The rise of the flamed bird

Ashes of time

Three years had passed since Bernard first arrived at the half-breeds' haven, the ragtag yet resilient group of people with bloodlines as tangled as the world's history. In those years, he had grown stronger—both physically and mentally—under Mark's relentless training. His powers had matured, and his control over them sharpened, but the internal conflict remained: an ever-burning question about his destiny, his family, and the world he was meant to either save or destroy.

The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in fiery oranges and deep purples as Bernard stood on a hill, watching over the training grounds where young half-breeds sparred. He could feel the heat of the day slowly giving way to the cool breeze of evening, his body still carrying the weight of the afternoon's training.

He had become a force to be reckoned with—one who commanded respect, but also fear. His powers, drawn from four of the ancient houses, were unprecedented. With every passing day, he felt them grow more potent, more unpredictable. And yet, with that power came a sense of isolation, a gap between himself and the others. Even Mark, who had once seemed invincible in Bernard's eyes, now spoke to him with a cautious tone, as if wary of what Bernard might become.

But there was one person who had never treated him differently, no matter how much his power grew. Ava.

"Daydreaming again, Bernard?" Ava's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

She appeared at his side, her red hair catching the last rays of the setting sun, making it look as if it were ablaze. Her presence was as constant as the sky above, and for the past three years, she had been his anchor. They had fought together, trained together, and more importantly, they had built something more than just friendship—though neither had dared to name it aloud.

"You should know by now, I don't dream. I plan," Bernard replied with a smirk, glancing sideways at her.

"Is that what you were doing? Planning?" Ava asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because it looked an awful lot like you were staring into the abyss of nothing."

He chuckled. "Maybe a bit of both."

They stood in silence for a moment, the comfortable kind that comes after years of knowing someone. The wind tugged at their clothes, and for a moment, Bernard was aware of how close Ava stood beside him. There was a warmth between them that had nothing to do with the summer air.

"Three years," she said quietly, as if reading his mind. "It doesn't feel like it's been that long."

"No, it doesn't," Bernard agreed. He looked down at her, noticing the way her eyes reflected the fading light. "We've come a long way, Ava."

"We have," she murmured, her gaze turning serious. "But there's still a long way to go, isn't there?"

Bernard nodded, the weight of the future pressing heavily on his shoulders. The threat of the vampire king still loomed, and the mystery of his sister, Audrey, haunted him. Every day, the sense of urgency grew stronger, as if time itself was running out.

But for now, in this quiet moment, Bernard didn't want to think about the battles to come. He didn't want to think about his powers, his enemies, or even his sister. All he could focus on was the woman beside him—the one who had stood by him through it all.

"Ava," he began, his voice low and tentative. "There's something I need to say."

She turned to face him fully, her expression curious but guarded. "What is it?"

Bernard hesitated, unsure how to put the feelings into words. They had always been good at skirting around the truth, but tonight felt different. Tonight, he wanted to be honest.

"I don't know what's going to happen in the future," he said, his voice steady. "I don't know if I'll be able to save Audrey, or if I'll survive the battles we'll face. But what I do know is that... you've been the one constant in all of this. You've kept me grounded. You've made me feel... human."

Ava's eyes softened, and for a moment, she didn't speak. Then, with a small smile, she stepped closer, so close that Bernard could feel the heat of her body against his. "I've always seen you as human, Bernard. Even when you forget that yourself."

His heart pounded in his chest as her words sank in. Without thinking, he reached out and took her hand, pulling her closer. The distance between them vanished in an instant, and suddenly, the years of unspoken tension, the glances, the lingering touches—all of it boiled over.

Their lips met in a heated, desperate kiss, as if the weight of the world around them had finally become too much to bear alone. Bernard's arms wrapped around her, pulling her tightly against him as her hands tangled in his hair. Time seemed to stand still, and for once, Bernard wasn't thinking about the future or the past. There was only this moment—this perfect, fleeting moment with Ava.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless, their foreheads pressed together as they tried to regain their composure. Ava's eyes glimmered with a mixture of surprise and something deeper—something that Bernard had never been brave enough to acknowledge before.

"We've wasted too much time, haven't we?" Ava whispered.

Bernard nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, we have."

She laughed softly, the sound like music to his ears. "Then let's not waste any more."

They stood there for a moment longer, holding each other as the last light of the day faded into night. Bernard knew that their lives were about to get even more complicated, that the challenges ahead would be greater than anything they had faced before. But for now, he allowed himself to forget about all of that.

For now, there was only Ava.

The weeks that followed saw Bernard and Ava grow even closer. Their relationship, once filled with unspoken tension, had blossomed into something deep and intimate. They still trained together, but now there was a sense of understanding between them that went beyond words. Every touch, every glance was charged with emotion.

But the world around them hadn't stopped turning. The vampire king's forces were growing stronger, and the half-breeds knew that war was inevitable. Bernard's training became even more intense as Mark pushed him to his limits, preparing him for the battles ahead.

One evening, after an especially grueling session, Bernard sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. He could feel the fire burning just beneath his skin, always threatening to break free. The power within him was growing stronger every day, and with it, the fear that he might lose control.

"Bernard?"

He looked up to see Ava standing in the doorway, her expression soft but concerned. She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.

"You're pushing yourself too hard," she said, crossing the room to sit beside him.

"I have to," Bernard replied, his voice rough. "I have to be ready."

Ava shook her head. "You're ready, Bernard. You've been ready for a long time. But you can't do this alone."

"I don't have a choice," he said, the frustration evident in his voice. "I'm the only one who can stop the vampire king. I'm the only one who can protect Audrey."

"You're not alone," Ava insisted, placing a hand on his arm. "You've got me. You've got Mark. We're all in this together."

Bernard met her gaze, and for a moment, the weight of his burden seemed to lift. He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Ava."

She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "Well, lucky for you, you'll never have to find out."

For the first time in weeks, Bernard felt a sense of peace. He knew the battles ahead would be fierce, and that the future was uncertain. But with Ava by his side, he felt like he could face anything.

Whatever came next, they would face it together.