TILLY was relieved when she saw the ice that covered the Great Fire Tree began to melt. But she was more relieved by the fact that she wasn't burning the tree down. She didn't want to admit this but controlling the Black Flame was quite hard.

It couldn't be helped since she never had the chance to truly use and master the Black Flame. Maybe she only got lucky that the Black Flame liked her enough to listen to her.

"It's done," Nia announced, then she pulled her hands away from the tree and took a step backward. "The Spirit is awake."

Tilly pulled her hands away from the tree when she felt the Spirit's warm and pure energy coming out of its trunk. By then, the ice covering the whole Divine Garden began to melt. But this time, it wasn't because of her Black Flame. "Good morning, Spirit of the Great Fire Tree."

The Spirit let out a deep, long sigh before speaking. "I didn't want you to be the first person that I see as soon as I open my eyes after a long time, Supreme."

"You should be honored," she complained, then she turned to Nia. "And you should be grateful that I brought your daughter here."

"Although I'm delighted to see my daughter again, I couldn't truly celebrate knowing that you brought her here because you need something from me," the Spirit said. "What do you want to know from me, Supreme?"

"I want to know the truth about the Fire Mages' "betrayal,"" she said, then she paused and shook her head. "Ah, we already know that Auro Moonchester did something to make it look like the Fire Mages betrayed him during his reign. What I want from you is to show me what exactly happened back then. Everything."

While the Spirit of the Great Fire Tree shows her the memory of the past, she would make a copy of it, she would record it using the spirit stone that she made specifically for that moment. After that, she would return to the Royal Capital and show it to everyone.

She needed to clear the Fire Mages' reputation first so that her clan could return safely.

Then, overthrow Aku Moonchester properly.

Finally, kill him and his cohorts.

"I will do as you say, Supreme," the Spirit said. "I will show you the truth that you seek."

"Huh?" she said, surprised. "I didn't expect you to comply easily."

"Do you think I wasn't punished after the crime I committed in the past?"

The only crime that the Spirit of the Great Fire Tree in the past was when he gave Nia all the information that Aku Moonchester asked for: the weaknesses of the gods.

"I thought Kiho punished you for that because the entire garden was frozen," she said. "I guess it's only natural that the other gods would come after you as well."

"I was the one who froze the garden, right?" Kiho, who now stood behind him with Winter in his arms, asked. "I want to retrieve that part of my memory as well."

"All will be returned to you as well, Black Serpent."

She was relieved to hear that.

"Wait," Nia, much to her chagrin said. "Now that the Spirit assured you that you'd be able to retrieve the memories of the past, I want an assurance that you will do your end of the bargain, Tilly. The Red Phoenix isn't here. Do you plan to make me wait before you burn my bond with Aku?" She shook her head firmly. "I can't wait any longer. Once you get what you want from the Spirit, Aku might already be here by then."

"Don't worry, Nia," she assured her. Then, she snapped her fingers. "I brought the core of my brother's red flame with me."

The royal princess was left speechless when Sentinel appeared beside her.

Sentinel, her brother's spirit guardian, was stronger now that Wixx entrusted his 'core' to him. The core was the Red Phoenix's source of red flame. That was why Sentinel's flame felt almost similar to the Red Phoenix now.

Of course, leaving his brother alone without his core was dangerous. That was why as soon as her deal with Nia was over, Sentinel would immediately return to Wixx.

"Don't worry, Nia Moonchester," Sentinel said to the princess. "I carry my lord's core. It's enough as long as I burn your tie with Aku Moonchester, isn't it?"

Nia looked satisfied as she nodded. "As long as the damned tie gets burn down, I don't care who does it."

"Very well," Tilly said, then she turned to the Spirit of the Great Fire Tree. "Shall we begin?"

"This is going to be a long ride," the Spirit said, then the dry leaves on the tree's branches began to turn red again. It didn't take time for the leaves to get fully "resurrected" by being literally on fire. "Now, let's visit the past."

***

WINTER was surprised when he woke up in an unfamiliar place.

