The Phoenix

He had just woken up from sleep, he was ready to start meditating again, and slowly try to regain the bits of mana he lost while creating air out of water.

He stretched his body, his position still that of an ancient monk in meditation, he had slept that way for however long his nap lasted.

He didn't notice it as soon as he opened his eyes but he noticed it almost immediately after stretching, the brilliant and dazzling red, bright light that filled the entire waters. It was so natural that his brain didn't notice it quickly, thinking it was something that was always there.

The energy that could be felt from the red light wasn't threatening or ominous, it was a neutral energy.

'why is the source of that energy approaching me? I have to keep my guard up!' Charles said as he stood up reflexively, entering a fighting stance that you'd see a boxer in.

It was a funny sight, seeing a one year old child ready and prepared to fight, he was inside the bubble, standing on it, when he noticed two things.

'I'm no longer falling endlessly, what happened? Did the water finally decide to leave me be? Was it just trying to bully me all along? I doubt so, something must have happened and I bet it's because of that thing that's approaching me right now.' He scratched the back of his head, finally realizing the second thing that was off.

He broke out of his boxing stance and started jumping, he jumped up and down, moved left and right inside the small space of the bubble.

"Okay.. I've confirmed it. My movement is fluent now, it's no longer sluggish like that of a baby, I'm moving like an that has been walking all their life, how convenient." He said to himself as he bent down to touch his legs and knees, this was another major breakthrough for him. Walking on his own without support from Jennette was a nightmare for him. He walked very slowly and his body couldn't keep up with the movement that was in his head.

"This must be as a result of the mana in me that changed to a liquid state and then changed back to stateless? Whatever the reason is, I'm grateful." He said to himself, he was lost in thoughts and checking out the sweet new bonuses he received when he heard a voice.

"Child." It was a voice that was sweet, a soothing voice that could take away the spite of a vengeful heart, a voice that was hard to identify the gender from, but it was a voice that anyone would fall immediately for, the voice didn't contain any malice, bitterness, anger or hatred, it was purely positive.

"Holy sh*t!!!" Charles fell on his butt, he sat down on the ground and narrowed his eyes to look at what he just saw again, the voice didn't matter to him, he was not amazed by it, it was the creature itself that shocked him.

"What the hell are you?!" Charles pointed directly at the creature's face with his index finger, he was still sitting on the floor of his oxygen bubble.

"..." The creature didn't utter another word.

"That isn't the reaction I expected." The creature said.

"You're a fucking.. talking bird! And you're made up of fire, how is that possible... In water!?!" Charles shouted, veins popped up on his forehead because he was angry at this world that kept surprising him.

"You know what? I'm not even surprised anymore, I bet these things are common in this world, I'm not gonna be surprised anym-"

"I am the last of my kind." The creature snapped back at Charles, it was annoyed that he was talking nonsense when he knew nothing.

"Your kind? There were more of you? What are you?" Charles stood up, he went closer to the direction at his bubble were the creature was.

"I am the one they call the Guardian Phoenix, the one who guards the flames of eternity. The last remaining of my kind. I came down to the mortal world for the first time since the household of Flameworth was founded."

The Phoenix said, it's expression was that of pure annoyance.

Charles had already figured it out already, he heard what Alex had told him before he went in of course but he didn't expect to see a Phoenix as Alex had said that even him couldn't see it.

'it's just a bird shaped fire.' He frowned as he looked at the Phoenix, he expected it to be some kind of ancient, awesome looking mythical beast, the only thing amazing about it was how it was still alive with brilliant flames even in the waters.

"So?" Charles's face contorted, he hated people who liked to brag about themselves, people that start calling their names and achievements for no reason, it was a hatred that he picked up since the first time he met Alexander in the dining room.

"I am a Mythical crea-" The Phoenix suddenly stopped and tilted it's neck to look closely at Charles.

"Oh? So you're Him? The thirty five years old lover boy?" A wicked grin formed on the face of the Phoenix.

Charles expression twisted to pure horror, how did this creature know his real age? Did it know about his past life? His eyes widened, he was in deep shock, he couldn't utter a single word and his jaw was slacked.

"Willing to listen to me now?" The Phoenix said, it had a glorious angel like voice, but a trashy personality and spoke like a teenager.

"..." Charles just kept staring at the Phoenix in silence, the silence was loud as the Phoenix stared back, hesitating to talk.

~pop

The heat of the Flames bursting out of the Phoenix's body popped the bubble Charles was in, exposing him to the water.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you can't remain in there for what I'm about to tell you." The Phoenix chimed.

Charles was surprised, the water wasn't as hot as it was before and he could breath, fresh Oxygen was entering his lungs, he felt strengthened.

'im not gonna be surprised at how I'm breathing perfectly in water. I'm tired.' He sighed as he thought.

"Speak." Charles spoke in a commanding tone, he didn't really care about anything else the Phoenix had to say, all he wanted to know was how the Phoenix knew of his rebirth.

"The Flameworth's see me, the Phoenix as a sign of extraordinary power, they believe that if I show up during the ritual of their one year old kids like I did during the ritual with their founder, that the child would grow up into an unstoppable force, an absolute flame wielder. But they don't know that the founding Flameworth was just a vessel for greater power, he was chosen and I only delivered the power to him from THEM, I'm their messenger." The Phoenix spoke in a low and calm voice, it's beak close to Charles's nose, she made sure to look directly into his eyes.

"THEY sent me to you Charles, you have a unique destiny, your soul carries the last fragment of the forgotten one, your death wasn't allowed by them so they brought you here, somewhere to grow stronger and rise... to see your dear wife again-"

"Is it possible?" Charles said, his babyish voice took on a darker tone, his whole demeanor shifted to that of a cold blooded killer.

The Phoenix smirked, amused at the sight of the mortal who dreamed of immortal love.

'maybe my rebirth this time won't go to waste, there's something entertaining to look forward to.' The Phoenix thought to itself.

"It all depends on you Charles, with enough strength and power... Anything is possible."

The Phoenix said with a warm smile on it's face, it's mission was complete.

'im sorry Edward, but your wife is already dead. And the entity that rules over death is not a friendly one.' The Phoenix thought to itself.

"What's the next step of the operation?" Charles said with his arms folded, focusing his cold and calculating gaze directly on the Phoenix.

"You need to rise through the ranks. Take this." The Phoenix outstretched it's wings of fire, placing it on Charles's forehead.

"When you wake up, you'd find yourself back in Alexander's room. Do whatever you can to leave the Flameworth's household and go to Ludia, there lies your fate. This is my small gift to you... Child of Destiny."

There was a visible transmission of energy into Charles's body, it turned from red to blue to green to yellow and red again, Charles's vision spun as the world was getting blurrier and blurrier for him.

The output of red energy exponentially increased, pouring into Charles's forehead. Charles fainted as the energy instantly stopped.

The Phoenix smirked and disappeared in flames, it was like a dream, a dream that kick started The destiny of the genius mage.

END OF CHAPTER