Lyra's eyes fluttered open.
Soft golden light bathed the room, warm and steady, like the first rays of sunrise after a long, restless night. The air smelled faintly of herbs and something unfamiliar—clean, ancient, comforting. Her body felt heavy, every muscle aching as though she had burned herself from the inside out.
The Phoenix Flame pulsed faintly within her.
Not raging.
Not silent.
Alive.
Tiny sparks of red and gold danced briefly along her fingertips before fading. Lyra swallowed, her throat dry, her heart racing as fragments of memory rushed back—fire, shadows, screams, light.
"You're awake."
The voice was calm, melodic, carrying an authority that felt impossible to ignore.
Lyra turned her head.
A woman stood beside the bed, silver hair flowing like moonlight, her presence serene yet overwhelming. Her eyes held centuries of wisdom—gentle, but unyielding.
"Where… am I?" Lyra whispered.
"You are safe," the woman replied softly. "This is the healing chamber of the Fairy Academy. I am Celestia, the headmistress."
Before Lyra could process that, warm light filled her vision.
Serena knelt beside the bed, her golden aura wrapping around Lyra like a protective embrace. She gently took Lyra's trembling hand.
"Shh… breathe," Serena whispered. "You're safe now. It's over."
Lyra tried to steady herself, but her hands shook as faint embers flickered across her skin.
"I… I burned them," she murmured. "I didn't mean to. I couldn't stop it…"
Celestia stepped closer, her gaze steady.
"No, you couldn't," she said calmly. "Because what awakened within you is not ordinary fire."
Lyra's breath hitched.
"The Phoenix Flame," Celestia continued. "A power long thought lost."
Lyra's heart pounded. "Why… why do I have it?"
Celestia placed a warm, grounding hand over Lyra's.
"Because you are its rightful bearer and the chosen one."
Lyra's voice trembled. "That doesn't make sense…"
"It will," Celestia said gently. "But first, you must hear the truth."
The room seemed to grow quieter.
"You are the long-lost Fire Princess of Ignis," Celestia said. "Born to a royal bloodline of a world believed destroyed. To save you, you were hidden—sent far from your home, far from your destiny."
Lyra stared at her, breath caught in her throat.
"A… princess?"
"Yes," Celestia said. "And more than that."
Serena squeezed Lyra's hand, her presence steady and reassuring.
"You are the Phoenix Princess."
The words settled heavily in the air.
"There exists a prophecy," Celestia continued, her voice grave. "One that speaks of a bearer of the divine phoenix flame—capable of both creation and destruction. A force that will one day stand against a darkness threatening all realms."
Lyra shook her head slowly. "I can't even control it. I almost destroyed everything…"
Celestia's eyes softened.
"Control does not come through force," she said. "The Phoenix Flame is alive. You do not dominate it—you learn to walk alongside it."
Serena nodded. "You won't face this alone," she said softly. "I'll stay with you."
Lyra's chest tightened, fear mixing with something new—resolve.
"So… this is just the beginning," Lyra whispered.
"Yes," Celestia replied. "Your power has awakened. Training will be difficult. Painful. And dangerous."
She smiled faintly.
"But you have survived what no ordinary soul could."
Lyra took a shaky breath.
"I… I want to learn. I don't want to hurt anyone ever again."
Celestia inclined her head.
"Then rest, Phoenix Princess. Tomorrow, your true path begins."
Serena's light wrapped around Lyra once more, warm and steady.
As Lyra closed her eyes, exhaustion finally claiming her, the Phoenix Flame stirred quietly within her—not roaring this time, but watching.
Waiting.
This was only the beginning.