From Ashes

The Knights Captain stared at the fallen man, unsure about what had transpired here. After all, the old man stabbed the one he was carrying, to the crowd's dismay. Then, he seemed to lose all strength and signs of life.

"Is he… crazy?" asked one of the knights while staring at the old man's bleeding leg. "He used his severed leg to drag this man into the forest… what kind of relationship could they have had?"

"That is something we'll know once this man wakes up," said the knight's captain as he walked toward the collapsed young man. "This one is still alive, so carry him to the…."

As the captain gave his commands, something left the young man's body. Twirling mana raged around him as a giant azure phoenix materialized out of thin air. Its wings could fit a dozen men, and its eyes seemed to hold infinite wisdom.