Jax and Leo continued to protect Kai’s expedition group from petty thieves along the way, with Leo displaying some of his powers for the disbelief of the other trip members. Even Turk was surprised for such young Essentia talented user to be with them. He inquired about him to Kai, but his lips were sealed, as the brothers ask him. Soon they would reach Swallow’s Nest and the first step of Kai’s trip would be concluded. Kai left his party (with exception of himself and the brothers) in the town trading their stock as planned, while the others start preparing to leave as soon as the arrangements were ready.
-Kai, do you really trust these two to protect you? You really mean to leave me in Swallow’s Nest?
-Turk, I trust those two and you didn’t even see their true strength, even I’m not sure what it is their limits. -assures Kai, while placing a hand on Turk’s shoulder – and I cannot trust anyone but you to protect Chu and Yu and ensure that the stock is safe. Can you do that for me?
Turk sighs, knowing that Kai usually didn’t change his mind when he was set on it.
– Ok Kai, I will follow your instructions. I can see that you trust the blondie and I’ve seen what he can do, but what about the quiet kid? He didn’t do anything.
-Trust me Turk, they are valuable assets. Now let’s get some sleep, tomorrow we’ll arrive to Swallow’s Nest.
*****
The little demon reappears, drowsy and tired.
-I guess it’s time for class huh? They get to sleep, but not me. This is so unfair, I have to talk to someone about this, I’m not getting paid enough. Well, I think that it’s time for “Did you know about this city?” – a neon advertise appears with the title.
The demon come out from behind the neon board with a tuxedo and sits down on a table like a tv announcer, with glasses and a ridiculous mustache. Then he proceeds to read the news.
- “Swallow’s Nest: This town is known for being the start of swallows’ migratory route in this time of the year, which is considered a sign of good fortune. Thousands of people gather every year on this city to witness this event, where it is believed that brings luck. As such, merchants also make use of this season to conduct their business, taking advantage of this abnormal people concentration. The town itself doesn’t have any attraction point, but as many other Nation towns it has the typical facilities; A more rural zone where there are Swallow Nest habitants houses and farms that are the main town’s food resource, a restaurant district, an industrial zone that includes warehouses and little individual rent rooms; at the town’s center are located some motels for travelers, and the most notorious buildings: the Nation’s Manor and the cathedral.
The Nation’s Manor is where the city’s nobles and the Nation top representatives reside. It is the place that grants auditions to the town’s habitant requests or even of some travelers, and where is organized several important events and feasts. It is also a place where the Nobles and youthful Essentia talents are instructed, whether in history and other school studies, or even in essentia control. The Manor also include the city’s library.
The cathedral has a gargantuan size, where it’s divided in several portions; it is also known as the “neutral gap”, as it is decreed as a space where Nation’s authority has no reach; as such, usually the Guilds rent cathedral’s rooms to make its headquarters. The cathedral is the bridge between the Nation and other powerhouses, a place where unbiased meetings take place, presided by a neutral party. It is also the place where new guilds can be created and get a license.”
-Breaking news! The top guys are calling me for an emergency meeting, so this broadcast is going to end now. The emission will go back to that moustache guy’s party after arriving Swallow’s Nest. Goodbye everybody!
*****
After arriving to Swallow’s Nest, Kai’s merchant group headed for a motel to rest. Kai gave everyone two days off after a tribulated journey. Chu and Yu decided to take a look at Swallow’s library; Buck and Keith, even though they don’t seem to be in good terms with each other, chose to look for some adult entertainment; Kai and Turk set out to the Nation’s Manor, to get the merchant license and stock checked; the brothers Leo and Jax didn’t have any doubts: they immediately aimed for the restaurant district.
-Ahh! I thought I was never going to eat meat again! I will have nightmares with that so called curry! – declares Leo while taking a big chunk of a turkey’s leg, almost choking on it.
-Leo, slow down. You seem like a pig eating. I feel the eyes of everyone on us – states Jax, as everyone looks horrified to Leo, as he was a barbarian.
