I stood on a small island which sat in the thickest past of the river that carved its way through our canyon. The island contained the highest density and variety of plant life in the village, but was left undisturbed, used only for times of cultural significance. I could feel the different quality of the ground here as my talons dug into it with anticipation. My sisters were gathered here too, but not all of them.
Apparently, Jiju summoned Ghisé this morning with little fanfare, but a measure of force—she had wanted to witness my Esakt, and resisted going with Jiju. Either my sister didn’t have her braid in, or respected her mentor enough to not use it against her, because she wasn’t here now. Based on what Alex told me the night before, Jiju must have been testing Ghisé herself. I was missing her, but I put meaning in the fact that both of us were facing trials simultaneously.
Unlike Ghisé’s case, there was plenty of fanfare here. In addition to the rest of my clutch, Chief Getra, Fray, one of her two sisters (I forgot which was which), Terese, and a couple other Hesht I didn’t recognize were gathered to witness my Esakt—my coming of age ceremony. On the other side of the chute that cut from the river and created this little oasis, was the main canyon thoroughfare where most ground based structures were built.
It was the place where people walked. There were designated landing and takeoff points at the ends that kept the airspace tame despite the relatively higher traffic. The airspace was still now, though, even the designated points had been cleared for the ceremony, as tradition dictated. Traditionally, the Esakt would be done for an entire clutch at once, and indeed my sisters all did it the same day. For my Esakt, however, all eyes would only be on one child of the village… me.
Now, I’d grown comfortable in the air over the preceding month-or-so and my fear had completely vanished—the irrational-for-a-bird part at least. I was playing rings, though not as well as my sisters, and was training in flight combat with Ghisé and Jiju. Dangerous maneuvers were still dangerous, still scary, but that was a healthy fear. I wasn’t sure what category the fear I felt about the pressure to perform was, though… There were a lot of people on the other side of that chute that had decided to stop and watch.
The story of the lost Lightblessed of the village who was captured by humans poachers was an old rumor, and considering the supposed foolhardiness of Lightblessed, not a particularly surprising one. The rumors of the lost Lightblessed Talivi returned, however, had started changing the narrative. I wasn’t the fool, I was the innovator. Not the captured, but the traveled. Clutchmate of the chief’s disciple who, with the rest of their clutch, was a fresh current along the canyon walls. Not all sentiment was positive according to our findings, but by the day of the ceremony, a decent number of people were interested in seeing the rumored Lost Princess for themselves.
Chief Getra cleared her throat, drawing the attention of everyone present. “Today we are present to witness the coming of age of Talivi, last of Terese’s charges to undertake their Esakt. No doubt many of you here have heard of her exploits, but the Esakt today is no different from the one her clutchmates have already undergone. Talivi, today is to measure your maturity as a Hesht of our village. Understand?”
I crossed my wings, angled low in front of my belly, and bobbed slightly, “I understand Chief Getra. I am proud to be Hesht alone.”
Obviously, I couldn’t be held entirely responsible for the unusual attention my Esakt has drawn. People were nosy. Still, Getra wasn’t shy about making sure I knew I wasn’t special.
She was as intimidating as I always thought, looking hearty and strong—I knew better though. With a bit of focus, I could even feel the ambient mana currents shifting as the flow moved to fill the void she was siphoning off. Chief Getra was using hidden braids. I also knew my braids were better and more numerous. I wore mine openly and unarmored if only for the beauty in their appearance and elegance in their design.
With the stage set, and my witnesses present, I was ready to take on the trial. Cee nodded from the Chief’s side, and my sisters looked on eagerly from next to Terese. When I looked up, I could see the series of rings that spotted the sky jutting out from lengths along the canyon, and the painted posts that marked certain landings along the walls—vantages for some required target practice.
Chief Getra nudged Cee, and my sister stepped forward. I shot her a cocky grin. She barely maintained her chief-like mask as she commanded, “Lightblessed Talivi, begin you Esakt!” Getra wouldn’t like her mention of my title, but I left that concern behind with a powerful, spellbraid-enhanced leap and subsequent flap which shot me up into the sky.
