[5] The Phoenix

I thought of what the voice had conveyed to me, and started working on it, temporarily blocking the flow of Azure via the two pathways. 'Collect the Azure, and amass it as one.', I began combining, piecing together the Azure present around my heart. Slowly but surely, it was becoming a singular unit. Another half an hour flew by.'Integrate the Azure upon the vessel of life.', which meant combining the mass of Azure with the heart, purely by thinking of the two as one. This felt much harder to do. It felt as if the mass of Azure was stuck there, and would not move. "I shall assist, keep focusing.", the voice said. After some time, I made a dent. After what felt like a day, I managed to 'integrate' the Azure with the heart. Now, all I had to do was consider the heart and Azure as united. "Within Azure, is life, and within life, is Azure. Azure is existence, Azure is the core.", this was a spell, or an incantation of sorts, which had to be externally cast upon the person trying to achieve a pure Azure Heart. The voice cast it for me!Now, my core was made of Azure, making me to immune to cardiovascular diseases, and even stabs going directly through my heart. This alone was enough to make me a prodigy. Though, the voice did most of this for me. "Now, comes the hard part.", said the voice.Cautiously, I released the blocked off pathways of Azure from the crystals. The Azure started flowing towards my heart again. This time, the flow felt more natural and not very forced. I was now almost certain of my theory that this time, instead of hurting my heart, the extra Azure will strengthen my Azure Heart. But, as soon as it touched my Azure Heart, it stung. It stung really badly. Agonizing. I held on, till I could. Excruciating. I was prepared to let this go on till the end of time. I was ready to not give up, at all. Harrowing. And then, I fainted.***I woke up, some time later, to a jet black sky, I could hear crickets. All I could remember is that, before I fainted, I felt the Azurites break in my hands."Congratulations, Arlo. You managed to absorb ninety eight percent of an Azurite.", the voice notified."Ninety eight?!", I exclaimed. Suddenly, before I had a chance to celebrate more, I heard a light rustling sound. "What was that?!", I exclaimed. The voice informed, "It seems to be some kind of creature... it feels rather small to be a threat, though.""But how can you see it?", I asked. "Azure Sense.", the voice replied. "Hey, at least elaborate a little bit?!", I exclaimed. "You cannot control your Azure right now, and hence you cannot utilize Azure Sense, and so I conclude that it would be a waste of time right now to elaborate."Then, I went towards the source of the sound and saw a little animal. I hadn't seen something like this ever. It looked like a bird, but its feathers and body were all colored in different shades of crimson red. It looked to be injured, though. Just as I was about to approach it, it started dragging itself away from me."Incredible. Arlo Leowood, I envy the heaven defying luck that you possess.", the voice said. "What? What luck? This bird?", I asked, confused. "Yes. That bird is... a Celestial Phoenix. It's mere existence is a myth among the commonfolk. The amount of people who have witnessed this bird in its prime and lived to tell the tale can be counted on one's fingers. In a small and rural establishment like Mistvale, I doubt people would even be able to identify that this a Phoenix.", the voice explained, and I took three steps away from it. It sit there, still, staring at me."People believe that the Celestial Phoenix is immortal. But, what came from the heavens, must return back to the heavens. The only way for a Celestial Phoenix to die is for it to be killed by another being in combat. Then, it is reborn a thousand years later, and starts its life cycle again. The Phoenix also grows old, but doesn't die due to that., the voice continued.

"So there are others who are capable of killing the Phoenix?", I asked. "Indeed. This Celestial Phoenix is still an infant, and perhaps even a newborn. This Celestial Phoenix had quite the bad luck to encounter another powerful being as soon as it was reborn, and get hurt in the process, which is why it looks like this right now."

"Regardless, you must show the Phoenix that you wouldn't cause it any harm, or it will flee. You must befriend that legendary bird.", the voice said, nudging me to hurry. I slowly approached the bird, and tried picking it up. As my hand went closer to the bird, it looked to be alarmed, but in the end it gave up. With the bird in my arms, I decided to go home.I walked home in the dark night. The moonlight was barely illuminating the path that lay in front. It felt like a long and slow journey, but some time later, I was home. My mom came running outside and shouted, "Arlo, you've been outside for half a day! We were worried!", to which I replied, "I was practicing magic, and I got carried away, I'm sorry.", "Promise me you won't go out for so long without informing me ever again!", "Yes, mom I'm sorry, I promise!", "No matter what world I'm in, parents will be parents, I guess.", I said lightly."Arlo, what's that little bird in your arms...?"------------------------------------For early releases:https://patreon.com/snxhitVoid Sovereign content:https://www.instagram.com/the.vvoid.sovereign/

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