Work Text:
Spain, years before everything:
A blond boy ran as fast as he could through the trees of the forest. The beautiful green-feathered wings on his back, which normally gleamed beneath the sunlight, were now stained with blood. An arrow was lodged in one of them, making every movement a torment, but he couldn't stop.
He could still hear the screams behind him.
"Monster!"
"Capture the demon!"
"Don't let him escape!"
"He must be burned by the will of God!"
The voices echoed between the trees, mixing with the sounds of footsteps and breaking branches. Miguel ran without knowing where he was going. He only knew that he had to keep running.
He didn't understand why they were after him.
His mother had always told him that his wings were a divine gift. A sign that God had chosen him for something special, green wings that matched his eyes. Perhaps he was an angel, a savior, someone who had received a blessing that few could understand.
But not everyone saw them that way.
Miguel only wanted to fly.
That was all he wanted.
That morning, he had waited until he was certain no one would see him before heading into the forest. He spread his wings and let the wind carry him, rising higher and higher, feeling a freedom he couldn't find anywhere else.
Until some men from the Church saw him.
To them, there was nothing divine about the sight. A boy with wings could not be a blessing. He could not be a miracle.
He was a demon. Someone who could only have made a pact with the devil.
Miguel didn't even have time to understand what was happening before he heard the first screams.
Then came the stones.
The prayers.
The arrows.
And then he ran.
A tear rolled down Miguel's dirty face as he clenched his teeth and kept moving forward. His injured wing dragged heavily behind him, and every time it moved, a new wave of pain coursed through his body.
He wanted to go home, but he knew he didn't have a home anymore, because they had burned his house down without caring who was inside. He wanted to understand why something he had always believed was a gift had suddenly become the reason those people wanted to see him dead.
"There!"
Miguel heard the shout behind him.
His heart raced.
Miguel glanced back for a moment and saw men emerging between the trees. He turned his gaze forward again and ran even faster, stumbling over his own feet. His breathing was ragged, his chest ached, and his wing was bleeding more and more.
He ran so much that he didn't even notice when the forest began to disappear before him.
He realized it far too late.
A cliff.
Miguel skidded to a stop, but it was already too late. His feet slipped on the dirt and, without even having time to think about the consequences, he jumped.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Instinctively, he spread his wings.
His healthy wing opened completely, but the injured one couldn't bear his weight. A sharp pain shot through his body, and Miguel lost control, plummeting toward the trees below. He crashed into the branches, which broke part of his fall, but he was still thrown from side to side until he finally hit the ground.
For several seconds, he couldn't move.
Everything hurt.
But he was alive.
Miguel took a deep breath, trying to steady his body as he crawled into a hidden corner between the trees. He curled up there, holding his breath as he listened.
The screams could still be heard.
But they were growing more distant.
They had lost his trail.
Miguel closed his eyes and slowly exhaled. For the first time since he had started running, he allowed himself to rest. When he was certain no one was coming after him, he reached for the arrow lodged in his wing.
He needed to get it out.
He bit down on his own arm to keep from screaming and pulled it out in one motion. The pain was so intense that his eyes filled with tears, but he managed to tear the arrow free. He quickly ripped a piece of his own shirt and pressed the fabric against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
His wing would need time to recover.
Days, probably.
Maybe longer.
Until then, he wouldn't be able to fly, nor would he be able to hide them.
Miguel looked up at the sky through the leaves above him.
He was alone.
He didn't know if he could go home.
And, worse than that, he didn't know where to go.
For now, he only needed to survive. He waited until he was able to stand, and after some time, he began walking again. He didn't know exactly where he was going. He simply kept moving forward, avoiding roads and anywhere he might be seen.
Hours passed.
When night was beginning to fall, Miguel spotted something in the distance.
A village.
No.
It was bigger than a village.
There were far more people, houses, and, to his surprise, stone roads. Miguel had never seen anything like this up close. He stopped behind some trees and watched the movement from a distance.
The city seemed far too busy.
There were people everywhere.
That meant food.
And it also meant danger.
He couldn't simply walk in. He needed to be careful.
He would find somewhere he could stay hidden and steal food whenever he had the opportunity. Then, once his wing was better and he could think more clearly, he would figure out what to do.
The second day was when he made a mistake.
Miguel was on the outskirts of the city, hiding inside a barn, lying on a bed of hay he had improvised as a place to sleep. He was exhausted. He had spent most of the previous night wandering around the area, looking for something to eat, and the little food he had managed to steal had barely been enough to satisfy his hunger.
His body was finally making him pay the price. He was so sleepy that he didn't even notice when someone else entered the barn. He only realized when someone practically jumped on top of him in the middle of the hay.
"What the?!"
Before Miguel could finish, the boy who had fallen on top of him placed a hand over his mouth.
"Shhh!"
He pressed a finger to his own lips and pointed toward the entrance of the barn.
Footsteps.
Someone was outside.
Miguel froze completely.
The other boy did too.
For several minutes, the two of them remained perfectly still, barely breathing, as the footsteps approached and then slowly began to fade away again. Miguel's heart was beating so hard that he was certain the boy could hear it.
Finally, the noise disappeared.
They both exhaled at the same time.
"Sorry!" The boy whispered, moving away slightly. "But I got some bread and I was..."
He finally looked at Miguel properly.
His gaze traveled down his face, then over his arms, before stopping on the green feathers poking out from beneath the makeshift cloth covering his shoulders.
The smile disappeared.
The boy's eyes widened.
Miguel froze.
He immediately pulled the cloth higher, trying to hide his back, but it was already too late. The boy continued staring at him and, much to Miguel's surprise, there was no fear on his face.
There was wonder.
"Wow! You really have wings!" The black-haired boy moved closer, fascinated. "Are you an angel?!"
He reached out to touch one of the wings, but Miguel quickly pulled away and shielded his body.
"What? No!" Miguel rolled his eyes. "If I were an angel, why would I be sleeping in a barn?"
The boy stopped, thought for a moment, and shrugged.
"Yeah... That makes sense."
Miguel let out an irritated sigh and adjusted the cloth over his shoulders again.
"Hey... Don't tell anyone, okay?" The irritation disappeared from his voice, replaced by something quieter. "Please."
The boy immediately noticed the change.
"I won't tell anyone. I promise."
Miguel watched him for a few seconds, trying to decide whether he could trust him.
"But why are you here?"
"I'm hiding." Miguel pointed toward his injured wing, still partially concealed beneath the cloth. "I think I'll be well enough to hide them tomorrow."
The black-haired boy frowned.
"You can hide your wings?"
"I can." He made a small movement with his shoulders. "I can retract them into my back."
The boy's eyes widened again.
"That's amazing!"
Miguel couldn't help but smile a little.
"But I can't do it while one of them is injured."
"Is that why you were running away?"
Miguel was silent for a moment.
"Sort of." He lowered his eyes to the bread he was still holding. "They saw me flying... By the way, my name is Miguel. What's yours?"
The boy understood that there was more to the story and that the blond was avoiding the subject, but he didn't press him.
"My name is Tulio! Want some bread?" He offered the other boy an entire loaf. "You look like you could use some food."
"I really could..." Miguel took the bread and immediately began eating it. "I managed to catch a rabbit yesterday, luckily. I can't get too close to the city without being able to hide my wings..." Miguel practically devoured the bread. "Why were you running away?"
