Map markers updated.
"Sasha, If I'm running for my life later, I’ll be furious with you. How did you choose this target?" Vivian asked, peeking at the fast-asleep, adorable baby phoenix perched on her shoulder.
I have accurately gauged the full power of the phoenix and determined that nothing in the forest can survive its onslaught; it has already obliterated some of the strongest creatures in this area. As such, I have selected a delicacy that few can savor.
“And, pray tell, how much effort will the phoenix need to use for this delicacy?”
It will be necessary for the phoenix to utilize 150% of its standard ability. A state I have dubbed the ‘Dying Flame.’
"Dying Flame?” Vivian echoed with rage leaking through her best efforts to contain it. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe both would be fitting.
Vivian rubbed her head as an ache formed between her temples, “As much as this misjudgment would be another good lesson for you, I have an addiction to breathing."
She trotted off the trail where there were fewer animals. After a quick look at her map and the creatures closest to her, she noted them mentally. She began throwing requests at Sasha one after another.
"Clear the map, and display only the marked target and the phoenix. Now, make the phoenix indicator gray. Lastly, compare the target to the phoenix." Vivian’s voice quivered with mild trepidation.
She was aware of a judgment error though having it confirmed far worse than she speculated caused her footsteps to falter. "You selected a black target and even shifted the phoenix closer to white than gray."
What is the problem? The phoenix previously displayed the strength necessary to compensate for the difference.
"If you had a physical body, I would slap you repeatedly!” Vivian vented, pausing to consume several calming breaths after the outburst. “Did you check if that monstrosity has any defenses against phoenix fire?”
Not exactly, but looking at its details, its preferred diet is phoenix.
“You’re being serious right now? Wait, do you even know what sarcasm is? Because this would be a perfect application—”
I’m always serious.
“Just—no. Find something else. Sending a phoenix to kill something that prefers to eat phoenix is nothing short of suicide.”
Vivian could feel Sasha's normally stoic demeanor flicker for a moment, but the next thing she saw confirmed it.
Logical error
Performing memory dump for later review
Rebooting
"Sasha?" Her inquiry hung in the air. A gentle breeze carried the fading word further into nothingness. The map occupying her left eye bleeped out of existence a moment later.
Vivian shrugged and resumed walking, though much more cautiously than before. I’ve been too reliant on that map recently. Maybe this is a good thing that it’s gone.
The forest was my home for many years. I lived steeped in its dangers, evading hidden predators and wicked hunters alike. So, why am I so on edge without the map now?
Her recollection of the past turned her thoughts in another direction.
How many of my family have I watched die?
How many times was I dragged along, screaming and crying, as we fled?
How many times did I recklessly cost them their lives? All because I couldn’t control my cries, whimpering, and breathing?
Grandfather—Did you foresee everything?
Tears ran down her face as she continued moving. Vivian blinked the offending wetness away and wiped her face. Mourning was not her luxury. Not now, but maybe one day. Her hand found its way to her belly once again. One day.
She clenched her hand into a fist. That scared, naive, innocent little girl is gone. And this—Vivian looked down her body—I am all that remains. The mother of prophecy, the last hope.
She carved her path forward, approaching one of a select few familiar clearings in the forest. After she requested a freshwater filter on the map, Vivian always returned to this watering hole in particular.
Vivian still remembered that first taste of this water in her mouth, how cool and refreshing it was. How she greedily drank her fill until her stomach had bloated uncomfortably and she wagered another sip would have made her burst. Vivian smiled, recalling that painful feeling. None of the other ponds in the forest could compare to the crisp sweetness of this watering hole. For that, she returned here every time.
She kneeled at the water’s edge and looked into the serene pond. The crystal clear water reflected her pure white eyes, ashen gray face, and her shoulder-length hair shimmered on the mirror-like surface. A pink feathered phoenix perched on her shoulder also reflected, deep in slumber with its feathers puffed out. She chuckled lightly, recalling how flustered the little chick was at its lost intimidation. Indeed, the cuteness factor had jumped a hundredfold with its rebirth. Carefully setting the phoenix down, she lowered herself to partake of the pond.
Her pouting lips kissed the water’s mirror surface. Closing her eyes and she drank in silence. After taking several mouthfuls of the refreshing water, she opened her eyes. Pure white orbs stared back at her, emphasized by the gray of her face.
