Quoted By:
> Continue on to Bird Tower
Mel waved her goodbyes and set off. She skimmed through her reassembled section of ‘Initiate Mysteries of Ava’ and read through the opening as she tread the familiar path.
<span class="mu-i">
There can only be true peace within the Glory of Ava. This is the fundamental truth of Ava, the golden rule, the ultimate promise. Others will try to dissuade you from this path, from the true peace of the skies, hedonists, heretics, nonbelievers, and fools. Do not listen to their lies! When Ava sweeps across the land her wrath will lay waste to these charlatans and the silver stair to her domain shall appear, leading the believers to her land beyond the stars!
By reading this book you have taken the first steps on the path to enlightenment. Now brother, take up the blue and begin walking down the road. Soon you will soar in the clouds, enjoying the gifts of Ava. No longer will the mundane chain you, only the righteousness of Ava will fill your heart.
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Mel pocketed the cobbled together book as she started into the valley, the bird tower coming into view. A great golden bird in the sky, offering peace and enlightenment. And yet here they were, rotting away in a hidden valley. Whoever the god of worms was apparently had other ideas. Of course their temple was a collapsing ruin as well. Best to have nothing to do with gods.
She entered the tower of birds again, skirting around the bodies, eyes searching up high for the owl. It had seemed civil enough, but it had made its demands clear, and she didn’t want to cross it without being ready. Place seemed fairly abandoned at the moment but…
“Who.”
Mel stiffed as though struck and turned slowly, looking up. Perched over the door frame, directly above her, the owl peered down.
“Hey there.” She grinned with her mouth, although it didn’t reach her eyes. “How’s the uh, the guardian thing going?”
The owl peered at her and preened a feather.
“The grounds are free of those who would do harm to the students of the tower, or desecrate their remains.” It peered down at her, pupils narrowing. “Endeavor to keep it that way.”
“Of course. The uh…bodies of the intruders though…”
The owl extended its wings to full for a moment, taking up a staggering amount of space before folding back together. Was that just a yawn?
“You may remove the bodies of the intruders if you wish, and do with them as you will, their stink offends me. I await the day when an initiate of Ava arrives to perform the rites of passing for those under my care.” The owl launched itself off the ledge onto one of the higher floors above her. “Perhaps one like you, in the proper blue of the school, could be that initiate.” The owl’s eyes shifted for a moment…was it wiggling its eyebrows at her?
