It's been two days of fighting creatures of the forest and getting used to my bird body. That voice was still running through my mind. "Gaian? Divine Owl? What does this mean?" I asked. I then waited for a response, but the voice remained silent. "Hello?" I tried again, growing uneasy at the lack of an answer. "Is this thing broken?" I tapped my head, hoping for some sign.

"What do I do now?" I muttered, feeling a chill at the unsettling silence that followed. Looking up at a towering tree, I spread my arms and soared to its summit, gripping a branch tightly with my talons.

"Okay, this is a little better," I sighed, arranging a makeshift pillow of leaves and settling down. "Everything's so surreal. I was just a troubled guy who couldn't handle life, and now I'm part owl, apparently a divine one at that. I battled four monstrous bears and came out stronger than ever. After that I battled many amazing creatures, and now there's a voice in my head guiding me through all this. Is this like one of those great sage scenarios from *Slime Datta*?" I pondered aloud, gazing up at the starry sky.

"Well, one thing's clear—I'm definitely not in my old world anymore. It feels like one of those fantasy realms straight out of an anime." Turning onto my side, I closed my eyes, finally succumbing to sleep.

I stirred awake, blinking in the gentle light filtering through the canopy above. As I sat up, I realized I was seated at a round table surrounded by a breathtaking scene—a place that could only be described as heaven-like.

The table was adorned with intricate carvings and illuminated by softly glowing orbs suspended above. Around me, lush greenery stretched out into the distance, dotted with vibrant flowers in shades I had never seen before. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of unknown blossoms, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it a sense of tranquility.

I looked around in awe, taking in the surreal beauty of my surroundings. "Where... where am I now?" I whispered to myself, half-expecting an answer from the mysterious voice that had guided me before.

The sky above was a perfect azure, with wisps of clouds floating lazily by. In the distance, I glimpsed majestic spires rising high into the air, their peaks touching the sky. "This place..." I trailed off, unable to find the words to capture the magnificence before me.

Suddenly, I saw four birds filling the other seats around me—a raven, a falcon, a swan, and a phoenix. They had golden feathers covering parts of their bodies. As I was staring at the scenery in awe, the Falcon spoke up, "Sagea! Were you listening to anything I was saying?" I saw him staring dead at me, his voice stern and demanding.

"Why is he staring at me? My name isn't Sagea!" I thought to myself and cleared my throat, "What?" I said and immediately clutched my throat. My voice was now that of a woman, dreamy and soothing. I looked down and saw the feathery body of a female.

The swan joined in, his feathers spreading out angrily and fluttering. "Divine Owl Sagea, do you think we have time to be zoning out right now? The sky war is upon us soon, 'The Shadow Flock' is coming. Do you really think that you should be goofing around right now?"

Before I could respond, I caught a glimpse of myself in a nearby mirror, which revealed my appearance. I was a beautiful woman with golden feathers adorning various parts of my body. My face was framed by delicate, shimmering feathers cascading down like a radiant halo. My eyes, a piercing shade of gold, held an ethereal glow, and my hair flowed like liquid sunlight interwoven with fine plumes. My slender yet athletic form was covered in patches of gleaming feathers, emphasizing my divine nature.

A pair of majestic wings extended from my back, their feathers shimmering with a mix of gold and white, radiating both grace and power. My hands, though humanoid, ended in elegant talons, hinting at the deadly precision I could wield in battle. The reflection stared back at me, a mesmerizing blend of beauty and lethal prowess. "Is this... the Divine Owl?" I whispered, reaching out to touch the mirror.

As soon as my fingers brushed the glass, the scenery shifted. I found myself in a nightmarish version of the heaven-like place I had just been. The once-pristine area was now drenched in blood, littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers. I lay on the ground, impaled by numerous swords, barely able to move. Around me, the other four birds lay lifeless.

Suddenly, seven dark shadows emerged, advancing toward me with malicious intent. One of them raised a hand, a large black sphere crackling with electric energy forming in his palm. He hurled the ball at me, a cruel smirk twisting his features. "This is the end of the celestial Five."

The ball of energy collided with me, and pain seared through my body. I jolted awake, falling off the tree branch where I had been sleeping. "AHH!" I screamed as I hit the ground, gasping for breath, my heart racing.

I felt my body, relieved to find myself back in my original form—or rather, my new form. "Okay, I'm still me," I muttered, trying to steady my racing heart. "But what the hell was that nightmare? Was it a glimpse of the future? No, it felt more like a vision of the past... a very distant past."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The voice finally returned, gentle yet firm, {That was indeed the past, Gaian. A past filled with conflict and sorrow.}

I jumped at the sudden response, "What? So, you're back now? Where were you when I needed answers?"

{I apologize for the silence. It was necessary for you to experience that vision without interruption,} the voice explained. {It was important for you to understand the gravity of your new role and the history you are now a part of.}

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. "But why show me that? What am I supposed to do with this information?"

