Harmony, stories of fairies and the legend of the phoenix

Chapter 14

It all begins in the clearing of spirits, a secret and inaccessible place where fairies, spirits of all kinds and ranks live, as well as mystical and legendary creatures. In the heart of the clearing there is a huge nest where a young phoenix lives, which unlike the others of its species does not have fiery red feathers, but feathers of a charcoal black with streaks of a blood red. She was loved and was a friend of the creatures of the clearing, but she felt different, indeed she was different and she knew it, in fact despite possessing the same powers as the others of her species she could not use them properly, she could not even control her flames in a decent way even if all the Phoenicians, even the newborns were capable of it, moreover sometimes inside she felt a different, unknown, and violent power that flowed inside her flooding her but without going out as if he were imprisoned, enclosed and stuck inside her. The young phoenix did not yet have a name, she would only get it during the spring ceremony, the day she would become an adult and would have the chance to make a wish before the head of the clearing, Queen Aurion, an ancient and powerful archaic spirit of light. She was a curious and reactive phoenix, she liked to explore them and whenever she had the opportunity she asked the elders of the place about the outside world that she had never seen in her youth and there was not a time when she was not fascinated by those extravagant tales of incredible places and very strange creatures such as those so-called human beings and those still called dwarfs. A month after the ceremony, preparations were in fervour, the young creatures could not stand still from the excitement, while the parents were worried about the fate of the children. The same happened with the black phoenix and her parents, who were afraid of the way their daughter could take, in fact they were completely unaware of the young woman's intentions and therefore they were anxious because they did not even have the slightest idea about the crazy desire that that dreamy perdigiorno could express, so they called her. Time went by slowly and a day not far from the ceremony the young people found themselves under a large sacred willow and during a bonfire they talked about their future, there were those who wanted to become a great sage, some a leader, some wanted to follow in the footsteps of their parents, while others wanted to become intrepid warriors. Everyone seemed to know the way to go, except the young phoenix who remained silent, and when asked what she wanted to do she said: I don't know, I don't care, I'll know what to do when the right time comes, for now it's better not to think about it and enjoy your youth. His astonished friends replied: What are you babbling?! Are you waiting for the wind to tell you what to do!!!!! (Everyone laughed) She answered more seriously than before: Maybe yes, maybe no, who can say what the intentions of destiny are for each of us. Having said that, he went to sleep, he had more to do, he didn't want to waste his youth like that, he knew in fact that his next rebirths would not be as full of innocence as the first time he opened his eyes and saw the world, as when he flew the first time, like his first laugh... Thinking about all this he fell asleep. Time passed, the day of the ceremony had finally arrived, those who were supposed to take part in it were coming from all over the clearing accompanied by the adults. The elders were waiting in front of the large oak tree, a huge and very ancient white tree, a sacred place where the history of spirits was preserved from the dawn of history remembered up to that moment. The intimidated young men approached pushed by their parents and were led by the old ones into the tree. They passed through huge corridors and majestic and ancient halls and in the end they found themselves in front of a huge tank that contained a crystalline and brilliant liquid, it was liquid mana, or the source of magic, pure vital energy. The elders brought them out of the room saying that for each creature the experience was different and intimate, they explained that each of them would have to immerse himself in the mana and cross the tank in order to take their new form, the adult one, so as to completely awaken the power that was dormous within them, stuck in that body of young people in which the mana was still chaotic. They were advanced one at a time inside accompanied by a supervisor who would intervene in case things went wrong. A few hours passed and finally the turn came in the black phoenix, she was the last one left of the group, they let her into the room and told her to immerse herself in the tub, when she was totally covered with mana she began to feel a terrible pain in the chest that spread throughout her body burning her inside, she felt that immense power that until then had remained chained unleashed in an uncontrolled way, she was afraid, she had no idea what to do, she couldn't see us anymore, her sight was clouded, she could no longer breathe. Then she realized that if she had been helpless to suffer that power she would devour her, so she decided to calm down, she tried to take a deep breath, as much as she could, she focused on the tangled flow of power trying to debridle it, she felt the mana flowing into her body like a waterfall, passage of time and it turned into a stream and then a river, which flowed gently inside her. She gradually regained her senses and realized that she was no longer in the tub but in a bed, then you hear worried voices, you hear a sweet and melodious voice call her, when she regained her sight she saw in front of her the beautiful Queen Aurion who smiled softly at her, all the older and most sacred creatures were there around her with a dazed face, but she did not understand why. So she did to ask what was going on, but the queen anticipating her said not to talk, she must have been tired, so she made her bring food, she hadn't realized that she was so hungry as if she hadn't eaten in days. Then the queen spoke: My little dear, you remained unconscious and feverish for a few days, we were afraid that you wouldn't do it but you were stronger than we all expected, we are proud of you... The shocked Phoenicia said: but how, what happened, and the ceremony, did I fail the test? The queen replied: The ceremony ended, everyone received their name and expressed their wish, as for what happened to you, it could not be predicted, no one would have ever imagined it, however you did not fail, quite the opposite. It seems that he dented of you there was a very powerful power that due to the test was released too quickly and in large quantities, I must be honest I had never seen anything like this, surely you are a special being, one of a kind, I am sure you will have a great future ahead of you. The phoenix said bewildered: So I evolved too!? Despite the fact that I am so weak and useless? The queen smiling said: My dear remember to be a Phoenicia one of the most noble and elegant creatures in