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Simurg	By : Cynthermes Category: A through F > The Cronnex Series Views: 1292 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: The Cronnex and its characters is explicitly owned by Trewin Greenaway and no profit has been made out of this fiction.

Chapter List
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Aurella excused herself afterwards to attend to her other clients. Eventually, Miermi’s hunger caught up with him and he ate well mannered on the table. “You can share the meal with us, Cinder.” He mistook the brunet lad’s hesitancy as politeness.
Again, the godling in disguise faced a problem. He should hide his divinity as possible to keep his human form. “It’s alright Cinder, take this as part of your payment.” Elyn encouraged with a somewhat mature tone, earning him a look from his grandfather.
“Thank you but I’d rather not. My foster father has cooked for me at home and…” He tried, embarrassed.
“You mean Alfrund? He is a rather good friend of mine. We share the same profession as you have noticed. I’m sure he will not be cross if I offered his adopted son a good meal.” There was a strange glint in the old man’s moss green eyes.
With a snap of Cinder’s fingers, he could wipe the man’s building knowledge or his memory of him completely but he knew that was not to be.
“The coins are payment enough.” The brunet said stiffly and the old man began to nod in understanding. He turned to his travel sack and pulled a wrapped bottle with a strangely familiar concoction. His moss green eyes were studying the young man’s reaction then he returned it to the sack.
Elyn watched this exchange in confusion.
Cinder sighed. This man had the wisdom and sharpness of Astral.
“Elyn dear, when you finished your meal you can go ahead of me to sleep.” Miermi turned to his grandson who quickly protested, “But Grandfather! I’m not yet tired and I wanted Cinder to come with me and explore the town!”
“You can do that tomorrow, right Cinder?” The old man turned to the brunet who nodded.
The blond boy seemed to remember his grief and all his excitement died with it. He sank in his chair and stared at his unfinished food.
As courtesy to his aunt, he silently emptied his plate and whispered goodnight afterwards. He was gone and into bed before Miermi finished eating.
Aurella came back to put the plates away and momentarily stared at the clean plate she had laid for the young man. A servant helped her put the ceramic dishes and bowls in the direction of the kitchen. After a quick glance from her father-in-law, the innkeeper left the two men to their privacy.
“I suppose you can explain everything to me now.” The sorcerer began pointedly at the young lad.
Cinder remained silent. He knew the old man wanted to pry him for the safety of his grandson.
“You scared the witch away. How did you do it?” Miermi asked his voice lowered.
“She looked petrified. Maybe she thought I was someone else.” He shrugged. Ordinary mortals especially the fanatics were not allowed to know his identity until the right time but Miermi was different. His aura had a strange bluish color blazing warmly and dangerously if provoked: the signs of ancient power.
The phoenix had chosen well.
“She looked like she has seen a ghost. But her magic of escape was not her own. In my eyes I could see that ‘you’ banished ‘her’.” The sorcerer stated matter-of-factly but there was a timbre of admiration and not reproach in his voice.
“Are you saying that I have magic powers?” Cinder asked with faked astonishment.
“What did you do to attract the dragons’ attention lad?” The old man quickly placed the bottle on the table wrapped in oiled cloth.
The brunet knew what was in the bottle before he could see it. The sweet bitter aroma of the gods’ wine instantly invaded his nostrils and he couldn’t turn his gaze away from it.
“Do you know what this is?” Miermi asked again, not bothering that he didn’t answer his first question.
Cinder felt a surge of power and he sensed that they were secretly hidden from the view of others. They were inside an illusion and the old man gingerly unwrapped the cloth with a small incantation.
“Nectar.” The word reflexively stumbled out of his mouth. The Immortals get nourishment primarily from meditation and in the mortal world; they can obtain it in the crude form of nectar.
The wine was very rare and was considered the most powerful poison for mortals. The phoenix knew how the old man obtained such unearthly substance but Cinder wanted to know himself.
“I’m surprised you know what it is. But you can have it if you want it. I’m sure it is better than the six coppers.” Miermi unexpectedly rose and turned his back leaving the bottle with the coppery violet liquid on the table.
“It’s poison for a mortal.” The brunet stated the obvious.
“It is.” The old man agreed and then he whispered very low for a human to hear, “But you are not mortal.” The sorcerer vanished from his line of human sight.
That bluish thread headed upstairs to the sleeping chambers and Cinder left the inn knowing to return tomorrow. His foster father must be worried.
