The Phoenix King #1 Bed of Ashes

Chapter 14 Shadows of the Past

After days of traveling with Taren, Hikari had gained a deeper understanding of her companion. Though Taren rarely spoke about his past, she learned bits and pieces from their conversations. As they traveled, Taren often spoke fondly of Thorven, revealing that he had been a dragon slayer for the past thirty years, always accompanied by his partner, Thorven.

Growing up isolated within her Mai clan, Hikari had never heard of Taren or Thorven before but was eager to learn more. She listened intently; her curiosity piqued. One night, while they were setting up camp, she mustered the courage to ask, "Taren, you mentioned Thorven being your partner for thirty years. How did you two meet?"

Taren looked into the flickering flames, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. "It all started when I stumbled upon an egg in the ruins of a village destroyed by a dragon. The village was in ashes, and amidst the devastation, I found this egg, warm and pulsing with life. I took it with me, not knowing what it was."

He paused, the light of the fire reflecting in his eyes. "Weeks later, I forced the same dragon that had destroyed both of our homes to breathe life into her egg before I slayed the beast." His voice softened. "The egg hatched, and out came Thorven, a magnificent phoenix. She was small then, but her presence was powerful. I raised her, and we grew together, facing the world and its dangers side by side."

Hikari's eyes widened in amazement. "Thorven is a phoenix?" she asked, her voice filled with awe. "I thought she was just another warrior."

Taren nodded, a proud smile on his face. "She's not just any phoenix. She's my partner, my savior. There was a time, early on, when I faced a dragon far more powerful than I could handle. I was certain I wouldn't survive. But Thorven, still young, came to my rescue. She unleashed her shocking power and drove the dragon away, saving my life."

As they continued their journey, Hikari watched Taren closely, taking note of his every move. The way he gracefully swung his axe, the set of his jaw when facing danger, and the calm expression that never wavered. Despite her eagerness to learn and fight, Taren refused to train her, but she was resolute in absorbing everything she could from observing him.

Hikari remembered her mother's words, Learn where you can because training doesn't come easy. She took those words to heart as she observed Taren, studying his stance and the way he held his weapon during a fight and while hunting. She noticed how he moved with purpose, using his surroundings to his advantage and carefully analyzing potential threats. Hikari couldn't help but admire his skill, even if he refused to pass it on to her directly.

One afternoon, as Hikari was gathering water from a nearby stream, Taren rested in a tree, his eyes ever watchful. Suddenly, Taren whistled sharply, catching her attention. He gestured toward the woods ahead, a silent warning. Hikari followed his gaze and froze. A massive boar, bristling with power, stood at the edge of the forest, staring her down. An eerie blue electricity crackled around the beast, illuminating the shadows of the trees.

Panic surged through Hikari, and she instinctively took a step back. The boar, sensing her fear, charged. Before it could reach her, Taren leapt down from the tree, landing firmly between her and the charging beast. He planted his feet and caught the boar's head with his muscular arms. "It's a Thunder boar," he called out to her, his voice steady. "Get away from the water."

Hikari's heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled to follow his instructions, ducking behind the tree Taren had been in. For a moment, she lost sight of the action, but she could hear the boar's enraged snorting and the crackle of electricity.

When she peeked back around the tree, she saw Taren with his axe, Stormbringer, in hand. With a powerful swing, he knocked the boar into the air. The boar landed with a splash in the stream, the water sparking and crackling as the electrified beast thrashed.