Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 2205: The Thunderbird Clan II

”What method is unteachable? The boy is only fooling you,” the blue Thunderbird said, rejecting Grey’s answer outright.

The silver Thunderbird inclined its head slightly. ”You have a point. I have never heard of a technique that cannot be passed on.”

”Humans are cunning,” the blue one continued. Its feathers began to spread as its aura slowly unfurled toward Grey. ”He only wants to make himself indispensable so he can extract more benefits. That is why he keeps the method to himself.” It turned to Sir Astarot. ”Leave the boy with me for a day. I will have the technique out of him.”

The silver Thunderbird made no move to interfere. Its stance was clear enough. It would not stop its companion.

Sir Astarot’s eyes locked onto the blue Thunderbird. He said nothing, yet the air inside the great tree grew heavy at once.

Reynolds, standing beside Grey, felt the full weight of a Half-God’s aura press down on him. His knees threatened to buckle. He circulated his lightning essence with everything he had just to remain upright, sweat forming at his temples.

Grey did not move. The pressure washed over him without visible effect. His expression stayed calm, but a cold light slowly gathered in his eyes. Being threatened so openly left a bitter taste in his mouth and a sharp edge of irritation in his chest.

”Grey Dawson is a friend of the Dragon Clan,” Sir Astarot said at last. His voice was even, but a thin stream of hot smoke drifted from his nostrils as he spoke. With that single breath he dispersed the blue Thunderbird’s oppressive aura. ”It would be unwise to attack him.”

The blue Thunderbird’s feathers ruffled in clear displeasure, yet it relented. At a time when the Thunderbird Clan still needed the Dragon Clan’s support, openly opposing Sir Astarot was not a price it could afford.

The silver Thunderbird remained silent, watching Grey with its pale, pearly eyes.

One corner of Grey’s mouth lifted in a cold smile as he glanced at the blue Thunderbird. He made no effort to hide his irritation, nor did he offer any further explanation about why the method could not be taught. Then he turned to Sir Astarot and smoothed his expression into something more polite.

”It seems I will have to postpone the favor I wanted to ask until another time.” He brought out a small sealed item and passed it over. ”My father asked me to deliver this message to you.”

Sir Astarot caught the item and closed his hand around it.

With that, Grey turned and prepared to leave. Reynolds moved with him without hesitation. The hostility from the blue Thunderbird was open. Staying longer under those conditions was pointless. Grey had not come here because he needed their protection, and the favor he wanted from Sir Astarot could wait until the war was over.

Reynolds had been surprised by the sudden decision, but he agreed with it. Remaining in a place where a Half-God had just threatened them served no purpose.

”Grey, wait.”

Sir Astarot’s voice stopped them just as they lifted into the air. The Dragon Clan Leader looked genuinely taken aback. He had stepped in to defend Grey fully expecting the conversation to continue. He had not expected the young man to walk away so cleanly.

The two Thunderbirds were equally caught off guard.

The silver one’s eyes glinted with quiet amusement. It had clearly seen the cold look Grey directed at the blue Thunderbird and the complete lack of deference that followed. To turn and leave without giving any of them time to respond was unusually bold. The three beings inside the tree were all Half-God experts standing at the peak of the current world, yet Grey treated the threat as something he simply would not tolerate.

The blue Thunderbird, on the other hand, felt openly provoked. If not for Sir Astarot’s presence, it would have ended the insolent human brat with a single strike.

Grey and Reynolds halted in mid-air.

”Come back, Grey,” Sir Astarot said when he saw them stop. ”You came to see me, did you not?”

Grey turned around and nodded once. ”I did. But it is clear we are not welcome here.”

At that moment Void appeared on Grey’s shoulder, and the bunny leader settled on Reynolds’s. Their sudden arrival drew the eyes of both Thunderbirds. Sir Astarot, already familiar with the pair, showed no surprise.

The silver Thunderbird’s gaze lingered on Void with open curiosity, then shifted to the bunny leader. Both creatures carried an unusual presence that was difficult to place.

Sir Astarot spoke again, his tone measured as he tried to ease the tension. ”You are already here. Do not take this one’s words to heart. He has always spoken without thinking.”

Grey and Void both made soft sounds of amusement. A voice transmission slipped from the black cat to Grey, quiet and dripping with mockery.

’No wonder they call dumb people birdbrains.’

Grey nearly lost his composure. Void, for his part, was cackling under his breath, almost unable to hide his laughter.

Sir Astarot caught the transmission at once. As a Half-God, intercepting the private words of those weaker than him required little effort, especially when his attention was already fixed on them. He glanced at the two Thunderbirds. The blue one was still occupied with its own irritation, and the silver one seemed lost in thought. Neither appeared to have noticed.

Sir Astarot looked back at Grey, a complicated expression flickering across his features at the cat’s audacity.

”Sit,” he said finally, gesturing toward the interior of the tree. ”You mentioned a favor. Let me hear it.”

Grey remained still for a short moment. Leaving now would be satisfying, but it would also be a direct slight to Sir Astarot after the Dragon Clan Leader had publicly shielded him. That was not something he was willing to do.

In the end he turned and flew back into the tree, Reynolds following in silence. Void stayed on his shoulder, tail flicking once as they re-entered the presence of the three Half-Gods.