Chapter 10: Musical Bonds

Trinity woke up to the sound of screaming.

Sitting up, she looked around their campsite. The boys were still sound asleep, Harper’s sleeping bag empty. Crawling over to Phoenix, she shook him. “Phoenix, wake up,” she said. He grunted. “Wake up!”

She shoved him, and his eyes shot open. “What the…what is wrong with you?” he said with a glare.

“Harper is gone, and I heard a scream.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“Someone help me!”

The pair flinched as Trinity’s orb of light appeared, Harper’s voice screaming from it. “Believe me now?” Trinity said before pushing Alexander. “Wake up, Wolf Boy! Emergency!”

“What?” he mumbled before looking at the orb. “Our enemy.”

Trinity, not wanting to waste another minute, sprinted after the orb. It led her down the path and towards a patch of golden flowers. Harper was on the ground covering her head. Charging towards her was Oriana’s worse nightmare. Running faster, Trinity jumped and pushed Harper out of the way of the large biting spider. “Trinity!” Harper squeaked.

“This could be one of her monsters,” Alexander said, sliding to a stop with Phoenix. “You two, raise you know what.”

“Aria, watch over our fates,” Phoenix said before Trinity could speak. The air grew warm. “Curtain, rise!”

A red bubble spread across the area, stopping just near the waterfall. Harper froze, Trinity laying her down as she and Phoenix transformed. “Where’s Marina?” she said, looking around. “Hiding again?”

The monster shot web at her before anyone could answer. Phoenix sprang to her side and put up a wall of fire. “Now’s not the time to be thinking about that!” he said.

The web burned, and Trinity jumped up. Forming her electric attack, she shouted, “Sparkling Lightning!”

“Stop naming it!” Alexander shouted. The attack hit the monster who shook. “Even if it works.”

Trinity rolled her eyes when she heard a match being lit. She ducked as Phoenix shot an arrow of fire at the monster.

Flames and electricity surrounded it, and it vanished in a puff of smoke.

“That monster was pretty weak,” Trinity said. “Or I’ve become stronger.”

Phoenix frowned, Alexander rolling his eyes. “It’s a bit of both, I admit,” he said. “That was likely not Marina’s monster, but her leader’s.”

“Queen Pandora?”

“Monsters have been sprouting up across the world since she began her reign of terror. While it might have been a weaker one, it is clear,” he motioned between Trinity and Phoenix, “that you two are stronger together in battle. Especially when protecting someone.”

The pair glanced at each other before turning towards Harper. Phoenix closed his eyes, and the Curtain faded away. Unfrozen, Harper sat up fast and rubbed her neck. “Are you alright, Harper?” Trinity said. She nodded before gasping. A few steps away was her cracked lute, the strings torn out. “Your lute! I’m sorry.”

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Standing, Harper walked over and picked up the broken instrument. “Well, it’s better it was broken by a monster instead of my frustration.” Hugging it to her chest, she turned and smiled. “Thank you so much for saving me, Trinity! You’re amazing.”

“I suppose so!” Trinity said with a bashful grin, Alexander rolling his eyes.

“Will you be able to fix the lute?” Phoenix said. “That’s a bad break.”

“My teacher has material I can use if I get it to his office quickly. No need for you to rush, though. I can get there on my own.”

“Huh?” Alexander said. “What happened to escorting—?”

“If you keep following the path, you’ll reach Cameria. It’s surrounded by sun blossoms, so you can’t miss it.” Grinning, she began to jog down the path. “Thank you again for your help, Phoenix. You too, Trinity. I’ll write a heroic song about both of you. So long!”

And with a wave, she was gone.

“That was pointless,” Alexander said with a frown.

Phoenix sighed, Trinity chuckling. “I don’t think so,” she said, walking back to the campsite.

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The trio continued their journey through the southern region until nightfall. Setting up camp near a river, it did not take long for them to fall asleep, Trinity the last to. As she gazed at the starry sky, she could hear crickets chirping in the night, the sweet smell of golden sun blossoms around her. It was a night she could never experience in Atland Village.

Her peace was startled away by the sound of music.

Sitting up, Trinity looked around. Alexander was still fast asleep, the wood from the extinguished fire a bit red. Near the river sat Phoenix strumming on a lute. Trinity stood and tiptoed over. The song was the one Harper had played but sounded much better, in Trinity’s opinion. She listened a bit more before sitting next to Phoenix. “I was right,” she said. “You did have one with you.”

Phoenix jumped, his instrument almost flying into the river. “Do you have to sneak up on people like that?” he said with a glare.

“Why didn’t you take it out when helping Harper? Why did you help her, anyway?”

Opening his mouth to say what Trinity expected to be “None of your business,” he sighed and put the lute on the grass. “I helped her because she offered to take us to Cameria. Also,” he fiddled with his pants, “she reminded me a bit of myself. And I didn’t use my lute for…reasons.”

He tapped the instrument a bit. Trinity stared at him, another question that had been nagging her reappearing in her mind. “Does it have something to do with your parents?” she asked. Phoenix flinched, eyes wide, lip quivering. She had gone too far. “If-If you don’t feel comfortable answering, you don’t have to! Just…I’ve been wondering if something happened to them. They don’t seem to be around.”

Phoenix stared at the ground, his breaths shaky. After a few seconds, he turned fully towards Trinity and looked her in the eyes. “My mother passed away many years ago. My father…was in an accident and is currently sleeping. The medics are unsure when or if he’ll wake up.” Phoenix’s fingers trembled, his eyes tearing up. “The last time I saw him was when he gave me this lute.”

In that moment, Trinity regretted her question and wanted to hug Phoenix at the same time.

“Phoenix, I’m so sorry!” she said. “I’m sure both of them would be proud of you helping others learn to play.” He shrugged, turning to look at the river. “Actually, you should be a bard’s apprentice once you turn sixteen. Your father would support that dream…I think.”

“Probably,” Phoenix said with a half-hearted chuckle. “However, being a bard has never been my dream. Nor is being a bookkeeper.” He looked up at the sky, a single cloud passing over the moon. “I’ve always wanted to become a Royal Knight and live in the capital.”

“A Royal Knight?” Trinity smiled wide and leaned closer to Phoenix. With how serious he was, she could almost see him as the protector of a noble. “I want to live in Arialyn one day, too! And I can see you as a—”

“It’s impossible,” Phoenix said quickly, eyes hidden. “I gave up that dream long ago.” Trinity’s mouth moved without sound, Phoenix turning fully away. “If you have nothing else to say, you should sleep. We still have a bit of journey to go.”

Trinity gazed at him before scooting closer. “I want to hear you play,” she said.

Phoenix spun towards her, eyes wide. “What?” he said.

“I said I want to hear you play.”

Phoenix’s cheeks turned slightly red. “I-I’m not that good.”

“Yet you were able to help Harper who sounded horrible.”

“That’s not…I’ve never performed for anyone before. Not since—”

“Then I’ll be your first.” Trinity smiled. “Alexander is asleep, so it’ll just be me, you, and the crickets.” She pushed her bottom lip out in a pout. “Please?”

Phoenix stared, eyes still wide. After a second, he chuckled. “You’re very persistent, Trinity Starbolt,” he said with a warm smile. “You better not laugh.” He closed his eyes as he began to play. The song was slow which was perfect for a calm night. Leaning back, Trinity gazed at him as the crickets chirped along with the notes, music filling the cool night air.