Chapter 154: 2.34 Xander’s Companion (1)
Sora and Brie spent the next week enjoying their time together until they were summoned by Athena to her realm. They received a message via their portal from Athena: "Please return to my realm at your earliest convenience."
"That portal always scares the heck out of me when it starts talking!" Brie exclaimed as she dropped her book.
Sora picked it up for her and handed it to her.
"More books from Athena’s library? Any luck on the pentagram eye stuff?" Sora asked politely.
"Nope. I learn something new and interesting from every book, though. Did you know that humans used to live for like 1000 years?" Brie’s eyes lit up while she explained so Sora sat next to her and smiled.
"Tell me all about it, beautiful." Sora said after giving her a kiss.
"Back on Earth, like 20,000 years before you lived, Zeus let humans live for thousands of years while Poseidon watched over them from the sea. Humanity took their long lives for granted and started sinning more frequently. Despite having Poseidon around, there were humans who simply refused to believe in the gods or rejected them in favor of Hades and the Underworld. Those who believed in the gods viewed themselves as morally just and committed atrocious crimes," Brie’s enthusiasm and story telling had Sora following every word.
"Why would they commit such horrible crimes if they believed in the gods? Did they think they were invincible and destined for Paradise no matter what?" Sora asked curiously.
Brie shrugged and smiled.
"Well...after a massive war wiped out half of the humans, Zeus asked his brother to wash away everyone from Earth. He completed this task quickly and almost all of those souls reside in the Underworld. Some still serve Hades today," She explained vividly.
"So some of those souls still exist and are actively serving Hades?!" Sora asked in amazement.
"I guess we are really young if you think about it. It makes me appreciate the time I have with you and Xander that much more."
"We should probably see what Athena wants, babe?" Brie asked as she stood up and extended her hand toward Sora’s, helping him up.
Sora gladly accepted it and gave her a giant hug and kiss. "You know I love you with all my heart, right?"
Brie smiled, returned the kiss and squeezed Sora with all her strength.
"Yes, I do. I’m glad you love me as much as I love you." she said and booped his nose with her finger before grabbing his hand and pulling him through the portal.
******
Xander stood proudly next to Athena. They were watching Skylar sit over a large, white egg. Tej wouldn’t let anyone within twenty feet of them and Skylar continued to use her pink flames to heat the egg.
"Should be any minute now," Athena cheered.
The egg slowly cracked and a tiny white phoenix with golden feathers cried as it chipped away at the egg.
Skylar picked the chick up with her mouth and set it down on the ground. Tej immediately wrapped his giant feathers around the little phoenix. They were ignited with his white flames.
They both smiled as the chick stopped crying and stumbled awkwardly toward Skylar.
Everyone stood and watched in amazement at something they’d never seen. This was a naturally born phoenix, not a creation of Zeus or Athena.
Tej encouraged the little chick to keep walking toward its mother, using his flames to guide the way and keep the bird warm. Eventually the little chick waddled over to its mother and looked up and started cawing.
Skylar scooped her up with her wing, igniting it with her pink flames, and brought it close to her chest. Tej hugged both of them with his flames roaring across his entire body.
"Nana Fena, Mama, Dada. What do you think? Boy or girl baby?" Xander asked curiously.
They all repeated, "boy" at the same time. Xander laughed.
"I think it’s a girl. I’m not sure though. I just see a bunch of different swirling emotions in the little one’s head and its golden aura. It’s strange because the other mythical beings show silver in their bodies." He said while shrugging. Xander was confused but he didn’t care.
Eventually the chick started cawing at Tej, so Skylar let the chick walk slowly across her wing until it jumped onto its father’s wing.
"Well, they’re all wondering. Can I tell them?" Skylar asked nervously.
"Why are you so nervous? Of course you can tell them! Xander hasn’t opened a portal in awhile and I don’t think anyone’s coming to hurt our little girl." Tej responded proudly.
"You were right. You get to stay in Paradise with me forever. I like that idea," Skylar admitted as she nuzzled Tej.
"How did you know?"
Tej laughed. "I didn’t know, we both had a 50% chance of being right. I just figured it would be good for us to have a daughter. Isn’t there a male phoenix on Solstice?"
Skylar looked off towards Solstice and zoomed in on Indra, who was sitting in his parents’ flame, feeding them life they didn’t really need right now.
"So you’re telling me you wanted it to be a girl so we’d have a daughter that would bond and become Xander’s companion. Skylar said softly.
"You didn’t want to leave me but wanted to watch phoenixes grow naturally..." she trailed off as Tej smiled.
"Go to Athena. She looks like she’s about to cry. I got our little one, don’t worry," Tej bragged as he nudged her toward Athena.
"Nana Fena, I think Tej is trying to tell Skylar to come talk to you." Xander exclaimed.
Skylar flew over to Athena and perched on her shoulders.
"It’s a girl. We haven’t even discussed names but Tej thinks she’ll naturally bond with Xander and become his companion. He somehow predicted all of this and thinks she’ll mate with Indra on Solstice."
Athena gasped, her facial full of shock and awe, which caused Sora and Brie to laugh.
"Your Majesty, I didn’t think it was possible to see you so surprised by something. What is it?!" Brie asked while giggling.
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