𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐱, Kaz Brekker & Inej Ghafa

Chapter 12

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It was the next morning, and I was making my way to the library. The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows over the courtyard of the Little Palace as I walked, the air cool and still. My mind was racing, trying to piece together the fragments of my lesson with Baghra from the day before. I had learned things about myself that I hadn't been prepared for, and now, the weight of those revelations settled heavily on my chest.

Just as I reached the library's entrance, I heard someone calling my name.

"Irina!"

I turned, spotting Genya rushing toward me with a friendly grin. Her red hair gleamed in the soft morning light as she approached, and I couldn't help but smile back. It had been a while since we last spoke, and I was glad to see her.

"Hey, how have you been?" I asked, slowing my pace so she could catch up.

She sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I've been alright, just... busy. How about you? I mean, it's been a while since we've talked."

I thought for a moment, considering how to sum up everything that had been happening. "It's been going okay," I said, offering her a half-smile. "A lot on my mind, you know?"

She nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I get it. So, what brings you to the library today?"

"I need to find a book," I replied, trying to keep my tone light. I wasn't sure if I was ready to talk about everything with Genya yet.

Genya looked at me curiously but didn't press. "Ah, well, I'm sure you'll find what you need." We walked together into the library, the familiar scent of old books and parchment filling the air. I felt a sense of calm settle over me, but it didn't last long.

We had barely stepped inside when Genya spoke again, her voice a little hesitant. "So... how was your lesson with Baghra yesterday?"

I felt my shoulders tense at the mention of her name. My thoughts immediately went back to Baghra's cryptic words and the strange energy swirling inside me. "It was... eventful," I said slowly, not sure how to describe it.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Genya asked, her voice soft but insistent. She must have sensed something was off.

I hesitated, glancing at the floor. "It's just... She told me some things that I don't fully understand. Things about my parents and who I am. It's a lot to process."

Genya's expression shifted, a flash of concern crossing her features. "She didn't say anything horrible to you, did she?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, nothing like that. It's just... she told me that my parents aren't really my parents. That I'm not just a fire phoenix, that there's more to me than I realize. I don't know, Genya. It doesn't make any sense."

We paused for a moment, Genya staring at me, her gaze unreadable. I frowned, confused by the look in her eyes. Was she thinking about something? Her face softened, but there was a flicker of something else beneath the surface.

"Genya?" I called out, tapping her arm gently to snap her out of her trance. "Are you alright?"

She blinked, as if pulled from her thoughts. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice a little too high-pitched. "Just... got lost in my thoughts, I guess."

I studied her for a moment, still feeling that odd sense of unease. "You sure?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

Genya offered me a weak smile. "Yeah, it's nothing. Let's just... let's keep going."

I didn't press any further, but the strange energy that had been building around us since our conversation didn't quite leave. It was almost like there was something she wasn't telling me, but I chose to focus on the task at hand.

"Anyway," I said, shaking my head, "moving on. The real reason I came here is... Well, Baghra said that I wasn't just a fire phoenix. She said I'm a 'crowned phoenix.'" I couldn't help but sigh, feeling ridiculous just saying the words aloud.

Genya's eyes widened in surprise. "A crowned phoenix? That's... that's not something you hear every day. But wait, what does that even mean? Aren't you already a phoenix?"

I nodded, my frustration growing. "Exactly! I thought I was just a regular phoenix. But then Baghra started talking about things I don't even understand, and now I'm even more confused."

"Wait here," Genya said, cutting me off before I could say more. She walked over to one of the nearby bookshelves, her fingers skimming over the spines of the books as she searched for something. I watched her for a moment before my gaze drifted, my thoughts swirling with questions and doubts.

Genya's voice brought me back to reality. "Found it!" She called, holding up a thick, leather-bound book. She flipped it open with practiced ease, skimming through the pages before stopping at a particular section. "Here," she said, pointing to a passage. "It says here that the 'golden crowned phoenix' was a mythical creature, one with feathers that shone brighter than the sun. It could manipulate light, summon fire, and move objects without touching them. The story says it was a gift from the heavens."

I listened, my heart pounding in my chest. That sounded almost too good to be true.

"But there's more," Genya continued, her voice quiet now. "The story goes that the golden crowned phoenix was killed-no one knows how or why. But some believe that its spirit still roams the earth, waiting for the right person to carry on its legacy."

I stood frozen, processing the words as they sank in. The idea that the spirit of this mythical creature could somehow be inside of me felt impossible, but at the same time, it explained so much. The power, the fire, the strange energy that had been building up inside me... maybe it wasn't just me. Maybe I was meant for something more.

"That... that sounds like something out of a fairy tale," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Genya nodded. "It does, but that doesn't mean it's not true. You've always had power-maybe you just didn't understand it before. But now... it all makes sense. You're not just a fire phoenix. You're the crowned phoenix. And that means you have powers you haven't even unlocked yet."

I swallowed hard, a knot forming in my stomach. I wasn't sure if I was ready for whatever that meant, but I knew one thing for sure-I needed answers.

I closed the book with a snap and grabbed it, clutching it tightly to my chest. "I need to go to Baghra," I said quickly, my mind made up. "I need to learn more, to unlock these powers, whatever they are."

Genya looked at me for a moment, concern flickering in her eyes, but she didn't stop me. "Be careful," she said softly. "And remember, not everything she says will be easy to hear."

I nodded, not fully understanding what she meant but knowing that I had no choice but to face whatever lay ahead. I turned and walked out of the library, my mind set on one thing: unlocking the truth about who I really was.

As I made my way to Baghra's hut, the familiar heat from the flames seemed to intensify, prickling my skin as I walked through the rocky passage that led to her door. When I entered, I found her sitting at a small table, sipping tea with a serene look on her face.

"I know what I am now," I said without preamble, my voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline coursing through me. "And I want you to help me unlock the rest of my powers."

Baghra raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. She glanced at the book in my arms before setting her tea down with a quiet clink. "Please, take a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair in front of her.

I didn't hesitate. This was it-the moment I would begin to understand what I was truly capable of.