Phemacia, Ninth Domain.
It's been two days since Aydan has been walking in the sandy expanse of the Jurab Desert under an overwhelming sun. If the nights gave him a good respite, he longed to finish this torture. With a mechanical gesture, he wiped the sweat that stung his eyes despite the scarf tied to his skull.
Arriving at the top of a dune, he squinted. Wasn't it a bit of greenery that he saw in the distance? It was the Deodara Forest. Endowed with piercing eyes, the Phemacians were not sensitive to mirages created by the overheated air of the desert. Invigorated by the impression of finally reaching his goal, Aydan quickened his pace despite the fatigue. His throat was dry and the prospect of quenching at a stream was alluring compared to the lukewarm water of his gourd.
The journey would have taken him only a few hours if he had been able to use his wings, but the Harbinger had been adamant. If he wanted to succeed, he had to walk. The Forest only showed itself to those who approached it with humility. He would have laughed if his mentor had not been so serious. The way of humility, Aydan had chosen that path three years earlier, knowing it wouldn't be easy.
The wind suddenly rose, enveloping him in a whirlwind of dust. He protected his face with his wings and coughed when the sand penetrated his airways. He untied his scarf to place it on his face. He half closed his eyes and walked forward hoping to get out of this infernal vortex. Elhain be praised, there was no obstacle to fear in the middle of the dunes.
The thought comforted him until his foot missed a support. Where there should have been a ground, certainly loose, he stepped in a hole. He realized a little late that he was falling and hastened to spread his wings heavy with sand. He saw nothing. His heartbeat accelerated as he struggled to slow down his descent, anticipating the impact.
His boots crushed branches and leaves. Twelve seconds, Aydan mentally counted. He bent his knees, bracing himself for the landing. A few seconds later, he emerged from the bush which had cushioned his fall. He glanced up to confirm his suspicions. The Deodara Forest was housed in a deep abyss, like a green case in the middle of the desert. Aydan methodically dusted off his wings. He could have killed himself, and it was a stupid way to die.
Around him, the vegetation was lush and abundant. The atmosphere was almost humid, compared to the drought of the desert. Aydan took a few sips of water to drive the last grains of sand out of his mouth. There was no point in lingering. Reaching the Deodara Forest was the first test. Now he had to find a Familiar. And if he believed his elders, it wouldn't be as easy as he imagined.
He entered the thickets and looked for a path that would facilitate his progression, like the trail of a sizeable animal. The large trunks were proof of the advanced age of this forest not exploited by men. Aydan did not recognize any familiar species. The large leaves that swayed downwind exposed the sun at times. The heat was still present in the shade of these giant plants but seemed attenuated. Many plants stretched towards the sky, extending their branches in search of light.
The thick carpet of dead leaves stifled the sound of his steps. It was also strange because he only heard the noise of his own breathing. Not another sound, not even a bird singing. Only the wind blew, which waved the branches far above him. The place seemed devoid of all life.
A shiver ran through his spine. Without his weapons, which he had to hand over to his mentor, Aydan felt vulnerable. The Deodara Forest was a place of peace, so why did a feeling of unease gradually invaded him, growing with each step?
A shadow rippled under the bushes in front of him; he jumped. His hand went to his belt by reflex as a nyrkir came out of the shadows. The Gofer froze in front of the predator. He tried to slow down his breathing as his heart jumped in fright. These dark-fur cats lived in groups of a dozen and rarely moved alone. Smaller than panthors, but larger than a lynx, they were known to flee from men.
If everything went as planned, he would finish his quest the moment he established contact. The Harbinger Mahad had remained vague about the precise nature of this first contact. Should he speak and introduce himself? The animals populating this sacred place were supposed to be of rare intelligence. No one had the right to kill a creature in the Deodara Forest. Whoever transgressed this ancestral law was punishable by death. The Gofers came here in peace in the hope of finding a Familiar. The relationship had to be based on trust, not fear.
In the low rumble that rose from the nyrkir throat, Aydan perceived a threat, not the beginning of a potential friendship. Faced with an unusual situation, the Phemacian hesitated. He was unsure of what to do.
The nyrkir readied itself to leap. Aydan lost all idea of fraternization and only thought of saving his life. The creature narrowly missed him and groaned in frustration, revealing its double row of sharp fangs. Other grunts answered him, and the Gofer understood that the rest of the pack wasn't far away. He swallowed nervously. Nothing was going as planned, and now that he had ventured under the trees, he could not flee by air. Provided with retractable claws, the nyrkir would be able to pursue him even on the highest branches.
Aydan had never heard of such attacks occurring in the Deodara Forest. He opened his wings a little more to present a more threatening figure. Maybe he could get away by trying to intimidate him.
Other nyrkirs joined the first and surrounded him. Aydan softly swore. Weaponless, he was an easy prey. He slowly backed away, step by step, an icy sweat permeating his back as he realized that his chances of getting out alive diminished with each passing second. He didn't understand these nyrkirs' behavior.
Who disturbs the tranquility of this sacred place?
Aydan froze to the sound of the voice. Colorful birds came to land on nearby branches as the nyrkirs suddenly flattened to the ground, moaning. A panthor slipped under a hazelnut tree a few steps from him. He noticed how the animal's skin took the color of the surrounding leaves. A deer with yellowish fur came out of the bushes.
The Gofer saw no human, yet Aydan was sure he had heard a voice. Something important eluded him.
You are not from here. Leave this sanctuary while I still allow you to do so.
The voice resounded again in his head. This time the Gofer was sure of it, it was the deer that had spoken. It was apparently the leader. The nyrkirs began a slow retreat, while their grunts expressed their displeasure. Aydan remained on guard; the cats clearly acted reluctantly. He would only be completely reassured when they disappeared for good.