"Because I was hungry and didn't have any money." The brown-haired boy shrugged, taking another piece of bread he had with him. "Nobody wants to hire a kid, but they expect me to have money to pay for the food I eat!"
"Adults are strange." Miguel smiled for the first time, genuinely. "Thanks for the bread."
Tulio broke into a huge grin.
"We're friends now!"
Miguel nearly choked.
"What?"
"Friends." Tulio pointed at him, as if the matter had already been settled. "I'll bring you more bread until you're able to come get food with me in the city!"
Miguel stared at him.
He didn't know whether the boy was simply crazy or if it really was that easy to make friends with someone. After everything that had happened over the past few days, someone had simply decided that they were friends.
Without fear.
Without calling him a monster.
Miguel looked down at the bread in his hands and smiled softly.
"Okay."
Tulio's smile grew even wider.
"Great!"
And that was how, hidden inside a barn, sharing stolen bread and having absolutely no idea what the future had in store for them, Miguel and Tulio became friends.
Years later, in El Dorado:
Miguel watched El Dorado from the top of the temple where he and Tulio were staying. Everything was so colorful, so different from anywhere he had ever called home. The buildings, the clothes, the decorations, the gold everywhere... He still couldn't believe they had actually made it there.
And as if all of that wasn't absurd enough, they were now being considered gods.
Miguel still didn't know how that had happened.
Nor how long they would be able to keep up the lie.
Tulio, on the other hand, didn't seem worried in the slightest. Ever since he discovered the amount of gold in the city, his attention had been completely hijacked. Chel wasn't helping either, the two of them had already disappeared among the cushions and curtains, probably doing something Miguel preferred not to know about.
He decided to stay away from them for the time being.
Miguel still wasn't used to the amount of skin exposed by the clothes they had been given. The ceremonial outfit left his arms and much of his body exposed, and although no one seemed to find it strange, he found it far too uncomfortable.
Luckily, he had found a blue cape among the fabrics offered in the temple. It now rested over his shoulders, covering his back. The feathers on his arms wouldn't be a problem for a few days either. He had plucked them recently, before they had even arrived in the city, so he would have some time before they started growing back.
His nails, however, were another story.
Miguel looked at his hands.
They were starting to get far too long. He would need to find something to cut them with before anyone noticed.
He sighed and turned his attention back to the city.
Perhaps he could finally relax a little. Miguel was so distracted by the view that he didn't notice someone approaching behind him.
"Lord Miguel?"
The blond startled.
He turned around quickly and found himself face-to-face with a young guard standing a few steps away. He wore the traditional garments of El Dorado's guards and maintained an impeccable posture and a serious expression.
Miguel blinked.
"Yes?"
The guard gave a small bow.
"My name is Ichtacka. I was assigned by the chief to accompany you."
Miguel looked at him, confused.
"Accompany me?"
"Yes, my lord." Ichtacka straightened. "I was told to serve as your guide and help you understand our city and our customs."
"Are you going to stay with me all the time?"
"As long as necessary. But, of course, you will have your privacy whenever you wish. I will simply always be nearby. Just call for me if you need anything, Lord Miguel."
The guard bowed before him again. Miguel still wasn't used to being treated like this. It had only been a few days since the people of El Dorado had started calling him a god, and it still seemed absurd to hear someone speak to him that way.
"You can get up..."
Ichtacka obeyed.
"Well..." Miguel looked at the city again. "I think it would be good to have a guide to get to know this place better. The chief said there would be a big celebration tonight." He smiled. "How about taking a walk before the celebration?"
"It would be an honor."
Miguel started walking, but stopped after a few steps and looked back.
"Are you coming? And stop calling me 'my lord' every five seconds."
Ichtacka blinked.
"What should I call you?"
"Miguel."
The guard hesitated.
"Lord Miguel."
Miguel rolled his eyes.
"All right. Let's try that again."
Ichtacka held back a small smile.
"Miguel."
"Better."
The two of them left the temple and began making their way down the streets of El Dorado. Miguel couldn't decide where to look first.
The streets were bustling, filled with people going from one place to another, children running between the houses, and vendors offering all kinds of food and objects. The walls were decorated with colorful paintings, and the gleam of gold could be seen practically everywhere.
"Is all of this real gold?"
Ichtacka looked toward where Miguel was pointing.
"Yes."
"You really have way too much gold."
"We have enough."
"Enough?" Miguel let out a laugh. "I expected to find a few golden things, but..." He looked at an entire building adorned with gold. "... You really weren't kidding when you call this place the Golden City."
Ichtacka smiled faintly.
"El Dorado is much older than it appears. We have abundant resources."
Miguel continued walking, fascinated. As they made their way through the city, Ichtacka pointed out the important places. He showed Miguel the main square, the markets, the areas where the artisans worked, and the paths leading to the different parts of the city.
Miguel had questions about practically everything.
With every new street they passed, Miguel seemed more fascinated. He stopped to watch the artisans at work, tasted fruits he had never seen before, and asked questions about the local customs.
At one point, a child came running past them and nearly crashed into Miguel. Ichtacka immediately extended an arm, stopping the child before he could run into him. The people nearby held their breath. The child's mother went pale and quickly dropped to her knees before Miguel, pulling her son close. The boy knelt beside her, frightened.
"Forgive me, Lord Miguel! Please forgive my son. He didn't mean to offend you."
Miguel stood there, unsure of what to do.
This was a little too much. He looked around and noticed the expressions on everyone's faces. It wasn't just respect.
It was fear.
Miguel knew that look all too well.
It was the fear people felt toward an unreachable deity. The fear of someone who could decide a person's fate with a simple gesture, without ever having to explain why. For a moment, Miguel was twelve years old again, running through the forest. He didn't want to be someone who inspired that kind of fear. Maybe he wasn't a real god, but as long as he had a choice, he would never pretend to be that kind of god.
Miguel crouched down in front of the woman and her child, bringing himself almost to their level. He placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"It's all right."
The woman slowly looked up.
"I know he didn't mean any harm. He was just running around and being a kid." Miguel smiled at the boy. "You're not going to be punished for this."
The child looked at him, still slightly frightened.
Miguel gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze.
"It's okay, all right?"
The boy slowly nodded.
"Now, please, get up."
The woman hesitated.
"But, Lord Miguel..."
"I'm asking you to."
This time, his voice was gentle but firm. The woman finally stood, helping her son to his feet as well.
"Thank you for your understanding, my lord."
Miguel simply smiled. Now that he was more at ease, the child continued staring at the blond boy with curiosity.
"What were you playing so excitedly, hmm?"
"I was going to get a ball to play with my friends..." The boy pointed toward some other children farther down the street. Then his eyes lit up. "Oh, Lord Miguel!"
"Don't call me... Ah..." Miguel caught the way the boy was looking at him and laughed. "How about I play with you for a while?"
"You know how to play?"
"I know a few fun games."
It took less than a minute for Miguel to find himself in the middle of the children.
Ichtacka stayed a few steps behind, watching the scene with an expression of equal parts surprise and confusion. The same man who had been treated like a deity only minutes earlier was now running around the square after a group of children, trying to catch a ball that seemed to have been made for exactly this kind of game.
