In the darkening evening, the forest became bathed in the light of creation. The creation of a bond forged by fate. Killian’s slow dip in mana changed. Pyre became still in the air, ablaze with light. She looked like the sun, a beacon that banished shadow.

Instantly, the cold draw of his mana being pulled out was freezing, his mana pool emptying in moments. The chill hit his brain, and in that glorious light, Killian doubled over in pain. Jol, continually confused by the goings on, panicked and flitted around chaotically.

The freeze worsened, Killian unable to draw in breath to his frigid lungs. The glare from Pyre lessened, but Killian’s mana was still being drawn. He tried to choke out some words, protest or plea, but nothing could escape his icy torture.

The blaze continued to dim. Some small part of Killian’s mind was able to sense a change. It was as though his heart had turned to ice, and he didn’t have the strength to warm himself. The pain started to lessen and Killian gratefully fell into unconscious numbness.

---------------------

Jol was mortified. His human had gone and died. The phoenix had gotten angry and killed him, taking all of his heat. The ground around Killian had frosted, his sweat-laden clothes from the house becoming stiff. The fairy had wanted to help, but he couldn’t even get close to Killian. The area around him was dangerously cold.

So, he panicked.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” He repeated, barely noticing he was saying anything. Killian had been very interesting, far more interesting than anyone Jol had met yet. Other fairies were always just weird, he thought. Now, the first thing that didn’t make him bored had gone and died.

That was just great. Jol stopped his manic flight and finally noticed that the phoenix had stopped glowing, though it was bigger again. It was nearly the same size as Jol now, looking like a murderer would. If they were a bird… and on fire.

The bird hung in the air, starting to heat the area. The fight between hot and cold was fascinating, Jol had to admit. The mana was battling between Killian’s frozen corpse and the phoenix, Pyre’s, increasing heat. The ice was melting, turning to water and then when it got closer to Killian, freezing again.

Pyre started moving, finally. It’s wings had been still, her body floating. Now, her wingbeats pushed back the frigid grass, the hot breeze from it causing them to sway. She slowly hovered down to Killian. As she did, the frost around him started to thaw. Her heat began to overpower the cold that had killed Jol’s best friend.

He was still drying the tears he had been weeping for him when Pyre landed on Killian’s back. The ice around the two instantly exploded. The eruption sent Jol flying through the air, tumbling over and over upwards. He finally stopped himself, using the wind magic that came naturally to him.

From his new vantage point, high above the clearing of trees, Jol had the best view in the world to a unique sight. In a world of magic, monsters and madness, something unique is very lucky to witness. He was too young to know why, but the sight caused his heart to swell all the same.

Auroras of light, golds and oranges, flowed around the human and the phoenix. The light began to play tricks on Jol, it almost looked as though a great translucent bird of flame was huddled over the pair. The wings of light wrapped around the clearing. Jol became spellbound. All of his soul felt electric. The air shimmered with glittering mana threads, reds and orange coronas of sparkles that were drawn to Killian and Pyre.

As he watched, the illusory phoenix raised its translucent head and let out an audible, echoing peal of song. The music affected Jol in tangible ways. He could feel his Aspects of the wind, tied to his speed and will abilities, and also his Aspect of the Fairy, the base for his body ability, growing. Jol wasn’t aware of these things in the arms length way that Killian had been, but they were parts of his personality, his ego. He knew them like he knew his arms or his wings.

They had just been infused with incredible power, and evolved in rank. Where the wind had been his ally before, it was now his plaything. He laughed for a moment of unadulterated joy as he moved at speeds he hadn’t known possible before. He danced amongst the beams of light and magic. It was a wonderland of colours and the thrum of mana was the background noise.

Jol was so caught up in his fun, that he didn’t see Killian start to stand up, surrounded by that immense phoenix of mana. He didn’t see Killian’s hair turning the same colours as Pyre, happily held in his outstretched hand. Indeed, when he would finally notice Killian, Jol would find him very changed.

