Chapter 4: The Phoenix's Power
The phoenix's power was a living thing inside me, a searing ember that refused to be ignored. It pulsed in time with my heartbeat, a constant reminder of the bond I hadn't asked for but couldn't escape. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes of fire and shadow—visions of a past I didn't remember and a future I couldn't comprehend.
One vision, in particular, haunted me: my parents, bound in chains, their faces etched with despair. They were alive, but barely, their once-proud spirits broken by whatever torment they endured. The phoenix had warned me about this, but seeing it firsthand was another matter entirely. Their eyes, hollow and pleading, seemed to follow me even when I was awake.
"Your Highness?" Arl's voice snapped me back to the present. He stood in the doorway of my chamber, his brow furrowed with concern. "You've been... distracted lately. Is everything all right?"
I forced a smile, though it felt brittle on my lips. "I'm fine, Arl. Just tired."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."
Once he was gone, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Arl was loyal to a fault, but I couldn't risk telling him the truth—not yet. The phoenix's power was a secret I had to keep, even from those I trusted most.
I turned my attention to the stack of scrolls on my desk, each one detailing some aspect of the kingdom's affairs. Buried among them was a single parchment that had caught my eye earlier: a reference to the Seven Flames and their connection to an ancient prophecy. According to the text, the flames were created to maintain the balance of power between the kingdoms, but they had been scattered after a great betrayal.
"Pkif," I muttered, tracing the word with my finger. The Flame of Eternal Pkif was the key to everything, but what did it mean? And why was Sey so desperate to claim it?
As if summoned by my thoughts, a familiar voice echoed in my mind. *"You're playing a dangerous game, Aurora."
I stiffened, my gaze darting around the room. "Sey?"
There was no answer, but the air grew heavier, as if charged with unseen energy. I clenched my fists, willing the phoenix's power to rise to the surface. If Sey thought he could intimidate me, he was sorely mistaken.
The vision came without warning: a dark, cavernous room filled with flickering torches. Sey stood at the center, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. Behind him, a massive mural depicted the history of the Seven Flames, their light extinguished one by one.
*"You'll never understand the truth," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Not until it's too late."
I woke with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was empty, but the vision lingered, a ghostly reminder of the stakes at hand.