After hearing the story, the succubus nodded.

Did he solve the mystery? Nix was curious, but Lyric preceded him.

"Zack, do you know what we're talking about?" Lyric asked.

"I have a strong guess. The demon that is mentioned in the story is called the king of birds. Most likely, it is a Simurgh demon. A demon of incredible size, whose plumage shimmers in all the colors of the rainbow. This giant demon has the appearance of a bird of prey, similar to an eagle or falcon with the head of a dog. Its beautiful feathers possess incredible healing powers and the ability to return lost powers."

The others nodded, that made sense. Zack got up and walked out of the room briefly. He ran into Lucan's library and fetched a book. When he returned, he sat down, opened a page in the old tome depicting a picture of a bridge. Then he continued: "There is a bridge whose name is Sild surmani, which loosely translated also means bridge to death. It is located in Behemoth's area, deep in the east in a forest. Which could fit the hint."

Nix looked at the succubus impressed. "You really live up to your name – Master of Treasures."

Zack just grinned and waved it off.

Lyric took the book and looked at the bridge and its described surroundings while the others continued to chat.

Zack looked at the oracle, he was just too curious. "Nix, are the two of you a couple?"

Nix looked down and his face darkened slightly. "No," he replied quietly, looking down.

Lucan immediately realized that Nix didn't like the answer himself. Did the oracle have feelings for the rune demon? They were a strange couple, but who was he to judge that?

"Well, I think I now know roughly where it is and how we can get there," Lyric said, "thank you for your help."

They got up ready to leave. "We thank you for the hospitality," he said politely, bowing. He shook hands with Lucan and Zack. Nix tilted his head and looked at Zack, then he smiled.

"Is everything all right?" the succubus asked.

"Yes, don't worry. It's all going to be fine." Then he called a portal, through which he stepped after a short farewell greeting.

Lyric stayed behind for a moment. "I apologize again for his behavior."

Zack waved it off. "Don't sweat it. He's just... something special."

Lyric smiled and said, "Yes, he is" and walked through the portal.

Zack looked at his mate. "They're totally in love, a blind man can see that." Lucan agreed with him in principle, but something seemed off. They both seemed to be unaware of each other's feelings, or they have repressed them. But no one could deny that there was anything between the two. It was only unclear what this something was.

Once home, Lyric looked at the oracle. "Are we about to leave?" he asked Nix.

The oracle shook his head. "Not yet, we have to do something before that. In two days we have to be on earth. Since I don't know how long our stay in the realm of the deceased lasts, we can't leave before."

"What exactly do we have to do in the human world?" the rune demon asked curiously.

Nix grinned.

What is Nix planning again? Whenever he grinned, it didn't bode well. And he should be right. When they returned, Lyric didn't speak a word to him for two days. Even though Nix assured him that it had been necessary, Lyric had to digest it first. But it didn't help, they had to keep going. He had to trust Nix that it had actually been the right thing to do. They prepared everything to leave for the bridge the next day.

Nix and Lyric traveled through a portal near the place where Lyric suspected the bridge. They ended up in the middle of a jungle. Tall trees and bushes proliferated around them. Thick roots had broken out of the ground and climbing plants snaked around the trunks of the giants. Numerous animals scurried over the ground, the trees and bushes or flew through the air. It was pure, untouched nature.

Lyric looked at his notes and pointed in one direction. "I think we need to go in that direction."

Nix nodded and they ran over big roots, through the thicket and down a small slope. After two hours they came to a small gorge. The river rushed loudly. A stone bridge led over this gorge. "Then this would probably be our bridge, right?" Nix said.

Lyric put a hand on Nix' chest and stopped him. He looked at the rune demon questioningly. "What's going on?"

"Nix, do you hear that noise?" he asked the oracle.

"Yes, the river is rushing. And?"

"Nix, there is no river here, the gorge is dry."

Nix looked carefully over the edge. He was right, there is no river there. But where does the noise come from?

"I think it comes from the area on the other side of the bridge, but that can't be what we see. I think it's a deception and that what awaits us is not what we see from here," Lyric said.

Nix agreed with him. They went to the edge of the stone bridge. It looked like a typical old stone bridge, paved with large gray stones. Words were carved into the pillar of the bridge, but the oracle could not decipher them.

"Lyric, there's something here, but I can't read it." Maybe they should come back with Zack again.

Lyric followed the curved letters with his fingertips. "When you enter the realm of the deceased, remember not to disturb them. Because if they are awakened, you will never return. "

"You can read that language?" asked Nix.

"Yes, I can read it. It is the language of my people." Lyric straightened up and looked at the bridge. "Then this is the bridge to the realm of the deceased and the river we hear, most likely the river that separates the world of the dead from the world of the living. No matter what myths you look at, whether in the world of humans or the world of demons, in all of them, a river is the border. In Greek mythology it is the river Styx, in Norse mythology the river Gjoll and in demonic mythology the river Abyss."

"So we are going to the realm of the deceased waiting for their rebirth?" the oracle asked, and Lyric nodded.

One thing left Lyric no rest. What did it mean by 'waking up the dead'? What could wake up a dead man? "Nix. We should be careful not to make any noise over there. We are very likely not allowed to speak either."

Nix nodded. Well, then let's go..

Lyric stretched out his hand to the oracle and he grabbed it with a smile. "Then let's go into the realm of the deceased."

Together they entered the bridge. Already at the first step they felt a resonance. Their bodies began to vibrate. Nix wanted to open his mouth, but Lyric shook his head and signaled him not to speak. They took another step and the vibrating became stronger.