-I don’t care about that! If you care more about what the others think than what you like to do, you never will live a fulfilling life. – retorts a happy Leo finishing his meal – Miss, can I get a another one? My kudos to the chef.
-It’s already your 4th leg Leo. You are going to get fat, and this will not be cheap if you continue to eat like that.
-Happy belly, happy life. Enjoy life like you want Jax, ‘cuz I’ll do the same. -Leo looks at the neighbor table and puts an arm around a large man -this guy, gets it right? Eating is one of the best things in the world, am I right?
The large man was eating a big ramen plate, slurping the pasta. As he finished, he looked at Leo and Jax fiercely.
The room got silenced. Jax was nervous and ready to get up, however for his surprise the man smiled and hugged back Leo.
-You know it! Everyone these days are all worried about how skinny they look; they can’t eat the best things. There are so many delicious dishes: fried chicken, pizza, chips, ice cream. -Leo and the man start drooling and daydreaming about that food -You sure are a fine man, boy! And thank you.
-For what?
-For the kudos – says the man while finishing his drink, cleaning up his mouth with his forearm – Jamie Sullivan, proud honor of this establishment and my very own round belly. Trish, get a special menu to this boy, he is growing up.
-Thank you, mister. – says Leo grinning.
The waiter smiles and brings with difficulty a big dish with a large steak and lots of side dishes. As she is close to the table, she slips and right before falling down, Leo reacts. He gets up and channel Essentia to his feet and hands, pressing one of his palms on the ground.
“Ice Burst: Erupt”
Blocks of ice erupt from the ground, picking all the plates, preventing them from breaking. At the same time Leo slides and catches Trish before she falls. She blushes as Leo smiles back at her.
– Are you okay, did you get hurt?
-Huh, no, no. Thank you. – says Trish standing up.
Sullivan runs to her, clearly concern about Trish.
-Honey, are you really alright? I can’t believe that I wasn’t there for you, I would be heartbroken if anything happened to you.
-I’m okay honey, I would never hurt you. I love you so much. -declares Trish holding Jamie’s hands.
-I love you too. -says Jamie as he hugs Trish passionately.
Jamie and Trish Sullivan turn out to be the owners of the Dear Nest, the restaurant where Jax and Leo chose. They are known throughout the town by their spontaneous display of love whatever the situation. The brothers were really surprised as the married couple continues to cuddle right in front of them and try avoiding look at them, feeling embarrassed. Jamie eventually gets back to the present day, thanking endlessly for what Leo done.
-Thank you, my boy, you saved my precious Trish.
-No need to mention it. Anyone would do the same thing if it were in my place.
-You’re being too modest son. You know what? Your meal is on the house.
-Thank you, mister. I guess that solves your problem, huh Jax?
Leo smiles back at Jax, who looks annoyed and happy for Leo’s troubles solve themselves. The restaurant owners leave the brothers and the other costumers on the room, as they get to the kitchen.
Leo finally finishes his meal and is completely full. As the two brothers prepare to depart, Jamie reappears, sitting across the boys and keeping his voice down.
-Boys, can I have a minute?
-For you, we sure have, Jamie.
-Well boys, tomorrow Trish and I celebrate 15 years together, and I want to get her something special. And maybe you boys can help me with that, especially with your powers, little Leo.
Jax and Leo looked to each other and decide to go along with it, as Sullivan was kind to them earlier.
-What do you have in mind?
-Not here, it’s a surprise for Trish, I don’t wanna her hear about this. – says Sullivan while taking the boys to the restaurant back.
-Every year in this season, the swallows initiate their migratory route in this city. But not every swallow is the same; among them there are some rare swallow types, the cobalt emperor swallows. They are a symbol of good fortune and love, and every year people from everywhere try to capture them in vain. These birds can read Essentia trails and escape every trap laid on them. It doesn’t matter if you have an Essentia ability or not.
-Mister, if it’s like that how can we help you? – inquires Jax.
-Even though they have this type of power, they only gain it when they achieve adulthood. This process takes a year after they hatch, and the hatching takes 2 years since it’s laid. That is why everyone tries to discover where their nest is to get one. The problem is that no one knows where the adult cobalt emperors keep their eggs.
