The Phoenix soul: A legend Arises

Chapter 20: Veins of fire



Chapter 20: "VEINS OF FIRE"

Thrain was taken back to his residence by Daelan, his body radiating heat and trembling uncontrollably. His skin glistened with a faint sheen of sweat as his body quivered with unnatural energy. The Bijins quickly moved to help, attempting to heal him with their green flames, but their efforts yielded no visible improvement.

Though his external wounds were gone, something deeper was amiss. It was as if his mana and the unique blue flames coursing through him were at odds, battling for dominance within his body. The chaotic energy surged through his veins, visible beneath his skin like luminous rivers of fire.

"What's happening to him?" Akane asked, her voice tinged with concern as her flames flickered out.

"This isn't something we can fix," Emiri said gravely, stepping back as the veins in Thrain's neck pulsed with eerie light.

"He's burning from the inside," Hikari added, her eyes narrowing. "But… he's still alive. Somehow."

Daelan, watching silently, crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Whatever this is," he said, "it's not normal. His body shouldn't even be able to contain this much energy."

Thrain groaned weakly, his hands clawing at his chest as though trying to suppress the surging heat within him. The Bijins exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do next.

Suddenly, Thrain's eyes snapped open, glowing an intense, otherworldly blue. His throat began to glow as well, the same azure hue coursing visibly through his veins, radiating outward like branching lightning. Before anyone could react, his body convulsed, and a torrent of blue flames erupted from his mouth, as if he were expelling the energy violently.

Daelan acted instantly, grabbing the Bijins and pulling them back, shielding them from what seemed like a destructive blast. Yet, to everyone's surprise, the flames didn't scorch or harm. Instead, as the blue fire washed over the Bijins, they felt revitalized, their mana replenished as though they had drawn strength from the energy itself.

"What… is this?" Akane whispered, staring at her hands, which now glowed faintly with a renewed green flame.

Emiri frowned, confusion flickering across her face. "This isn't normal. Flames aren't supposed to heal… unless—"

"It's not healing," Hikari interrupted, her gaze fixed on Thrain. "It's transferring. His energy is… sharing itself with us."

Daelan, still holding his stance near the door, observed silently, his brows furrowing. "That's not just energy," he murmured. "That's his mana—his life force. If he keeps this up, he'll burn himself out completely."

The flames continued to surge from Thrain's mouth, filling the room with a warm yet strangely calming glow. But even as the Bijins absorbed the strange energy, their worry deepened, unsure of how much more Thrain could endure.

Eventually, the torrent of flames subsided, leaving the room filled with a lingering warmth. Lynx, who had been leaning against the wall battered and bruised from the earlier fight, noticed his wounds had completely healed. However, unlike the Bijins, he didn't feel any surge in mana.

The Bijins, on the other hand, exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from concern to subtle awe. They could feel the power coursing through them, amplified as if the blue flames had unlocked something dormant within their own abilities.

"I feel… stronger," Akane said quietly, flexing her fingers as her green flames ignited with newfound intensity.

Emiri nodded in agreement, a sly smile playing on her lips. "It's like we've been supercharged."

Hikari, however, kept her gaze fixed on Thrain, her expression unreadable. "But at what cost?"

Thrain lay still now, his chest rising and falling steadily. The violent shaking and convulsing had ceased. His body, which had been a chaotic battlefield of blue flames and orange mana, now appeared calm. The two energies moved together in harmony, weaving through his veins like synchronized currents.

As the glow within him gradually dimmed, Daelan stepped forward cautiously, studying Thrain's motionless form. "It's stabilized," he said, more to himself than the others. "The flames and mana… they're no longer fighting."

"But is that a good thing?" Lynx asked, still wary.

Daelan didn't answer immediately, his sharp gaze lingering on Thrain. "That depends on what he's become."

Thrain rose slowly, his movements deliberate, and as he stood to his full height, it became evident that something had changed beyond his energy. Daelan, who had always been taller than him, now found himself looking eye to eye with Thrain. Lynx, on the other hand, felt his pride take a hit—he had once been taller, but Thrain's sudden growth spurt left him slightly overshadowed.

Thrain didn't utter a word. His head tilted slightly as his gaze swept over them, as though he wasn't seeing the people before him but something entirely different. His glowing blue eyes shifted, scanning each of them.

"Your eyes… they're still blue," Daelan remarked cautiously.

