The Underworld never slept not truly. Its skies mimicked day and night, but the flow of power and politics moved regardless of the hour. Within the grand halls of the Phoenix estate, generations of legacy had been forged in silence and flame. Now, a new legacy was taking form not through the roar of war, but in the quiet moments where fire met will.
Riser Phenex was six years old, and he burned with purpose.
Lessons in the Shadow of the Hearth
The private courtyard was hidden behind layers of enchantments. Shielded from the estate's many watchful eyes, it was a place known only to a handful within the clan. It was here that Lord Phenex trained his youngest son not as a noble, but as a bearer of flame.
"Again," Lord Phenex commanded calmly, arms crossed as he stood by a darkstone pillar.
Riser exhaled, steadying his breath. His small frame shimmered as heat began to radiate off his skin. The flames didn't ignite all at once. They flowed outward in waves like water glowing blue beneath the moon.
He focused, drawing the fire not from the air, but from within. From the wellspring in his soul. It answered with a roar of light.
FWOOSH.
His body was engulfed in blue flame. His eyes lit with inner fire, his blond hair swaying in the heatless wind of his own creation. He hovered just inches from the ground, suspended by sheer will.
"Good," Lord Phenex nodded, allowing the faintest curve of pride to touch his lips. "Now rise."
With a grunt, Riser pushed his flames downward, mimicking the propulsion he had envisioned. Slowly wobbling at first he ascended, his small body rising higher, heat distorting the space around him.
He wasn't flying not yet. But he was floating, and that was a beginning.
"I want to soar," Riser said through gritted teeth. "Like Johnny Storm. Like the sun."
Lord Phenex raised an eyebrow. "Storm?"
Riser hesitated. "A hero. A man of flame. From a story I read from the human world."
Lord Phenex studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then be better than him."
The flames flared, and for a moment just a moment Riser rose above the courtyard's edge, casting blue light along the surrounding obsidian walls. A young phoenix in flight.
Later, as twilight descended, Riser sat in the reading chamber near the hearth, curled in a chair with a book of devil sigils in one hand and a scorching hot drink in the other.
Ruval Phenex entered with his usual silent grace. The eldest son of the Phenex clan was tall, composed, and radiated nobility with every step. Yet the moment his eyes landed on Riser, a warm smile broke through the formality.
"You've been training again," Ruval said, crouching beside the chair. "I can smell the smoke in your hair."
Riser looked up, grinning. "Don't tell Mother."
Ruval chuckled, ruffling his brother's hair. "She already knows. The entire west wing feels like a sauna after you practice."
They sat in companionable silence for a moment. Then Ruval added, "Father's proud of you. He won't say it, but I see it in his eyes. You're making the clan remember what the Phoenix truly is."
Riser's grin softened. "I just want to be strong. Strong enough to protect what matters."
Ruval's gaze grew more serious.
"You will be. But strength isn't just fire and flight. It's restraint. Wisdom. Compassion. You have all three, little brother."
Riser turned his head toward the flickering hearth. "Even so I need more. There's something coming, I feel it. Like the flame is preparing me for something bigger."
Ruval didn't question the boy's instincts. Instead, he simply nodded and said, "Then I'll walk beside you until you're ready to fly higher than any of us."
That night, Riser made his way to the nursery. The doors were half-open, warm golden light spilling from within. Inside, Ravel slept in her cradle, her tiny form curled beneath a blanket embroidered with phoenix feathers.
Riser approached quietly and sat on the edge of the cushioned bench beside her crib. He didn't summon flames this time. He simply watched her. Her tiny breaths, the little smile that tugged at her lips even in sleep.
"I don't know what the future will bring," he whispered, "but I'll burn it all down before I let it hurt you."
His hand hovered over her tiny fingers, and without waking, Ravel shifted and clutched one of them.
Riser sat there for a long while, letting the soft warmth of her touch soothe the fire within.
Soon Echoes can be heard Among the Nobles
While Riser trained in secret, word still found its way into the courts and salons of the noble devils. Whispers moved faster than any courier.
None had seen his flames in full display, but servants talked. Tutors speculated. The occasional tremor in the estate's wards during his flight attempts had drawn interest.
And so, the noble houses of the 72 Pillars began to take quiet notice.
"He's not like the others Heirs it's almost quite frustrating to know that," remarked a Sitri elder during a private banquet.
"The fire's in his blood, yes, but it's also in his spirit," said another.
Lord Zeoticus Gremory, ever observant, kept his silence during such exchanges. But behind closed doors, he began to reassess long held plans.
If the Phoenix clan had truly birthed a son who could command both flame and favor, then aligning the future of House Gremory with theirs might be worth more than tradition.
And though no formal contract had been proposed, the idea took root.