"Those blue wings were too eye-catching! Now it is not needed anyway."
I rolled my eyes at her. Isn't it obvious? On our way, so many Church believers kept staring and pointing at my blue wings. Had to keep them hidden to stay low-profile?
"Then what color will they be if you show them again? Still blue?"
Cyra kept probing curiously, really stumping me this time. Truth be told, I've never tried that before. Once the wings disappear, the water element shielding around me also dissipates. Now my situation is just like any regular angel with wings retracted - no difference at all.
"About that..."
Just as I was about to manifest my wings again, the sudden commotion from the crowd interrupted me. The phoenix flames burning on that pyre suddenly "WOOSH!"
Flared up many times bigger, the intense blaze shooting up high into the air, lighting up the dark sky in a crimson red glow. Quite a few of the more timid Church believers hurriedly shielded their eyes and backed away in fright.
"It's coming ah, it's coming! My first time seeing this rare phenomenon live too, don't miss it, people!"
Like a carnival barker, Judith shouted excitedly, repeatedly reminding us to pay attention.
Following her voice, a loud phoenix cry then rang out from the pyre. That massive fireball actually levitated up, and as the brilliance gradually dimmed, the silhouette of a bird slowly emerged.
"So this is how the phoenix is reborn from the flames! Almost exactly like the legends!"
Looking up at the spectacle in the sky, Adrian couldn't help but feel amazed. Phoenix sightings are already so rare, witnessing a phoenix's rebirth is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. Everyone present was staring wide-eyed, not wanting to miss this historic moment.
In theory, the phoenix can use this method to revive itself from the flames countless times. However, given their formidable power, they rarely face life-or-death crises, so the process remains shrouded in mystery.
"So beautiful, just like magical fireworks!"
The one speaking was actually Vivianne. She had stayed in the tent earlier, but coming out with Brennan when the commotion drew their curiosity. As the phoenix's wings danced, a myriad of sparks rained down, dyeing the night sky in a dreamy, mesmerizing vista that drew cheers from the crowd.
Of course, this wasn't my first time seeing a phoenix taking flight, having witnessed similar scenes before. Plus this was just a regular female phoenix of average beauty. The crucial difference was that with all crises resolved, I could enjoy the view without any mental burdens this time around.
Alas, the splendor didn't last. As time passed, the phoenix circled overhead, shedding more and more sparks that eventually set one of the True Church's tents ablaze, triggering pandemonium as people rushed to put out the fire.
"Why won't it just leave already?"
After a while, Mike couldn't help but frown and voice his confusion, seeing the phoenix's stubborn refusal to depart. This couldn't go on - the blaze would only grow more uncontrollable.
"Do I have to beat it up before it returns to its nest?"
"When we arrived, those two phoenixes had already been nesting at the cave entrance for a long time. Maybe it has something to do with their eggs?"
Adrian pondered and guessed the reason. This female phoenix had been disciplined by Cysper and me before, learning our group wasn't to be trifled with. But its obsession ran deep - having its entire clutch of eggs stolen, it wasn't backing down so easily. Hence it hovered, unwilling to leave yet not daring to attack either.
"But we don't have any phoenix eggs, do we? It can't keep pestering us like this..."
Suddenly Cysper's voice rang out as he walked over with a grave expression. The phoenix was certainly important to the Cresthaven Papal Dominion, or he wouldn't have resorted to mind control earlier. But as he said, this was practically a hopeless deadlock. They could hardly travel back to the Astralrealm Kingdom just to capture those egg thieves!
There was only one way left, as everyone's gazes turned towards Vivianne.
"Well, I don't really mind. It's useless to me now anyway..."
Vivianne sighed with a tinge of melancholy, but then her tone abruptly changed.
"But the phoenix egg isn't with me anymore. No point asking me!"
"What? Where did it go then?"
Everyone was stunned. Did Vivianne smash the egg in a fit of pique after her confession failed? This was a huge problem!
Even Pope Cysper couldn't help but frown upon hearing her words.
"Someone else asked for it earlier, so I just gave it to her."
Vivianne explained helplessly, glancing around as if searching for something, before finally pointing behind me.
Don't tell me...
