Chapter 107: "Feathered Fiasco: The Egg of Endless Annoyance"
The small glowing egg pulsed faintly in Sylvara's hands as the group descended from the chaotic battlefield of the chicken army. Despite Kazuya's insistence that they should hurl the mysterious artifact into the nearest abyss, Sylvara insisted on keeping it, citing something about "magic eggs being worth their weight in gold."
"I can already tell this thing is cursed," Kazuya muttered, glancing nervously at the faint glow.
"Relax," Sylvara said, tucking the egg into her satchel. "It's not cursed. Probably."
"Probably isn't reassuring," Kazuya replied, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, stop being such a baby," Ravynne teased, casually stealing an apple from his pack and taking a bite. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Before anyone could answer, the egg emitted a soft hum, then a burst of golden light. Everyone froze as the egg floated into the air, spinning wildly before exploding into a shower of feathers.
"What did I just say?!" Kazuya yelled, shielding his face from the glittering fallout.
A Feathered New Friend(?)
When the light cleared, a small, chicken-like creature with shimmering golden feathers hovered in midair. It had an oversized head, tiny wings that flapped with intense determination, and eyes that sparkled with an unsettling intelligence.
"Bawk-bawk!" it chirped, puffing out its tiny chest.
Sylvara leaned closer, studying the creature. "It's... adorable?"
"Adorable?" Kazuya echoed, pointing at the chicken-thing. "It's floating! Chickens don't float!"
"Correction: magical chickens float," Sylvara said, giving him a smug look.
The chicken-creature squawked indignantly, then zoomed toward Kazuya, landing on his head and settling in like it owned the place.
"Get it off!" Kazuya cried, flailing as the creature held on tight.
"I think it likes you," Ravynne said, laughing so hard she nearly fell over.
"Of course it likes me," Kazuya grumbled, glaring at the amused expressions of his companions. "Everything ridiculous always does."
The Egg's Legacy
After a failed attempt to remove the chicken from Kazuya's head—resulting in a comical chase around the camp—they reluctantly accepted the creature as part of the group.
"We'll call it Cluckles," Ravynne announced, grinning.
"Absolutely not," Kazuya snapped.
"Too late. Cluckles it is," Sylvara said, smirking.
Cluckles squawked triumphantly, clearly pleased with its new name.
As they resumed their journey, it quickly became apparent that Cluckles wasn't just a magical nuisance—it was an endless source of chaos. From stealing Sylvara's enchanted hairpins to pecking at Kazuya's food, the creature seemed determined to drive them all insane.
An Unexpected Encounter
While traveling through a dense forest, the group stumbled upon a clearing where an elegant woman in flowing robes was tending to a garden. Her presence radiated calm and wisdom, but there was also a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
"Welcome, travelers," she said, her voice as soothing as a summer breeze. "I am Lady Featherlyn, Keeper of the Forest."
Sylvara's eyes narrowed. "Why do I feel like this is about to get weird?"
Lady Featherlyn smiled knowingly. "Because it is."
She pointed at Cluckles, who was currently perched on Kazuya's shoulder. "That creature you carry is no ordinary chicken."
"We've noticed," Kazuya said dryly.
"It is a fragment of the Great Feathered Spirit," Featherlyn explained, "and it has chosen you as its champion."
Kazuya groaned. "Why does everything weird have to choose me?"
The Trial of Feathers
Lady Featherlyn informed them that, as Cluckles' champion, Kazuya would need to undergo the Trial of Feathers to unlock its full potential. The trial involved navigating a maze filled with magical traps, solving riddles, and—most importantly—embracing the power of chicken-themed puns.
"Chicken-themed what?" Kazuya asked, horrified.
"Puns," Featherlyn repeated, her serene expression never faltering. "The Great Feathered Spirit adores wordplay."
Inside the Maze
The maze was a labyrinth of hedges, glowing runes, and absurd challenges. At one point, they had to cross a bridge that only responded to jokes about eggs.
"Why did the chicken join a band?" Ravynne asked, stepping onto the bridge.
The runes glowed brighter.
"Why?" Kazuya asked reluctantly.
"Because it had the drumsticks!" she declared, earning a cackle from the bridge itself.
"This is ridiculous," Sylvara muttered as the bridge solidified enough for them to cross.
The challenges only got more absurd. At one point, Kazuya had to wear a chicken costume and perform a "chicken dance of valor" to unlock a magical gate. Ravynne recorded the entire thing on a crystal orb for "future reference," much to his dismay.
The Final Pun
At the heart of the maze, they found a pedestal with an inscription that read:
"What is a chicken's favorite type of music?"
"I swear, if it's another stupid pun..." Kazuya began.
Sylvara smirked. "Country?"
The pedestal glowed faintly but didn't activate.
"Rock?" Ravynne guessed, earning another faint glow.
Kazuya sighed. "It's bawk'n'roll, isn't it?"
The pedestal lit up brilliantly, revealing a golden feather. Cluckles squawked excitedly and flew to the feather, absorbing its energy in a burst of light.
The Aftermath
As they exited the maze, Kazuya's face was a mix of exhaustion and resignation. "If I hear one more chicken pun, I'm going to lose it."
"Don't be so egg-stra," Ravynne teased, grinning.
"You're on thin ice," he warned.
Cluckles, now glowing faintly, let out a triumphant squawk as they left the clearing.
"Congratulations, chosen one," Lady Featherlyn said, her eyes twinkling. "You've proven yourself worthy of the Great Feathered Spirit's blessing."
Kazuya groaned. "This had better be worth it."
"It will be," Featherlyn assured him, her serene smile turning mischievous. "Eventually."