Atop my perch, I looked around as we traversed another narrow passageway, this time upwards. This group had built their monastery or whatnot in a series of gorges and hollows in the massive cliffs. It kind of made me concerned what would happen when it rained, but the architecture I had seen so far - mostly small buildings with purposeful looks to them - seemed quite old if not ancient, so I assumed they had a way of dealing with water.

  Our procession passed through two of these, one with a shrine they stopped and bowed to in unison before moving on. I felt a small tremor go through the air at this, so it was clear that this tradition was functional in some form. No one seemed to notice the change, but it could just be they were used to it by now.

  We rounded the corner, and my breath stopped for a moment. Only a moment, mind, birds breathe annoyingly fast. Their village was gorgeous. It had a terraced look like where I had lived, but instead of ramshackle buildings tossed in every corner, every single structure was designed and placed with great care. The stonework pagodas had a simple design to them, but the effect of the colors and ornaments used gave the whole ensemble a grandiose feeling. It was very pleasing to the eye.

  Brother Chao seemed to have noticed my attention. “Welcome to the Stormwing Circle, Exalted One”. I churred an assent, a trilling noise that started in my throat and kind of rattled my head a little. I did find the name a little on the nose for my current form, but I doubt that was intended. I also couldn’t help noticing that aside from the area I’d been summoned into, this ‘Stormwing Circle’ was suspiciously lacking in round, two-dimensional shapes.

  At the very top of the hill stood an expansive building that was a fair bit larger than the rest, and a little more ornate to boot. A road paved smooth river stones zig-zagged its way across each terrace before terminating at the steps of this structure. I expected it to be full of the most ‘important’ Stormwingers… Circlers… I had no idea how they referred to themselves.

  “That’s the Main Hall of the sect,” Brother Chao informed me. I’m not sure why he expected me to understand him, maybe it was a magic bird thing he knew about, but he had been pointing out buildings here and there on the way over as well, which had been fairly educational.

  Not that I expected the Mess Hall he’d mentioned to have bird seed. Bugs? I wasn’t sure what magical birds were supposed to eat. I didn’t feel hungry at all, to be honest. It was a foreign feeling for me, to say the least. Back in the other world, I could eat pretty much anything you put in front of me, like some sort of garbage disposal. Considering the quality of the ingredients we could afford, it sometimes didn’t feel metaphorical.

  Entering the Main Hall, I was again struck by how a construction could simultaneously feel like nature and yet so grandiose and impressive. There were plants everywhere in here, as if it were trying to give the jungle outside a run for its money. Considering there were no skylights or anything of the sort, it made me wonder just how they were kept watered. Staring at one, I realized the stone of the planter box had a faint blue aura to it. I hopped off the Royal Shoulder, and in my first real use of my wings, glided over to the box.

  Trying not to look like an intrigued chicken, I examined the box closely. They’d done something with the stone, as I could see more of those rune-like symbols from the token and sign, as well as intricate lines. At this distance I could feel a vague flow of energy towards the stone - it was apparently harvesting from the environment the way I had. This made me feel a little better about the events from earlier in the day, as what I’d done was not unique to me.

  Brother Chao caught up to me. “Those are pretty neat, aren’t they?” He said, apparently a man after my own heart, appreciating the wondrous innovation that is the self-watering planter box. “Our artisans are world-class, I often spend time watching them work.”

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  I turned back to him, something that was a bit more involved now that I had more dimension in length than height. Looking up to his shoulder, I opened my wings and attempted to fly up… only to plow into his chest like a ton of bricks. Great job, me.

  Luckily for me, he did not seem to be offended in the slightest, catching me in his arms in somewhat of a cradling motion. I looked up at him, and while there was a tinge of amusement at the corners of his mouth, he’d at least had the politeness not to laugh at me.

  “I imagine you’re still disoriented from your experience, Exalted One. I apologize if we’ve offended you.”

  “No worries, bro.” I replied, a torrent of noises coming from my beak.

  “This one appreciates your magnanimity.” He said, again making me wonder how he understood me. Something for later perhaps. I was kind of tired, so I declined the Royal Shoulder of Perching and instead curled up in the Exalted Arm Nest of Resting. I could kind of sense him looking down at me every now and then as he continued to show me around the Main Hall like a tour guide. Not that I minded.

  After a few minutes of this, I heard someone clear their throat. Well, not so much heard as felt, like the air itself had a phlegm issue. I felt Brother Chao stiffen up. He turned and I saw the most important dude yet, some guy so old I couldn’t see where his eyes were under bushy, white brows. He had perhaps the longest facial hair I’d ever seen as well, and was smoothing it with his hand repeatedly as he walked.

  “Sect Head,” My transport said, bowing as much as he was able without dumping me from the Arm Nest. “As you can see, our efforts were rewarded.” He lifted me slightly, which ruffled my feathers a bit, both figuratively and literally. I’m not a commodity, you know.

  The Sect Head ambled over in a rather agile fashion for someone who was probably older than the dirt in the planters lining the walls. He gazed at me, something that made my skin prickle. Were they still goosebumps if I wasn’t a goose?

  “Indeed they were. What a magnificent vessel,” he said, giving me a vague feeling of concern that he could see what was actually in here. “The Will of the World is strong with this One. I’ve never seen it’s match.”

  Maybe he couldn’t.

  “We have been blessed indeed.” Brother Chao replied.

  The Head wandered back towards wherever he’d come from, seemingly having his curiosity satisfied. “Give the Exalted One the Sun Chamber, as I imagine that will be the one most suitable,” he said, glancing at me as he did so, “I will have a guard posted. We’ll keep this to ourselves for now, but I imagine it’s only a matter of time before the Iron Veil and the Umbral Covenant catch wind of such a momentous boon. We need to prepare.”

  “As you will.” Brother Chao bowed again and we both exited stage left.

  The “Sun Chamber” the Sect Head had mentioned was massive space with a circular hole in the ceiling and a recessed depression in the center not unlike the area I’d first appeared in. I was a bit worried about the weather coming it at first, but on closer inspection - well, distant inspection, I wasn’t about to try to fly up there right now - there was some sort of enchantment there, likely to keep it out. The stone below did not have the look of being exposed to the elements either, which helped confirm my suspicions.

  It originally had been blank but for a pictogram of a sun carved into the stone in the center, but very quickly Brother Chao had ordered two of his juniors to rectify that, and a procession of ever more ornate pillows had filled the space at the center, topped with a monstrosity so big that I originally was wondering how it was motivating itself, since the poor woman carrying it completely disappeared behind it’s prodigious bulk.

  Setting the pillow down, she seemed utterly terrified to see me there watching her, and fled from the room, almost running backwards while bowing repeatedly. Maybe she was scared of birds?

  After she left, I’d been exploring and I noticed there was a small mirror in the corner. I got my first real look at myself.

  I guess I could see why she found me intimidating. I was clearly some form of phoenix, with the hooked beak of a falcon and a set of sharp looking tufts coming out of the top of my head. Rimming my eyes like sultry makeup was a fiery, ember orange, the same as edged every single feather and adorned my beak and talons. I was honestly surprised that Brother Chao was willing to pick me up. I looked like the aftermath of a forest fire, but sexier.

  I thought, preening myself. I looked at my reflection again.