As everyone's gazes turned towards me...no, behind me, realization dawned. Of course it had to be her.
"Cyra!"
The one who had been conspicuously missing for a while. There she was, huddled behind me while cradling the phoenix egg, not daring to show herself. But her white feathery wings protruding from behind gave away her presence instantly.
"Didn't expect you to move so fast!"
I couldn't help but feel exasperated. She must have planned this - Vivianne only arrived so recently, yet Cyra had already conned her out of the phoenix egg!
"That's too inconsiderate of you! That egg was something Vivianne risked her life to retrieve as a gift for Brennan. What right do you, an outsider, have to meddle?"
She's an angel! Yet she secretly schemed to snatch the phoenix egg. Exposed like this, how could I cover for her gracefully?
"What does it matter? I didn't steal the egg myself!"
Seeing no point in hiding further, Cyra defiantly came out and defended herself.
"Phoenix eggs are so rare. I just wanted to keep it as a pet, since the owner didn't want it anymore!"
"You're just taking advantage of the situation!"
I suddenly had a headache.
"Okay, but that egg was still stolen property in the end. Even if it was given to you, possessing stolen goods isn't exactly righteous, is it? The Pope is after this matter!"
"I don't care, I didn't steal it myself!"
This girl was adamant about not letting go. Everyone exchanged helpless looks, unsure how to persuade her. Even Pope Cysper was at a loss - angels held higher status than phoenixes in Church doctrine, so they couldn't force the issue aggressively. Not to mention the murky relationship between these two.
"Watch out!"
However, while we were stuck, the phoenix in the sky had no such reservations. Seeing Cyra cradling its egg, it dove straight at her in a desperate attack.
"Trying a sneak attack? No way!"
Cyra wasn't one to back down either. Despite only being at the fourth rank against a sixth-rank phoenix, she refused to relinquish the egg. Spreading her wings, she too took flight to evade its strikes.
"Don't forget I can fly too! I'm not scared of you!"
Though outmatched in power, this female phoenix couldn't do much to Cyra, who could fly just as swiftly. Protected by her light elemental shield, Cyra didn't fear its fire breath either. So these two - an angel and a phoenix - ended up playing a ridiculous game of cat-and-mouse in the sky.
"This is so embarrassing..."
I covered my face on the ground, feeling too awkward to watch. Cyra seemed to be really getting into it, taunting the phoenix while flying ahead.
"Come get me, granny! Looks like you can't keep up anymore..."
And other such mocking jeers, drawing strange looks from the crowd.
"If anyone told me this girl was related to that Saint Angel, I wouldn't believe it even if I was dying!"
Judith couldn't stand it anymore, leaning over to murmur to me in disbelief.
"No one would believe that, okay?"
I rolled my eyes at her, it was way too obvious. Even if the future's Twelve-Winged Angelina suddenly manifested here, then teleported this vexing girl ten thousand years into the past right before our eyes, I wouldn't believe the two Cyra were the same person!
Fortunately, this ridiculous aerial pursuit didn't last too long before things took an unexpected turn. No one knew if it was because the phoenix's flames had scorched Cyra too much, but the phoenix egg she was cradling somehow cracked open a small hole. Everyone thought she had damaged the egg, feeling a sudden chill.
"No, it seems to be hatching!"
Someone noticed the signs first and called out. Indeed, something seemed to be struggling to break out from within the eggshell. Even the pursuing female phoenix noticed, immediately stopping at a distance without daring to approach further, only incessantly calling out towards the egg.
"Hahaha, stunned aren't you?"
Seeing this, Cyra couldn't help but gloat triumphantly, a smug look on her face as she jeered at the phoenix.
"Supposedly birds imprint on the first living thing they see as their mother. Phoenixes are no exception, right? So this little phoenix can only end up belonging to me! Hahaha, jealous? Look at me finally getting that main character treatment - a divine beast as a pet! Or maybe I'm actually the main character myself?"
"Hahahahaha..."
She was gloating like a supervillain, completely carried away. As the little phoenix was about to hatch, Cyra's laughter grew even more unrestrained. I felt so embarrassed on the ground that I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself. Some of the Church believers witnessing an angel for the first time might think we all behaved this shamelessly!