The Phoenix's Maiden

Connection

Amber was shook when Amaya became serious and her aura became dark for a second and it’s not just her that felt it, even Arthur in fact he almost sheathed his sword and point it to Amaya.

“What important thing do you have to say?” Amber asked Amaya nervously.

“It’s just I remembered something, I apologize for what happened,” she pointed out that brief intimidating aura that she released. “I lived for thousands of years and I witnessed how you clan falls by the hands on the king of underworld Cain,” she said. “I also remembered how Satan tricked everybody that resulted into war and I was one of the secret third party mediators in the war. I healed those who are wounded and I witnessed how fear was implanted in their mind,” she said. “Whenever I remember those moments, I cannot help it. My blood is starting to boil, and we witches release that kind of intimidating aura as our defensive mechanism because of the sudden surge of our magical power reserve,” she explained and the two did not fail to understand her and accepted her apology.

“So what is it you want to say to us?” Arthur reminded Amaya about the thing she wanted to say.

“Oh right, this is pretty important and I want you two to promise that whatever I say stays inside this room,” she said.

“I promise,” Amber said while raising her right hand and Arthur remained quiet and the two looked at him.

“What?” he asked and Amber hit him.

“Promise her,” she gave the young knight an intimidating look and Arthur knew that he cannot fight back to her.

“Okay promise,” he said and raising his right hand.

“While I am on the underworld,” Amaya said. “My younger days,” she clarified and the two are all ears on her every word that she spit out of her mouth. “It is where I heard the prophecy first,” she said and Arthur was shocked. “Your arrival and the banishment of your clan,” she said.

“Banishment?” Amber said with confusion.

“Yes, I heard it when Satan and Cain discussed about it when I was lost inside the castle there but I did not heard it fully because some of the servants there saw me,” she said. “I think it was confidential,” she added.

“Oh no,” Arthur exclaimed. “They have the higher grounds, they knew that this will all happen,” he said.

“What?” Amber is at lost right now because she cannot understand a thing.

“Tomorrow we will start your training,” Arthur said and Amber’s expression changes into frown. “We can’t help it because we don’t have a chance on fighting them if you cannot master your abilities before they come here again,” he added. Amber did not want this. She did not want for all of these to happen. She did not expect that this will be placed on her shoulders. The lives inside this kingdom, she did not dream of this. But she cannot help it but to follow how things will happen. What choice does she have except to follow the prophecy that was stated by the two kings? Maybe she will find her true self. Maybe she will learn what she really wants along the process.

“Okay,” she did not resist Arthur’s words. As if she can do a thing if she resisted. She is not familiar in this world. She is just a mere visitor that strayed in her way

“Also,” Amaya cuts her way into the two’s conversation and they shifted their attention to her. “You know that I also worked for your clan once,” she said. “I was once recommended by my lover when Prince Ignis succumbed into an illness,” she said and Amber’s interest was piqued by her because Ignis might be one of her ancestors.

“Ignis?” Amber asked her.

“Ignis was the second prince of the kingdom during their rule,” Arthur answered her question.

“An unknown illness that was used by Satan to weaken his state since Ignis is the only one that can hurt him but I successfully cured his illness and the king planned to have a public recognition for me but I humbly refused his proposal. Instead I used that chance to tell them all I know about the prophecy,” she said.

“Wait,” Amber cuts her off. “What did you say? Ignis is the only one that can hurt Satan?” she asked consecutively.

“Yes,” she answered Amber’s question. “Ignis was gifted with the divine flame that is once used to banish Satan from the heavens when he rebelled to God,” she added. “Back to the topic, when I told them about the brief information that I heard from the two, King Frigs just said that he will not burden himself with words that has no certainty he said and it is just one Satan’s way to ruin the peace inside the kingdom,” she said with a gloomy voice. “If only I knew that it will all happen,” regrets can be felt from those words.

“You are not to blame,” Amber gave her words of reassurance. “We all knew that it’s not your fault,” she added and Amaya looks at her in the eyes.

“This is my way to redeem myself,” she said. “Give me your Silakbo,” she requested for her Agimat that Banoy gave to her.

“Wait!” she was spooked when Amaya casually said about her Agimat. “How did you know about my silakbo? I mean Banoy just recently gave this to me,” she said.

“Oh I know,” she said. “With the help of her,” she pointed to her shoulder and a striped snake crawled out for them to see. “She told me everything that happened during your conversation with that merchant,” she added.

“Woah,” Amber exclaimed at surprise. “That snake can speak?” she asked with amazement in her voice.

“Yes, but only I can understand her words because she is my twin,” Amaya informed her. “Her name is Kamandag,” she added mentioning the name of her twin snake. “Her venom is one of the deadliest in this realm so be careful not to anger her,” she warned them. Arthur already knows about her twin snake.