Even with everything my soul has experienced, these eyes remain as pure as snow. She pondered her white orbs.
She cupped her hands in the cool water and splashed her face, washing away the dirt, grime, and dried tears that had accumulated since her last visit. She relaxed slightly as the cool water washed over her. She lifted herself slowly from the water and turned around to find the baby phoenix silently surveying her.
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"Something wrong?" Vivian asked as the phoenix scrutinized her anew.
"Wrong? Perhaps. Different? Yes," the phoenix chirped in reply as its eyes seemed to drill into her belly.
"Different?" Vivian asked as she picked up the phoenix and placed it back on her shoulder.
"You give me a different feeling from before, like the fire inside you burned out. But maybe because it’s gone, I can now sense your baby," the phoenix spoke with admiration as it finished speaking. "Now, as for your child. Even the ancients can’t compare to what he is."
Was Sasha masking my baby from the world? Vivian pondered. The phoenix fell silent, seeing the frown appear on Vivian's face.
"My baby—" Vivian stated.
"Shh, for your safety, say no more," the phoenix interrupted. “I think it’s drawn to you.”
Vivian turned her head to look at the phoenix. She saw it frozen in place, unblinking. Its pink feathers were cutely puffed out, a failed intimidation attempt. She followed the gaze. Her eyes locked on the giant animal that leisurely strolled into the tiny clearing.
"A beldereaver," Vivian's heart sank as she took in the sheer size of it. “An alpha at that, if not the alpha of the forest.”
It had an enormous and sleek fur-covered body built for speed. Behind the body, a long rope-like tail swished back and forth and twirled in barely contained eagerness. Sharp claws in wolf-like paws gripped the ground, attached to four strong legs with bulging muscles.
Vivian’s head tilted back on her neck, taking in the face. Its snout had long whiskers and razored fangs jutting down past its jaw. Hungry bloodlust encapsulated the large and beady eyes. A pair of wolf ears perched on top of its head. Below them, rat ears twitched incessantly.
The set of wolf ears stood straight up. These ears bestowed long-range hearing, picking up any creature making noise louder than and including the subtle breathing of a mouse.
In contrast to the wolf ears, the lower set of rat ears had adapted to detect the heartbeat of anything within fifty feet of the beldereaver.
Countless nights had passed since any prey eluded this fearsome predator.
Through many years of hunting, this beastly beldereaver learned the meaning of specific beats the heart makes. These sounds became as plain as scent.
Anxiety.
Terror.
Desperation.
The beldereaver looked down upon them, and a dangerous smile curled its features maliciously.
"What an absolute monster. I'm afraid I'm too small to carry you away. How fast can you run?" the phoenix chirped to Vivian without taking its eyes from the beldereaver.
The creature licked its lips subconsciously, revealing a short rat-like tongue. It bounced into action. Forget sound. The scent of unbridled fear emanating from the gray skin urged the hunter into action.
"Move!" The phoenix slapped Vivian across her face with its wing and abandoned her shoulder. She flew straight towards the colossal beldereaver's head. The baby phoenix looked like a mosquito flitting about with the massive beast behind it.
Vivian reeled from the blow; it kickstarted her fearfully frozen heart. What was that? Something more than fear held me in place. Her legs galvanized into action like a well-oiled machine, and she tore into the undergrowth.
"Sasha, if you're there, that map would be great right now," Vivian quickly scanned around to gather her options and made a simple choice. I'm going to run as far away from it as I can.
The phoenix released some mana forming a dweomer that encompassed the phoenix. Seconds later, the dweomer exploded into a majestic blue and orange flame. A sudden tide of heat assaulted Vivian’s back as she bolted through the underbrush.
The blaze consumed the giant beldereaver's whiskers and licked hungrily at the trees. It cut the path to the hunter’s primary prey. The beldereaver irritatedly snarled and turned its gaze toward the tiny phoenix. With anger clouding its thoughts, it lifted its massive left foreleg. Swatting it down, a mini vacuum formed in its wake.
The phoenix flapped its wings, pushing itself slightly to the side. The paw came down. The phoenix floated effortlessly between the claws as they harmlessly passed by and landed heavily into the pond, sending a wave of water into motion.
