"I volunteered to be your mum..." his mum took a deep breath. "My husband had just then passed away after an expedition to the lands... only thing he left behind was that diary... I was devastated. I needed a distraction. I wanted to just run away.... but I had these two. Diago was just a few years old. I could not leave them. So I went to the elders and asked for your soul."
"They checked my spiritual energy and made sure it was safe for me. Your soul was too powerful so not anyone could carry you."
"Till this day it was the best decision I've ever made, wren. I'm so happy to have you and my boys. I have never been so happy, my baby," she hugged them all tightly.
Wren hugged her back tightly. "I'm happy you are my mother too..." the tears he had been holding back rolled down uncontrollably, littering the floor with small pink pearls. "I love you mum..."
She pulled away, wiping her tears. "That's why I rarely allowed you up to the surface. Those bad men are still out there. If they get a clue that you are still alive, they will hunt you down. My baby, I don't wish to see you get hurt..."
Her soft palms cupped his cheeks.
Qu wren held her loving hand. "mum.. Hiding can never solve anything. I can hide for a few years, maybe a few decades. But what happened if they find me here. They will destroy our clan."
He glanced at his family with a bright smile. "Instead, I can go to the surface and train to get stronger. With my mate with me, I can protect myself very well,"
'Chirp!" Feng Mian puffed his chest up proudly.
"See... he can take care of me until I get strong enough to fight those forces."
Feng Mian nodded.
His mum hesitantly looked at them both. "but... but.."
"Mum, let them go." Ren stood up and hugged her. "We can protect him all we want, but one day the little fish has to swim away from its mum. The day has come. Let him go live his life,"
"Fine, I'll agree with this reluctantly," Diago said from the side. He suddenly grabbed him by his shoulders. "You better stay alive! And you," he poked Feng Mian, who stumbled down Ren's lap. "Take care of our baby brother. Or else I will pluck all your new feathers and make you a bald chicken,"
Feng Mian chirped angrily, biting his pant leg.
Laughing out loud, Qu wren gently picked him up. "Don't bully him."
Feng nuzzled against his palm wordlessly.
That very day, Qu wren packed up to leave home.
His mum made sure to pack a few magic talismans and other protective ornaments. His brothers took out a lot of stashed dried octopus and packed it for him.
Hearing the news, the elders also came to send him off.
The three elders who were in the nearby region all bowed to him.
"You guys don't need to!" he hurriedly helped them up. "To be honest, it is very awkward to see elderly bow to me,"
"You are our crown prince. We shall respect your highness," they said in unison.
Awkwardly, wren glanced back at his mother and mouthed, "This is super weird..."
"Just go with it," she mouthed back.
"Ahem, thank you, elders, for saving my life. And thank you for giving me a chance at a new life as well. I shall never forget your help."
They all looked that him with a kind smile.
Wren carefully held the air bubble, which held Feng Mian inside, and swam up to the surface.
A few minutes of swimming, he could feel a weird sound behind.
He glanced back. The whole clan was swimming behind her to give their goodbyes.
"They are very sweet.." he mumbled, slowing down a bit. His brother's caught up with him. Diago being the fastest, swam around him.
"You better visit us. Every year, I demand a visit. Every ten years I demand a vacation together,"
"And eat well wren, you should never deprive yourself of food," Ren mumbled, handing him another bag of food.
"Guys, you do realize there is food on the ground right.." wren pushed the small parcel into his bag with difficulty. The drawstring was taunt from all the things he has shoved in.
Ren just touched his shoulder with a wide smile. "We love you and will always be there for you. Remember that,"
Wren hugged them both one last time before swimming up to the shiny surface. He bobbed up, feeling the fresh air hitting his face. "This is amazing.. Finally I'm back up!!!'
He hurriedly brought the air bubble up. As soon as it was out of water, it popped.
Feng Mian happily climbed over his chest as he floated around.
"Say. Where do you think we are going to stay?"
Feng Mian stood up, chirping. He extended his wings towards the shores with an expanse of thick forests.
"To the forests it is."