The mysterious blue-winged bird tilted its neck to one side. Its golden eyes peered into Genia's, as if reading every fear and every question hidden deep within her soul. It said, "Come with me, stranger. The place where answers are found lies hidden in the deeper reaches of this dense forest."
The bird's call had a melody that floated in the air like music.
Genia looked back at the dry riverbed. The place now seemed unsafe to her. She took a deep breath and followed the bird. The forest was changing. The trees had grown taller, their branches intertwined to form a natural canopy, allowing the remaining sunlight to filter through and fall to the ground like soft golden drops. There was a strange smell in the air—a mixture of old books, wet soil, and some unfamiliar scent.
As they continued, Genia felt her rabbit-beast ears twitching repeatedly. She heard a sweet chirping from somewhere in the distance, a sound that wasn't from any ordinary bird. Just then, a clump of trees opened, and Genia encountered a place that took her breath away. It was a vast natural bowl-shaped valley, surrounded by towering mountains. In the centre of the valley was a small pond, its waters glistening like silver.
But Genia's attention wasn't on the water, but on the creatures standing there.
"This...what is this?" Genia whispered.
Besides the blue bird, three other enormous birds stood there. They were as big as an ostrich, but their features were far more beautiful and ethereal. One's feathers were red like glowing embers, waving like flames with its every movement. The other's feathers were deep green, like the freshest leaves of a dense rainforest. And the third bird...it was completely white, so white that it looked like a piece of cloud that had landed on the ground.
As Genia approached, all four birds shook their necks in unison and began to move towards her, prancing in a strange rhythm. Their movements were so innocent and cute that an involuntary smile appeared on Genia's face.
"Despite being so big, you guys are so cute," Genia whispered.
The blue bird chirped softly and then said in a serious tone, "It's our nature to look cute, but our purpose is much deeper, Genia."
The red-winged bird began in his heavy voice. His voice sounded like the beat of an old drum. "We are not just birds. We were companions of the four servants of the Forest Goddess, who taught balance to this world. Mother Mara and her three sisters… when they left this Beast World, they left us here."
Genia froze at their words. She asked, "Why did they leave you here?"
The white bird, its voice like a cool breeze, stepped forward and said, "So that we can wait. Wait for the spirit that will come from another world. A spirit that has the power to reunite these scattered brothers. We are not just messengers here, but protectors of the peace that can restore this Beast-world."
Hearing this, Genia felt the ground beneath her feet. She just stared at them.
"So... does this mean that my coming here wasn't a coincidence?" Genia asked.
The blue bird shook its head and said, "Coincidences are not part of this world, Genia. You came here with a purpose. But that purpose will remain incomplete until you connect the links that time and hatred have broken."
Genia took a deep breath and put her hands on her waist. She said, "Okay, I accept that I'm here on a mission. But I don't know where to start. I'm in a house where two tiger-princes are fighting to make me their 'mate,' and another prince probably wants me out of the way."
The red bird narrowed its golden eyes and said, "If you truly want to bring those four brothers together, you must rely solely on your beauty or your words; that's not enough. You need proof. You need the knowledge that only the mothers who gave birth to them possessed."
"What do you mean?" Genia asked in surprise.
The blue bird replied, "First, you must find the message of Gia. Gia, who was Alex's mother. Her message is the first key that will tell you where the roots of this clan's hatred lie and what you must do next."
Genia wrinkled her head in confusion and said, "Gia's message? Where could it be? And how do I know if it's real or not?"
"That message isn't on any paper, but hidden in a place that only someone with true sympathy for Alex can access," the white bird said calmly.
Genia was silent for a moment, then remembered something. She looked at the blue bird and asked, "Wait a minute! How do you know all this? Have you been spying on everyone all this time?"
This time the red bird held its head high and let out a laugh that echoed through the forest. It said, "Spying? No, little rabbit. We are the Beasts, servants of the Forest Goddess. Our powers are beyond your imagination. We don't know how to fight, nor are we interested in war, but the winds are our spies. The rustling of the leaves tells us who is standing where, and the gusts of wind tell us all that is whispered in closed rooms."
Genia widened her eyes and said, "So that means nothing is a secret from me?"
