Arthur pulled himself from the safe confines of the healing bed. The white mist surrounding him shimmered as he broke free of its smooth undisturbed surface.
The prince rubbed his eyes and groaned.
So much of his body ached… but he was feeling a lot better. A few special aches here and there sparked especially painful memories.
Flashes of a vicious conflict echoed through his mind… along with the memory of the pain of breaking bones and palpable malicious intent.
'Ugh!!! Did we win?' the prince's phoenix groaned.
'I… I'm not so sure myself,' Arthur chuckled to himself.
'You're a pain! You know that?' his phoenix replied groggily. Even within the confines of the sealed Flame Core, the fiery beast had felt Arthur's pain.
'I feel like a pain,' Arthur mentally chuckled.
The phoenix snickered in return.
He still remembered every gruelling detail of what got him rushed to the bay, although the ending was a little bit hazy.
