When the warmth inside Pier's body subsided, he opened his eyes and stared at the ring on his right finger.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Alerted once more with the nearing thumping sounds, he turned his head quickly to where he had seen the burning corpses were.

There, lying on the large bone fangs of the corpses were Gideon and Ciaran.

They were in a mess.

Gideon's armor had so many dents that Pier was thinking the knight had suffered some damage inside his body as well considering the armor's state. His sword was nowhere to be found and his hand was titled in a displeasing angle.

Ciaran on the other hand was just as worse as Gideon. The vampire prince's cloak was shredded to pieces and blood was pouring out of his mouth. A part of his arm had turned black as well.

"Probably from the overuse of his magic," Pier commented as he started to approach the burning beasts.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Every step he took, the burning bone monsters also backed off.

'The phoenix was the cause of all of these,' He thought as he pointed his hand at the beasts.

"Bring them to me," One phrase was enough for the burning beasts to follow his words and they started to approach him slowly. Their giant bodies did not make any thumping noises around Pier as if they were afraid to cause him distress or the other way around.

When they were in front of Pier, one could easily see the comparison between the size of the bone monsters and the human who was now regarded as the Phoenix's guardian.

'I don't have any clue what that creature's power is but it sure is scary enough to control burning skeletons like these,' He thought as he watched the creatures who were towering over him.

"Down."

And just as he intended his command were to be, the flaming bone monsters started to lower themselves on the ground just right in front of him.

Crack~

Crack~

Each movement made the bones of the monsters crack and it gave Pier quite the shivers.

When they were fully down, Pier saw the close-up scene of the two who were left to fend the monsters off while he went to go and kill the remaining problem, which was the stone.

He first got his knight off of the monster's fangs followed by Ciaran.

He laid them side by side and Pier observed their situation.

He first checked the knight's pulse.

'It's almost non-existent,' He then proceeded to feel the pulse on the vampire prince.

He did not panic, he did not hurry.

Pier was calm as he inspected both of the unconscious individual's states.

It was the same for Ciaran.

He was sweating so much, his pale skin was even paler, and his breath was rapid.

'Signs of hypovolemic shock due to blood loss is happening,' He thought.

He then proceeded to place both of his hands on each person lying in front of him.

"Heal my wounded comrades, restore their health and vitality," He chanted.

His hands glowed.

The red-orange glow produced by his hands produced the same warmth he felt when he had made a contract with the phoenix.

"Place your hands on their bodies," He heard Melfar speak in his mind.

He did not argue with the mythical creature on his mind for now because the priority of his friends' safety was far more important than his childish acts of arguments.

"Alright," He spoke as he touched his palms on Ciaran and Gideon's chests.

"Proceed," Sparks started to come out of his hands until flames followed suit.

The red-orange flames engulfed the entire bodies of the two and Pier was having a doubt that instead of healing them, he might have cremated Ciaran and Gideon alive.

One minute passed.

Two,

Three,

Seven minutes had gone and the flames that were engulfing the two individuals started to subside slowly.

"Mhm... young master... ah... berries..." Gideon murmured in his sleep and Pier chuckled at his knight's antics.

"Silly," He smiled as he caressed Gideon's hair and the knight had a look of satisfaction etched in his face after his master combed his hair.

He then turned to look at Ciaran.

The large, green-eyed man was quiet as he slept.

"Did the magic work?" He asked himself but was answered by Melfar instead.

"The vampire is a creature of the dark. Good thing that he only has half of the darkness attribute in him or my magic will not work at all," the voice spoke in his head.

Pier nodded his head as he sighed.

It was warm around them.

The flames that were surrounding the ground they were in that reached up to the skies of the fifth mountain gave them warmth and protection from the cold outside.

"He'd have to wait longer to heal," Pier spoke as he brushed the stray brown hair off of Ciaran's face.

He did not have to worry about Gideon seeing that the knight was now dreaming about berries and his master.

He was worried for Ciaran though.

The Alpha Wolf and at the same time Vampire Prince probably had used too much of his magic that he coughed blood until his body was almost drained from it.

He removed the cloak he was wearing and he covered Ciaran with it.

"Rest," he spoke.

He then cast the same fire bubbles that Melfar did to protect him from falling off the edge of the ground.

The bubbles engulfed the two.

"Does it have healing abilities?" Pier asked and it took the Phoenix inside his own body a few seconds to respond.

"That is correct," The voice sounded like it was enjoying and Pier rolled his eyes at the non-existent phoenix.

"You're enjoying my magic right now aren't you?" He asked.

If ever the two saw him talking to no one they would think that his insanity had reached its dangerous peaks.

"I am, your magic is truly good!"

Melfar spoke in amazement.

"What else can I do now that I'm your babysitter?" Pier asked and Melfar let out an audible gasp at the mention of a babysitter.

"Preposterous! I am no child for you to babysit me!" The bird spoke in exasperation but Pier already thought about it.

The creature wanted to feast on his magic and he had readily accepted it if it meant that he would be able to heal Gideon and Ciaran.

In short, Melfar the Phoenix was using him as a caregiver that would feed him with Pier's magic.

