Leon's eyes fluttered open. He was lying cradled in Ayana's arms.
"Where am I?" he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.
"You're safe now, at Eagle's Feast," Ayana replied gently.
Silence hung in the air for a moment as Leon's mind slowly began to piece things together. Then, a flicker of panic crossed his face.
"What happened? Why did I why did I start falling?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
"Your Majesty," Ayana explained calmly, "you were shifting your emotions. Remember, you can only take flight when fueled by anger. When your mood changed to happiness, you lost that power and began to descend."
"But I feel fine now. No pain, no injuries," Leon observed, a hint of demand in his tone. "What happened then?"
"I managed to rescue you, Your Majesty," Ayana said softly.
"Oh," Leon breathed, a wave of gratitude washing over him. "Thank you, Ayana."
"You are most welcome, Your Majesty," she replied with a small bow of her head.
Another silence fell, this one filled with Leon's quiet contemplation.
"Is something troubling you, Emperor?" Ayana asked, her curiosity evident.
"Yes," Leon admitted, a furrow in his brow. "When I was unconscious, I saw something. Something that's bothering me."
"What was it?" Ayana prompted, her voice gentle.
"I saw a woman," Leon said, his brow still furrowed in thought. "Her face. it feels familiar, but I can't quite place her. I don't fully remember who she is or where I might have met her."
"Can you describe her?" Ayana inquired, her gaze steady.
"I only remember her name," Leon confessed.
"And what is her name?" Ayana asked, leaning in slightly.
"They called her Sasha," Leon replied.
"Who are 'they'?" Ayana pressed.
"Someone called King Luther and his advisors," Leon answered.
A soft smile touched Ayana's lips. "Ooh, I believe that might be your mother."
"My mother? How?" Leon exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.
"Your mother's name is Sasha, and her husband's name is King Luther. It's very likely she's the one," Ayana explained gently.
"So,Sasha is my mother, and King Luther is my father?" Leon asked, still trying to process the information.
"Yes, Sasha is your mother," Ayana confirmed, "but King Luther is not your father."
"How is that possible?" Leon asked, his confusion deepening.
"That is the way it is," Ayana stated simply.
"Then, who is my father?" Leon demanded, a new urgency in his voice.
"Your father was the late, powerful Emperor from the Mysterious World," Ayana revealed, her voice taking on a reverent tone. "The legends say he was the most powerful Emperor to ever rule that realm."
"And where is my mother?" Leon asked, his voice softening with longing.
"For years now, we haven't known her whereabouts," Ayana answered, her expression sympathetic.
Suddenly, a rhythmic thump-thump-thump echoed in the distance, a sound that hinted at something immense approaching. Then, a chorus of thousands of eagle cries pierced the air, growing louder with each passing moment.
The thumping and the cries drew closer and closer until a colossal figure emerged from behind them. It was a breathtaking hybrid creature: from the head to the waist, an eagle of magnificent size; from the waist down, the powerful form of a human.
Ayana immediately dropped to her knees in a sign of deep respect, gently pulling a bewildered Leon down with her. In moments, they were completely surrounded by a swirling vortex of thousands of majestic eagles.
Then, as if summoned by their arrival, a mystical throne materialized before the hybrid eagle. The creature settled onto it with an air of ancient authority, and water began to flow in swirling patterns around its base.
"You may stand," a deep, resonant voice boomed, the hybrid eagle gesturing with a massive, feathered hand.
"Thank you," Ayana replied, offering a small, respectful smile. Leon, however, remained kneeling, his mind reeling from the unbelievable scene unfolding before him.
The mystical eagle's gaze settled on Leon. "Finally, you have arrived. Welcome to the Eagle's Feast, Logan."
"Thank you," Leon responded automatically, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. This was the second time he'd heard someone call him Logan instead of Leon.
"It has been a long time since we last met," the mystical eagle continued, its piercing eyes seeming to look directly into Leon's soul.
The mystical eagle's words flashed Leon back to his past dream.
Help me! Please, somebody help me!" the man's voice cracked, echoing against the rumble of thunder. Sharp streaks of lightning split the dark sky, offering quick, scary looks at the big eagle holding him in its sharp claws.
"No! please!" he cried, the eagle's grip getting tighter, making his skin bleed a little. Up and up they flew, the wind hitting his face hard, until they reached a lonely, sandy wilderness.
Down below, many people cheered loudly around a strange throne where water poured down.
The eagle came down and put him gently on the throne, then flew away. The happy shouts of the crowd went all around him.
A booming laugh echoed from the Mystical Eagle as Leon's face registered the shock of recognition.
"Were you the one who carried me in that dream? Was that real?" Leon stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Instead of answering directly, the Mystical Eagle rose from his watery throne and approached Leon. He gazed intently into Leon's eyes, then gently pulled aside Leon's shirt, exposing his chest and shoulders. He focused on Leon's shoulders and spoke, his voice deep and resonant, "Have you seen these marks? They speak for themselves."
Leon looked down at the faint, healed scars that patterned his shoulders. The silent evidence left him speechless, all further questions dying on his lips.
A small smile touched the corners of the Mystical Eagle's mouth. Then, he announced in his powerful voice, "My loyal subjects, the time of the Living Covenant is upon us!"
A wave of fervent shouts erupted from the crowd: "The Benoem! The Benoem! The Benoem!"
The Mystical Eagle continued, his voice ringing with authority, "This covenant will awaken your true power! It will reveal who you are meant to be! It will connect you to your very essence!"
He turned back to Leon, his gaze intense. With a swift motion, his claws sharpened and plunged into Leon's left side, directly over his heart. An unbearable wave of pain washed over Leon, causing him to gasp.
"I, King of Eagle's Feast," the Mystical Eagle declared, his voice echoing with ancient power, "awaken the heart of the warrior within you! I awaken the magic that flows through your veins! I connect you to your original nature! From this day forward, you are granted the power to see the past, the power to glimpse the future, the power to influence events, the power to soar as a dweller of the sky, the power to speak with the spirits of the water and the mountains!"
As the Mystical Eagle spoke of seeing the past, a vivid vision flooded Leon's mind. He saw a dimly lit room where two women were deep in conversation.
""I had a terrible dream, Rose," Sasha replied, her voice still thick with sleep.
"Please, tell me about it," Rose urged gently.
Sasha cleared her throat and began to recount the chilling images that had just filled her mind.
A heavy silence descended upon Rose as she absorbed Sasha's words, piecing together the strange vision.
Finally, she spoke, her voice low and thoughtful. "This is the meaning of your dream. The two mysterious wolves they are two powerful Kings. One old, the other young, locked in a struggle."
Sasha listened intently, her breath held captive.
Rose continued, "The giant female werewolf rising from the water she is a powerful female creature, perhaps from the ocean itself. She will kill one king and leave the other broken. Then, she will seize the throne and declare herself the ruler."
"Who are these two kings?" Sasha asked, her voice laced with curiosity.