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The warm air currents carried Owen over a forest thick with cedar trees, the ground barely visible from above. In the distance, a bright light shone from high atop an even larger cedar that curved northward, taking the shape of a comet streaking across the sky with the light atop resembling the brightest part of the comet. The small owl grinned as he thrust his wings to gain speed as he flew towards the giant tree.
Cresting over the pointed canopy, a large spacious field appeared with a village bustling all around the large glowing tree. Spirits and creatures thrived alongside each other, tending to the gardens, gathering resources, constructing new buildings, and much more. Behind the glowing tree was an observatory built onto a large stump that was barely half the height of the Spirit Cedar, a large telescope poking out of the large dome and facing the southern sky.
Owen smiled widely, overjoyed to be here. This was his favorite place to be, because of the homey feel and the friends he’s made during his visits. He was recognized instantly by the residents whenever he had hooted or flown by during his trips. It’s like a home away from home.
He descended to the ground in front of a large silo where a spirit stood waiting for him. The owl lightly beat his wings and his talons touched the soft earth, the dark damp dirt barely sinking under his weight and his feet left imprints in the ground as he approached the spirit, bowing his head in greetings and the spirit approached the owl with arms wide open.
“Owen! It’s good to see you again!” The spirit said, their two frills draped over their head floated inches above their back and their short, rounded ears bounced as they approached the owl.
Owen grinned and stretched his wings out as he waddled up to the spirit. “Miyu!” He wraps the spirit in an embrace and holds them in a hug before pulling himself away. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been well, my friend. How have your travels been?” Miyu asked.
“Fantastic. I’ve seen so many fascinating things, like the ancient ruins in the western mountains of Nibel, and even got close to these enormous trees that are even further west. They are way taller than the Great Acacia, too,” Owen said as he bounced in place, moving his wings as he described the wonders he'd seen before he paused and cleared his throat. “Ahem, uh, right. Your package.” The owl tucked his wings under the straps that wrapped around his shoulders and swung a long, leather bag filled to the brim with parchment and letters forward and plopped on the ground with a soft thud.
Miyu chuckled and crossed their arms over their chest, “I’m in no rush, Owen. I like hearing your stories.”
“Oh, it’s not that. I have an important delivery to make,” Owen said as he loosened a string attached to a square-shaped pocket and pulled back the flap to bring out a small box neatly wrapped in leaves and twine, then he handed it over to Miyu.
“Oh? What that might be?” Miyu asked as they took the package, tucking it under one arm and rested their hand on their hip.
Owen suddenly grinned and wiggled his wings as his amber eyes glistened with excitement, “It’s a special delivery to the Spirit Olive of Niwen!”
Miyu’s eyes widened and a grin formed on their face. “Oh, Owen! What an honor that must be, to go to a Spirit Tree directly!” They reached their free arm out and patted the owl’s shoulder.
“It is! I never thought I’d make a delivery to one, yet I am!” The owl hopped and waved his wings excitedly. He then hurriedly gathered the bag and swung onto his back, making sure it’s on securely before looking at Miyu. “I need to drop off the delivery before sunset tomorrow because I have to meet up with the others at Baur’s Reach for a meeting. I’m sorry I had to cut this short.”
“Oh, do not worry about it. We’ll meet again another time,” the spirit chuckled and embraced the owl into a quick hug, “I’ll see you again soon, my friend.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I’m free,” Owen said before turning and stretching open his wings, getting a running start, and, with a single beat of his wings, took to the sky. “Toodalo-o-o-o!” He hooted loudly as he circled above before flying off towards Niwen, Miyu waving to him as he left.
The golden light of the Spirit Olive shone brightly from its cradle high atop the tree, surrounded by a protective barrier of emerald leaves that curved upward towards the sky, and its radiant glow shining almost as brightly as the evening sun. Owen felt an anxious shiver course through his body that made his feathers stand upright.
The presence of the Spirit Trees always gave him chills, the good kind, but he’s also intimidated by their power. They’re one of the most powerful things in the world, having the strength to protect large territories and keeping the creeping presence of death at bay. Who could not be intimidated by something that keeps back a force that could make the world rot?
Being lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed just how close he got to the great tree until he was snapped back into reality from a buzzing in the air that came from it. He yelped and nearly dropped from the sky, but he recollected himself and shook himself out. He breathed in, then exhaled before descending towards the ground.
