𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙗 𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙣
❛ ... ❜
◊
The phoenix landed in the nest, a strange red object dangling from her beak. The bird's wings fluttered as she folded them back, her sharp amber eyes falling on the figure of Rose.
"I see you are feeling better, child."
Rose's eyes widened as she realised the phoenix could speak. She was shocked- she knew that the dragons could communicate with people, but she had never met a phoenix before.
"Do not be afraid. I am Felliora."
"I... I-I'm Rose..." The dark-haired child stuttered nervously, still unsure about how she was supposed to interact with a phoenix. Her eyes remained on the phoenix's.
"A wonderful name."
Felliora dipped her head so that she was at eye-level with the child. The item in her beak was revealed to be a crimson red scarf, which fluttered in response to her movements.
"Take it,"
The phoenix dropped the scarf on the girl's head. Along with the scarf was a bundle of dark clothing, which the child fumbled to catch. She realised that it was a dark skirt, and a long-sleeved shirt accompanied by dark brown leather boots.
"Your clothes are torn. Use these instead."
Rose nodded, dumbfounded, but she didn't forget the manners that her mother had drilled into her. "Thank you..."
"Be careful with the scarf. It was woven from my feathers. It is a powerful item which will prove useful to you."
Rose gazed at the phoenix, feeling slightly more comfortable around the being once she realised that she wasn't going to try and kill her. She fiddled with her hands, her gaze trailing to the scarf and clothing. The girl couldn't help but wonder where the phoenix had gotten the clothes from.
For a moment, an image of the phoenix attempting to shop in a human town flickered through the child's mind. She was forced to douse her laughter before she could begin, earning what resembled a confused tilt of the head from the phoenix.
"Um... I'm sorry if this seems ungrateful... but why are you doing this for me? I don't have anything to give you..."
Felliora let out a melodic trill which seemed to be a phoenix's version of a laugh.
"You are quite amusing, young one."
The phoenix rose back to her original height, the dying sun's rays dancing across her feathers enchantingly.
"I wish to train you."
Rose's eyes were wide with awe. "Train... me?"
Felliora bobbed her head up and down in a nod.
"Yes. I shall take you beneath my wing, and teach you the art of Phoenix Slaying."
The girl hugged the clothes Felliora had given her close to her chest. Conflicting emotions flooded her mind. How would phoenix slaying benefit her? Shouldn't she simply return to the human villages?
But there was no one in the villages that would take in an orphaned child. Times were hard, with the war which was raging between the dragons.
"Is... a phoenix stronger than a dragon?"
Felliora's sharp eyes bore down on the girl. The phoenix looked as if she was glowing, the vermillion shades of sunset painting the sky behind her.
" We are of equal strength in most aspects."
Rose's eyes were bright with an uncanny determination as she declared her next words.
"Then, please train me."
"It would be my pleasure."
◊
Months of training followed those words.
With each day Rose would wake up, climb down the mountain and forage in the woods for food. After eating, she would complete various exercises to improve her physical strength and stamina, before returning to the nest for lunch which Felliora would bring. They would eat lunch together whilst exchanging words, before commencing the magical aspect of the girl's training.
By the time her magical training was over it would be evening, and the girl and the phoenix would go out for a flight before eating dinner and falling asleep.
Rose's flame spells grew stronger day by day, her fire becoming more intense as the days past.
Eventually, Rose reached seventeen years of age. Nine years of training had seen her grow into a young adult with a sharp mind and a strong body. The crimson scarf Felliora had given her remained with her for all those years, still as vibrant as it had been when she had first been given it.
◊
Rose wrapped her arms around the phoenix's beak lovingly, a bright grin curling her lips upwards. It was early morning in the nest- the sun had barely risen.
"Felli! I'm finally seventeen~ Wake up~"
The phoenix groaned softly, her feathers puffing up as she released a deep breath. Slowly, she rose.
"You know what today is, right? ~"
Felliora fluttered her wings in annoyance.
"Yes, it is your Flame-giving ceremony today, I know..."
The phoenix was blatantly irritated by the girl's childish behaviour, her feathers rumpled after a night of sleep.
"Come on!" Rose cheered, punching the air with her fist. Her boots scuffed against the floor of the nest as she began to move about, prodding the phoenix cheekily.
Felliora huffed angrily, spreading her wings.
"Fine! Let's go!"
Rose stifled a laugh at the phoenix, her eyes bright.
Today was the day.
Today, she would finally become a full phoenix slayer.
◊
Felliora stood facing Rose, her amber eyes sharp. The sun set a corona of light around the phoenix's silhouette, her feathers shimmering various shades of crimson and gold. Her melodic voice broke the silence.
"Do you pledge to never misuse your powers?"
"I do."
"To uphold your values with honour and dignity?"
"Of course."
"To remain a constant in the passage of time, until death lulls you to sleep?"
"Yes."
Felliora spread her wings, the flames which encircled them rising and falling with her movements. They flowed towards Rose, engulfing her in a spiral of golden fire. Slowly, the flames grew smaller and smaller- until all of a sudden, they dissolved.
Rose emerged from the flames untouched, her eyes a shade of red akin to the phoenix's feathers. An emblem glowed above her- wings spread wide, with a curved neck and a sharp beak.
The phoenix rune. Whether she had it or not decided her fate, from that day till her last. Felliora's eyes glittered with pride.
"Welcome, Rose. From this day, forth,
you are a phoenix slayer."