Time

Prologue 23

Past felt different emotions flow through her body.

First of all, she was angry. How dare Travis do that! Especially when he's Adopted by Death! Second of all, she was worried. What would happen to Madison? Third of all, Past was excited. Her daughter had just been kissed! Because the negative feelings outweighed the neutral and positive, Past was angry. She didn't like the relationship, especially when the boy had killed her sister!

Past sighed with a trembling breath and set off to cleaning her cave.

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Neter felt nervousness rattle his bones. Why had he decided to do this?

Because it's the right thing to do. His inside voice whispered.

Neter sighed and got up, going to Knowlridge and shaking him awake. "What is it?" Knowlridge asked groggily.

"I need to tell you something, get up." Neter answered. Knowlridge obeyed and sat up, watching intently. "I'm Adopted." Neter said, looking straight at Knowlridge. Knowlridge expression changed from curiosity to... well, it was still curious, just more curious.

"Who's you Parent?" Knowlridge asked, sitting up a bit straighter and watching Neter even more intently.

"That's where things get a bit... bad." Neter answered, lowering his head. "My Father's... Life." Knowlridge was silent for a moment.

"Good." Knowlridge stated, in a simple voice. "Which side are you on?"

"I'm with Travis, you know that." Neter answered. Knowlridge was smiling.

"Then you, my friend, had better get to Cranthorn." Knowlridge stated. "Here." Knowlridge handed a pendant to Neter. It was embedded with jewels, but there were two missing, their empty slots ruining the necklace's beauty.

"What does this do?" Neter asked, hanging it around his neck.

"You'll find out." Knowlridge said. "Now, get your egg. The one that you received from your Awakening." Neter obeyed, going to his pack and removing his egg. "Do you have a blade?" Knowlridge asked, as he removed the egg from Neter's hands.

"Yes. It's a vine blade, and it can transform into a ring, see?" Neter pulled a green ring out of his pocket.

"Good." Knowlridge stated. He was holding the egg over a fire. Neter could see something squirming within the egg. "Neter, take your sword and smash the egg."

"What!" Neter exclaimed.

"Just do it!" Knowlridge ordered. Neter was horrified, but held confidence in Knowlridge. He transformed his ring into the light blade from his dreams and walked forward to the egg. Neter lifted the blade... and brought it down on the egg, spraying fragments of shell all over the fire. Something wet and wriggling fell into the fire, and... boom! There was an explosion.

After the ringing in Neter's ears stopped, he got up and went to the doused fire. There was a phoenix, a small one, perched there on the smoldering sticks. It was made of blue flames, but its eyes were glowing white. It looked to Neter and chirped. Suddenly, the phoenix flew up and flared, sending a blinding light on all the surroundings. When the light dissipated, the tiny fire-bird had become a magnificent phoenix, flying regally over the clearing. It landed on the ground.

"Now ride it all the way to Cranthorn." Knowlridge stated, getting up from his spot on the charred ground. Neter silently did so, boosting himself up onto the back of the phoenix. The flames weren't hot, instead they were warm and surrounded Neter, holding him in place. Knowlridge tossed Neter's pack up to him and the phoenix thrust its wings down, lifting itself and Neter up into the sky. Neter waved down to Knowlridge and the phoenix jet forward, leaving Knowlridge far behind.