I jumped out of my makeshift nest, leaves spewing over as I did so, never before had I felt such vigour or freshness! Is this the power of delicious food and cold water? Unknowingly chirping, I waddled out of the bush/house and made my way to the pool which had taken my battered and bruised body of yesterday and help bring me back to my best shape! I guzzled down water and had a bite of the same pear shaped red fruit, I didn't want to try anything else, I wasn't adventurous when it came to food, or anything for that matter... But that's going to change!
'System, is it possible for me to use Soul Power all on my own?'
Yesterday I had narrowly escaped with my life by using the system as a third party to use my soul power for me... I wonder what else I could get the system to do?
[ Yes, it is a bodily function you are fully capable of controlling ]
Ahaha... this must be something that comes as second nature to those of this world, not to me though... I steeled myself and imagined the buzzing I felt in my legs, instead this time it was spread across my body instead of being concentrated at my legs legs.
Almost immediately the feeling followed suite, I felt like I was vibrating all throughout. Without the system's help telling me how it felt to use this power yesterday, I didn't think I could've gotten it so easy!
'woOaOaAAOoA!'
This felt so weird! I was a chicken vibrating like a broken car, my muscles felt like they were on the verge of exploding!
I need to test this newfound strength I exclaimed in my head, I looked at the sky and jumped with all my might! Reaching for the sun! I'm coming Icarus!!!
*tiny hop*
'Eh'
What happened?
The feeling which enveloped my body just seconds ago immediately disappeared, I was back to being a regular unshaken chicken.
I closed my eyes tight and imagined the feeling again, as quickly as it disappeared, it came back. My muscles yet again shaking with the ferocity of a rumbling lion. I leapt forwards into the sky, not wasting any time!
*LEAP*
'AHHHHHH NOO THIS WASN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUUTTT' I yelled, "YEECHHIIO YECHI EECHHII" I chirped instead.
I used my legs and ROCKETED into the air, I felt like spiderman leaping off a building, just more yellow and with feathers. I reached halfway between the treetops and the ground, a significant jump for someone of my tiny height... and then came the falling. I was not ready for the falling.
*SPLASH*
I plunged into the clear depths of the cold crisp water, I had never felt the feeling of being submerged in this world, it was disorientating to say the least, my 360 degree view was blue and blurry, I closed my eyes and paddled to the surface of the water. My body bobbed up and using my webbed feet I paddled my way towards the shore, my new bird body was quite suited to swimming actually!
I shook my feathers clear of the water, it was quite weird to have feathers stuck to my body in this way, they felt thicker somehow. I cursed my stupidity at using Soul Power with such little care, otherworldly magic shouldn't be trifled with so haphazardly! The buzzy feeling of Soul Power itself only lasted for a few seconds when I called on it myself, the second time round the only reason I managed to use it was because I jumped so much sooner.
I had no idea what my system was, if I could trust it or if it would disappear one day, it was so powerful and came free with this body. My experiences on Earth taught me that if something felt like it was too good to be true, it probably was. I thought of using the system to use soul power whenever I needed it, but it was too time consuming and the lack of trust I had towards it didn't help either. I needed to master my new powers and learn to use them by my lonesome.
I practiced activating SP ( Soul Power ) over and over, each time trying to extend it's duration. In a life or death battle an extra second of increased strength could make it or break it. After a few minutes, the boredom began to set in.
NO. This was for my survival, there's nothing more fun than living! I stifled my fake bird yawns and continued to buzz my body while I walked around, exploring the pool and it's vegetation. The biggest fruit there was a blue watermelon shaped fruit/vegetable, I had no real clue what the difference between fruits and vegetables were on Earth and now with the absence of Google and a device to look it up, I felt like I would never know. I lamented my lost phone and other smart devices, I wonder who they went to? Probably my brother... I felt like I should've been more sad, being separated from my family, but whenever I thought of them my feelings were immediately suppressed, no doubt by the system. I didn't like that. I need to grieve and be upset to get over my feelings, I deserved that much at least.
Sighing over the fact that I couldn't get sad ( a weird thing in prospect now that I thought about it ) I ran back into the bush, looking at the birds and bugs that flew past. Butterflies with colours and patterns never seen before on my Earth flapped past me, birds with strange shaped wings flew overhead, it was like being on a safari! I looked down at myself, I looked pretty lame compared to the fantastical creatures I saw before me, hey at least I found 'em.
