THE BIRD KING

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Long ago, there was a mighty king in the north. One day, as he was out hunting, he fell through the ice. His loyal servants ran to come to his aid, but before they could get to him, the king turned into a crow, flew out of the water, and escaped.

That was how my people became birds, both in the form of crows and owls. For generations and generations, we kept all this information secret, because who would believe that a man could turn into a bird? Then, as we attempted to expand our hunting grounds, we never knew this world would have so many humans in it. But it did. And now you see us—human men who can turn into our own beloved birds.

Here is a story of a man who was born a human, but turned into a crow.

At the age of seven, he believed that if he glanced in the reflection of the window, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a boy who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of fourteen, he believed that if he could touch, feel, and smell the sun and all its heat, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into an arrogant prince who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of seventeen, he believed that all his other feathers would fall off, he would start flying up into the sky, and he would become a crow. But instead, he turned into a dapper and debonair prince who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of twenty-one, he believed that if he could run down the road, stop by a charming farmer’s daughter who he had been secretly lusting after since he was ten, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of twenty-six, he believed that he could sleep naked and without a pillow, and that soon he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-two, he believed that if he could give the farmer a promise that he would not ask him for any of the ten filial visits he’d promised over the years, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-five, he believed that if the dashing prince whispered sweetly into his ear, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he became a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-eight, he believed that if he could fly up into the sky, and make love to the farmer in the moonlight, that he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-eight, he believed that if he could speak from the heart and not just from his mouth, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-five, he believed that if he were to leave the farm and travel to the capital by horse and cart, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-seven, he believed that if he were to ring a doorbell and ask the woman of the house to call the farmer and her daughter, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty-six, he believed that if he were to go to where the farmer was grieving after the death of his child, and tell him to rebel against his father, enter a monastery and become the most distinguished of the religious leaders, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty, he believed that if he were to climb up the highest mountain and see the highest peak, and if he were to be reborn as a bird, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty aught one, he believed that if he could escape to freedom, and find a land where he was not called a filthy crow, that he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed would turn into a crow.

At the age of thirty aught one, as he was walking along a road, he heard the farmer weeping by the grave of his daughter. The farmer could not hear the footsteps of the man who wanted to turn into a bird. The farmer could not hear the footsteps of a man who wanted to turn into a crow. The farmer could not hear the footsteps of a man who wanted to turn into a man.

At the age of forty, he believed that if he refused to stop mourning for his wife, and refused to stop mourning for his son, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of forty-two, he believed that if he just left the crow in peace and let it continue its mourning, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of forty-eight, he believed that if he lived a simple life and married a woman who would live with him in a cabin in the poverty of the countryside, and not like the crow in her luxurious villa in the city, he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.

At the age of fifty, he believed that if he could find a strong young goat, and take it to his heart, then he would turn into a crow. But instead, he turned into a man who believed he would turn into a crow.