Varen led Salem and Hanara deeper into the Lahaye Volcano, toward its fiery heart. As they neared the river of lava, Varen turned with a warm smile. Hanara walked closer to the lava, mesmerized by the heat and flow.

“So… this is where you and my mother used to come?” she asked. Varen nodded.

“We would come here and train. We used the lava’s heat and sound as tips to control our aura…” he answered. Hanara smiled as she stepped closer. Suddenly, Yelenis soared down through the volcano’s peak. Yelenis landed on the ground and bowed to Hanara.

“Princess, you’ve finally made it,” Yelenis said. Hanara lit up and ran to her.

“Yelenis!” she shouted happily. Yelenis nudged her beak against Hanara’s head softly.

“Thank you for accepting her, Varen. Roan would be pleased to hear this,” Yelenis calmly said to Varen. Varen smiled bitterly, the memory of his master weighing on him.

“I’m sure he would be… Those chicks are quite a hassle to care for,” he replied. Yelenis raised her beak, laughing at the comment.

“I thank you once again. Both Hanara’s and Hansel’s phoenixes are thriving,” Yelenis revealed. Hanara looked at Yelenis and then at Varen.

“Our phoenixes?” Hanara asked. Varen nodded solemnly.

“Yelenis created a nest here instead. Because this place is far more secluded than near Phoenix Clan…” Varen answered. Moisture welled in Hanara’s eyes, the weight of truth sinking in.

“So… you guys knew that this would one day happen…” she said, crying. Yelenis lowered her beak to Hanara.

“Your mother knew that this would happen. Only time will tell when. We have made preparations to protect you,” Yelenis replied. Hanara gloomily looked down.

“Why…?”

“Your power will start a war. And now that it has, the preparations we made have proven wise. Instead of being gloomy about your mother’s sacrifice, let her rest peacefully, knowing those memories bring you joy. Princess, I can no longer stay with you since my master has fallen,” Yelenis said. Hanara broke into tears as she hugged Yelenis’ beak.

“But… that’s too soon. You…” she paused. Yelenis nudged her face to uplift her sorrow.

“Princess, you have the power to take my aura before I fade. If anything, I am willing to surrender my aura to you,” Yelenis explained. Hanara froze; her hands trembled.

“Are you asking me to kill you?” she asked. “Just like what happened to Worish?”

“Princess. I’m telling you. I’ll be a part of you and live with you. I’m getting weaker, but before I could turn into ashes, I can still live in this world with you as my eyes,” Yelenis answered.

“But… I don’t want to lose you, too,” Hanara begged. Yelenis bit a feather out of her wing and handed it to Hanara. Hanara held her hands out, watching the feather fall onto her palms. She stared at it.

“Princess, phoenixes reborn through the light of fire. I’ll always be with you the moment you absorb my aura. My fire will become yours. My power will become yours,” Yelenis said. Hanara rubbed her cheek against Yelenis’ beak, longing.

“Phoenixes rise from ashes,” Hanara said like it was a mantra. Yelenis smiled.

“Phoenixes rise from ashes, as shall I,” she repeated, confirming Hanara’s belief, giving Hanara strength.

Hanara finally took a step back, reaching an arm to Yelenis’ wings while closing her eyes. Yelenis bowed with her wings covering her head. Slowly, a flickering red light of aura from Yelenis streamed onto Hanara’s hand and to Hanara’s aura core, where the red aura circled with the blue. As soon as Hanara finished and opened her eyes, Yelenis had turned into ashes. Varen and Salem stared in awe and sorrow for Hanara, who had lost another family member. Tears streamed down Hanara’s face as she turned to look at Varen and Salem. Varen gave her a faint, bittersweet smile.

“Phoenixes will always rise when they fall. So will you,” he chanted. Hanara smiled through her tears and nodded.

“Then let us rise today,” she answered confidently. Varen smirked and nodded, reaching his hand to her, showing her that she’s not alone. Hanara wiped her tears and grabbed it, accepting that she would be alone if she stopped walking. I won’t be alone. Hansel is waiting for me… Hansel, I’ll come and get you once I’m stronger. Mother… I promise that I will protect him and bring him home.

Varen had trained Hanara to control her auras by meditating and listening to the lava near them. Hanara failed many attempts, but she wouldn’t allow the failures to stop her. If she quit, Hansel would be alone. Salem watched them because she had no aura, but she helped develop a third eye to see and understand. However, they wouldn’t become a three-person party for long.

Kahni from the Orb entered their volcano with the curiosity of Hanara’s dual auras. Kahni brought his knight, Balis. Hanara ran up to Balis.

“Are you the famous dark stealth, Balis?” she asked curiously. Kahni scoffed.

“Hey, I’m the famous Great Magician. Don–”

“My personal maidservant always spoke highly of you that you are very just and quick. Learning from you is like learning from God,” Hanara said. Varen laughed as he walked to Kahni and patted Kahni’s shoulder.

“This princess isn’t about the magic life,” Varen joked. Kahni pouted while Balis was hesitating over what to say, being an introvert.

“I…”

“Teach me. Teach me and Salem, please! I promise you that we won’t fail your teachings,” Hanara begged. Kahni started to cry.

“Princess, you can learn magic, too. I can help you change your eye colors…” he pried. Hanara turned to him.

“What do you mean? I have two different eye colors… Why do I need your help on that?” she asked, shattering his pride. Kahni turned to Varen, who was laughing.

“I… I can help you change your fire…”

“I have two different fire colors too…”

“Hide your ability?”

“I could do that with focus,” Hanara said, shutting him down completely. Kahni sniffled as he begged Varen to say something.

“I’m not going to tell her what to do. She’s the princess,” Varen said, walking away.