-Then what do expect us to do? Track a swallow based on sight as they fly over?
-No- explains Jamie, as he reaches for his pocket and keeps looking for Trish – this is a cobalt emperor swallow feather, it’s very rare and it was difficult to get my hands on this.
Leo picks the feather and examines it, scratching his chin
– What’s so special about it?
– This feather came from a cobalt emperor swallow fully grown.
-So what?
-I told you that these birds can read Essentia trails, but it’s more like they feel it. Do you understand what I mean?
Leo crosses his arms and looks pouting.
– Not really.
Jax takes the feather from Leo’s hand.
-Mr. Sullivan means that the cobalt emperor senses Essentia by its feathers.
-Yes, you are right.
-However, I don’t know how that helps locating them?
Jamie smiles and gives the feather back to Leo, holding his hands together.
-Try to channel your Essentia through this feather, kid.
Leo does as it was told. The blue feather, surrounded by Essentia, start levitating and its color was getting lighter. As it turned white, the feather pointed to the northwest.
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-Yeah!!! My friend was not lying to me! – exclaimed Jamie -Channeling special Essentia to this feather turns it into a sort of a compass capable of tracing the owner of it.
Leo stop channeling Essentia to the feather, returning it to its original color and the feather stops levitating.
-If you cut the Essentia supply to the feather, it returns to the original state of course.
-But if its just channeling Essentia to do this feather, why do you need me?
Jamie laughed.
– Well observed my boy. I’ll show ya now.
Jamie exerted Essentia to the feather, but it didn’t budge even a millimeter, neither change its color.
-As I said before, it takes special Essentia, element Essentia to be exact, to activate this feather track trait. And as an incentive bonus we can treat this as a special quest for you, I can reward you with free meals for as long as you are in town!
-Alright, it’s a deal! We will get this done Jamie.
-Is there anything that can get the situation tricky?
-I don’t think so. The only thing that can be tricky is that are lots of people looking for it, so you have to be discreet.
-No worries about that, we are smooth as ice.
-Yeah, especially you Leo – jokes Jax – you are so smooth as bull in a china shop.
The brothers start fighting, and Jamie hoots watching them.
-We don’t have time to be playing like this, we have things to do -says Leo panting -Damn Jax, your punches are not getting light.
-Yes, we have to get going. We have a swallow to catch.
Leo and Jax leave the restaurant after saying goodbye to Jamie and Trish. As soon as they left the district, Leo use essentia again on the feather, making it pointing to Swallow’s Nest natural reserve.
-Looks like our destination is the mountains huh? – says Leo, while the Essentia embedded feather points out to the Swallow’s nest city outskirts mountain.
*****
At the Nation’s Mansion in the Swallow’s Nest, a blonde girl is ready to leave with her bodyguards. The Swallow insignia on her chest is the proof of her nobility and her 18 years of life are the starting point on her Essentia mastery quest. Her name is Evelyn Hartman, the daughter of Lewis Hartman, lord of Swallow’s Nest. Evelyn has large brown eyes and a slender womanly figure, which is accentuated by her outfit, a sarong skirt, and a one shoulder tank top. To complement her outfit, she has a silk blue shawl cloak. She also possesses a gold neckless with a swallow crest just like Swallow’s Nest symbol.
-Mike, Jim, it’s time to go. – declares Evelyn while fetching for the feather under her cloak, revealing a cobalt emperor swallow feather. -Before I leave for the Nation’s Institute, I’ll bring the Cobalt Emperor to father, just as my brothers did. Failure is not an option, got it?
-Yes, my lady. – respond the 2 guards in unison.
Evelyn starts channeling her Essentia to the feather, making it levitate. The feather points out to the mountains, just like the other has done for the brothers.
-It’s just like they said. This is going to be easy.
Evelyn and her bodyguards follow its direction.
