> As I gazed upon the ancient ruins that stood before me, I couldn't help but ponder their origin. No one, not even myself, truly knows where they came from. All that remains are the Legacies left behind by a powerful race of ghostly spirits that existed before even my time.
>
> These Legacies manifest themselves in various ways, often resulting in the creation of ancient ruins filled with mysterious techniques and monsters. It is as if the spirits wanted to leave a lasting impression on the world, even after they mysteriously disappeared.
>
> As an ancient time dragon, I have seen many things and experienced many wonders, but the ancient ruins and their Legacies remain a mystery to me. I have spent countless hours studying them, but their secrets remain elusive.
>
> What I do know is that these ruins hold immense power, and those who dare to explore them must do so with caution. The monsters that inhabit them are fierce, and the techniques left behind by the ghostly spirits are not to be trifled with.
>
> But despite the danger, the allure of the ancient ruins is strong. They draw in adventurers and seekers of power, hoping to unravel their secrets and unlock their potential. And while the origin of these ruins may remain a mystery, the power they hold is undeniable.
~An excerpt from A Year in the Life of Nilggover by Nilggover the Great.
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World Location: A Mid-trunk Bough > Bashiri's Inner World > Continent of Creation > Cradle of Civilization
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THE OWL'S PRELUDE
1513 IF 5588:00 > 1513 IF 5612:00
Day I
The owl's eyes slowly flutter open as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and red. She stretches her wings, revealing a mesmerizing expanse of white feathers that glimmer in the dying light. As she takes off from her perch on a sturdy branch, the beauty of the forest envelops her. The majesty and ancientness of this place is palpable in every aspect, from the towering trees that stretch up towards the heavens, to the moss-covered rocks that litter the forest floor.
The owl is a vision of elegance in flight, soaring through the forest with a grace and fluidity that is unparalleled. The rustling of leaves and the chirping of crickets create a symphony of sound that echoes throughout the woods. But amidst this beautiful chaos, the owl is keenly focused on one thing: her nightly hunt for food.
She swoops and glides through the trees, her keen eyes scanning the underbrush for movement. Every now and then, she catches sight of a small creature scurrying along the forest floor, and with a quick burst of speed, she descends upon it. Her razor-sharp talons make quick work of her prey, and she takes it back to her nest, hidden away in the hollow of an ancient tree.
As the night wears on, the forest only grows more enchanting, with the moon casting long shadows across the forest floor and the stars twinkling brightly overhead. The owl continues her hunt, revelling in the magnificence of this place that has stood for ages untold
The forest was shrouded in a thick blanket of darkness, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and the soft rustling of leaves. The owl's sharp senses were honed to perfection, her keen eyesight piercing through the veil of night to catch the slightest movement. As the sun slowly began to creep up over the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the treetops, the owl settled down on her branch. She was ready to rest after a long night of hunting, her feathered body still tingling with the thrill of the chase.
But just as she was about to drift off into a peaceful slumber, something caught her attention. A faint rustling sound echoed through the forest, growing louder and more insistent with each passing moment. The owl's curiosity was piqued, her head tilting slightly as she strained to see through the darkness. Was it a prey animal, or something else entirely?
As the noise drew nearer, the owl's heart began to race with excitement. She was eager to discover the source of the disturbance, her body tensed and ready for action. The unknown was always a thrill to her, a chance to test her skills and abilities to the limit. She braced herself for whatever lay ahead, her large golden eyes flickering with anticipation in the early morning light.
Suddenly, a humanoid figure emerged from the trees. He was dressed in majestic golden robes that shimmered in the dim light, and with each step he took, he seemed to command space and time itself. The owl felt a shiver run down her spine, her mind filled with wonder and fear. She had never seen anything like this before, and her instincts told her to flee.
It was as if the forest was alive with magic and power, and this creature was the embodiment of that energy. She took off in the opposite direction, her wings beating frantically as she tried to put as much distance between herself and the stranger as possible, quickly becoming lost as the space in the wake of the figure is twisted and distorted.
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As she soared through the air, the owl couldn't shake off the image of the mysterious figure. Her mind was a flurry of questions and curiosity, but also a deep sense of unease. Was he a god? A demon? Something else entirely? Her heart raced as she imagined the possibilities, and she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of panic.
Every muscle in her body tensed as she took off in the opposite direction, her wings flapping frantically as she tried to put as much distance between herself and the stranger as possible. The forest seemed to pulse with a strange energy, and the air crackled with an otherworldly power. The owl felt like she was being watched, like the very trees themselves were closing in around her.
Her breaths came in short gasps as she flew, and her heart hammered in her chest. She knew that she needed to stay away from the stranger if she wanted to remain safe.