“Varen! Please!” Kahni begged, following Varen. Hanara returned her gaze to Balis.

“Please? I need to master your arts!” she said. He shook his head, fearing that she would beg continuously. Hanara beamed as she jumped and grabbed onto Salem’s hands.

“I–”

“Salem! Let’s do this!” Hanara confidently said. Salem blushed and slowly nodded.

“Hm. Let’s do this!” she repeated.

Through the years, Balis and Varen taught Hanara through her mind, physical control, and breathing. After eleven years of hard training under the Lahaye Volcano, Hanara was ready to rise—revenge no longer a distant idea, but a path she had forged with every breath. Varen was hesitant, though. She was not going there for herself, but for the truth that was told in lies to cover the greed for power. Although the Dragon Emperor who massacred the Phoenix Clan had died, the lies were still written in records that the Phoenix Clan had rebelled and betrayed their words.

“I don’t know, Hanara. Letting you go there is like feeding you to the dragons,” Varen claimed. Hanara smiled faintly.

“But what about Hansel? He’s there alone. He already turned thirteen without me. I didn’t train for eleven years just to let it all go to waste. If anything, I think it’s time I put it to use,” Hanara explained. Varen groaned.

“I know, but—”

“Uncle. Hansel should be having his aura soon. What will he face if the Dragon Empire waits for him to grow and then uses him as a test experiment?” Hanara asked. Varen’s hand trembled as he looked at Hanara.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Hansel will be alone in this. I don’t know who is protecting him, but he’s alone. I need to be by his side,” Hanara answered. Varen sighed.

“Hanara, I heard that the Second Prince is protecting him as a Duke… I think he’s—”

“I don’t trust anyone unless I see it myself. Thanks to that Prince, Hansel was taken away. Thanks to that late Crowned Prince, my home was massacred. You can’t expect me to trust these people. They’re giving him the illusion of freedom—but it’s still a prison. Birds don’t like cages. That’s why I need to go,” Hanara explained. Varen froze, pausing. He leaned back and chuckled.

“You are a stubborn child. Eliana had raised you well,” Varen complimented. Hanara smiled faintly.

“Mother had always scolded me for that,” she replied, reminiscing about the good memories of Eliana scolding her. He exhaled in relief.

“Fine. You can go, but you have to let me know if things go out of turn!” Varen said. Hanara smiled as she reached a hand to him.

“With your wisdom and knowledge, along with Kahni, I think they won’t be able to touch me,” Hanara replied confidently. Varen smiled and shook her hand.

“Kahni would be happy to hear you say that,” Varen teased. Hanara laughed.

“Don’t tell him because he will be smug about it,” she replied. Varen laughed.

“Oh, by the way. I have a business in the empire…” Varen said, smirking. Hanara turned to him.

“Business?”

“Alcohol business. It’s running pretty well in disguise. Reside there, find answers. Use the name Varen,” he replied. Hanara smirked.

“Don’t worry. They won’t know who I am,” she said, her eyes flickering green. But when the fire returns, it never forgets who lit the match. Varen smiled and stood as he patted her head.

“Burn the ones who sweetened our extinction with sunfire nectar. Let them choke on it,” Varen said. Hanara beamed.

“Unlike us, they will scream in agony,” Hanara added.

Hanara made sure to drink her hair dye potion every three months to keep her dark blue hair color. She managed to keep her green eyes, stabilizing a different look. Salem packed her things to follow Hanara, ensuring to back up. Before they left, Varen handed them an identity pass. Hanara looked at hers.

“This…”

“Enya Fraye. That’ll be your name in the Dragon Empire,” Varen said. Hanara smirked.

“So, I’ll be your daughter?” she teased. He laughed.

“You sure know how to joke, Hana. Yes, my daughter,” he replied. Hanara put the identity paper inside her backpack.

“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll make sure I bring back the truth… Take care of the phoenixes while I’m gone,” Hanara said, staring at the two full-grown phoenixes. Varen turned to look at them. Both of them stared at Hanara and bowed.

“They seem to miss you already…”

“I’ll miss them too. They’ll stand out if I bring them. It’s best if they stay here for now until Phoenix Clan is restored,” Hanara claimed. Varen nodded.

“Indeed. Wise choice, my Princess,” he responded. They sighed before turning their gaze to each other, warmly bidding farewell without words.

“Grandfather would be happy to see you step into the clan once again,” Hanara said softly. Varen chuckled nervously.

“Not now… But I will, thanks to you,” he replied. Hanara smiled and hugged him.

“Take care, Uncle…” she whispered. He patted her head softly, then he gazed at Salem. He reached a hand out to her. Salem’s eyes teared.

“You, too, Salem,” he said. Salem smiled and ran in for a hug. “Take care of Princess Hanara… Make sure no harm comes her way…”

“Yes, Master,” Salem replied. Hanara walked to the river of lava and grabbed a dagger. She grabbed her hair altogether and slashed it short. Then she reached the hand that held her hair together and released it on lava. Varen watched and smiled.

“To the land of Phoenix, I promise to bring the truth. To my mother, who died at the hands of a coward, I promise to bring Hansel home.”

After a heartfelt vow, Hanara and Salem hopped onto their horses and rode to the Dragon Empire. Hanara put her hair up into a bun, riding nights and days with Salem. Upon reaching the Dragon Empire after a week and a couple of days, Hanara saw how much the empire had expanded after annihilating many other villages. She smirked as she got closer to the gate to the center of the empire.

“My Lady…” Salem said. Hanara leaned back and looked at Salem.

“Just ‘Enya’. Let’s go and get started with business… There are a lot of people who have debts to be paid,” Hanara, shifting to Enya from here on forward, replied. Salem nodded firmly and looked forward with her.

“As you wish, Enya.”

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