Phoenix: The Rebirth

Give Unto Ceasar...

You Are What You Say You Are- Maverick

Davina looked around, she wasn’t sure of what she had just heard. She believed she wasn’t mistaken, she heard it quite clear. Flashes of memories of her dream flooded her mind. Fear squeezed her heart and she held her chest as she tried to hold the pain.

“Davina, what is the matter? Come on in” Xander ordered as he turned back and realized she was still far behind.

“Of course” Davina walked in quickly, discarding the thoughts that ran through her mind. She possibly could not be close to death. Placing his arm on her shoulder, he ushered her in. For a moment, she wanted to turn, to give up. Maybe it isn't easy after all, she thought. Maybe her mother was right.

“Davina, are you okay? Is anything the matter?” Xander asked as he watched her, lost in thoughts.

“Not at all” She placed her hands behind her and smiled..

“Good. I want to introduce you to everyone” He smiled as he took her into the training room. As predicted, other children and teenagers began to murmur. Xander could read the confused look in their eyes. He smiled as he ordered them to sit.

“She is Davina, she is our new student. She is one of you now. She will train with you all today so I want you all to take her in as she is one of you today” He explained to the students.

“But father!” Nathan objected.

“Son, do not question my authority” Xander frowned.

“Rabbi, you said you don’t train children and even girls. She is not only a girl but also a young child” The second-best student commented.

“I am not a child!” Davina fired.

“Then I guess you are a grown-up adult, is that it?” Nathan stretched his arms as he stared at her angrily.

“Nathan. Do not be rude” Xander scolded Nathan.

“Rules changed” Xander announced as he turned to the student who had questioned him. “So today, I want you Nathan to train Davina on how to hold a sword.” His father instructed

“Why me, father? She is too young and feeble, I can't train her!” Nathan stood up angrily

“Well, that’s why you will train her. You are the youngest in this Academy so you know how you will train a young chap like you. I want her to know how to grab a hold of the sword as soon as possible.”

“But father!”

“No questions, no questioning" Xander turned to Davina who watched Nathan in disgust. Not like she wanted him to tutor her anyway.

“Davina, my dear, Nathan is my son. He is just a few years older than you so you can interact with him as much as you want. Feel free.” Xander smiled.

“Thank you” She bowed courteously. He smiled at her before diverting a stern gaze at his son.

“Isaac and Elvis, is there an improvement? I want to see what you can do.” Xander smiled as he walked to his regular chair to watch the children. “Nathan, take her to the end of this class and train her. You have few hours to do that.” He turned to Davina “Go with him, he will train you on the fundamentals of what you need to know”

“Okay” She bowed courteously again at him. For a reason, he did not know, these actions of hers amused him in a way he did not understand. She walked in line with Nathan as he led her to the inner room. She was wowed when she walked in as sights and beauties of different rapiers caught her gaze.

“Could you close your mouth? If you stay here admiring all day, I wonder when we will get to train” Nathan informed with anger radiating from his voice.

“Hmm hmm,” She cleared her throat as she walked towards him. He had already picked two swords.

“Aargh” She shouted as he threw his sword at her. He shook his head in irritation. He had no choice after all. She quickly stood up and picked the sword. She struggled with it as it seemed too heavy for her.

“To grab a sword, you should hold it here ” He demonstrated as he explained to her. He explained and taught her how to yet she wasn’t getting it.

“You should help your mother in the kitchen. This is not for you. You can never get this” He shook his head in disappointment and frustration. Davina herself could not understand what was happening as that was not the first time she was holding a sword even though it was not a real sword.

“I will learn it, just give me another chance” She pleaded.

“You are a waste of time” He frowned

“Are you always this rude?” Davina questioned angrily. His actions portrayed pride but she never expected it to be as terrible as it was.

“Just to immature time wasters and rules breaker like you. To everyone else? I am not” He crossed his arms.

“You are out of your mind” She frowned. “It's fine if you won’t tutor me, I will inform your father.” She made to walk out

“Where do you think you are going?” He asked as he grabbed her arms.

“To your father” She yanked off his hands.

“You are going nowhere” He stood in her way.

“Will you teach me or should I go to your father?” She crossed her arms with a smirk on her face.

“Of course, I will” He frowned.

“What did you say?” She feigned ignorance.

“I said I will” He yelled.

“Of course” She smiled. She walked up to him and faster than she had expected, she was able to grab the sword.

“For once, I wonder what you should be doing with a sword. You should be helping your mother to sell wares or cook for the family” He smirked

“And I guess you should help your father start a farm business, isn't it?” She asked as she was able to grab the sword properly. She smiled as she watched the smirk on his face transform into anger. It was unexpected.

