A THUNDERBIRD??!!
"HEY, CHICKEN, WHY THE HELL WERE YOU TRYING TO KILL SOMETHING LIKE THAT? IT COULD KILL YOU IN SECONDS! OH MY GOD, I NEVER EXPECTED THIS!"
I still remembered seeing the visual panel for the thunderbird in the game. That was one of the moments that got me all excited while playing.
And now, seeing it in real life?
Looking at its size… maybe it was a toddler.
I can tame it.
It even likes me.
The protagonist of the story was the one who tamed the thunderbird. Apparently, the thunderbird had been wounded, and the protagonist had taken care of it.
One of the strongest creatures in this world if it fully aged. Well, it won't be the strongest while I'm alive. But still.
I ran over and petted it as it nuzzled against my chest. I let it perch on my forearm.
I turned to Diagung. "What? You don't like this? Think about it—he's so cute."
CAW.
"...No, no, you aren't cute."
CAW. CAW.
"Hell no, I'm not letting you even touch him."
I looked at the eagle. "Do you have a name?"
It just stared at me.
"...I'm gonna take that as a no. Alright, I'll give you one."
I thought for a moment. "Thubi. How about that?"
The bird stared elsewhere.
"Okay, Thubi."
CAW.
"It's a shit name? No, it's not." I crossed my arms. "...It's made up of Thunder—'Thu'—and Bird—'Bi.'"
I smirked. "Thubi."
CAW.
"...What? You thought binding our souls would make me kill it for you? I won't."
I scoffed. "You should be called Dung. You're lucky I'm not actually calling you that, you stupid chicken…"
The sun was still high. Afternoon.
And I was standing here, talking to birds like a lunatic.
If someone saw me right now, they'd definitely think I was insane.
Oh, wait. Menyurl.
"Hey, chicken, drop me off. I can't get down."
Diagung looked away and sat down.
"...Hey, come on, don't be like that. I'm sorry…"
Silence.
"What? No, no, I am genuinely sorry. I wasn't trying to get you to forgive me. I was… pretty rude."
That got a reaction.
"...Fine. Alright. You can come back here. But won't that cause problems? I mean, we're soul-bound."
Diagung tilted its head.
"Ohh, I see, so—WAIT. I CAN SEE THROUGH YOUR EYES?!"
I blinked. "That's… actually cool. How do I do it?"
Diagung stared at me—and then my left eye went blind.
"...Huh? WHAT? WHERE'S MY EYE?!"
Panic set in. I scrambled for a shard of a mirror, holding it up.
And froze.
My left eye…
It was the same as Diagung's.
And Diagung—was closing one eye.
It was looking through mine.
"Wow... I can do that too? Nice... wait. Does that mean if you die, then I die?"
Oh.
"Hey, you better not die, you know. I'll come back for you soon... I promise. I'll get you a better place, just let me get to Menyurl first."
Take Thubi with me? No I can't do that.
I looked at the small thunderbird, who seemed shocked at my words.
"No, Thubi, I can't take you."
Thubi let out a soft cry, tilting his head.
"I'm not strong enough to protect you. And you aren't strong yet either. There are many out there who are way beyond your power right now."
I sighed, placing a hand on his head.
"When I get powerful enough, I'll come back for you. I promise. So for now, just stay here."
I looked up at Diagung. "Hey, you chicken. You better not try to kill Thubi."
Diagung simply stared.
"Come on, just take care of him. Hey, you won't feel lonely, you know."
I think I touched a nerve because Diagung looked a little angry. But he didn't attack me. He couldn't. If he hurt me, he'd feel it too.
...Was he lonely?
Did he lose someone?
That wasn't my concern. Even if it was, it wasn't my place to pry.
Diagung never talked about it. If he didn't want to, then I wouldn't ask.
I glanced at my torn shirt and sighed. "Hey, can you let me sit on top of you? It'd be great if you could do that."
GRUMBLE.
My stomach betrayed me.
Thubi turned his head. Diagung probably heard it too.
Diagung suddenly flew away.
"...Oh. There he goes. Guess he's getting me food?"
I looked at Thubi. "I can't eat it, though. Right, Thubi?"
...
Hours passed. Diagung still hadn't returned.
"That stupid chicken. I'm hungry here."
Thubi, being a legendary bird, didn't even need food yet.
Lucky.
And then—my hunger disappeared.
I blinked. "...Huh?"
At first, I didn't get it. But then, I put the pieces together.
Diagung filling his stomach meant I was full too.
"...That's actually kinda smart."
I smiled. "Diagung's actually smarter than most people. I doubt anyone would've thought of that."
It was evening now. I felt the slight link between us—acknowledged it.
And suddenly—I saw his exoskeleton.
Diagung's body was laid bare, without skin—just like the time I used the Clarion of Touch.
I moved toward his eye and touched it.
Darkness.
I closed one of my eyes—and suddenly, I was looking at a vast, endless ocean I could see the horizon and the sun setting slowly.
I was seeing from Diagung's point of view.
...He knew I was looking.
"Hey. If you can hear me, slow down a little."
Diagung slowed down. Only slightly. But I could tell.
"Can you speak?"
No response.
He definitely could. But he didn't want to. He was still angry at me.
I sighed. Softly.
"Hey… I'll be leaving tomorrow."
Silence.
"Don't worry about me. I'll get down somehow."
I hesitated.
"Take care of yourself."
And then—I opened my eye.
Thubi stood in front of me.
"...Thubi, you can carry me?"
Diagung reminded me—Thubi is a thunderbird.
Even as a toddler, he could pick up whales.
So obviously, he could carry me.
"Hey. Can you take me to Menyurl?"
Thubi let out a small caw before grabbing me—by the back of my pants.
Not my shirt, thankfully.
...It was safer.
But also a lot more uncomfortable.
I sighed. "Alright. Zoom away, Thubi."