Chapter 2.5 Raven the Phoenix
It was about time for the gathering of the Guardians to begin. Every Guardian assembled at the center of the AshWood Empire, on the AshHill. The seven towers surrounded the empire, and above them all stood the AshHill, the very heart of AshWood.
The towers were linked by long bridges that formed a wide podium at the top of the empire. This podium, known as the AshHill, served as the Guardians' meeting place—whether for formal gatherings or simply to walk beneath the sun.
Each bridge was decorated with flowers and trees chosen according to the Guardians' tastes. The AshHill itself was no different; it was like a vast garden overflowing with blossoms and greenery.
In short, AshHill was the most beautiful and enchanting place in existence.
"This place is really beautiful, Silver! Why are there so many red roses along this bridge? Do you like red roses?" Raven asked, her eyes bright as she admired the flowers.
"I..."
Silver furrowed his brows, as though unsure how to answer.
Raven looked at him expectantly.
"I... maybe. I like roses, but especially red roses." His voice softened, his expression distant, as if a memory had suddenly crossed his mind. Once again, his brows drew together.
'Who could that woman be? Why does she keep appearing in my mind?'
"...ver!"
"..ilver!"
"Silver!"
Raven called, frowning as she tugged at her husband's robes. He had been dazed for nearly half an hour, and her pout deepened in impatience.
"Y-Yes?"
Silver snapped out of his trance, blinking in confusion.
For a fleeting moment, the image of the woman haunting his thoughts overlapped with Raven's face. He shook his head quickly, but there she was, pouting adorably, tugging at his robe like an abandoned puppy.
C-Cute!
Silver felt his heart pierced by a hundred arrows.
He turned away, his face burning red, one hand flying up to cover his nose.
"Si-il-ve-er-er-er!"
Raven whined, swinging his robes back and forth as she pouted even harder, demanding his attention like a spoiled child.
"Cici, stop it already, or else..."
Silver's voice dropped low without him realizing, his face now hovering close above hers. His thumb tilted her chin upward, his ruby eyes glinting dangerously.
"Hm? What... what are you going to do?"
Raven froze, startled when he called her Cici. Only Mu Xuan had ever called her that, in their past life. She hadn't expected Silver to remember.
But once the surprise faded, mischief lit her eyes.
She curved her lips into a half-seductive smile, pressing her right hand against his chest while her left hand... pinched his cheeks. Hard.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Silver snapped out of his trance as Raven pinched his cheeks.
Once again, he found himself puzzled.
Why did he act that way toward his disciple? Why was there this strange, abnormal feeling stirring in his heart?
"Silver, aren't we going now? We've been standing here for half a day already. Do you think we'll even make it if we just keep staring at each other all day, hmm?"
Raven could not help but tease the man, her eyes glinting with amusement.
To her, this husband of hers—though he didn't remember their past—was still the same man who gently and lovingly cared for her.
"Right... Cici, let's go."
The nickname slipped from his lips again. Somehow, he could no longer call her by her given name.
Cici.
It simply felt right—better, even.
When Raven and Silver finally arrived at AshHill, the other Guardians were already gathered with their disciples. They were the last to arrive.
As they stepped into the enormous garden, every gaze turned toward them. The Guardians regarded them with faint amusement, while the disciples stared with open curiosity.
Though many were intrigued by Silver, their attention was drawn even more to the woman in red at his side. Half her face was veiled by a crimson cloth, her presence both mysterious and enchanting.
Whispers rippled among the disciples.
Who was this woman who had managed to become the disciple of Guardian I—the strongest Guardian to have ever lived?
If they only knew what sort of "ability" she has, they would surely curse her black and blue!
"Silver, finally you're here! That was such a long wait. This is the first time I've ever seen you late—this calls for a celebration!" Luka teased, her tone light but her eyes wide with disbelief.
She would never have believed it if someone told her the great Silver could be late, but seeing it with her own eyes was truly shocking.
"Hoho, Silver, what took you so long? Did something happen on the way?"
Gold wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, shooting Silver a perverted grin as his gaze flicked back and forth between Silver and Raven.