When the flames died down, the phoenix turned to look for Vivian. Satisfaction replaced the feigned desperation. When it looked back at the beldereaver, the phoenix's entire demeanor changed.
The bird repeatedly slammed its tiny body into the beldereaver. Shock and panic flooded its mind. The phoenix circled the giant beast, claws extended, and beak opened for assault. It attacked. Shredded fur and chunks of severed flesh fell to the ground. The beldereaver shifted to defense, trying to swat the tiny threat away with its tail and forelegs.
"Are you intimidated yet?" the phoenix taunted as it slapped the beldereaver across the snout with its little wing. The beldereaver's whole head turned from the impact. One of its long fangs dislodged and went flying into the undergrowth. It had to brace itself with its leg to stop from falling over. "I will always be the strongest in this forest. Now, if you didn't have a use to me, you'd be ash, or a meal, right now."
The beldereaver slowly turned its throbbing face back towards the phoenix. Blood oozed from where its missing tooth used to be. Genuine fear bled from its eyes as its vision centered on the phoenix.
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"Did the phoenix get away safely?" Vivian asked herself as she ran as fast as she could.
Her heart raced as her racial stat kicked into overdrive, spurring her to run harder, faster, and push off stronger. Her body felt lighter while her muscles performed beyond their limits. Her feet kicked off the ground, becoming a blur of gray and flying dirt. She raced through the undergrowth.
She felt something pull on her mana, slowly draining her limited pool. What is this feeling? Her strides became longer, and her speed increased further. She wasn't ready for the sudden burst. Quick thinking saw her narrowly avoiding the trees in front of her.
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Fueled by intrigue, the phoenix had flown high up into the air to watch Vivian.
"That’s her? I knew that the Jadendajuda were a special race but this? I’m not sure the world can contain them," the phoenix tapped into its system. "Her agility stat just jumped from two to eight points instantly?! I can't imagine she can maintain that for very long. Even so, does that work on any stat? If her race can do that, how are they on the brink of extinction?"
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Vivian felt the last of her mana disappear, and her boosts dried up with it; her body immediately turned sluggish. She tripped over her own feet and tumbled along the forest floor, gaining scrapes and bruises all over her body.
Am I far enough away? What was that? Forget my superficial pain; why does my body feel like it's on fire? Her eyes closed, and she passed out from sheer exhaustion.
The phoenix flew down and landed lightly next to Vivian, a silent guardian watching over her.
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Vivian sat quietly in between her two sisters. "If there's even a slim chance one of us can fulfill the prophecy, I say we should." Vivian looked between her younger sister and her elder sister, who just spoke, and gave a firm nod, indicating her agreement.
Their grandfather, seated before them, looked at each of them carefully. "Very well. There will be plenty of hardships for each of you when it's complete. Do you accept?"
"Yes, Grandfather." The eldest spoke with no hesitation.
"Yes, Grandfather," Vivian added, her resolve firm.
"Y- yes, Grandfather." The youngest added, failing to mask her uncertainty.
He watched with pride and a heavy heart as they held their heads high and departed. Is it my place to stop them if this is what we all desire? If they knew that their choice would bring our race even closer to extinction, would they still make the same decision?
Well, Vivian?
Yes, Vivian thought. Even in all the despair, there is hope in this path. Instantly, the dream dissolved into itself, releasing Vivian from the spell.
She opened her eyes, the afternoon sun shining brightly in the sky and beating down on her. The internal burning sensation had vanished, replaced by the delicate warmth of the sun. She just lay there absorbing the relaxing ambiance of chirping insects and singing birds.
"Good morning, Vivian," the phoenix chirped.
"Good morning-" she replied, faltering as she realized she never asked the phoenix its name.
"Isa," the phoenix chirped.
"Isa," Vivian echoed. "What happened to the beldereaver?"
"Er, I led it off into the woods and then escaped by flying away," Isa averted her eyes.
"Thank you for saving my life," Vivian replied as her belly rumbled.
"I'll get something to eat," Isa stated, then flew off before Vivian could object.
Tell me you don't believe her lie; she did more than that. No animals came into this area the entire time you were asleep.
"Everyone has their secrets, and I’m no exception," Vivian replied casually, rising to her feet.
Not from me, you don’t.
Vivian smiled cryptically.