"There’s simply nothing here. So many books and only garbage," Shinoa comments loudly and angrily.

  "I can’t find anything noteworthy about the Miracle Bird either. Should we check another section or use external sources?" Najun suggests.

  "That won’t help. External sources aren’t trustworthy, and other sections don’t fit. We need to read more carefully, but I don’t want to anymore."

  "Shinoa! Remember, this is about Mother, not some everyday mission."

  Shinoa looks at him sadly and continues reading.

  Both are highly focused and keep reading. They stay almost the entire day in their father’s private library, finding absolutely nothing—until Najun finally discovers something.

  "Here!"

  Najun rushes over to Shinoa and shows her the page he found.

  "I kept overlooking this. One of the first observations of this bird didn’t come only from family members—a birdwatcher also saw it. He was granted permission by our family to live in our large forest as long as he takes care of the birds and shares his observations if they might be useful to us. He doesn’t have a photo, but he promises he’s telling the truth. However… we haven’t heard from him in a long time. Nobody knows if he’s even still alive."

  Shinoa thinks for a moment and suddenly jumps up.

  "Then let’s check on him. Honestly, it’s ridiculous that Father can’t even manage his own staff, so we’ll just do it ourselves."

  "But it’s getting dark. We shouldn’t go into the big forest at night. Let’s wait until tomorrow."

  "What are you talking about? We need to act fast to save Mother. Also—don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark."

  "I’m not. But what if something happens?"

  "Then we’ll handle it. We can do this, the two of us. And if we hurry, maybe we’ll get there before sunset. What do you say? For Mother."

  Najun tries to stay firm, but gives in eventually. They head toward the large forest that covers most of the estate.

  They decide to walk—just the two of them.

  "The birdwatcher lives deeper in the forest, but the path is mostly straight, so we should get there quickly," Shinoa reassures Najun as they enter the woods.

  "I hope so. I don’t really like the forest."

  "Why not?"

  "I don’t know. It gives me a weird feeling, like the forest doesn’t like me… like it wants to hunt me down. I’m getting chills everywhere."

  Shinoa gives him a sympathetic smile and changes the subject. They talk about manga, food, and current politics.

  After a long walk, they’re finally close.

  "We should be there soon. I hope he’s still awake," Shinoa says hopefully.

  "We don’t even know if he’s alive."

  "He definitely is. What matters is whether he’s awake—if someone woke me up for some random bird, I’d kill them."

  "You’re very optimistic. But it’s already dark. We should hurry and return to the temple immediately afterward."

  "Yeah, we will… Oh! Over there. A small cabin."

  Shinoa and Najun run to the cabin and knock politely.

  No answer.

  They knock again.

  Still no answer.

  "He’s probably sleeping already."

  "Or he’s dead."

  They look at each other, annoyed.

  "He can’t be dead, you idiot."

  "Don’t call me that. And it is possible he’s dead."

  They argue loudly until a figure steps out of the forest.

  "Good evening,"

  an old man greets them, holding a bundle of sticks.

  "Good evening," both children reply immediately, ending their fight.

  "Who are you?" the man asks.

  "We’re the children of the Sakiko family’s head. We’re looking for the birdwatcher who’s allowed to live here by our father’s permission."

  "Ah, then you’ve found him."

  "Amazing, it’s really you. And you look so… alive," Shinoa says, giving Najun a smug grin.

  "Uh, I guess?"

  "May we ask you a few questions about a special bird? It’ll be quick."

  The man agrees and invites them inside. He serves tea and cookies, and they sit at the table.

  "What bird do you want to talk about?"

  "It’s called the Miracle Bird. According to our documentation, you’re one of the first people to ever see it."

  The man looks at them tiredly, as if he’s heard enough of this topic for a lifetime.

  "If you can even call that thing a bird."

  "What do you mean?"

  "That ‘bird’ was far too majestic and magical to be a bird. I remember clearly—one evening, I looked out my window and saw it flying. It was glowing, colorful, enormous. But its face didn’t quite look like a bird’s. It spread its wings wide, circled the sky, and then vanished into beautiful particles of light."

  Najun listens attentively while Shinoa writes everything down.

  "Were you the one who claimed it can grant wishes?"

  "No. But I felt like it had something to do with wishes. A feeling I still can’t explain."

  "Did you look for it afterward or start any research?"

  "I was interested in it, sure, but I didn’t really do any research. And I never saw it again. Not directly, at least."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I set up camera traps sometimes—they take automatic photos. One of them caught something that looks like the Miracle Bird. Wait… here."

  He shows them the photo.

  "You can barely see anything," Najun says, eager to leave.

  "Sorry. But it’s the only thing I have of that bird."

  Najun and the birdwatcher start discussing the poor photo quality and camera angles.

  Shinoa keeps staring at the image.

  "Are we missing something? There has to be something. If this is all we have… we’ll never save Mother. I have to save her," Shinoa thinks, sinking into sadness.

  Then she notices something useful.

