Chapter 3

3

I left the palace and headed toward the Whispering Woods.

Years ago, during the Great Breach when the demons invaded, I was ambushed by a Hellhound.

Its hellfire was the only thing that could bypass the immortality of my kind.

Back then, not a single member of my family noticed I was missing.

As I lay dying, a young Ash-Phoenix saved me using its own essence.

After I healed, I wanted to bring the bird back to the palace, but I knew its blood was too valuable.

I left it in the woods to keep it safe.

I visited it every month during the full moon.

I was leaving for the River of Lethe soon, and the only thing I couldn't bear to leave behind was my Phoenix.

As I reached the clearing, a happy, sharp cry echoed through the trees.

A flaming red bird with three heads swooped down from the sky and landed in front of me.

"Hey there, Ignis..."

The bird rubbed its small heads against my palm affectionately.

I gently stroked its feathers. "Ignis, in six days, I'm going to forget everything. I won't be able to come see you anymore. Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

Ignis couldn't speak, but it was intelligent enough to feel my sorrow.

It let out a low, mournful sound.

My heart ached, but I knew I had to let go.

When I tried to leave, Ignis followed me, refusing to stay behind.

"Ignis, you can't come back with me."

I looked into its glowing eyes.

"You're special. People will hunt you. If I'm not there to protect you, they'll kill you for your blood."

Ignis looked heartbroken, but it finally nodded and flew back into the deep woods.

I felt a weight lift from my chest and headed back to the palace.

Near the gardens, I saw Xander and Leo taking a walk with Eva.

The three of them were laughing and talking like a perfect little family.

I tried to walk past them without being noticed, but a screech echoed from above.

I froze as a ball of fire streaked across the sky toward us.

"Ignis?"

Why did it follow me?

Before I could react, Leo raised his hand.

A blast of dark energy shaped like a skull slammed into the fireball.

the flames died instantly.

Ignis, now blackened and charred, let out a scream and tumbled to the ground.

"Ignis!"

My heart stopped. I scrambled toward the bird to check its wounds.

But Xander was beaming with excitement.

"A rare Ash-Phoenix! Eva, with its heart-blood, your soul will be completely restored!"

"Don't you dare!"

I spun around, glaring at Xander with pure hatred.

"This bird is my friend. It saved my life. Anyone who touches it is my enemy!"

Leo huffed and complained loudly. "What's Mommy's problem? Is she really choosing an animal over Aunt Eva's life?"

I felt like my blood had turned to ice.

Xander nodded in agreement. "Sera, are you just making up excuses because you don't want to share the bird?"

Eva looked down, her face full of fake guilt.

"Sera, I know how much you love rare things. I won't fight you for it. Please don't be mad at Leo. He's just a child."

"Aunt Eva, it's not your fault!" Leo snapped, glaring at me with total defiance.

Looking at the three of them standing together against me, I realized I was the outsider.

I turned my back on them and used my power to heal Ignis's immediate wounds.

Then, I cast a teleportation spell to send the bird far away.

"Sera!"

Xander roared, sending a wave of dark energy at me, but I blocked it.

"As long as I'm alive, no one touches that bird!"

As we faced off, Eva suddenly dropped to her knees.

"It's all my fault! I'm too weak! Please, don't fight because of me!"

Xander and Leo panicked.

"Eva, what are you doing? You're too fragile, stand up!"

"Yeah, Aunt Eva! Your health is more important than anything!"

Right then, my father and mother walked into the courtyard.

Seeing Eva on her knees, my mother rushed over in a panic.

"Eva! My poor baby, why are you on the ground?"

My father gave me a freezing look and sent a palm strike flying through the air.

SLAP―

"You ungrateful brat! Are you bullying your sister again?"