Mythical Bird

“Woah…” Both me and Laska marveled at the sight of this magnificent legendary creature.

“The animals…” Laska’s voice trembled with a sigh of relief. “They’re alive!!”

All the animals paired off and left the spot.

“I offer thee gratitude, humans.” The immense bird spoke in a human language, much to our bewilderment. "In your weeping hearts, hath my genesis found aid."

It had a soothing deep male voice, as if we were listening to an old wise monk.

“I don’t understand a word he says.” I stood there clueless.

“He said that our crying hearts helped him to be created,” Laska explained patiently, then turned to the creature. “What do you mean by the word ‘genesis’? Didn’t you exist before?”

“Indeed. I did dwell in nonexistence, in sooth."

“How did you come to be…?” Laska’s face radiated curiosity.

“"I remain elusive to those who seek me, yet manifest when pure human souls require a miracle of rebirth."

“So that’s how it goes…”

“What’s he saying??” I asked, feeling a bit lost.

“Pfft…! Ahaha!”

“What??” Laska’s sudden laughter caught me off guard.

“Oh Kiss… you ask as if he was speaking a different language. He’s saying that our deep feelings for the animals that we wished to be alive helped him manifest.”

“Woah…” I faced the bird and tried to sound as respectful as possible. “Say, o wise bird. Are you… the phoenix?”

After my stupid question, Laska almost choked on her own saliva.

The bird ascended into the sky, performed a graceful aerial dance, flapping his tremendous wings, then returned to the ground, facing me directly.

When he stood before me, I felt his mighty presence firsthand. I had to tilt my head upward to look into his eyes for he was at least two heads taller than me.

“Chirichirichirichiri...!!!”

“Huh?”

The bird emitted sounds that sounded a lot like… laughter?

“Chirichirichiri, oh man, you’re so DUMB! Chirichirichiri!!”

Laska looked at me confused, being surprised as much as I was. Then she joined the creature in teasing me with laughter.

“Kiss, you really are one of a kind! Ahahah, who else would it be??”

“Chirichiri!! Yes, indeed I am Phoenix, you stupid human!” The bird spoke in a much higher pitch and sounded more like a sassy teenager.

“Hey, what happened to your wise and polite way of speech?!”

“Whatever, that’s just my façade from the bygone era. Man~, such a dumb human, chirichirichiri!”

“Ugh, this feathered bastard is getting on my nervous! Let’s go back, Laska!”

I theatrically turned around and stomped away from the mean monster.

Yes, I got offended. But Laska stopped me and reminded me what we actually came for.

“Please, Mr. Phoenix, could we get a few of your feathers so that we could create a potion?”

The bird cocked his head and gazed at Laska with interest.

“Oh well… I can’t say no to such a beautiful young lady.”

“Hey!” My frustration flared.

“Oh, are we jelly, little human? Hey, miss. Are you dating this simpleton?”

“Who are you calling a simpleton, you oversized parrot?”

“Wanna go at it?!” The Phoenix spread his massive wings and embers flew from the feathers, intimidating me.

[‘Whisper of Hearts’ activated. Imminent danger close by.]

O-oh. My Soul Enchantment just went off. Is the bird going to attack me?!

Tsk.

If I screw up now, we might not get his feather and all of Laska’s efforts will have been in vain.

When I stared into his fiery eyes, he already looked furious.

What should I do?

Then I remembered I had another new skill I haven’t had a chance to try yet.

“’Skill: Heartfelt Compliment!’”

[Skill activated: Craft a compliment.]

These skills are useless!!

“Uhm… I apologize for my disrespectful behavior, I recognize my insignificance in your presence!”

[Skill failed. Opponent took 0 damage.]

“I mean… your feathers look so shiny, are you using the newest shampoo?”

[Skill ‘Conversational Joke’ activated. A joke has been crafted.]

[Pivotal Hit.]

“Chiririchirichiri!!!”

The Phoenix started to laugh hysterically as I watched his HP drop to 50%.

“You human are funny! Still stupid, but very funny! I shall provide you with my feathers. Farewell!”

The bird erupted into flames and was reduced to nothing but a pile of ash.

