The Last Phoenix

By Ryan Ouellette

Verdant rivers of life rushed from the mountaintop beneath Sayara, flowing around her. The currents carried her mind deeper until she touched a faint presence—a spark fighting for its life.

The familiar clicking of wood on stone disrupted her focus. She searched for the presence again—but nothing. What was it doing inside the mountain?

She eased her eyes open, twisting to face her visitor. “Master Fieris. I was just resting.”

A smile creased his aged face as he strolled across the grass to her. “Your body, or your mind?”

She sighed. “I’m trying to get my mind off the war. But…”

He eased himself onto the ground next to her. “Such knowledge often weighs us down. The key to carrying this burden is taking action—just like the heroes in the Legends.”

“What am I supposed to do? The war is so much bigger than us.”

Fieris stroked his beard. “It’s time to show you the real reason for your training.”

“I won’t lead the monks after you?”

“Eventually I’ll need a successor. But for now, you must walk a different path.”

She frowned. “Is it related to the presence I felt inside the mountain?”

Surprise flashed in Fieris’s eyes. “Follow me.” He turned, gesturing across the peak.

Hiking down the rugged path, both stayed silent, but inside Sayara held a maelstrom of emotions. What exactly did she discover? Why did Master react that way?

After an hour they entered a wooden elevator. Fieris pulled a lever, lowering them to a door cut into the mountainside.

Sayara cocked her head. “Why are we here? It’s forbidden.”

“Not anymore.”

Fear and excitement creeped up her spine. She took a deep breath to relieve the tightness in her chest. “Then let’s go.”

The sage nodded. “Soa-neir!” Two symbols over the lintel glowed white as the door opened enough for a person to enter.

Sayara followed her mentor into a dark corridor, fighting the urge to clench her jaw. It never helped her stay calm.

The door rumbled shut behind them. Utter darkness descended, but they didn’t need eyes to walk the path. The life currents flowed stronger in the mountain. Sayara focused on feeling currents with her bare feet, letting them guide her.

Time seemed irrelevant as they headed deeper into the mountain. She probed for the presence but found nothing. The uneven path caused a dull ache in her feet, interfering with her focus.

Just as the last of her fortitude crumbled, weak beams of bright ruby light pierced the darkness.

As Sayara stepped through the opening, the presence from earlier touched her mind again.

She shielded her eyes until they adjusted—and froze. A creature the size of a great yak perched on an overhang, pressing its wings against its body. Brilliant ruby light illuminated the cavern, and fiery tendrils danced around the creature’s diminished figure. Crimson feathers floated down from it, littering the cave floor.

“I thought it—”

“She.” Fieris stepped up next to her.

“I thought she would be bigger.”

“She used to be.” His voice took on a grave tone. “She’s been fighting ever since the tide of the war turned against the phoenixes, but her strength is gone.”

“I thought they rose from the ashes when they died.”

Fieris shook his head. “Not this time. She’s a fading remnant. Her life force isn’t strong enough for rebirth.”

Where have you been? The phoenix flapped her blazing wings, landing in the cavern’s center. Sayara clutched her temples as the words echoed inside her mind.

Fieris walked toward the creature. “Tanu, meet my apprentice.”

Sayara hurried to his side.

Tanu cocked her head. Is this the girl you spoke of?

“She is.”

Sayara glanced between the two. He was hearing the phoenix, too? And he’d spoken about her? “Master… What’s going on?”

You haven’t told her?

“Master?”

He turned to her. “I trained you to become the next phoenix.”

“I… You… what?”

“From the moment I saw your spirit, I knew the phoenix race could live on in you. The war’s coming for us, Sayara. With the power of the phoenix, you can go out there and stop it.”

“You mean…”

Tanu shook off some loose feathers. I’m the last phoenix.

Sayara’s gaze fell. She’d be the last phoenix too. Was that worth it?

“Please, Sayara, look at me.”

She lifted her face to him.

“This isn’t the only way. If you don’t want to become a phoenix, then we’ll find a different path to save them. But if Tanu continues fighting, they’ll be dead forever.”

Sayara didn’t remember much of her life before the monks. Whenever she tried, she only remembered sadness and pain. The few recurring images made little sense.

The peaceful monastery was her world. Could she really leave it?

Sayara turned her focus on Tanu. Instead of a vibrant soul, she sensed the same flickering spark from earlier. Her gut clenched.

Time wasn’t on anyone’s side.

She straightened. “What happens if I do this?”

Fieris sighed. “Nothing is certain.”

The legends of the phoenixes bubbled to the surface of her memory. They used their power to protect kingdoms and heal ravaged lands.

She couldn’t sacrifice everyone else’s peace for her own.

Sayara smiled. “I’d be honored to become a phoenix.”

Tanu spread her wings. Sayara, focus on me.

She concentrated on Tanu’s dying spark, and this time she felt Tanu reaching back.

Wildfire exploded through every nerve. White engulfed her vision. A scream ripped from her throat as the agony of a thousand years consumed her. Sayara dropped to her knees.

Then it stopped.

Grit rubbed against her skin.

Fieris held a torch over her. His concern melted into a smile. “You’re awake.”

Sayara glanced where Tanu had stood. Ashes. A chill dropped down her spine.

She gazed down to…hands? Sparks flew from her palms.

“Human and phoenix…” Fieris whispered.

Sayara curled her fingers into fists. Whatever it took, she would stop the war from devouring her world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Ouellette is a self-taught author who binges too many cartoons. When he’s not wandering off to imaginary worlds, he’s either playing with the dogs, burning brain cells to get through high school, or working on the family farm over on the outskirts of Prattville, Alabama.

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