AIDEN
"Watch out!!" I shouted, grabbing Shirley's arm and yanking her backward just as a column of fire exploded from the sky, incinerating the spot where she'd been standing a heartbeat ago.
The air turned molten. Flames licked the treetops, and the ground trembled beneath the fury of the battle. It was my first time seeing a phoenix in real life, and damn—it was the most beautiful creature I'd ever laid eyes on. Its wings shimmered with gold and crimson, trailing embers with every beat. But beauty had a price. Fire was everywhere, and the forest was quickly turning into a battlefield.
The phoenix dove, talons extended, and collided with the hulking beast that had ambushed us earlier. The impact sent shockwaves through the clearing. The creature—massive, muscle-bound, and radiating raw aggression—roared and retaliated, slamming its fists into the phoenix's chest. Feathers scattered like sparks, and the phoenix screeched in pain, but it didn't back down.
"We need to find a way to help," I said, shielding my eyes from the blaze.
"What do you have in mind? Because that dude is winning," I pointed out, watching the beast land another brutal blow that sent the phoenix spiraling into a tree.
"Not with our combined strength," Shirley replied, her eyes narrowing. "And I think I noticed its weakness."
"Then by all means, point it out. We don't have all day."
"It's the back of its neck," she said, gesturing toward the creature. "Every time the phoenix takes flight, it guards that spot first. Watch closely."
I did. And she was right. The beast's movements were protective, almost paranoid, whenever the phoenix soared above it. It twisted unnaturally, always keeping its back shielded. The phoenix seemed to notice too, circling higher, its flames intensifying.
"Let's join the fight," I said, stepping forward. "I'll clear the fire out for you."
We broke cover, sprinting into the fray. The beast turned its head sharply, and without warning, spewed a stream of viscous liquid from its mouth. It hissed through the air like acid. We dove to the side, and the ground where we'd stood melted into a bubbling crater.
"Okay, now I'm pissed," I growled, summoning my power. I reached deep, letting my energy connect to every living thing in Argob. The forest whispered back, voices ancient and knowing: He has the blood of Ra. The power surged through me, electric and divine. I felt it in my bones, in my breath, in the way the world seemed to bend around me.
The creature hesitated, sensing the shift. It stepped back, uncertain.
"Let's play," I said, smiling coldly.
It charged. A blur of fists and fury. But time slowed for me. Or maybe I had just become fast enough to see the world in frames. I dodged each punch with precision, waiting for the moment—the opening.
Shirley joined the fight, her blade slicing through the air. She moved like a dancer, graceful and lethal. The phoenix swooped down, unleashing a torrent of flame that forced the beast to stagger. It roared, swinging wildly, trying to defend itself from three directions at once.
Then it happened.
Shirley feinted left, the phoenix dove from above, and the beast twisted to protect its neck. That was the moment. I summoned a flaming sword, the blade pulsing with Ra's energy, and lunged forward. The sword plunged deep into the back of its neck, searing flesh and bone. The creature screamed—a sound that shook the trees—and collapsed.
Its body jerked once, then stilled. Smoke rose from the wound, and the air was thick with the scent of scorched earth.
We stood there, panting, watching as the beast slowly began to revert to its original form. The monstrous bulk shrank, the rage faded, and what remained was a man—bruised, broken, and barely conscious.
He turned his head, eyes locking with mine.
"You got lucky," he rasped.
"Yeah," I said, lowering my sword. "Sometimes luck is all you need to win a fight."
"You're going to the throne, aren't you?" he asked.
I blinked. "Why do you say so?"
"Every creature that has a grudge with your father for imprisoning them here knows where you're going."
"Who told them? How do they know?"
"Someone was kind enough to drop the tip," he said with a smirk.
Asshole. Someone didn't want us to reach the throne. But who? That was still a mystery.
Shirley approached, the phoenix now sealed back inside her medallion. Its glow had dimmed, but I could still feel its warmth.
"What's he saying?" she asked.
"Nothing we didn't suspect or haven't figured out," I replied, still watching him.
"Take me with you," he said suddenly. "I know the fastest and least dangerous route."
"Not a chance, posh boy. I trust you as much as I can throw you," Shirley snapped.
"You can't just leave me here," he whined.
"Hmm, yes we can," I said, smiling.
"That's the same thing as killing me. You just turned me into prey for every creature in this realm. Take me with you, and I'll serve as your protector."
"What goes around comes around," Shirley said coldly. "I'm sure you've killed your fair share of prey too. You were about to add us to the list a few minutes ago. Deal with it."
She turned and walked away without a second glance. I hesitated, then gave him a small wave. He cursed me under his breath. I actually felt a little sad for him.
We walked for another hour, maybe more. Time was hard to track in Argob. The sky shifted colors, and the trees whispered secrets we couldn't understand. Eventually, Shirley stopped.
"Where do we go from here? Can you still see?"
"Yes," I said, closing my eyes. "We're close. But I sense obstacles ahead."
"Obstacles, huh? Let me guess—they're lying in wait for us?"
"I can't say for sure. But if I had to guess, I'd say yes."
"Isn't there any other way? Like a shortcut?"
"There…" I paused, feeling the pull again. A faint vibration in the air, like a hidden path calling out to me.
"There might be," I said slowly. "But it's not marked. It's old magic. Dangerous."
Shirley looked at me, her eyes steady. "Then let's take it. We've already faced fire, acid, and a hulk. What's a little more danger?"
I smiled. "You're starting to sound like me."
"Don't flatter yourself," she said, already moving.
And so we walked into the unknown once more, with me thinking what Zain's endgame was.