"Aren't phoenixes bigger? They're large and I have read in the books that their wings can cover the skies," Pier spoke as he sat on the ground beside the two who were inside the flame bubbles.

"..." Melfar was quiet.

"I'd speak if I were you if you don't want me to throw this ring down the forest," Pier threatened and the bird immediately answered him.

"I was hurt and was at the stage resting until I was reborn once more," The creature explained.

"What defeated you?" Pier continued to inquire as the glow of the fire bubbles was reflected in his eyes.

"Defeated?! Hah!"

The bird spoke in disbelief.

"You dare think I was defeated by some flying lizard?!" Melfar spoke in defense.

"So a dragon, huh," Pier answered and the flaming bird became silent once more.

"I thought dragons did not exist now?" He asked.

"Silly, humans are creatures who label something as non-existent just because they cannot see it," Melfar spoke in a mocking manner but Pier did not even bother retaliating with another mock.

It was true that humans like to label something they don't see as extinct or non-existent.

"It had been a long time since I and the white lizard fought. I was defeated but I also created some damage to the white lizard!" Melfar said proudly.

"You did not die?" Pier asked and Melfar gasped again.

"Die? No no no, let me correct you, Guardian. Death is the state of a creature becoming completely non-existent. Creatures such as I only wander on the borderline of death when we use up our entire power and magic. We then come back in the form of being reborn once we gain the requirements!"

Melfar explained and the creature could not believe how it was explaining so much to the human.

"I see... if that had been so long, why did you cause this ordeal in the Mir Mountains now?" He then grabbed a stone that was beside Ciaran's head and he threw it at the wall of fire surrounding the place they were in.

The stone immediately burned into ashes and it did not even reach the wall of fire completely.

"As I have said, it was the time for me to wake up but I feel like I needed more time to sleep. That's when I got a taste of your flame magic and I knew you need to feed me so I can become the great phoenix that ruled the sovereign skies once more!"

Pier sighed as he thought about it.

What was happening right now?

Why is he always getting involved with unimaginable things like this?

First, he got abducted by a vampire prince and now he had to take care of a phoenix until it becomes powerful enough to burn an entire kingdom in just one breath.

He did enjoy the journey but the upbringing of unexpected events was surprising for him.

"Guardian, is the vampire your mate?" Melfar asked and Pier had a surprised look on his face which turned into a frown.

"Who? this?" He asked as he pointed his finger at the sleeping Ciaran beside him.

"Yes, is he?"

"No," He replied immediately.

"Suspicious" Melfar teased and Pier knew if the phoenix had a human appearance it would be smirking at him right now.

"He isn't. I'm being serious. Why a mate anyway?" Pier asked and he felt his body slightly shake when the bird continued to consume his magic power.

It was not noticeable but Pier's body was imbalanced.

His magic power was being eaten by the phoenix but it was instead getting replaced with Melfar's magic so he cannot feel any great changes.

He just knew that it was partially the phoenix's magic that he was using.

"I can smell his essence on you,"

One phrase was enough to have the young master's eyes widen and his pale face reddened immediately as he had dirty thoughts.

"Essence... as a vampire, right?"

"No, I am referring to the one creatures produce to create an offspring with their mates,"

Hic!

Suddenly, Pier had a hiccup at the surprise and embarrassment from the phoenix's unintentional words.

"Oho..." Melfar spoke in an amazed manner at how its guardian was acting.

Pier's mind wandered off to the night he and Ciaran shared.

He sighed as he also looked at the now stable breathing Ciaran had inside the flame bubbles.

"We aren't mates...."

"Then I guess you shared a romance with that vampire even though you aren't mates?" Melfar asked and Pier swore if he could only smack the phoenix residing in his body he would.

"There's no romance to it too. It was simply relieving our own desires" He spoke and Melfar kept quiet.

That was the downside of Pier, no Eliam.

He had commitment issues.

Not that he had any experiences about committing things with someone else, he was simply afraid.

He was afraid to the point that he could rarely form romantic feelings for another person.

His traumatic past of being maltreated by his parents whom he thought loved him made him form a defense mechanism of taking advantage of those who desired him.

He felt bad for Ciaran. Pier knew he was only using Ciaran as a means of letting his frustrations out as a being who desires something sensual.

However, he was trying. He was constantly trying to improve that side of him.

No one is perfect.

Pier Belmiunde who had stunning beauty, wealth, and power was not as good as others when it comes to love. He comes with different forms of obsession for the Crown Prince which was the reason for his downfall.

It goes the same with Eliam Schneider. He had talent that almost no one can rival, he also had brains that were comparable to geniuses of the past. However, he had trust and commitment issues that no one else knew. Not even him entirely knew.

It was as if Pier and Eliam completed each other in a way that they fill what was lacking with the other.

His eyes gazed over the knight who was still looking satisfied inside the flame bubbles.

Gideon was his knight, the person that he knew he should trust first.

He was close to that point, to the extent where he was allowing his knight to gain his trust and freely converse everything with him. He knew he can trust Gideon.

His eyes then drifted towards the vampire prince.

He remembered Ciaran's confession towards him.

Ciaran likes him.