A last nyrkir lingered behind. Its vertical pupils dilated as it looked at him. The Gofer shivered under the hatred he perceived in the amber eyes.
You will not always be protected. We will be patient.
The cat turned around and disappeared into the vegetation. Had he imagined these words or had the nyrkir really threatened him? Contrary to what Aydan expected, it was a bird with bluish feathers which approached him. It looked like a bird of prey with its hooked beak. Its color was clearly unusual.
You're not dreaming, Silver Wings. These nyrkirs are not wild. What is the reason for your presence here, Silver Wings?
"I was told to come here to find a Familiar."
The scene seemed more and more surreal. Only a Linkee was able to understand his Familiar via the Wildlink. Had the desert sun hit him harder than expected, hence imagining himself speaking with a bird?
We are in the Forest of Deodara, Silver Wings. Our powers are increased tenfold in this sanctuary. You are free to choose… or leave.
Several animals advanced a few steps towards the Gofer. The panthor he had previously observed, a python that descended from the branch around which it was coiled, a hawk, imperturbable on its branch; a jaguar, whose black fur merged with shadows; a wolf with gray fur…
There were more than a dozen animals waiting for him to choose. The thought made him uncomfortable. He wasn't there to subject anyone to his will.
"I don't think the choice is all mine," he said at last. "I am not looking for a slave, but a partner. I am a member of the Mecens Corps. My life will only be a more or less long series of fights."
What do you offer then… other than a short life?
Aydan almost recited the ritual words he had learned. But they suddenly seemed bland to him in front of the opportunity that presented itself.
"Unconditional support. Sharing my soul, my life… with the good and bad."
Are you aware of the weight of your words? You are too young to be making such a commitment.
"Young? Younger than most who come here, yes. But I know what awaits me. I'm aware of the dangers of the path I chose."
The bird slowly nodded its head, and one of its feathers came off to swirl at his feet.
What will you do if no one chooses you?
His blood froze at this outcome. He had always imagined a single future, to be a Harbinger. Failure was unthinkable.
Yet… Becoming a Harbinger was a dream. And he had something more important. The oath he made when he was only twelve years old and had not even obtained his first Gofer star.
"I will find another way to succeed," Aydan replied in a determined tone.
The bird remained silent. One by one, the animals turned away as the shadows lengthened and the forest plunged into darkness. Only the blue bird remained.
The young man struggled to swallow his disappointment. So it was all over?
Come.
Surprised, Aydan followed the bird that flew from branch to branch. It became complicated to discern it in the middle of the foliage with the night. Moreover, his progression was difficult in these tangled plants. After several minutes, they arrived in a small clearing with a stream nearby.
You can sleep here, Silver Wings. Tomorrow, we will talk.
The young man did not argue. He felt finally safe. He huddled in his wings and tried to fall asleep. Too many questions troubled his mind. He slowed his breathing before closing his eyes, then did some mental exercises to calm his conscience. Without realizing it, he fell asleep. He dreamed of a teenager with golden eyes, whose face seemed familiar. Then, everything got caught in a red glow…
OoOoOo
The song of the birds celebrating the dawn woke the young man from his sleep. Aydan slowly sat down, tasting the fresh morning air. The events of the day before came to his mind, but the bird was nowhere to be seen. He sighed before getting up and stretched for a long time to chase the stiffness of his limbs after the night spent on hard and uneven ground.
He placed himself in front of the rising sun and began his daily routine. Fluid movements, breathing in phase with his environment, assured gestures repeated a thousand times. The series followed one another, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, while his body warmed gently.
His breathing was perfectly under control when he ended his workout. This routine had become essential to him; It was ingrained in him.
He went to the stream to wash himself. The water was frozen and invigorating. His stomach gurgled, reminding him that he had eaten nothing the day before. He searched his pockets and found only one energy bar. The return trip was going to be long.
The thought brought him back to the disappointment of the day before. He clenched his fists. Giving up on his biggest dream was going to be difficult... But elite soldiers were not the only body in the Phemacian army. He could turn to the regular army. Or join a guild of mercenaries later to escort the caravans of the merchants. In any case, his young age would be a problem. Only Mecens accepted students who had just left childhood.
Greetings, Silver Wings.
The Gofer looked up. The blue bird was back, perched on an oak tree. He noticed it had lost feathers again since the day before. Maybe it was sick.
"Good morning."
Why did you choose to join the Mecens?
"To learn to defend myself. To protect my family, and the Republic."
The requirements of the Mecens are high.
"Yes. I don't want to indulge in ease. It is only in adversity that one can surpass oneself."
You are too young to make such comments. Maybe you are the one for me.
Aydan hardly masked his surprise while mad hope returned to him.
Do you accept my offer?
"It's an honor," Aydan replied, bowing.
I'm coming to the end of my life when you barely start yours. Once our lives are linked, death itself cannot separate us.
The Gofer turned pale but remained firm on his decision.
"I'm ready."
An amused tone replaced the bird's seriousness.
Oh no, you are not. You still have a lot to learn. Death is only fleeting and everything that is doomed to die is doomed to be reborn. Behold the miracle of life!
After these words which rendered Aydan perplexed, the bird spread its half-plucked wings and ignited itself in blue flame, leaving the Gofer amazed.
Impossible… He thought.
The flames died as suddenly as they had risen in a rain of ashes. Ashes from which springs a bird whose bright red feathers blazed, adorned with reflections which sparkled under the rays of the sun, as if flames were still dancing among the feathers.
His sparkling look of intelligence landed on Aydan.
Have you finally guessed who I was, who I am, and who I would be?
"A phoenix," Aydan whispered. "A phoenix has just reincarnated before me."