning, came in—something left. Eyes met, she nodded, gone."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"You greet her?"
"Nodded, but talking... tongue still frozen..."
Kar flicked its tongue out and in, remembering.
Image of Kar freezing beside Prostia for three days made me chuckle.
"You suffered."
"Not funny..."
Kar pouted, chin-jerking to one side.
Over there, three ice fruits sat on a branch, chill radiating, pulp visible inside.
"Ah, left 'em for me."
I stored the spice bundles in Subspace and picked up an ice fruit. Same as from Prostia's domain. Cool chill seeped into my palm, fingertips refreshing.
I crunched it shell and all.
Crunch!
Ice shattered, revealing inner flesh. Cold juice spread over my tongue—not sweet, but deep and cool. Like frost coating my mouth, then subtle sweetness followed.
...Good.
The chill soaked deeper with each chew, cool air sliding down my throat to refresh my chest.
Chewing the ice fruit, I pulled an Astraea from Subspace and bit in.
Crunch!
Sweet Astraea juice layered over the cold aftertaste. Cool and sweet intertwined, creating layers on my tongue.
Oh, this combo's great.
Alternated bites again. Sharper this time.
Way better than separate.
Thought of Verat's Tarsia—demon realm fruit, hot and deep.
Cold, sweet, hot. All three together?
Mouth watered imagining it.
When's Verat coming?
Tossed Kar an Astraea and the remaining ice fruit.
"Eat."
"Th-Thank you..."
Kar caught the Astraea, bit in, eyes closing. Wings drooped—5 days' fatigue melting away?
Sniffed the ice fruit, wrinkled nose at the chill, set it aside.
"Not eating that?"
"C-Cold stuff's a bit..."
Kar rubbed its nose, shaking head.
As I sorted tribute into Subspace, heard Kar mumbling mid-chew.
"...But that elf general, even after sheathing his sword, his eyes were weird. Kept staring at me..."
"Yeah."
"Like, he lowered the sword when you said your name, but not his guard. Even that last glance..."
Sniffing dried root veggies brought drowsiness.
Kar's voice faded.
"...Master? You listening?"
"Yeah, listening."
Wind rustled World Tree leaves; slanting afternoon sun warmed the nest edge.
Half-eaten Astraea in hand, I leaned back on the Turaka hide.
5 days for half-day there... Next time, gone for days again.
Eh, just tell Kar ahead.
Hide's warmth wrapped my back; hand's chill receded, Kar's voice distant.
Kar confirmed the master was asleep and fell silent. It wasn't the first or last time she'd dozed off mid-explanation.
Finally, its own fatigue eased.
Chin on the nest floor, it gazed at her face. Astraea juice dotted her chin from earlier.
Her sleeping face was as placid as ever.
Kar recalled the elf general's face—sword lowered, but eyes unyielding. Even knowing they served the same being, that gaze never softened. A guardian's eyes.
One elf general. One ice dragon who sat three days. One bizarrely strong demon.
...Master's circle is filling with weirdos.
As it pondered, her snore reached it—world's most carefree rumble. Kar gave up and closed its eyes.