*****
At the mountains, lots of people try to catch rare swallows in this season. The reasons differ each and every one: most people are trying to catch as a sign of good fortune, others as quests from their bosses, others as quests from the guild hall and others simply for gold. There are 5 types of swallows and are ranked to the rarest as it follows: the ordinary swallows, the slipper green tail swallows, the cast grey swallows, the purple wing swallows and the cobalt emperor swallows. Every year the cobalt emperor swallows are the most esteemed prize, and everyone wants a piece of it. But during their flight, they are immune to Essentia abilities and strong enough to avoid webs and other capture devices; only the elite can find their nest, where they can capture them or their younglings and only a handful of people know about the feather trick. As such, the other types of swallows are the targets for the most.
-Jax, I don’t think this is right. – says Leo guided by the feather – the birds do their nest on higher places and this thing is guiding us to the valley between the mountain ridge. Look, nobody is coming in this direction.
-I’m also worried about it; it doesn’t make sense. We already saw several swallow flocks, but there wasn’t any cobalt emperor among them. So there’s no choice, we have to believe that this feather can guide us to the bird.
-Yeah, but my Essentia levels are getting low… even when only using a few moments at a time, to make it activate its feature uses a significant Essentia portion.
-Then let’s rest a bit. We can continue to go after we eat and take a nap. Let’s settle there – advises Jax, pointing to a big boulder.
-We can eat what Sullivan send. Look at this! – says Leo getting from the bag the meat loaf meal that Jamie gave him.
As Leo is eating, Jax picks the feather and plays with it. Jax is thinking about how amusing is the feather tracking feature when he inadvertently emits Essentia to the feather. As he does it, the feather instead of remaining still or turning lighter and turn in a compass, it turned darker.
-Jax, what are you doing?
-I don’t know Leo. I wasn’t thinking and… - as Jax is finishing his sentence, the feather turned dark purple and released a faint purple light trace along the valley.
-What the?
-I guess this way is easier. Jax, I knew that you were awesome, but you always exceed my expectations. Like I always say, you are the special one. -states Leo grinning- Let’s go, we have a bird to catch.
*****
At the same time, Evelyn’s party was also on the trail of the cobalt emperor, however as they followed the compass method, her group got to a no-end.
-I don’t get it! There isn’t a single cobalt emperor here, and the damn feather is pointing to this mountain. What the hell!
-Little miss, we were searching the whole day, the sun is almost gone for the day. We can return tomorrow on safety.
-No, no, NO! I have to get it!
-But the trail ends here, so if we ask one of the other lords for some more info-
-NO! If they could do it by themselves, I can do it too!
-But it’s getting dark and –
-OK, I get it: go away! I can handle this by myself!
-But miss…
-No buts, it’s an order! GO AWAY!
Evelyn’s bodyguards take their orders and leave. Evelyn tried to look for clues of how to proceed but in vain, and with this it past 2 hours. She is ready to leave with her empty hands and frustrated, when a purple light ray pierces through a certain spot of the mountain. She channels Essentia once again through her feather, which points on the same direction as the purple ray. She smiles.
-I don’t know how or why, but that ray sure helped me figure out how to handle this. I’ll get that fucking bird now!
Evelyn takes a few steps back and exhales. With a serious expression, she points her right index finger to the spot where the mountain is penetrated by the purple light.
“Flame style: finger beam”
A flame beam is shot from her finger like a gun. As the attack reaches the mountain, it mysteriously disappears without a trace. Evelyn looks pleased, smirking to herself.
-I got you now.
*****
-Leo, this is strange.
-What is strange?
-I stopped pouring Essentia on the feather, but the light illuminating the way remains.
-Well, isn’t better that way? You don’t need to use your essentia, so it is better, no?
-But it is strange.
-You don’t need to think too deep about this. What you need to think about it is that. – says Leo pointing to the mountain – the trail of that thing ends there. I knew this was going real smooth for us.
Jax poured Essentia into the feather once again. The purple light continued indicating a remote point on the mountain wall.
-We follow the feather until this place, we might as well continue to follow it. – says Leo while getting ready to climb the mountain.
Jax stores the feather on his cloak and prepares to follow his brother steps, but due to his abnormal condition he’s starts bleeding again. He falls on one knee. Leo gets worried and comes back.
-I knew you shouldn’t have channeled the Essentia on the feather. Look at you now, you can’t even stand up!
