Of Realms and Relics

When Crows Talk, You Listen

Lukens had only dreamt of a day like today. All of his hard work in the fields finally coming to fruition. His pockets heavier than he had ever known. He had sold every bit of wrath fruit and beer grass. Tonight was going to be a special night. Bet your best mule on that. Tonight he was going to go to Dykastra Tavern and finally make his play on the bar maiden that had caught his eye so many moons ago. Tonight he was a man on a mission. Tonight Pharen would finally know who he was, but why did he agree to buy that two headed crow from the weird exotic animal handler? What was he even going to do with it? Maybe he could impress Pharen with it. Yes!

That's it! He would show her that not only was he a hard worker and excellent business man, but also a caring man. Who else would own a two headed crow? Lukens. That's who!

He smiled to himself and jingled the coins in his pocket as he walked the country road, with the green rolling hills and bright sun surrounding him. This certainly was going to be the beginning of turning his life around. Vale might not know his name, but Pharen certainly would.

The two headed crow shifted its feet on his shoulder and raised its heads towards the sun, "I am a wizard! I am a thief! I hold secrets in my beak!"

Lukens tried to ignore it. Not even knowing what it was talking about. How could a bird be a wizard, let alone hold secrets in its beak? Who had taught this strange thing to speak anyways?

"Shut up, bird. You don't even know what a wizard is, and the only secrets you hold in your beak is whatever you've managed to eat." Lukens said.

What was he even supposed to feed this thing, worms? Did he have to feed it or did it feed itself? God's above, he really should have asked more questions before agreeing to buy this freakish creature. Maybe that was not thought out quite as well as it should've been. Perhaps he could sell it at the tavern tonight.

"I am Skritch! I am Skratch!" Said the crow as it adjusted its feet again.

"Gah! Shut up, bird...or birds? I don't even know, and now I'm talking to a two headed bird. What a day." Lukens said as he laughed out loud at himself.
"Ok boomer! I'm Skritch! I'm Skratch!"

It was so weird when both heads spoke. Surely someone would pay a few shiny coins for such a novelty.

Pallando's face lit with the soft pink light of the crystal ball. His long white hair tied back into an intricate braid and furry white eye brows and chest length beard given a pink hue from the light. He sat in his forest hovel, alone at his kitchen table. Sparse else in the small home. His light blue eyes focusing on the scene playing out in the far-seer ball. He chuckled to himself at the banter between Lukens and Skritch-Skratch.

He had wondered what happened to his feathered friend after leaving the nature realm. Now he knew. Their bond making it easy for him to find in the ball. He must've only recently come back to the realm of Vale. Such a shame he always turned into such a weird creature when he came here. Lukens was lucky to have him though. However, where was Lukens exactly? Surely something would give his location away. Farm land, country road...this could've been anywhere in the many valleys of Vale. He continued watching, searching for a clue.

Lukens continued his walk, with thoughts of how amazing tonight was going to be. He and Pharen would begin their love and life together. Of that, he had no doubts. As he walked with his thoughts in the clouds, Skritch-Skratch flapped his wings and cawed loudly.

"Bad, bad, bad!"

Startled by the sudden flap of wings Lukens stumbled over his feet. "What? What is bad? Can you hear my thoughts? Are you a magical bird?"

Skritch-Skratch flapped his wings again and both heads turned to look at Lukens. "Magical bird! I'm Skritch! I'm Skratch!"

Stopping, Lukens held his hand out towards the bird. Skritch-Skratch regarded it for a moment, then hopped on it. Lukens leveled his eyes with the birds. "Did you just say you're a magical bird? Are you a mind reader? A future seer?"