"It would be unfair if you started a fight against Sam. How about we start with me as a fellow bird summoner?" bargained Barbro."Well, fine. No problem," said Eryk. "Whichever I'll try."Barbro sat in the nave beneath the missing white cross. He sat hunched over the empty altar table, and his legs dangled from the edge."Are you ready?" exclaimed the dove summoner."Come on, Eryk!" shouted Black from the balcony above."Give him a lesson, Barbro!" Sam shouted next to the crow."I am ready!" said Eryk.Barbro whistled like he did back in Eryk's lair. Then there was the roar of hundreds of doves' wings that descended from the roof beams and landed at Barbro's feet."Okay, that's an awesome start," muttered White, tilting her head."I can't stand it," Black whispered, covering his eye with a wing. "Can the albino bird compete with hundreds of pigeons?"Eryk stretched out his arms and summoned the birds with the power of his will. Eryk felt warmth rising from the bottom of his stomach. T

Eryk had a dream. A dream he had never had before. Eryk seemed to watch as a tall, pale stranger moved the knocker on his parent's house door. The moonlight glistened in his snake ring."That's Venom. Do not open!" shouted Eryk. But no sound left his lips. The door opens by itself.Eryk felt the horror that sent him flying. This time, Eryk entered his parents' house and stood behind Venom.The door slammed shut behind them.Eryk saw his parents standing side by side in front of the dining table. On the table were two half-filled wine glasses. Eryk's mom faced Venom with determination. The folds of her white dress fluttered around like bird wings. It was as if she controlled the air around her."Get out of my house!" Eryk's mom ordered through clenched teeth.Eryk could see the sweat glistening on his mother's forehead as if she was exerting herself."I won't say where it is!""Do not come close!" shouted Eryk's dad. He stood next to his wife, brandishing a fireplace stick.Venom just

Eryk and the two summoned spirits flew across Rockwool City and returned to the abandoned playground. The playground was covered in a lot of police lines. Eryk watched from one of the tall trees nearby. Indeed, there was not seen any human movement, let alone the police. However, Eryk remained vigilant and didn't take any risks by returning there."What are we going to do here?" Black asked. "You don't think you're returning to the lair?""I need your help," Eryk said to Black and White, who were perched on a branch above his head."I knew this would happen," Black grumbled."Only if you want. I still have White. She would never refuse my request."The white owl didn't argue. She only turned her head 360 degrees to express her approval and was ready to accept any task, even if it cost her life."Of course, I will help. Don't we have the same goal? Revenge for the actions of those who have hurt us, "continued Black.Eryk nodded firmly. "Your job is only to find out whether cat summoner

White led them across the street. Eryk followed her. Now there was an odd silence as they left the busy city center. Even the air felt different, cleaner, and fresher.There were no streetlights to illuminate as Eryk, and the two birds flew along the winding road up the hill. It didn't take long for the sidewalks to disappear, either. Then the two birds flew away until they were barely visible. They passed between the pine branches.Eryk looked at the trees but could see no further than a few yards before the darkness engulfed the trunk. Occasionally they passed the driveways of houses and the sketchy form of settlements far away from the road.Eryk's nerves tingled. He often looked back. He felt as if something or someone was watching him. Going to a new place always makes him nervous. The farther away he was from the familiar place, the more worried he was."Are you sure the way through here?" Eryk asked. His voice sounded thin and hollow.Under normal circumstances, no one can hear

Eryk pressed his palm against the wall and pushed hard. Part of the wall sunk inward. The hidden narrow door swung inward silently."How did you know the door was there?" asked White uneasily."I don't know," replied Eryk as he walked through the door. Or maybe, somehow, he actually knew.The room inside was somber. There is only dim light."This must be one of the towers because it is perfectly circular with a single-window high above. It looks more like a cell."Eryk saw a wooden chair, an old wardrobe, and a dirty sink. However, all those details went unnoticed. When Eryk's eyes were fixated on the object in the middle of the room.He saw a glass case containing a red velvet pillow. On the pillow lay a meter-long sword. The blade is black and slightly curved in the middle.It looked like an ancient artifact dug out of the ground and polished to a shiny surface. The hilt was protected by curved metal claws and covered in a thin, black leather layer. There is writing stamped along th