onepassingnight | The Bird of Truth

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The Bird of Truth

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom named ShinRa. It was an ailing land, for the king had been unwise and had used the resources of his land without a thought for the future. Much of the countryside was growing bare, and the people were weary and sad, though the king's soldiers assured that they didn't stop working.

The king had no heir, and he could have no children, so he asked the wizards of the land to make a perfect child for him, a child who could carry on his legacy and save his land. Whichever wizard made the most perfect child would become the court wizard, a position which carried with it much power and esteem.

The wizards created children of crystal, children of gold, and children of sunlight and moonlight, beautiful children and wise children, but the king wasn't pleased with these and had them sent away. Maybe they became great heroes, but this story does not speak of them. It was the wizard Hojo who decided to make a child of dark magic, the kind that most wizards know to stay well away from, for it can create horrible things: the magic of nightmares. The child's name was Sephiroth. His hair was of silver and his eyes shone like emeralds, and he could kill a man just by touching him, if he chose. For all that, he looked more or less like an ordinary child, and the king was pleased. Here was an heir who could fight his wars and restore his kingdom to its former glory.

The child was innocent, obedient, and perfect (but is anyone ever really perfect?) and to preserve him as he was, the king kept him in the castle, surrounded by tutors and servants. He learned many things, but the king ordered the tutors to teach Sephiroth only the things he wanted him to know.

But one day, a black bird and a white bird came to sit on Sephiroth's window, and they sang to him. Sephiroth liked the singing, so he opened his window for the first time (it was sealed shut, but he was very strong), and the birds hopped in. Sephiroth gave them some crumbs from his dinner, and the birds were pleased with this, and they became his first friends.

The birds told him all they knew about the world, many things that Sephiroth had never heard of before, and he became eager to learn more. He wanted to know about everything, especially about himself and where he had come from. "We don't know everything," said the black bird. "But you can ask the Bird of Truth," said the white bird, helpfully. "Though nobody knows where it is," the black bird concluded dourly.

Sephiroth concluded that the best way to learn everything would be to find this Bird of Truth and ask it some questions. He escaped from the castle by leaping down from the window that he had opened and landing lightly on the ground. One problem with the king creating a perfect child was that he was perfectly able to escape.

After he had run away from home, Sephiroth traveled through all the lands and had many adventures, and whenever he met someone new, he asked them politely, "Excuse me, do you know where I can find the Bird of Truth?"

[[OOC: Based on this story, but obviously changed a great deal and fused with Sephiroth's story. Any kind of character who wants Sephiroth to encounter them on his quest (in any capacity) is welcome.

Prose or actionspam replies both loved! Replies will come from

pinnaculum, my Tinyroth account.]]

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"No," said the first person the boy encountered on the road, a knight from a neighboring land, "But I searched for it for seven years in my youth. Indeed, once I had it in my hand, but it flew away again before I could recover my senses. I am older now, but I have not sought out that bird since those days."

She, for the knight was a woman, looked over the little boy, and suddenly it seemed to her that there could be nothing better than to join him on his way, for his eagerness and determination awakened some of her own again.

"Listen," she offered, "I will come with you, but when we find the Bird of Truth, I must be able to hold it in my hand again just long enough to ask one question. If you agree, I will be your faithful companion."

"For seven years?" he asked. That struck him as a long time, as he was barely seven himself, so it seemed like an entire lifetime.

He thought that her proposal sounded like a good one. He wanted to know the truth, but he did not want to keep the bird for himself or keep the truth from others. With someone to help him, he would be much more likely to succeed in his quest. He had never had a companion before, and he was eager to experience new things, so he nodded. "I agree," he said.

"Where was it, when you found it?"

"It was very far from here," the knight returned, "not in a neighboring village or even a neighboring lord's lands, but an entirely different counbtry altogether, called Econtra, ruled by a lord Warden."

"However, since that was so many years ago, and the road is completely blocked now, we must look elsewhere and trust to our diligence."

"I travel swiftly," she warned the boy then, "So we must find a horse for you so that you can keep pace with mine."

He nodded. If the bird was there so long ago, then there was no way of telling if it was still there. "I will not give up until I have found the bird," he said, for he knew that he would find no true answers back in the castle where he had been raised, where so many things had been kept from him.