------------------------------------

A peace filled Killian. It was not the same peace as when he had died, which was comforting. It was instead the emotional feedback he had felt from Pyre earlier. Pyre was emanating a peace that made it hard for Killian to open his eyes. He felt like he was in warm sunlight, waking up with a full belly and without fear of having overslept.

Then he remembered the phoenix part of the situation, and reality shifted a little to present, rather than past. Waking up from his dream, Killian tried to take in the marvel that surrounded him. He revelled in the decadent warmth, his recent freeze a bad memory.

He tried to touch the glistening mana streams that moved around him and Pyre with his free hand. The mana started to congeal around his palm, a weight forming in it. As he continued staring in wonder, Pyre began to sing. The song was unlike any bird’s call in existence. You would never describe another bird’s noise as singing after you heard a phoenix’s joyous song.

Pyre’s melody seemed to work with the magic in the air. As though the magic itself danced to her melody, the colours pulsed and shone magnificently. Amongst the spectacle, Killian’s Display also blinked with importance. He allowed himself to ignore the messages for now, choosing to drink in the atmosphere instead.

That twilit grove was a place of pure joy, especially when Jol zipped in and hugged Killian’s neck. The little garrote was a welcome addition to the party. He seemed different to Killian, moving with more fluidity and carrying himself a little more fancifully. Was he larger? His wingbeats looked even slower, though his pace was quicker.

Killian, Jol and Pyre whooped, danced and played until all three were exhausted. Killian couldn’t help himself from remembering times with Rin, Yanni and Dack. Jol reminded him of Sherrin. Small, bouncy and quick to laugh or scream, depending on the situation. Jol even had similar hair, though Sherrin’s had always been dirty, so it hadn’t looked as blonde.

Pyre had a way of reminding him of Yanni. Both of them had a calming presence and though it was painful, Killian allowed himself to remember. He’d avoided all reminiscence of Yanni, even before he had died. Now he allowed himself to remember all of it. To feel all of it. All of the emotions he had held back came bursting forth.

The terror of his situation, the absolute cosmic dread, was first. That emotion shed itself easily, with Pyre’s help. It wasn’t the overpowering battle she had won before Killian had frozen, but a warm understanding. It was okay to feel scared. That was what allowed him to be brave.

It was that freedom from fear that finally allowed tears to flow from Killian. They weren’t tears for his lost friends, really. They were tears for himself. Selfish, angry, hateful tears that choked his throat and burned his eyes. Why had it been so unfair this whole time? Why had life been so cruel, when after two days in his new life, it had become so wondrous? Why couldn’t it have always been like this?

He wanted to share this moment with his friends. Instead, he resolved to find them and make more happy memories.

The magic that had been coalescing around his hand, helped along by Pyre’s melody, started to draw in the light around them. The mana phoenix that covered them disappeared into a now-forming gem in Killian’s hand. Once it had fully corporealised, the fire within the gem became the only light other than Pyre. She still had trails of sparks and flame behind her slowly beating wings.

Held in Killian’s hand was an Aspect. He used his Display to confirm his suspicions that this was, indeed, an Aspect of the Phoenix. It did.

-Item-

|Aspect of the Phoenix|

Aspects are created by excess amounts of mana.

Rebirth in flames. Rising from ashes to burn even brighter.

Effect: Aspect of the Phoenix binds to an attribute, granting different skills and effects. As your attribute rises, more abilities will unlock.

You meet the requirements to use this item.

Would you like to use Aspect of the Phoenix?

Yes / No?

It wasn’t much of a consideration, he certainly would, but Killian still put the Aspect into his inventory for now. Last time he had used an Aspect it had nearly knocked him out, and he was feeling loath to put himself through any more strange magical torment for now. He chose instead to inspect the other messages he had accrued. He had unlocked a skill while exploring the farm, as well as the new icon that had appeared when he had named Pyre.

