The Thunderbird Hatching

At the center of the clearing stood an ancient altar covered in vines, basking in sunlight as it always had.

Wizet had used this altar before, so he naturally remembered what needed to be done to awaken it.

He and Luna stood on either side, placing the crystals they had prepared into the grooves. Invisible magical ripples spread softly outward, shaking away the dead branches and fallen leaves around them.

"Water-Fire Immunity!" Wizet and Luna pointed their wands at each other. With perfect coordination, they cast the Water-Fire Immunity Charm to guard against the coming rain.

The Thunderbird egg seemed to sense something and began rocking restlessly, while the surrounding air gave off an extremely faint crackling sound.

The dry yellow leaves on the ground were affected as well, as though drawn by some invisible force. They fluttered gently around the Thunderbird egg.

There seemed to be a pattern to the leaves' movements. Whenever their fluttering intensified, tiny sparks or points of light would appear, only to vanish in an instant.

"Jupiter..." Luna crouched down and spoke patiently to the Thunderbird egg. "It's about to begin..."

The Thunderbird egg had clearly heard Luna. It stopped rocking restlessly and began bouncing up and down instead, just like the leaves circling it.

The egg looked like a child standing before a stove with a plate in hand, eagerly waiting for food to be ladled onto it.

While Luna comforted the Thunderbird egg, Wizet was not idle. He raised his wand toward the ancient altar and poured Ancient Magic Power into it.

As Wizet infused the altar with Ancient Magic Power, the crystals embedded in the grooves took effect.

A faint sound arose as the Runes covering the ancient altar lit up one after another, bathing the entire altar in a silvery-blue radiance.