CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: ABILITIES

Aiden strolled along with the bird still perched comfortably on his shoulder. The creature’s rainbow-feathered body glowed faintly beneath the dappled light, as though the trees themselves had opened space for its brilliance.

Aiden glanced sideways, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer. "Apart from healing, is there anything else you can do?" he asked.

The bird tilted its head as if amused, then a clear voice rang in Aiden’s mind once more. I can help my master run errands. I travel faster than most creatures—fast enough to match the speed of those human cars you see. And, under normal circumstances, I can enlarge myself. I can make my body immense, large enough to carry my master through the skies.

Aiden froze mid-step, eyes widening with excitement. He gripped the strap of his bag tightly and turned his head toward the bird. "Really? Can you do that now? Let me see!"

The bird ruffled its shimmering wings but then spoke with an almost apologetic firmness. I would if I could. But because of certain incidents that happened two centuries ago, I was gravely injured. As I told you before, my former master died. After that, I sank into a deep sleep and only awoke seventeen years ago. Since then, something has been wrong with me. I feel as though shackles bind my larger form, chaining me down. Right now, this little body is all I can manage. I do not know when those shackles will break.

Aiden’s excitement drained from him instantly. His shoulders slumped, and he gave the bird a withering look. "So why even tell me that? If you can’t do it now, what’s the point? Are you just bragging about your past glory?"

The bird’s mental voice sharpened, prickly with indignation. What are you talking about? You asked about my other abilities. Becoming large is one of them. It’s simply unavailable at the moment. But one day, I will regain it.

"Yes, yes, I heard you. But you don’t have to shout into my head," Aiden muttered, rubbing his temple as though the voice was buzzing too loud inside him.

The bird flared its feathers, turning its head sharply away as though to say "hmph." Its proud little gesture, paired with its tiny body standing stiffly on Aiden’s shoulder, looked so ridiculous that Aiden burst into laughter.

"Fine, fine. Be dramatic," Aiden said between chuckles. He continued walking, brushing aside leaves as the forest deepened. Then another thought struck him. His laughter faded, replaced with curiosity once more. "Hey, could you maybe help me search for those bandages? You know, the ones stained with chicken blood?"

The bird’s disdain was immediate. Why would I lower myself to search for something as disgusting as the blood of an inferior species?

Aiden blinked at the sheer disgust in the bird’s tone. He tilted his head, amused. "You really hate chickens that much? Look, it’s serious. Do you have a way or not?"

I don’t, the bird answered flatly.

Aiden snickered, shaking his head. "You could’ve just said that instead of giving a lecture."

As they walked on, another thought formed in Aiden’s mind. He suddenly realized something important. "Wait a second. I never told you my name." He tapped his chest. "It’s Aiden. What about you? Do you even have a name?"

I don’t, the bird admitted. My former master always just called me ’bird.’

Aiden’s face twisted into disgust. "What? That’s tacky."

The bird bristled immediately, feathers twitching with offense. It wasn’t tacky. My master simply couldn’t be bothered with mundane things like names.

"Well, I like mundane things," Aiden said with a shrug. "So I’m giving you a name." He folded his arms and walked in silence for a moment, tapping his chin as though the decision carried the weight of destiny. "Let me think..."

He studied the bird’s rainbow-colored feathers and its glittering eyes. Inspiration struck. "Since your eyes and feathers are both rainbow-colored, I’ll call you Rainbow from now on."

The bird’s reply was instant and dripping with disdain. Really? That’s the best you can do? And you had the nerve to call my previous master tacky?

Aiden smirked. "Of course I’m better than your previous master. At least I gave you a name. And it fits you, doesn’t it?"

It doesn’t sound powerful at all, Rainbow complained.

"I don’t care," Aiden said firmly. "You’re Rainbow from now on."

The bird grumbled inwardly, clearly displeased, but it couldn’t argue further. Despite its unwillingness, it accepted that the name would stick.

They continued through the forest, the silence filled with rustling leaves and distant birdsong. Then, all at once, Aiden’s eyes widened in panic as a thought slammed into him. "Oh no." His voice cracked slightly as he spun toward Rainbow. "Mr. John! He said he had a way to watch the students to catch cheaters. I’ve been talking to you this whole time. Wouldn’t he have heard everything? Wouldn’t he already know about you healing me? About... everything?"

Rainbow’s calm voice entered his mind like cool water. Relax. That teacher of yours, Mr. John, can’t hear us. The object he uses to monitor students can only capture images, not sound. Besides, how do you think I’ve managed to hide from your school’s authorities for seventeen years without ever leaving the grounds?

