When Guha's turn came, he walked over to the table supervised by two boys and a girl. The stone table was smooth and cold, adorned with the faint etchings of ancient falconry runes. One boy held a scroll and quill, the other handled the silvery pouch, and the girl cradled the golden-framed mirror. Guha recognized the girl immediately—Esha, the eldest daughter of Oman, the city lord. Her presence here carried an air of authority, her sharp eyes missing nothing. The boys, however, were strangers to him.
Guha undid his spatial bag and placed it gently on the table, nodding respectfully at Esha. He couldn't ignore the pang of nostalgia—their families had once been inseparable, tied by bonds deeper than kinship. But that was before his father disappeared and Oman's youngest son fell gravely ill. Those days felt like a lifetime ago.
Esha returned his nod with a faint, reserved smile. "Please state your name," said the boy with the scroll, his voice brisk and formal.
"Guha of Minaak, son of Ronan."
The mention of Ronan drew an immediate reaction. The tall boy with the scroll shot Guha an intrigued glance, a flicker of recognition lighting up his black eyes. His gaze shifted to Onish, perched quietly on Guha's shoulder.
"So, you're the son of Sir Ronan," he said, his voice laced with curiosity as he leaned closer, studying the parrot with an almost predatory interest. "And I assume this is your guardian bird."
Onish stiffened. He had already deduced that guardian birds held immense significance in this trial. To the untrained eye, the parrot was an unremarkable choice. Its dull feathers and ordinary demeanor paled against the radiant, otherworldly spirit birds. Onish's hope that he could avoid attention was quickly unraveling.
"He is Niro," Guha replied evenly. "The last gift from my father before he disappeared." His tone was calm, but there was a quiet pride in his words.
The boy's expression softened. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said sincerely. "I saw Sir Ronan once in Alantia. He was... extraordinary." A shadow of sorrow flickered across his slim face. "I've been reading his research on spirit birds. Truly groundbreaking work. They are—"
"Nirav," Esha interrupted sharply, her tone brooking no argument. "You can chat later. We have others waiting."
"Of course, of course," Nirav said with a sheepish grin, picking up his quill. "By the way, I'm Nirav of Vihaan, son of Swarna. Let's talk during your orientation."
Guha nodded, his expression unreadable.
The other boy, who had been silent until now, let out a derisive scoff. "Nirav, you seem so sure he'll even pass the trial." His mocking tone drew a sharp glance from Guha.
"Of course he will," Nirav replied, undeterred. "He might even take first place. After all, he's the son of the best falconer the guild has ever known."
The boy sneered, his lip curling. "The best falconer who couldn't even send back a spirit pigeon before he died?"
Guha's body tensed. His fists clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to remain calm. He couldn't afford to lose his composure here, not when so much was at stake. The insult stung, but it wasn't new. Whispers and jeers about his father had haunted him for years, each one a wound that never fully healed.
"Enough," Esha said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She handed Guha the golden-framed mirror. "Peer into the Simirit Darpan."
Guha accepted the mirror with a curt nod, swallowing his anger. He focused on the gilded frame, ornate and pulsing faintly with an inner light. The Simirit Darpan was a revered spirit treasure, capable of reflecting the memories of the one who gazed into it. Guha's heart raced as he stared into its surface. His own reflection stared back, then dissolved into an oceanic blue. The mirror's magic took hold, and scenes from the trial flickered to life.
He saw himself navigating the treacherous woods, dodging ember wasps and evading the serpentine coils of naga creepers. Memories of enticing spirit birds with precision and care played out before his eyes. Then came the moment he had tried to forget—Niro's collapse. The parrot had shuddered violently, its small body wracked with pain, its breathing shallow. Desperation clawed at him as he tried everything he could think of, even praying to the faceless forest spirit he had always dismissed as a myth. He had fed Niro his most precious elixir, the somaras, and still, nothing had worked.
Until the miracle.
The parrot twitched, its eyes fluttering open. But those weren't Niro's eyes—at least not the ones Guha remembered. They were different now, darker, deeper, almost... unnatural. The memory shifted before he could dwell on it, but the unease lingered.
When the mirror's glow faded, Guha handed it back to Esha, his mind a whirlwind of suspicion and worry. Nirav smiled encouragingly, but Guha barely acknowledged him. He strode away with hurried steps, Niro perched silently on his shoulder.
The path to Minaak was alive with chatter as participants streamed back to the city under the warm glow of moon pearls embedded in the black pillars lining the cobblestone road. Guha pushed through the crowds, his thoughts racing. Niro's silence was unnerving. The parrot had always been a talkative companion, but now it seemed... different. He regretted not heeding his mother's warnings. She had vehemently opposed his decision to bring Niro, insisting that the parrot's lack of combat ability would be a liability. But Guha had been stubborn, unwilling to abandon his father's last gift.
Lost in thought, he failed to notice the shadow trailing him. But Onish did.
The spirit trapped within the parrot's body felt a cold dread settle over him. His instincts screamed of danger, and when he caught sight of Viruch and his gleaming blue bird lurking in the distance, the pieces fell into place. They were being followed. Viruch's calculating gaze was fixed on him—no, not him, the parrot.
Onish's panic grew. Fleeing was no longer an option; Viruch's bird was far too fast. But how could he warn Guha without revealing himself? He cursed his impulsive decision to possess this wretched parrot. If only he had known the trouble it would bring, he would have chosen differently.
The fortified city of Minaak loomed ahead, its massive gates glowing with ethereal light. Guards clad in gleaming armor checked each traveler's identity, their sharp eyes scrutinizing every detail. Onish's unease deepened as they approached the gate. The guards were inspecting not only tokens but spirit birds as well.
Guha handed his token to a young guard named Saket, who smiled wearily. "Busy day, eh? Sorry for the wait."
"No problem, Saket," Guha replied, his tone casual. But his focus snapped back when the guard whispered, "Rahasya-bhedanam. (Sanskrit spell to open hidden secrets"
The token came alive, its plain surface shimmering with golden letters that slowly emerged. Saket's eyes widened as he read the words, his gaze darting to the parrot. A grin spread across his face.
"Your parrot is quite something," Saket said, chuckling as he handed the token back. "It even fooled the spirit. Look what it says now."
Guha's breath caught as he read the inscription:
Guha of Minaak, son of Ronan. Spirit Bird: Parrot of Unknown Race (Deceased).
Shock rippled through him, but he masked it with a forced smile. "Ha! Odd, isn't it? My father always did have a knack for surprises."
Saket laughed and turned to the next traveler. Guha strode through the gates, his mind racing. Behind him, Viruch lingered, his gaze lingering on Niro with a predatory gleam.
Guha clenched his fists. Whatever secrets Niro held, he was determined to uncover them. And if Viruch thought he could steal his father's legacy, he was in for a rude awakening.