-Don’t be like that Leo. We accepted an assignment, we have to go all the way to conclude it right? – says Jax looking at the purple ray- We have to be close, don’t waste more time. I can rest just fine here.
-Fine. -responds Leo, angry for not being able to take care of his little brother – I’ll get what we came for, and get what Sullivan wants. Then you are going to be our top priority, you can’t continue suffering like that.
Jax smiled back like agreeing with his brother. Leo turned to the mountain and concentrated Essentia on his feet.
“Ice Burst: Icicle Drop”
Leo shot icicles through the mountain, forming an improvised stairway. The last icicles disappeared as they reached the marked spot. Leo seemed surprised, but he doesn’t want to waste more time. With the Essentia boost, he easily climbed the icicles to the ray’s location. As he gets there, he tried to escalate that point, but his left hand crosses right through the mountain: it was an illusion.
Leo looked down and see that the fall was big enough to get him good, even protecting himself with Essentia; he also got a glimpse of his brother down there, so he mustered his courage, closed his eyes, and had a leap of faith through the illusion to the mountain’s inside, without knowing what to expect. The moment he passed over to the other side, something ran into him, and made him landing on his back. Just as he fell, he was hit by something soft with an aromatic scent on his face. Turns out, Leo was hit by Evelyn’s breasts. She fell right down on Leo’s lap, and when she realizes it, she slapped him, embarrassed.
-What the hell are you doing, you perv? – says a sweaty but clearly flustered Evelyn, covering her curvy chest.
-Me? You were the one who assaulted me! I should press charges against you! But if you let me fondle you a bit, we can reach an agreement. – jokes Leo, making the gesture of fondling.
-How dare you say that?! Do you know who I am? I am from nobility! Do you have any idea what would happen to you for only insinuating something shameless like that to me?
-No, I don’t know you and if you think I care about that, you’re going to be disappointed… I admit you have a really hot body and a cute face, but your personality is terrible. – says a calm Leo while getting up.
Evelyn never was confronted by such a crude opinion about her; she felt ashamed as never before and start gathering Essentia to punish the one who insulted her.
-I will make you eat those words, you rude bastard!
-You kiss your mother with that mouth? I thought nobles would be more educated -jokes Leo as he gets ready for her attack -Let’s see what you got, miss.
-You are going to regret everything you said – says an enraged Evelyn getting surrounded on orange Essentia- “Flame Style: Tor-
Before Evelyn could attack, a big creature hiding in the shadows appeared behind her and throw her across the little cave against the far wall. Leo ran to catch her on his arms, just before she was smacked against it. Evelyn gets blushed.
-Are you okay?
-Let go of me. Because of you, I forgot about the monster– says Evelyn, as she awkwardly gets out of Leo’s arms.
-Yeah, I guess see a handsome guy like me has that effect in women.
-You bastard, how dare you-
-What the hell is that?!
The creature left the shadows, revealing to be a full grown Emperor Cobalt Swallow.
-That is what I came for, and what I believe it is your goal too… it’s an Emperor Cobalt Swallow. – declares an anxious Evelyn.
Usually swallows can achieve a size of 2 meters long, depending on their specie. But Emperor Cobalt Swallow is different. Their characteristic blue lines across their streamlined body and two pair of long, pointed wings. Its bold acute hunter eyes are as intimidating as its majestic beak. Even with their phenomenal physical there are two special features of this species: their immunity to Essentia direct attacks and the emperor bloodline: this trait channels Essentia to the Emperor Cobalt Swallow leader from every other Emperor Cobalt Swallows. As such, the band chief of Emperor Cobalt Swallows has twice the size as a fully adult swallow, and is responsible for the defense of their base, gaining the title of the Keeper. An Emperor Cobalt can live up to 200 years and that is why is so valuable in the black market.
-Are you saying that this monster is what I came for? No way, he’s like 4 meters tall!
-You idiot! That is not a creature you can take as pet, that’s their keeper! The nest with the little ones is behind him!
“Ice cover: Igloo”
Leo makes an ice shell surrounding Evelyn, protecting her from the Swallow keeper thrust.