“Oh no!!” Laska screamed in despair and ran towards the ashes, falling to her knees before them.

“W-why did he do that…?”

Amid our disappointment, the wind picked up once more and blew the ashes away, revealing a huge egg the size of washing machine. It was red color and had flame-like markings all across it.

I immediately dashed towards Laska and knelt next to her, admiring the beautiful egg.

Laska has instinctively started to caress it. “It’s so warm…”

I hesitated to touch it but once I did, a system message appeared.

[Would you like to add a ‘Phoenix Egg’ into your inventory?]

“Laska, do you see it?!”

“See what?”

“The system message!”

“I don’t see any. What do you see, Kiss?”

So he chose me in the end because I made him laugh.

I confirmed the system message and it disappeared into thin air. When I opened up the menu, there it was, right next to my Room key.

I decided to read more information that the system offered.

[When taken care of, ‘Phoenix Egg’ hatches into three ‘Phoenix Feathers’ used for potions. The hatching process can take from weeks to years.]

Years?! Damn… First we found a bird that doesn’t exist and cannot be found… then we needed to take care of the egg and wait for it to hatch. And all this for just three feathers? The potions really were as rare as they could be in this world.

While I was questioning all of this, Laska has suddenly thrown herself onto me and hugged me tightly.

“We did it!!! And it’s all thanks to you, Kiss! Thank you!!”

She screamed out of joy.

I flinched and stuttered. “W-what.. hehe… y-yeah… we really did it.”

Finally. After so many days that felt like torture, I could feel her warm embrace again.

Laska smelled so good.

I had already forgotten about the traumatic incident with Plamen.

I was just delighted to hold her in my arms like this.

“Kiss…? Are you crying?”

“I’m not crying, you are!” I accused her, while wiping away tears from my eyes and cheeks.

I released her from my hug but she pulled me to herself again and embraced me even tighter than before.

“It’s okay… whatever it is, you must have your reasons. It’s okay… it’s okay… I’m here with you.” She gently whispered into my ear.

I was trying to act so tough all this time. But I was so weak when I remembered I couldn’t touch her the way I used to before coming to this school.

“’Versus Mode’”

Huh?

“Kiss… you showed me today that you are a kind person. I feel safe with you. This is my way of sharing these feelings you ignited within me.”

[Player Laska has challenged Player Kiss to a love battle.]

A battle?!

Why would she do that?!

I have to calm down. My ‘Whisper of Hearts’ ability hasn’t gone off.

[Choose a skill.]

Uh… okay…

“’Heartfelt Compliment’.”

[Calculating speed based on levels.]

[Player Laska moved with a greater priority.]

[Player Laska used a skill: ‘First Kiss’.]

The next thing I knew, her lips were pressed against mine.

[Pivotal hit.]

[You gained experience points.]

While she was kissing me, my experience points exploded. I gathered enough to reach level 15 and learn a new skill called ‘Touch Language’.

[Your turn.]

[Skill activated: Craft a compliment.]

“L-Laska… Your kiss was like a beautiful sonnet whispered upon my lips, leaving my heart entranced and my soul utterly captivated."

[Your opponent gained experience points.]

[Player Laska ended the Versus Mode.]

[Both Players win.]

“What just happened…?” I asked, still in a dreamlike state.

“The ‘Versus Mode’ is a way how to ‘level up our love’, just like Svet-sensei often says. It’s not a battle to hurt each other, but rather to share a powerful bond. But it only works when genuine feelings are involved.”

“Does that mean…?”

“Yes. I think I love you...” She put her hand on my cheek with great care. “We both gained EXP, meaning that you love me, too. Otherwise, your attack would have dealt HP damage instead.”

“But wasn’t that risky…?”

“I trusted you… and I trusted your feelings. I’m not stupid, I see how you have been looking at me with those hazel eyes of yours…”

“Laska…”

“One more thing. The ‘First Kiss’ skill works only once with a player. You’ll have to wait for another skill if we want to kiss again, fufu.” She mischievously explained.

“Heh… thank you, for everything. For existing. Also, I will take care of this Phoenix egg and share the feathers with you!”

“And I’ll help you. Let the birdie be our in-game child. Fufu.”

CHAPTER 11: END