85

  Talon Peak breathed with cold air and thin sunlight. From high above the valley, the grass bowed to the steady whisper of the wind, and somewhere among the brush, three silhouettes were hidden ft on their stomachs.

  Durante.Finn.Maxi.

  The three of them y belly-down behind a clump of tall bushes. Not far ahead, a deer stepped lightly between rocks and shrubs, lowering its head to nibble on berry-like fruits.

  “Alright, Maxi,” Durante whispered. “Slow your breathing… aim carefully… when I say shoot, you—”

  CRACK.

  Maxi stepped on a dried leaf.

  The deer’s head snapped upward. Its ears twitched.

  Maxi froze like a statue caught doing something extremely illegal.

  “Hold…” Durante whispered.

  Finn smirked.

  Maxi raised his bow. The deer turned its head. Durante inhaled.

  “Three… two—”

  THWIP.

  The arrow flew before Durante even said “one.”It struck the ground so close it almost clipped their toes.

  The deer whirled and bolted. Gone in an instant.

  Durante did not speak. But his eyes… oh, the disappointment was spiritual.

  Finn snickered. “That’s… impressive, Maxi. New hunting strategy?”

  Maxi puffed his cheeks in embarrassment. “Dad, I have changed my mind. Maybe swords are more my thing.”

  Without a word, Durante tossed him a sword.

  Maxi caught it—by the hilt—then immediately colpsed to his knees under its weight.

  “Dad… maybe dagger is better,” Maxi corrected, dragging the sword on the dirt like a defeated knight.

  The lynx padded behind them with absolutely zero effort—carrying a whole deer in its jaws. It dropped the deer proudly beside Maxi as if saying, This is how it's done, kid.

  They descended the ridge. During the past weeks, Durante had been teaching them everything—sword basics, archery, dagger stances. And most importantly:

  “How to run. Even the best fighters must know when to run. Especially here in Maharlika.”

  Lir helped teach focus and the sensitivity needed for manifestation. Finn absorbed it like dry soil meeting water. Maxi always copied him—chest out, fists clenched, pretending to feel “the energy.”

  He felt nothing.

  But he believed he might manifest earlier than his brother because, as he cimed: “I’m more special.” Even the lynx rolled its eyes at that.

  Soraya taught them accuracy and technique. Bona guided Katherine, who still struggled—the Jasmine Manta’s power had been spent saving Finn, and her soul remained fragile.

  Their priority was now the Jasmine Lamp, the only thing that could stabilize Katherine’s soul. And until then, every strong spirit in Maharlika might see Katherine as prey.

  One morning, Maxi marched to the terrace where Durante sharpened his bde.

  “Dad,” he said, dead serious, “do you know anything like Rasengan? Or Chidori? I want to learn one. But… I prefer Rasengan.”

  Durante stopped sharpening. “What?... What is that? I only know pork sinigang and sisig.”

  “No, dad! Not food. Technique! Like this—”

  Maxi swirled both palms together like he was washing invisible ptes.

  “Ah. That.” Durante nodded sagely. “We don’t have that.”

  Maxi’s soul left his body briefly.

  “But,” Durante continued, “I do have something to teach. Call your brother.”

  Soon the boys were under the tree, opposite Durante who picked up a stone the size of an apple.

  “Watch closely.”He closed his eyes.His hand darkened—skin roughening, nails lengthening, veins pulsing with druid force.

  He crushed the stone like it was overripe fruit, letting the powdered remains trickle down.

  Maxi recoiled. “Dad… what happened to your hands? Do we turn into wolves? That’s kinda gross.”

  “Wolves? No.” Durante sighed.

  Finn immediately grabbed a stone and tried.The first failed.The second cracked.The third—Crushed clean.

  Maxi gasped like he had witnessed the birth of a new god.

  “Coooool…. We should name it,” Maxi rambled. “Super Hand? Mega Grip? Ultra Strength? Rock Crusher? Wait—Earth Punch—no—Super Strength!”

  Durante looked deeply offended. “So for me it was ‘gross,’ and for your brother it’s cool?”

  Maxi avoided eye contact.

  The lynx buried its face under its paws.

  Durante ruffled Maxi’s hair and handed him a small pouch. “This is for you.”

  “What is it?”

  “Seeds. Very old ones. You can use them until your manifestation comes.”

  He tossed one seed into the soil.

  A heartbeat.

  A cracking sound.

  Roots burst outward and a pnt grew—sprouting flowers in seconds.

  Both boys stared, sck-jawed.

  “SUPER COOL,” Maxi whispered like he had witnessed divine magic.

  Finn nodded.

  Even the lynx blinked approvingly.

  Light fred at the top of the hill—the circur ptform igniting with runes.

  Figures emerged.

  Vergilius Boyy of Mistral.King Faerion Lumirien of Glory.King Orson Sundervine of Dore.Several knights behind them.

  They descended toward the tree below where Durante and his sons stood. The kings were solemn; their steps heavy with unspoken urgency.

  Faerion approached first. “Forgive my absence st time,” he said.

  Durante shook his hand. “It’s alright.”

  But his eyes were on Vergilius.

  Something was wrong.Vergilius—no longer radiated the holy presence of a manta bearer.He felt… dimmer. Mortal.A man carrying a wound deeper than flesh.

  “What can I do for all of you, Kings?” Durante asked quietly.

  Vergilius stepped forward until his face was inches from Durante’s.

  “The Reborn is coming,” Vergilius said, voice hollowed. “We have come to give what you requested.”

  From inside his cloak, he produced a small vial.

  Holy Water.

  Durante’s breath halted.He lifted it gently.He knew the price of this water—knew what Vergilius must have given up.Everything.

  But he didn’t speak.Vergilius’ eyes told him the rest.

  Faerion extended an aged, elegant journal. White cover, jasmine motif carved into it—soft fragrance of blossoms lingering in the air.

  Queen Era’s journal.

  Durante accepted it with both hands, reverent.

  “And the smith you requested…” Vergilius added. “You must go to Vergara. They will be waiting.”

  Durante nodded.

  Vergilius continued, “The Phoenix Reborn is expected at the earliest Sor Noon of the second month. We do not have much time.”

  The kings climbed the hill to visit Bona—offering gifts of food, gems, and tokens of respect.

  After their visit, they vanished one by one through the circur pattern, leaving the treehouse quiet once more.

  Finn held the seed pouch.Maxi poked at a flower that sprouted from the ground.The lynx yawned.And Durante looked at the vial of Holy Water—its golden glow reflecting in his eyes.

  A storm was coming.A rebirth.A world shifting.

  And his family was at the center of it.