Lord Of The Lost

The flying magic prop was finally in his hands! William carefully turned the metal badge over in his palm, its weight reassuring, its surface cool. As he traced its intricate edges, he noticed that the texture of the badge was strikingly similar to the feathers of the Black Crow King, smooth yet durable, almost unbreakable. It exuded an ominous, unspoken power.

"Calcifer," William asked, holding up the badge, "what exactly can this thing do? What magical effects does it have?"

Calcifer, still lounging lazily in his chair, tilted his head slightly, a flicker of interest sparking in his otherwise nonchalant demeanor. "This badge," he said, his voice carrying an air of mystery, "contains the power of a curse."

William arched an eyebrow. "A curse? Does that mean I can turn into a night crow?"

Calcifer's lips curled into an enigmatic smile. "Yes, indeed. But here's a friendly reminder," he added, leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping into a mockingly serious tone. "If you use it too often, or for too long, you'll lose the ability to transform back into a human. Instead, you'll become a massive, wild black crow, destined to live under the open sky, forgotten and unable to find yourself ever again."

William stared at Calcifer, stunned. "What? That's... pretty extreme."

Calcifer chuckled, clearly enjoying William's reaction. "How else could it be called a curse?"

William opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words. After a pause, he finally said, "Didn't you tell me you only create magic equipment? This sounds more like a trap than a tool."

Calcifer shrugged, as if the question was entirely unnecessary. "It 'is' magic equipment. A curse is still magic or, if you prefer the technical term, black magic. I never said magic was safe. Did I lie to you?"

William narrowed his eyes, feeling like he was being played. "You're saying that this is just… how the Black Crow's magic works?"

"Precisely!" Calcifer replied with exaggerated enthusiasm. "The magic of the Black Crow is tied to its very being. You tap into that power, and it begins to change you. Overuse it, and, well… you become the power you wield. That's why people have always been wary of magic, there's always a cost." His mysterious smile deepened, adding an unsettling finality to his words.

William frowned, still skeptical. "But I've already mastered some of the Black Crow's magic." To prove his point, he activated [Mental Confusion], letting the subtle wave of his spell ripple through the air.

Calcifer coughed lightly, waving his hand dismissively. "A decent trick, but this curse is different. The feathers themselves hold a mysterious, ancient power. The transformation isn't some sudden event; it's part of the natural evolution of magical creatures."

"Natural evolution?" William echoed, intrigued despite himself.

Calcifer nodded. "Yes. Wild magical creatures, like the Black Crow King, spend years; decades, gathering power and mysterious properties. A single feather represents their accumulation of magic over time. A level 1 black crow might grow just one feather. A level 10 crow might have ten feathers. But for a creature to become extraordinary, to transcend, they need countless feathers, countless magical properties layered over time. It's not just about strength, it's about coincidence, luck, and sheer persistence. Eventually, enough accumulation can lead to transformation. That's how the Black Crow King came to be."

As Calcifer spoke, William suddenly remembered the legend of the Black Crow King. A creature born from the relentless pursuit of power, each feather representing a step on its extraordinary path. The very magic that made it a king had also defined its limits and its fate.

Calcifer leaned back in his chair, his voice turning casual again. "You brought me fresh feathers. The magic within them hasn't dissipated yet. That's why this badge works. It carries the essence of the Black Crow's path."

William looked down at the badge in his hand, his perspective shifting. [Wings of Black Crow] wasn't just a magical artifact; it was a fragment of the Black Crow King's legacy. It held within it the potential for transcendence, the power to turn its wearer into a creature of myth. Yet that power came with a price, a steep one.

"You're telling me," William said slowly, piecing it together, "that this badge actually holds the 'path' of the Black Crow. If someone wore it long enough, they wouldn't just turn into a crow, they'd walk the same path as the Black Crow King?"

"Exactly," Calcifer confirmed with a smirk. "A shortcut to power, but one with irreversible consequences. Forgive me for saying so, but this is probably beyond anything you imagined when you asked me to make this, isn't it?"

William nodded, still marveling at Calcifer's skill. "I'll admit, it's impressive. But… how long do I have before the transformation becomes permanent?"

Calcifer tapped his chin thoughtfully. "If you use it continuously for five or six hours, or if you use it too frequently over time, the transformation will solidify. Your humanity will dissolve, and the curse will fully bind you. But don't worry; if you use it sparingly, the effects will fade between uses, and you'll be fine."

Relief washed over William as he exhaled. "That's manageable, then. As long as I don't go overboard."

Calcifer's smile turned wry. "You'd better hope you're as disciplined as you think you are. Power has a way of making people greedy."

William laughed softly, the badge glinting in his hand. "I'll keep that in mind." Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Calcifer had given him more than he bargained for. This wasn't just a tool; it was a test. One he would have to pass if he wanted to emerge unscathed.

William quickly realized his excitement had been premature.

