Much to anyone's expectations, the mention of Phantoms didn't ring a bell for Pyris, as was typical for someone who had spent their entire life in the mortal realm. Song mused inwardly, acknowledging the stark reality: how could someone as young as Pyris know the existence of such fearsome creatures?
Their very being had been shrouded in the deepest shadows of time, their history erased, their whereabouts concealed from the minds of mortals as the centuries marched on.
Before long, the Phantoms disappeared from the annals of history, slipping into the realms of the unknown. Even the most influential figures in the empires—those who commanded armies and entire kingdoms—had no inkling of their existence.
Song could only admire how fiercely protective Emberly had been of her children, going so far as to hide life-threatening secrets such as the Phantoms from them.
'Mistress holds such high expectations for the young lord that she allowed me to indulge in our existence—should he ever wish to know,' Song thought to himself, though he doubted Pyris would ever become the savior the Phantoms needed.
His leader believed in the boy's potential, saying even the heavens themselves would envy his strength, but Song wasn't so sure. Pyris? A savior? Someone who would defy gods and emerge victorious? That seemed far-fetched.
But unlike Pyris, someone else knew about the Phantoms—and that someone couldn't stop trembling within the young dragon's mind. Lia's voice quivered as she tried to explain, her words dripping with fear. Pyris had never heard Lia so shaken before, not even when she had talked about the Celestial Foxes, creatures of immense power. But this—this was different.
The mere mention of the Phantoms sent tremors through her very essence, a race she had once witnessed in action—an experience that left her scarred by the overwhelming power they possessed.
Powers that defied existence itself.
"So, you know about the Phantoms, do you? Care to explain?" Pyris asked, a smirk of curiosity playing on his lips. He wouldn't lie; he was intrigued. Lia had faced many terrifying creatures, yet the Phantoms made her voice tremble, a moment away from breaking. 'I take it they're pretty powerful, huh?' he teased.
Despite the lightheartedness of his tone, Pyris was genuinely captivated. Not even when Lia had recounted the power of the Celestial Foxes had she been this fearful. And yet, here she was, trembling simply from being in close proximity to one Phantom. Pyris glanced at Song, whose aura was enough to make Pyris feel unnerved.
But to Pyris' credit, he remained calm and composed, not allowing his emotions to betray him.
What none of them knew, however, was the true extent of Pyris' resilience. His encounter with the Goddess—a divine entity—had left his soul reconstructed, fortified by her will. As a result, the typical pressures of a powerful aura like Song's had little effect on him.
More to the point, Pyris had been blessed with two abilities of unknown rank, courtesy of his intimate encounter with Alexa. These divine gifts, though a mystery to him, had granted him an unshakable resolve.
As Lia struggled to explain, Pyris turned to Song and asked for a more in-depth recounting of the Phantoms. Who were they? What was their history? How had his mother, Emberly, become their benefactor?
[T-they're the most feared group and the gods were always wary of them than the other two races they casted out of the god realm!] Lia started.
'Races? What races were cast from the god realm?' Pyris asked both Lia and Song, his curiosity burning even brighter. He had only known the legends of the mortal realm—the world he was born into. But this—this was new.
[Yes, three races were cast out of the god realm in ancient times,] Lia began hesitantly.
[Though two could be called groups rather than actual races. First are the Fallens—what mortals call Fallen Angels—then the Phantoms. Their existence was erased so far back that hardly anyone remembers them now. And finally, the Phoenixes, cast out ten thousand years after the Phantoms. The Fallens were the last to be banished.]
Lia's explanation faltered when it came to the Phantoms, avoiding the details as if speaking of them would summon their terrifying presence.
[What would the Goddess think if she knew of this?] Lia thought to herself. Even the gods feared the Phantoms, didn't they?
'Say what? Phoenixes were cast from the heavens?' this was surprising to say the least.
Pyris couldn't hide his surprise this time. 'Wait—Phoenixes were cast from the heavens too? But why? Aren't they considered creatures of virtue? Holy and pure, the next representation of life after the elves?' Pyris furrowed his brow, trying to wrap his head around it.
'What could they have done to deserve being cast out?'
It was Song who answered next. "Us—the Phantoms? We're a race that once lived in the god realm," Song said calmly. He waited, expecting a reaction—shock, disbelief, something—from Pyris. But, disappointingly, Pyris remained indifferent.
Not even a flicker of surprise crossed the dragon's face. Most mortals would have been rendered speechless by such a revelation, but not Pyris. Not even when Song mentioned their time in the divine realm.
Even Emberly had been astounded when she first learned about the Phantoms' existence!
Yet here Pyris was, lounging casually on the couch, unbothered. He simply leaned back, crossing his arms and legs as if Song were recounting the weather. "Carry on," Pyris said, gesturing lazily.
[Yes, Phoenixes could be considered a pure race, their connection to life unmatched,] Lia stammered, finding her voice once again. [But there's one thing you've forgotten—and most people think it's a myth. It's reincarnation—or rather, the fact that Phoenixes were completely immortal.] Lia's explanation caused something to click in Pyris' mind. He had heard whispers of this before.
Something from old legends.
"Nirvana," Pyris muttered to himself. Nirvana—the epitome of immortality.
Lia, on the other hand, sighed heavily. [Yes, Nirvana—the Phoenixes' ultimate gift and their curse. To rise from the ashes endlessly, but at what cost? Their power over life was too much for the gods to tolerate.]
As Song continued, he revealed the deeper truth about the Phantoms, a truth that lay beyond what Lia had spoken of. The Phantoms didn't just disrupt life—they controlled non-existence itself. While the Phoenixes toyed with life, the Phantoms could undo the very fabric of reality, erasing not only life but everything from existence—matter, memories, souls.
And the gods? They feared them more than any other race, for the Phantoms held the power to erase gods themselves.
*****
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|Thank you young_master27 for the gift and the golden ticket! |