The high priest quickly reached out, sensing a more intense aura and tone than usual. The moment the divine power, originating from his fingertips, gently enveloped Shuian, it exploded from Shuian's body.
"Ugh, what is this…!"
Astonished by the purity and amount of divine power exceeding that of a high priest, the priest immediately withdrew his own and prostrated himself, beginning to chant a prayer.
"Shuian!"
Even as the blazing divine power threatened to blind him, Theo hurriedly embraced Shuian. His body was heated, almost burning, but he couldn't let go. If he did, he felt he would lose him forever.
The chaotic divine power suddenly coalesced around Shuian, forming a sphere. It was as if he were enveloped in a membrane of light, obscuring his form, but the burning heat and weight on Theo's arms were a stark reminder of Shuian's presence, which was some comfort.
Despite his desperate embrace, the sphere grew larger and larger, eventually reaching the size of a person, then slipped out of Theo's arms as if passing through air. Theo reached out again, but Shuian was already encased in the divine power like an eggshell. Yes, it was literally an 'egg.'
"What is this… Shuian-!"
Thwack-! Bang!
He pounded on it with all his might, but it didn't even scratch. Just as he was at his wit's end, the egg, which had been vibrating slightly, began to crack on its own.
Crack- Crrrack-!
Tiny cracks spread in all directions, then shattered in an instant, and the broken eggshells crumbled to the floor, becoming motes of light that scattered into the air. And what emerged from within was…
“…Shuian?”
Not an eagle, but a man.
Orca, who had been staring blankly, the priest who had been prostrate and chanting, and Theodore, who had reached for his sword hilt to break the egg, were all frozen in shock, unable to speak.
"What… is…"
He was so surprised that for a moment, he thought it was a dream.
"Y-Your Highness, Lord Shuian…"
Theodore didn't respond to Orca's call, his eyes sweeping over Shuian, who was now perfectly human. He finally understood what it meant to be captivated. Silver hair that flowed softly to his collarbone, skin as white as snow, a small, delicate nose, and lips as red as if painted with rouge.
Finally, his eyelids lifted, revealing silver eyes that turned to him, and it felt as if the earth and sky had been reversed. Would this be how it felt if the world were shattered and reassembled into a completely new form? Theodore was certain that no expression could convey his current feelings.
His silver eyelids closed again, but Theodore mentally traced what he had seen over and over. The delicate light that shone as if inlaid with precious jewels.
Then, Shuian lost his balance and leaned weakly, and Theo instinctively pulled him into his arms. His heart was pounding so loudly he thought his ears would burst. No, in this moment where time seemed to have stopped, only the warmth in his arms was vividly clear.
My bird. My luck.
'My, Shuian.'
Yes, he's mine. It was a strange certainty. Even when wielding a sword on the battlefield, he never had such conviction, but he was certain that the warmth in his arms was his.
Perhaps he was deluding himself because he wanted him so badly, but he didn't care. He intended to have him no matter what. If he wasn't his, he would take him, and he was better at holding on than taking. So, it was alright. Shuian was in his arms, after all.
Although he didn't yet understand the situation, Theodore first wrapped Shuian's naked body in a blanket and gently laid him back on the bed. His touch was careful, as if afraid he would break.
"Orca, the weather doesn't seem good enough to return to the temple. Escort the priest to a guest room with respect."
"Excuse me? But it's perfectly…"
The priest, who had been dazed, reflexively replied while looking out the window, but Orca, realizing Theodore's intentions, immediately summoned the guards who had been standing outside the bedroom.
"N-No, Your Highness! J-Just a moment…!"
"Let's go."
If he was unlucky, so be it. He would no longer be able to return to the temple of his own volition.
Orca sighed as he returned after ordering the guards to take care of the priest. Theodore was sitting on the bed, staring down at Shuian as if all his attention was focused on him. Even as the priest and Orca had been overwhelmed by the mystical sight, he had stubbornly followed only Shuian. As if he had no doubt that he was his bird.
"Are you going to kill the priest?"
"Perhaps."
