“Who dares to use that again?” the man asked coldly. Hanara stepped closer to the man.

“Are you… Uncle Varen?” she asked, connecting the dots of his reaction. The man froze, hearing the word Uncle out of her mouth. His lips trembled as he lowered his gaze.

“I…”

“Mother has been looking for you for so long,” she cried, certain she was right. Varen turned away, wishing she wouldn’t come any closer—but she did. She hugged him.

“You—”

“Please… don’t leave me. Not again. Hansel’s gone… I think they took him…” she begged. Varen couldn’t push her away. Shocked, his hand hovered over her head, then rested there, trembling. He closed his eyes and sighed in frustration.

“After what I did to your family, how could I ever care for you?” he asked. Hanara looked up and wiped her tears.

“Mother had always told me you were—”

“It doesn’t matter what she says or thinks of me… If I had never left, your grandfather wouldn’t have died…” he shouted, his lips trembling with resentment. Hanara stared at him. Varen stared back at her eyes. Flickering red, like Roan’s. He gulped and stood abruptly, turning away to avoid them.

“So… you’ll leave me, too?” Hanara suddenly asked. The words struck Varen deep. A storm churned inside him—rage, guilt, longing for revenge, for redemption. For anything that might silence the ache in his chest. He clenched his fists, closing his eyes.

“I can’t… I can’t take care of you…” he answered. She dropped to the ground.

“They… they will take me away if they find out where I am…” She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe through her sobs. “I…” she hesitated. “I have dual auras.”

Varen opened his eyes immediately, frozen in time. A chill swept over his skin. That secret… Only Eliana knew. She had sworn Hanara to silence. He slowly turned to look at her despite trembling.

That’s ridiculous. There hasn’t been a healer in the Phoenix Clan for ages since the Master’s wife.

“Dual… auras?” he asked. Hanara stared at him, debating whether to trust him. However, she had no choice. Her lips trembled as she nodded.

“I…” she paused.

Varen gasped, a cold dread settling in his bones. If they found her… they wouldn’t just take her. They’d tear her apart. A jolt of panic snapped him to action. His eyes darted across the room—books, papers, clothes. Anything he could carry. Hanara watched him, confused.

“You can’t stay here… If you do, you’ll definitely get captured,” he said hurriedly. She was completely lost. How could she be captured?

“What do you mean?” she asked, brow furrowed. His gaze flicked to her eyes, then back to her face.

“A place only your mother and I know,” he said quietly, but with conviction. She stepped back, trying to understand—but couldn’t. However, he reached a hand to her. Hanara’s eyes teared up as she looked at the hand.

“Uncle?”

“Let’s go. Together,” he murmured softly, assuring her that he would not leave her behind. She broke into a smile and grabbed his hand without a second thought. He smiled, not just because of her aura, but because, for the first time in years, he felt needed. Useful. Capable of redemption. He had to make sure Hanara grew strong—strong enough to master the dual auras within her.

As soon as they stepped outside, Varen stopped. He turned to look at Hanara, then at her hair. Hanara watched him, suddenly looking around for something else.

“What is it?” she asked curiously. Varen hesitated, then remembered.

“It’s in there!” he said, walking to the side of the house. Hanara frowned.

“What is?”

“Here! Drink this!” he commanded. She looked at the potion, then at him.

“Why?” she asked. He chuckled.

“Your hair and eyes are too recognizable. Drink this. We can’t risk anyone noticing. Everyone knows how the physical features of the Princess of the Phoenix Clan,” he stated. Hanara suddenly realized that he was right about her hair and eyes. She quickly drank it. Her hair slowly turned dark blue, from the scalp to the tips of her hair. She held the potion at arm’s length, grimacing. Hanara gasped.

“This tastes like boiled lizard feet…”

Varen smiled, nodding.

“Your hair is now different,” he replied. Hanara looked at him.

“I…I have another eye color I can shift into, too… But,” she paused, hesitating. Varen turned to her, wondering what she would say next.

“What?”

“I have trouble holding it. It slips back to red when I get emotional,” she admitted, fiddling with her fingers. Varen chuckled and patted her head gently.

“What was your name again?” Varen asked seriously. Hanara stared at him, blinking.

