Emma felt the weight of that silence press upon her chest. She exhaled slowly, a pale puff of warmth spilling into the frosty air. Her unique white eyes wavered, shifting toward her companions. Jett’s lips were parted slightly in curiosity, her pale gray eyes gleaming faintly in the glow. Ron leaned forward as though ready to step closer, his hands buried deep inside his gray pelt coat. Liz stood with her emerald eyes unblinking, curiosity and calculation mingling on her face.

  Only Dan seemed apart from it all. His arms folded across his chest. His deep blue eyes, half-lidded, did not carry the same wonder as the others. His gaze wandered lazily toward the birds, more out of obligation than interest, and Emma could tell he would not have looked at all if not for Liz’s sharp presence beside him.

  Emma’s breath steadied. Her gaze returned to the flock of birds before her. They hovered in neat stillness, their bodies glimmering faintly like shards of glass. The silence pressed tighter, urging her to speak. She drew in another quiet breath, then reached out, not with her lips, but with her mind.

  So… what are your questions? she asked softly within herself, letting the words stretch outward toward them.

  A flurry of excitement rippled through the glowing birds. Their translucent wings quivered, and for a moment it seemed a dozen voices would all speak at once. Before they could, Emma lifted a hand quickly, laughing under her breath as she added, One by one, please.

  One of the birds dipped forward, its body flickering slightly as its voice slipped into her mind. Who are you creatures? Where are you creatures from?

  Emma’s lips curved faintly. Her posture eased, her head tilting. You can call us humans, She answered, her tone calm and deliberate so they would follow. She gestured lightly with her hand, pointing first to herself and then the others. I and two others here are only travelers inside this fruit. The other two.. the ones you’ve already seen also... they belong to this fruit. They are not strangers like us.

  The flock stirred in soft ripples of light. Then another bird tilted its glowing head, wings fluttering once. How is it that only you can hear and talk to us?

  Emma’s fingers brushed up against her scalp before she even realized, nails scratching lightly against her silver-white hair. A sheepish breath escaped her. Well… I unintentionally manifested the ability to hear anything, She replied. Her words carried with them the faint warmth of memory. Her thought trailed back to when she began her journey and forgot to ask Luna for directions, she also remembered what Luna told her. “Let your mind guide you on this journey,”. That voice still lingered faintly, as if carried by the air itself.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  The memory drew both comfort and sadness to her chest as she thought about it before concluding to the translucent bird question. That’s why I can hear you,

  A harmonious ripple echoed back. The birds all tweeted together, their bodies glowing brighter in unison as they chimed, Oooh…

  Emma felt a laugh escape her nose. But before she could respond, another bird darted forward with a flap of its shimmering wings. You are the smallest one here… Why is that?

  “Eh?” The sound slipped out before she could catch it, her mouth parting in startled confusion.

  The bird only stared, unbothered. Another chimed in from the side, its voice sharp in her mind. Your eyes are strange too.

  Emma’s lips twitched. She forced the corners upward until it resembled a smile, though the stiffness revealed itself in the edges. Alright, alright, She murmured inwardly, raising both hands slightly as though to calm them. I think that’s all of the questions I can answer for now.

  But her words did little to hold them back. Dozens of voices broke free, overlapping in a chorus.

  I have a question!

  I too!

  Play with us!

  Tell us about you!

  I have one as well!

  Their translucent bodies fluttered around her in circles, weaving patterns of glowing blue light that danced against her face and clothes. Emma could only smile faintly, the weariness in her eyes softened by their childlike persistence.

  The bird's glow swelled brighter. Their movements quickened, circling her in a shimmering storm of light. The sound of their tweets thickened until the air itself vibrated with it.

  Emma’s brows furrowed as she felt their tweetings change. The tone was different, now hurried, almost desperate.

  It’s time already. It’s time to go.

  No, I wanted to ask more!

  Me too, me too!

  I also still have one!

  It’s time already… sad, sad… we must go now…

  Their light shimmered too brightly for her eyes. Emma raised a hand to shield her face, her chest tightening at the words. She frowned deeply, her brows knitting as she asked through her mind, Time for what?

  The birds only flapped harder, their translucent bodies bursting with radiance until they blurred into streaks of white-blue. Their voices rushed together, fragments breaking apart as they called

  We have to go. We are going. Bye, bye. I hope we meet again another time.

  And then, like threads of light unraveling, they swept around her one last time. Their glowing bodies brushed against her shoulders, her hair, her coat as though bidding her farewell, with fleeting touches.

  One last time...

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