Miermi watched from a small wooden window when their ferryman departed the inn. His curiosity overwhelmed his reason and foresight. The young lad was wiser than him, he admitted. A protective ethereal force surrounded the lad when he attempted to pry into his identity. When he felt that force tugging at his life strings he drew back and retreated. This was enough proof that Cinder was not mortal. Whoever he was, he didn’t deserve to know for now.
The scent of hibiscus, jasmine and juniper welcomed him when he entered their small stone house. He assumed that his foster father prepared tea judging from the mixed herbal fragrance. But just as he was about to turn the corner towards the kitchen, his instincts made him stop.
Then he heard a voice, a man’s voice different from his father. It sounded older and nasal. Cinder froze when his divine eyes saw the aura of thread radiating with alchemy. A name flashed in his mind:
Porphoras.
Imagine an herbalist in the company of an alchemist: that was a very incompatible blend.
“Tyler? Is that you?” Alfrund’s voice jolted him from his trance. The herbalist was not expecting him to return tonight… with good reasons.
First he met Sophaera then coincidentally someone connected to her would turn up on his guardian’s home. He couldn’t allow Porphoras to know as well. His instincts told him not to meet this alchemist.
Quickly he wrapped himself in a void to conceal the slightest trace of energy even a half-immortal couldn’t perceive.
In a flash time stopped before he invisibly flew out the window and into the sky as the Phoenix.
He soared higher and higher into the cool icy air until the triangle island appeared like a little dot beneath his golden wings.
Away from the land of mortals he felt free. Just the wide stretch of ocean sparkled below unable to conjure his reflection. There was still no moon tonight and he felt lonely. He decided to go back to Mt. Bennu when the special dagmast stone around his neck glowed.
Immediately his very sharp crimson sight spotted a small underwater island rising for him to perch. The firebird slowed his speed and glided with wings outstretched. Cind’rikh felt like diving into air instead of water when his talons touched down on the smooth bedrock of sandstone. The moment eternal fire and earthly stone made contact, the golden feathers dissolved as if consumed by an invisible whirlwind.
Human limbs became visible once again and ruby orbs outlined the suspended golden feathers in the air. With a snap of his fingers they fall and vanish on the sands of the unknown island. Cind’rikh caught the last feather and with a simple incantation (he conserves his divine powers) it turned into a beautiful dagger with the handle retaining a quill shape.
The pinkish translucent stone pendant now shined incessantly. The godling positioned the dagger on his finger and made a deep cut. Promptly before the wound could heal, the brunet smeared the blood on the stone.
A sizzling sound briefly flitted through the air when his flammable drop of life touched the surface of the triangle-shaped pendant.
“Ra’asiel, beloved, what is it?” He asked in the Grazen tongue somewhat nervous.
“You sound troubled.” The amethyst god’s deep melodious voice replied.
“Did you sense my worries? I’m sorry.” The godling said in human language.
“Tell me what happened.” Ra’asiel responded in kind.
The Phoenix-incarnate sensed that the amethyst god already knew what he was to tell but the sincerity to listen in his words soothed the loneliness a bit.
“I’m aching for you…” The godling whispered, shyly.
“I do more.” The voice coming from the stone held a hypnotic seduction that the godling felt his knees suddenly went weak.
Cind’rikh laid down, nude on the grainy but warm sand and his hand embraced the stone. The small waves licked lightly at the toes of his bare feet. The seawater was warm and the gentle breeze carried the scent of wild flowers from faraway.
“I’ve seen two people who seem to know me from the past so far.” The brunet confessed while his fingers lazily traced the pyramid shape of the pendant.
“And what did they do?”
“The first one became my guardian. His name is Alfrund, an herbalist by trade.”
“Do you remember a memory of him?”
“No. But he seemed uncertain that I resembled Niccas.” His old name sounded very distant and long forgotten. It produced a strange awkwardness in his tongue.
“And what about the other?”
“The other was much more intimidated. She was an enchantress called Sophaera.” Spontaneously, Cind’rikh felt a hot surge of power emanate through the dagmast stone.
“Did she try to harm you?”
“Yes. But she… I banished her… accidentally.” The godling answered sheepishly. The stone cooled down a bit.
“It would be better if you sent her straight to Tartarus.”
Cind’rikh laughed.
“I threatened her just that.”
“You are much too kind to be the Lord of Tartarus.”
“It’s probably coming from my current human form. But when I came down to Tartarus I felt very different.” The weakness crept into his thighs and now he was sure that he needed nourishment.
