"Huh?" Crystal exclaimed, her surprise evident as the elegant bird glided over to her. Reacting swiftly, she extended her hand, providing a perch for the bird to land on.
Kristin feigned confusion, glancing at Blatt before questioning, "Why did it choose her?"
Blatt pondered the situation, rubbing his chin in contemplation. Then, addressing the avian leader, he remarked, "This is peculiar. Please convey to the bird that it has mistaken its target."
The leader of the Crimson Lestrias fixed a watchful gaze on the bird perched on Crystal's hand. Instead of responding to Blatt, however, the leader turned towards the other birds that had gathered earlier, chirping softly to them.
Another bird from the group gracefully took flight, gliding towards Blatt and his companions. It circled around them before coming to a halt when it reached Crystal. Like its predecessor, the bird landed on her other hand, repeating the unusual choice.
Blatt's astonishment was palpable. "Could it be..." he trailed off, a realization sparking in his mind as he turned his attention back to the leader.
The leader's focus remained fixed on Crystal, as if studying her intently. The behavior of the two previously sent birds seemed to have provided the leader with valuable insight into the situation.
"Tweet~!" The leader let out a long cry, unfurling its wings and soaring towards Crystal with a sense of excitement.
As the majestic bird approached her, Crystal couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure, trusting in Anom to guide her.
The bird leader gracefully circled around Crystal, its eyes shut as if carefully examining something.
Suddenly, it fluttered its wings in anticipation and chirped animatedly at Crystal. Unfortunately, she lacked the ability to comprehend the bird's message, unlike Blatt.
The bird leader seemed to have grasped the situation and swiftly turned towards Blatt, chirping animatedly at him.
"Is that really the case?" Blatt feigned surprise, his gaze shifting to Crystal as he contemplated the revelation.
Curiosity ignited in the eyes of everyone, eager to understand the reason behind this extraordinary occurrence.
"What is it, Mr. Blatt?" They leaned in, awaiting an explanation.
"Oh." Blatt snapped out of his reverie upon hearing the question. Casting a glance at the bird leader, he began to speak. "I had my suspicions earlier, and now it seems my hunch has been confirmed." He paused briefly, surveying the group, before continuing, "Have any of you heard of special attribute spirits?"
Nia and Kristin exchanged intrigued glances, then turned their attention to Crystal. They spoke in unison: "Are you saying she possesses a unique spirit that attracts these birds?"
Blatt nodded, a solemn expression on his face. "Indeed. From what I've gathered, there are individuals who possess a remarkably rare spirit, one that bestows upon them an exceptional quality that cannot be easily replicated by others."
"And it appears that the one Crystal possesses could be referred to as the 'Spirit of the Sky,' given its affinity for attracting birds exclusively."
Surprise washed over the group as they directed their gazes towards Crystal. Kristin exclaimed, genuine astonishment in her voice, "Truly a special spirit! Such spirits are highly coveted, even in the capital!" Her reaction elicited a tinge of envy from Selvo, who couldn't help but cast an envious glance at Crystal.
Suddenly, Selvo's intuition tingled with a foreboding sensation, hinting at an unknown threat. Though he couldn't decipher its meaning, a sense of unease settled within him.
"But what should we do now?" Nia voiced her concerns, her gaze flickering towards the birds perched on Crystal's arms. "Will they still want to accompany us?"
"Have no fear," Blatt reassured her, pointing towards the other birds nearby. "There are plenty of them over there. We simply need to ensure they stay away from Crystal." Despite his words of reassurance, a hint of helplessness flickered in Blatt's eyes.
"Wait!" Kristin's sudden interjection caught everyone's attention. As all eyes turned to her, she wore a confident smile and walked towards Crystal.
"Miss Crystal, I have a brilliant idea," she began, her voice filled with excitement. "Would you consider coming to the capital with us?"
"Eh?" The group collectively gasped, taken aback by Kristin's unexpected proposition.
"What?" The sudden offer astounded Crystal, with confusion evident on her face.
"I-I can't," she stammered, her eyes reflecting determination as she firmly declined. "My family is currently going through a difficult time. I can't simply abandon them like this." As Crystal spoke of her family's troubles, her gaze inadvertently shifted towards Selvo, who grew increasingly anxious, fearing she might reveal something that would tarnish his image in the eyes of the two noble ladies.
Fortunately for Selvo, Crystal didn't elaborate further, and he let out a relieved sigh.
Undeterred by Crystal's response, Kristin maintained her smile. "I understand your concerns for your father," she said. "But what if I promise to provide you with the herb you seek—no, an even more potent herb that could heal your father? Would you reconsider joining us?"
"What?!" Crystal's mouth hung open in astonishment, rendered speechless by Kristin's offer.
But Kristin wasn't finished. She continued, her voice growing serious. "After this, we still need to find birds of different species, and your special spirit seems to be incredibly useful in that regard. And by coming with us, not only will you have the chance to save your father, but I can also assist you in establishing yourself in the capital once our task is complete. Alternatively, you could even join my family as an employee. Think it over carefully."
Crystal fell into a contemplative silence, deeply pondering Kristin's words. The room remained hushed, allowing her the space to deliberate.
However, amidst the quiet, one person grew increasingly restless.
'Hey, hey, hey!' Selvo's inner voice screamed in frustration. 'I was supposed to impress them! Why is this bitch stealing all the attention?' He seethed with anger, feeling that he had missed a golden opportunity to forge connections with two prestigious families.
But as vexed as he was, Selvo knew he couldn't act on his frustrations if Crystal accepted the offer. All he could do was hope that her blind loyalty to her family would outweigh any other considerations.
Yet luck seemed to elude him this time, as Crystal finally spoke up.
"Alright," she nodded, her eyes fixed on Kristin. "If you can genuinely help me obtain that herb, then I promise to do everything in my power to assist you in your task."
Kristin let out a sigh of relief, her face brightening with joy. Nia joined in with a happy smile.
"Congratulations, Miss Crystal," Blatt chimed in, his smile warm. "Your dedication to your family has borne fruit."
"Oh, I almost forgot." Kristin turned to Blatt, her expression eager. "Mr. Blatt, I would like to extend an invitation to you as well. Your unique abilities would be of great help to us in our future quests. And once our mission is complete, you're more than welcome to join my family. We always appreciate individuals as talented as you."
Blatt's head lowered in contemplation upon hearing Kristin's proposition. After a moment of deep thought, he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kristin," he replied, a hint of regret in his voice. "While your offer is enticing, I value my freedom. These woods are my home, and I find solace here rather than in bustling cities. Please forgive me, but I must decline."
"Understood." Kristin's disappointment flickered briefly across her features, but she didn't press the matter further.
Selvo felt a surge of nervousness when he heard Kristin's invitation to Blatt, but his relief was palpable when Blatt declined.
'This situation is getting out of hand. I must speak with Nedar,' Selvo thought to himself, his mind racing with plans.
"Shall we head back, then?" Nia's sudden question broke the silence.
"Yes." Kristin nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "Our objective here has been achieved. We can discuss the next steps once we return to the city."
No objections were raised among the group, solidifying their decision to depart.
With the two Lestrias in tow, the group then bade farewell to the seemingly reluctant flock leader, leaving in the direction of the city.