The Raven's Feather symbol.
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Chapter 10: The Raven's Feather
The journey had been long and strange, full of unexpected twists and quiet victories. Javier Sánchez stood atop the hill under the pale light of dawn, overlooking a valley where mist clung like ghosts. In his hand, he held a single raven's feather—a delicate, black plume burned with intricate golden lines. It shimmered with power, alive with a kind of energy he could feel but couldn't yet fully comprehend.
The feather had come to him as a symbol, an icon of everything he had become and the mystery he embodied. It was a gift from the Celestials, who believed he was an Eternal, one of their chosen guardians of Earth. Only he knew that this was his own creation, born from the twisted energy of his glitch power. He'd forged it in his personal dimension, linking it to his Hell that had been reshaped into a paradise of strange beauty and wild creatures.
He turned the feather in his hand, watching the light catch the golden etchings as memories rushed through him.
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Flashback: His Meeting with Ajak
Months earlier, when he first arrived on Earth with the other Eternals, Ajak had taken him aside. She was their leader and the one who held most closely to the Celestials' commands, yet she felt a deep sense of humanity in her heart.
"Javier," she had said, "you have a unique presence among us. You see things that the others don't."
"Perhaps," he replied with a calmness that masked his calculating mind. "Or perhaps I'm simply different. But we all serve a purpose."
Ajak studied him, her gaze sharp. "You carry something hidden, Javier. There's a depth to you, a story that you haven't told. I see it in your silence, in the way you watch the world."
He'd only offered a faint smile. "Perhaps stories are best kept hidden until their time. Like seeds beneath the earth, they need darkness to grow."
Ajak had nodded, seeming satisfied, though he could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes.
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After that conversation, Javier knew he needed a mark—something to embody his journey and the power he wielded. His powers had always come at a price; the glitches were not easily controlled. They fractured his perception, forced him to see the world in layers and distortions that others couldn't fathom. But with this ability came insight, and he used it to forge the feather, the Raven's Feather.
In his Hell-dimension paradise, he'd created the feather from strands of his own essence, weaving it with the energies of his glitch. Each golden line etched into the feather represented the paths he had taken and the lives he had touched and manipulated. The Raven's Feather became a locket, one he could carry and call upon for strength, a reminder of his resilience and control over the chaos within him.
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One Day Among the Eternals
As the day broke fully, Javier joined the Eternals. Ajak, Sersi, Kingo, Gilgamesh, and the others were preparing to guide humanity, nudging them towards new discoveries in the Stone Age, though careful not to interfere overtly. Druig and Thena were engaged in a quiet discussion, while Makkari darted about, her energy uncontainable.
They had tasks to fulfill. Sersi was assigned to oversee the preservation of resources, her connection to the earth invaluable. Kingo and Gilgamesh were sparring, honing their strength in preparation for potential threats.
Javier watched the scene, his gaze falling on Sprite, who was entertaining a group of early humans with illusions. She caught his eye and grinned mischievously. "Not too much excitement, Javier?" she teased. "Or are you dreaming of your own legends?"
He chuckled, slipping the Raven's Feather into a pocket on his cloak. "Perhaps. Legends have a way of finding us, don't they?"
A few villagers nearby watched him with reverence. Some had already started to see him as more than just an Eternal. They saw him as a being touched by the divine—a god.
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Later, when dusk fell, Javier met with a small group of villagers he had befriended. Among them was a young man named Enoch, a skilled hunter, and his sister, Asa, who had a fierce curiosity. They were drawn to Javier, sensing his difference.
"Teach us, wise one," Enoch said with respect, "how do we protect our people?"
Javier thought for a moment, understanding that he was treading a line between mentor and deity in their eyes. "Strength comes from within, Enoch. But more than that, it comes from unity. Your people must learn to stand together."
He knelt, using the Raven's Feather as a pointer in the dirt to draw symbols for them—strategies, simple traps, and ways to work with the land. They watched in awe, memorizing each word as if it were sacred.
As he spoke, he realized he was doing more than simply advising them. He was creating a legacy, an idea that would echo through their lives long after he had left. The villagers began to see the feather as a symbol of Javier himself, a mark of guidance, strength, and mystery. Soon, they would fashion crude replicas of the feather, attaching them to necklaces and bracelets as talismans.
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A Moment of Reflection
As night descended, Javier returned to the hill alone. He looked at the Raven's Feather, glowing softly in the moonlight. It was now a part of him, representing his power and his struggle, his identity as both godlike and deeply human.
The symbol would grow, he knew. It would take on a life of its own, spreading as tales of his deeds and powers wove through generations. Javier Sánchez, the Eternal who was not truly Eternal, the god who did not seek worship—yet still found it.
In the darkness, he closed his eyes and held the feather close. He knew the journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but with the Raven's Feather in hand, he felt ready to face them all.
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End of Chapter 10.