The Phoenix's Clipped Wings | Kaedehara Kazuha

Chapter 9

The air in the village was unsettling, the people of the village could feel how their guardian was feeling.

A little girl with pigtails watches as the [H/C] haired female walks past her and everyone else, she was frowning as she quickly leaves her mother's side ad follows the older woman.

She could hear her mother calling out to her but she continues to follow Phoenix who seems to be in deep thought to notice her. They walk past the main temple in the village and into a near by river leading to the corps.

Sitting down, Phoenix just sat there, staring at the water before the little girl standing behind her spoke up.

"Um, is something bothering you!" The little girl exclaims, holding her dress with her hands in fists as she stares the female who was now looking at her.

Phoenix stares at the girl and saw how shy she was confronting her. She seem determined to hear her answer as the [H/C] looks back at the water.

"Lily," she quietly calls out the little girl's name which startles her a bit. "You should head back, your mother will get worried." Phoenix says nothing after that.

Her eyes are fixed on the stream, watching as the fish swim peacefully before hearing Lily saying she'll go back.

Phoenix's POV

No longer feeling her presence, you relax a bit before feeling a bit frustrated as you begin to think back to the previous events at Dragonspine. You knew letting Durin's presence would only bring harm to the alchemist since he too will lose control some day.

Just like you almost did that day, you were determined to save this stranger but yet...he felt familiar.

Placing your hand in the water, watching as the Sakura petals float away and down the river slowly. You gather your thoughts and stand up, you took notice that the day was almost coming to an end so you went back to the village.

You spot some children playing in the main square and waved at you as you passed by. You look up at the long stairway leading to a temple with a large sakura tree beside it, it felt nogestic.

You remember when your teacher would always wait for you at the top of the stairs everytime you came back from training.

She would always extended her hand out for you to take with a smile visible on her lips as you stood at the bottom of the stairs before running up to her. Then you two would go inside the temple while you talked about what happened that day as she listened.

You can recall a conversation with her, one that made you confused and probably one of the last ones before she vanished without a trace.

'Phoenix." She called out for you as you tried to fix your kimono.

"Yes?" She looked at you with a look in her eyes you never seen before. "Once you fully become this village's guardian, try not to get too attached to the people."

You tilt your head to the side at this, "why?"

"People will come and go, they will grow old unlike us and we'll be left alone once again." She said as pats your head before standing up. "While everything changes around us with time, we remain the same just to witness changes."

You look at her with pity before looking down at yourself. 'That's right, immortality was one of the things I will gain to become the next guardian. But, if it means I can stay by teacher's side.' You think to yourself as you look up at the older woman who was busy looking at one of her scrolls. 'I can keep her company as long as time allows it.' You smile before wrapping your arms around her, startling her a bit.

"Don't worry! You don't have to be alone, you have me now." Her frown turns into a smile, one that you never got to witness.

Walking up the stairs, you enter the temple alone as the sakura petals continued to flicker in the wind.

—

"It's been soooo long since we've seen Phoenix, I wonder what she's up to." Paimon's voice echos through the quietness of the night. She and Aether had left Mondstadt after the festival ended but not without talking with Venti at Stormterror's lair as well.

"Also, you think that leaving Mondstadt like that is good?" Paimon questions him as recalls the conversation he and Jean had at her office.

She couldn't quite believe what had happened but if that's what Aether wants then she has no reason to object.

Aether doesn't saw another word as they both stop in front of a familiar place, he looks at at the illusion in front of him before he passes through, Paimon behind him, sighing.

"We have to talk to Phoenix," He says as he walks in the forest, before he finally enters the quiet village, only a few people outside as he walks to the front of temple. He looks up at it, watching as the sakura petals flutter to the ground as it gives off a shimmering glow.

Just as he's about to step on the stairs, a voice stops him.

"Traveler? What are you doing here?" He turns to see a couple of the villages looking at him confused.

He sighs, he thought he could go directly to Phoenix or rather [Y/n] but it looks like he needs to talk to her people first.

"There's something important I want to ask you all."

"What is it? Is it regarding Phoenix's recent behavior? She's distant, something we haven't experienced since the original guardian who long disappeared." One of the villagers spoke up.

Lily, the little girl, stood in the crowd, hiding behind her mother as she stares at the unfamiliar faces.

"...with your permission, can I take Phoenix for a bit?"

—

Okay I lied about not updating, got spoiled twice by the YT creators who literally have spoilers in their thumbnails and I literally hate the creators in the fandom even more. My excitement for the story line also went down the drain :D