-I didn’t need your help!
-Yeah, yeah. Now get behind me, princess. I got this – says Leo as he gets ready to face the great swallow.
-Oh, so the girl controls fire and her boyfriend have ice? What a cute couple – jokes the giant Emperor Cobalt Swallow.
-He’s not my boyfriend! – yells Evelyn, clearly reddened.
-Wait a minute… you’re a bird and can talk? Amazing! – says a visibly amazed Leo.
-You are really dumb! How can you be so thick? He is an E-m-pe-r-o-r c-r-e-a-t-u-r-e!
-You called me a bird?! How dare you? – says the Keeper, as he sends four wind slices from his wings.
Leo dodges 3 of them, while the fourth one was going to strike a scared Evelyn, Leo get in front of that and block it. One of his arms start bleeding from the slice impact. Evelyn seemed startled by it.
-Your arm... is bleeding. Why did you save me?
-How could I leave such a scaredy-cat like you get hit by a blast like that? You are holding me back by being here. Get out of here, while I hold him back.
-I can’t leave without a Cobalt Emperor offspring. I would bring shame to my honor.
-What good does the honor when you are dead? Get out of here now! – says Leo as he shields both of them with a block of ice.
-No! I can’t!
-You are right, you can’t because I will not give you that chance! -says the Swallow keeper as he jumps to their back at a terrifying speed, blocking the illusion entry.
“Ice burst: chill touch”
The cave starts freezing, starting from the area where Leo had touched. The ice froze the Keeper’s legs, but he breaks out effortlessly.
-You are even more stupid than you look kid. Didn’t you know that I’m immune to Essentia spells? And nothing can escape my eyes!
-You’re right, I’m not super bright like everyone. -states Leo smiling – but I’m no pushover either. JAX, CATCH!
-WHA-
Leo slid a scared Evelyn through the ice, below the Great Swallow body, and throwed her through the cave’s exit to the shock of everyone.
-Well, well, well… throw away your friend so that she doesn’t hold you back. You humans are despicable cratures. – taunts the swallows’ keeper, trying to get on Leo’s head as he attacked.
-If we are literal, yeah, I throw her away. But she’s fine for sure and I can concentrate on ya now!
“Ice burst: aurora screen”
Making use of his own Essentia as a light source, Leo used fragments of ice to create a mirror ball, which blinded the Swallow Keeper. Leo quickly jumped above its head and gather his Essentia.
“Ice creation: War Hammer”
A hardened ice hammer is created on Leo’s hands, as he lands a strike on the Keeper, smacking it down. Leo’s is breathless and depleted his Essentia reserves with his last attack, the frostbitten present on his hands is a proof of it. Leo slowly heads to the exit to see if Evelyn and Jax were okay.
-Jax, are you okay?
-A little heads up a little earlier would be great for the next time. – says an annoyed Jax.
-hehehe. Sorry, it was an emergency.
-You asshole! I almost died because of you!
-Yeah, she’s alright. That fool mouth of hers is proof of it -states Leo, relaxing for a bit -YOU COULD AT LEAST SAY THANK YOU!
-Yeah, right. When I get you, I will roast you up!
-Always a lady’s man, huh Leo? Did you get what we came for? Where did this purple light end up? – asked Jax holding the feather.
-So he’s the one, huh?
Before Leo could react, the Swallow Keeper catch him on his beak and flies up in the air, before landing in front of Jax and Evelyn.
-Let me go! How could you still be fine after my attacks? – asked a troubled Leo.
-Did you really believe that you get me with that attack? Not even great warriors of other eras could beat me, and you think a brat like you could? I am the Cobalt Emperor Swallows Keeper! And you are even with him! -declares the Swallow keeper as he throws Leo to the ground, fixating his gaze on Jax.
As Evelyn and Leo prepare to attack him again, the keeper slaps him with his wings and knocks both of them down. After effortlessly get Leo and Evelyn out of commission, he focuses on Jax.
-Now you boy. No one is here to interfere anymore; I’ll get my revenge now.
-HUH? What have I done?
*****