Miguel was surprisingly good with children. Perhaps it was because he never treated them as though they were beneath him. He crouched down to talk to them, explained the rules of the games, made up new ones whenever he noticed they were getting bored, and whenever a child lost, he made a point of celebrating as though losing were part of the fun.
Before long, there were children swarming around him. One grabbed his hand. Another tugged on his cape. A third simply threw himself against Miguel's legs, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Hey! One at a time!"
The children burst into laughter.
"You lost!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"That was cheating!" Miguel tried to grab the ball back, but two children clung to his arms at the same time. "Hey! That's cheating!"
"You're a god! You can handle it!"
Miguel's eyes widened.
"Who taught you that you could use that against me?"
The children burst into laughter. Even Ichtacka couldn't help but smile.
After a while, Miguel ended up sitting on the ground, surrounded by children. One was leaning against his back, another had settled in his lap, and a third was practically hanging from his arm while trying to reach the ball. Miguel laughed as he tried to keep them far enough away for him to breathe.
"You kids are impossible."
One of the children giggled and ran her fingers along his back in a completely innocent gesture until they came across something different.
A feather.
Without realizing it, the child pulled it, sending a small shiver through Miguel's body. The green feather fell into her hand, and for a moment, Miguel's smile disappeared. He looked at the child, who stared curiously at the small feather before looking back at him.
"What's this?"
Miguel quickly took the feather from her hand. Luckily, none of the other children seemed to have noticed. He glanced around to make sure before leaning slightly closer to the girl.
"It's a feather."
"From your wings?"
Miguel froze for a second. Then, realizing there was no fear or suspicion in the child's eyes, only curiosity, he smiled.
"Maybe."
The girl broke into a huge smile.
"Can I keep it?"
Miguel looked at the small feather in his hand, then at the girl's hair. An idea came to him, and he smiled before carefully placing the feather in her hair, securing it like a little ornament.
"Sure." The girl touched the feather, delighted, and Miguel raised a finger to his lips. "But it's a secret, okay?"
Her eyes widened, and she immediately nodded.
"A secret!"
"That's right." Miguel winked at her. "Not a word."
He went back to playing with the children as if nothing had happened. He didn't notice that Ichtacka had witnessed the interaction, although the guard hadn't been able to hear what he had said to the little girl. After several hours of playing and a few songs Miguel played on his lute for everyone to hear, the two of them finally returned to the temple. Miguel needed to rest before the big celebration that night, and Ichtacka, as always, remained nearby.
When night finally fell, El Dorado seemed even more alive. The streets were lit by torches, music and dancing filled every corner, and the sounds of celebration could be heard from practically anywhere in the city. Miguel had completely lost track of how long he had been there and, more importantly, how much he had been drinking. One cup had become two, two had become who-knew-how-many, and at some point, he had simply given up counting.
He had also lost track of Tulio.
"Have you seen Tulio?"
Ichtacka looked at him.
"Not recently, Lord Miguel."
"He's probably around somewhere."
Miguel waved a hand dismissively, as if that settled the matter. In truth, he was almost certain his best friend was somewhere at the celebration, probably sprawled out in some corner or, considering Chel was there, passed out drunk in her lap while she enjoyed the situation.
Miguel laughed to himself at the thought and kept walking.
Ichtacka immediately followed him.
"Where are we going?"
"I have no idea."
Miguel continued walking without any particular hurry, gradually moving away from the busiest part of the city. The music grew more distant, replaced by the quieter sounds of the night. Ichtacka didn't ask any questions. He simply stayed by Miguel's side, keeping an eye on him to make sure he didn't trip over a stone or end up falling somewhere he shouldn't.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Miguel stopped.
He tilted his head back.
The sky stretched wide above them, filled with stars. The moon shone among them, and a comet slowly crossed the darkness, leaving a luminous trail that Miguel followed with his eyes until it disappeared into the distance. For a few seconds, he simply stood there in silence.
"Beautiful..."
Ichtacka looked up at the sky, then back at him.
"Yes. It is."
Miguel continued staring upward.
"It's been so long..."
"Since when?"
Miguel took a few seconds to answer.
"Since I've been up there."
Ichtacka frowned slightly.
"Up there?"
Miguel took a few more steps into the forest, still gazing at the stars.
"I mean, up there."
Ichtacka looked at the sky again.
"In the clouds?"
"Higher." Miguel smiled. "Much higher."
The guard remained silent, trying to understand what Miguel meant. To him, this could only be another way for a god to speak about the heavens. Perhaps Miguel missed his divine kingdom, some place that existed beyond this world. But Miguel wasn't thinking about any kingdom.
He was thinking about the wind. The feeling of air rushing through his feathers.
The freedom of simply spreading his wings and rising into the clouds, leaving the city, the people, and all those little worries far below. He thought about how different the world looked from above. How everything became quiet. How, for a few minutes, he could simply exist without having to hide anything.
Miguel closed his eyes.
"I miss being up there..."
Ichtacka watched his face for a few seconds. He didn't know how long the gods had been on earth. Perhaps that distance was simply part of their existence. Perhaps they truly missed their home. And for the first time, the guard allowed himself to wonder what the place these beings came from might be like.
"What is it like? Up there... If you don't mind telling me, my lord."
"Hm..." Miguel slowly opened his eyes. "I told you... Just call me Miguel." The blond smiled, looking up at the sky. "It's... Free. It's so good to feel the wind... To look down at the world when it all seems so small..." He paused, as if trying to gather his thoughts through the haze of alcohol. "Everyone looks so small..."
Ichtacka remained silent, listening. Miguel tried to take another step, but his body didn't quite cooperate. He stumbled to the side and nearly fell, only to be caught by Ichtacka, who firmly grabbed him by the arms.
"I think it's time we head back to the temple, Lord... Miguel."
Miguel let out a small laugh, leaning some of his weight against the guard.
"You almost got it."
"Got what?"
"Calling me Miguel."
Ichtacka sighed, though there was a small smile on his face.
"Come on, Miguel."
"Better."
The walk back was slower. Miguel stumbled occasionally, and Ichtacka had to keep him supported for most of the way. When they finally reached the temple, the blond practically threw himself onto the large bed, sinking into the soft fabrics.
"So comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time..."
Ichtacka, who had already been preparing to leave and let him rest, stopped when he heard the complaint.
"Is something uncomfortable? Do you need anything?"
"Hmm..."
Miguel shifted around on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position.
Ichtacka waited.
"Miguel? Are you in pain?"
It took Miguel a few seconds to answer.
"It's been so long..." He mumbled, still half-asleep. "It starts to hurt when I stay like this for too long, you know?"
Ichtacka frowned.
"Stay like what?"
Miguel didn't answer. Instead, he reached for his cape and pulled it off, lying face-down on the bed. The guard could now see several small feathers scattered across his back, close to his shoulders. They were green and vibrant, perfectly matching the eyes of the supposed god.
Ichtacka was about to ask what they were, but Miguel simply rolled his shoulders.
Then, right before the guard's eyes, large wings emerged from his back.
Ichtacka went completely still.
The feathers were vibrant, forming a pattern reminiscent of a quetzal, a sacred bird of the region. Shades of green, black, and red blended together, creating a combination that seemed almost impossible to occur naturally. They were enormous, far larger than Ichtacka could have imagined, and they slowly spread behind Miguel before settling across the bed.