It took a bit more flying than my initial takeoff to reach the top of the trial, and I flapped my wings hard to carry that momentum to the highest ledge above me. There, resting beside the post, were three spears. Normally, a fledgling would grab a spear, fly to a target, strike it, then leave the spear and fly to the next ring. Normally, the extra spears would be for the next fledgling to run the course while the discarded spears were retrieved. Then again, I was no normal fledgling.
Even if I was a child by tradition, in practice I was much stronger than the usual fledglings running the course. If I needed to prove my independence and strength, then I was going to make a show of it. We didn’t keep course records, but I was going to set one anyway.
When I landed on the ledge, I wrapped my talons around two of them with the same motion, then pivoted towards the target nearest this position. It was a short fifteen feet away, and I had no issue scoring a gouge with a simple javelin toss. The next closest target was probably closer to fifty feet, but I didn’t hesitate as I hurled the second spear with a sweeping leg motion. My intent was to skip what was designed to be that target’s accompanying ledge and spears.
I grabbed the third spear as the second struck true, then leapt from my current perch towards the nearest ring.
The ring was marked with a single tick—unlike the targets, there was an order for the rings. I could’ve flown through on the way up, but now I was diving towards it at an aggressive angle. I took that momentum through the ring and banked hard towards the one marked with two ticks—out and ahead—still dragging the spear wrapped in my talons. The spear was heavy, but my braids made my flight powerful enough to handle it.
On my way to the ring marked with three ticks, I passed by a third target. As I came out of my banking motion, I pitched down aggressively again. Once I gained a bit of speed, I took aim at the third target below, then flipped my momentum, flinging the spear out to strike the unfortunate wood that laid along my path. My heart was fluttering harder than my wings ever could as I came from my self-imposed tumble with a flare.
The maneuver sapped a lot of my speed, but I didn’t need to be concerned, I just had to breathe. I flapped hard and angled my wings to catch the currents that cut through the canyon I called home. Once I passed through the fourth ring, one with a high vantage, I took a couple seconds to breathe deep and plot the next sequence of my route.
There was a marked ledge sitting halfway up the canyon walls between the fifth and sixth rings. It would involve passing a target, but another long range throw could hit it from my desired ledge. The fifth ring was low, the sixth high, and I needed to hit three targets from the ledge in between, after all that, only the final ring would remain.
I dove for the fifth ring, and as I neared, I noticed it was only a dozen or so feet from the ground. Instead of swooping through and up, I flared my wings hard as I threaded the wooden construct, then dropped to the ground. Two to go.
With a quick look to the ledge high above me, I repeated the same launch I had done at the start, this time, cresting its lip with a single wing-powered leap. Three more spears, three more targets—I intended get a hat trick. Two more tosses got that ledge’s near target and the one I had left behind. One more. The last one was by far the furthest target on the course. It must have been over a hundred feet from the ledge I was determined to make my last.
From the pouch at my waist I pulled some metal filings, and bound the front end of the spear in a web of filings and fields. With braid enhanced muscles I whipped my leg from the hip, shooting the spear out towards the target. As soon as it left my talons, I magnetically pushed the spear forward and slightly to the side, putting it in the right path. This time I stopped and watched as it split the air, praying no errant winds would knock it off course. When the sound of cracking wood reverberated off the distant canyon walls, I let out a “whoop!” and kicked off the ledge towards the sixth ring.
That ring was near the top of the canyon, and as I sailed through, cresting the lip of the canyon, I could see the spot where a Alex waited with a lambull. Vander was there too, keeping him company, both watching the proceedings from above. The seventh ring was much lower than their vantage, but this show was for them too. I kept my altitude at their levels as I sped towards the airspace well above the seventh ring.
I was using magic at an exhausting rate, but I didn’t need to conserve myself today—I could go for the dramatic finish. I flapped hard, picking up speed, moving faster than the wind. I welcomed the static I built up as I shoved the molecules in the air aside with my passage. Electricity crackled across my feathers. I shot past Alex and Vander dramatically, giving them a cheeky grin, though given my speed it’s unlikely they saw my teeth.
