"Amanda wasn't a dragon! He was a phoenix! Phoenixes can be reborn! That's what all the books say!" Sophie muttered, half to Libor, half to herself. The blood-red ice tears continued to fall unnoticed, seeping into the ashes beneath her.
"Sophie, wake up! Amanda is gone! He's not coming back!" Libor's vision blurred as he shook her gently, desperate to pull her from denial. The sight of her crimson tears—her very life essence spilling out—choked him.
"No! Amanda can't be dead! You're lying! Phoenixes don't die! I don't believe you!" Shoving Libor away, Sophie frantically gathered the ashes into her skirt, as if expecting Amanda to burst forth with a laugh and say it was all a joke. But the ashes remained still—no movement, no sound. Only the red tears vanished into them.
Vanished?
Sophie's breath hitched. Trembling, she reached into the ashes—and touched something warm and solid.
Slowly, she withdrew her hand.
A pink egg, no larger than a chicken's, lay in her palm.
"Amanda…" Sobbing with relief, Sophie clutched the egg as fresh tears fell—this time, no longer absorbed by the ashes.
"Libor! Look! An egg! Amanda's egg! He's not dead! He turned into an egg! Hahaha—" Her laughter dissolved into hysterical weeping.
"Sophie, calm down!" Libor steadied her, bewildered but relieved. If this meant Amanda still had a chance, then—
"Libor, he's alive, he's alive…" Her voice trailed off as exhaustion overtook her. She slumped against him, the egg cradled protectively in her hands.
With a sigh, Libor glanced at Bazzak's hovering essence, then scooped Sophie up and sped toward the city.
---
"Who goes there?" Albert blocked the intruder at the manor gates, tense until he recognized Sophie in the stranger's arms.
"Libor, a friend from Lamipol. No hostility intended." Libor forced a smile, though his nocturnal appearance hardly inspired trust.
"Sophie, wake up." He jostled her gently.
"Mm… Libor? Albert?" Blinking groggily, Sophie suddenly gasped. "Agatha! Albert, take us to her now!"
Weak but urgent, she clung to Libor as they rushed inside. The egg in her hands pulsed faintly—a fragile hope.
---
Agatha stirred awake to cheers. Charles smothered her in hugs, oblivious to the fleeting violet glint in her eyes—a dormant power awakening.
Meanwhile, Sophie thrust the pink egg at Bai. "When will Amanda hatch?"
"*This* is Amanda?" Bai sniffed skeptically.
"Is something wrong?"
"Phoenix eggs are usually white and four times this size. Never pink." Bai frowned. "The Life Curse should've erased him entirely. Your blood tears must've altered the rebirth. It's… unprecedented."
"Will he hatch?" Sophie's voice wavered.
"Probably. If not, the Phoenix Elders can help." Bai's tone was light, but his eyes were grave.
Relieved, Sophie pulled him aside. "If Amanda's a phoenix… was Carina one too?"
"Obviously. Didn't you know?"
"I do now." Sophie exhaled. "So what am I? Human or phoenix?"
Bai blinked. "No idea. You're… unique."
"Helpful," she deadpanned. But it didn't matter. She was Sophie, seeking her path.
---
Later, Libor hesitated before speaking. "Sophie, I must return to the kingdom with Bazzak and Lina's remains."
"Go. Be safe." Though reluctant, she understood.
With Amanda's survival, her anger at Lina had faded. Some prices were too steep for vengeance.
---
Days passed in restless waiting until Albert finally announced: "Master Marifao has returned!"
The white-bearded mage reminded Sophie of Gandalf—if Gandalf had indulged in too many second breakfasts.
"Master! I've missed you so much!" She lunged into a hug.
"We've… never met?" Marifao coughed, flushing as onlookers chuckled.
"I'm Sophie, Andrew's friend! I need your wisdom on spatial magic!"
Thus began her crash course—and Marifao's torment.
By day's end, the master regretted every life choice leading to this moment. "How can someone so bright be so magically inept?" he groaned privately.
Yet Sophie persevered. After grueling days, she stood ready for her first spell.
"Ready?" Marifao asked.
Nodding, Sophie chanted—and vanished.
Cheers erupted… then faded as minutes passed with no return.
"Uh… it's a *short-range* teleport," Marifao mumbled, sweating.
Meanwhile, Sophie found herself somewhere *very* far from intended.
Had the master known, he'd have gasped: "*Genius!*"
**Where has Sophie's botched spell taken her—and will she ever find her way back?**