They were beautiful.
So beautiful that, for a few seconds, Ichtacka simply couldn't say a word.
Truly worthy of a god.
Deep down, he would never admit that he had been somewhat skeptical ever since the supposed gods arrived in the city. Not because he doubted the word of his people, but because he had never seen anything that truly proved these two men were divine beings.
Now, however, he had proof right before his eyes.
How could he deny it? Who else could simply make wings appear from their own back?
Realizing he was staring, Ichtacka looked away out of respect, though curiosity soon made him glance back. After a few seconds, he spoke softly.
"Miguel..."
"Hm?"
"Your wings..."
Miguel opened one eye, still half-asleep.
"What about them?"
Ichtacka hesitated. For a moment, he considered calling him Lord Miguel or kneeling before him, but then he remembered all the times Miguel had asked him to simply use his name.
"Have you always had them?"
Miguel yawned.
"Since I was born."
Ichtacka slowly nodded, taking in the answer. He looked at the feathers once more before speaking again after a few seconds.
"They're... Very beautiful."
Miguel smiled sleepily.
"Thanks. This is more comfortable..." He adjusted one of his wings across the bed and closed his eyes for a moment. "Could you get me some more... Pillows, maybe? I like feeling like I'm in a nest." The blond yawned again, already overcome by exhaustion. "And... Don't let anyone in, okay? No one... Just Tulio. No one else."
Ichtacka knelt on the floor.
"As you wish... I will guard your... Your nest, my lord."
"Miguel..." The blond mumbled without even opening his eyes. "Just Miguel..."
Exhaustion finally overcame him. His breathing grew slow and peaceful as he fell asleep, his great wings still spread across the bed.
Ichtacka remained silent for a few seconds before standing. He looked at Miguel sleeping, then at the wings spread around him, realizing that this was a night he would probably never forget.
His first duty now was simple.
No one would enter that room.
.
The next morning, Tzekel-Kan walked through the temple corridors accompanied by two of his acolytes. He needed to speak with the gods before preparations for that afternoon's sacrifices began. After all, if Miguel and Tulio really were the deities who had returned to El Dorado, their presence during the ritual was not merely desirable. It was necessary.
When he reached Miguel's chambers, however, he found Ichtacka standing in front of the entrance.
The high priest stopped.
"Guard."
Ichtacka remained still.
"I need to speak with Lord Miguel."
"He is sleeping. The lord ordered that no one be allowed inside."
Tzekel-Kan looked at the door behind the guard before turning his eyes back to him.
"I am the high priest of El Dorado. I have important matters to discuss with the Gods."
"I understand."
"Then allow me to pass."
"No."
The answer was so simple that Tzekel-Kan remained silent for several seconds.
"You are preventing me from entering a God's chambers?"
Ichtacka nodded.
"Yes."
The high priest narrowed his eyes, clearly beginning to lose his patience.
"And what if I tell you that this afternoon's sacrifices depend on the presence of Lord Miguel and Lord Tulio?"
Ichtacka maintained his posture.
"Then you will have to wait until Lord Miguel wakes up."
Tzekel-Kan took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
"The gods demand blood."
"And I have orders."
Tzekel-Kan stared at the guard for several seconds, as if trying to decide whether this was an impressive display of devotion or simply monumental stupidity.
"Do you know who you are speaking to?"
"The high priest."
"Then you know you cannot simply stop me."
Ichtacka finally looked directly at him.
"I can."
Tzekel-Kan fell silent.
Behind the door, Miguel continued sleeping deeply, completely unaware of the argument. His great wings still took up much of the bed, and the improvised nest of pillows Ichtacka had managed to find during the night had been carefully arranged around him. The guard had no intention of letting anyone disturb that sleep, least of all someone who wanted to talk about sacrifices.
"Come back later." Ichtacka said. "Lord Miguel should wake up soon."
Tzekel-Kan narrowed his eyes.
"Are you not afraid of displeasing the Gods?"
Ichtacka glanced at the door once more.
"It was a God who gave me the order."
For some reason, that answer seemed to end the argument. Tzekel-Kan gave him one last suspicious look before walking away, clearly displeased.
Ichtacka remained in front of the door.
His duty was simple.
Miguel had asked him to let no one enter.
And no one would.
A little over an hour later, Miguel woke up with an unbearable headache. He had definitely overdone it the night before. It took him several minutes to remember where he was, and when he finally realized that he had slept with his wings completely exposed, his eyes widened.
"Shit..."
With a movement of his shoulders, the wings disappeared from his back, leaving only a few loose feathers scattered across the bed. Miguel rubbed a hand over his face, trying to piece together how he had ended up there. He could barely remember anything after he had started walking toward the forest with Ichtacka. He sincerely hoped no one had seen them.
After washing his face and doing his best to look at least somewhat presentable, Miguel draped his blue cape over his shoulders again and left his chambers. As soon as he opened the door, he found Ichtacka standing there, still in the same place.
"Miguel... Did you sleep well?"
"Oh... Yes, thank you." Miguel glanced at the pillows scattered around the bed through the open door. "Although I have no idea where all those pillows around me came from."
Ichtacka remained serious, though there was a small hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"You asked for them."
Miguel blinked.
"I did?"
"You said you wanted to feel like you were in a nest."
The blond remained silent for a few seconds.
"I really need to drink less." Miguel let out a quiet laugh and ran a hand through his hair, still trying to deal with his headache. "Is Tulio okay?"
"Lord Tulio just stopped by to get something to eat. The high priest is calling for both of you to attend a ritual at sunset."
"Wow, I didn't even realize it was already that late. I definitely drank too much last night." Miguel then looked at the guard more closely. "You stayed here all night?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Ichtacka maintained his posture.
"It was your order."
Miguel frowned, trying to remember.
"I told you to stay here?"
"You ordered me not to let anyone enter."
Miguel's expression changed for a moment. He remembered, little by little, he also remembered taking off his cape, lying face-down on the bed, and spreading his wings. He remembered Ichtacka looking at them. And, most importantly, he remembered asking him not to let anyone enter.
Miguel stared at the guard in silence.
"You saw them?"
Ichtacka didn't need to ask what he meant.
"I did."
Miguel remained still for several seconds.
"And...?"
"I have not told anyone. Although I do not understand your reasons for hiding them... I will not reveal it to anyone if that is your wish."
The answer came without hesitation. Miguel studied his face, looking for any sign of fear, excessive curiosity, or judgment. He found none. Only the same serious expression Ichtacka always wore.
"Thank you."
Ichtacka inclined his head slightly.
"It is my duty."
Miguel gave him a small smile. Before he could say anything else, a familiar voice echoed through the corridor.
"Miguel!" Tulio appeared around the corner, holding a piece of fruit in one hand and looking far more rested than he had any right to after spending the previous night drinking. "Finally awake!"
Miguel looked at him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm just hungry."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"We're both alive. That's something." Tulio approached and glanced at Ichtacka before turning his attention back to Miguel. "You slept all morning. And the high priest is getting impatient."
"He wants to talk about the ritual?"
"Something like that. He didn't give me many details, but from what I understood, they're already waiting for us." Tulio looked at the guard. "You know where it is, right? Lead us there."