existence, you are not weak, much less useless, don't even try to think about it. Nevertheless, if you still don't believe me, how about looking in the mirror? The young woman could not believe it, reflected in the mirror there was not the usual little phoenix with charcoal-colored wings, but there was a majestic raptor with white feathers like clouds, golden claws and beak and the eyes of a black night. Still in disbelief of this change he asked: But your height, usually the Phoenicians are not fiery red? Why am I white? The queen replied: You see, the fact is that you are not a normal phoenix, we had already understood it when you were little, but we would never have expected that. The fact is that your mana is very particular that it makes you unique not only among the members of your same species, but also by the inhabitants of the clearing. One day you will become a much more powerful being than you can even imagine, and this is what I have seen in my dreams and usually my premonitions are never wrong. The phoenix was even more confused she couldn't understand what the sovereign was saying, however there was something she really wanted to know so without hesitation she asked: so I own a name? Then Queen Aurion said: Of course, I almost forgot about it, thank you for reminding me. I decided that I will be the one to give you a name myself, and given your adventurous character and your brilliant future I would have thought of calling you Estele, which as you know means hope in the language of the spirits, I hope that this name can bring you luck. The phoenix was in seventh heaven but suddenly he felt the strength was lacking and the queen said: now rest, as far as the desire is concerned we will talk about it later and he left. The phoenix closed his eyes and despite all the information he had just received he fell asleep. She woke up late in the morning, at first she was lost but then I remember what had happened the day before and having received a name, Estele, that's her name she thought smiling. Getting out of bed I find breakfast or maybe it was lunch I wasn't sure. After the meal someone knocked to enter it was a nymph who told her that her majesty was waiting for her and led her to a huge room, it was the throne room. The queen signaled Estele to approach and asked her that was her desire and after a while she replied saying that she had no idea for now she just wanted to learn to control her new powers and understand in the depths who she had become, to understand that new she who had only known the day...So they went down to an underground room, a training room, in the meanders of the oak castle, the queen said that the first thing to do was to learn to control that energy and then use it and since the girl had managed to tame it already initially during the days of coma, the essential thing to do was to understand how to externalize that mana without it getting out of control, and only after doing this would she teach her magic, spells and everything else. A few months passed and the phoenix absorbed and made her own the teachings of the queen becoming very powerful, her feathers was no more than a white white but changed color depending on the element that Estele used, in fact the young woman was able to use all the natural and non-natural elements, when connected to the water element her feathers were blue, with red fire, with brown earth and metal, with green wind, white light and black darkness. One day when there was no training she decided to go and explore the clearing as she did when she was little, I arrived near a waterfall of crystal clear water and decided to go up the slope and when she was at the top, arrived at the lake, she immersed herself in the water, and when she arrived at the point where the water descended down and then became a waterfall, she opened her wings and flew on the clearing and at that moment she understood what her desire was. She flew as fast as possible to the oak tree and then went to the throne room, the director was there and asked her:Welcome my dear, what ever happened to make you come here in such a hurry? The phoenix said: I have decided what my wish will be, I have understood the future ones I want to undertake. The queen replied: Well then tell me about it. Estele then explained to her: I want to travel, explore the outside world, see with my own eyes what is out there, beyond this clearing. The queen smiling said: The outside world can be very dangerous, it is totally different from when we and the other great species inhabited it, but you are strong and brave, I am there that you will succeed in your intent. Estele said: so can I leave, when? The queen replied: Of course, you can leave, but before I have to explain a few things: You see, the fact is that as you know, the dragons and demons have withdrawn from the world a long time ago for this reason the species that now inhabit it tend to consider us legends and therefore to avoid dangerous upheavals of the story you will have to try to do your best to hide your true form, turning yourself into a semi-human, nevertheless if there are cases in which it is impossible for you or other higher causes then it does not matter but try to do your best. As for the departure it takes a week of preparations, you will pass through one of the portals, one of the doors that connect the clearing to the rest of Arcadia arriving at a temple, it acts as a connection not only for us but also for the other realms so even if unlikely there could also be other creatures, be careful. In this week, prepare your things and say hello to everyone. Estele replied: Of course, you can be sure I promise. The week passes quickly between the long greetings, the things to prepare for the departure and the advice of the elders the phoenix did not have time to rest. Finally the day of departure arrived: I greet her parents and she set out, waiting for her in front of the portal was Queen Aurion as well as some elderly and wise. The queen in a reassuring tone told her: Your training is complete, I taught you everything I knew, but remember that there will always be people more powerful than you and never be superb, however you have to keep in mind that you are stronger than many others, always defend those who need it, always follow what you think is right and live your life happily. I hope to see you again. Estele replied: After the end of my trip I will return home and tell all my adventures. The queen replied: I'm counting on it. So the phoenix through the portal. After the young woman had crossed him an elderly man asked to Queen Aurion: was it the right thing to do, to let her go? And the queen said: She is still young and inexperienced, she must make her own experiences, she must make new friends, and develop her talent. After all she will be my heir, her destiny is to rule the clearing, to start a new era for all of us, she will be our future and great queen, the greatest sovereign this place has ever had...

Meanwhile, Estele had crossed the portal, she was still stunned by the trip when she realized she was not alone, there was someone else there ...