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As you follow the flagging white, black-striped tail of Lady Reaper, you enter another subsection of the courtyard. In the center is a working fountain that doubles as a bench. "Now you sit here and hold out your hands," Lady Reaper moves you to the bench, "And I'll be right back." She pours a bag full of pastel-coloured seeds in your hand and saunters off.  You're not waiting too long when a flurry of feathers jumps toward you. The first of the birds is a giant blue flamingo. You remember the pink flamingos from zoos on Earth but this creature is easily much bigger! It's easily the size of a fullgrown emu but it seems to soothe you. As it approaches for your handful of seeds however, you're a little hesitant to leave your fingers so exposed. As it arches its strong neck, you're surprised by a fish that comes flying towards you. The flamingo easily catches it and swallows it whole. "Sorry traveller, I'm afraid these flamingos don't like seeds but these two birds do!" Lady Reaper waves at you as two more birds hop and flutter towards you.   The first bird has gorgeous pink and purple feathers while the second one is much darker in colour. Both birds greedily peck at the pastel seeds but you're amazed at how gently they grab the food from your hand. "The lighter bird is a Dawn Bird and the dark one is a Dusk Bird. Like the blue flamingo, they are natives of The Nameless Forest. Lady Reaper sits beside you and offers small fruit-like treats to the birds as they finish the seeds in your hands. She scatters a few along the cobblestone so you can both sit in peace and watch the birds. Lady Reaper looks up at the sky. "There's one more visitor to these courtyards I think you'd like to see." She points to the clouds in the sky and you stare up at them with her. A few silent moments pass, you lean back against the bench's stone backrest and then, out of nowhere, a fiery form crests in the sky.  The majestic bird could only be a Pheonix of legend. The wise bird that dies and is reborn in the sun's hot flames. He seems to pose in the air as the sun shines through the clouds. Flashing his brilliant wings, he blinds you momentarily and when your vision clears, he's gone. 
Back to the Castle Entrance Lady Reaper |