"Of course, my lords."
"Where's Chel?" Miguel asked.
"Still sleeping. I'm not waking her up for something this boring. We'll manage." Tulio moved a little closer to Miguel and lowered his voice. "We need to start thinking about how we're going to get out of here with as much gold as we can carry."
"We'll talk about that later, Tulio." The blond gave his friend a look and started walking after Ichtacka. "Focus on the now."
After walking through the streets of El Dorado for several minutes, they began to hear a great commotion. When they reached the area, they found a huge crowd gathered in front of an imposing structure. Ichtacka led them to the front, where everyone could see them. At the top of the large building stood Tzekel-Kan, accompanied by four girls dressed in white.
Miguel stopped for a moment.
One of them had a small feather tucked into her hair.
He recognized her immediately. She was the girl he had played with the day before.
The same girl who had found one of the small feathers on his back and asked if she could keep it. Miguel had placed the feather in her hair and asked her to keep it a secret. Now she stood there, surrounded by three other children, all of them frightened. Some looked as though they were about to cry.
The smile disappeared from Miguel's face.
Tzekel-Kan began to speak, raising his voice so the entire crowd could hear him.
"Blood is sacred! Through it, we offer the Gods what belongs to them. Today, the gods themselves will be present to witness the sacrifice and receive the offering of their people!"
The crowd reacted enthusiastically.
Miguel's stomach churned.
He took a step forward, but Tulio discreetly grabbed his arm.
"Miguel."
"But..."
"No." Miguel looked at him indignantly. Tulio kept his smile directed toward the crowd as he continued speaking quietly. "We're already standing out too much. If you simply interrupt the priest now, it's going to raise questions... The Gods here seem to love this sort of thing."
"And those girls?"
"I know." Tulio lightly squeezed his arm before letting go. "But we need to think. If we want to get out of here and take the gold with us, we need to keep this lie going."
Miguel looked toward the top of the building again.
The girl with the feather met his gaze. She looked even more frightened when she realized Miguel was looking directly at her.
For a moment, the blond completely forgot Tulio's plan.
That girl trusted him.
She had spent hours playing beside him the day before. She had laughed when he played his instrument, climbed onto his back, and asked to keep one of his small feathers. And now she was about to be sacrificed.
Miguel took a deep breath and clenched his hands.
Above them, Tzekel-Kan continued his speech, talking about the honor of offering those lives to the gods and how the presence of Miguel and Tulio would make the ritual even more sacred.
"Your blood will be essential to the gods!" The high priest grabbed the girl by the arm and led her to the edge of the building. The girl tried to pull away, but Tzekel-Kan held her firmly while the crowd watched in silence. "Praise be to the Gods!"
Then he let her go.
The girl plummeted.
Miguel couldn't control himself.
Before he could think about the consequences, he ran forward, tearing the cape from his shoulders. His shoulders moved, and in an instant, the great wings emerged from his back. He launched himself into the air, feeling the wind hit his face as his body rose toward the girl.
It had been so long since he had flown.
But his body hadn't forgotten.
Miguel tilted his wings, correcting his trajectory, and managed to reach the girl before she hit the ground. He caught her tightly against his chest and spread his wings as wide as possible to slow their fall. For a few moments, he had to fight against his own momentum, regaining control in the air while the girl desperately clung to his clothes.
Then Miguel began to rise.
Every movement of his wings carried him higher. His body remembered what his mind had tried to forget for so many years. The wind, the feeling of freedom, the movement of his feathers against the air. Everything came rushing back at once. When he reached the top of the building, Miguel landed in front of Tzekel-Kan, still holding the girl in his arms. The other children backed away in fear, while the high priest stood completely frozen.
Miguel was breathing heavily. His hair was disheveled from the wind, and his wings remained fully spread behind him. He looked at the girl first.
"Are you okay?"
The girl didn't answer. She simply clung to him even tighter, hiding her face against his chest.
Down below, everyone stood with their mouths open, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. Even Chief Tannabok seemed unsure how to react. All his life, he had heard stories about the gods, but he had never imagined he would see one of them fly before all of El Dorado.
Tulio was equally stunned. He knew Miguel better than anyone else, but even he rarely had the chance to see his wings. And he had never seen his friend fly like that. For a moment, he completely forgot about their plans, the gold, and even the possibility that this could put their entire lie at risk.
Ichtacka, on the other hand, watched the scene with a faint smile. He had seen those wings the night before, but seeing them now was different. That night, Miguel had been drunk, exhausted, and simply trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. Now he stood before the entire city, his wings spread wide, having just flown to save a child.
The crowd's reaction was almost immediate.
One by one, the inhabitants began to kneel.
Tannabok knelt as well. Even Tzekel-Kan was left speechless before finally dropping to his knees.
Tzekel-Kan remained kneeling, staring at Miguel as though he were standing before something his own mind could not comprehend. The man who had spent days searching for a flaw in the supposed gods now trembled before him. He had watched every gesture Miguel and Tulio made, looking for a trick, a lie, anything that could prove those foreigners were not divine.
But Miguel had flown.
He had not witnessed it through stories or the accounts of others. Tzekel-Kan had seen it with his own eyes. The wings had emerged from the blond's back, enormous and colorful, and Miguel had crossed the sky to save the girl before she hit the ground.
All of the priest's theories collapsed at once.
"My lord..." His voice came out low and trembling. "Did something about the sacrifice displease you? Are the girls not to your liking?"
Miguel frowned.
"No." He looked at the girl still clinging to his arms. "I don't want any of them to be sacrificed."
Tzekel-Kan raised his eyes.
"But... Blood is a sacred offering."
"Not to me. Their blood is not an offering to me."
The priest remained frozen.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to understand. Then his eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat.
If his God did not want the girls' blood...
Tzekel-Kan looked down at his own hands. He began breathing faster and faster, as though he had finally found the answer to a question that had been tormenting him for days. A strange smile appeared on his face.
"Of course..."
Tannabok partially rose to his feet, but did not interfere. He simply watched.
"I have insulted them. I have defied the gods." Tzekel-Kan began backing away. His feet reached the edge of the temple, but he didn't seem to notice. "I offered them blood they did not want." His eyes remained fixed on Miguel. "Forgive me, my lord."
Miguel took a step forward.
"Wait. You misunderstood."
Too late.
Tzekel-Kan spread his arms and let himself fall backward. For one brief moment, everything was silent.
Then came the impact.
Tzekel-Kan's body hit the ground hard, the force of the fall leaving him motionless. Blood quickly spread beneath him, darkening the stone around his body and seeping into the cracks between the tiles. A thin stream ran from beneath his head, growing wider by the second until it stained the ground around him. His eyes remained open, staring blankly toward the sky, but there was no sign that he was still alive.
For several seconds, no one moved.
Miguel remained at the top of the building, still holding the girl against his chest, his wings spread behind him. His eyes were fixed on the place where Tzekel-Kan had fallen, completely unable to process what had just happened. Tulio was just as pale as Miguel. He knew his friend well enough to understand that none of this had been part of the plan. There had been no trick, performance, or strategy behind that death.
Tzekel-Kan had genuinely believed that Miguel wanted his blood.
And he had killed himself because of it.
But the people's reaction was completely different. No one rushed to the body to help him. No one cried. No one called his name.
