Busy streets surrounded Enzo as he walked away from Madame Vex's estate with more questions than answers.
In the end, he had accepted her quest, as the rewards were too good to pass up on, and after being reminded about the Tournament of the Searing Flames, he knew it was possible.
Although he couldn't attend on his own, Madame Vex was quick to offer to sponsor him for the tournament.
"I only have a month to prepare," Enzo mumbled out loud.
"Then you better not disappoint, Prince," a voice sounded in his left ear making him jump.
Enzo swirled around only to come face to face with air.
He looked in each direction, carefully monitoring his surroundings to find the source of the voice.
'It sounds familiar.' Enzo thought. 'Wait… didn't he call me Pri-'
A small, hard fist came into contact with his precious jewels, and the world dimmed.
"Oh… Porter, it's nice to see you again," Enzo grunted, as he let a tear drop.
"Why'd you have to go for my tender testes?" Enzo asked, protecting and soothing his hurting nuts with his hands.
Port grunted, his fists being at Enzo's knees gave him the perfect height to give an uppercut that would render him child free for the rest of his life.
"You have too many weaknesses. You must reach Tier-2 before the tournament for this backwater barony in a month's time. If you fail this task, you will be stripped of your position as Prince and I will leave your side."
Port's words stunned Enzo.
"Are you saying if I fail to get Tier-2 in a month's time, my impossible quest will go away?" Enzo asked, his eyes wide with hope.
Port's mouth twitched and before he could say anything, Enzo's vision went black. The last thing he saw before he passed out was Port teleporting next to him and flicking his finger against his nuts.
He could only think, 'Wouldn't he want me to create more dragons? Why is he trying to end my lineage before it's even begun?' before his mind quieted.
====
Ari's vision blurred and a rush of nausea hit her as the world around her shifted. One moment, she was standing inside "Uncle Jim's Emporium," and the next, she found herself in a bustling, otherworldly marketplace.
She took a deep breath of air, and the air somehow felt, cleaner. It was even better than the air she had inhaled on any of her hikes in mountains or forests but that wasn't the most startling thing.
Beings of all shapes and sizes moved about inside the marketplace. Some flew overhead on wings of fire, while others slithered along the ground leaving trails of sparkling flames that soon withered out.
She could see merchants yelling their prices and deals being made left and right, yet the thing directly in front of her caught her attention, and she ran forward with tears falling down both her cheeks.
"Welcome home, my dear," said an elderly woman with striking golden eyes and hair that seemed to flicker like flames whispered as she embraced Ari.
"Grandma!" Ari gasped, as she clutched at her grandma's healthy and young form. "How are you alive?"
The old woman smiled warmly. "My dear Ari, what made you think I died? Didn't I say that I was going to see you again someday?"
Ari pressed her face into her grandmother's pure silk robes. "I thought you meant in the afterlife, Grandma! You made me worry over nothing!"
Grandma Chen chuckled and held Ari while she let out her frustration.
After a minute, Ari settled down and asked. "Where are we anyway? Are we in a game? But I didn't get into a gaming capsule."
"We are in Phoenix Heart, the capital planet of my Phoenix Clan's domain in the greater multiverse. I know you must have many questions, Ari. Come, let's go somewhere quieter to talk."
As they walked through the crowded streets, Ari couldn't help but gawk at the sights around her. Merchants called out, offering items that defied her understanding - artifacts, weapons, gems but what really caught her eye were bottles of glowing liquid. 'I wonder what those are.'
She turned her attention to the sky as she heard a loud screech. A group of young phoenixes flew overhead, their feathers trailing sparks of vibrant colors. Ari watched in awe as they performed intricate aerial maneuvers, leaving patterns of light in their wake.
"Those are the junior members of our clan's aerial guard," her grandmother explained, noticing Ari's fascination. "One day, you might join their ranks if you choose to."
They passed by a grand fountain that seemed to flow with liquid fire instead of water. Beings of all kinds gathered around it, some drinking from ornate cups while others simply basked in its warmth.
"The Eternal Flame Fountain," her grandmother said. "It's one of our clans greatest treasures. If one drinks long enough or bathes in it often it can boost one's fire affinity."
As they continued their walk, Ari noticed the respectful nods and bows her grandmother received from passersby. It was clear that she held a position of great importance.
They arrived at a grand building that seemed to be made of living fire, its walls shifting and dancing with golden flames. Inside, the atmosphere was surprisingly cool and calm.
"This is the Hall of Elders," Ari's grandmother explained. "As one of the Grand Elders of the Phoenix Clan, I have much to tell you about your heritage and who your parents were."
Ari's head was spinning. "Grandma, I don't understand. What do you mean by my heritage? And what about Enzo? Is he part of this, too?"
The old woman's expression turned serious. "Ari, you are the 47th Princess of the Phoenix Clan. Enzo is... "
Grandma Chen looked conflicted and then stopped speaking. She looked out at the sky for a moment before sighing.
"Enzo is not your real brother, Ari."
Ari opened her mouth to reply but couldn't make herself speak. She gulped and was able to croak out, "That's impossible, that pervert is not my brother?"
Grandma Chen's expression darkened, and her whole demeanor changed in an instant. "What did that boy do to you? Did he dare lay his filthy hands on a Royal member of my clan?"
The pressure emanating from Grandma Chen was so fierce that Ari felt like she was drowned in a lake of pure ice. Her whole body froze on her and she let out the words that made the entire castle shake.
"I saw him naked this morning. It was no big deal."