The Shards of War: Balancing Power

Chapter 9

As the group marveled at the Mother Roc and her chick, questions bubbled up. Terry couldn't contain his curiosity and asked, "Matsu, what are their names?"

Matsu, wearing a thoughtful expression, replied, "I don't give them names. They're simply the Mother Roc and her chick. I haven't found a need to name them."

Orca chimed in, "But don't you talk to them? Don't they respond to you?"

Matsu nodded, "Absolutely. We communicate through a kind of shared consciousness. Naming them would add unnecessary complexity. Our connection goes beyond words."

Blaze, still a bit skeptical, interjected, "So, you've got a dual summon contract with them? What's that about?"

Matsu grinned, eager to share the intricacies of his unique summoning contract. "Exactly! It means I can summon them, and they can summon me. It's a two-way street. There was this one time when the Mother Roc summoned me urgently."

Intrigued, Marina asked, "Why did she summon you?"

Matsu recounted the tale with vivid detail. "It was when the chick was about to hatch. The Mother Roc had to leave the nest to find food. She sensed a potential threat and summoned me to guard the nest and the soon-to-be-hatched chick. It was an incredible experience, being transported to a distant land to protect a new life."

As he spoke, the Mother Roc nuzzled her chick protectively, and the chick chirped softly. Matsu's connection with these mythical creatures was not just about power; it was rooted in trust and mutual guardianship. The group listened intently, captivated by the magical bond Matsu shared with the majestic Rocs.

Then Orca asks to feel the Mother Roc and her chick, and Matsu says he'll ask the Mother Roc. He places a hand on the mother roc's huge wings and closes his eyes, and using their mental connection due to the dual contract, he asks the roc permission to touch her and her chick.

Matsu, with his eyes still closed, communicated with the Mother Roc through their shared consciousness. "Mother Roc, my friend Orca is curious and would like to feel your wings and the chick. Is that alright?"

The Mother Roc responded with a gentle, reassuring mental presence, granting her approval. She sensed the sincerity in Matsu's request and recognized that Orca posed no threat. Matsu opened his eyes and relayed the message to Orca.

"Orca, she's okay with it. Just approach slowly, and let her know you're there."

Orca, guided by Matsu's words, took careful steps toward the Mother Roc, extending her hands to feel the majestic creature's wings. The Mother Roc, displaying a remarkable calmness, allowed Orca to touch her feathers. Orca couldn't hide her amazement, her fingers gliding over the smooth, powerful wings.

Meanwhile, the chick, nestled close to its mother, observed the interaction with curious eyes. Orca's gentle touch elicited a soft chirp from the chick, almost as if it sensed her presence.

Matsu, watching the scene unfold, smiled. "It's an incredible experience, isn't it? The connection goes beyond just summoning. It's about trust and understanding."

Orca, still absorbing the moment, nodded. "It's beyond anything I imagined. Thank you, Matsu, for sharing this with us."

As the group continued to bask in the awe-inspiring presence of the Mother Roc and her chick, Matsu felt a deep satisfaction in being able to introduce his friends to the mystical wonders he had forged bonds with through his unique aura abilities.

Then Matsu carefully lifted the chick, cradling it in his arms. "Look at this little fella. He's growing fast for a chick." The chick emitted a soft, content chirp, seemingly comfortable in Matsu's hands.