He thought it was just the same in his life back as Eliam.

People desired him for various reasons. His talent, intelligence, and his family.

But he could not find anything of those in the vampire prince. Surely Ciaran might have found his looks pleasing but he also felt like there was something in the Vampire Prince's words.

But he was not sure.

He needed time to think for himself.

"Guardian," Melfar spoke again inside his mind.

Pier did not answer but he was waiting for Melfar's next words.

"I see you have an abundant amount of magic power, may I ask from what place you are?" Melfar was curious about the body he was residing in.

He wanted to ask many questions about the human it considered as its guardian.

"Taron Kingdom."

"I see..." Melfar replied as he was starting to form conclusions.

The human's magic was very powerful.

When he resided inside the human, he saw something very wide. So wide that only a portion of it was filled with the magic abilities he could use.

"May I know what household?" Melfar continued to ask and Pier raised his eyebrows at the flaming bird's question.

"How do you know about households?"

"I have been living for a very long time now, guardian. I know many things about humans and other creatures," The bird explained and Pier sighed.

"House of Masters."

"Oh- what?!"

Pier frowned at Melfar's sudden raising of its voice.

"Why are you surprised?"

"Oh, I just remembered something," The bird tried to disregard its surprise but Pier was bored so he wanted to ask further.

"What's that something?"

Melfar hesitated for a moment but he spoke. It was the human he was talking to anyway, the guardian whom he needs so he can go back into his original state.

"A person from the House of Masters tried to tame me before," He spoke and Pier's eyes widened.

"What...?"

'A person tried to tame a phoenix before? Wow,' He thought, amazed with the fact that someone from the House of Masters tried to tame a mythical creature like a phoenix.

He did not know who it was.

The House of Masters was a household that was older than the Taron Kingdom. It was older than other kingdoms and had undergone the provision of uncountable Headmasters.

"He failed though. His magic was too weak that he died seconds after touching my flames," Melfar replied and Pier kept silent.

'So that person was dead... poor him' He sympathized with the person.

Whether it was a Headmaster or simply another person, it was just sad knowing they tried to tame a powerful being like Melfar and died in the process.

"Y-Young Master...?" Pier's thoughts were interrupted as he heard Gideon's call for his title.

"I shall sleep once more now, Guardian," Melfar spoke in his mind and Pier felt the consumption of his magic power slightly decrease.

"How are you feeling?" Pier asked as he stood up from sitting beside Ciaran and walked to the other side where Gideon was.

"Y-Young Master, h-how..." Gideon asked but before he could finish, he noticed what was surrounding him.

"Those are healing bubbles, stay inside it" Pier instructed and Gideon could only nod his head.

"Young master, you are truly powerful- AAAAH!" Gideon screamed again and Pier resisted the urge to stitch Gideon's mouth with a thread.

"YOUNG MASTER, WHY ARE WE INSIDE A BURNING PLACE?!" Gideon asked in panic when he saw the flame walls on the edges of the ground they were in.

'Oh... that's right' Pier also looked at the wall of flames.

"That's my... magic..." Pier spoke as he was unsure.

He did not want to reveal that there was a mythical creature feeding on his magic right now because he knew Gideon would panic and probably have him exorcised at the church so the creature eating his master's powers could leave.

"WOW! YOUNG MASTER, YOU ARE SO POWERFUL! WOW-AHCK!" Gideon was constantly praising his young master that he wanted to go and touch the firewall.

But once he stepped his feet outside the flame bubbles, Pier smacked his hand on Gideon's head.

"I told you to stay inside," He spoke and Gideon whimpered like a lost puppy.

"D-Did you destroy the stone, young master?" Gideon asked while he was still giving Pier the puppy eyes.

"Yes," he replied curtly and Gideon sported another grin on his face.

"WHOO! WE DID IT! YEY- AAAAH!" Pier closed his eyes as he calmed himself down.

'Why is this idiot so energetic? He just woke up after escaping death' Pier asked himself but he found it unreasonable to think how his knight was doing.

Gideon was simply Gideon.

What made Gideon scream were the two flaming bone monsters in front of them. The two were sitting on the ground like dogs would do when they were sleeping.

'Come to think of it... they look like giant tigers when they were still alive' Pier thought now that he was able to inspect the bone monsters perfectly.

"YOUNG MASTER! HURRY! WE CAN NOT EVEN DEFEAT THEM! HURRY! RUUUUN!" Gideon panicked as he tried to search for his sword but he could not find it.

"OH NO, MY SWORD. AAAH!" He was constantly screaming and Pier could not help it anymore.

"Awaken,"

With just a single word, the two bone monsters all stood up in their towering heights and the screaming knight immediately closed his mouth.

"Eat this idiot if he screams again," Pier commanded the two monsters and Gideon had a horrified look on his face.

"Young master... wha..." He asked in disbelief.

Why was his master commanding the monsters and why are they listening?

"I gained control over them when I destroyed the stone," He explained, and slowly, Gideon gave him a relieved face.

"Ah... whoo, goodness. Good thing I did not scream like a child!" Gideon said proudly.

Pier only stared at his knight silently.

Gideon truly is Gideon.