“Hanara Enya Solaris,” she responded. Varen exhaled deeply.

“Hanara… don’t doubt yourself. All that rage inside you—all that pain you’ve carried as you grew—don’t push it away. Feel it. Understand it. And then… accept it. Your dual auras aren’t your burden. They’re the fire in your blood. One day, they’ll be what makes you unstoppable,” Varen expressed. Hanara felt touched that someone actually told her not to suppress her power, not to show it. Varen told her to feel it. Something that wasn’t explained in her early years. She smiled and nodded. She closed her eyes, thinking about her heart. She exhaled deeply.

“I…” she said, trembling after having a thought about watching Worish die before her eyes. Varen noticed that she was getting anxious. He placed a hand behind her back.

“Don’t leave it. What was the last thing that allowed you to feel happy?” he asked. Hanara flinched, listening.

“Happy? Like… When I flew on Yelenis that night… with that dragon boy?” Hanara thought, recalling the feeling of the air. The breeze that flew through her and the meaning of fate. That dragon boy? Although it was a bitter ending, she realized that in time, she would have to accept it. A tear streamed down her cheek as she slowly opened her eyes. Her spring-green eyes. Varen was shocked.

“You did it,” he cheered softly. Hanara let out a laugh and nodded.

“I did. Thank you,” she whispered. Varen knew that she was facing the inner turmoil of accepting that life was hard. He smiled and hugged her, comforting her.

“I take that back… You do have your mother’s eyes,” he murmured. Hanara laughed again, sniffling beneath his cover. After a while, he leaned back and looked at her. She smiled, thanking him.

“I’m glad that you’re still that person she longed to see,” she said. Varen softly laughed as he reminisced about the past.

“Let’s go. I’ll make sure to protect you,” he firmly claimed. She nodded, following him. Varen held her hand and mounted on a horse.

I will take you to a place that fits you the best. Eliana, I had failed your father and you. I promise that this time, I won’t fail your daughter. Varen promised himself. They rode through the swamplands, the sky bleeding into dusk. Varen said little. He didn’t have to. Hanara knew—this was the first step toward something neither of them could yet name.

As they headed to a nearby village, Hanara looked around, feeling anxious, forgetting that she had just dyed her hair and her eyes were green. The village was definitely overrun by the Dragon knights. The villagers were struggling to reconstruct, feeling out of place. Her hands started trembling, and she closed her eyes. Varen felt her anxiety and softly patted the back of her hand.

“Breathe slowly. I’m here, remember that. I’ll protect you if anything happens,” he whispered. Hanara gulped and nodded. She slowly opened her eyes to give herself a chance to stay strong. Varen stopped the horse, allowing it to eat and rehydrate. He looked at Hanara, making sure she was okay. She turned to him, waiting for his nod. Varen smiled and reached his arms for her. “Let’s go find something to eat.”

“Hm,” she replied, smiling. She leaned forward and mounted the horse. He held her tightly as they walked around the village.

Some of the villagers were resentful toward the Dragon knights for treating them unfairly. Others were relieved that the Dragon knights had finally come. Then there were some who cursed the Phoenix Clan for being powerless. If they hadn’t fallen, then their village wouldn’t be overrun. Hanara listened to these and sorrowfully frowned. Varen observed her and gave her a loaf of bread.

“Eat. You’ll need your energy,” he reminded her. She looked at him and at the bread. She faintly smiled and ate the bread. Suddenly, someone bumped Hanara, running for her life.

“Get that child! How dare you steal from me?! I don’t have enough to feed a useless child!” a shop owner screamed. Hanara turned to look at the child, dirtied and bruised. Once the child stumbled, the shop owner grabbed a stick and swung it at her. Hanara instantly stood and grabbed the stick.

“Hey!” Varen called, running after Hanara. Hanara glared at the shop owner, imagining how Hansel would have been if someone whipped him for being a child on the street.

“No need to beat her if she had already fallen… I’ll pay for what she stole,” Hanara said. Varen paused, staring at Hanara for dealing with an adult at such a young age, understanding that she was raised completely differently. The shop owner groaned as he snatched his stick back.

“That’ll be five coins,” he replied. Hanara checked her pouch and handed him the five coins. The shop owner then spat at the child before departing. Hanara sighed and reached out a hand to her.

