The sky was clear as if washed, the lake surface mirrored, and the manor stood isolated by the shore, with tall and lush reeds. Two figures cloaked in shadows hid within the reeds by the lake, observing the happenings within the noble manor. When the golden eagle soared with a proud "yo yo" call, the two simultaneously looked up, watching the majestic bird silhouette fade into the distance, whispering softly.
"Praise the Chief Divine! What a magnificent golden eagle! Such a wide wingspan, such powerful presence, and not afraid of people at all!"
A young secret guard widened his eyes, exclaiming in admiration.
"Praise the Chief Divine! This golden eagle was raised by the Princess and is called the Divine Eagle Ahuehuete. Divine Eagle Ahuehuete loves to eat fish but seems a bit afraid of snakes..."
The older secret guard recalled with a smile.
"It’s said to possess divinity, incredibly intelligent, able to recognize familiar people, and rember the location of its ho. Even if released thousands of miles away, it can return to the Lake Capital City!"
"Oh, Chief Divine!"
The young secret guard gasped, eyes flickering.
"In the past three years, the Lake Region started training ssenger pigeons. Could it be the inspiration brought by the Divine Eagle?"
"Yes! That was a suggestion from His Highness, said to be one of the divine revelations. However, despite raising hundreds of pigeons, only a handful can be trained to instinctively return. It takes ti to perfect the training thod for the ssenger pigeons..."
Saying this, the older secret guard licked his lips, recalling the taste of roast pigeon. In recent years, they had eaten quite a few pigeons.
"Pigeons only fly back one way, returning to the Lake Capital City from hundreds of miles away. While flying ssengers are quick, they’re not reliable. If an eagle attacks or a Hunter shoots them, they’re gone... It’s hard to know when they’ll really be useful."
"May the Chief Divine’s protection be with us! We still rely on ourselves for truly reliable ssengers."
The young secret guard nodded in agreent, speaking softly. Then, he squinted, gazing southwest, pondering aloud.
"The Princess isn’t in the Capital City. The golden eagle was heading southwest, perhaps to... the Temple of the Sun on the Holy Mountain?"
"Damn it, stop speculating! The Princess’s escort duties are arranged separately by His Majesty; we’re forbidden to ddle as secret guards."
The older secret guard’s expression turned serious, speaking coldly.
"Don’t overthink it, just act as if you don’t know! The focus now is to keep an eye on this noble manor and then report to Lady Snake..."
"Yes!"
The young secret guard pressed his lips tightly and nodded emphatically. The two fell silent, and tranquility returned to the reeds. Only occasionally did the croaks of frogs resound at the lakeside, waiting to hunt flying insects.
The golden eagle Ahuehuete spread its wings and soared, like lightning, quickly traversing seventy to eighty miles, arriving at the foot of the Alliance’s Holy Mountain. The golden eagle circled the tall Temple twice with sharp "yo yo" cries, scanning the ground’s mountain forest with its keen eyes, then suddenly brightened its gaze and fiercely swooped down!
With the sound of the whistling wind, it neared a hot spring on the ground, dropping the large fish from its claws. Then with a "swoosh," it landed on the ground, near a stone house by the hot spring.
"Yo! Yo!"
"Ahuehuete, you’re back!"
A charming figure in red appeared from the stone house, with a radiant smile. She opened her arms and embraced Ahuehuete, rubbing its little head vigorously. Then eagerly, she pressed Ahuehuete to the ground, reaching for the ssage scroll on its hind leg.
"Let see, what did he write in the letter. Oh, it seems to be a poem..."
Alisa’s bright eyes opened wide as she unfurled the cotton paper scroll gently, familiar handwriting appearing before her, filled with a longing aroma.
"The reeds stand bright and lush, white dew congeals as frost. The one I miss stands across the water. I must go against the river to find her, regardless of the obstructed, long road. I must follow the river to find her, she’s at the center of Lake Texcoco..."
Alisa read silently for a while, eyes gradually moistening. After a mont, she folded the letter carefully, placing it gently in her bosom, softly giggling.
"Oh my, what a mischievous monkey! Always writing such poems, unsettling the heart, yet unable to et. It’s been over a year and a half now, and even Xiu Hua is nine months old..."
Alisa muttered to herself for a while, smiling yet sowhat desolate. Ahuehuete tilted its head, watching its mistress’s shifting emotions with a puzzled expression. After pondering for a mont, it extended a claw, nudging the caught fish closer to the lady in red.
"Yo! Yo!"
"What a cute little golden eagle. Wherever it flies, it always keeps in mind."
Alisa’s eyes sparkled as she glanced at the fish at her feet. She embraced Ahuehuete again, rubbing its head, and softly asked.
"Ahuehuete, your eyes are the sharpest, just returned from the military camp of Tree Snake City. Tell , what’s that naughty monkey doing? Is he okay? Have both Snake Cities fallen?... When will he co back? Is there soone taking care of him..."
"Yo! Yo!"
Ahuehuete blinked, then raised its head, crying out crisply twice.
"Everything’s still fine! And who is the one accompanying him?..."
Alisa chuckled, seemingly able to understand. Releasing her grip, she turned and returned to the house. In a mont, she reappeared at the hot spring, dressed in a gossar-thin white short gown, donning a delicate feather crown adorned with Chagel feathers.
Misty vapors rose from the hot spring, ethereal as if among the clouds. By the water, a spirit stretched, her reflection mirrored upon the lake, softly singing and dancing.
"The reeds stand bright and lush, white dew congeals as frost. The one I miss stands across the water. I wait at the river’s upstream for him, no matter how slowly the days pass. I wait at the river’s downstream for him, right in the center of Lake Texcoco... like a lotus waiting for a hummingbird, blooming only for it!..."
The gentle, lodious song floated along the lakeside. The breeze rose, swaying the reeds by the lake in a gentle accompanint. A golden eagle perched by the shore, watching its lady by the water’s edge, unable to comprehend her mood. It rely tilted its head, listening to the rising and falling song, observing the unfolding and retracting petals, as if soaring amidst the clouds.
"Wild grasses cover the outskirts, the chill dew is dense. A beautiful one, as serene as the morning light. She will encounter and et with you, basking in the Divine Light, walking together through the long journey."
The song shifted smoothly, becoming another tune, also from a letter from Tree Snake City. Alisa stood on tiptoe, dancing the Mistec people’s Dance of the Deer, adding nurous graceful moves. Her rhythm was gentler, her movents more fluid, like the "Cloud Deer" dance. Such exquisite dance flourished by the tranquil hot spring, without an audience, only a docile golden eagle.
"Yo! Yo!"
Ahuehuete watched for a long ti, issuing two clear calls. Then, its wings spread open, soaring high into the sky, circling above the hot spring, as if dancing alongside its mistress.
Alisa watched the clumsy dancing golden eagle, bursting into laughter, her dance growing even more joyous. A woman and an eagle danced together for quite so ti until two clear cries suddenly resounded from the stone house nearby.
"Wah! Wah!..."
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