Chapter 70
This was a very important matter.
It was because Seolyo was subtly obsessed with being ‘Soya’s closest friend.’
She had first realized that when she met Jjakjjak-i for the first time.
After Cheongha had left Baekho Palace.
Around the time when the ground, frozen solid through the winter, began to thaw and spring arrived.
Jjakjjak-i was a baby bird that had hatched from the egg laid by the mother skylark, the first one to nest in Baekho Palace.
When the skylark had made her nest, not only the people of Baekho Palace who were seeing a flying beast for the first time, but even Soya, who was a bird beastkin herself, showed tremendous interest in the baby birds that would soon hatch.
Jjakjjak-i was the last one to hatch from among them.
Jjakjjak-i, who had been particularly small in size even as an egg, strangely followed Soya more than its own mother bird.
Soya was delighted to have a skylark family with the same beak and wings as her own, but among them, her heart went out especially to the tiny one just like Jjakjjak-i.
Soya would often go to the skylark family’s nest in her beastkin form to play with Jjakjjak-i and help it with its first steps and flights.
But Seolyo didn’t like Jjakjjak-i.
Once, when Jjakjjak-i, who couldn’t fly yet, came toddling after her, Seolyo snorted a sharp puff of air—“Hmph!”—and knocked it over.
And another time, when Jjakjjak-i was flying with Soya, Seolyo transformed into a large bird and interfered with its flight.
[Seolyo, how could you bully Jjakjjak-i!]
[Uh, uh……?]
At Soya’s startled cry, Seolyo froze in place.
[No, that’s not it, I, I…… Waaah.]
Seolyo, who wasn’t good with words, couldn’t come up with any excuse and just burst into tears.
After barely soothing Seolyo and talking it over, Seolyo sniffled with its reddened nose tip and answered.
[Because…… you only play with Jjakjjak-i.]
[What?]
Soya was a little taken aback by the answer but soon crouched down beside Seolyo and apologized.
[I see. I’m sorry, Seolyo. You felt lonely because I was playing with Jjakjjak-i? I’m sorry for making you feel lonely.]
Seolyo, who hadn’t expected an apology, perked up its ears.
[But don’t be too upset. You’re my closest friend, after all.]
At Soya’s words of ‘closest friend,’ Seolyo’s eyes went wide and round.
[But you can’t act so mean to Jjakjjak-i. Jjakjjak-i is still a baby bird, so we have to take care of it. So next time, let’s all three play together nicely—you, me, and Jjakjjak-i.]
[Yeah…….]
Seolyo nodded obediently.
After that day, Seolyo no longer bullied Jjakjjak-i, and in the gardens of Baekho Palace, one could see Soya, Seolyo, and Jjakjjak-i running and playing together amicably.
That had been the spring of two years ago already, meaning two full years had passed now.
Soya giggled as she recalled that time.
“Tweet tweet!”
Jjakjjak-i sang cheerfully, pecking at Soya’s fingertips with its beak.
The affectionate pecks from its blunt beak didn’t hurt at all; instead, they tickled and felt good.
“You seem especially happy today, Jjakjjak-i.”
When Soya brought her hand to the little skylark’s head, Jjakjjak-i rubbed its head against her palm.
“Chirrr~”
“What? Mother sent a letter?”
“Tweet!”
Jjakjjak-i stuck out its left leg toward Soya.
A small letter was tied to the skylark’s left leg.
At the happy news delivered by Jjakjjak-i, all of Soya’s sleepiness vanished in an instant.
“Thank you, Jjakjjak-i!”
Soya smiled brightly and carefully untied the small letter from Jjakjjak-i’s leg.
It was a letter sent from distant Cheonghae Dragon Palace by Cheongha.
In the two years since, Jjakjjak-i had grown into an adult bird and now even flew long distances for Soya.
Soya read the letter in one go and immediately prepared writing materials to pen a reply.
Spring has already come to Baekho Palace. The third spring I’ve spent at Baekho Palace is so warm and beautiful.
The Cheonghae Palace where you are……>
Soya’s expression darkened suddenly as she wrote up to that point.
She had promised to grow up strong soon and visit Cheonghae Palace, but Soya still hadn’t undergone her Primary Growth.
Even though she was already twelve years old.
Typically, beastkin experienced Primary Growth as early as ten or no later than eleven.
But Soya was running a bit late compared to others.
‘Aunt Sara said it might be a lingering effect from having my Spirit Core removed from my body when I was young……’
Soya placed her hand over her chest, recalling Sara’s words.
She could feel the pulse of her heart along with the thrum of her Spirit Core.
Ever since receiving the Dragon Blood Grass from Sa-eon three years ago, Soya’s Spirit Core had been beating very healthily.
There was no problem with the Spirit Core.
So this was just her own issue.
‘Father said it might be a little late, but that it’s okay……’
Being a little late compared to others was fine. It didn’t matter.
Just as Father said, even if it was late, she could take it slow.
But thinking that she couldn’t go see Mother again this spring made her feel…… not just a little, but very upset.
‘I want to go see Mother too.’
Still, Soya deliberately hid her upset feelings.
She knew that if people found out she was upset, they would be even more upset.
Gayul, who had once been absorbed in showing off his completed Primary Growth in front of Soya, now refrained from beast transformation around her.
Seolyo would often appear in the form of a young beast to comfort Soya.
Not just them, but everyone else in Baekho Palace comforted her in their own ways.
‘There are too many people in Baekho Palace who would be more upset than me if they knew I was upset. So I shouldn’t be upset and need to stay strong.’
Soya forced herself to think bravely and finished her reply to Cheongha before sending it off with Jjakjjak-i.
That was when she turned around.
‘Huh?’
She spotted a single red feather that she hadn’t noticed before.
Soya stared at it blankly for a moment before carefully picking it up.
* * *
Southern Region of the continent, Zhuque Mansion.
Patriarch Jeok Ayun was deep in worry.
It was because of the migration of birds that had started three years ago.
More and more birds were leaving the southern lands to nest in the western lands.
Excluding the central region, beastkin society’s beasts were strictly divided and ruled by the four directions.
In the eastern lands of the Azure Dragons, which embraced the vast Cheonghae Sea, there were marine beasts.
In the western lands of the White Tigers, starting from the Horim Mountains, there were mountain beasts and field beasts.
In the southern lands of the Zhuque, spread with warm sunlight and red soil, there were flying beasts.
And in the northern lands, now polluted with only demonic beasts prowling about, cold-blooded beasts had once lived in groups in the past.
The clan’s influence also played a role in the group’s cohesion, so birds leaving the southern lands was proof that the clan’s power was weakening.
‘But why?’
The Zhuque Clan was still strong, and the sacred relic was fine too.
He needed to find the cause of this situation, but with no clear reason in sight, Jeok Ayun’s concerns deepened.
‘It won’t cause a big problem right away, but I can’t help worrying.’
As he walked with a darkened face, he suddenly stopped.
It was in front of the now desolate Cold Palace, where no one went anymore.
Realizing he had unwittingly come here again, he clenched his fists tightly.
Soya.
The final place where that child, now dead, had stayed for three years.
[And that child’s name is…… Soya…….]
When he heard that Baek Sa-eon had newly registered a youngest daughter named ‘Soya.’
Jeok Ayun knew it couldn’t be, yet strangely, he felt he had to go confirm it himself.
However, Riri had held him back.
