Malvina’s brow was furrowed the whole time on her way back to Great Canopy. Even when she returned to her leaf and settled down on her comfy blanket, and even after she munched on some of her favorite berries, the worry on her face didn’t disappear. The feather-crowned phoenix, who had remained on the leaf the whole time she was gone, turned to look at her. “Is everything alright?” he asked. “You seem stressed.”

Malvina turned her head towards the feather-crowned phoenix and snorted. “What do you know about stress?” she asked. “Do you even know what that word means?” Malvina pecked at the bowl of berries beside her, stuffing her face to the brim.

The feather-crowned phoenix sighed as he stood up and walked over to Malvina. “I’m sorry you failed,” he said and wrapped his wing around her. “No matter how great we are, it isn’t possible to succeed at everything we do.”

“I failed?” Malvina asked, her beak contorting. “What do you mean I failed?”

The feather-crowned phoenix tilted his head. “You went to save the naïve phoenix within the other tower, didn’t you?” he asked. “Since you came back alone….”

“You thought I failed?” Malvina asked before shaking her head. “That phoenix didn’t need my help at all. She’s married to a dragon—if you can believe that.”

The feather-crowned phoenix blinked. Then, he leaned forward and sniffed near Malvina’s beak, causing the queen of the forest to squawk and move her head away. The feather-crowned phoenix frowned. “Have you been drinking?”

“Drinking?” Malvina asked. She cleared her throat. “Of course. I make sure to always stay hydrated. There’s never a day I’m not drinking fluids.”

“I’m not saying you’re acting suspicious,” the feather-crowned phoenix said, “but…. How about you tell me what happened while you were gone?”

Malvina took in a deep breath. “The dragons are planning a massive invasion,” she said, completely ignoring the feather-crowned phoenix’s question. “They’re planning on ending it all; every dragon is going to show up.”

“Is that why you ordered the scattered phoenixes to return to Great Canopy?” the feather-crowned phoenix asked with a frown on his beak. “How soon are the dragons invading? Is your information reliable?”

“What?” Malvina asked, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t trust me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Malvina puffed out her chest. “Yeah?” she asked. “Then why are you interrogating me?”

“I wasn’t…, you know what? Never mind,” the feather-crowned phoenix said. “I’ll gather the council of elders. If the dragons are preparing for a decisive battle, we have to prepare ourselves as well.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

***

Fern looked at Volearden. The two dragons were standing on the peak of a mountain, overlooking a series of valleys and mountains smaller than the one the two dragons were standing on. “You’re really going to do this?” the yellow dragon asked, raising an eyebrow. “There are so many things that can go wrong.”

“Then, we’ll just have to make sure it goes right,” Volearden said and stood on his hindlegs. He sucked in a deep breath before roaring at the sky, shaking the earth with the power of his lungs. The world seemed to tremble as more roars came from the other mountaintops and from within the valleys. The armored dragon took in another deep breath. “Everyone!” he shouted. “Get ready for a final battle against the phoenixes. My great-grandson has entered the tower, and he is powerful beyond imagination.”

“Well, where is he?” a dragon called out from the side, out of Volearden’s view.

The armored dragon cleared his throat. “He’s getting ready for the battle, something all of you should be doing as well.”

“When is it going to take place?” another dragon asked. “This new movie’s coming out soon, and I don’t want to miss the premiere.”

“Soon,” Volearden said. “Everyone who’s uncomfortable with the idea of eliminating the phoenixes, please see me at my cave later today.

***

“We’re back,” a tired-sounding voice said, drawing Tafel’s and Vur’s attention to the side. Three boulders floated into view and onto the ground. The one in the middle, the brown one with diamond eyes, was staring at the ground with a defeated expression while the green and blue boulders were glaring at each other. Diamant took a step forward and held out Vur’s root bracelet. “Here.”

Vur grabbed the bracelet and let it wrap itself around his wrist. Then, he poked it. “What’s my talent?”

Tafel held her breath as Vur read through the notification only he could see. “Well?” the demon asked when she thought Vur was done reading. “What’s your talent?”

“Amplification,” Vur said and looked at Tafel. “It says I can use mana to increase the effect of my abilities.”

The demon raised an eyebrow. Tafel thought his ability had something to do with copying Kim Hajun’s innate ability, but it was amplification instead. “Is that it?” she asked. “How did you copy Kim Hajun then?”

Vur tilted his head. “I saw him move the mana to make the card, so I copied him.”

Stella flew out of Vur’s chest and took a seat on his shoulder. “It’s not a surprise Vur’s gotten better at reading and controlling mana,” the fairy queen said. “Dragons are creatures that grow in power over time. Eventually, Vur will be able to look at someone casting a spell, and he’ll learn it as well.”

“Really?” Tafel asked. “How do you know this?”

Stella shrugged. “I’m talking out of my butt right now,” she said. “But I think my explanation is the most reasonable.” The fairy queen flew down and tapped on Tafel’s root bracelet. She took out the card Vur made with the abstract image of the demon on it. “Do you think there’ll be any special effect if I rip this?”

Tafel snatched the card out of Stella’s hands. “You’re not allowed to rip Vur’s gift to me even if it’s a little wonky.” She stowed the card and looked at Vur. “Do you want to try out your new amplification ability?”

Vur thought for a bit before standing up. A large magic circle appeared in the air way above him as his imprint appeared on his forehead. He squinted before muttering, “Amplification.” The magic circle enlarged, growing ten times in size, and the massive side of a meteor materialized in the air, the rest of its rocky body appearing as it slowly moved out of the circle.

“That’s a big rock,” Stella said.

The meteor only looked like it was moving slow because of its gargantuan size, but it didn’t take long for it to fall into a valley three mountains over, triggering an impact that shook the earth.

Tafel frowned and shielded her eyes before looking at Vur. “How much more mana did that cost?”

“Double,” Vur said, placing his hand on his belly. “If I use more mana, I think I can make it even bigger.”