Thrain gave no response, his focus locked on the swirling energy he now perceived. To him, they weren't fully solid; they were vibrant lines of energy, pulsating with distinct colors. His sight extended beyond the physical, and he could even feel something familiar tethering them to him.

"What is this?" Thrain muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. Then, with a puzzled tone, he asked, "Hikari, Akane, Emiri… is that you?"

The Bijins exchanged uneasy glances. "Of course it's us," Akane said, stepping forward.

But what startled the group most was Thrain's response—or lack thereof. He hadn't spoken those words aloud, yet they answered him as if he had.

Lynx frowned, taking a step back. "Wait a second. He didn't actually say anything to you. So why are you all answering him like he did?"

The Bijins hesitated. Emiri spoke first, her voice uncertain. "I… don't know. I just felt it. Like he spoke to me, but not out loud."

Thrain's expression tightened as realization dawned. "I didn't speak aloud. I was… thinking it." He looked at them again, concentrating. "You're connected to me, aren't you? Part of my energy… it's in you."

The Bijins nodded slowly, their wariness giving way to curiosity.

Lynx crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "What the hell is happening to you, Thrain?"

Thrain's glowing eyes shifted back and forth as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Slowly, he drew in a breath, steadying himself.

"I can see energy now," he said, his voice low but steady. "It's not like before. Everything is... connected. Your energy, your mana—it's all visible to me. And somehow, a part of me is in you three." He gestured toward the Bijins.

Akane frowned, crossing her arms. "What do you mean a part of you is in us? Are you saying we're... linked?"

Thrain nodded, his gaze steady on her. "It feels like that. When the flames left me earlier, they didn't just replenish you—they bound us. I can feel your mana, your strength, like it's an extension of me. And when I thought of your names... you heard me."

Emiri tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "So, does this mean you can control us now?"

Thrain shook his head immediately. "No. It's not like that. I don't feel any control—just... connection. If anything, it's like you're amplifying me, and I'm amplifying you."

Hikari narrowed her eyes. "But why? What caused this? Was it your mana, the blue flames, or something else entirely?"

Thrain sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. When the flames started clashing with my mana, it felt like a fight inside me. But now, it's balanced. They're working together. And somehow, that energy reached all of you."

Lynx stepped forward, his arms crossed. "That's great and all, but what about me? I didn't feel any connection. All I got was healing."

Thrain glanced at him briefly. "I don't know why. Maybe it's because you weren't in the direct path of the flames, or maybe your energy doesn't align the same way."

Lynx scoffed, muttering under his breath, "Figures."

Daelan, who had been silent the entire time, finally stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, but his tone carried weight. "There's a lot we still don't understand, Thrain. And this... connection, or whatever it is, raises more questions than answers."

Thrain nodded, his expression serious. "I'll figure it out. I promise."

Daelan placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Someday, we'll talk about all of this in detail. About your flames, your mana, and what's happening to you. But for now, get some rest. You'll need it."

With that, Daelan turned and walked away, leaving Thrain and the others to process what had just happened.

"So, are we just supposed to go back to sleep with those creepy glowing eyes staring at us?" Lynx asked, his tone half-joking but tinged with genuine unease as he gestured toward Thrain.

Thrain blinked, realizing his eyes were still glowing. With a faint shimmer, the blue light dimmed, and his eyes returned to normal.

"How did you do that?" Akane asked, curious.

"I don't know," Thrain replied honestly, glancing at his reflection in a nearby polished surface. "I didn't even realize they were on until Lynx said something."

Hikari tilted her head, studying him. "So you're telling us you can turn it on and off but have no idea how?"

Thrain shrugged, frustration flickering in his expression. "It's like everything else that's been happening to me. I don't understand it. I didn't choose this, and I didn't ask for it."

He fell silent for a moment, his thoughts turning inward. I need answers, he thought. "I need to meet the Phoenix again, but how?"

The others exchanged glances, sensing his inner turmoil but unsure of what to say. Finally, Emiri broke the silence.

"Well, if we're all done glowing and staring, maybe we should try to get some sleep. Tomorrow's bound to be just as crazy as today."

Lynx grumbled but nodded, and the group began settling down, though an air of uncertainty lingered. Thrain, however, sat apart, his mind racing. The question burned in his thoughts: "How do I find the Phoenix again?"


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