Rainbow fluffed his feathers with pride. I can choose who sees me and who doesn’t. I’m invisible to anyone I don’t wish to reveal myself to. Maybe a powerful witch could catch me, but I always avoid them. Your Mr. John is only a wolf. He cannot see me. To him, you look like a boy wandering through the forest talking to himself like a madman.

Aiden’s jaw dropped. He stared ahead, speechless. "And when I asked earlier about your abilities, why didn’t you mention invisibility?"

The bird’s response was dry. I thought you could figure it out. When I told you I’d been hiding from your school’s authorities for seventeen years, wasn’t it obvious? How else would I stay unseen for that long? And let’s be honest, anyone who sees me falls in love with my beauty. Yet no student has ever once gossiped about spotting a rainbow-feathered bird on campus. Shouldn’t that have told you something? You can’t blame me for your lack of intelligence. If anything, it’s your fault for being an idiot.

Aiden opened his mouth, ready to retort, but then stopped himself. His lips pressed into a thin line as he forced his temper down. There’s no point arguing with this foul-mouthed, narcissistic bird, he told himself silently. At the end of the day, it’s just a bird. I won’t waste my breath on it.

With that, he fell quiet, letting the forest speak for him instead. Rainbow, lounging lazily on his shoulder, seemed pleased with himself, his eyes half-lidded in smug relaxation.

But suddenly, those glittering eyes sharpened. Rainbow’s head swiveled, and his mental voice rang out. I just spotted the bandage. It’s on the tree we passed a moment ago—the one stained with the blood of that inferior species.

Aiden’s heart leapt with relief. He spun around eagerly, his earlier annoyance forgotten. "Really? That’s great!" He broke into a quick stride, moving back toward the tree Rainbow had indicated. For once, he didn’t care about the bird’s constant disdain for chickens. The fact that they had finally found another bandage was enough to brighten his mood.

Aiden’s eyes lit up with urgency. "Quick, which tree are you talking about? Point it out!"

Rainbow stretched his wings and lifted off Aiden’s shoulder in a burst of color, hovering gracefully over one of the nearby trees. His rainbow feathers shimmered as he circled above, clearly marking the spot.

"That one," Aiden whispered with excitement. "Quickly, help me get it."

He had barely finished speaking when a mocking voice sounded behind him.

"Well, say something about dogshit luck. You even managed to find a bandage. But don’t get too happy—your luck ends here. I’m determined to take that bandage for myself."

Aiden froze. He turned sharply and found Carl standing there with a smug grin plastered across his face.

For a brief moment, Aiden considered replying, but he quickly decided against it. Talking to Carl was a waste of breath. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward Rainbow, silently signaling him with a subtle look. He couldn’t risk anyone realizing he could communicate with the bird.

Rainbow, understanding the unspoken command, swooped down. His beak clamped around the bloodstained bandage, and in a swift motion, he flew back and landed neatly on Aiden’s shoulder. With a flick of his head, he dropped the bandage into Aiden’s waiting hand.

Aiden grinned, triumphant. He gave a short laugh, ignoring Carl’s sour expression, and turned to leave. "Looks like my luck is good today," he muttered happily as he tucked the bandage away and continued walking deeper into the forest in search of more.

He had barely taken a dozen steps when someone suddenly shoved him hard from behind.

Aiden hit the ground with a grunt, the forest floor scraping against his palms. Pain shot through his body, and he groaned as he pushed himself up. Dust clung to his clothes as he finally managed to stand, his face twisted in anger. He turned sharply toward his attacker.

"What did you do that for?" Aiden yelled, glaring at Carl.

Carl only shrugged as if he hadn’t done anything worth mentioning. "Who said you could leave?" His tone was casual, but his eyes gleamed with arrogance.

Aiden frowned deeply. "Why not? It’s not like you own this forest. I can leave whenever I want."

Carl’s lips curled into a smug smile, his expression infuriatingly calm. "You’re right. I don’t own the forest. But you’re not leaving until you hand over that bandage."

Aiden tightened his grip on the piece of cloth. His brows furrowed as he shot Carl a sharp look. "I’m not giving it to you. I found it first, and I took it fair and square. Why should I hand it over just because you say so?"

Carl’s grin widened as he crossed his arms, completely unbothered by Aiden’s defiance. "Because Mr. John said we’re supposed to collect the bandages using our own abilities. And I plan on doing just that—by taking it from you."

The two boys locked eyes, the air between them charged with tension. Aiden’s chest rose and fell heavily, anger bubbling beneath his skin. He knew Carl wasn’t going to give up easily, but neither was he.