"Over here," Maxieno called, then showed a small temple of a stone with a carving of sun engraved on it.
"The living beings on Birwick Mountain have always worshiped the Sun God. Only humans worship the Moon Goddess. Then, one day the Sun God wanted to appoint one of us as his representative in charge of guarding Birwick Mountain. The dragon clan and werewolf clan also fought for it. Each representative fought for seven days and seven nights, then that damn Amadea beca the victor. He got the gift of the Sun God to guard Birwick Mountain."
Maxieno continued his story while inviting Arielle to go up to the top of the temple. "No one knew for sure why the dragon clan could lose to the werewolf clan who only relied on their physical strength. We also believed that Amadea had committed fraud. Until we found this thing..."
Maxieno raised a broken dagger. He said that Amadea might stab the dragon with this dagger because only this dagger could pierce the dragon’s skin, which was as hard as steel. Maxieno placed the dagger in Arielle’s hand. The dagger was made of diamonds.
"At the age of eighteen, the dragons will use all their power to lt this dagger. For the dragon clan, anyone who manages to lt this dagger, then he will definitely be stronger than Amadea."
"Have you ever lted this dagger?"
"Of course I have. I am the strongest," Maxieno said proudly. "But, for the past few hundred years, it has been difficult to find a dragon that can do it. The last one was two hundred years ago, Xavier, my brother managed to do it."
Arielle wanted to ask the reason Ronan could beat Xavier if Xavier was that strong? However, she knew that the question was rude, so she kept it to herself. Maybe Arielle had better ask Ronan directly later.
Maxieno explained the things Arielle had to do. At first, Arielle hesitated, because it was difficult for other dragons to lt the dagger, then what about Arielle, who was just a human? Could she do it? But then, Maxieno insulted her again. The man said if Arielle was pessimistic, then their agreent was cancelled. Arielle imdiately beca spirited again. She wanted to prove her ability that a human could also get strong, even exceeding the dragon clan.
Arielle and Maxieno ca down from the temple, then the man taught her how to survive the flas. Maxieno had turned into a dragon, breathing flas several tis lazily towards Arielle who always ended up burning.
"Put the flas out there!" Maxieno exclaid while pointing at one of the trees there that was burning fiercely because of his burst of flas. Arielle moved left and right. She received the dragon flas and extinguished them when Maxieno’s flas hit other objects.
A young dragon was hiding behind the tree, watching Arielle who caught on flas and then healed again when Maxieno gave her the Elixir of immortality. Behind him stood a yellow man.
"Oh, is that the friend you talk about a lot, Luffy?" his father asked Luffy who was surprised to see Arielle was also training in the sa place as him.
"You don’t want to say hello to your friend? There’s Lord Maxieno too. You really idolize him, don’t you?"
Luffy shook his head. "Father, teach too, so I can quickly beco strong. I will et Arielle again when I can at least protect myself first."
The man smiled and rubbed his son’s head. He then asked Luffy to find a larger place to practice. "Let’s go. You can’t lose to humans," he said, then the two of them left the place.
***
Arielle’s training was really intense. Days passed without her noticing. Otis occasionally reminded Maxieno not to overdo it. He also monitored Arielle’s practice and gave advice if he felt Maxieno’s thod was too harsh.
Now, exactly two days before the full moon, Arielle was standing on the altar again while being watched by Maxieno and Otis.
In front of her was a magic diamond dagger. Arielle had to lt it with her flas. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She tried to blend with her surroundings, accepting all the natural energy that was felt in her every sense.
The chirping of birds sounded louder than usual. The wind gently caressed Arielle’s cheeks. She had to bring out all her power. It was okay if she was burned. Maxieno still had the Elixir of immortality even if there was only one drop left.
Arielle held the hilt of the dagger, her sky-blue eyes sparkling, then she slowly closed them. She started to open all her flow of mana. She continued to burn until she could feel a strong energy boost within her and focus everything towards her palm. Arielle opened the flow of mana in her palm so that flas appeared in her right hand which was holding the dagger.
Arielle continued to concentrate all her mana into her palm. She kept burning it. Her power was to amplify mana power so Arielle could release a much greater mana than this.
"Arielle..." called a man in an echoing voice.
Arielle opened her eyes and saw a phoenix flying in front of her.
"You are a human gifted by the Moon Goddess, my sister. What are you doing in my temple?" the phoenix asked.
Arielle’s body instantly froze. She had never felt this small in front of a creature.
"Oh, I know ... Of course, you know ... you ca with Maxieno ... one of the blessed children," said the phoenix.
Arielle’s eyes t the phoenix’s golden eyes. Those eyes seed to stare deep into her heart and mind. Arielle felt naked because there was nothing she could hide from the Phoenix.
"Arielle, I like you. You’re bringing on an extraordinary figure in the future. You’re bringing the candidate of the Guardian of Birwick’s. She’s burning fiercely. I love her very much. She will beco the successor of Amadea."
The phoenix ca closer than hugged Arielle, using its two very soft red wings. "You are the second woman I gave permission to use my powers after Cecillia. Use it wisely and bring back Birwick’s heart."
Arielle blinked her eyes. The flas in her hand were still burning fiercely, with a redder color like Maxieno’s. The dagger in her hand had lted completely, making Otis cry and Maxieno clapping proudly.
"Congratulations, you did it," Maxieno said.
Arielle lifted her gaze and looked around her. She didn’t rember what had happened, but she felt like she saw a phoenix with burning flas.
Maxieno reached out his hand to help Arielle down the stairs of the temple.
"You saw him?" Maxieno asked in a low voice.
"What?"
"The Sun god."
"Huh?"
"The Phoenix Bird."
"Ah... yes, but I don’t rember what he said to ."
Maxieno smiled lopsidedly. "Well, I have to admit you’re pretty cool for a human," he replied, making Arielle smile
Maxieno and Otis invited Arielle to go back to rest. However, before leaving the temple, Arielle looked back once more and saw the sun was so bright. She narrowed her eyes slightly then smiled seeing the phoenix that was so bright disappeared in the dazzling sunlight.
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