Sneaky birdy

We told them what Baruba told us and gave them their Twin Wolf brothers. They were pretty understanding toward Baruba and readily accepted the gift.

In the following days, I read the book Baruba gave me. It explained the detailed step of making an ovzgal mask and how to make tattoo masks like mine better. ' Baruba work hard to make it.' I was in awe in front of the knowledge I was one of the two to have. There were different advanced ovzgal symbols representing complex intents I needed to learn. They were on a whole new level. The symbols I knew of were simple and defined simple words like light or hardness. However, what was written was linked to concepts. For example, instead of light dispersing around the symbol would, concentrate it into a laser. The concepts allowed a symbol to be more precise and powerful. The book's second part explained how to make a simple symbol or intent into one holding concept. But I knew I was far from reaching this point. Everything that had to do with concepts would give me a headache. In the last part, he explained how to tattoo someone step by step. 'I'll finally be able to become a true meitatù !'.

I was very excited to start practicing it, but before I had a task to finish : Noa's mask. In the last year, I developed several intents to make the second step of mask making. It was only four months ago I started creating it. I failed a lot. Most were destroyed because I would put too much intent into them. Besides, I wanted to add feathers to the mask. It was a bird mask, so adding some would make it more realistic and beautiful. The problem was I wanted the feather to last over time. I used the Colibec feathers that Ushha and Vae would sometimes bring back after killing one with their team. The feathers were very resistant, but if there were nurtured, they would weaken after a long time.

I needed to develop a particular intent that would delay them from withering. I didn't choose to make an intent that would make it completely stop it from withering because it would have been far more difficult. The more an intent goes against natural law, the longer and harder it is to get. But I didn't want to pass years creating. That's why I opted for the other solution.

After two months of hard work, I succeeded and made dozens of enhanced feathers. At the same time, I was also sculpting the wood, which would be the mask's base. Coincidently or not, the wood part of the mask was finished a day after I made all those feathers. I then added the feathers to the wood. I made tiny holes to put them in. I was stressed when I came to this part as I used the intent to make them one, like the one I used to merge a tattoo with an object. I never applied it for anything other than tattoos and didn't want to go through the whole process to make it again. Fortunately, it worked well, and the mask was finished.

I then started creating the draw from combined ovzgûn symbols that I would put on it. It took me about a month and a half. I was proud of the result. I could now only wait to see the result on the mask. It wasn't a complex intent, so I was pretty sure the result would be what I expected.

I decided that I would draw the tattoo on the mask today. So I put aside the book and started to head to the clearing, but Zala called me before I could step outside.

" Wait, Yal ! Are you going to finalize the mask ?"

" Yes"

"Then I'll be coming with you."

I frowned. I was going to the clearing not to get disturbed.

" Why ?"

" Because when you focus on painting, you will forget your surroundings and an enemy might wander there."

'Oh Yeah! That's true ! Last time there was an enemy scout very close to the tribe.'

" Alright, but don't disturb me."

"Of course !"

But before we started to head to the clearing, I heard a cute voice asking :

" Can I come as well ?"

It was Noa who heard the whole conversation. He knew I was making his mask.

I sighed, I really wanted to say no, but each time I looked at his cute excited face, my resolve would weaken. 'Noa is calm and wouldn't want me to fail his mask, so it should be okay.'

" Alright." He brightly smiled.

" And me." Said another voice not far behind.

I winced as I looked at Uzu. 'I go there because I want to be alone, is that too difficult to understand !' I couldn't refuse her. If I did, she would still follow us. That's how stubborn Uzu is. 'I might as well ask if any other would want to come.'

" You can come, but only if you are obedient and don't make noise. Otherwise, Zala will bring you back. Is there anyone else who wants to come as well ?"

Fortunately, there weren't. Thus we departed and arrived ten minutes later.

I sat down at the clearing center while Zala was sitting on a tree branch, closely watching Uzu. Noa sat just in front of me, observing each of my movements. It was very unsettling at first.

I closed my eyes and started to enter the right state of mind before opening them again, forgetting about the outside world. I proceed to draw the lines on the mask. No one disturbed me for the two hours I took to draw it. It went smoothly, the tattoo fully merged with the mask making it an ovzgal item. ' It's becoming easier !'. I was satisfied with the result. The mask was colorful, green, yellow, blue, and red. I made the beak ten centimeters long and slightly curved at the end like the Colibec. It had five big multicolored feathers placed around the mask. Smaller ones filled the space in between. It released a majestic aura.

Zala and Uzu came closer to get a better sight of it.

" Wow" exclaimed Noa.

Uzu and Zala were equally amazed.

" Can I have it ?" Shamefully asked Uzu.

" No, Yal made it for me," said Noa.

" That's right I promised him, but before I hand it to you I need to name it."

Uzu started to pout.

' I hate this part. It's a colorful mask, so why not call it that way? Stop Yal, you be a bit thoughtful !'

" I give this mask the name sneaky birdy mask."

Like last time nothing happened. 'Maybe my naming sense is a lost cause'.

But it didn't seem to Noa's thought as he repeated the name. I handed him the mask.

" This mask will make it easier for you to hide from others."

" Cool !"

It's a tier one ovzgal Item. I hope it could help him in the future. The sky started to darken so we headed back to the hut.

'It went better than expected. I should maybe attempt to make a second-tier mask ? Or should I try to make a tattoo mask first ?'