From there I did a half roll and pitched straight down, the seventh ring was directly below me. I folded my wings tight to my sides and let gravity take me. Through my descent I reined in the lightning mana that suffused me, building a greater charge. Sparks shot off me, splitting and burning the seventh ring as I passed through it, but I still didn’t stop my dive—I let my nature take over.
When I was just a handful of feet from the sandy shore of the river I flared my wings and released all that mana in a gout of lightning beneath me. From on high, and through that seventh ring, I crashed into the ground like the bolt of lightning from which my title came—Lightblessed. The force of the strike sputtered sand everywhere, and when I finally came to a stop, it was in a crater of sand and cooling glass four feet deep.
My heart pounded and I went to my knees as my legs gave out from the releasing tension. Esakt… that was how I fully conquered my fear. I released a cathartic scream through clenched teeth that was joy and anger combined. Eventually, that gave way to a fully audible “Graaaa!” accompanied by a cone of lightning that shot out above the crater for all the onlookers to see.
I am Talivi, Lightblessed.
———
Once I had calmed down enough to un-jellify my legs, and to be a bit self-conscious about my self-indulgence, I fluttered out of the crater I created. I made the short flight back to the small island where Chief Getra and the others waited. The chief herself was wearing quite the scowl, but the expressions of the others made it up for it.
Cee was on the less stunned end, having taken part in our fight against the earthwyrm, and instead looked like she was going to pop with excitement. It was only her place at the sour chief’s side that kept her subdued. The rest of my sisters’ were actually on the more surprised end. They knew enough about me to not pay attention to rumors, but I’d never flaunted my magic so blatantly in front of them, or anyone else, before.
Fray and her sister were chittering excitedly with the two unknown Hesht, while Terese was stunned to stone, mouth agape and everything. Clearly she didn’t expect the crybaby runt of the clutch to turn into the woman I was today.
When I touched down, the witnesses’ gazes shot between my victorious grin and the chief with her mouth full of lemons. My goal was to make a show of things, not expressly to tick off the chief, but the two were obviously linked. She had her part to play, though, and rearranged her scowling into a visage of sternness and authority.
“You’ve completed your Esakt, and are now an adult Hesht of the village, Talivi. Think hard about the person you wish to be, and might I suggest, one which respects this oasis of safety for our people.” The chief cast a pointed look at the glassy crater I’d created.
Well… at the least future chief didn’t seem to mind at the moment, though I might be in for a lecture the next time she came by. I could even go visit her. I could visit all my sisters now. Hunt in the Redwoods too! I could go for some boar—maybe I should’ve saved some mana. I was suddenly realizing of all the new freedoms I’d have now that I completed my Esakt!
Controlling my excitement, I thanked the chief respectfully with another crossing and bobbing motion. “Thank you for your guidance, Chief Getra.”
She sighed, mollified, if only because she didn’t have it in her to spend the time lecturing me… she could leave that to my sister. After giving me a quick hug, Cee left with Chief Getra.
“Talivi, what in the hells below was that?” asked Inir.
“I bet even Ghisé would have had a hard time with a few of those throws,” said Ber. She'd lose that bet, though, Ghisé would have hit even the furthest with her strength alone.
Reyna was shaking her head, but grinning. “You know, normally we fly to the targets and strike them. It's just basic flight and hunting.”
“No time limit,” Sen put simply.
“So?” Kelz asked, “Tal’s way kicked ass! I wanna go see that crater.” She didn’t even wait to finish the conversation and flew over to it. That caused a cascade of departures since none of my sisters wanted to miss the live reactions of the others.
Terese came to me then, having found the strength to close her jaw. “Talivi, I’m so glad. I’ve been so worried about you since your return, but I can see you’ve grown into a fine strong adult.” She looked over to the crater where my sisters were clamoring around the edges and jumping inside. “You do still have that hot streak though… Talivi, I’m so sorry I failed you all those years ago.” She looked like she was getting choked up.