“Awesome!” her geeky side and amazement can’t stay hidden from the two.

“Give me your agimat,” she ordered again and without hesitation Amber takes off her agimat from her neck and gives it to Amaya.

“What will you do to my silakbo?” she asks wondering why Amaya suddenly asks for her agimat.

“I will further enchant this for you to help with your fight with Cain,” she said and she walks towards her equipment that she will use for the enchantment. “Kamandag’s venom will empower the flames that will be stored in this medallion,” she said with pride. “This venom will allow you to disintegrate things that you burn 10 times than its original capabilities,” she added and Amber thinks that this is too dangerous for her. “But keeping in mind the risks that Banoy mentioned to the two of you, I will add a chant for you to unlock this mode,” she said and Amber sighed with relief as this will not stack up to her burdens.

“Lusaw, say that word and these flames will consume everything that it touches quickly,” she said and Amber memorized that word and in tight situations she will surely use this technique to get out. “And there is another one, say this word and the flames will immediately spread,” she paused causing the two hanging in their toes. “Hasik, this is one of the safest techniques so that I can help with your fights, this technique can help you to subdue multiple or a group of enemies that you encounter,” she said. “I will furthermore study what other enchantments that can be added to your agimat, consider it as a gift from me,” she said while handing back the agimat ot her.

“Thank you,” she said wholeheartedly.

“It’s my job to keep the phoenix’s maiden safe. It’s a job that I pledged for myself and please take Kamandag with you as she will be a great aid on your journey,” she stated leaving the young maiden confused.

“Why?” she asks. “She is your twin and she is your companion, what will happen to you if the Kamandag get separated?” she asks thinking of Amaya’s well-being.

“I can take care of myself,” she said without a doubt. “Kamandag agreed to my plan and she is willing to help you on your quest and if you two are in grave danger, I can feel a tingling sensation and I will be at your aid as soon as possible,” she said and Amber did not protested back. Amaya lets Kamandag to crawl on her shoulders and Amaya recited some ancient words while holding her forehead. “Now you can also understand her words,” Amaya said after she finishes reciting the words.

“Hello young lady,” Kamandag greeted Amber after the chant. Amber looked surprisingly at the striped snaked.

“You really can talk?” she asked Kamandag.

“Yes, the ritual gave you the ability to understand my words,” Kamandag said.

“Am I dreaming?” Amber asked the young knight still cannot believe what she is experiencing right now. Arthur shakes his head and teasingly pinched Amber at the arm. “Aw,” she complained at him.

“At least you are sure that you are not dreaming,” he said with a smirk on his face. Amaya just stare at them amused by the maiden’s reaction.

“Shall we get going?” Kamandag suggested and Amber looked at her.

“To what?” she asked the striped snake.

“You got all that we intended to give you, it’s time for you to continue your journey,” Kamandag uttered.

“I am sorry for her attitude she is just naturally impatient,” Amaya apologized for Kamandag’s action/

“What do I feed her?” Amber asked for her care.

“No need to worry about it,” she reassures her. “She hunts food for herself,” she added.

“O-okay,” Amber nervously chuckled.

“I am sorry but it is time for us to get back to the castle,” Arthur apologized to Amaya.

“Don’t worry I have already done what I have to do,” she said and Arthur stands from his seat and went outside first. Amber looked at him while Kamandag hid inside of her long red vibrant hair.

“You know what; I am starting to like it in here!” Kamandag happily commented and Amaya lets out a little chuckle.

“I hope that you will not forget me as your twin my sister,” Amaya jokingly said.

“Let’s go,” Arthur called out for Amber and she looks at him with a slight disgust because of his lack of proper ethic.

“I wish you a safe journey Amber,” Amaya said while wearing a warm smile in her face.

“Thank you for everything!” she said wholeheartedly.

“See you soon my sister,” Kamandag said her farewell to her sister Amaya.

“Be careful not to bite anyone okay?” Amaya reminded her twin sister.

“You can count on me to that,” she said proudly.

After saying their farewell to each other, Amber rushed outside to meet with the young knight that seems to be in a rush.

“Why are you so much in a hurry?” she asked the young knight.

“The royal ceremony will start soon,” he mentions and whistled to call out his horses. Suddenly, tow unicorns with a carriage rushed into their location and they both board the carriage. Amber did not ask more question to Arthur because she might not like his answer.

Thinking about it, Amber realized that being in this town forged new connections into her heart. Banoy and his Silakbo, her ancestors and Siklab and especially her new companion Kamandag and her sister Amaya. This is great for her as she is starting to realize that is not alone in this fight.

Amber thought that this is not bad. Having an adventure, a dangerous adventure to be clear. Finding herself in the process and meeting new friend and she hopes that this time that they are real friends that will not try to betray here.

To be continued...

-The Phoenix’s Maiden-