Below, spirits playing near and around the tree noticed Owen as he glided above. The youngest ones quickly hid while the oldest spirits kept their gazes on him, some gathering around the roots of the tree as he landed on the damp grass. Owen trembled, both from being so close to a spirit tree and the spirits eyeing him sternly. He swallowed thickly, then raised his head and breathed in and spoke.
“I’m here to drop off a special delivery to the Spirit Olive.”
A spirit approached Owen, a hammer made of light propped against their shoulder and supported by a single hand. They appeared to stand just below his eyes but their bulky build and the large hammer left him shifting his talons in the grass nervously.
The spirit stopped just out of reach from Owen and they looked him up and down, a suspicious glare in their eyes.
The owl put on a nervous smile, tapping a talon on the dirt.
The spirit raised a brow before lowering the hammer, standing it on its top and leaning against it. “The Spirit Olive was not expecting anything,” They spoke, their voice soft yet deep.
“It’s a special gift from someone who knows them,” Owen said.
The large spirit tilted their head. “Who?”
“Someone named Ku.” He replied.
“Ku…” A deep, booming voice spoke softly, bringing attention towards the source of the voice. The Spirit Olive’s glowing trunk blinked and the leaves on their branches whispered gently. “She’s sent me a gift?” The tree asked, a hint of child-like curiosity in their voice.
Owen stared wide-eyed at the tree, shocked that he heard them speak. He blinked and stuttered before replying to them. “Y-yes.”
The Spirit Olive hummed and the golden light sitting in its cradle glowed brightly, a second voice humming along with the tree. The deeper voice spoke again, “What has she asked you to bring me?”
“Oh, uh,” Owen slipped the bag off of his back and reached his talons into it, rifling through it for something. He then produces a large package that is nearly the size of the hammer-wielding spirit and sets it on the ground, scooting it forward. “She never said what it was, but she thought that you might like it.”
"I see," said the tree. “Ari, do you mind opening it for me?”
Ari, the spirit with the hammer, knelt down in front of the large package and unwrapped its contents from the leather and twine. Their eyes widened as they gently picked up two objects; two stained glass decors in the shape of a spirit and an owlet. They looked down and picked up two more decorations, both in the shape of a Gumon and a Swallow, and turned to the Spirit Olive, holding up the decorations for the tree to see.
“Ah…” The tree breathed out, their branches swaying and the light in their embrace twinkling. They chuckled warmly. “Flyta, could you bring them up to my branches?”
“Of course!” Flyta, a slim spirit with slicked-back frills and ears, gathers the glass decorations in her arms and held them firmly against her chest, despite them nearly being too big for her to hold, and she dashes towards and up the great tree’s trunk effortlessly, becoming nothing but a white streak as she raced to the top of the tree.
Owen watched in awe as the swift spirit ran up it, impressed at how she climbs it so effortlessly. She must be using the vines growing around the tree to climb it, but still... The spirits never cease to surprise and amaze him.
Flyta reached the cradle of the golden light and leaped up to the nearest branch, taking one of the stained-glass decors and slipped it onto the branch before darting to the next one, placing the decorations in places where the tree can view them before racing back down the tree.
She dug her cloven hooves into the earth to slow herself down and came to a stop beside Ari, turning to look at the branches of her parent tree and crossing her arms over her chest proudly.
The Spirit Olive hummed once more in content, the glass decors swayed in the gentle breeze, and the glow of the light illuminating the glass and shimmering off of metal that held the pieces together. The great tree fell silent a moment before they spoke, “Thank you for delivering Ku’s gift to me safely. Please, if you see her, tell her I said thank you.”
Owen nodded with a smile, “Will do.” He picks up the bag and slung it onto his back, making sure it was on snugly before bowing his head to the tree and the spirits, “I best be off. Have a wonderful evening, all of you!” He then turned and took to the sky, hooting to the spirits as they bid him farewell and safe travels. He looked back to see the golden light shimmering brightly as he flew further away. A humbling warmth developed in his chest.
Once he was far enough away, Owen thrust his wings down and swiftly rose upward, hooting loudly in excitement. What an exhilarating visit! He hopes to have more like this one in the future.