After a few minutes of silence, Elowen let out a long sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly as though shaking off the weight of anticipation.
"finally," she muttered under her breath, glancing at the sealed door one last time. "now I've got some orcs to kill—preferably before they start redecorating Sanctora with our heads."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode briskly toward the temple exit. Outside, she found a junior priest hovering anxiously near the entrance, clearly unsure whether he should be there at all.
Fixing him with a sharp look, she pointed a finger at him. "listen carefully, kid. No one—no one—enters this temple until I said otherwise or the Grand Priest comes out by himself. Not even the elders. Understood?" the young man blinked rapidly but nodded quickly.
"y-yes, Mage! But.. for how long?" Elowen smirked faintly, her tone dripping with dry humor. "until eternity ends—or until the old man walks out. Whicever comes first."
Satisfied with his wide-eyed nod of agreement, she adjusted her voodoo doll at her waist and continued her march, muttering something about incompetent soldiers and turnips being less useful than expected.
Inside the sealed chamber, Liora stepped cautiously through the endless expanse of white, her footsteps making no sound as if the world itself held its breath.
Confusion clouded her mind, but she pressed forward, one step at a time, until suddenly—after what felt like seven deliberate strides—the blank void melted away into a breathtaking scene.
She found herself standing in the middle of an impossibly vast field, surrounded by soft green grass that swayed gently in a breeze she couldn't feel.
Scattered among the blades were delicate white flowers, their petals glowing faintly under a sky so blue it seemed painted by divine hands. Wisps of clouds drifted lazily above, completing the serene tableau.
Liora gasped softly, her initial apprehension giving way to relief. This place wasn't dark or foreboding as she had imagined; instead, it radiated peace and quiet beauty. For a while, she simply stood there, taking it all in, marveling at how such simplicity could feel so profound.
Her reverie was broken when she noticed movement on the horizon—a distant speck growing larger with alarming speed. At first, she thought it migh be a bird, though curiosity tinged with unease crept into her thoughts as it approached far faster than any ordinary creature should.
In the blink of an eye, the figure resolved itself into something extraordinary: a magnificent phoenix towering before her, its plumage a dazzling blend of red, white, black, and gold. It's long, elegant tail fanned out behind it like living fire, resting gracefully on the ground.
The sheer size of the phoenix dwarfed her—it stood as tall as a two-story building, its sharp eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. Before she could fully process the sight, the phoenix tilted its head slightly, its voice resonating deeply within her mind.
"are you done with the profiling, o chosen one?" startled beyond words, Liora stumbled backward, landing unceremoniously on the grass. Now seated, she stared up at the majestic being, which somehow seemed even more immense from this new angle.
Her shock rendered her speechless, her wide eyes darting between the phoenix's piercing gaze and its strikingly regal form.
Liora, still reeling from the sudden appearance of the massive phoenix, stammered incoherently as she tried to string together a response. "w-what is… where are… are you—n-no, I'm not! I didn't 'profile' anything here!" her words tumbled out like a toddler's first attempt at speech, her hands flailing awkwardly as she sat on the ground.
The phoenix tilted its head slightly, regarding her with an almost amused expression before speaking again, its voice warm and melodic. "do not be afraid, little girl. I am not here to harm you."
Its tone was soothing, though it did little to quell the storm of confusion swirling inside her. After a moment, the creature added gently, "what should I call you, chosen one?" at this, Liora seemed to regain some composure.
She smoothed her skirt nervously, using the action as a distraction while she steadied herself enough to stand. Taking a shaky breath, she replied softly, "L-Liora. My name is Liora Belle."
The phoenix's golden eyes softened, and it dipped its head gracefully. "nice to finally meet you, Liora. I am Solara."
Pausing for effect, it added teasingly, "are you curious about what kind of creature I am?" Liora hesitated then smiled shyly, her voice barely above a whisper. "actually… yes. But I was too afraid to ask."
Solara let out an elegant laugh, the sound resonating like distant chimes in the vast field. "well, how am I supposed to explain it? Perhaps the easiest way is this: I am an ancient beast—at least, that's what Felix and his colleagues called us."
Liora blinked, her brow furrowing as she repeated uncertainly, "A-Ancient Beast?" Solara nodded, her long tail swishing lightly against the grass behind her.
"yes, as you can see, I'm no ordinary bird," she said with a playful flick of her wing, "so 'beast' seems fitting enough, don't you think?" Liora managed hesitant laugh, though it came out more like a nervous squeak.
She wasn't entirely sure if she could trust this magnificent creature yet—or if laughing might offend it. Sensing her unease, Solara continued warmly, "I was sent by god long ago to aid humanity. Each time, I'm assigned to a chosen human—a summoner—who wields divine power. Felix was my first summoner, and now…" her gaze locked onto Liora meaningfully.
"now, it appears you are next." Liora nodded slowly, trying desperately to absorb the flood of revelations. Ancient beasts, divine assignments, Felix being a summoner—it all felt surreal, but somehow, deep down, she couldn't deny the truth in Solara's words.
"I—I never knew this kind of story about Saint Felix," Liora admitted, her voice still carrying a hint of nervous stutter. She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, glancing up at Solara before quickly looking away again.
"and… I'm still not sure if I can even be like him." The phoenix let out a soft, melodic giggle that echoed pleasantly in the open field. "well, no wonder you wouldn't know," Solara replied teasingly, tilting her head as though sharing a secret.
"Felix was probably the one who hated fighting the most among all those kids back then. Trust me, he wasn't exactly thrilled about being chosen either." Liora looked up, surprised by this unexpected tidbit about the revered Saint.
