Even during the Phoenix clan's golden age, it was very rare to see Clan Guardians. The appearance of these rare figures or living legends caused a ripple of emotion throughout the Phoenix and Xoliti clans.
Some people stared at them in awe, and others celebrated in joy, as hope ignited in their hearts with the appearance of strong fighters.
Each of the seven Clan Guardians who stepped through the portal wore necklaces around their neck, their necklaces formed of living flames, almost like the dagger Noah spent time forging, but the necklaces looked ever more intricate in the appearance of a rising Phoenix. No Phoenix clan member, except the chief and clan guardians knew what they were; some said it was a symbol, and some said it gave the clan guardians their power. All the clan guardians also wore different amounts of necklaces, some wore one, two, or three. In total, there were fourteen necklaces. Noah's dad wore two himself.
Noah didn't spend much time bonding with his dad after he came through the portal. He first helped reunite three of the clan guardians who hadn't reincarnated a lot to their loved ones and then he had guided three Phoenix clan Guadrians and his dad who were gonna help more clan guardians reincarnate to a secluded place as no one could know how it happened even Noah as he was not the chief.
Noah had been able to ask his dad how many were gonna reincarnate. Noah asked under his breath, "Only three are ready?"
Noah's father Renaeos, nodded, his fiery hair shifted slightly from the wind as Noah and Renaeos walked up the branches to their current residence after leaving the other clan guardians with one Xoliti clan elder. "It takes too long to reincarnate clan guardians, we didn't have the full luxury down in the Underworld to take our time. We could only help three."
"I see," Noah replied soberly
"It is not all bad," Renaeos replied, "I myself am on the brink of the mythical tier, we have one mystic tier in the clan guardians, four legendary tier, excluding me, and one grandmaster tier, and the clan guardians reincarnating are all legendary tier."
"If only that were enough," Noah replied. Even though it was good news, the arrival of strong fighter it still wasn't enough, Noah knew all the empires only stated having two mytical tier aura users because they didn't wanna seem stronger than the other empires it was so their people could believe the empires were equal in strength, it would help with making the people have stronger bonds. All equal forces uniting in power to defeat someone stronger or sinister, according to the propaganda that the empires have spread.
A bit of silence enveloped Noah and Renaros's surroundings as they walked up the curving tree branches. Towards the residence currently provided to them.
Glancing at his father, he didn't notice any huge difference in age. From the time when Noah was a kid, when his mom died in a fight against one of the empires, and his father decided to join the Clan Guardians, since he still looked like the same person. Noah could tell that from when he was a kid to now his dad still wanted revenge, he joined the clan guardians to get stronger to get revenge, one of the main commitments of joining the clan Guadrians was you couldn't have kids anymore, so the rebirth blessing wouldn't be passed on but that wasn't a deal for bis dad after his mom died. Noah had been able to meet him less because of that, but he didn't resent him because even he still wanted revenge against the old remnants of the Human kingdom now living in the Drakarion empire.
"You still look the same," Noah said, trying to start a conversation
Renaros smiled faintly. "I guess I do… You have turned into a fine man since I last saw you. How close are you to the legendary tier"
Noah returned a smile back "still far away," he replied bitterly.
"For your age, it's still pretty good," Renaros chuckled "Kids these days just keep getting stronger faster and faster, it's hard for old folks like me to keep up.
Talking about kids, have you and Elena had any"
Noah replied with a bitter smile.
"We have three kids, but the oldest one. When he was born had the Phoenix essence transferred to him from Elena, and if he doesn't grow stronger fast enough, the Phoenix reincarnating will destroy his body.
.
.
.
The oldest is named Luis, he's twelve years old, the younger ones are twins Lira and Kael, both six years old."
There were a few seconds of silence after Noah spoke. He didn't turn to see the expression on his dad.
All he heard was a sigh before he started taking. "Life is always cruel, isn't it? Well, no matter, we will just have to make sure Luis grows strong enough before the Phoenix reincarnates. Though firstly, does anyone know about this, and if they do, how many people?"
Noah replied in a serious tone, "Most high-ranking members of the Xoliti clan and Phoenix clan know, the only expectations are the clan members who were in the same village my family lived in. We had to tell most of the older Phoenix clan members because we couldn't have Luis wander off anywhere far or be caught by the enemies, and right now, no enemies should know that the Phoenix is in Luis. To this day, according to our intel, they have only assumed that the Phoenix is reincarnated, not fully sure."
After another short silence passed, Renaros stopped walking.
While reaching for one of the pendants on his nec,k he spoke. "This pendant was made by the first Clan guardian, who was also the first Phoenix clan leader and the first person the Phoenix gave its blessing to. Give this to Luis, it will protect him when he needs it the most. I can't tell you what it is or what it will do, but when Luis is close to death, it will save him, no matter who the enemy is. Luis will be safe with the necklace."
The pendant that he handed to Noah seemed to have an even more elegant design of the Phoenix than the ones Noah had seen the other members wearing.
Noah's dad continued. "This pendant can change shapes based on the will of its users; they just have to hold it and imbue their will and aura. The pendant you as you might be able to tell is completely undetable, it feels like there is no aura in it, there shouldn't be anyone who will be able to detect and notice that it is a protection pendant and if on the off chance there is someone who realises what it is, they will be afraid instead."
Noah looked up, taking his gaze away from the pendant his dad had just handed him. "Does every"
His dad cut him off: "Don't ask me anything about the pendants, I won't answer anything, unless you wanna become a clan guardian or the clan chief."
Noah stared back at the pendant because even he still couldn't tell that it had any aura in it that would make it something that could protect someone. Noah looked back at his dad with a smile. "Thank you."
His dad replied awkwardly and stiffly. "It's the least I can do."
Noah then turned back to the path with a serious tone, returning to his voice. "There are still many other things we need to talk about on the way home."
His dad nodded and followed along as they kept walking up the branches. With the sounds of leaves crunching.