"What's Going On All of a Sudden?"
Ian and Kira were in a panic when Pyra poked her head in slyly.
Ian explained the phoenix's condition.
"It's in a deep sleep. Probably... well. It seems like it's going to be reborn."
Ian couldn't bring himself to say the phoenix was 'dying'. He didn't want Kira bursting into real tears.
"I see. Makes sense."
But Pyra spat out the harsh truth without batting an eye. It wasn't because she had ice in her veins or anything. To Pyra, the phoenix was just some fascinating bird. Sure, a spirit creature, but so what? Indians revere cows as sacred, but they don't freak out every time they see one. Oh, it's just gonna rebirth, huh. That was it.
"Now that it's back at the sacred mountain, it's probably reverting to its true form."
"Yeah, probably."
Thinking about it, the phoenix's journey had reached its end. Its original destination had been Gramunt, the sacred mountain. Having arrived, reverting to its original state was only natural.
But that 'natural' fact could squeeze someone's heart. Kira, who'd become a total bird mom, was living proof.
"I-it'll be fine, right? Yeah, it'll be okay... right...?"
Humans fear the unknown. Rebirth was natural for a phoenix. You couldn't put a human death on the same level. But Kira didn't know much about phoenix deaths, so anxiety gnawed at her.
"Cheep..."
The phoenix slowly opened its eyes. Ian and the others crowded around. Oberon the raven was there too.
The phoenix chick Winnie instinctively knew her body was crumbling. No need to maintain a flesh-and-blood form anymore—her body was choosing suicide. Time was short.
"..."
Ian nodded. That was probably the phoenix's final request.
"Kira. Pyra. Let's get ready."
"Got it."
Ian carried the dying phoenix up the mountain. Cradled in his arms, it cheeped softly.
"Another you?"
Winnie's vocabulary had improved dramatically. Just as she said, her awakening as a true spirit being was imminent.
Ian climbed slowly and murmured, "You're not a shell. Winnie."
His breath fogged in the cold air, shattering before his eyes.
"Kira likes you so much. Oberon too."
"I... like you too."
Ian was honest. No lie there. He genuinely liked the phoenix. Sure, it had been dumped on him like a headache out of nowhere, but they'd made it to the destination safe and sound. If he felt no affection, he'd be lying.
Winnie spoke quietly.
Ian recalled their first meeting. He remembered hearing a voice, but not what it said exactly.
"Honestly, I didn't catch it clearly."
Winnie laughed at his words.
Ian nodded.
Northerners saw the phoenix egg as sacred, collected it for their village. The monk Isila took it to the empire—that was the problem.
"You seem pretty trusting by nature?"
Ian stopped before a cave. It looked like any ordinary mountain cave.
Ian entered, cradling the phoenix. An underground cave with icicles like stalactites. On a tray-like sheet of solid ice pooled a milky liquid.
"Ooooh!"
Pyra let out a booming shriek.
"Found it! We really found it!"
Icicles snapped off the ceiling. What lungs she had.
"Hrun Dal's Tears! Just as I thought! You're a mage favored by Lady Hrun Dal!"
Pyra chattered on, but Ian wasn't listening. He was tuned to Winnie.
Winnie stared straight at him. Vitality was fading from her body. But her eyes blazed with mystical blue light, like a monk facing nirvana.
"..."
Hrun Dal's Tears was an elixir. Elixir = inner power boost. Webnovel canon.
Ian had his status window isekai cheat, but his body often couldn't handle the mysteries. He'd passed out quickly with the drake. Half-lost his mind with impure mysteries.
Drinking those tears would toughen his spiritual channel. He'd withstand stronger mysteries.
Winnie spoke calmly. Seeing her, Ian realized the source of his nagging unease.
"Winnie. When the real 'you' returns, what happens to Winnie-you?"
"..."
Answer enough. When the true phoenix personality returned, Winnie's memories would vanish. Memories of Ian, Kira, Oberon—all gone.
"One more thing."
"Why call me Dad? Just for closeness?"
Winnie beamed at the question.
Winnie had been a phoenix before hatching. Self-parented.
Classic 'imprinting'. Birds recognize the first being they see post-hatch as parent. Coldly, Winnie called Ian 'Dad' due to avian biology. Instinctual coincidence. A fleeting emotion, gone after death.
But Winnie's feelings were real.
Winnie's head drooped. She'd held on to tell him the elixir's location. Mission done, no need to live.
Ian sensed it too. The mystical presence approaching Winnie.
"The time has come."
"Yes... you've arrived..."
⟨ Phoenix Spirit ⟩
"Accept me now, my fragment. I must restore this mountain's order."
"Wait... can you give just a bit more time?"
"No time for chatter, I'm afraid. The land calls me."
Ian saw it clearly. Winnie was resisting her own memories.
"My fragment, time's up."
"But... I just started talking with Dad..."
"You'll be me soon. That mage just senses my presence."
"Still... we talked... I even said thanks..."
Winnie's wings drooped. Life ebbing. One step, and she'd be gone.
But Ian couldn't just watch. Maybe a whim. He'd only talked properly after her spirit awakening. Now he wanted more chats. Shell or not, he needed a proper goodbye. No shell treatment.
"[Sorry to interrupt.]"
Ian addressed the phoenix soul in fluent Maronius tongue. Caught off-guard, it replied curtly.
"[What is it, young mage?]"
"[May I make the same request of the other you?]"
The spirit flapped irritably.
"[Foolish. You'd hinder my duty for a doomed body?]"
Ian tsked. The phoenix treated death like dog chews. How could an immortal grasp death's terror?
"[If you're so wise, why dismiss death's weight?]"
"[...What?]"
The spirit faltered at Ian's retort. The concept was alien. Death and rebirth were routine for it. Never worried about bodily death!
"[As you say, your body dies soon. Doomed, yes.]"
"[That's...]"
"[But all life clings desperately till the end, seeking meaning. Short-lived or not.]"
The phoenix, immortal, listened rapt. Never pondered mortals' views. Ian was first.
"[Don't mistake short life for weak will.]"
[...]
"[So I ask: just a day or two more. Let Winnie accept and go in peace.]"
The phoenix fell silent. Not too dumb to understand. Instead of scolding, it sighed pityingly.
"[Ah... you're not of this place. You don't sense the mountain's calamity.]"
"[Calamity?]"
"[Evil invaded the mountain. It must've harmed the Mountain King.]"
"[You think indulging my body's wish trumps investigating?]"
Ian glanced between Winnie and the spirit.
"[I'll aid your investigation until Winnie passes.]"
[...]
"[Still... no?]"
The phoenix stared, then burst into laughter.
"[Hahaha! Astonishing. Truly novel.]"
"[What's so funny?]"
"[Meeting one who cherishes my body.]"
Phoenix bodies usually died days after hatching—no reason to persist. It cycled death-rebirth on the snow peaks. This time, a journey to distant empire lands. And a human who cared.
Caring felt... bizarre.
"[Very well, human. Two days granted.]"
"[Thank you!]"
"[Beware. Something's wrong with the Mountain King.]"
The spirit swirled around Winnie. Vitality returned to her body!
Revived, Winnie blinked in shock, then hugged Ian with tiny wings.
Her sparkling eyes made Ian look away uncomfortably.
"Uh, just..."
Seeing Winnie chatter excitedly, Ian chuckled. Good call getting that farewell time.