Chapter 18: Phoenix
"A.. Phoe..nix....?"
Kyle mumbled under his breath looking at the red Phoenix lying not so far from him. The phoenix's eyes were closed, and its breath was uneven.
Kyle was frozen, he didn't even dare to breathe. While he was standing still the Phoenix suddenly opened his pitch-black eyes and looked at Kyle before closing them again.
Kyle looked at the Phoenix dumbfounded.
'Is it not going to attack me?'
He remembered hearing about phoenixes before but now seeing such a big phoenix he was sure that it was at least (-S)-Rank. But suddenly he noticed that one of the Phoenix wings was not present.
"It's.. injured.."
With sweaty palms and rough breathing, Kyle neared the distance between himself and the Phoenix. The more he closed the distance the hotter he felt because the Phoenix body was emitting heat.
After closing a considerable amount of distance, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves and threw a few mana stones toward the phoenix, which brightened the hidden corner of the cave.
"It's really injured."
He saw the phoenix lying inside a pool of blood. And looking at its condition, it seemed it was going to die soon.
Suddenly Kyle recalled the group of students he had seen earlier, they were talking about fighting with a phoenix. And it seemed they were the ones who gravely injured the phoenix.
At that time Kyle didn't focus on their conversation but now looking at the scene himself, he was not sure if it was fortunate for him to discover the injured Phoenix.
Seeing a phoenix was rare, if he sold the phoenix's body it would yield a hefty amount in return. Maybe if he dug out the core, there was a chance he would be able to find a skill. And how the phoenix didn't attack even after seeing Kyle trespassing his territory, it seemed to be at the death door. Kyle was sure right now even an unawakened person would be easily able to kill it.
But for some reason, Kyle felt it was a pity to kill such a beautiful creature. He knew phoenixes were also considered a kind of monster, but when the Phoenix opened his eyes and looked at him, Kyle felt the sadness present inside those glowing eyes. Those eyes belong to someone who already accepted their fate.
He felt conflicted if he should kill the phoenix or not. It would definitely be worth a lot if he killed it, but after thinking for a while Kyle decided against it.
He didn't want to feel guilty for something so insignificant. Kyle didn't have a lot of money but he didn't want to earn money this way, he sighed and returned his focus to the flowers. He was here for the flowers, not to kill.
After seeing the cave owner injured, Kyle was not hesitant anymore and directly made his way toward the Red snow flowers.
His feet brushed past the precious herb scattered around on the ground, but he didn't care and after reaching Red snow flowers, he bent down and grabbed the flowers.
['Human! Why didn't you kill me?']
FLINCH!
Kyle flinched suddenly hearing a monotonic voice inside his head, he turned around only to see a pair of glowing eyes staring directly at him.
The phoenix was staring at him, but there was not even an ounce of fear in Kyle's eyes. He was a bit taken back suddenly hearing a voice inside his head but more than being scared he got curious and looked at the Phoenix with wide eyes.
"Are you the one talking to me?"
Seeing Kyle's nonchalant attitude the Phoenix was surprised. He knew he was injured but still, he was someone superior, and under his gaze, a normal human should naturally feel fear.
['Hmm, you are a rather strange human.']
Kyle looked at the Phoenix with disbelief,
"You are really talking inside my head, how is it possible..!"
Today was the first time he saw a phoenix and it was talking to him. He wasn't sure if anyone would believe him if he told them he talked to a phoenix!
The phoenix looked at Kyle but then he suddenly closed his eyes, it seemed it was getting difficult for him.
['It's possible, there are some creatures who gain Intelligence after attaining Enlightenment.']
['And it was easy making a connection with you, considering you are so weak even after having a bloodline superior to me.']
Before Kyle was looking at the Phoenix with astonishment but then it turned into respect when he heard the word enlightenment. Because even humans would spend their whole lives seeking enlightenment. He got another shock when he heard the phoenix talking about bloodline.
"Bloodline! Do you know about my bloodline? How?"
Now Kyle was getting anxious because even after spending a week inside the library he didn't get any useful information regarding the 'Celestial Bloodline'.
['I already sensed it when you were fidgeting outside my cave and seeing how you went for the Red Snow flower instead of picking any other herb it seems you are already aware of it.']
['And I don't know about your bloodline but because it's affecting me it's probably superior to mine. And I think those Red snow flowers won't work on you.']
"Why.."
Kyle looked at the bunch of flowers clustered together inside his hand. He was sure after so much hard work he would gain something in return, but thinking about how it won't work he was dispirited.
"Why won't it work?"
Kyle exclaimed in a loud voice before he clenched his fist.