After the third step, Lyric finally understood what was happening. All magic in their body has left. They couldn't take it to the other side. Both began to wheeze as their powers waned with each step. When they finally arrived on the other side, they both propped up on their knees and breathed heavily.

It was as if all their energy reserves had been squeezed out of them, like the juice from an orange. What remained was the shriveled shell, only that they were that shell. Lyric's runes had lost all their magic and Nix' seer abilities and shadows were gone. Their inner demons were in a state of rigidity.

In front of them lay a forest of black trees with white leaves. There was no color except black, gray and white. A sound made them sit up and take notice. What was that? Lyric looked around. Then he remembered the fairy tale. 'As soon as he crossed the bridge, he heard a strange noise. So we have to follow this sound, then we meet the guard'.

Nix seemed to think the same thing, because he nodded when Lyric told him to go in the direction from which the sound had come. Together they ran deeper into the forest in search of the cause of this noise. Like the boy in the story, they soon lost their bearings and wandered around.

After a while, however, they saw a light penetrating through a gap in the thicket. They slipped through and a clearing arose on which stood a large, square temple which was completely made of stone. The walls, the roof, everything. Dark gray stones in all shapes nestled into a smooth surface. There was only one entrance framed by two columns.

The two looked around, looking for the guard. Nix shrugged his shoulders. Slowly they crept into the clearing until they stood just before the entrance. If the treasure was here, it was most likely inside the temple. They were about to climb the stairs, and they heard a loud whistle.

Both kept their ears closed. A stormy wind roared and pushed them back a few meters. No, it wasn't just the wind. They were gusts of wind caused by wings - large colorful wings. A giant bird about five yards tall landed directly between them and the temple. Its wings had the color of a rainbow and had a wingspan of a good ten meters. The feet were yellow and had long black claws. It was, in fact, a huge bird, except that it had the head of a dog. In front of them stood the guardian of the temple – the Simurgh demon,

Lyric and Nix stared at the guard and took their hands off their ears. Insanity. The stories were not exaggerated.

What do you want here? the voice of the guardian asked in their heads.

Lyric stopped Nix from responding. He raised his hands and spoke in the sign language he had learned in the human world. He didn't have to use his voice to speak. He gestured, "Dear Guardian. We are here because we are looking for the crest of the bird. We didn't want to disturb you or the dead."

So you're looking for the comb that combs the hair of the dead?

He understands me, I'm glad.

Lyric nodded. The Guardian Demon leaned forward so that he was at Lyric's height with his huge head. The warm breath blew towards him and blew the hair out of his face.

You are a member of the people of birds, my son. Then the demon took a break. Tell me your name.

He gestured: "Lyric."

Lyric? What a beautiful name for such a beautiful creature.

Nix became restless. Lyric did well so far, but he was annoyed that he didn't know what was going on between the two. Most likely, the demon talked to him. But he had to wait and see. There was Nix he could do.

What do you need the comb for?

He replied in gestures: "We are looking for the key of empathy. For this we need all the objects of the bird." The demon nodded.

That's right. But the objects are worthless if no member of the chosen people puts them together. You, my son, belong to these people.

Chosen people? What does he mean by that? Then Lyric slowly understood what the guardian was getting at.

I have decided. As the son of the chosen people, the comb shall be yours.

The demon straightened up and its plumage began to glow. Next to Nix, a bright light lit up and a comb appeared in the air. It was ivory with seven teeth and a large amethyst in the middle. So that's the comb? Then I'll get it and we leave, Nix thought.

Just as Nix wanted to walk up to it and reach for it, he heard a scream behind him. "Nix, watch out!" Lyric shouted.

The oracle froze and looked at the ground. He had just been about to step into an abyss and Lyric's scream had kept him from doing so. Wait, Lyric's scream? Nix whirled around and looked at the rune demon who had become aware of what he had done.

You broke the rule, it echoed in their heads.

The ground shook. Lyric hugged Nix and closed his mouth with one hand. "I may have broken them, but that doesn't apply to my comrade. You said the comb belonged to me. I'll hand it over to Nix. He will leave this world with it."

You want me to send him back? Alone?

"Yes."

Nix fought back, but he had no chance. Without his magic, he was physically inferior to Lyric. The comb floated in front of them and lowered down on Nix' head to take a seat in his hair.

"Nix. You have to find the last item and summon the key. For this you have to find a rune demon. Only a member of my people can put the objects together. I rely on you," he said lovingly into his oracle's ear. "No matter what happens, I want you to know you were the only one for me."

Nix began to fight back. He couldn't leave Lyric behind. Fear constricted the oracle's throat and remorse spread in the rune demon's chest. But Lyric wouldn't let anything happen to Nix. He would protect him until the end.

"I love you," he said in the ancient language of his people.

When Nix heard the melodic words, his heart shook, even if he didn't understand them. He felt something change in him. Whatever Lyric had said, it had changed him. He clung to his demon, wanted to tell him that they would flee together, that he would never leave him behind. But none of this came over his lips, as they were closed by a strong hand.

The guard pulled out his wings, then a hurricane hit the two. They were thrown upwards. Nix wanted to scream, but Lyric kept his mouth shut. Then they were torn apart and separated. The last thing he saw of Lyric was his smile, then he disappeared.

The next time Nix opened his eyes, he was in the woods. Lyric was gone. In his hair was the comb of the bird.

_____________________________

The sixth item is in their possession, but what was the price?

Will Nix be able to reciprocate Lyric's words?

What will become of Lyric?

Your Mouse Goddess