"I do not have money for a horse," he said, for even though he was a prince, in his solitude he had not understood the need for money to purchase goods, or how that would truly work. Fortunately for him, as he was a magic child, his needs were few, but a horse was another matter.

"You are small," the knight decided after looking the boy up and down. "You can ride in front of me, and we'll go together."

It seemed important to start such a journey with this companion and in good spirits. The child's weight would be no extra burden to her own horse, a proud mount with trappings that were testament to her own family's status.

That struck him as a fair suggestion, and he did not mind riding with her.

"Thank you very much," said Sephiroth, with his princely manners. "I am pleased to have your help, Knight." He leapt lightly up onto the horse's back, and it was indeed a fine, large mount that could bear both of them easily. "What road do you think we should take, if the other is closed?" For though this seemed a fortuitous beginning, there was yet much that remained unknown.

"The most direct road is the road in front of us," the knight answered. "Let us try it first, and if it carries us to nowhere that can help us, we will try another." For she did not expect finding the bird to be the work of a day.

"Then let us go. If there is danger up ahead, I will be able to fight it." He was very confident in his ability to take on any enemy, because he was a perfect fighter, in spite of his small size. He had not brought money with him, but he had a sword, which was more important to him. The sword's name was Masamune, and it was a fine, long, narrow blade.

"I will not give up my quest until I have found the Bird of Truth," he said, determined.

"I also bear arms," the knight said, "If we are set upon by foes hindering our search, I will not hesitate to strike them down." She had her own reasons for this quest, after all, and she would tolerate nothing standing in the way of her goal.

They traveled far together by horse, but always, Sephiroth was mindful of the fact that the Wizard must be looking for him, and the King also. They were powerful men, and they would not rest until he was found he suspected. He considered telling the knight, but in the end, he decided he could wait until it was necessary.

Time passed, and the sky at their backs darkened. It seemed a storm was building behind him. The clouds were very black, and they crackled with lightning. There was something about it that did not seem like an ordinary storm.

The knight frowned at the strange sky. "These are not the right conditions for a storm like this," she noted, for as a traveler and often outdoors, she was used to studying the patterns of the weather.

It seemed to her an ill omen, but she did not give the thought much sway. It was a challenge she would meet instead.

"What is it?"

Sephiroth studied the clouds thoughtfully, frowning. No, there was nothing natural about this storm. He couldn't be entirely positive about the reason behind this weather, but he had a suspicion.

"I am not sure, but it could be the Wizard. I am from the Kingdom of ShinRa, and the King will want me to be returned home." Not that he'd mentioned this before, but he'd hoped it wouldn't become a problem.

"You should have said so before now!" the knight exclaimed. "You tried to deceive me, and I won't forget that."

She considered her own words, and that he was young. "You have one last chance," she decided finally. "If there's anything else that could be an obstacle to our journey, say it now."

The inventor lived alone in the house where he'd grown up. It had been a small house when he'd been small, but he'd added room after room to it over the years, so that now it was very large indeed. Reeve, for that was the inventor's name, lived and worked in a few rooms, and his mother lived in a few more, but the rest were always empty-- except for the many cats (the inventor liked cats) who came and went as they pleased.

Since they had so much spare room, the inventor and his mother took in all kind of boarders. Some stayed only one night, others came and went like the cats. Being a kind man, Reeve took in payment only what each guest could afford to give. It wasn't a rich house, but it was a generous one. Some guests did chores to pay for their beds, and to help Reeve and his mother, but Reeve did the bulk of the upkeep himself-- everything from mending the cooker to gathering wood for each room's fire.

One day, gathering branches by the side of a road near the inn, Reeve saw a strange child. Only a boy. A who looked purposeful, but also tired and hungry. Raising a hand (after shouldering his load of sticks), he had hailed the young man-- only to have the boy ask after a bird. The Bird of Truth.

"I haven't heard of this bird, I'm afraid. But I do know hunger and a need for rest when I see them! There are travelers from many lands at my inn-- why not ask after the Bird among them? I can promise you a meal and a bed, if not the answer you seek."

It was true that he was tired and hungry, for although he was a child of magic, he was still a child, and he did tire, though he had gone much farther with much less than any ordinary child could have, and he could likely go farther yet.

