The Blue Bird

Chapter Seven: The Wisdom of Yéyé

As Mrs. Aurora sat by the pool, Jay’s diary clutched in her hands, her thoughts drifted back to her childhood, back to the ancient teachings passed down to her by her Yéyé, the first of the Azure. His wisdom had always been a guiding light for her, but today, his words felt especially close, resonating deep within her.

Yéyé was a towering figure in her life—both physically and spiritually. His presence was like the mountains themselves: ancient, immovable, filled with a kind of quiet power that needed no announcement. He was the one who had first introduced her to the ways of the Azure, the noble clan that had passed down their immortality, their grace, and their profound sense of responsibility for centuries. As a child, she had been in awe of him, of his wisdom, and of the way he seemed to always know exactly what to do, no matter how difficult the situation.

She could still remember the sound of his voice, deep and warm, as he imparted the most important lesson of her life, a lesson that seemed to echo through the ages.

“My dear Auroa,” he had said, his eyes kind yet stern, “life will bring you many people, of great people that are kind-hearted and those who carry evil in their hearts. Only God is the true judge, but one day, you will be tested. You will be called upon to be the judge.”

He had leaned in closer, his gaze piercing as he spoke the next words, words that had stayed with her ever since.

“The power of an Azure will connect you to a person who is deserving of our ways and the gifts we carry. But beware, for they can be good in heart or evil in heart. You must learn to see past what is shown and into what is hidden within. That is where your judgment will come from—not from what you see, but from what you feel, deep in your soul.”

She remembered how she had sat at his feet, wide-eyed and curious, not fully understanding the weight of what he was telling her at the time. “What if I choose wrong?” she had asked, her young voice trembling with the uncertainty of it all.

Yéyé had smiled, a soft, almost sad smile, as if he knew the burden she would one day carry. “Passing your Azure power to another is the most difficult choice you will ever make. Once you give it, you cannot take it back. It is a gift, yes, but also a sacrifice. You must be certain—your choice must come from a place of gratitude and peace. Not fear. Not desperation. Only then will you know you’ve chosen wisely.”

He had paused then, looking out at the horizon, as if seeing the future unfold before him. “It’s a hard choice, child, but one you will make when the time is right. And when that time comes, you will know.”

Auroa had lived by those words for over two centuries now. She had watched the world change, seen empires rise and fall, and through it all, she had carried the weight of her immortality with grace. The Azure power had kept her alive, youthful, and connected to the pulse of life itself. But it was not without its burdens.

She had seen the way others coveted it—how those with evil in their hearts sought to steal it for themselves, to use its power for greed and destruction. She had seen the worst of humanity, but also the best. There had been moments when she had come close to passing her power on, to giving up the life she had lived for so long. But each time, she had hesitated, unsure if the person before her was truly deserving.

Until now.

Reading Jay’s diary had stirred something in her. His pain, his loneliness, his struggle to find his place in a world that had always pushed him to the edges—it all resonated with her in ways she hadn’t expected. For centuries, she had guarded her heart, keeping herself at a distance from those around her. But Jay… there was something about him. Something pure, something broken, but still so strong.

She didn’t know if he was the one—if he was meant to receive the Azure power—but there was no denying the connection she felt. And Yéyé’s words echoed in her mind once again. ”The power will connect you to a person deserving of our ways.”

But deserving didn’t just mean kind-hearted. It meant someone who could carry the weight of the Azure power with humility, with grace. Someone who could use it to bring light into the world, not darkness.

The choice weighed heavily on her now. If she gave her power to Jay, she would lose everything. Her immortality. Her beauty. Her strength. She would age rapidly, her body catching up with the centuries she had lived in an instant. And in the end, she would fade away, her essence turning to dust, her spirit transforming into the form of the azure bird that had been the symbol of her clan for millennia.

But in return, Jay would be free. Free from the pain that had haunted him his entire life. Free to live fully, to experience the world as it was meant to be experienced. It was a tempting thought.

But was it the right choice?

“You must be careful, my child,” Yéyé’s voice whispered in her mind. “For the power can be a gift or a curse, depending on the heart of the one who receives it.”

And that was the crux of it, wasn’t it? Jay’s heart was good. She had no doubt about that. But he was also deeply wounded, carrying a darkness within him that he might not even be aware of. Could he handle the responsibility of the Azure power? Or would it break him?

Mrs. Aurora closed her eyes and took a deep breath, centering herself. She had time. There was no need to rush the decision. For now, she would wait. She would watch, listen, and learn. The choice would become clear when the time was right.

And when that moment came, she would have to trust her heart, just as Yéyé had taught her all those years ago.

For now, though, she needed to return Jay’s diary. He had trusted her with his most private thoughts, even if he hadn’t meant to. And she owed it to him to be there when he was ready to face the truth of who she really was—and what she had to offer.

As the morning sun continued to rise, casting long shadows across the pool deck, Mrs. Aurora stood up, the diary still in her hands, and began to make her way back to the resort. The choice loomed ahead, but for now, she would wait. Just a little longer.

And maybe, just maybe, Jay would find the strength to make the choice for himself.