Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 119: A Nephilim’s Wings 1

Eusevia’s notes had led them to a place where she determined the power of the famine was strongest. It was a remote valley in the mountains, and as they arrived, Oberyn could sense the overwhelming negative energy. The land itself felt sick, and horrid energy emanated from within.

No trees grew on top of this flat mountain peak.

No life, no snow.

Even stepping onto the grainy stone made Oberyn shiver with unease.

It was a small solace, but the ground emanated an otherworldly warmth. If he were taking his wings out, he’d rather not be freezing.

"What should I do?" he asked Jan. She was preparing an area on the ground. Maybe that was the spot where they’d focus the purification ritual?

Jan had created a circle on the cracked ground in chalk. "It’ll go there," she said quietly, affirming his belief.

It felt like the land was moving - groaning. It had to be the power of the famine. Such ominous power.

He removed his jacket and allowed his wings to manifest. His wings, fiery projections of scarlet and maroon, sprouted from his back. Jan stepped in close behind him.

"Such a beautiful color to your wings. A true member of the Madera clan. Do you know what these are for?" she asked, her hand hovering over the top of his wing.

He gulped. Nestled in his wings were ’special’ feathers - the physical manifestations of his power as a Nephilim.

"Yes," Oberyn replied quickly, his face flushing. Those feathers in particular she hovered over were the ones responsible for reproduction among the Nephilim.

Jan nodded. "And these as well, I assume?" She didn’t touch them, but her fingertips floated a hair’s breadth from the arched horns at the top of his wings.

"Yes."

Her gaze drifted downward, examining the array of petal-like feathers along his back. The wingfeathers she focused on were the thicker ones, almost crystalline, mixed in his fiery plumes.

"Your eyes," she said, touching the tip of her finger to the section of his wing closest to his neck. "If you lose this, you’ll no longer be able to see in the dark as you can. Your vision will be reduced as a human’s."

Oberyn’s body locked up. He had never had his wings touched before. Rarely even dared to touch them himself. They seemed so sensitive - he’d always thought he might break them if he was reckless, especially the ’special’ segments that Jan was exploring with him.

She touched the two segments underneath. "Moonbreathing," she said. "On your right. If you lose this, you will never be able to exist on the moon again. And this one on your left controls your gravity. This is what allows Nephilim to remain so agile."

Moonbreathing. If he ever wanted to see Tiana again, he’d have to ensure that glossy feather was protected at all costs.

Although, it made him realize...

Ezra wouldn’t be able to breathe the air on the moon as a human.

If he returned to the moon, it would have to be alone...

"The two ’petals’ below are united in purpose. They are manifestations of pure energy. If you lose these, you will also lose your vitality."

She referred to the special feathers as ’petals’ - a fitting name. They were wider and more curved than the rest of his wings, and with their glassy texture felt more delicate and fragile.

"And the two below that - on your right, your Nephilim durability. On the left, your longevity. If you lose these, you will be no tougher than a human. Live no longer."

Jan placed her palm on the petal directly in the center of his back, after detailing the ones that surrounded it in a circle.It was the point where all his feathers seemed to grow out of.

"This one is the most precious of all," Jan sighed. "If you lose this one, your wings will fade away, and you will no longer be a Nephilim. You will lose all of your memories. And you will become fully human."

She stepped away from him only slightly. Her words embedded themselves into his mind. His eyes, his memories. Moonbreathing. Gravity. Energy. Durability. Longevity. None of these were things he wanted to lose. He would have to safeguard those center petals more closely than anything.

"These are the pieces that are more... negotiable," Jan said, her voice shifting to something more intriguing.

"This piece," she started, touching the glossy surface of one of his wing petals, "If you remove this, you will become afflicted with something called Greed. This power will cause you to seek wealth in the way humans do. But you can control it. Remain stronger than the Greed, and it shall grant you great power. Sacrificing this piece of your wings will make you grow stronger every time you battle another. You will claim some of their strength for your own."

Oberyn’s heart wavered. Such a sacrifice was tempting. Surely he was stronger than a little materialism?

He thought about how hard leveling to 20 had been, and how much longer he had to go to match Rav. The way Jan described it...he might be able to steal the accumulated experience of his enemies directly. Such a power would be incredibly useful.

"This part," she continued, "will afflict you with Gluttony. It is the piece I would ask you to sacrifice today. Once you do, you will feel hunger and thirst like an ordinary human. But you will gain the power to heal the land of its curse. And, as I have mentioned before, this increased appetite of yours will be to your benefit. You will grow in your capacity to hold mana. It will strengthen you, Oberyn."

He was already resolved to do it - to make that sacrifice and end the famine’s grip over the land. But he dared not interrupt. This information might someday be valuable. He might choose to make these sacrifices willingly. Anything to see his wish come true. Anything to see Tiana and the others on the moon again.

"Are you alright, Oberyn?" Jan asked, her head lifting up as she looked at him curiously.

He didn’t even notice, but as he stood there, shirtless, shivering, his body had become fully locked up.

The thought of losing and sacrificing that feather filled him with dread.

"I - I’m fine," he said quickly, looking down at the ground. Let’s continue. Tell me about the rest, before I...before I make the sacrifice."