“I can’t do this. Do whatever you want” He frowned as he walked out angrily. A victorious smile crept into her face. She was happy she could handle the sword well. She walked out too and watched Nathan progress towards other members of the academy.

“Where is Davina? Did she get it right?” Nathan asked as he took a slice of apple from the table right by his side.

“Yes, I have” She smiled as she walked to join them.

“Very good. You spent a lot of time there. It’s time for you to go home” Xander smiled at Davina.

“Thank you, master!” She bowed excitedly.

“My regards to your mother and father” He smiled and waved at her. Davina ran home happily, finally, she was achieving something. Her father would still be engrossed in his paintings as he was an artist. She decided to go over to her mother’s place. She walked into the market, locating her mother wasn’t difficult at all as anyone coming into the market would locate her quickly.

“Mother!” She hugged her mother from behind.

“Oh Davina, you scared me” Her mother held her chest.

“I am sorry” She pleaded.

“Of course, it’s fine” Sara smiled at Davina. “How did your training go today?”

“Well, cool. Nathan was just so annoying” She frowned as his thoughts crossed her mind.

“Who?” Her mother asked as she rearranged her wares more attractively.

“Nathan. Nathan is….”

“Xander's son?” Sara questioned.

“Yes,” She frowned as she helped her mother in arranging the wares. One of the plates her mother sells fell to the floor.

“Davina, be careful” Her mother advised.

“Yes, mother” She bent to pick the plate. Picking it, the pebbles she had gathered to play with fell to the floor. Sighing in frustration, she picked the pebbles one after the other. Suddenly, a pair of shoes stopped in front of her. She looked up quickly to see who it was as she felt a negative aura emanating from whoever it was.

Just like time froze for a second, all she saw was people didn’t change their spot, actions nor gestures. She looked at the woman again. Of course, the woman looked so familiar to her. She just couldn’t remember where she had met her. The woman looked at her with a look Davina could not describe but she knew whatever it was didn’t mean well. She watched the woman stare at the necklace on her neck in a strange way.

Davina held the necklace, she couldn’t tell if the woman was a thief. The woman shifted her gaze from the necklace on Davina's neck to her face. She looked around her but nowhere was there.

“Davina” Sara snapped her fingers at her.

“Mother” She looked around. Was she hallucinating? She knew she wasn’t hallucinating.

“Are you okay?” Her mother questioned.

“Yes, I am” She smiled. She was hallucinating.

“Can you give me a plate over there?” Her mother requested.

“Yes mother” She smiled excitedly. She picked a plate and what happened next was a shock to her. She just didn’t understand how the plate slipped off her hands. She bent to pick the plate. Davina was lost in thoughts, what was happening at that time had happened previously. She picked up the plate. Maybe, it was just a coincidence of what happened and not otherwise.

“Davina, pass me another plate” Her mother ordered as she attended to the buyer who wanted to purchase some wares from her.

“Of course” She bent to pick another plate but she could swear, she handled this with care so there must be something wrong.

She bent and was about to pick it angrily when she discovered a pair of legs, the same shoes, walking towards her mother's store. Fear gripped her heart. She slowly stood up and her eyes met the women. She felt tangled as she couldn’t break eye contact no matter how hard she tried.

“Mother!” She called but she also could not hear her voice. What was happening? She thought. She tried to call her mother again but it turned out to be the same. The woman shifted her gaze to the necklace on Davina's neck and finally, she was able to look around. Her mother was still smiling and negotiating with the buyer. Everyone continued with their business like they didn’t see her.

“It’s beautiful. It should be mine, not yours” The woman frowned. “Give me what belongs to me”

“I gave her the necklace. It is hers, not yours” The woman who had gifted Davina the necklace appeared from nowhere.

“You very well know I deserve it not this one” The lady pointed at Davina. Davina stood at the spot, shocked. She could not move as her feet were glued to the floor. She wondered if she was the only one seeing it as no one seemed to bother. She looked around in shock and by the time she looked forward, they were gone.

“Davina” Her mother snapped again. “What's the matter with you?”

“Nothing mother, I am fine” She lied.

“Don’t you dare lie to me?” Her mother frowned.

“Do you fear death, do you constantly fear you dying one day?” Sara was taken aback, okay that was definitely not what she was expecting. She wondered where Davina could have been heard such as she believed Davina was too small to know the words she said.

“Well, we will all die one day” Her mother answered.

“I believe mine is closer than anyone's own,” She shrugged.

“Why would you say that? Don’t say that. Where did you hear that from? “ Her mother questioned with a fearful heart.

“Well, no one told me. “ She looked away from her mother.

“You won’t die” Sara grimaced.

“Of course, I will. Not just today not tomorrow” Davina answered unbothered as she scribbled something on her mother’s table.

“Davina, come! Run! Leave!” Sara yelled as a strange woman charged towards Davina with a dagger in her hand.