The Phoenix's Clipped Wings | Kaedehara Kazuha

Chapter 12

I look at the man in front of me a bit surprised, I haven't seen him in so long that I almost forgotten about him.

He looks surprised at seeing me as well,  he stares at me with his eyes wide.

"Phoenix?"

"Dain?"

Paimon gawks at this, "wait!? You two know each other!?"

I blink my eyes, looking away as Dainsleif does the same. "Ahem, you could say that." I calm myself down as I look at Paimon and Aether. "We met through my teacher during the time of my training." I explain.

"That's right, it's been so long Phoenix."

"Indeed it has."

Aether looks up between the taller people as they talk about he isn't quite familiar with.

"That reminds me, what are you doing here Dain? Where you going to the village or just passing by?" I ask, crossing my arms as I adjust the red  haori around my shoulders.

"Wait!? Are we just going to ignore the fact that we almost died in there!?" Paimon shouts as she points to the direction of the hidden temple the three of you were all just in.

I sigh.

The three of you explained what happened in the temple.

—

"Are you sure you'll be okay being alone here?" Paimon asks Phoenix as the four of them stood in Windrise. After explaining everything to Dainsleif, the four of you went to go defeat a couple ruinguards to look for an item the Abyss Order was looking for and he wanted to find it first.

He, Aether and Paimon wanted to go to the Cathedral in Mondstadt but Phoenix decided to stay outside to prevent any trouble.

While Aether and Paimon went ahead, Dainsleif stayed behind to speak few words to her. "I've heard about what happened in Dragonspine."

The woman lets out a hum, admiring a crystal fly that landed on her finger. "You could really be careful especially with the amount of power you have, you could alert the Abyss Order."

"Maybe if the people of Mondstadt would actually try to do something instead of always thinking the knights would protect them....." She lets out a frustrating sigh, "nevermind, when the day this city sees how close they are to danger, it would be to late. No one would come to their rescue."

Dainsleif raises a brow at this.

"Just be careful, that's all I ask of you."

"I can handle myself, don't worry about me, Dain. Now run along, they must be waiting for you."

—

When they came back, they immediately told you that you all needed to go to  Wolvendom since the Abyss Order was over there doing who knows what trouble.

As Aether and Paimon hurried ahead, both you and Dainsleif stopped walking which they took notice.

"What's wrong?" Paimon asked.

"We'll be staying here. I think it's best if we stay out of the Knight's way for now." The blonde said as you nod your head.

"With what happened a couple days ago, I doubt Phoenix would like to be around the people of Mondstadt."

Paimon hums, "...alright then, we'll see you guys later." Aether doesn't say another and they both leave.

"Now," You look at Dainsleif as he crosses his arms, "you have some explaining to do about using that power of yours."

You sigh but you eventually told him everything.

—

The two came back 30 minutes later as you and Dainsleif continued to catch up with one another.

The two of you were quick to hide as Jean was patrolling the area. He didn't want to involve himself with the knights and you didn't anything else to do with Mondstadt. The troubles they are going to have are their problems.

After leaving Wolvendom, you all went to Stormterror's lair to find the device and you all did. But the thing that made you feel uneasy was the fact that it was staring in the direction of Celestia.

Dainsleif said he would hold onto the device so it wouldn't fall into the hands of the abyss order.

Deciding to go back to the hidden hideout of the abyss, you all enter the same way you, Aether and Paimon escaped and was relieved by the fact that there was nothing trying to cause you all trouble.

Standing in front of the upsidedown statue of what seemed to be Venti, you could feel worry growing inside of you.

Approaching the statue, you place a hand on it as you took a closer look at it.

"Phoenix, watch out!?" Paimon voice rang out as you looked behind your shoulder to find the Abyss Herald trying to grab ahold you.

Barely dodging the attack, your cheek was cut slightly as it's claws scratched you and you jump to the side.

Just was it was going to grab you again, you teleported away from it as it grabbed the particles from where you just stood.

"Are you alright?" Dainsleif asked as he looks at you before putting himself between you and the Herald as Aether got into a fighting stance.

"Go, I'll be support!" Aether hears your voice ringing in his head before he nods, drawing his sword out as the Herald stands there.

—

Aether continues to battle the Herald before he jumps back and lifts up a arm and opens up a portal but just as he was going to escape.

You and Dainsleif lift your your arms, as the blonde uses an invisible force that shines a bright blue and begins to choke the Herald, dragging it back as the portal disappears.

In a quick move, you tighten the hold on the Herald, making it stop struggling as Dainsleif continues to have a hold of him so he wouldn't escape. Your hand glows a bright red as a light of red surrounding the Herald's body like a rope as you continued to tighten the grip.

You glared at it with such hatered before you notice someone running towards you two, a sword in hand as they attack you both.

Dainsleif, being quick, grabbed ahold of you and you both stumbled back as you you looked up at this person.

You hear Aether gasp and you quickly look up at him to see him surprised, his eyes wide.

"Lumine!"