Gawking around my new 'home' I saw something even better than the awesome creatures, a paved road.
Civilisation! People! Hope!
I knew within my heart that I couldn't meet with them, my status page had been a wakeup call at my new body, when most people looked at me, all they saw was a meal on two legs, two delicious legs might I add. It was tantalising, seeing proof that humans existed on this universe but knowing I couldn't ever meet them, if I had the ability to be sad, I'm sure I'd be heartbroken.
I turned on my heel when I heard a slight rumble come from behind me, it was in the small blind spot I had directly behind my head, it wasn't likely something just by chance happened to appear there... no, this was definitely a creature moving with purpose!
I shot forwards and turned my head, a terrifying figure stood in front of me.
Clad in an apron covered with patches of grease, feet covered in black shoes, wielding a metal spatula of destruction, a man stood before me.
His skin was a dark brown, but his eyes were red with anger! He leapt towards me, dropping the spatula and extending his arms, trying to get me in his grasp.
I yelped and jumped back, but his hands were already clamped around my small, wet body. I instinctively used SP and buzzed, getting ready to jump.
Before I even pumped my legs, he let go and jumped backwards, scared seeing a violently vibrating chicken no doubt.
"AHH! What kind of pest are you?!" he screamed, falling on his bottom as he did so.
Pest? Hey who you calling pest?! AH no time to argue! I booked it out of there, using the system to activate the extended soul power I used yesterday.
I managed to get 30 metres or so away before the buzzing stopped and I tumbled down, smacking a tree in the process, I really got to stop doing that!
Realising my soul power ran out from my rampant use of it before, I dived into a nearby bush and hoped the man would stop looking, I calmed my rapid breathing and looked out the bush, searching for any sign of the man's greasy apron or a shine of his spatula.
I heard some branches being trampled and dried leaves being stomped on, but saw no man for some time. I waited for the sounds to stop and then some, maybe he was waiting for me? I couldn't risk it. After waiting for what seemed like an hour I heard a loud yell.
"AARRGGHH WHERE ARE YOU, YOU PUMPEAR STEALING, PRIZED VEGETABLE DEVOURING, HOPE CRUSHING DEVIANT?!?!"
Oh no this might have been my mistake.
Putting together the pieces of the puzzle from his words, I felt slightly guilty for eating his precious food but hey! He left it outside for anyone to eat! And then he waited hours just to try and jump me! Just how committed to food can one man get?!
"GARGHHH!!! THEY TOLD ME 50 ML WAS ENOUGH!!!"
50 ml? Of what?
After his most recent outburst, I heard spraying sounds, ones you'd hear from a spray bottle at the hairdressers or in one of those bug sprays, was that the reason no animals or magical beasts entered that area? I listened quietly, this man has been spraying for quite some time! I heard another grunt and then a loud THUMP. I had no idea what was going on, but maybe it's best I don't eat anymore of those fruits...
I heard some angry stomping, getting further and further away, I waited for a bit longer, making sure this wasn't another ambush by this fruit obsessed man. Luckily after leaving the bush and looking around, he was nowhere to be found. I slowly made my way back to the area where the man caught me and had his temper tantrum, there was a plastic spray bottle, nestled against a tree.
Meeting this man gave me a lot of insight into this world, first off, I understood him!
'What language do the humans of this land speak?'
[ Humans of Kuru and lands near speak Mayam, any languages you hear will instantly be translated into one you are familiar with in your head via the system ]
Wow, another reason I needed to use the system, are you trying to get me hooked system? You sound like a bad friend ya know... I didn't want to use the system as a crutch but it seems like I have no choice for now.
Another discovery, of equal importance was found due to the man's rage, the spray bottle left on the floor had a plastic nozzle as well as a clear plastic tube meant to hold the liquid! I assumed from reading novels that this would be a medieval style environment, this assumption was further propagated by the existence of "kingdoms", however it seems I have been very shortsighted. Humans have discovered how to use plastic! And to an advanced extent!
I took the spray bottle between my beak and pulled it back to my humble nest, it still had a few spray in it, and it would be a waste to let it go un-used!
I sat down in my "bed", looking at the spray bottle, questions running through my mind... ideas running through my head! With my bird beak I was unable to, but if I had my old face, my lips would be turned up at a smile, I had once again struck gold!