Chapter 2: The Cry

"Seraphina Agni, save our clan and come back safe. We need you, before our clan disappears, please, save the phoenix from crying..." My father said and dragged me with the book, outside our house and went to grandmama's, the Elder Fyre, and just barged in.

"Elder Fyre, may you grant the great mission that I, the chief of our clan, has given to my daughter, Seraphina Agni." Said my father who knelt down instantly seeing my grandmama, my Mother's mother.

Confused about what is going on, I am still processing what my father has said. I saw Grandmama saying something but I couldn't hear it. I was only staring at them until I heard a loud cry of a bird.

I was startled and started to look around, but the only thing that I noticed is that everyone was just talking, it's like they didn't hear the cry.

"Didn't you guys, hear the cry?" I asked curiously. I swear, I heard it. They all looked at me then look at each other.

"Mother, you were right. Phina can hear the cry." My mother said to grandmama and then she cried again. I looked at grandmama who was about to cry, said, "I thank the Gods for giving you to us. You are the rightful heir of the throne." She said and went to me. She then again held my hand and then kissed it. This, the kiss of the elder Fyre only means one thing.

She is granting the mission Father gave to me.

A faint glow was left on my hand.

A blessing.

"Mother, you-" My Father was taken aback when grandmama gave me a blessing. This could only mean that the dream she told me about earlier is bound to be true.

"I gave you a blessing of protection Seraphina, may you have a wonderful journey."

A wonderful journey she said. Didn't she told me earlier that I am bound to have a journey full of happiness, sadness, hate, and love?

I sighed and then smiled and knelt in front of my father.

"If that is what the chief wants me to do, I shall take on any mission for the clan". I said and stood up crying. This only means that I will be away for a long time. It can be a month, or years.

After that happening, we went home and mother helped me pack my things. I am to depart tomorrow morning, without telling anyone. Even Gran.

I and my mother are awfully quiet while packing my things. Well, not until she has spoken.

"Phina, I wish you a bountiful journey. I will miss you so much, my child. I am proud that you are my daughter." She said as I just stare at her. She seems so sad and at the same time happy. Sad because I will be leaving home for quite a long time, happy because I am the 'pride' of our clan.

We finished packing, after that, we ate the dinner that my father has prepared for me.

"Phina, I will give you something later, come to my study." Those were the only words that were ever spoken over dinner.

My mother cleaned our dishes and I went to follow my father in his study. It was quite weird because he never allowed me inside his study. We went inside and that is where I was engrossed at the center of his study.

It was the sword of my grandpapa.

They said that it went missing when he died. I didn't realize that all this time it was just inside my father's study.

He went over to his table and below that, he opened a drawer and showed what was inside.

A key.

"There is yet to be opened Phina, close your mouth for a moment." He said. I unconsciously opened my mouth with disbelief.

He opened the door behind his table. A room full of weapons is what greeted me.

"Phina, I will give you this sword. Your grandpapa was the one you created it and has put a special gem inside of the handle. It is a piece of your magic. We hope for you to like it." Father has handed me a sword. It was light and thin, I unsheathed the sword and looked at the details.

S E R A P H I N A was engraved on the sword.

A tear escaped from my eye. That is when I heard another cry of a bird.

I looked around and I looked uneasy.

"I will be guessing that you have heard another cry, rest now my child. You have to depart early in the morning tomorrow." My father sent me back to my room.

As I went inside my room, I carefully laid my sword down on my bed and picked up the book of origin and hugged it, and said,

"Thank you grandpapa."

I laid my back on my bed and stared at the book. I thought of where I should start my journey and that is when I fell asleep while hugging the book.

~~~~

I opened my eyes and looked around. I am certainly not in my room.

"Hurry up Sera!" As I heard my name I saw a man running towards the 'me' in the scenario.

"Get down sister! Zeph!" A man younger than me shouted and the two of them, the other guy, the one who shouted my name, and the one who called me sister released water and earth in the shape of a dragon.

"Zeph, listen to me" 'I' said as I stared at her blurred face but her eyes are clear, "I want you to fly to them. I will handle this. Please, I can't let anyone of you get hurt because of me." 'I' said and she just looked at me straight into the eyes, telling me to be safe.

"Please be safe Lady Sera, or else Sir Zale and Vermont will be the end of me." 'I' smiled at her and then pushed her away from 'me'.

A ball of thunder came to me and hit me directly.

If this is the future, I can't let this happen.

~~~~

I woke up and sat on my bed. As I stared at the book once again, I felt my tears ran down my cheeks.

Why am I crying?

I went out of my room and went downstairs, only to hear my parents talking in the living room.

"Don't you think it's time to tell her about him? She will depart soon and she might meet him." My mother said worriedly holding my father's hand.

"Tana, I will tell her when the time is right". Father told mother and looked down on the floor.

"But what if that time won't come?" I butted in the conversation. "Is this about my brother? What was his name? Vernon? Vermont?” My parents looked at me surprised. They didn't expect that I will know about his existence, well that is thanks to my dream, I learned about him, but his face was blurry, only the eyes are crystal clear, the same with the guy named Zale and Zeph.

"How did you learn about him?" My father stood and looked at me. I just shrugged and looked at them, "thanks to my dream earlier, I heard someone called me sister" I casually said like this is a normal thing if you are going to ask me if I am angry? My answer will be no. It's fine if my father had another child with another woman. I don't care anyway. I will still love my parents and my half brother. Weird isn't it? Well, that's how I am.

"Are you fine about it?" My mother asked. And I casually nodded while drinking water from the glass. "The fact that me, getting angry won't do anything. The milk has been spilled. The damage has been done." I said and went closer to them.

"Come on, don't cry, I want to see you guys smiling before I depart. I want to say this to you, I wasn't able to tell you this but thank you for everything, and I will make sure to come back safe and sound." I said and hugged them tightly. Because you'll never know if this will be my second to the last hug that I will give them.

Tomorrow came and I am getting ready to set off for a journey. I brought my packed clothes, money, and necessities inside my backpack, and of course the book of origin.

I met my parents together with grandmama outside the gate of our village.

"Please do be careful and come back to us safely. I love you Phina." Mother said and hugged me tightly.

"I know you can pull this off. See you in a bit, my child." Father said and joined the hug.

"May the Gods guide you and protect you, my sweetest granddaughter. Come back home safely." Grandmama said and smiled at me. The place where she kissed in my hand felt warm.

The hug broke and they looked at me like they were saying that I should be proud.

I smiled at them and as I go, and went to follow the trail that the book has given me. A small string leading to the end of the forest.

I sighed audibly and heard another cry of the phoenix.

I guess this is the start of my journey.