Year 0002, The Imperium
---
Today was fairly sunny, and the snowfall was fairly light.
The people in Maya Village did not expect any visitors right now.
Although they have already implemented a patrol system to augment their daily life.
At least for now they would occupy the gatehouse lookout tower.
They couldn't be careless right now, especially with what happened last time.
They needed someone to alert them if a problem should arise.
They did not want the previous tragedy to happen.
---
Aetherwing remembered the general direction of the boys village.
He now just needs to locate it in the snow-filled land.
After an hour or so of flying overhead, he saw the two mountain peaks, where that patch of land that was sandwiched between the two mountains is.
Also, there he saw smoke rising into the air; they have found it!
They are now hovering overhead the vicinity of the village, and they began to slowly descend.
Aetherwing saw some movements down below; they seemed to be heading towards the village walls.
Hmmm, the figures do not look like those of children; do humans grow up that fast?
He thought, it hasn't been a few years already, right?
He wondered and recalled the time; it had only been a few months ago when he left.
He was sure of it now, since there were only children when he last came here.
He wondered for a while....
"Meh... who cares?"
Aetherwing and his mate decided then, and they continued with their slow descent.
---
Red and an injured Chris, who still volunteered, despite Theressa's plea towards him, to just rest in bed for now.
We're now walking on the deep snow towards the gate.
They were the replacement of the 1st patrol, who were Erik and Bren.
Suddenly a huge shadow has covered the sun; that shadow was looming over them.
Like an angel of death, trying to pick them up on the world below.
The hairs on their bodies stood up; they felt a bone-chilling fear that ran through their whole being.
*Wooosh! Whoosh!
A strong gust of wind almost blew them away from where they stood.
The thick snow beneath them was disturbed and went flying all over the place.
They looked up above the sky; there they saw two massive, almost ethereal beings descending down on them.
A moment later...
*Thud! Thud!
Both of the Majestic Beasts have landed before them.
Both Red's and Christopher's faces paled, losing all of the remaining blood in them; they shivered, and they dared not move from where they currently stood.
The beasts only stared at them....
They are dead now; they are sure of it. They have nothing that they could do against these two towering beasts before them.
They could only silently pray and ask for forgiveness from the other people who were with them.
---
Erik and Bren saw the entire thing; they were also shivering in fear.
It was only when Erik noticed the familiar beast; it was the one who let them ride on its back back then.
He rushed down the lookout tower towards the beast.
He hoped that he was right with his assumption, or all of them would be killed right now.
And he ran through the snow and yelled to get its attention.
"Heyyyy!!! It's me, Erik Rubbard. Do you remember me, sir???"
He silently prayed inward, hoping for the best outcome, that his assumption would be right.
---
Aetherwing looked at the people who were before him.
Yes, he was right; these people who were before him are not the children he met before.
As he remembered correctly, one of them was a girl and another one was a boy.
One of the people who was currently looking up towards him has a serious injury.
A moment later, he could hear a voice that was seeking attention and was running towards them.
Aha! That one is a familiar face; he was pleased to see that the boy with the strong willpower back then was doing well for himself.
"Yes, lad, I remembered you. You are one of the people who was with my ward.
But I do not see the girl who was with you.
Hmmm ... that one behind you also seemed familiar...
....
I see.... He was one of those who were hiding at the house back then.
But these other two before me, I am not familiar with."
---
Red and Chris flinched; they could hear someone talking to them with mental telepathy.
It seems like it was the beast's doing.
It was making a conversation towards Erik, who had rushed towards them and yelled in their direction, trying to get its attention.
They knew of this beast???
They could feel their tense and frozen body loosen up, but not until the beast stared at them and spoke to them.
"I am Aetherwing, and this right here is my mate. May I have the pleasure of knowing yours?"
"I ... I am Red Peerce."
"And I ... I ... am Christopher Harti."
They both answered honestly and as curtly as possible; they were afraid to offend this beast that is exuding the aura of a sovereign.
Aetherwing stared at them; he ascertained that there were no lies in their words.
"I see."
He looked back towards Erik and asked him an important question that he had been meaning to ask.
"Lad, where is my ward? I must speak with him."
---
Somewhere in the longhouse, August has already been alerted by the arrival of his Guardian Beast, whom he has not met yet in person.