He let out a deep breath. "Thank you. I will ask the people at your inn." Travelers would likely be the best people to ask. "I have traveled very far," he said, "but I have no money to pay you with." He had lived such an isolated life, he had not thought to bring money with him. Most people seemed to require money for any service, which made him feel fortunate that he needed so little, being so close to perfect. "Perhaps I can do something for you in return, instead."

Reeve, smiled down at the boy.
"I'm Reeve, by the way. I feel sure we were meant to meet, or at least that I was meant to meet you! The first thing you can do for me is to follow me back to the inn. I'm sure my mother and i can find something for you to do-- after you've had a bath, a rest, and a hot meal, that is."

The boy didn't so much follow Reeve as walk alongside him, but for all that it was a fairly quiet walk. Reeve, being a naturally curious sort of man (for who else becomes and inventor), long to ask Sephiroth all sort of questions, but he was also the polite sort of man, and he had other ways of gathering information than asking personal questions outright.
At last they arrived at the inn. Reeve stood a moment, gesturing towards the tall building, which for all its haphazard additions, had a bit of grace about it.

"Well, here we are! What do you think?"

"My name is Sephiroth," said the prince. "It is nice to meet you, Reeve." He paused to digest what Reeve said. "Is it possible people are meant to meet?" It did not seem logical or in accordance with what he had learned that you could be meant to do something before you did it, especially something so random as meeting someone.

In spite of his doubt on this point, he nodded and went with Reeve, and stood still and studied his inn as requested. "It is interesting. I have never seen a building like this before. Who built it?"

"Well, normally, I'd agree with you, Sephiroth-- but even though I trust science and magic to guide me to understanding, I'm not entirely willing to discount intuition! It has is place, and inviting chance can sometimes bring great rewards.

As for the Inn, I built her myself! I'm proud to say she's sound, as well as uniquely beautiful.
Welcome to my home. Follow me!"

Reeve led the way towards the Inn, but he didn't enter by the front gate, instead he took Sephiroth with him around to the kitchens in the back. He needed to unburden himself of his wood-- and he was in search of some hot water and food for his guest.
Having found a young man who was able (bald and brawny, he seemed serious and responsible, if a little intimidating, but he did enough work for two men-- which was just as well, as Reeve thought his companion, who was red-haired and roguish, might be thief, but no one had complained thus far) and willing to carry both bath water and supper to the room he'd found for Sephiroth, he ushered the boy up the stairs, chatting all the way, seemingly oblivious to the cats winding around his ankles.

He wasn't sure if he agreed with the innkeeper, but he didn't wish to be rude, so instead, he said "Thank you," again. He was a prince who always remembered his manners. He went with Reeve quietly, without complaint or question, watching the cats silently with eyes that looked very like theirs. He was not given to speaking a great deal, unless there was a need.

When they reached the room Reeve had chosen for him, he spoke again. "I will stay for a night, but I can stay no more." It might be dangerous for him to stay too long anywhere. After all, he was very important to the King and the Wizard. They would be looking for him.

Reeve was very curious about his very curious guest. The boy had excellent manners and noble bearing, but he seemed more than simply serous minded-- Sephiroth seemed weighted with some secret care. This would account for the quest the boy was on, surely. The Bird of Truth...

Having reached the room at last, Reeve entered before his guest. He opened the shutters and curtains and stoked the small fire.

"Well, here we are! Make yourself at home. For one night, or for as long as you like. Though I imagine that what you seek is a difficult thing to find, and might not look at all like you expect if you do find it. The Truth can be like that, I'm afraid."

The knight was a strange one--he owed no allegiance to any king, no ties to any land. However, he was sought after for his intelligence, for he had the ability to solve any mystery, although he rejected most who came to him on the basis that they were far too boring. Some said it was magic, but the truth was, it was simply keen perception. Besides, he wasn't very keen on magic anyway.

But the Bird of Truth...well. He'd heard tales of it, of how many of those who tried to seek it out either returned unsuccessful and were lost forever. And there had been a drought of mysteries and interesting crimes lately, so why not?

The boy who had wandered off the path and into his modest (yet somewhat macabre) house, the one he thought was rather boring, was suddenly a lot more interesting.

"No," was his reply, as he set down his violin. "But I have a theory."

