Lowering his bow slightly, Kent announced his arrival, his voice booming throughout the battlefield.
“I don’t know the history of your conflict or the grievances that have driven you to war. But I do know this: if you continue down this path, there will be nothing left of either side. For the sake of your survival, you must stop this war—right now.”
Zora, the head of the Fire Kirin race, who had been on the losing side of the battle, hesitated. His pride warred with the practicality of the situation. But even he could see the devastation that would befall on his people if the fighting continued.
Slowly, reluctantly, he raised his hand, signaling his forces to stand down. The Fire Kirins, their bodies still glowing with residual heat, withdrew, their flames dimming as they retreated to a safer distance.
But the Dwarf Phoenixes were not so easily swayed. Their leader, Bora, a towering figure with dull looking wings and a fiery mane, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger and contempt.
“Why should we stop, outsider? We’re the winning side! If not for your interference, this war would have ended within the hour. Today, I will finally end this centuries-long quarrel with these dumb horses!”
Before Bora could finish his angry words, Kent moved with lightning speed, raising his bow to the sky. With a swift, decisive motion, he released a glowing fiery arrow, and in that instant, the sky erupted with a deafening cry—the Phoenix Ascension blast.
The very air seemed to crackle with power as the image of a majestic Phoenix, burning in flames, appeared in the sky, its wings stretching wide as it let out a cry that shook the heavens.
The battlefield fell into a stunned silence, all eyes on the blazing ancient Phoenix that hovered above them. Its presence was overwhelming, a manifestation of raw, ancient power that left no doubt as to the severity of Kent’s warning.
He lowered his bow slightly, his voice steady and cold as he addressed Bora. “Now tell me, where should I target this arrow? You are just a Dwarf Phoenix. Don’t you know how to respect your ancestors?”
“Kneel!” Kent took a step forward, his aura flaring with a dominance that sent a shiver through the ranks of the Dwarf Phoenixes. The force of his command was undeniable, and despite his pride and fury, Bora found himself trembling. The weight of the Phoenix in the sky bore down on him like a mountain, and with a look of terror and submission, he fell to his knees.
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Seeing their leader bow before Kent, the rest of the Dwarf Phoenixes quickly followed suit, their wings folding as they knelt, heads bowed in respect. The flames that had burned so fiercely moments before now seemed to flicker uncertainly, as if acknowledging the presence of a greater power.
Kent held his gaze for a moment longer, ensuring that his message had been received loud and clear. Then, with a wave of his hand, the image of the Phoenix in the sky dissipated, its fiery form dissolving into the air like smoke. The battlefield, once a place of violence and death, was now eerily quiet.
As the Dwarf Phoenixes began to retreat, their wings barely whispering through the air, Bora glanced toward Kent before leading his people away from the battlefield. The war, at least for now, was over.
With the conflict resolved, Kent descended from his position, making his way toward the Fire Kirin stronghold.
Kavi, still in her Fire Kirin form, stood with her brother, Zambu, and several other members of her race. Their gazes were focused on Kent as he approached, their expressions a mixture of awe, gratitude, and sadness.
Zambu stepped forward, his fiery mane dimming as he bowed deeply before Kent. “You have honored your word, Human. My sister… She is finally free. I’m indebted to you, my whole life.”
Kavi’s mother, tears streaming down her face, rushed to her daughter, wrapping her arms around her tightly. She cried openly, her sobs filled with both joy and sorrow. “My child… my precious child… you’re finally home.”
Kavi, too, couldn’t hold back her tears. She leaned into her mother’s embrace, her fiery form flickering with the intensity of her emotions. Her brother, who had always been the stoic one, now wept like a child, his powerful frame shaking with the force of his grief and relief.
Kent watched the reunion with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that he had done the right thing. When the tears finally subsided, and Kavi’s family had had their fill of holding her close, Kent stepped forward and addressed them.
“As promised, the master-servant bond between Kavi and myself has been removed,” Kent said, his voice calm yet firm. “She is free to live as she pleases, with no obligations to anyone.”
Kavi’s mother looked at Kent with tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling as she spoke. “We owe you a debt we can never repay. You’ve given us our daughter back… we are forever in your debt. Thank You, Human.”
Before Kent could respond, Zora, the head of the Fire Kirin race, stepped forward. His eyes, once filled with the determination to win at all costs, were now softened with gratitude and understanding. He looked at his daughter, Kavi, and saw the sadness lingering in her eyes despite her reunion with her family.
“Kavi… I can see that your heart is torn. You’ve found a place among these people, and you’ve grown attached to them. I cannot ignore the sadness in your eyes, even as you stand with your family.”
Kavi looked at her father, her eyes wide with surprise. “Father…?”
Zora turned his gaze to Kent, his expression solemn yet resolute. “Kent, you’ve proven yourself to be a man of honor. You’ve fulfilled your promise, and you’ve shown great respect for our people. For that, I thank you.”
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “But as her father, I cannot bear to see my daughter’s heart divided. Therefore, I offer Kavi back to you. Not as a servant, but as a companion, free to make her own choices. If she wishes to stay with you, I will not stand in her way.”
Kavi’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as she looked between her father and Kent. The idea of returning to Kent’s side, free from any bond, was something she had never imagined. The love and care she had developed for Kent and the others were genuine, and the thought of leaving them had always filled her with sorrow.
Kent, taken aback by Zora’s offer, took a moment to consider his response. He looked at Kavi, seeing the mix of emotions playing across her-face, and realized that this decision was not his to make alone.
“Kavi,” Jabil said softly, his voice gentle, “the choice is yours. You can stay here with your family, where you belong, or you can return with us. Whatever you decide, Master-Kent will respect your decision.”
Kavi felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her, but as she looked into Kent’s eyes, she knew where her heart lay. With a deep breath, she stepped forward and turned to face her father.
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