"Gold, stop filling Silver's head with indecent thoughts! He's not like you, chasing after every woman in a skirt. Silver is a gentleman!" Aria snapped, her sharp glare silencing him instantly.
"Hisha, my dear, look at how Aria is bullying me. Won't you help your darling?"
Gold whined, turning puppy eyes toward Hisha as he reached for her hand.
But Hisha slapped his hand away with a sharp crack, her glare cold enough to freeze him in place.
"Try to touch me one more time, and you're dead."
"......" Gold could only shut his mouth and pitifully bite his handkerchief, anime tears streaming down his handsome face.
"Everyone, enough with this nonsense. You're embarrassing yourselves in front of your disciples and the other Guardians' disciples. Mostly you, Gold." Gillha leisurely sipped his tea, casting Gold a sidelong glance.
"Silver, your fellow Guardians are certainly... interesting."
Raven whispered just loud enough for him to hear. She sat gracefully beside him on a silver chair he had conjured, watching the spectacle unfold with amusement.
"....." Silver only gave her a silent nod, though his thoughts wandered back to Gold's earlier words.
'Was holding his disciple's chin and embracing her really considered indecent?' He pondered the question deeply.
Meanwhile, the other disciples could only look at Raven with envy.
While she sat comfortably in the chair, her silver chair made her stand out like a queen among commoners. The other disciples were left standing stiffly like soldiers, back ramrod straight, their legs wobbling like jelly.
Still, not one of them dared to utter a word of protest.
As the others looked at her with envy, one pair of eyes burned hotter than the rest—eyes filled not only with envy but with rage.
And yes, as you might have guessed, they belonged to the so‑called female lead. Perhaps because the plot armor of the "lead" had already activated, she too had become the disciple of one of the Guardians—Hisha.
Originally, in the story, Hisha was meant to take Misha of the White Tiger Clan as her disciple. But due to the unknown variables caused by Raven's presence, the flow of the story had shifted, twisting itself to "fix" the imbalance. And so, the female lead now stood as Hisha's disciple.
"Then, how about we start with Luka first? Luka, please introduce your disciple to us." Gillha said, glancing at Luka with a nod.
"Very well, I'll begin. Disciple, step forward and introduce yourself."
Luka's eyes flicked toward her disciple at the corner of her vision.
The young man stepped forward with steady confidence, his movements calm yet firm, like the slow but unyielding strength of the clan he came from. His dark green robes, embroidered with faint patterns resembling a turtle's shell, swayed lightly as he walked to stand beside his Guardian.
"I am Neil of the Turtle Clan, disciple of Guardian VII, Luka!" He declared, his voice deep and unwavering.
Both of his hands pressed together in front of him in a formal greeting, his posture straight and disciplined.
There was no arrogance in his tone, only a quiet dignity that reflected the endurance and patience of his lineage. His eyes, dark and steady, carried the weight of someone who valued loyalty and perseverance above all else.
Around him, a few disciples exchanged glances, some impressed by his composure, others dismissing him as too plain. But Neil stood unfazed, like a rock unmoved by the tide, his presence calm yet commanding in its own way.
"Next!"
"I am Jill of the White Tiger Clan, disciple of Guardian VI, Gillha!" Jill's voice rang out with pride, her stance sharp and fierce, much like the beast her clan was named after.
"This lady's name is Lotus of the Nymph Clan, disciple of Guardian V, Aria." Lotus stepped forward gracefully, her movements fluid and elegant, her beauty as delicate as the flower she was named for.
"Amethyst of the Stone Clan, disciple of Guardian IV, Jade!" Amethyst's tone was steady and firm, his presence solid and unyielding, like the very stones his clan revered.
One by one, the disciples introduced themselves as their Guardians called upon them, each name carrying the weight of their clan's legacy and the pride of standing beside a Guardian.
"This one is Yuka of the Phoenix Clan, disciple of Guardian III, Hisha."
Yuka stepped forward with practiced grace, her silken robes flowing like water as she dipped into an elegant courtesy.
A delicate smile tugged at her pink lips, soft and serene, like a spring breeze that seemed to calm the heart. Her voice was gentle, her demeanor flawless, so much so that several of the Guardians immediately formed a favorable impression of her.