{I am the former Divine Owl Sagea. Millions of eons ago, the celestial 5 were beings created to safeguard the world. We established a sanctuary, a haven of peace and harmony, where all living creatures could coexist without fear. Each of us embodied a unique element and virtue, maintaining the balance of nature and protecting the realms from malevolent forces. Divine Owl Sagea aka me, Nocturne, the Raven of Secrets, Zephyr the falcon of speed, Seraphina, the Swan of Serenity, and Pyra, the Phoenix of Rebirth.}

I listened intently, hanging on every word as the voice continued.

{But our greatest challenge came from the Shadow Flock, a sinister group that sought to plunge the world into darkness and chaos. They were relentless, driven by a desire for power and destruction. We fought valiantly, but the battle took a heavy toll on us.}

Images of the vision flashed through my mind—the bloodied landscape, the fallen comrades. "So, that nightmare was... your final battle?" I asked, my voice trembling.

{Yes,} the voice replied solemnly. {It was our last stand. Despite our efforts, we were overpowered. The Pentad of Protectors fell, and the world was left vulnerable. But our spirits endured, waiting for the day when we could rise again to bring the world back to balance. The five of us found successors, I'm not sure who they are but you'll have to find them and fight the bring balance to the world. You're the only one who was reincarnated, so they won't have the Pentads talking to them like you do.}

A sense of determination began to replace my initial fear. "And now, it's my turn to take up the mantle. To protect this world and finish what you started."

I clenched my fist and began walking with determination. "I'll find the other four." I vowed aloud. But after a few steps, my energy faltered, and I collapsed to the ground. "Should have eaten something before getting all fired up," I muttered weakly, clutching my stomach.

Crawling to a nearby puddle of mud, I resorted to desperate measures, scooping up worms and insects and cramming them into my mouth. "It's nourishing, but so revolting," I groaned between mouthfuls, struggling to keep the food down.

"I can't do this anymore," I gasped, feeling nauseous as I involuntarily regurgitated the slimy creatures back onto the ground. "I need some real food!" I then remembered the kingdom I saw yesterday when I was flying earlier. "Yes! There has to be food in that kingdom somewhere!"

I spread my wings wide and soared through the sky, the wind rushing past me. "Eat, eat, eat!" echoed in my mind, urging me onward as I picked up speed, determined to reach my destination. The landscape of trees passed below me, and in the distance, the silhouette of a castle beckoned, urging me to fly faster.

Suddenly, my attention was drawn to a group of impish creatures darting through the forest below, their capes fluttering in their haste; they looked like they were running from something. Without warning, a deafening boom echoed through the air, and darkness erupted, consuming the surrounding trees in its path. The shockwave knocked me off course, causing me to lose control and spiral towards the expanding darkness.

"NO!" I shouted in dismay as I plummeted towards the ground. With a painful impact, I crashed into a cluster of trees. "OW!" I groaned, my face buried in the rough bark.

I collapsed to the ground, finding myself face-to-face with a boy draped in clothing adorned with sleek black feathers. His piercing gaze bore into me with cold intensity, matched by a muscular build that spoke of formidable strength. "What are you looking at?" he demanded, his tone sharp as he peered down at me, upside down.

Before I could respond, he uttered a strange word, "Aethrion."

As the word resonated in the air, I felt a peculiar understanding wash over me—it meant "Arise."

Before I could fully process this revelation, something began to materialize from the ground before him. A figure coalesced, borne of potent dark energies. It manifested a knife and swiftly spun it, launching a rapid assault aimed at me.

The boy turned away confidently, certain of the figure's success, but he soon felt a shift in the air behind him. Whirling around, he witnessed me gripping the blade's tip with golden feathers on the end of my fingers, halting its deadly trajectory. "Why are you trying to fight me?" I asked then broke the blade. Even the figure seemed taken aback, its features betraying surprise. "He managed to stop my shadow assassin? That's my dark magic," he mused with a mix of intrigue and disbelief.

The figure withdrew the blade and launched a flurry of subsequent attacks. Employing Avian Weaving, I effortlessly evaded each slash with graceful precision.

"Did he conjure this? It's fast," I pondered silently before launching a powerful kick at the figure, causing it to shatter into countless pieces.

The boy's eyes widened in surprise as his creation was destroyed. Annoyance flashed across his face, and he strode towards me. We stood mere inches apart, his gaze intense as if he was sizing me up. "Who the hell are you? You're wandering in the Forest of Aurora, naked, and you just obliterated my Shadow Assassin?!" he demanded, his voice sharp with incredulity.

"Naked? I have feathers." I said in confusion then instinctively backed up a step, but he clenched his fist and threw a lightning-fast punch that caught me off guard. Despite my Avian Weaving, I couldn't react in time.

The impact sent me hurtling through several trees. "Can't. Stop. Crashing into trees." I yelled until I crashed into a small building. Coughing painfully, I watched as my wounds slowly healed, the process noticeably slower than before. "That guy is unbelievably strong!" I gasped, struggling to my feet and brushing dust from my feathers. Glancing around, I realized I had reached the kingdom. "I made it to the kingdom!"