Eventually, the owl became lost as the space in the wake of the figure was twisted and distorted. She circled around, trying to find her bearings, but the forest seemed to have shifted and changed in the presence of the powerful being. It was disorienting and unsettling, and the owl felt a deep sense of unease settle over her.
As the owl continued her flight through the forest, she was struck by the overwhelming sense of something being different in the air. Sunlight, the very essence of daytime and life, was wrapping around the trees, cutting through the dense canopy and casting long shadows on the forest floor. The light was something the owl had never experienced before, and it left her feeling both captivated and uneasy. The way it illuminated the trees, revealing every detail and nuance, was a sight to behold, and yet it seemed to mock the darkness that the owl had always called home. The sudden shift in environment was disorienting, and the owl couldn't help but feel like an intruder in this new realm of light and colour.
The owl's golden eyes darted back and forth, taking in every inch of the forest as the sunlight continued to grow brighter. She felt a sense of unease creeping over her, wondering if the sun would attract predators that she would normally avoid. As she flew higher, she could see the tops of the trees bathed in golden light, and the distant hills casting long shadows across the landscape.
Despite her apprehension, the owl couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the sun breaking through the clouds. Nonetheless, as she continued her flight, the owl couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She was used to navigating the forest under the cover of darkness, where her keen senses and sharp eyesight were her greatest assets. Now, with the sun bearing down on her, she felt exposed and vulnerable. She longed for the safety of the night, but knew that she needed to adapt to survive.
The owl's keen eyes caught sight of the crumbling pyramid-shaped ruin in the distance. As she drew closer, the majesty of the structure could not be denied, even in its ruinous state. The walls were etched with intricate carvings that spoke of a long-forgotten civilization. The vines and moss that clung to the rough-hewn stone only added to the ancient feel of the place.
But with the awe also came a sense of foreboding. The owl could feel the weight of history bearing down on her as she gazed upon the ruins. It was as if the very air around her was heavy with the memories of a time long past. And then there were the predators. Powerful monsters whose presence emanated from the ruins, making the owl's heart race with fear.
Despite her natural curiosity, the owl wisely chose to stay away from the ruins and continued on her way, her eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of danger. As she flew, the image of the ruin lingered in her mind, stirring a sense of unease that she couldn't shake.
The owl's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden rustling in the undergrowth below, and she immediately went on high alert. Was it a predator on the prowl? Or just a harmless critter scurrying by? She darted through the air, her wings beating frantically as she searched for the source of the sound. But as quickly as it had started, the rustling stopped, and the forest returned to a tense silence.
The owl couldn't shake the feeling of unease that whirled and twisted around her. She felt like danger lurked around every corner, and that one wrong move could mean the end of her life. But she was determined to press on, to uncover the mysteries of this dark and treacherous world, and to emerge triumphant in the face of adversity.
As the sun beat down upon the forest, the owl felt a growing sense of unease. The brightness was jarring and unfamiliar to her, and the warmth was oppressive. She had always been a creature of the night, accustomed to the cool, calming darkness. But now, the light was all around her, wrapping around the trees and breaking through the clouds in an almost aggressive manner. It made her feel exposed, vulnerable, and on edge.
As she flew on, the forest became denser and the trees loomed overhead, casting deep shadows. The owl's heart pounded in her chest as she looked around nervously, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. She felt as though she was being watched, and every rustling leaf made her jump.
Eventually, the owl grew tired and desperate to find a safe place to rest. She searched high and low, her head swivelling back and forth, until she spotted a large and majestic tree. Its thick trunk seemed to stretch up past the treetops, and its branches reached out like arms to the sky. Despite its grandeur, the tree exuded an ominous feeling that made the owl hesitant to approach.
But she was too tired to go on. The owl landed on a crook in the tree's branches, and as she nestled into the rough bark, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her from the shadows. Her body tensed, ready for anything that might come her way, but exhaustion soon overcame her and she drifted off into a fitful sleep.
As the owl slumbers, she is oblivious to the changes within her. Little does she know, the tree is near the path that Bashiri, the very creature that disturbed her that morning, had taken. As she sleeps, she slowly absorbs some of his holy powers, becoming something new entirely.
As the hours tick by, the owl's feathers start to glow with an ethereal golden light, as if they are catching the rays of a sun that doesn't exist; before dimming to a dim glow. The trees and foliage around her seem to twist and bend. The air is thick with an ominous sense of change, and even many of the animals of the forest seem to have gone quiet in that area.
But even as she changes, the owl remains oblivious to her new changes. Her eyes remain closed, as if she is still lost in a deep sleep. The holy aether surrounding her seems to protect her from any harm, shielding her from the chaos and upheaval that is brewing around her in the wake of Bashiri.
The forest was changing, and the owl was caught up in the midst of it.