TGS - Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Golden Eagle Chicks
The torrential rain lasted the entire night, only gradually stopping the next morning. The clouds dispersed on their own, and sunlight once again graced the lands of Solancia.
The post-rain air was cool and moist, just as expected. Lotus pulled open the curtains, took a deep breath, and felt exceptionally refreshed.
Alyuin woke a little later than her. At this moment, she was tying up her long hair with a ribbon and washing her face. She inadvertently glanced at Lotus standing by the window, then averted her gaze.
She had slept so comfortably last night, feeling secure and at peace. Especially when reading in her dreams, just the thought of the goddess's incarnation being by her side filled her with an ineffable joy, as if a hollow part of her heart had been gently pressed, sealing the draft.
I have to be charming again tonight to convince the goddess to stay…
With this in mind, Alyuin ran to Lotus's side, peeking out with her to look at the post-rain world outside. A large drop of water happened to slide from the eaves onto the tip of her nose. The little princess subconsciously scrunched up her face, shook her head, and pulled her head back like a cat accidentally splashed with water.
Lotus found this amusing and helped her wipe the wet mark from her nose.
Alyuin was annoyed with her own subconscious reaction. She rarely acted so foolishly. Meeting Lotus's blue chalcedony eyes, which were steeped in a faint smile, she couldn't find any words for a moment to salvage her mature and composed image.
"I—I'm going to the secret valley," she said, putting on a composed expression.
The secret valley was the name Alyuin had given to that natural training ground. Although Lotus didn't think the terrain should be called a valley, it didn't matter; it was just a name.
Lotus thought the little princess would want to ask someone to spar with her, so she casually suggested, "Why not ask someone from the Royal Guard, like Motis?"
Alyuin said unhappily, "This is a place only you and I know about. I'm not calling them." After a thought, she added, "Oh, and Miss Messenger."
Lotus, who was also the Blue Heron messenger, immediately fell silent.
Yes, a smile is all that's needed at a time like this.
After breakfast, the two headed out. They couldn't climb over the temple's back wall anymore, as the Royal Guard was stationed nearby. It was better to walk openly through the main gate. Besides, they were no longer afraid of the City Lord's people coming to spy on them.
They made their way to the White Yilu River that flowed around the base of the cliff. Alyuin stopped and looked expectantly at Lotus.
The latter took her hand and took a light step onto the river's surface. The water, rising only past their ankles, supported them as if it were alive, carrying them steadily to the other side.
Alyuin secretly observed her. Those blue eyes were perfectly calm, as if this were as simple as breathing.
This was how it should be. She was the master of the water, the goddess of the water.
However, Lotus was not as nonchalant as she appeared. She lowered her gaze slightly, looking at the white waves that clung affectionately around her feet, and thought to herself, So this is possible too. This water is quite obedient. I approve.
Stepping into the cave entrance beneath the rock face, they had not gone more than a few steps when they heard the faint sound of a bird's cry amidst the gurgling water. The closer they got, the louder the sound became, as shrill as a cry of blood.
It was the golden eagle that often circled among the cliffs.
Alyuin's expression changed slightly, and she pulled Lotus along, quickening her pace.
The mountain field before them hadn't accumulated much water; last night's rain had all flowed down the single cliff face. Any slightly taller plants had been beaten down by the rain, their green leaves covered in water droplets, looking as if they had been badly ravaged.
"Screee—"
A golden eagle suddenly flew up from a patch of weeds not far away, flapping its wings and circling in place, as if calling the two of them over.
Alyuin pushed aside the tall grass, and her expression froze.
A dead golden eagle lay there, its body and wings completely twisted. Its feathers were soaked through. There was no blood nearby; perhaps it had been washed away by the rain.
A bird's nest was overturned on its body, and from within came faint, weak chirps. Gently lifting it, they saw two chicks covered in white down, huddled together, trembling and making shivering sounds.
The little princess's expression was complicated. She could guess that last night's storm had probably knocked down the golden eagle's nest, which had been built on the steep cliff wall. But the nest had been built so high, and the rain had been so heavy; for the dead eagle to have saved its chicks was nothing short of a miracle.
Even so, these two chicks probably wouldn't survive.
Alyuin lowered her eyes, only to see Lotus extend her arms, gently scoop up the chicks, and cup them in her palms. She pointed a finger at them from a distance, and the two little ones' feathers instantly became dry and fluffy. They seemed to have stopped shivering as well.
She stared blankly at Lotus.
"Can you save them?"
"I can try," Lotus said, not wanting to make any promises.
Today's training was forced to a halt. The little princess had no mind to stay here any longer and was about to return to the temple with Lotus. Before leaving, she took one last look at the other adult eagle, the one that was still alive.
When Lotus had picked up the chicks just now, the adult eagle had been perched nearby the whole time, its head and neck slightly lowered, but its sharp eyes had remained fixed on her hands. Only when it confirmed they intended to take the chicks away did it spread its wings and fly high.
It didn't fly too far.
After putting some distance between them, the golden eagle suddenly let out a long cry, accelerated, and crashed into the cliff wall with a dull thud. A flower of blood bloomed on the rock face. Its body fell to the ground, landing very close to the other golden eagle.
Alyuin paused for only a moment, then followed Lotus's steps without looking back.
In a corner of her heart, the little princess thought to herself, Lotus really didn't seem to hesitate at all.
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