I wrapped my wings around her back and pulled into a hug. “You didn’t, Henmother. I chose to go into the Redwoods that day. I hold myself responsible for my own actions. That’s something you taught me.”
After Terese left, I saw Fray motioning me over. She had been watching closely the whole time, waiting for her turn. I didn’t have any particularly profound or touching words to exchange, but went to their little gaggle all the same.
“Lightblessed! That was quite the display,” one of the two unknown Hesht gushed.
“I’ve certainly never seen one like it,” Fray’s sister said.
“Well… Lightblessed don’t usually make it to their Esakt, but you aren’t like the stories,” said the other unknown woman. She clapped me on the shoulder with an uncomfortable familiarity. “The Lightblessed and her clutch have made some amazing new tools. Working the wood is easier than ever.”
I slid out from under her gesture and corrected her with an edge to my voice. “Those tools were made by Kelz. You should be placing your thanks with her.” Also, I had a name other than ‘The Lightblessed.’ They could’ve at least taken the time to learn that, considering that they were here to witness me.
Fray slid into the thread of conversation smoothly. “What Ural means to say is: Talivi, under your guidance, your clutch has done amazing things. My clutch has always had strong bonds, and we respect that you love yours the same way. We’re just excited to see more of you now that you’ve completed your Esakt.”
“Ah-um… well thank you. I do play at least a small part in a lot of different things.” Similar views on sisterhood aside, I didn’t feel totally comfortable with people talking about me like they knew me. Still, I couldn’t completely disagree with categorizing my contributions as guidance.
Fray continued, looking at me with eager eyes. “Indeed. In fact, we think you would make a wonderful chief someday. The same guidance you provide your clutch, you could provide the whole village. ‘Lightblessed Chief Talivi’ has a nice ring to it, no?”
I recoiled, taking an barely conscious step back. Maybe I had gone overboard in my demonstration. I wanted the people of the village to recognize me, but, not like that… My lips turned down. “I’m not going to be our next chief, Cee is.”
Fray cocked her head for a moment then chuckled lightly. “She is the frontflier, yes, but only because you allow it. If she won’t submit, well, you have the power to fix that.”
The offense that was already playing on my face turned to abject horror. “I would never harm Cee, let alone take her life!” I shouted back, rejecting her premise strongly. “How can you suggest such a thing?”
Now all four of the older women were looking at me with confusion.
“How do you think Getra got her position as chief?” Fray’s sister asked. “Fray would have taken the role long ago herself if she had the strength for it, but that old crone was much too strong.”
I whipped my head around, looking, even though I knew that Getra and Cee had already departed.
Fray must have found my reactions amusing because she chuckled again. “She, of course, knows how I feel young one, but I am too old for such a thing now anyway, and could never defend the position from Cee.“ She shot me a knowing look. “Of course, none of us could defend the position from you.”
I stamped my foot, pitting the ground with my talons to make my feelings clear. “I am not interested. Cee will be the next chief, and I will be on the lookout for any usurpers.”
Not even waiting for them to try and coax me further, I took to the skies. I wanted my goodbye to Alex to be a a comforting one, and those vile women were just souring my mood.
———
By the time I reached the top of the canyon walls where Vander and Alex had been waiting, I found that two other figures had joined them—Jiju and Ghisé.
Ghisé looked pretty terrible if I’m being honest. She was awfully wounded from whatever trial Jiju had put her through, but on top of that she was crying. I hadn’t seen Ghisé cry even once since my escape, but based on the way she was clutching Jiju’s side, I didn’t think her tears were due to the pain of her wounds.
Jiju had a pack, and looked ready for the road. Alex’s forewarning was correct, it seemed. When she saw me, she jostled Ghisé, who quickly wiped a tear then snapped to attention, wings crossed. I understood the reason for their fronts, as guardians both. Ghisé’s motion was forced and sluggish, though, and her face was obviously puffy and red. It made me wilt. I was beginning to cry too. I pulled her into a hug, and no one protested dropping the formality.
“Congratulations,” my sister—now guardian officially—whispered to me.
“You too,” I whispered back. We shared our bittersweet moment of shared success and loss.
Thanks for chapter! :3