The Phoenix (Undying Series #1)

Chapter 6

The monks, as Charlotte discovered, were called the brotherhood of Char-An. They brought her to a temple in the middle of a private forest bought by one of the elders and their current acting leader, Antonio, and has existed for many generations.

"This temple is your home, my child," he explained. Outside, it seemed like an old, abandoned building; mold, its very walls and vines had climbed the top of the pyramidal edifice but the inside is as alive and well as its inhabitants. The columns stood strong in the halls and when sun rays had peeked through the rainbow glass, the golden statues of the founders illuminate the whole place, and on the main chamber, and where rituals and festivities take place, is the statue of the phoenix in its grandeur.

Charlotte was bewildered by everything but most of all, their utmost care and respect for her. If she was her father's princess, here, she is a goddess.

"6 years ago," she started as they tour her to more corners of the temple. It turned out it is also occupied by the monks and their families, "My mom went missing. Where is she?"

Antonio, tanned and nearly bald, wrinkles on his forehead and a fading suit below the robe, answered, "Felice Drizzle was taken in by the brotherhood to be purified. We can''t risk leaving her around you anymore. Not a week later, she hung herself dead."

Dread avoided Charlotte and simply passed by. She has prepared herself for the worst. She believed her mother to be dead when 6 years ago, she didn't return home with them.

They stopped before a large, black double door. Antonio pulled a lever beside it and it opened. Then he lighted the modernized room. The murals in its vastness awed the young girl. It depicts the long history of the world. The real history starting from the foundation of the brotherhood. The carvings were immaculately detailed. They are of perfection if only they are to move.

In the middle of the room was what she perceived to be a lake, clearer than crystal and at its center, a huge oak tree in its full bloom.

Monk of inferior ranks brought them a cushion to sit at and a coffee table. They served Antonio and Charlotte tea and bread, then left. She was at a loss for words regarding the trip before she remembered what made her come here in the first place. It wasn't search for her true self, neither her mother. She didn't need those. She is a girl who concerns herself only with the future. At least, that's what she would like to believe as she prolong the conclusion of the conversation.

"There was a man, one of yours, he was one of the monks who took mom," she said, sipping delicately from her cup.

"I could only imagine it was Kal who left an impression," he snickered, "The handsome one? Doe-eyed?" she blushed at his choice of words and looked away, "He's away on an errand. Remember the men in suit? They've been watching you since you were little. They are a smaller faction of a big and influential international company who call themselves Doombringers."

"And what do they want from me?"

"You had an encounter with their boss, Barsolino, on your previous life," the more Antonio explains, the more she gets confused, "Pardon me. Barsolino used to be one of us until his daughter's death. He blames us." He told her everything there is to know about herself, questions that had been there from the beginning. They were the ones who gave them to the Drizzles, the best family for her. She has to be raised in a perfect environment, among the civilization, for her to love the world, a must if she is to be its saviour. Because that's what she was summoned for, to be the world's guardian and rid it of evil.

It started from the demon empress, Catharine, who she slayed easily, "It was more of a myth nowadays but it was all real. You could even look it up on the internet though I presume they contain only a grain of the truth," they shared a moment of laughter then he cleared his throat, "The common folks know her as the ice queen. Because she was raised in the south. She was evil, yes, but without the ice powers." Her eyes saw past through Antonio and found Catharine's sword, a trophy to her victory. It was as dark and elegant, slim yet powerful, as its previous owner.

It was made purposely for her, her father's present when she turned 15. She had used it on numerous battles, the blood that slid on it a blood made of thousands of men. It was also the weapon she used to kill her parents and take over the throne, which invoked the rebellion in Lunaruz.

"She took over all of the mainland but at the end of her reign, her hometown Lunaruz became a dot in the map. All these is courtesy of Midas, who everyone knows as the king with the golden touch."

"What have I done since then? Did I live up to my duty? Or was I a normal girl?"

He heaved a sigh, chest heavy with unknown commotion. He had done this before but it is always difficult to tell someone the path they are about to traverse, especially if it isn't an easy one.
"Before that, I must tell you about the tree. We linked it directly to your lifeline. And as you can see, it is almost at its prime. Because of the phoenix's, your, immense power, you were constructed to live a short life. Picture a fuel. The more you use, the less time you have before you turn to ashes and resurrect again as an egg. We find you with a binding spell, hatch to a baby and be given to a new family. An unending cycle. So far, the longest was 21. You never had a family of your own. You died many times over like thoae existences were nothing. But it's not nothing. You affected so many. Saved lives. I don't know how else to say it, but it is your destiny."

"A damned one," she felt the world weighing down her shoulders. Her young self couldn't comprehend much but she knew that being the saviour is a curse forced on her because that's just who she is. She was made to be miserable and alone. Watch others be happy as she drowns in her own sorrow and doom. Finally, she gave way to her tears. Antonio's comforting gestures didn't do much but if he has to break the news. They were all just trapped in their duties.

Her voice breaks as she asks, "What if it was to be cut? Would I die?"

"No, dear. It is only a figure. A representation."

"Could you take my powers away? I don't want it."

"We didn't create you, so we can't," she sobbed even more, "If you want to hate someone, hate Catharine."

"What?" she released herself from his hug.

"There was a premonition. She will be back. And we better be prepared for it."