Before she could dwell on it too much, Solara added warmly, "as for why you've been chosen? Even I don't have an answer to that. But one thing is certain: there must be something extraordinary in you. Ordinary people simply can't handle extraordinary power—it's not their burden to bear."
Liora chuckled softly, her cheeks flushing as she rubbed the back of her neck. "yeah, I've been told.." she trailed off, but there was a flicker of resolve in her eyes now, as though Solara's words were slowly starting to sink in.
Feeling more at ease, Liora tilted her head curiously and asked, "so, what do I have to do to get the power?" Solara paused for a moment, her golden eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she studied Liora.
"hmm… well, I can teach you some basics first," she began, her tone casual but tinged with amusement. "judging by the flow of mana inside your body—no offense—it's still… lacking."
The phoenix chuckled awkwardly, clearly trying to soften the critique, but Liora only giggled shyly in response, nodding in agreement. "yeah, that sounds about right." She admitted with a small laugh, not even attempting to deny it.
Solara smiled warmly before continuing, "but talking about how to gain my power is a bit different. Think of it like earning knowledge after studying or getting food after harvesting crops. My power isn't just handed over—it's earned. After you pass a trial, that is." She paused dramatically then burst into another round of melodic laughter, waving a wing dismissively.
"but don't worry! It's an easy trial. Or at least… easier than facing cave-orcs!" her teasing tone made Liora grin despite herself, the tension melting further with each passing moment.
Liora's smile widened with relief, unaware of the vast difference in standards between Solara's definition of "easy" and her own. Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "what was Saint Felix like? There aren't many stories about him—just that he founded Sanctora."
Solara chuckled softly, settling into what seemed to be a favorite topic. "ah, Felix as a kid wasn't much different from his adult or old-age self, really. He was humble, soft-hearted, loved kids, respected his elders—you know, the kind of person your kingdom seems to idolize now. I think it rubbed off on everyone back then; they saw him as a role model and passed those values down through generations. Despite all his achievements, he never let fame go to his head—even though he totally could've been insufferable if he wanted to!" she paused, shaking her head fondly.
"he shared his knowledge freely, fought threats when necessary, even built that light-element net to keep sea beasts away—all without asking for wealth, fame, or authority in return. That's why you guys still don't have a king, right?" Liora nodded, grinning at the thought of how Felix might've reacted if someone suggested crowning him.
Solara leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, though there was no one else around to hear. "but oh, that ungrateful kid never mentioned me once! Not even in his passing! Can you believe it? After everything I did for him!" she burst into laughter, her wings fluttering dramatically.
Liora laughed too, unsure whether she should feel offended on Solara's behalf or just amused by the absurdity of it all. The phoenix continued, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye.
"Felix hated fighting—it took him ages to master my power compared to the other kids. Honestly, it got annoying sometimes. Do you know how frustrating it is to whisper instructions while he's busy planting flowers instead of practicing combat magic? Those other kids were far more aggressive—and frankly, more annoying. But Felix… well, he grew on me. Once he found his resolve, he became someone you could always count on. Even though none of the Ten Saints has official titles, Felix often ended up leading them—not because he wanted to, mind you, but because the others would've made things worse!" Solara snorted, clearly entertained by the memory.
"Oh, and here's the kicker—he hated being in the spotlight! But every time he tried to step back, the others bungled things so badly that he had no choice but to step up again. Poor guy used to grumble about it constantly." Suddenly, Solara's demeanor shifted. Her playful tone softened, and a hint of sorrow crept into her golden eyes.
"but…" she began quietly, her voice losing its earlier humor. "I'm proud of him. Through everything—the battles, the sacrifices, the weight of leadership—he stayed true to himself and his values. Even when I nagged at him endlesssly during his training, he never wavered. And do you know what he said to me before sealing me here, right before his passing?" Solara paused, her gaze distant as though reliving the memory.
"he told me he was glad that I had chosen him as my summoner—not any of the others. He said I was the reason he could stay true to who he was and inspire others with those same values. His voice… it was so soft, so beautiful, so sincere. I could feel the honesty in every word."
Her majestic form seemed to sag slightly, weighed down by emotion. "I burst into tears after he walked out of that door—not just because I was touched, but because I knew it would be the last time I'd ever see him."
Liora felt tears streaming down her cheeks, moved by the depth of Solara's bond with Felix. For a moment, the serene field felt heavier, filled with the quiet ache of loss and the enduring warmth of gratitude.
After a few minutes of reflective silence, Solara stretched her wings dramatically and turned back to Liora with a mischievous glint in her golden eyes.
"alright, enough about that annoying kid. Now—are you ready for your lesson?" she asked, tilting her head expectantly. Liora straightened up, nodding quickly as she tried to match the phoenix's serious tone.
"yes, ma'am!" Solara smirked, clearly amused by the formal response. "good. But don't think I'll go easy on you just because we're having a pleasant chat. Teaching isn't exactly my strong suit—unless you count my relentless nagging, which I'm told is unmatched."
She paused for effect, leaning closer with an exaggeratedly stern expression. "so here's the deal: you either learn fast, or you'll have to swallow my 'art of nagging' down that beautiful throat of yours."
With that, she burst into another round of melodic laughter, her tail swishing playfully behind her. Liora pressed her lips together, trying—and failing—to suppres a small laugh of her own.
"understood," she replied, though her voice wavered slightly, unsure if this was meant as encouragement or a thinly veiled threat. Either way, it seemed clear that Solara wasn't planning to pull any punches when it came to training.