Aside from worrying about how to clean up the mess if he really killed the priest, Orca couldn't take his eyes off Shuian either. It was the first time he had seen an eagle turn into a human, but more than that, Shuian's face, which he had found mysterious even when he was an eagle, was incredibly beautiful and yet, alien. At least, it wasn't a color that a human would have.
"What is Shuian's true form? A mystical creature?"
“…I’ve occasionally heard stories of animals gaining enlightenment and becoming mystical creatures… but they’re still just animals. They might be a little smarter, stronger, or live longer. But Lord Shuian is…”
Orca hesitated, unsure, but what he wanted to say was ultimately one thing.
"A divine beast, perhaps."
"I'm not sure, but I think so too."
He was never ordinary to begin with. He wasn't just able to understand human speech, but had the intelligence to converse, and even had the ability to distinguish poison by smell.
Orca had even wondered if he was a demon, but considering the divine power that had erupted from Shuian's body and his bizarre ability to transform into a human, the probability of him being a divine beast was the highest. Really, a divine beast.
"Ha, a cursed prince chosen by a divine beast… The Empress would foam at the mouth and collapse if she knew."
Orca habitually calculated the impact Shuian's existence would have in the future, but Theodore showed no interest. He was only curious about one thing.
'Is Shuian still my Shuian?'
ꕥ
The wait was longer than expected, and the reward was only fleeting.
'Where are you going this time?'
'I wonder. But why do you ask?'
'Because I'm curious. Where you are and what you're doing without me.'
Even so, he always embarked on a tedious journey. For the sake of the arms he would return to.
'Hmm, should I go a little further this time?'
'…I don't want to.'
'Why?'
'What if you go too far and don't come back? I can't go looking for you then.'
'That won't happen.'
'How can you be so sure?'
'Because you're here.'
Because you're here, there's no way I wouldn't come back.
'But, it ended up happening just like I worried.'
'What?'
'You, forgot me.'
ꕥ
He opened his eyes with a start. What kind of dream was that? He couldn't remember exactly, but it was clear that he had been talking to someone.
"Shuian?"
While retracing the dream, which was as hazy as if covered in fog, he reflexively turned his head at the sound of his name. It was Theo.
Normally, he would immediately ask if he had slept well, but he was just staring at him. Was something wrong?
"Why… oh?"
Not the familiar chirping of a bird, but a clear form of language spilled from his lips. Words, words came out! Startled, he looked down and saw not the feathers he was used to, but white, straight arms and hands. Wait, were these his?
He raised his hand and spread his fingers one by one, touching the blunt tips of his nails. No matter how he looked at it, it was a person.
"Th-This is…"
He wanted to see his reflection in the mirror, so he hurriedly tried to get up, but his strength failed him and he almost collapsed. Theo, who didn't seem surprised at all, supported him and asked in a calm tone.
"Shall I show you a mirror?"
He nodded quickly, and Theo slowly helped him up. Supported by him, he took awkward steps, as he had when he first became an eagle, and approached the mirror, where something white and radiant was reflected. Who… was that?
White skin, silvery hair, and eyes the same color as his hair seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. It was a form he had never seen before, not even in the original illustrations, but anyway, it was a person.
"A person…"
He muttered unconsciously and grabbed his neck without realizing it. Speaking was very awkward, and his pronunciation was poor, as if his tongue was stiff. Like someone who hadn't spoken in a long time. It hadn't even been half a year since he had been an eagle, so why was speaking so awkward?
No, could that be…? You'd have to go from human to eagle and back to human to know…! Meanwhile, he looked up at Theo, who was still supporting him, wondering how he knew he was Shuian.
His eyes, looking at him with such affection and love, were a little different than usual. It was as if he was looking for something, or trying to confirm something. He somehow seemed as anxious as he was.
"Theo, I'm a person…"
"Theo?"
Ah, now that he thought about it, the nickname Theo was something he only called him in his mind. He tried to explain the reason why he started calling him Theo, but the words still seemed to be stuck in his throat, and even if he forced them out, he wouldn't be able to articulate them properly, so he replied briefly.
"Nickname…"
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