-Ability Unlocked-

Bronze |Discerning Eye| Will

You don’t just look, you see. What others may call luck is really a trained mind.

This is an ability governed by your Will attribute.

Effect: At bronze grade, when investigating you are more likely to find hidden valuables or information.

That was definitely intriguing to Killian. A part of him wondered whether that meant that valuables would just appear, but he decided that he was letting the abundance of magic around him get him excited. It was difficult to contain the enthusiasm as his eyes widened at the final prompt.

-God Pact-

|Familiar|

From the ashes, Pyre rose. Using your mana you have bonded with Pyre.

This is similar to your God Pact. Pyre’s growth will be your growth.

Effect: You can now summon Pyre using your mana.

You and Pyre can share mana.

You can communicate telepathically with Pyre.

Opening that message had apparently activated it’s effects. Pyre sang happily and through the now open communication channel, sent a fierce emotion of love and excitement. Killian smiled, and sent the same back, along with determination. He didn’t know what would come next, but he felt confident that with Pyre by his side, he could accomplish anything.

“Are we done with the craziness for now?” Jol asked, not accusatory but instead seeming genuinely upset.

“I doubt it, Jol. I found this Aspect of the Phoenix, and I was just waiting for a second to psyche myself up to use it. You remember the last time.” Killian replied, before explaining some of the things that had happened.

By naming Pyre, it seemed he had triggered the System into action. It had started a ritual which drained Killian’s own mana and funnelled it to Pyre. That had been the cause of his icy freeze, and had nearly cost him everything. He hadn’t realised that he had gambled his life, but breathed a sigh of relief that he had come up lucky.

Steeling himself for the intense mana burn that might come with it, Killian took the Aspect of the Phoenix from his inventory.

“Here goes nothing. Hey, Pyre, I’m about to become part phoenix, I think?” He showed the gem to Pyre, who tilted her head to get better views of the refractions. She sent Killian a wave of pride mixed with adoration. Killian looked at his phoenix, and then chose yes to bind with the Aspect.

Killian flinched as the red, gold and amber stone melted into mana and flowed along his arm. He held his breath as he felt the magic slowly crawl up his arm, over his shoulder and start to gather in his shoulder blades. Getting ready to scream, Killian tensed.

Pain never arrived however. Opening his eyes again, he simply saw some new icons and a very happy looking Jol. Instead of pain, he felt a surge of energy. The mana that had seemed to bounce around inside of him until now calmed. He realised it had always had a specific flow, he could only now feel it. He could also feel the mixing of it. The mana he held before had been coloured by the Phoenix’s magic now.

“That was so cool! You really are the best, Killian!” The fairy whooped. Killian flashed him a smile and checked the prompts.

-Power-

|Aspect of the Phoenix|

The Aspect of the Phoenix has fused with your Power attribute. Your Power grade is now Bronze. Progression to Silver rank is locked until all five attributes have been fused with an Aspect.

Effect:Power attribute bonded to Aspect of the Phoenix.

-Ability Unlocked-

Bronze |Flame of Rebirth| Power

Fire given form. A body fueled by magic.

This is an ability governed by the Power attribute.

Effect: At bronze grade, You can heal your wounds with mana.

You are immune to disease.

You are massively resistant to changes in temperature.

-Skill Unlocked-

Bronze |Phoenix Magic| Power

A phoenix is fire incarnate. A phoenix’s fire burns eternal, holding form and intensity. It can destroy, but also rejuvenate.

This is a skill governed by your Power attribute.

Effect: At Bronze rank, you can channel your mana, creating phoenix fire.

At higher ranks, your understanding of this magic will increase.

Killian felt he had cried a lot more in the past three days than usual, but he allowed himself to tear up once more. He held a hand aloft, and produced a flame. He made it dance along his hand before throwing the small ball at Pyre. She caught it and made it part of herself.

“Jol,” Killian said, “I’ve done it... I'm a wizard!”