By the time they reached the capital's outer gates, the crowd was immense. Thousands had gathered. Trumpets blared. Petals rained from above. Children danced while tossing boiled eggs like confetti.
Kyle stuck his head out a little from the wagon.
"Be careful, it could cause a bump if it hits your head."
Just then he looked at the front, a robed archbishop with a six-foot staff stepped forward, flanked by nobles and knights.
He jumped down the wagon.
"We welcome thee, Oh Embodied Flame of Renewal!" the bishop cried. "Praise to thee and thy glorious companion!"
Kyle opened his mouth to reply, until he realized the man was not even looking at him.
"Uh-oh… Its really happening… the real henchman."
He was looking directly at the chicken.
It blinked regally.
The crowd went wild.
"ALL HAIL THE HOLY HEN!"
"Praise be Her Feathery Grace!"
Kyle stood frozen as they rolled out an actual red carpet for the chicken.
Guards cleared a space and lead the way.
The bishop knelt, held out a polished bowl, and gently took the newest egg like it was the Holy Grail.
Then the system chimed again.
[ New Passive: Feathered Favoritism ]
Your chicken now generates more Worship Points than you per miracle. Adjust accordingly.
Kyle slumped. "I lost to a fucking chiken? Really?"
[ Optional Title Change Available: Herald of the Hen ]
[ NO ] [ YES I Refuse ]
He tapped No with dead eyes.
Lina appeared beside him with a radiant smile. "Isn't it beautiful? They even made me High Priestess of the Coop."
"You accepted that?" Kyle asked, "without arguing?"
"It came with a free hat," she said, adjusting a massive feathered crown.
Kyle gave up on all of this, he didn't argue.
The chicken clucked and hopped down from its throne, pecking lightly at the red carpet. The nobles took it as a sign of divine approval.
And Kyle?
Kyle simply followed after it, his robes dragging in the dirt, surrounded by thousands chanting his name second.
Only second.
To the chicken beside him.
The grand doors of the throne room opened with a deep, resonating hum. Polished marble floors like a sea of candy reflected the golden chandeliers above, and every inch of the hall glittered with divine symbolism. Wings, suns, halos, and far too many feathers carved into the walls.
Kyle stepped into the hall with a sigh, boots echoing under the high ceiling.
He was flanked by armored knights and followed by a parade of priests, villagers, and worshippers, all of whom held their breath as they entered the sacred heart of the realm.
And in the center of it all upon a golden dais beneath, a stained-glass window of divine judgment, sat the King.
His Majesty Albrion the Sanctified. Bearded, regal, and layered in robes that sparkled as if dusted with heaven's light rose slowly from his throne.
Murmur rippled through the gathered nobles, advisors, and high clergy.
"That's him… he is the one."
"The Great One of Blue-Flame…"
"The one who silenced a royal envoy…"
"But look, he's not alone…"
Kyle shifted uncomfortably as all eyes fell not just on him but on the creature perched peacefully on the velvet pillow beside him.
The Sacred Chicken of Ember's Hope. Its feathers glistened, its beak lifted in silent majesty, its aura aglow with reverence.
The king moved forward. First one step, slow and solemn… then the next.
Silence fell in the room.
And then, to Kyle's horror, the King dropped to one knee.
No. Not to Kyle obviously.
To the chicken perched peacefully on the velvet pillow.
A wave of collective motion followed as the entire court, nobles, guards, clerics, bowed in unison.
"To the Herald of Providence…" the King said solemnly, eyes shining. "We offer our devotion."
Kyle blinked.
He looked at the chicken.
Then back at the kneeling King.
"Wait. No, no, no. Are you really bowing to the chicken?"
The King raised his head with reverence. "Your Great One, we have long awaited your coming in avian form."
Kyle's mouth fell open. "I'm sorry, avian form?!"
A nearby bishop, white-bearded and trembling with awe, stepped forward. "It was foretold in the Third Egg Gospel: 'The Flame shall be reborn upon wings of humble plumage. And the world shall know peace through peck and yolk.'"
"What gospel?!"
"Sacred verses, passed down by the Holy Cluckian Order."
"I have never heard a stupider… wait, Cluckian?"
The King rose, hands raised in prayer. "May the Feathered Flame bless this land, as He has blessed His chosen vessel."
Everyone looked at Kyle.
Kyle pointed at himself.
"Wait, you mean me, right? I'm the chosen vessel?"
A cardinal stepped forward, nodding solemnly. "Indeed. A noble mount, worthy of bearing the Feathered One."
Kyle stood there, stunned. "You're calling me the chicken's mount?!"