  "Najun, look at the bird’s feet."

  She hands him the photo, and he recognizes it immediately.

  "Those are Granite Berries. They don’t grow near the temple—they grow deep in the forest."

  "And what does that help you with? This picture is old. The data isn’t current," the man says, confused.

  "You don’t understand. These berries grow in a ravine. If we assume the bird eats them, we can go to the ravine and wait. Eventually it has to come there to eat, and then we strike." Shinoa explains proudly.

  They discuss their plan further.

  "Wow, I’d love to come with you," the man says.

  "Sorry, but this is a family matter. We have to do this ourselves."

  "Of course, I understand. But I would still—"

  He suddenly stops speaking.

  He stares at them motionless.

  "Uh… are you okay? Hello?" the siblings try to talk to him, but he doesn’t respond. He only stares ahead with empty eyes—emptier than anything they’ve ever seen.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "What’s wrong with him?" Shinoa asks provocatively.

  "No idea. Do you think he’s sick or tired? Did he mention anything like this?"

  "No, he didn’t."

  Suddenly, the man stands up and walks to the window.

  He looks out into the night and begins to cry.

  "What’s wrong? Why are you crying?" Najun asks, deeply concerned.

  "I told you… I told you I didn’t want to talk about this anymore. Why don’t you understand?"

  The man cries harder, then turns around with a needle in his hand.

  "Whoa—what are you doing with that?" Shinoa asks, stepping back.

  "I told you… I don’t want to talk anymore!"

  He charges at Shinoa and pushes her against the wall, ready to stab her, but Najun grabs him and slams him against the table.

  "Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!"

  he screams over and over, terror in his voice and in his eyes.

  "Just go… go away… don’t hit me again…"

  The two children exchange confused looks but decide to leave.

  "I think he has some kind of mental damage. But we got the information we needed—we should go home."

  "I agree, but that was creepy. It was like he recognized one of us. But his bosses were our ancestors, so maybe he confused us with them."

  They decide not to think about it any further and head back toward the temple—but Shinoa has a different plan.

  "Uhm… I think we need to go this way."

  "Are you sure? I could swear we came from the other direction."

  "As always, you’re wrong. Who used to guide us through the forest? Me. So follow me."

  Najun follows without thinking—and they end up at a circular ravine full of plants with a small lake in the center.

  "Wait… this isn’t the temple. This is the ravine where the Granite Berries grow!"

  Najun glares at Shinoa and steps closer.

  "What was that again? I should trust you to lead us home?"

  "Haha… I had to stop you from using your ability. So I needed a way to bring you here."

  "But why?"

  "We can’t keep wasting time. Every day is another day we don’t know what’s happening to Mother. The fact that we did nothing for years is embarrassing."

  "It’s not like we did nothing."

  "Still. Now that even Father said we should save her, we need to take this much more seriously. We can’t stop now. We have a lead. We have to follow it."

  Najun is moved by her words and agrees to wait for the bird with her.

  They hide behind a massive bush with a perfect view of the Granite Berries.

  "From here we should see the Miracle Bird if it comes to feed," Shinoa says excitedly.

  "I admire how dedicated you are to this mission, even though she’s not your biological mother."

  "She’s the closest thing I have to a mother. Even if we never spent time together, I feel some kind of bond… like she sees me, and I see her."

  "Wow… that’s beautiful. If I may ask—what about your mother? Where is she?"

  "I don’t know. She had to leave the temple after I was born because your mother was chosen as the official wife."

  "I’m sorry."

  "It’s not your fault. Honestly… I blame Father. But as my mother, she should’ve at least shown some interest in me."

  "Interest? What do you mean?"

  Shinoa tenses up. Her next words are painful.

  "She apparently just left. Without holding me even once. Without giving me a single kiss. Without even looking at me. That’s what I mean by showing no interest."

  Najun is speechless. Anything he could say might make it worse. He just looks at her, filled with sympathy.

  "You don’t have to say anything. Or look at me like that. I know it’s hard to respond to."

  "If it helps… I’d be willing to share my mother with you. Even if I don’t know her either."

  They laugh and try to brighten the mood.

  "We shouldn’t talk anymore—we need to focus. Can you use your ability to locate the bird?"

  "I can’t ‘see’ things in the air unless they exert force on surfaces. If its wingbeats are strong enough, maybe I can sense a direction… but I’m not sure."

  Najun activates his ability.

  Birth-Protection: Space Reader

  He now “sees” everything in the ravine and its surroundings. Every detail. Every fish in the pond. The squirrels eating nuts. Shinoa’s heavy breathing from excitement.

  "It’s been 15 minutes. I’ve never tested how long I can keep this active. I hope it doesn’t turn off right when the bird arrives… or that I don’t collapse."

  After another 15 minutes, his nose starts bleeding and his ability deactivates.

  "Everything okay?" Shinoa asks.

  "I think I hit my limit. Half an hour’s my maximum. I’ll rest a bit and then use it again."

