The Phoenix Order

Stones Frozen

Afleck sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of Bushido's Dojo, his head still spinning from the sudden sparring with his ally, "Tea?" Bushido came with a kettle of tea and Afleck nodded, both of them sat there in the dojo. As he sipped his green tea, Bushido cleared his throat "I had been exploring the outside world lately Afleck, and me and my contact Mimi had found something that may interest both our kingdoms," Afleck pondered the latest bit of intelligence from, Mimi. "What have she seen?" Afleck asked, Bushido took a sip of tea before continuing. "You just have come along and see for yourself," he simply said. The both of them sat there and finished their tea and got up, "Well, I have to get back home and talk with the elder," Afleck said, picking up his newly forged Whip Sword, "Your still holding on to the bitter wounds of the past Afleck?" Bushido asked, Afleck only slowly turned his head.

"The bitter wounds of the past are what drives you forward," he turned back to Bushido to continue "I am no longer bound to the old ways, I can assure you that new bloods will one day all replace us." "Not all of us" a female voice intercepted, "Foxtrot" Afleck murmured, going to her to give her a hug, "How's the big guy?" He asked, "Oh you know, Siegfried is still trying to make peace with his past," "Galgavun's still in contact?" Afleck asked "Not that much, he shows up once a few times, but not that much no more." She said, "Well, say hi to Siegfried for me. I need to go." Afleck said, bidding farewell. "Afleck, remember what I'm about to say, Mimi and her small band of soldiers will be meeting us here the next dusk and, we shall need your help with the mission." Bushido said, Afleck only nodded his head and left the Dojo.

Dusk came and Afleck went back to Bushido's Dojo and there he was greeted by Siegfried in the balcony, "There's the big guy!" Afleck shouted, waving his hand in the air, "And there is the Big Bird," Siegfried replied, "Come in, we were just about to go." Bushido greeted Afleck as Foxtrot, Siegfried and Mimi came out of the building.

Mimi, though old, was always a whirlwind of energy, a treasure hunter whose enthusiasm for the unknown often led her down paths most wouldn't dare tread. During their recent conversation, she had mentioned a peculiar structure deep in the woods — a tall, angular edifice that seemed to pulse with mystery. Intrigued, Afleck knew he had to tag along.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that danced through the trees, the five of them embarked on their journey southbound and Mimi hadn't slowed her chatter since they left town, her curiosity infectious. "I've never seen nor heard about this one before, a large temple that houses petrified human bodies, as if they were frozen in time." She said, Afleck only nods his head, "Must it be Astron once more?" Siegfried asked, "It's not him, these bodies do not show any sign of ice nor any water that has been inside or near them in years." Mimi replied.

It was dark when they reached the temple and they climbed briskly, their breaths blending with the sounds of nature. Finally, they reached the crest, and Siegfried's eyes widened as he gazed upon the structure, flashbacks from his youth came to him, the visions of fire and blood flooded his mind and his hybrid ancestors showed themselves and it was then he knew what it was. It loomed over them, a monolith crafted from age-old stone, covered in vines and creeping moss. The architecture was foreign yet strangely arresting, like something out of a forgotten world.

"Look!" Mimi darted towards the entrance, her fingers trailing the jagged edges of the doorframe. "This place has been untouched."

"A place that I know in my time," Siegfried said as he looked at the ground, "Twenty-Eight years ago," he said, "This place was the final location of the tournament, One Hundred of the greatest hybrid humans were here, the last One Hundred made their stand in this very temple." He added before he knelt to the ground, inspecting the steps, "Many men and hybrids had shed their life blood upon each others blades, a large battle my ancestors took place." Siegfried added, "So this was told by your father?" Mimi asked, "I was there at that very night." He continued as he walked to the entrance, slowly walking though the hallways, "I was a young child when all of this took place, my grandfather was slain in battle by humans and my father perished at the wraith of fire, I was lucky that I got out of there, though I was grazed by an arrow and captured. I, along with many a child and women were enslaved, forced to fight to the death, but I was freed by an old man, a stranger that gave me kindness in a world where the darkness fades people."