The next day, the family of three, loaded Stela's trunk onto a wagon and set off for Greenbay, a small town east of White Bridge, located about a days ride away.

Martin sat at the helm of the wagon, leading the horse. Martha and Stela sat on bundles of hay that had been piled onto the wagon as well. A picnic basket with fresh oranges, nuts, sandwiches and juice, sat in a corner. The three had wide straw hats on, held in place with ribbons, and in Martin's case - a thin white rope.

"Easy there Bella.", Martin spoke gently to the sturdy chestnut Clydesdale horse that was pulling the wagon.

Stela lay on the hay, looking up at the endless blue skies and the black specks that were flying through it. Green valleys surrounded them on both sides, with wildflowers and the occasional stream decorating the scenery. The road was uneven and the ride on the wagon was bumpy. When they had to cross a forested area, she watched the tall trees block out the sun and wave their lanky branches at her.

"This time...it's really beautiful.", she inadvertently muttered.

"What did you say dear?", her mother asked her, untying the ribbon on her chin and removing her hat that had begun to get crushed from being lain upon.

"It's beautiful ma.", Stela replied, closing her eyes.

Suddenly, the wagon jerked to an unexpected stop. Stela sat up immediately, confused. She could see only the same peaceful scenery around them with no sign of a town in sight. She felt her mother's arm nudge her.

"Look up there angel.", her mother said, with an emotional voice, pointing at a distant corner in the horizon.

Stela looked into the distance but could see - nothing.

Stela looked at her father, confused, but he seemed to be looking far off in the distance as well, as if mesmerized. When she looked towards the direction he was looking at she gasped. Hidden behind the clouds, she could see a beautiful bird with flaming feathers, flying gracefully in the sky. She hadn't seen any creature as magical as it in her past life. In fact, it was very strange... weren't phoenixes supposed to be mythical creatures that no longer existed?

"How auspicious!", Martin muttered. Martha had tears in her eyes.

While the magical bird, presumably a phoenix, was stunning, Stela couldn't quite grasp the emotional reaction her parents were having.

"Erm... mum, dad?", she said, interrupting their reverie, as the phoenix disappeared in the horizon.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Martha smiled at Stela with teary eyes. "Consider yourself most lucky, my little angel.", she said, "Most mortals can live through multiple lifetimes without seeing one."

Stela gave a wry smile. It was her second life, her mother had a point. "What does it mean ma?", she asked curiously.

"It must mean that a new Saint is about to be found.", Martin replied, patting her head.

"New...Saint?", Stela asked, confused. What did phoenixes have to do with Saints?

"It is an old story, my little angel, but phoenixes are seen as companions of Saints. Almost all the Saints of the past had phoenixes as companions.", Martha continued.

The confusion in Stela's mind began to grow in light of this new information, which made no sense to her!

"But what about Saintess Aster?", she asked meekly.

"Aster? Saintess Aster? How do you know her name angel?", Martin replied. It was quite odd for a five year old to know the name of Saints without being informed about them specifically.

"I heard someone utter her name in the Wanderer's Fair pa.", Stela replied quickly, dispelling her father's doubts.

"Saintess Aster sacrificed her companion to save Margelia from calamity...", Martin replied softly and sadly.

"Sac...sacri-ficed?", Stela couldn't believe her ears. She had never had a companion in her past, so what on earth could her father be talking about?

"Yes, my angel. I wasn't there for it. But there was a big festival in the capital where they brought the caged phoenix and executed it.", Martin said with a sad expression.

Stela listened to her father's narration with an incredulous expression. It couldn't be true! She had lived for a 120 years in her previous life and had never encountered such information! If what her father was saying was true, then it would mean that she had summoned an evo creature in the past. But that was impossible? She had seen personally, how the magic circle produced nothing but fumes and ashes. Ashes? Her mind began to race and a sick feeling took root in her stomach. The Holy Seer had been like her father in the past! The people at the Temple were her family... It must've been a mistake ... In fact, it all sounded a little exaggerated and absurd. After all, this was her life that they were discussing. Of course, she would know best.

The doubts in her mind slowly began to fade away. She let out a laugh.

"Oh pa, that cannot be possible!", she responded with a weak smile.

"Oh, but -", Martin was interrupted by Martha who hit him on his elbow with a stick.

"Enough about Saintess Aster. We were lucky to see a phoenix today. No more talk of executions okay?", Martha said firmly, ending the discussion.

Stela felt relieved at the intervention. She laid back on the bed of hay. Rumours about her past were more rife than she'd imagined.

Martha looked at her little girl lie back on the hay. She felt at ease seeing Stela smile at the clouds again. For a few seconds, the expression on her face had become quite dark.

Beings sake Martin! Martha thought, who tells a five year old about executions! Of course her little girl would panic at the thought!

And they hadn't even had a conversation about death...

"But Stela...", her mother said with a worried expression.

"Yes ma?", Stela replied.

"I'd like to ask you to do me favour. I'd like you to keep it a secret between us that you saw a phoenix today.", her mother spoke, with a gentle smile.

Stela nodded in agreement. While it had been interesting and special experience, if her parents wanted her to keep it a secret, they perhaps had their own reasons for the same...