Tafel glanced around. The forest Minerva lived in hadnt changed at all. Her eyes made contact with an elf with short, red hair. The elf froze in place, and a mont later, she turned around and dashed into the woods. Emile burst out into laughter upon seeing the sight, and Susan rolled her eyes at her brother. Stop laughing, Susan said. Its understandable Percys afraid. Her hair just started growing back.
Tafel scratched her cheek. Had she really traumatized the elf so badly? All she did was take soread allof the elfs hair to upgrade her sword. The process of cutting hair wasnt even painful. Tafel shook her head before looking around so more. If Percy was here, then the baby phoenixes were being babysat. Is your mom not ho?
Emile rolled his eyes. Shes your mom too, he said before jumping up into the air. He flapped his wings and flew to the highest treetop. He took in a deep breath, his chest puffing up from the action. Then, he shouted as loud as he could, Hello! Im ho!
Chirps filled the forest, and around a dozen red blurs flew onto the treetop where Emile was. Emiles back! Did you bring back any presents?
Tafel and Susan are here too!
A few red blurs flew down to Tafel, perching on the branches above her head. Hello!
Tafel nodded at the baby phoenixes. They had all been born at the sa ti, yet Emile and Susan acted more mature than the rest of them. Tafel glanced at Emile, who was chattering away at his siblings. Then again, when Tafel had first t him, he was pretty nave too. A sigh escaped from Tafels mouth. It was true that only after experiencing the world would one grow up. Hello, she said to the phoenixes sitting on the branches. Is Mom ho?
Shes ho, one of the baby phoenixes said.
But shes sleeping, another said, bobbing its head up and down.
Thats fine, Tafel said. Can you take to her?
Of course, follow , the baby phoenix said and hopped off the branch, flapping its wings. It flew from tree to tree, giving Tafel a chance to follow it on foot. After walking for a bit, Tafel arrived at the phoenix nest, where Minerva was resting. The phoenix matriarch was sitting down with her head curled behind herself, resting on her back.
Are you going to wake her up? the baby phoenix asked. Shell get upset at you.
Dont worry, Tafel said, her horns glowing silver. I know a thod of waking up grumpy sleepers. She reached into the portal and pulled out a frozen bear leg. Then, she took out a few logs and stacked them on the ground. The portal closed as Tafels horns glowed red. A fire sprang into existence, setting the logs ablaze. Tafel looked at the bear leg and frowned before opening her portal again. She retrieved two rocks and placed them on the sides of the fire. Then, she laid the bear leg on top of them, letting it rest over the fire.
Tafel took a chair out of her portal and placed it down in front of the fire, positioning herself across from Minerva. She closed the portal and leaned back in her seat, waiting for at to thaw. When the outer layer of ice disappeared, Tafel opened another portal and retrieved a few spices that she liberally tossed onto the bear leg. The portal closed again, causing the baby phoenix by Tafels side to tilt its head. Why dont you take out everything you need at once instead of opening the portals again and again?
My mana regenerates fast enough that I dont have to plan ahead, Tafel said and dusted the spices off of her fingers. I used to be careful with my portal usage before I was imprinted, but now, it doesnt really matter. This way, I get to think less and stress less.
After a few minutes, Minervas body twitched. Her eyes creaked open, and she turned her head back around to the front. She blinked a few tis before shaking herself, her feathers puffing up and settling into place. Tafel? she asked before glancing at the roasting bear leg in front of her. What is this?
Good morning, Tafel said and straightened her back. Would you like so bear at?
No, Minerva said and shook her head. She stood up and yawned while pointed her head at the sky. She stretched her wings out to the side and arched her back. Her beak snapped shut, and she lowered her gaze to stare at Tafel while fixing her posture. How can I help you? I assu you didnt co here for no reason.
Tafel scratched her head. Well, Emile was worried about , so he told to visit you, she said. He said you could check to see if Im being possessed by sothing.
Minervas eyes flashed with a layer of reddish-gold. Youre fine, she said. At least, if sothings possessing you, its not spiritual in nature. As for your obsession with defeating your mate, thats not sothing I can help you with.
Tafel ignored Minervas comnt about Vur and retrieved a book from her robes. She got up and walked around the fire before holding the book in front of Minerva. Is there sothing wrong with this? she asked. According to the cursed dragons, there used to be a powerful soul inside of this thing, but Vur ate it.
Minerva glanced at the book, her eyes flashing once more. Theres nothing wrong with is, she said before lifting one talon to flip the book open. She raised an eyebrow. You can read this?
Not yet, Tafel said and sighed. But Im learning. Its part of why Emile thinks theres sothing wrong with . Its like hes never seen soone studying hard before.
Minerva flipped through the pages of the book. Although Tafel wanted to say sothing, she held back the uncomfortable feeling and let the phoenix do as she wished. After a bit, the phoenix matriarch nodded. If you want to, I can translate this for you. Who knows how long itd take for you to learn how to read this? Its better for you to spend your ti taking care of Emile and Susan. As maturing phoenixes, they need a lot of attention to grow properly.
You can read this? Tafel asked, her eyes widening.
Of course, Minerva said and puffed her chest out. Ill have you know I was considered quite the scholar when I was growing up.
Tafel stared at the phoenix matriarch. Had the demon spent so much ti and effort for nothing?
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