Some of the inhabitants simply looked at Tzekel-Kan with a kind of frightened respect. Others exchanged whispers among themselves, as though his death had confirmed something they had already believed.
"The gods judged him."
"For all the sacrifices."
"He did not listen to them."
"It was only a matter of time."
Miguel heard those words and felt his stomach churn. They weren't horrified by the death. They accepted it as justice. Miguel looked at the girl in his arms again. She was still clinging to his clothes, too frightened to lift her head. The other children remained nearby, silently watching the scene.
It was then that the blond finally managed to move.
"Come on." His voice came out low and trembling as he carefully crouched down, handing the girl to one of the women who had rushed toward them. "Take the children away from here."
The woman immediately nodded.
Miguel looked at the other children.
"All of them. Go with her."
No one argued.
The adults began leading the children away from the plaza, some of them still looking over their shoulders at Miguel and his wings. He remained standing there for a few more seconds, trying to organize his thoughts.
He couldn't.
He didn't know what he was supposed to say. He didn't know how to explain that this wasn't what he had wanted. He didn't even know if anyone would believe him.
"Please..." He finally said, looking at Tannabok. "Get his body out of here."
The chief stared at Miguel for a few moments before bowing his head.
"Yes, my lord."
Two men approached Tzekel-Kan's body. The crowd made room for them to pass without showing the same distress Miguel had expected.
To them, it seemed simple.
Tzekel-Kan had defied the gods. The gods had answered.
Miguel closed his eyes for a moment.
He had only wanted to save a child.
That was all.
Tulio finally managed to reach him. He stopped beside his friend, still completely shaken.
"Miguel..."
The blond didn't answer.
Ichtacka approached in silence. He didn't try to explain what had happened. He didn't try to tell Miguel that it wasn't his fault. He simply remained beside him, waiting until Miguel finally found something to say.
"Just... Get me out of here." Miguel's voice was quiet and still slightly trembling. "I... I need to think for a while. Be alone. And..."
"Fly?"
Miguel turned toward the guard.
There was a faint smile on Ichtacka's lips.
"No one here will find it strange or say anything if you decide to fly over the city, Miguel." He briefly glanced at the wings spread behind the blond. "You are our god. Everyone here respects you."
Miguel stared at him for a few seconds.
"He's right, Miguel." Tulio finally stepped closer and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Go fly. I know you miss doing this... It's been years..."
Miguel looked at both of them.
Maybe that was exactly what he needed.
He didn't want to think about Tzekel-Kan. He didn't want to think about the people kneeling before him, or what his wings meant to this city, or what would happen afterward. He just wanted to feel the wind again.
Miguel took a few steps back and spread his wings completely. For a moment, he stood still, feeling their weight settle against his back before bending his knees and pushing off. His body left the ground, and his wings beat once, twice, carrying him rapidly higher. Before he knew it, he was already rising above the rooftops of El Dorado.
Tulio tilted his head back to watch him, smiling. Ichtacka also remained where he was, watching as Miguel climbed higher and higher. Up above, the blond closed his eyes and simply let the wind pass over his face, rushing through his hair and between the feathers of his wings.
When he opened his eyes, El Dorado stretched out beneath him. The temples, buildings, and crowded streets looked smaller from that height, but Miguel could barely pay attention to them. All he could feel was the wind against his face, slipping between his feathers and making his wings tremble with every movement.
His chest tightened, and for a few seconds, he simply couldn't believe he was doing this again.
It had been years.
Years since the last time he had felt that freedom, since flying had stopped being something natural and become a painful reminder of everything that had happened. A laugh escaped his lips, small at first, almost disbelieving, before turning into a smile he couldn't contain. Miguel leaned forward and climbed higher, feeling his heart beat faster as the wind carried him over the city. For the first time since he was a child, there was no fear accompanying the sensation.
No one was chasing him. No one was screaming that he was a demon. No one was trying to bring him down from the sky.
Down below, people simply watched.
And Miguel realized that, for the first time, he could fly without having to run from anyone.
Up here, he was a God.
.
He didn't return to the temple until the sky was completely filled with stars. When he landed, his legs wavered slightly, and he had to brace one hand against the ground as he slowly folded his wings, still leaving them visible instead of hiding them as he usually did. They were sore from the sudden strain after so many years without flying like that, but Miguel knew the pain would pass. He simply needed to start flying regularly again, strengthen the muscles, and let his body get used to it once more.
Maybe, with time, he would be able to fly for hours without feeling that pain.
The problem was that he didn't know how much time he had.
Miguel ran a hand along the feathers of his wing, thoughtful. He couldn't fly like that in Spain. Not when he returned. Thinking about it made his chest tighten again. He didn't want to go back.
After so many years of hiding his wings, after finally discovering what it felt like to fly without fear, the thought of returning to the place where he had nearly been killed seemed unbearable. But he didn't want to keep lying forever either.
And above all, he didn't want to be away from Tulio.
Ever since they had met, the two of them had hardly ever been apart. Tulio was his family. His best friend. The first person who had looked at his wings and hadn't seen a monster. If Tulio decided to return to Spain, Miguel knew he would go with him.
Even if it meant losing this again.
"You came back."
Miguel turned quickly.
Ichtacka was standing a few steps behind him at the entrance to the temple. He approached slowly, his eyes moving over Miguel's wings before returning to his face.
"Do they hurt?"
"A little."
"Then you should rest."
"I know."
Miguel moved his wings slightly, making a small grimace when the muscles in his back protested.
Ichtacka noticed.
"You shouldn't have flown so much after going so long without flying."
"I needed to."
The answer made the guard stop.
"Why?"
Miguel looked away toward the sky.
"Because I might not be able to do this for much longer."
Ichtacka frowned.
"Why not?"
Miguel remained silent.
"I'm leaving."
Ichtacka's expression immediately changed.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Miguel slowly exhaled.
"Tulio wants to go back."
Ichtacka stared at him for several seconds, as though trying to make sense of it.
"And because of that, you have to go too?"
Miguel looked up.
"I'm not leaving Tulio alone."
"Even if you don't want to go back?"
Miguel didn't answer. That seemed to be answer enough. Ichtacka took another step, coming close enough for Miguel to feel the warmth of his body.
"Lord Tulio said you spent years unable to fly."
Miguel swallowed.
"And now you can."
"Yes."
"Then why would you give that up?"
The question struck Miguel in a way he hadn't expected. His eyes dropped again.
"Because he's my best friend... My brother.."
"And you can't remain his friend here?"
Miguel let out a weak laugh.
"It's not that simple."
Ichtacka raised one hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently touched Miguel's arm. The gesture was careful, almost as if he were still learning how close he was allowed to get to him.
"You look sad when you talk about leaving."
Miguel went still.
"I am."
"Then don't go."
The simplicity of those words made something inside him give way. Miguel raised his eyes and met Ichtacka's. For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
Ichtacka was too close.
Miguel knew it.
And yet, he didn't move away.
Ichtacka's gaze dropped briefly to his lips before returning to his eyes. It was quick, but Miguel noticed.
"You shouldn't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like..." Miguel lowered his eyes for a moment before finally admitting, almost in a whisper, "Like I'm important."
Ichtacka seemed surprised.
"You are important."
Miguel looked up again.