The room he was in was spacious and luxurious, just like the room that he had from the world that he came from. Yes, he knew that it was a different world. Because in the room that he was currently in, he saw some of the things that his mother used to describe to him.

Like the big, flat-screen TV attached to the wall.

And the smartphone in his hand.

If he wasn't in such a strange "dream," he would have been excited. So even though he wanted to examine the tiny phone in his hand, he set his feelings aside and stood up. When he did, he came face-to-face with a full-length mirror.

Woah, I'm wearing strange clothes.

He knew that he was wearing a shirt, but the skull design on it looked strange. The pants he wore were also a little bit too tight, and there were holes in the knee area.

My room looks luxurious but my pants are torn. Am I rich or poor?

Aside from that, he also couldn't describe the white shoes that he wore. Although it looked strange, it felt comfortable.

But I shouldn't be concerned with my outfit.

Maybe he should be more concerned by the fact that his appearace changed. Back in his world, he was only five years old. But right now, he seemed to be older than the age he had during his first life. If his estimation was correct, then he must be eighteen or nineteen years old.

What in the world is happening…?

His thoughts were cut-off when he heard a knock on the door, followed by the voice of his mother.

"Winter…?"

"Mom!" Winter said happily. "Come in."

As soon as the door opened and his mother entered the room, he literally jumped to reach and hug her faster.

It was weird that he was now taller than his mommy.

He also noticed that his mother wore a dress that he could only describe as strange and modern. It was the type of dress that showed off her arms and legs. And it was fit, so it showed-off his mommy's dress.

I wonder if Dad has killed a man who looked at my mother the wrong way.

Anyway…

Winter literally had to look down at his mother now. "Mom, you've shrunk."

His mother laughed before she looked up at him. "No, you've just grown taller," she said, then she gently pinched his cheek. "You just turned nineteen this year, Winter."

That answer made him nervous.

Why does Mom sound like we really came from this world?

Well, he knew the answer but he was too afraid to accept it. So even if he already knew the answer, he still asked.

"Mom, where's Dad and Julian?"

"Your dad is still at work," his mother said, then she paused. "But who's 'Julian?' Is he a classmate of yours, son?"

To say that he was shocked would be an understatement.

Clearly, the mother that he had in this world wasn't the mother that he had back in his real world.

"Mom, Julian is my older brother," he said. "Have you forgotten about me?"

"You're our only child, Winter," his mother said. "It was hard for me to get pregnant because of my health issues. That's why Kiho and I decided to only have one child."

He froze from where he stood.

In this world, he still had the same parents. But why didn't Julian exist in here? Just what kind of world was this?

"Mom, wake up," Winter said seriously, then he held his mother's shoulders. "This isn't our world and I refuse to live in a world where Julian doesn't exist!"

He didn't mean to but when he raised his voice, the whole room was suddenly covered in ice...

... so was his mother,

"Mom!" he yelled in surprise, then he let go of his mother's shoulders. He was about to touch her again to try and melt her with his flame when he heard a soft laugh coming from what sounded like a woman's voice. He looked around the room, wary. "Who's there?"

"Winter Nystrom, are you sure that you don't want to live in a peaceful world like this with your dear parents?"

He clenched his hands and shook his head firmly. "I don't want a world where Julian doesn't exist!"

"But deep in your heart, I can see your desire: you don't want a sibling, Winter Nystrom," the woman said, obviously taunting him. "You want to monopolize your parents' love, don't you?"

Winter wanted to deny it but all of a sudden, he couldn't find his voice.

What's happening to me...?

***

[Memories of the past…]

"SOLEIL ROSENBERG has been reincarnated in the Fire Mage clan."

Wixx smiled at the good news. "It means it's time for the Ancient Beasts to return to earth, right?"

Kyro, the Moon God who gathered them in the shrine for the Ancient Beasts, smiled and nodded. "Yes, you may return for the meantime."

***

PS: You may send gifts if you can. Thank you~

***

[NOTE: Please ADD my story in your LIBRARY so you can be notified when I post an update. Thank you! :>]