Yet beneath that gentle smile, her gaze lingered a moment too long on Raven, eyes that glimmered with envy, sharp and fleeting, before softening again into perfect innocence
"Next!"
Gillha's voice was calm, his expression unreadable as he continued what he was doing. He had indeed noticed how beautiful the young lady was, but to him, her beauty was meaningless. A fair face meant nothing if the heart behind it was black.
To Gillha, such people were the lowest—those who hid malice behind a mask of charm. And of all things, that was what he despised the most.
"Dark of the Dragon Clan, disciple of Guardian II, Gold."
The young man stepped forward, his presence heavy and commanding, as though the air itself bent around him. His sharp eyes flickered with an unknown glint, something dangerous, something unreadable, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a calm, stoic mask.
For a brief moment, it was as if a shadow of the dragon's might stirred within him, before retreating back into silence.
After Dark introduced himself, it was finally Raven's turn. All eyes in the room shifted at once, every gaze drawn to the woman in red—mysterious, enchanting, and impossible to ignore.
Yet the enchanting lady wasn't listening to the introductions at all. Instead, she was secretly playing with Silver's hand beneath the table while everyone else busily and seriously presented themselves.
'Let's see... I'm quite good at palm reading, so... ohoho, I knew it! My hubby and I are truly meant for each other. Look here—this line connects the two of us. How romantic! Raven thought to herself with glee.
"Cici..."
Silver gave her hand a gentle squeeze when he noticed she wasn't paying attention. Raven turned to him with a questioning look, her face cold as ever, though her eyes carried warmth.
"They're calling for you. It's your turn to introduce yourself," he whispered, rubbing her hand softly with his thumb.
"Oh?"
Raven arched a brow, then rose slowly and gracefully to her feet.
She swept her gaze across the room with an aloof, icy expression. Her presence shifted instantly, an aura of a queen, heavy and oppressive, filling the hall
"I am Raven of the Phoenix Clan, disciple of Guardian I, Silver."
Raven's voice rang out, cold yet proud, carrying across the hall like a clear bell. It was not a simple introduction; it was a declaration, one spoken with the weight of certainty and pride.
Her crimson robes flowed like living fire, the deep red fabric catching the light as though it were woven from flames themselves.
Every step she took radiated elegance and danger, her presence impossible to ignore. And upon her lips curved an undeniable smirk, confident, unshaken, the kind of smile that dared anyone to challenge her claim.
The moment her words fell, the atmosphere shifted.
A wave of oppressive aura surged forth, shaking the entire audience. Gasps rippled through the room as both disciples and Guardians alike felt the pressure pressing down on them.
A mere disciple... suppressing even the Guardians? Impossible. Unthinkable. And yet, it was happening before their very eyes.
'This must be the reason why the Guardian I chose her as his disciple since she really has the ability.'
"Raven the Phoenix?" Yuka raised an eyebrow, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
"Have you heard of The Phoenix Clan?"
Gold leaned toward Hisha with a grin, only to earn a sharp glare in return. Still, even she couldn't help but think deeply.
"I've heard of the Phoenix Clan."
Aria admitted, her gaze narrowing on Raven.
"But never of a clan called The Phoenix Clan."
"Is it a new rising clan?" Jade asked, curiosity lacing his tone.
One by one, the Guardians turned their eyes toward Raven, waiting for an explanation.
But who was Raven?
Someone who could be pressed for answers?
Absolutely not.
At that very moment, Raven was far too busy playing with Silver's hand beneath the table, her expression cool and detached as if the entire world outside of him didn't exist.
Confused? She couldn't care less.
Angry? Then beat her up if you can!
Frustrated? Stop asking already, or else I'm gonna skin you alive! Stop disturbing my time with my Hubby!
The meeting ended with Guardians and disciples alike filled with confusion and unanswered questions.
Just who was this woman, whose very clan name rang no bell in their ears?
Just who was she, that she had caught the attention of Guardian I himself?
Just who was she... that even now, as the hall fell silent, her presence lingered like a riddle none could solve?
And so, this chapter closes with the same question echoing in every heart—
Who is she?