It had been a year since Sirius Black arrived at Devil May Cry, and life had settled into an unusual but comfortable rhythm. Hadrian, now seven years old, was no longer the small, quiet boy he had been when Sirius first showed up. His training with Dante had already begun in earnest, and the boy had taken to it like a natural. His mornings were filled with combat practice, learning how to wield blades and guns, and afternoons were spent honing his magical skills with Sirius. Trish and Lady kept him sharp with strategy and precision, while Morrison filled the gaps with knowledge of the world beyond demons.
Hadrian's role in the crew was growing. He wasn't just the kid they were protecting anymore—he was becoming a vital part of their world, even if Dante sometimes liked to act as though they were still babysitting.
On this particular morning, Hadrian was having one of the best dreams he'd had in weeks. He was riding a massive dragon through the skies, the wind whipping through his hair, the world far below him. The dragon roared, and he laughed, gripping the reins tighter as they soared higher and higher. It was freedom, pure and simple.
But then, something changed. He suddenly felt like something—or someone—was watching him. The pleasant dream started to feel… odd. Hadrian's brow furrowed, even as he tried to hold onto the dream.
He stirred, his eyes fluttering open as the sensation of being watched grew stronger. And there, perched on the edge of his bed, was what looked like an oversized chicken on fire.
Hadrian blinked slowly, still groggy with sleep, and stared at the flaming bird. It didn't move, didn't squawk—just stared right back at him.
"Hey, you," the bird said in a gravelly voice, breaking the silence. "You're finally awake."
Hadrian blinked again, completely dumbfounded. His brain, still addled from sleep, couldn't quite register if what he was seeing was real or not. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and shrugged.
"Sure… that's not real," Hadrian muttered to himself, deciding it must be a dream. "Just a dream. Go back to sleep."
He turned over in bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin, closing his eyes and willing himself to fall back asleep.
A few seconds passed, and then—whoosh!
The familiar warmth of his blanket turned into blistering heat. Hadrian shot up in bed, wide-eyed, as his blanket burst into flames. He let out a loud yell and jumped out of bed, staring in horror at the flaming mass of fabric.
"What the—?! That chicken set my blanket on fire!" Hadrian screamed, bolting for the door.
Hadrian's frantic footsteps echoed down the stairs as he raced into the Devil May Cry lobby, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"There's a chicken upstairs trying to kill me!" he shouted, breathless as he skidded to a stop in front of the others.
Dante, sitting lazily on the couch with his feet propped up on the table, raised an eyebrow. "A chicken? Really, kid?"
Lady and Trish exchanged amused glances, while Sirius leaned against the wall with a knowing smile. "Maybe you just had a bad dream, Hadrian."
But before anyone could make another comment, a bright flame flash erupted in the center of the room, startling everyone into action. Dante was on his feet in an instant, his Rebellion sword already drawn, while Lady and Trish had their guns aimed at the spot where the fireball appeared.
And there, standing proudly in the middle of the lobby, was the firebird from Hadrian's room—its flames crackling lightly, its feathers shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
"That's no chicken," Sirius said slowly, lowering his wand. His eyes widened in recognition. "That's a phoenix!"
The bird, however, didn't seem too pleased with the comparison.
"Correction," the bird said in a deep, slightly annoyed voice, "I'm not just a phoenix. I'm a hybrid between a phoenix and a thunderbird, thank you very much. Get it right, wizard."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone stared at the bird. Dante let out a low whistle, his usual smirk returning.
"A talking bird, huh?" Dante said, sheathing Rebellion casually. "Didn't know we were in for a new houseguest today."
Hadrian, still recovering from the shock of the flaming blanket, pointed a finger at the bird. "You! You set my bed on fire!"
The bird gave what could only be described as a shrug, its wings fluffing slightly. "You were ignoring me. Had to get your attention somehow, didn't I?"
"By trying to roast me alive?!" Hadrian shot back.
The bird cawed, which sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. "Could've been worse, kid. At least you didn't end up crispy."
As the tension in the room settled, the bird flapped its wings once and turned its attention fully to Hadrian.
"Listen, kid," the bird said, "I didn't show up here just to burn your sheets. I'm here to offer you something."
Hadrian blinked. "Offer me what?"
"A contract," the bird replied, cocking its head. "You've got power, kid—more than most. And I'm looking for someone strong enough to handle me. So how about it? You want me to be your familiar?"
Hadrian stared at the bird, still trying to wrap his head around the entire situation. "Wait, you want to… team up? Like, you'd stick around?"
The bird nodded. "Yep. You'll get to call me whenever you need me, and I'll get to roast some demons. It's a win-win."
Dante, leaning casually against the wall now, grinned. "Sounds like a hell of a deal, kid. What do you think?"
Hadrian scratched his head, glancing between the bird and his uncle. "I mean… sure. I guess. But what should I call you?"
The bird ruffled its feathers, clearly pleased with itself. "That's up to you, kid. I've gone by a lot of names, but nothing beats a good, strong one."
Hadrian thought for a moment, then a small smile tugged at his lips. "How about… Hedwig?"
The bird blinked, considering the name. "Hedwig, huh? Kinda old-fashioned, but I like it. Sure, I'll take it."
Sirius, who had been quietly watching the entire exchange, stepped forward with a curious look. "A phoenix-thunderbird hybrid… that's a rare creature. I mean both creatures are really rare, but a combination of both? Wow... How did you even come to find Hadrian?"
Hedwig cawed, her voice brimming with amusement. "Let's just say I go where I'm needed. And this kid? He's gonna need me."
With the contract agreed upon, Hedwig gave a playful wink and flared her wings. "Now, let me show you something cool."
Before Hadrian could ask what she meant, Hedwig burst into a swirl of flames and disappeared—only to reappear seconds later in the form of a tattoo on his right arm. Hadrian gasped, staring at the intricate design now etched into his skin—a series of flames and lightning that stretched from his wrist to his shoulder.
"What the—?!" Hadrian exclaimed.
Hedwig's voice echoed in his mind. "Relax, kid. It's just a trick. I can pop out whenever you need me, or just hang around like this. Makes it easier for both of us."
Dante let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "I've gotta say, kid. You're attracting some pretty wild company these days."
Hadrian looked down at his arm, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I guess I am."