Kellan approached the small house with reluctant steps, his heart thudding against his chest. The village was familiar—too familiar. Each uneven cobblestone street and weather-worn wooden post felt like it had a memory attached to it. His body longed for the comfort of home, but his mind buzzed with unease. What was he supposed to tell his mother?

He paused at the gate, gripping the iron latch as he stared at the house. The stone chimney puffed wisps of smoke into the air, and through the front window, he could make out the flicker of warm light from the hearth. It was almost too peaceful. The kind of scene that should have brought a sense of calm. Instead, it made his stomach churn. The weight of the phoenix on his shoulder didn't help.

Ignisara, now in its ember-like sparrow form, shifted slightly. It had been silent for most of the journey back, its quiet presence simultaneously comforting and unnerving.

"You're not going to make this easier for me, are you?" Kellan muttered, his voice low enough to ensure no one else could hear.

That depends on what this is, Ignisara replied, its voice ringing in his mind with a teasing edge.

Kellan groaned. "This. The whole... 'Hey, Mom, guess what? I've bonded with a magical bird and I might be the key to saving the universe' thing. How do I even start that conversation?"

Ignisara's small body warmed against his neck, a subtle reminder of its presence. If she is anything like you, I suspect she will appreciate honesty. Humans value sincerity, even when it is... incomplete.

Kellan rolled his eyes. "Incomplete? So you're saying I should lie?"

Not lie, Ignisara corrected. Simply omit. There is no need to burden her with everything. Not yet.

Kellan sighed, running a hand through his hair as he pushed the gate open. The hinges creaked loudly in the quiet evening, a sound that normally would have gone unnoticed but now felt like a thunderclap in his ears. The path to the front door felt longer than usual, each step weighed down by the unspoken truths he carried.

When he finally reached the door, he hesitated again. He raised his hand to knock—then stopped. It was his house. Why was he knocking? Shaking his head at himself, he pushed the door open.

The warmth of the hearth hit him immediately, wrapping him in the familiar smells of home—woodsmoke, herbs, and the faint sweetness of bread. His mother stood near the fireplace, her back to him as she stirred a pot hanging over the flames. She turned at the sound of the door creaking, her expression softening into relief when she saw him.

"There you are," she said, wiping her hands on her apron as she stepped toward him. "I was starting to think you'd gone and gotten yourself lost."

Kellan forced a small smile. "Yeah... something like that."

She stopped a few feet away, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied him. "You look exhausted. What happened out there?"

Kellan hesitated, his mind scrambling for an answer. He couldn't tell her everything—not yet. But he couldn't brush it off entirely, either. He settled for a half-truth.

"I... found what I was looking for," he said carefully. "Or at least, I think I did."

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Her brow furrowed. "You think? That's not very reassuring."

Kellan shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It's complicated. But I'm fine, really."

Before she could press further, a faint chirp cut through the air. Kellan froze, his eyes widening as he glanced at Ignisara. The phoenix had nestled itself deeper into his shoulder, its ember-like glow dim but unmistakable.

His mother's gaze shifted, her sharp instincts catching the movement. "What's that?"

Kellan cleared his throat, stepping further into the room as he tried to position himself so Ignisara was less visible. "Uh... just a bird. It's harmless."

"A bird?" she repeated, her tone laced with skepticism. "You brought a bird home?"

"It's not what it looks like," Kellan said quickly, though he realized too late how suspicious that sounded.

His mother crossed her arms, her expression firm. "Kellan."

He sighed, knowing there was no escaping her questions. She had a way of extracting the truth that was both infuriating and impressive. "Okay, fine," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "It's not just a bird. It's... a phoenix."

The room fell silent. His mother stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, she let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "A phoenix. Right. And I suppose it's going to start singing any moment now?"

As if on cue, Ignisara spread its tiny wings, the faint glow of its feathers illuminating the room. It chirped again, the sound resonating with an otherworldly clarity that sent a shiver down Kellan's spine.

His mother's laughter faded, her eyes widening as she took a cautious step back. "What... what is that?"

Kellan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I told you. It's a phoenix. And before you freak out, it's not dangerous. At least, not to us."

Not to you, Ignisara corrected, its voice echoing faintly in Kellan's mind.

Kellan shot it a look. "Not helping," he muttered under his breath.

His mother's gaze darted between him and the bird, her face a mixture of disbelief and concern. "Kellan, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"It's a long story," he said, his tone weary. "One that I'm not even sure I fully understand yet. But... I think this is important. Ignisara—"

"Ignisara?" she interrupted, her voice tinged with alarm. "It has a name?"

"Yes," Kellan said, holding up a hand to calm her. "It's... complicated. But it's not here to hurt us. It's here to help."

"Help with what?"

Kellan hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on him. He met her gaze, his expression serious. "With stopping something bad. Something bigger than anything I've ever dealt with before."

His mother's face softened slightly, though the worry in her eyes remained. "Kellan..." she began, her voice faltering. "I don't know what's going on, but this... this is too much. You're just a boy. You shouldn't have to deal with things like this."

Kellan's jaw tightened. "I don't have a choice, Mom. This is... bigger than me. Bigger than all of us. Ignisara chose me for a reason, and I can't just ignore that."

She shook her head, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for his arm. "You're still my son. I don't care what this... phoenix thinks you're capable of. You're not invincible, Kellan."

"I know," he said softly, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within him. "But I can't walk away from this. If I do... then who else will?"

The room fell silent again, the crackle of the fire filling the space between them. His mother finally released his arm, her shoulders slumping as she exhaled deeply.

"Just promise me one thing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Anything," Kellan replied without hesitation.

"Promise me you'll be careful. And that you won't put yourself into harm's way."

Kellan swallowed hard, nodding. "I promise."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, Ignisara let out a soft chirp, breaking the tension.

You have a strong mother, it said, its voice warm. She will be your anchor when the storm grows too fierce.

Kellan glanced at the phoenix, then back at his mother. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I know."

As the night wore on, Kellan explained as much as he could—about the journey, the egg, and Ignisara. He left out the darker details, sparing her the weight of the full truth. For now, it was enough to know she believed in him, even if she didn't fully understand.

And as Kellan lay in his bed later that night, Ignisara perched on the windowsill, he felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't facing the unknown alone.