"You're our God, Miguel. I know you didn't like what happened today, but you have no idea how many of us are relieved that we no longer have to perform sacrifices." Ichtacka's expression grew more serious. "We have lost so many people to those sacrifices, Miguel. People we loved. People who never should have died."
Miguel felt his chest tighten.
He wanted to tell him.
He wanted to say that he wasn't a god. That all of this was a lie. That his wings weren't proof of divinity, just a part of his body that he had learned to hide in order to survive. He wanted to tell him about Spain, about the fear, about the day he had nearly been burned alive.
He wanted to tell him everything.
But in that moment, he wanted to be selfish.
Just one more time.
He wanted to feel that man close to him. He wanted to know what it would feel like to be kissed by someone who looked at him that way. He wanted to hold on to this moment before the truth destroyed everything. Ichtacka raised a hand and touched his chin, gently tilting Miguel's face upward. His fingers remained there as he slowly leaned closer, giving Miguel more than enough time to pull away.
"My lord..." Their eyes met. "Miguel." Ichtacka hesitated for a moment. "May I?"
Miguel felt the guilt tighten even more around his chest.
He could say no.
He could step away. He could tell him the truth.
But he did none of those things.
"You should..." His voice almost failed him. Miguel took a deep breath, holding Ichtacka's gaze. "You should, Ichtacka."
Ichtacka didn't need to hear anything else.
He leaned in slowly and pressed his lips against Miguel's. The blond closed his eyes and returned the kiss, feeling Ichtacka's hand remain against his face while the other rested carefully on his arm.
For a few seconds, Miguel managed to forget everything.
Spain.
The lie.
The fear of being discovered.
It all disappeared.
There was only that kiss.
And even knowing that it would make the truth even harder to tell afterward, Miguel couldn't bring himself to regret it.
Several weeks passed. The ship Tulio had ordered was finally ready, and they began loading it with gold. Before long, they would leave El Dorado, and everything would go back to the way it had been. Or at least, that was what Tulio kept telling himself. That afternoon, the two of them were away from the rest of the city, sitting on one of the highest parts of the temple.
Tulio watched the men working on the ship in the distance while Miguel remained silent, staring at his own wings.
"I bet I can guess what you're thinking."
Miguel glanced at his friend.
"You're thinking about staying here... Am I right?"
"Maybe."
Tulio let out a quiet laugh.
"I knew it."
Miguel frowned.
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew." Tulio rested his arms on his knees. "You think I haven't noticed how you've been since we got here?"
Miguel remained quiet.
"You're different." Tulio continued. "When we arrived, you spent all your time trying to hide your wings. Now you spend half the day flying around the city."
"It's different."
"I know." Tulio looked at him for a few seconds before continuing. "El Dorado isn't my place."
Miguel turned toward him.
"I want to go back to Spain. I want to go back to a normal life, or as normal a life as possible for two people who just stole an absurd amount of gold." He smiled. "I want Chel with me. I want a comfortable house, enough money that I'll never have to steal bread again, and, if she doesn't kill me first, maybe even marry her."
Miguel laughed softly.
"You really think about marrying her?"
"Of course I do. She's beautiful, intelligent, knows exactly what she wants, and, most importantly, she's the only person who can put me in my place." Tulio sighed dramatically. "It's practically perfect."
Miguel shook his head, still smiling.
"But you..." Tulio pointed at him. "You're different."
Miguel's smile slowly faded.
"I don't think El Dorado is my place." Tulio continued. "But maybe it is yours."
Miguel remained silent.
Tulio looked at the wings partially spread behind him.
"Here, you can fly."
Miguel looked away.
"In Spain, you'd have to hide that."
"I know."
"You've spent your entire life doing that."
Miguel pressed his fingers against his knee.
"I know."
"And here, no one looks at you as though there's something wrong with you. You can walk through the city with your wings open. You can fly whenever you want. People look at you and see a god." Tulio paused. "And for the first time, you seem to believe that maybe there's nothing wrong with being exactly who you are."
Miguel felt his throat tighten.
"But you're my family."
Tulio smiled.
"You're my brother. That doesn't change just because I want to go home."
Miguel lowered his head.
"I don't know if I can stay without you."
"You can." Tulio gave him a light pat on the shoulder. "You spent twelve years without my delightful presence in your life. You can survive without me."
Miguel laughed.
Tulio looked back at El Dorado.
"I want my normal life, Miguel. I want a house, I want money, and I want to complain about everything that goes wrong for the rest of my life." He looked at his friend again. "But you..." His smile softened. "I think maybe you've found something here that we never had in Spain."
Miguel looked at him.
"Freedom."
The word hung between them.
Miguel looked at the sky, then down at the city below. He thought about the children who now ran through the streets without fear, the people who greeted him whenever he passed, and, inevitably, Ichtacka.
"I'm going to talk to the chief first." Miguel took a deep breath. "I'm going to tell him the truth. That I'm not a god. If... if he still accepts me after that, I'll stay. If he doesn't, at least I'll still have you and my amazing sister-in-law."
Tulio broke into a grin.
"With the amount of gold we're taking, I think I can buy a piece of land big enough that no one will ever see you flying."
Miguel let out a small laugh.
"I wouldn't have the courage to fly in Spain again, Tulio."
He stood up. It was time to tell Tannabok the truth. And if he managed to stay in El Dorado, he would tell Ichtacka the truth as well. The chief was alone when Miguel found him. The chief received him respectfully, but didn't seem surprised to see him.
"My lord."
The blond took a deep breath.
"I need to tell you something."
The chief gestured for him to follow.
"Then walk with me."
The two began walking through the quieter streets on the outskirts of the city. Miguel remained silent for a while, trying to find the courage to say it aloud.
"There is something I need you to know first."
Tannabok looked at him.
"I'm not a god."
The chief continued walking for a few more steps before answering.
"I suspected as much."
Miguel stopped, surprised.
"You... Suspected?"
Tannabok stopped as well and turned to face him.
"From the beginning, I had my doubts about you and Tulio. You were different from what I expected the gods to be."
Miguel lowered his eyes.
"Then why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Because I wasn't certain." Tannabok paused. "And then I saw your wings."
Miguel raised his head.
"When I saw you flying, I thought perhaps I had been wrong. Perhaps you really were a different kind of deity from the ones we knew. It would not be strange for the Gods to take forms we had never seen before."
Miguel remained silent for a few seconds.
"My parents were human. I'm human too. I was born in another land, very far from here." Miguel took a deep breath. "And the people there were afraid of my wings... I was born with them." He discreetly touched his shoulder. "In my homeland, people were afraid of them. They said they were a curse. They tried to kill me because of them."
Tannabok's expression grew more serious.
"But do you believe your wings are a curse?"
Miguel hesitated.
"I spent most of my life believing they were."
Tannabok didn't answer immediately. He continued walking beside Miguel until they moved away from the buildings and reached a quieter part of the city, where the vegetation began to grow thicker. After a few more steps, the chief stopped and looked up at the trees.
"I want to show you something."
Miguel followed his gaze. For several seconds, he saw nothing but leaves moving in the wind. Then something caught his attention. A bird landed on one of the highest branches, and Miguel simply stopped. Its green feathers gleamed beneath the sunlight, vivid and alive, while shades of red and dark colors appeared along its wings and tail. Miguel's heart began to beat faster as he looked at the animal, then at his own wings, and finally back at the bird.