The moment he attempted to wear the Black Crow Wings badge while equipped with his dragon scale armor, a system prompt appeared in his mind, denying the action. It seemed some items were incompatible and couldn't be equipped simultaneously. Frustrated but resolute, William had no choice but to stash away the armor and focus on his new magic prop.

As the metal badge rested against his chest, it radiated a faint, mysterious glow, pulsing as if alive. William began to feel a strange, tingling sensation coursing through his body.

His skin prickled, and in an instant, layers of sleek black feathers began to sprout from his neck and torso, spreading quickly. His arms were soon covered in dense, intricate plumage, while his feet twisted and transformed into powerful talons. Only his face remained untouched by the transformation, a jarring contrast to his rapidly changing form.

From his back, two enormous black wings unfurled with a dramatic sweep, their span stretching three to four meters. Folded against his sides, they added a towering, imposing presence to his figure. William flexed them experimentally, and an exhilarating sense of power surged through him.

With a leap and a single powerful flap, he took to the skies.

"Wuhu!!" he yelled, a triumphant cry that echoed through the air.

The white mist of the early morning swirled around him as he ascended higher and higher. From this vantage point, the world stretched out in every direction; a vast tapestry of wilderness, mountains, and open skies. The freedom was intoxicating.

"The sea is wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to fly!"

Even the thrill of wielding his knight's lance for the first time paled in comparison to this moment. Here, soaring through the heavens, he felt truly limitless. He dived, then climbed, testing the boundaries of his newfound freedom. The wind rushed past him, sharp and cool, as he performed flips and rapid maneuvers, each movement more graceful and confident than the last.

He quickly grew accustomed to his Black Crow form. The speed was astonishing, faster than even the sprint of a magic warhorse. But this incredible velocity came with a cost. Sustained high-speed flight drained his stamina rapidly, leaving him winded after prolonged bursts. Additionally, the feathers provided only moderate defense, and striking solid objects with his wings, though powerful enough to crack stone; sent jolts of pain through his body.

There was, however, an unexpected bonus. While transformed, William's [Mental Confusion] spell was greatly amplified. Though it lacked the awe-inspiring range of the legendary Black Crow King, which could stir chaos within hundreds of meters, his enhanced version could still influence an area of dozens of meters, a force not to be underestimated.

After a brief period of flight, William remembered his mission. He angled his wings and sped toward Rocky Slope, a location he had scouted earlier.

---

The rocky terrain came into view, its jagged outcrops casting sharp shadows in the fading sunlight. Upon arrival, William immediately spotted a blood trail leading toward a pool of crimson on the ground. He landed gracefully and examined the area. A player had already carried the hunter's body back to a nearby village, but the signs of a fierce struggle remained.

William didn't linger. Flapping his wings, he took to the skies once more, expanding his search beyond the slope. For nearly half an hour, he scoured the surrounding wilderness, his sharp crow-like vision picking up the smallest details below. Finally, on a barren rocky hill, he spotted movement, a limping figure, leaving a trail of blood behind.

It was the hunter.

William swooped lower, observing the man's weakened state. Blood dripped steadily from a deep wound in his thigh, and his steps were staggered, each one slower than the last. As William approached, the hunter collapsed onto the rocks, clutching a dagger tightly in his trembling hand.

The hunter's wary eyes locked onto William, who still bore his crow-like features. The man's grip tightened around his weapon, ready to defend himself despite his dire condition.

Realizing the misunderstanding, William quickly released his Black Crow form, his wings and feathers vanishing in a shimmering wave of magic.

"Who are you?" the hunter rasped, his voice heavy with exhaustion and pain.

William raised his hands in a calming gesture. "I'm a friend of Little Bob's," he said, pulling out a crescent moon pendant. The moment the hunter's eyes fell on the trinket, his suspicion melted into relief.

"Little Bob…" he murmured, lowering the dagger.

William knelt beside the hunter and inspected his wounds. The man was in terrible shape; his face weathered and pale, his eyes dim and weary. He looked to be in his forties, a veteran who had seen countless hunts.

The hunter's labored breathing quickened as he spoke. "You… you need to leave. The werewolf chasing me… it'll be here any moment."

"How many?" William asked, his voice calm but urgent.

"Just one," the hunter replied. "But it's enough. I… I led it away from my team to give them a chance."

William's respect for the hunter deepened. He had put himself in harm's way to protect his companions, a selfless act in the face of overwhelming odds.

William pulled out an energy potion and held it up. "How are you holding up? How much longer can you last?"

The hunter hesitated, his pride warring with his pain. Finally, he admitted, "Not long. But I'll fight it off if I have to."

William glanced around, scanning the terrain for any signs of the approaching werewolf. The air was still, but tension crackled like a storm on the horizon. He made a quick decision.

"Drink this," William said, handing the potion to the hunter. "I'll deal with the werewolf."

The hunter's eyes widened in surprise. "You alone?"

William smiled faintly, flexing his fingers as he prepared to shift again. "I'm not just anyone."