  "Don’t overexert yourself. I didn’t mean to pressure you. You don’t have to prove anything. Take your time."

  Najun rests.

  "Wow… half an hour. That’s way longer than I expected. I used to lose balance after just a few minutes."

  He feels proud.

  "Okay… I think I’m good again."

  He reactivates his ability—

  and instantly senses someone right behind him.

  "What are you doing here?" he asks the air.

  "Who are you talking to?"

  "Behind us."

  Shinoa turns around and sees—

  Naki.

  Sitting there eating cookies.

  "Want one?"

  "What are you doing here? I only deactivated my ability for a few minutes—how did you get here so fast?"

  "I’m just fast."

  Naki keeps eating and walks closer.

  "So what are you doing?"

  "Still a secret," Shinoa answers sharply. She’s clearly not happy he’s here.

  "Leave."

  "No. You think I’ll let two weaklings be out here alone? At night?"

  "We don’t need a babysitter. We will save Mother, not you."

  "Relax. We all want to save her. This isn’t a game where you get items and XP at the end."

  "Najun and I are the only ones who want to save her because we care. You and the others just want to become the next head of the family and impress Father."

  "What are you talking about? You think you’re the only one who wants to find her?"

  The two argue endlessly.

  Meanwhile, Najun reactivates his ability and focuses only on detecting the bird.

  He senses something—

  something big—

  flying toward the ravine.

  "Guys. Be quiet. Shinoa, I think it’s coming."

  Shinoa gets ready. Naki follows, still unsure what’s happening.

  A massive bird descends from the sky.

  It lands by the pond.

  Its feathers are vibrant and colorful; its wings enormous and mesmerizing.

  It approaches the Granite Berries and waters them.

  "It’s really him… I can’t believe it. Najun, do you see this?"

  "Yeah. What now? Do we try talking to it? Or capture it?"

  "I don’t know. Let’s observe first."

  Naki finally understands.

  "It’s beautiful… so elegant."

  "What kind of bird is this? Is it supposed to help save Mother?"

  Najun glances at Shinoa—she signals him not to tell—but he does anyway.

  "It’s called the Miracle Bird. Our family sought it before but never caught it. It’s supposed to grant wishes, so we thought maybe we could… wish for Mother to return."

  "But what if it can’t grant wishes?"

  "Maybe. But we don’t have anything better. Do you?"

  "…No."

  "See? I just hope it really is a miracle bird. Please…"

  The three slowly approach the bird.

  It doesn’t notice them.

  "So… what do we do?"

  "I think we need to use force. It’s a wild animal. Once it sees us, it’ll fly away."

  "Wait, that’s unsafe. Maybe it’s gentle."

  "And if it isn’t? If it flies away and never comes back?"

  "Or what if we scare it so badly that it becomes aggressive toward humans?"

  "That’s not important. We have a goal—and we have to reach it, no matter what."

  "That’s… diabolical. I don’t agree."

  "You’re not part of the plan!"

  Shinoa yells at Naki. He glares at her—

  and so does the bird.

  "Shit," Shinoa whispers.

  The bird notices them, grabs its Granite Berries, and flies away.

  "Wait! Come back!" Shinoa screams, but it’s gone.

  "This is your fault, you idiot!"

  "You screamed! You scared it!"

  "What?! If you hadn’t shown up—!"

  "Enough!"

  Najun shouts.

  "I followed it. I know roughly where it went. We need to go. Now."

  "You had your ability active?"

  "Yes. So we need to hurry."

  The three run through the forest.

  Naki and Shinoa follow Najun as he takes the lead.

  "What’s your problem with me?" Naki asks bluntly.

  "Nothing. You’re just… inconvenient."

  "How? I could help catch the bird. And I want to save Mother too—it’s important to me."

  "I doubt that."

  "She’s my birth mother. I spent my first years with her and now I know nothing—no location, no condition. I think of her every night. Every damn night. And I don’t want to sound like an asshole, but… she’s not your biological mother. So stop acting like you’ve even met her."

  "I can’t help my feelings. They tell me I need to save her—so that’s what I’ll do."

  "You’re strange. Something’s off about you. Your behavior makes no sense."

  Naki steps in front of her, blocking her path.

  "I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I don’t like it. You’re hiding something. And if I see even the slightest sign—you’re dead. Fast. Before you even notice."

  "Someone’s dropping their mask. Whatever. For Najun’s sake, let’s just pretend to be real siblings and find this bird."

  "For Najun."

  They walk in silence for ten minutes.

  Until Najun stops.

  "This is it."

  They stand before—

  A wall of ice.

  "What is that?" Naki asks, trembling.

  "It’s… ice," Najun says.

  "How is that possible? It should melt…" Shinoa murmurs.

  "None of us have heard of this place… right?"

  All three shake their heads.

  "Should we go in?"

  "Of course. We’ve come this far."

  Najun’s nose starts bleeding again. He wipes it off and enters.

  Shinoa and Naki follow closely.

  They step into the icy cave.