"What kind of bird is that?"
"Quetzal."
Miguel approached slowly, almost afraid the bird would disappear before he could get a proper look at it. He had never seen anything like it. All his life, his wings had been something unique, strange, impossible. He had never known anyone, or any creature, with feathers that resembled his own.
And now there was a bird standing right in front of him.
Miguel felt his throat tighten.
"It has..." His voice faltered, and he tried again. "The colors are similar."
Tannabok nodded.
"They are."
Miguel opened one of his wings slightly, comparing his own feathers with those of the bird. For the first time, he felt no shame in doing so. There was only a childlike curiosity, as though he were discovering a part of himself he should have known all along.
"I've never seen one like this."
"Because they do not exist in the land where you were born."
Miguel kept looking at the quetzal.
"It lives here?"
"For a very long time."
The bird spread its wings and flew to another tree. Miguel followed its movement until it landed again, feeling something strange beginning to grow inside his chest. It was small and fragile, but it was there.
Tannabok noticed his silence.
"Perhaps you really aren't a God, Miguel."
The blond lowered his eyes.
"I know."
"But perhaps that was never the most important thing."
Miguel raised his head.
Tannabok pointed toward the quetzal.
"You were born very far from here with wings that resemble its own. You spent your life believing there was something wrong with you because the people around you didn't understand what you were." He paused. "And then you came to a land where a creature with feathers like yours exists."
Miguel stood completely still.
"I don't know if that was the work of the Gods." Tannabok continued. "I cannot prove that someone guided you here. But I also don't think you need to believe that your wings were a curse."
Miguel felt his eyes begin to sting.
"In my homeland..." He swallowed hard. "They said they were."
"In your homeland, perhaps." Tannabok looked at him. "But here, when we look at a quetzal, we don't see a curse. We see something beautiful. Something that belongs to this land." Tannabok stepped a little closer. "Perhaps your wings belong somewhere too."
The words struck Miguel with a force he hadn't expected. He turned his face away, trying to hide his watering eyes, but he couldn't stop a tear from slipping down his cheek.
For years, he had called his wings a curse because it was the only explanation anyone had ever given him. He had learned to hide them before he had even learned to accept them. When he flew, it was to escape. When he spread his wings, he was looking for distance. Whenever someone saw them, he expected fear. But for the first time, Miguel wondered if perhaps his wings had never been something that needed to be hidden at all.
Perhaps his wings were not a punishment.
Perhaps there had never been anything wrong with him.
Miguel slowly ran his hand over one of the feathers, feeling its texture beneath his fingers.
"My mother used to say they were a gift."
Tannabok smiled faintly.
"Perhaps she was right."
Miguel closed his eyes. For a moment, he was able to remember her without thinking about the fire, the screams, or the escape. He remembered only her voice, telling him that his wings were beautiful, that perhaps they had a purpose, that he should never be ashamed of them.
He opened his eyes again and looked at the quetzal. Maybe he would never know why he had been born that way. Maybe he would never discover where those wings truly came from or whether there was some greater reason for them to exist.
But for the first time, that didn't frighten him.
He didn't need an answer.
.
The next day, the ship was ready to leave.
The gold had already been loaded, and Tulio's men were finishing the last preparations while Chel supervised everything with the attention of someone who didn't trust either of them for a second to organize a journey on their own.
Miguel watched everything in silence. His wings were completely exposed, occasionally spreading so he could stretch them, and no one in the city seemed to find it strange anymore. The children had already grown accustomed to seeing him flying over the temples, and some of the adults even looked up at the sky whenever they noticed his shadow passing over the streets.
Tannabok had assured him that he didn't need to worry about what people would say once Tulio left.
"The people don't need to know everything." The chief had explained. "We will simply say that you have decided to remain among mortals for a while before returning to the realm of the heavens."
Miguel thought the explanation was absurd.
But considering these people already believed he was a god, it seemed like the simplest way to preserve the peace. When the time came for the departure, Miguel and Tulio stood apart from the others for a few minutes. Neither of them needed to say what this meant.
It would be the last time they saw each other.
Maybe forever.
Tulio pulled Miguel into a tight embrace.
"Take care of yourself, brother."
Miguel wrapped his arms around him.
"You too... And take care of my sister-in-law."
"You say that as if I'm going to stay away from her."
They pulled back just enough to look at each other.
Tulio smiled.
"Everything will be fine."
Miguel nodded.
But neither of them knew if that was true.
When Tulio finally boarded the ship, Miguel remained at the docks until it disappeared over the horizon. Only then did he take a deep breath and look at the city behind him.
It was strange.
All his life, he had believed he would never have a place he could call home. Now he was alone in a distant land, without Tulio, without the life he knew, and without any certainty about the future.
But his wings were open.
And no one was asking him to hide them.
Miguel returned to the city.
He needed to find Ichtacka.
He found him near one of the temple entrances, speaking with a few guards. As soon as he saw Miguel, the man said goodbye to the others and walked over to him.
"Are you all right?"
Miguel nodded, although his face said otherwise.
"Tulio has left."
"I know."
Miguel was silent for a few seconds.
"I need to tell you something."
Ichtacka immediately noticed the seriousness in his voice.
"Then tell me."
Miguel took a deep breath.
"I lied to you."
Ichtacka didn't seem surprised.
"I know."
Miguel blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"I knew there was something you weren't telling me."
"No, Ichtacka. You don't understand." Miguel ran a hand over his face. "I'm not a God." He continued before he could lose his courage. "I was born in another land. My parents were human. I am human. I wasn't sent by the gods. I don't have any divine powers. These wings..." He spread one of them completely. "I was simply born with them."
Ichtacka looked at the wing for a few seconds before meeting Miguel's eyes again.
"And?"
"And?" Miguel stared at him in confusion. "You're not... angry?"
"Why would I be?"
"Because I lied to you."
Ichtacka stepped closer.
"You lied when you told me you were a God. But I knew you, before I knew that." He gently touched one of the green feathers. "I knew the man who played with the children. The man who tried to stop the sacrifices. The man who saved that girl."
Miguel remained completely still.
"And now I know you were born with wings." Ichtacka smiled. "That doesn't change who you are."
"But I'm not a God."
"Perhaps you are not a God to the heavens." He touched Miguel's face. "But you are my God."
Miguel felt his eyes begin to sting.
"Ichtacka..."
"You don't have to be a deity for me. I don't need you to have been created by the Gods. I don't need you to have come from the heavens." Ichtacka's thumb brushed gently over his chin. "It's okay.."
Miguel let out a shaky breath.
"You don't care?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
Ichtacka smiled.
"Your wings are divine to me. Even if you are not a God."
Miguel stared at him, feeling all the tension he had carried since arriving in that land finally beginning to disappear.
Ichtacka stepped closer.
This time, Miguel didn't hesitate.
When their lips met, there were no lies between them. There was no false identity hiding what Miguel truly was. Ichtacka knew the truth, and he was still there. Miguel closed his eyes and gently gripped the guard's clothing, returning the kiss as his wings opened behind him on instinct.
He would never have to hide his wings again.
Here, he could fly freely for the rest of his life, knowing that he had finally found a place where he belonged.