Many female feathered people chose Agu as their potential mate.
His physical strength was undeniably greater than theirs, and in a young civilization where survival and construction were essential, strength carried weight.
Yet in the end, it was Bluefeather who secured the right to become Agu's spouse.
According to the Ceremony established by Agu, the feathered people practiced monogamy.
Agu had once considered a mixed partnership system to increase reproductive efficiency. However, he quickly realized that such a system would complicate internal relationships, create instability, and make future governance difficult.
More importantly, it would complicate the education and management of the next generation.
A stable pair bond and a defined small family structure were more beneficial for long-term development.
With this structure in place, Agu could devote more of his energy to technological research rather than constant interpersonal mediation.
Soon, Agu found a breakthrough in shaping clay.
From prior experience, he knew that sunlight could dry clay into form quickly. But drying alone was not enough.
Temperature was the key.
That thought led him to magma.
And from magma, he thought of obsidian.
Though his ability to perceive all things only revealed foundational information, it was a powerful tool for research.
Magma was composed largely of minerals.
So was soil.
The difference lay in mineral ratios and structural density. Soil was looser. Magma, when heated and cooled, transformed into hardened stone.
"If clay is heated to a sufficiently high temperature," Agu reasoned, "its internal structure should change just as magma does when it becomes obsidian."
He built a stone platform near the mouth of a volcano and placed shaped clay tablets upon it.
Under intense heat, the clay dried rapidly and began to transform. But the change was incomplete.
Soon, Agu tried another approach.
He used magma to ignite wood and constructed a controlled fire. Then he placed the clay pieces within the flames.
When the fire finally died down, the clay sculptures had cracked and fragmented.
But Agu did not grow frustrated.
He examined the fragments closely and observed the changes in their internal structure.
He smiled.
He had found the correct direction.
Now the variables were clear.
Temperature.
Duration of firing.
Soil composition.
Different mineral balances would yield different results. But experimentation would solve this.
As long as Agu examined the finished product, he could quickly extract information and refine the process.
And so he immersed himself in technological development.
The most urgent issue was tools.
Stone tools were crude and inefficient.
At the same time, most of the women in the tribe became pregnant.
"The gestation period is approximately three months," Agu said quietly, placing his wing against Bluefeather's abdomen.
The feathered people reproduced in a unique way.
After two to three months of gestation within the mother's body, an egg would be laid. Within five to six days, the young would break through the shell.
Agu sensed something else.
The second generation would grow more slowly.
"Life is stabilizing," he murmured.
The explosive growth of the first generation had been the aftershock of divine creation. Future generations would not possess that same surge of energy.
It would likely take a year or more for a child to mature into youth.
"Limit physical exertion," Agu told Bluefeather gently. "Focus on nurturing the child."
After speaking with her for some time, he stepped outside.
His dwelling now stood within the valley, near the stone slab engraved with the Ceremony.
As he emerged, he saw Spiritfeather.
Spiritfeather was returning from a hunt, carrying prey toward the valley entrance. He began dividing the meat.
As more women became pregnant, nutritional demands increased.
Spiritfeather had formed a hunting team responsible for gathering meat and locating edible plants. He had also begun transplanting certain species in an attempt at cultivation, though success had not yet come.
Agu and Spiritfeather exchanged a brief nod before continuing their separate tasks.
The feathered people had adopted a division of labor.
Agu oversaw technological research and long-term planning.
Spiritfeather managed food acquisition.
Others maintained shelters, cleared dangerous creatures, and reshaped the surrounding terrain.
In essence, building the world had become their primary occupation.
Construction took many forms.
Some carved stone into statues resembling feathered figures. Others created symmetrical structures purely for beauty.
Many used written language to record their thoughts.
They praised the power of God, the force of nature, and their own growing civilization.
Curiosity drove them forward.
At night, lacking sufficient ground light, their attention shifted to the sky.
Most illumination now came from above.
They studied the stars, mapping their positions and tracking subtle movements. They showed remarkable sensitivity to celestial patterns.
And then there was the moon.
"The moon is reddening again," one of them observed.
They had watched it carefully throughout the month. Except on nights of heavy clouds or rain, observation had become routine.
The moon waxed and waned steadily. When it rose to a certain height, its pale light shifted into a faint crimson.
As it grew fuller, the redness deepened.
They were fascinated.
They had asked Agu.
After observation, Agu could only provide a basic explanation. The moon reflected the light of the sun.
As for why the red tint appeared only at its highest position, even he had not yet determined the cause.
"That must be left to further study," he concluded.
Perhaps by charting celestial patterns, they could one day predict weather or seasonal change.
Though their numbers were small, the feathered people had begun building a civilization in every direction.
No natural phenomenon escaped their notice.
Hollow plants and resonant stones had already led to the creation of primitive musical instruments. Music had become popular among them.
Now the moon captured their imagination.
As the full disk reached its highest point, a deep blush spread across its surface.
Under the crimson glow, the feathers of the gathered people took on a faint red hue.
One among them suddenly felt an unfamiliar restlessness stirring within his body.
Quickly, he instructed others to record the observation. The stars must influence life, he reasoned.
But he failed to notice something else.
His spirit and emotions were growing increasingly excited.