"Your feelings, your worries, and the little chatter you make when you fall on the bed... we hear it all," the blue bird said mischievously.
Genia's face flushed with embarrassment. She said, "You... you guys heard it all too?"
The green bird, who had been silent until now, spoke for the first time, his voice sweet as the scent of earth.
"Don't be shy, Genia. We're not judging you. We were just seeing if you're really the person we were looking for. Your innocence and your courage are the qualities that can melt these stone-hearted Tiger-Beastmen."
Genia put aside her shyness and got straight to the point, "Okay, stop joking now. Tell me where Gia's message is?" T
he four birds looked at each other. The blue bird slowly waved its wing in the air, revealing a blurry shape.
"To find that message, you'll have to go to Alex's territory," the blue bird said clearly.
The smile vanished from Genia's face. She turned to stone. She asked, "What? In Alex's territory?"
"Yes," the blue bird assured. "Gia's message is hidden in the oldest part of her private space. There's a place even Alex rarely goes, but that's the only place where that message is safe."
Genia put her hands on her head. She was in deep trouble. "That's impossible! You guys don't know how obsessive Raghav is. If he even gets a hint that I've gone into Alex's territory, he'll take it as a declaration of war. He'll think I've chosen Alex."
"And Alex?" the red bird asked. "What will he think?"
"Alex is quiet, but he's cautious. If I enter his territory without informing him, he might consider me a suspect and have me imprisoned," Genia said worriedly.
The white bird said softly, "There's no change without risk, Genia. If you stay in your room, scared, you'll never know where your destiny wants to take you."
Genia sighed deeply. She could feel the valley's magical peace, but her mind was in turmoil. She said, "I'm in a situation where I have Kevin's passion on one side and Alex's vigilance on the other. And on top of that, James and Rexon... I don't know how I'll manage it all. I'm just a Rabbit-Beast; I don't have any magical powers."
The blue bird gently rubbed its head against Genia's shoulder and said, "You have a strength these four brothers don't—truth and compassion. And remember, you're not alone. All four of us are here. We'll show you the way, but you'll have to walk it yourself."
Genia looked at the four huge, colourful birds. They were reassuring her, but she knew the path was full of thorns.
"If Kevin finds out, he will attack Alex. And if Alex retaliates, this entire clan will be drenched in blood. Can I really take that risk?" Genia asked herself.
"You have to," the green bird said softly, "because if you don't, this fire of hatred will one day burn everyone. Gia's message isn't just a piece of paper; it's a promise. A promise that can reunite this clan."
Genia looked up at the sky. The sun had now completely set, and darkness was slowly enveloping the forest. She remembered that night was approaching, and night meant that magical waterfall.
"I have to go back now," Genia said. "If I'm late, either Kevin or Alex will be waiting for me outside my room and asking questions again."
The blue bird spread its wings to bid her farewell and said, "Go, Genia. But remember, Alex's territory has very strict boundaries. You'll have to sneak there. We'll give you a signal."
As Genia returned, only one thing was on her mind—Alex's territory. She knew she was playing with fire. She had become part of a game where one wrong move could not only cost her life but destroy the fragile relationship between the two brothers that was just beginning to mend.
"Oh my god," she muttered as she walked. "I just started reading a novel. Little did I know I'd find myself in a story where I'd have to be a detective, risk my life, and balance these giant beasts on top of it all."
As she approached her house, she saw a shadow in the distance. It was Kevin. He stood by the window, his golden eyes gleaming in the darkness, as if waiting for prey.
Genia's heart pounded. She adjusted her scarf and tried to feign calm. She knew she would have to use not just her beauty, but her cunning.
As she reached the door, Kevin's deep, heavy voice rang out, "Where did you go, Genia? I saw you waiting for so long."
Genia paused. She took a deep breath and looked back at Kevin. There was no fear in her eyes now, but a plan. "I just… went to get some fresh air, Kevin," she said, making her voice as soft as possible. "I was thinking about you and Alex."
A triumphant smile appeared on Kevin's face. He moved swiftly towards her, his gait filled with the confidence of a hunter. "And? What have you thought? Have you decided who your mate will be?"