Terry the Terror Bird's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Terry the Terror Bird scratched another tally mark into the bark of a purple willow with his curved talon. Fifteen wizards this month, all willing to trade their precious components once he mentioned his femur toothpick collection. He wanted something bigger than fear, though. A permanent place where desperate spell-casters would come to him, where rare magical goods changed hands daily, and where his reputation would draw crowds instead of screams. A marketplace, right here in the Fae Wylds, built on bartering and need. He clicked his beak and adjusted his purple wizard hat—the first one he'd ever collected. Time to stop collecting trophies and start collecting customers. The old tea room sat empty between two ancient trees. Terry circled it twice, studying the faded green and purple walls. The space was large enough for vendors and customers both. He pushed the door open with one clawed foot. Dust swirled in shafts of light. The smell of old tea leaves still clung to the air. This would work. This would be his Celestial Ethereal Tea Room turned trading post. A merchant arrived the next morning, pulling a copper cart behind him. Arcane lights flickered along its shelves. Dried herbs hung from hooks on the sides. Terry eyed the cart, then the merchant. "Set up inside," he said, gesturing with his beak toward the tea room. "First vendor gets the best spot." The merchant hesitated, glancing at Terry's curved talons. Terry picked at something between his teeth with exaggerated slowness. The merchant hurried inside. By midday, a metal fountain near the tea room caught Terry's attention. Water trickled into a stone basin filled with crystals that sparkled in different colors. He watched as the crystals multiplied slowly in the water. Rare components, growing on their own. Perfect bait for his marketplace. He dragged a sign toward the fountain with his foot: "Crystal water—one component per cup." His first customers would come for the fountain. They'd stay for everything else. Terry settled onto his perch outside the tea room and waited.