“Are you okay?” Hanara asked. The child stared at her, then at her hand. The child grabbed her hand and got up. Before saying anything, she ran away quickly. Varen waited for Hanara to respond, but smiled at her for displaying an absolutely different persona. Hanara returned to sit next to him.

“Wow,” he said. Hanara looked at him.

“What?”

“Who taught you to step into chaos like that?” he asked curiously. Hanara slumped on the chair.

“My father. He always said… if no one else will protect them, then you must,” she answered. Varen nodded.

“I see. Of course, Felix would. Felix was a good man. I’m glad that he loved and cared for Eliana,” he responded solemnly. Hanara smiled bitterly.

“They were the best parents in this entire world…” she said. Varen stared at her with a faint smile and patted her head.

“I’m sure that they’re proud of you. You’re still here, and you found me whom your mother couldn’t find,” he teased. Hanara laughed. Suddenly, the child returned and handed an orb to Hanara. Varen and Hanara turned to her and were confused.

“This… Thank you,” the child said. Hanara stared at the orb and felt drawn to it for some reason. Varen wanted to say no, but Hanara couldn’t hear the words.

The rising phoenix. The orb whispered to Hanara. She gulped, trembling as if the orb figured her identity. She reached for it and touched it. The orb suddenly clouded in blue and red. Varen was shocked.

“Hana?”

“It told me to find a girl with blue hair… You were the only one with blue hair,” the child said, adding more suspense. Varen grabbed Hanara’s hand away.

“Hana? Don–”

“It knows me…” Hanara mumbled. Varen was surprised. He looked at the orb again, then at the child. The child looked harmless.

“Please take me, too…” the child said. Varen was hesitant.

“I… I don’t know,” he responded to the child. The child instantly knelt before them.

“Please. I promise I won’t betray you,” she begged. “You can trust me…”

Varen still wouldn’t say yes. Hanara looked conflicted because she wanted to help the child, but also needed to hide herself.

“I’m sorry…” Varen replied. The child leaned towards them.

“I know where you guys are going. I won’t tell anyone,” she whispered. They were shocked, looking at her to see if she was serious.

“How did you?” Varen asked, staring at the child, then at the orb.

“He told me to follow you, saying that crossing paths with you was fate,” the child claimed. Hanara bit her lips, scared.

“What else did it say to you?” Varen asked curiously. The child beamed.

“That he is safe. He is being protected,” she answered, staring at Hanara. Hanara turned pale, looking at the child, tearing up.

“He… As in,” Hanara paused. The child smiled and leaned closer to Hanara’s ear.

“The Phoenix boy,” she whispered. Hanara’s hands trembled as she finally felt relief. Varen then realized the child had an orb that communicated with outsiders, the Orb of the Great Kahni.

“Okay. But that orb stays far away from us,” Varen suggested. The child beamed, but the orb didn’t. It whispered to the child. She listened and reached it closer to Varen.

“You dirty old man. I just want to see her ascend,” the orb said. Varen smirked.

“Instead of communicating through an orb, why don’t you get out of the Great Tower then?” he replied. Hanara and the child were confused and stared at each other.

“You… Ugh. I will! You better give me that booze when I come,” the orb argued. Varen laughed.

“We will see,” he said. The orb suddenly stopped glowing. The child looked down, feeling useless and abandoned.

“Uncle…” Hanara called. Varen smiled and nodded.

“What was your name, child?” he asked the child. She beamed with teary eyes.

“Salem,” she answered.

“Salem, we will be going far, so eat up,” he said, handing some of his food to her. She stared at the food and happily accepted it.

“Thank you!” Salem responded.

After finishing their meals, they mounted on the horse together. Varen made sure that they headed to the place as soon as possible, avoiding any delays.

They rode on for a few hours before reaching a waterfall mountain. Salem and Hanara stared at the top of the mountain. Then they looked at Varen, who stared at it with a smile.

“Where are we?” Hanara asked curiously. Varen exhaled deeply.

“This… This was where your mother and I would run to and train together. To get closer to the fire core… A volcano. Lahaye Volcano,” Varen answered, reminiscing about the past, voicing his bittersweet memories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🪶 🔥 Princess, Don’t Waver ❄️ 🐉 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~