Sephiroth studied the interior of the knight's macabre house. It was very unlike the castle, but he was interested in all the odd items to be seen within it. He had little fear (except perhaps of the wizard) but endless curiosity.

He had not heard of the knight's renown, but that was not surprising, as all that he knew of the wider world had been told to him by two birds, and birds were not known to pay ample attention to knights, much more interested in the weather and the way south. However, he was impressed with the man's manner and his sure way of talking. He seemed like someone who certainly knew a great deal. The announcement of the theory, too, was heartening, for no one yet had had any clear idea where the Bird of Truth might be found.

"You do? What is it?"

Don't ask where he got the severed head sitting in ice, or the dead rat currently decomposing, or the human eyeballs in a special container near the fireplace, then.

"I believe it's situated near a castle of metal by the sea, though the castle is said to be guarded by an ogre of a terrifying temperament." He wasn't scared, though, simply skeptical. He'd run into one or two ogres before, but they were just as idiotic as everyone else he'd encountered, only much more prone to violence and less willing to listen to the truth. "Most likely, the ogre is simply a rumor, though with all the advancements lately, a castle of metal isn't too far-fetched a notion."

Sephiroth looked over the severed head, the dead rat, and the eyeballs before asking, "Are you a wizard?" This seemed to make sense to him, because the Wizard Hojo had all these things and more in his quarters. He wasn't particularly fond of wizards, but he knew that there were great and wise wizards as well as the more disreputable and neurotic ones like the wizard he was most familiar with.

He listened very carefully to the knight's words. He, too, wasn't impressed by the idea of the ogre. "I am not afraid of ogres," he said. As a perfect prince, he didn't have many fears at all, for what need did he have of fear? "If it is a rumor, perhaps something else guards it instead?" Since an ogre seemed so small a threat.

"I must find this castle of metal," he decided, "if there is a chance the Bird of Truth is there. There must be a way inside."

He snorted. "I am a knight," he replied. "Or rather, a consulting knight. The Duke's forces come to me whenever they find themselves out of their depth, which is always."

And as for the child...

"As it happens, I've drawn up a map, based on what I've learned." He walks on over to his messy table, carefully takes out a map. "I'll accompany you there, on one condition."

"I've never met a consulting knight before," said Sephiroth, who hadn't even heard of one before. "Are there many of you?" He doubted that there were, as it seemed a curious occupation, based on what he knew of knights. "I am a prince." Well, maybe he was something more than that, but he couldn't say for sure. That was why he needed to ask the Bird of Truth.

He glanced eagerly at the map as the consulting knight picked it up, but he knew enough to know he shouldn't be too hasty. He may have lived a sheltered life, but he was not without any wariness. "What is your one condition?"

"I'm the only one in the world. I invented the job."

A prince. Huh, that was somewhat strange, but he'd been approached by royalty before, if it was rather infrequent.

"If there is a Bird of Truth, which I very much doubt, then I'd like to ask it one question. After that, you're free to do as you wish with it."

"I did not know you could make up a job," said Sephiroth, who had thought that people generally filled the roles that had been chosen for them. Though he had escaped the castle, he had retained the title of prince regardless. "I will have to invent one for myself." Though he wasn't sure yet what that would be.

"Why do you not believe in the Bird of Truth?" Sephiroth asked. Though he had met those who hadn't heard of it, or weren't sure, he hadn't met any others yet who knew of the bird yet doubted it so strongly.

"I haven't seen any proof of it yet. Unless I find irrefutable proof of its existence, it's only a myth spread by travelers who happen to have drunk one too many tankards of ale."

And other people, of course, but he's sure that drunken travelers are the most common medium. Which is fine, really--sometimes they yield some useful information while inebriated.

"You do not believe anything without proof," he said, thoughtfully. This seemed like a good idea to him. He decided that the consulting knight must be very wise indeed. "It is true that I've only heard stories about it. Then I will look for proof as well as for the bird." The bird itself would be the greatest proof of all, but maybe he could find other proof along the way which would be helpful. "But if there is no bird, I don't know how I can find the truth." That was a puzzle, but he could deal with that problem if he came to it.

"I accept your condition. In what direction can this castle be found?" He glanced at the map to see.

"North." And he's already shrugging on his armor and going outside for his valiant steed.

...or, well, a valiant steed.

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The Bird of Truth

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