[ DING! YOUR GUARDIAN BEAST IS NEAR THE VICINITY! WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR PRESENCE TO BE KNOWN? {YES/NO}
August thought about it for a bit for a second...
And he said {NO} for now; he wanted to see the characteristics of his Guardian Beast from a safe distance.
He camouflaged himself with the snow and prone on the ground.
While he took a look towards the place where the others were standing.
Ohh? So my guardian beast is a bird? A very huge and powerful one at that, but it seems like there is another smaller one beside it, interesting.
Hmmm.... It seems like the Beast is talking to the people telepathically.
But he could hear the replies of Erik and the others who were standing before it.
Hmmmm... My name was mentioned?
Oh? It seems like it was looking for me....
I should make myself known now; I think I get the gist of it.
---
August rose up from his position and dusted off the snow that clung on to his clothing.
And he began to slowly approach in the back, and he spoke in a confident but respectful manner.
"Hello, good sir! I heard you were looking for me.
May I know your name and the purpose of your sudden visit? "
He actually already knew who it is that is currently before him, from his SYSTEM.
But he wanted to make sure, as he did not know yet the full capabilities, functions, and limitations of the SYSTEM.
It's not that he doubts it, but he was curious; maybe it could be tricked, just like how it couldn't recognize the emotions that he had before.
What if there were circumstances that were like that?
This thing is strong, sure, but it wasn't omnipotent.
[ S Y S T E M MANAGER DOROTHY: HMMMPFFF!!! ]
It took offense towards the doubtful host, against the information that they gave him...
"Geez, I was just curious. I didn't doubt the information you just gave me, alright? Just curious ???"
---
Aetherwing felt the boy's presence; it suddenly appeared at their back.
He was surprised and taken aback at the same time.
That he did not manage to notice his ward's presence before.
He was truly an interesting and curious being; is it due to the powerful entity that was dwelling in him?
He looked at the boy deeply; it seemed like his ward was trying to ascertain something from him.
So he responded to his query in kind.
"I am The Empyrian Hunter, Sky Sovereign 'Aetherwing,' the Guardian Beast of August Finn.
Ward, today I came here with my mate and newborn chicks.
To ask for your permission for us to build a nest in this village and make it our new home.
That is only if you would allow it."
He replied telepathically.
August was slightly taken aback by the sound that echoed in his head; it was just like his SYSTEM.
He thought of it for a while...
Wait...! Isn't this like a very good thing for them?
His Guardian Beast seemed like a very powerful being, but he did not feel threatened by it.
He actually felt familiar and found comfort towards it.
Like he knew of the beasts past, as if they had met before and were longtime friends.
He was knocked unconscious back then, so he did not realize it.
That their pasts were actually shown to them, as they were slowly being intertwined with each other's fate.
Without further thinking, he already came to a decision!
"Yes! Most certainly, but before all of that, I have a favor to ask of you. Can you also train me in the art of magic?"
Aetherwing only stared at him; he nodded his head as if in affirmation, and he spoke towards the boy.
"Such a small price to pay; I shall be your teacher then.
I hope you can keep up with my teachings."
---
There were brief introductions and interactions with the other people who are currently taking residence there.
Of course they reacted similarly, like how Red and Christopher did, when the Beast first arrived and they saw its majestic aura.
A combination of fear and respect for the Beast.
For now, Aetherwing flew to the sky; he was looking for a place to build his nest.
He looked at the two mountains and felt that it was good enough of a place to build their new nest.
So he came back down and asked his mate to follow him.
But before that, he left the two chicks, who were with them, to the care of his ward.
Both chicks were as tall as Jonathan, at 7 feet long.
"I have found a place for us to build our nest; I must temporarily leave my chicks within your care."
After that, Aetherwing and his mate flew away.
As they slowly built their nest on the side of the mountain cliff that was inside the village hundreds of meters above.
They continuously built the nest, taking trees from the forest and burying them deep on the cliffside.
While also lining it with strong branches, it would serve as their nesting place.
When they were done, they returned below and picked up the two chicks, who were currently brought inside the house.
And he lifted them up with magic, but before they left, he said his temporary farewell to them and thanked his ward for his generosity.
"Thank you for allowing us to stay here, but we would have to leave for today, up to the new nest above; for now, this is farewell.
I would see you all tomorrow again...."