Asta's Adventure

In a forest clearing, among dense trees, knelt a boy with ash-gray hair. His gaze seemed lost in emptiness, as if he were gazing at something very important and mysterious. But if you looked closely, you could see that a bird was perched like a throne on his head. The boy, pale as December snow, looked as if he had just been dropped off by the "Unlucky Express" carriage right in the middle of the woods—with misfortune in one pocket and emptiness in the other. The reason? He had… lost. Yes, he had indeed lost to this very cheeky bird.

If it weren't for the loud rumbling of his stomach, he might have continued to sit there, thoughtfully staring into space and embodying the essence of tragedy. But hunger took over. He sighed as if the weight of the universe rested on his shoulders, slowly got to his feet, and, swaying a bit, headed towards the church. What else could he do? He couldn't go any faster—he was as tired as if he had just run a marathon… backwards and knee-deep in mud.

He walked through the forest, observing how the sunbeams broke through the foliage, creating whimsical patterns on the ground. The wind whispered among the trees, and it seemed that every rustle concealed some kind of secret. However, his thoughts were occupied with only one thing—food. "I wonder if there's anything edible there?" he thought to himself as he glanced at his hands. "Crackers? Two weeks ago, I found one… but it seems to have become an ant vacuum since then."

Five minutes of leisurely walking passed, and Asta suddenly realized he was bored. There was nothing to do, and on the horizon—only trees and… the bird on his head. He looked at his feathered companion, who seemed to have seriously decided to rent his head as a VIP nest. "What a sly one you are!" he thought, and he extended a finger to stroke her. But as soon as he touched her beak, the bird turned to him with a look that clearly conveyed: better not mess with this lady. Her piercing, arrow-like eyes made him withdraw his hand faster than lightning strikes during a storm.

Asta frowned, as if solving a complicated puzzle. "Hey, what do you even want?" he asked. Then added, smirking, "Well, if you could talk… what would you ask for? An apple? Nuts? A new nesting set?" The bird tilted her head, looking at him as if he were a foolish child. Asta scratched his head: "Wait, you're a bird… maybe you want some wheat? Although where would I find wheat here? You do realize I'm just a regular guy without a food warehouse, right?"

Soon he noticed that the bird pecked at him every time he said something silly. Feeling a bit alarmed, Asta decided to interrogate her: "Listen, you understand me, right? Just nod once! Oh! You nodded! Got it! So, you're the smart one here. Why are you so smart? Have you lived your whole life in a library?" He babbled on, tossing one foolish question after another, until the bird turned her head and pretended to be utterly uninterested in his chatter.

When they reached the church, Asta thought it was time to set things straight. "Hey, isn't the forest your home? Why are you still with me?" The bird didn't respond but hesitated, as if contemplating something. Suddenly, she recalled how difficult it was to live in the woods during winter when it was cold and food was scarce. And this boy, although his place wasn't luxurious, had a home where he wouldn't freeze at night. As if making a decision, the bird shook her head, indicating that she didn't want to return home.

Seeing this, Asta suddenly asked, "You don't happen to want to be my friend, do you?" He began sharing his dream—of becoming strong enough to protect everyone he loved, as well as his great ambition of becoming the King-Mage. The bird nodded, and from that little gesture, he felt so happy that he unexpectedly hugged her tightly, pressing her against himself. The bird, taken aback, initially froze but then decided that boundaries had been crossed and defiantly began to peck him and tug at his cheek.

"Ouch! Ouch! Okay, okay, I got it, sorry!" he laughed, wincing at the same time from the pain. "What kind of friendship is this, if my friend keeps poking me with her beak? You could at least take a break from your pecking practice!"

After a bit of playful chaos, the bird returned to his head, where, it turned out, she was most comfortable. Asta pondered aloud: "Why my head? Is this some sort of 'Penthouse for Birds'? You probably know all the best resting spots, seeing how you settled in!" In response to yet another silly remark, the bird lightly pecked him on the forehead.

Just when his stomach began to rumble so loudly it could wake a sleeping bear, he remembered his goal. "Okay, let's continue our conversation later. First, let's eat!" And they entered the church.

When he stepped inside, people had already gathered. Everyone immediately noticed his appearance: his body had become muscular, at least for a ten-year-old, he was glistening with sweat, and on his head… sat a bird! No one had time to ask questions when Father Orsi, unable to hold back any longer, shouted, "Quick, to the bathroom! Run!"

Asta froze, like a clever mouse caught in a trap. Inside the church, everyone stared at him with curiosity, as if he had come from another planet. One of the parishioners, an old man with a beard, whispered to his neighbor, "Look at him, he's got a nest on his head! Is this a new trend?"

Asta dashed to the bathroom, where cold water awaited him like a refreshing cloud after a long trek through the hot forest. He quickly washed his face, and when he looked in the mirror, he saw a few feathers stuck to his forehead. "Well, what a twist!" he exclaimed, staring at his reflection. "First, I played 'Who Loses Feathers Faster,' and now… apparently, I'm 'The Guy with Bird Style'!"

As soon as he exited the bathroom, Father Orsi, arms crossed, looked at him reproachfully. "What's going on with you, boy? You're not planning to enter a funny hat contest, are you?"

"Father, it's not a hat, it's a bird! She's with me!" Asta replied, confidently pointing to his feathered companion, who had settled back on his head.

"I see, you're now the King of the Bird World!" Father Orsi laughed, wiping away a tear. "If you plan to rule, make sure you have plenty of seeds for her feeding!"

At that moment, Asta realized that with this unusual friendship, life was going to get a lot more fun. There was no doubt about it: he and the bird were set to embark on wonderful adventures, full of laughter, mishaps, and incredible encounters.

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This time, I tried even harder with the chapter; I hope you like it.