The chicken fluffed its feathers.
Someone began chanting.
"Feathered Flame! Feathered Flame!"
Kyle pressed a hand to his forehead.
[ Worship Points +250 ]
[ BP +2 ]
[ Your Sacred Chicken's favorability has increased. ]
[ New passive unlocked: Divine Pack-Beast ]
Carrying the Feathered One grants bonus resistance to heresy.
Kyle glanced at the system window, then down at the chicken.
The chicken clucked softly and laid another egg.
The King wept.
"A Holy Egg," he whispered. "In the very presence of royalty. A blessing upon our house..."
Kyle took a deep breath.
Then muttered under his breath, "At this point, I'm just a glorified chicken taxi."
The chicken cooed in agreement.
And Kyle?
He is more silent now. He simply exhausted, and have no more stamina to argue.
He just… exhaled.
He muttered. "If this has to happen, let it be, I don't know anymore. I give up"
***
The rituals began at dawn.
Incense filled the air. Priests in golden robes chanted ancient poultry hymns, lyrics which included the words "cluck" and "praise the yolk" far too often. The chicken was carried on a velvet platform, held aloft by six armored paladins whose shields bore her feathered likeness.
Kyle watched, sitting off to the side on what was apparently his "Vessel's Bench."
[ You are not the main character of this ritual. Please enjoy your supporting role. ]
"Gee. Thanks, system."
Lina sat beside him, hands clasped reverently. "They're doing it wrong. Kyle is the true sacred one. The chicken is only sacred because he named her."
"Tell that to the Feather Choir," Kyle muttered, gesturing to the twenty robed singers harmonizing in clucks.
The king held up the Sacred Egg with trembling hands. "Behold! Proof of the Flame's blessing!"
The crowd roared. Someone fainted. A goose tried to join the ceremony and was promptly exorcised.
Kyle covered his face.
The knight leaned against a marble pillar nearby, arms crossed.
"This is insane."
Kyle groaned. "You're the one who put me in this situation no?!"
"But still, you're the chosen one. I have to fulfill my duty as a princess of the kingdom."
"Oh, so you are really his daughter?" He glanced at the knight. "Aren't you ashamed to see your father worshipping chicken like that?"
"No matter what, he is still my father, I love him."
He teased. "Okay daddy's darling, can you tell him not to overdo the chicken like that?"
The knight stood up. "That would violate the traditions passed down from my ancestors, no. I wouldn't."
"Ancestor, feather, chicken, egg…" He exhale. "I'm tired of this shit."
"But still, this is insane." Alya smile.
Kyle grunted. "Welcome to my cult, my religion, maybe soon my kingdom too? whatever you wanna call. I didn't choose it. It dragged me."
[ Title Acquired: Reluctant Apostle ]
Then the final blessing was announced.
A crown crafted entirely of gold and egg shells was placed gently atop the chicken's head. Bells chimed. Petals rained. A choir hit a high note that cracked nearby stained glass.
Kyle was given a sash.
It read: Cluckbearer in Eternal Flame.
"This is a prank right? This entire world is a prank." He stared at it. "Right?!"
The chicken sneezed.
The bishop wept.
And so the kingdom rejoiced.
Their messiah had arrived.
Kyle rubbed his temples, then cleared his throat. "So. Where exactly am I staying now? The castle?"
The king smiled. "Nay, oh Flame-Vessel. We have prepared the Grand Roosting Temple for you."
Kyle blinked. "The what now?"
"It is the second holiest site in the kingdom, just beside the Sacred Nest."
"You built me a coop?"
The bishop beamed. "A coop-palace. For you and the Feathered One. It is the most sacred place we can offer to you, there is nothing better than receiving our good intentions."
Kyle stared at them all. "But… is there any chicken ornament for furniture with chicken or egg shape?"
"Everything there is sacred, so all the shapes and images will resemble the sacred feather itself."
He uttered. "Oh… I'm doomed."
"But if you want to change the bed or maybe need something to perform the ritual of uniting yourself with your partner."
"No."
"But in the end what we hope for is the birth of another sacred chicken."
"Nope."
"That's all we ask for, and we will wait for it even if it takes a long time, whether it's a month, a year or even a hundred years."
Kyle thoughts.
If I can take advantage of their stupidity, maybe I can live in peace even though I'm just a supporting role for the chicken.
Then nodded slowly. "Okay. Fine. As long as there's a bed and no more choirs clucking under my window."
The bishop nodded with wisdom and trust and faith in Kyle and the furry one.
And Kyle? He just wanted to go somewhere normal at least.