The transformations from human form to Phoenix and vice versa weighed heavy on his suppressed divine powers. His hand traveled a little to the right where the bottle with nectar was hooked along with the pendant.
“Yes, I agree. After all it had been 40 days there since you’ve been born here. It takes time for a godling to be a god.”
“By the way I think there’s someone else. I’ve chosen him for the mission but he’s sharp like Astral. I think I can’t hide my divinity forever.” Cind’rikh sighed.
“You mean Miermi the Sorcerer? He is one quart immortal from Astral’s line indeed.”
The godling gasped. “No wonder he gave me Nectar.”
“But he’s old. His age and the suppression of his arts made his sorcery rusty.”
“He gets tired when he uses too much of his life force.”
“He called me for help to save his grandson. It’s a first for a long time. Did you know that he was locked up in a tower for having Astral’s mark?”
“Humans can really be cruel.” The godling’s breaths sounded labored and he licked his lips.
“Don’t tell me you’re touching yourself… while listening to my voice?” Ra’asiel chuckled and his deep seductive voice echoed within Cind’rikh’s ears.
“No but I can’t wait for a full moon…” The brunet said dreamily. The godling sat up and sand fell from his dark hair and back.
The warm breeze gave him a soft kiss on the lips. “Wait for six more days and I will come to you without fail.” The amethyst god’s voice faded in the last word and the dagmast stone’s glowing ceased. Cinder was truly alone again. He felt like a young man wanting to get drunk because his lover left him. He uncorked the bottle of nectar and instinctively took a whiff. The aroma was pleasant and unearthly as he expected.
Without any more doubts, the godling took a sip and gasped at the very rich and thick flavor. And to think this was poison for mortals… Nectar was better than all of the aged wines or ales he had ever tasted. He instantly felt rejuvenated after three more sips. Satisfied, he recapped the bottle and it clinked against his necklace.
He needed a dip in the water, he thought. The brunet carefully laid his necklace and the nectar bottle on the sand then ran towards the sea. He dived deep into the water and swam gracefully like a fish. He was eternal flame in its very incarnation and not even the deity of the oceans can put out the fire.
The moment he took flight, the seas swallowed the island he took perch in. Perhaps, that was a manifestation of Ra’asiel’s powers.
It was way past midnight when he returned home… naked. The transformation always incinerated his clothes into ash and he had forgotten to shed them in his haste.
When he approached the wooden steps he looked up to find his foster brother standing at the end of the stairs.
“Where have you been? Father was very worried!” Tyler practically ran down the stairs and was a bit startled to find his nude state.
His brother’s cheeks colored crimson in embarrassment and was unable to look at him for a while. “Did you get robbed? What happened to your clothes?”
Cinder couldn’t help but grin a little. Tyler was doing his best to believe in his innocence. “I didn’t sleep with someone if that’s what you’re thinking.” He winked.
Instantly Tyler’s eyelids drooped and he started to nod off. “I’m going to sleep, good night.” His foster brother turned to the left corner and he heard the wood creak shut.
He unintentionally put Tyler to sleep, Cinder realized. Sometimes his powers seeped a little even though he contained them. Maybe the wink plus the word sleep triggered this?
Just as he was about to slip like a cat into his bedroom to get clothes, Alfrund appeared on the doorway. He looked very awake and anxious.
“I won’t ask where you’ve been Cinder but go to sleep now and we’ll talk tomorrow.” The man silently went passed him and into the small kitchen.
That was it? No reproaches and no questions? Perhaps, his foster father didn’t want Porphoras to know of his existence. He went to his room, dressed and returned downstairs where his father sat on the stool near a simmering cauldron.
Alfrund’s back was tense and he jerked when he heard his footsteps. “I thought I told you to sleep.” His hazel eyes wandered over the twine holding the nectar bottle and they widened.
“Where did you get this?” The middle-aged man’s gentle face changed into astonishment and suspicion. His eyes narrowed even more when he saw the bottle next to the dagmast pendant.
“An herbalist named Miermi gave me this bottle as payment. I told him you’re my guardian.” His response produced a more negative effect.
Alfrund grimaced. Why were these men connected to the disbanded order storming into his little town all of a sudden?
Could it be that this young man was really Niccas? No. It was impossible.
He approached the lad and hastily removed the bottle from the twine. “How could Miermi give you such a fatal poison? ! Is he senile already to hand Nectar to a lad?” The herbalist practically snatched the bottle from around his neck and examined it like a mortal wound. He appeared to trace something then he gasped and his graying head instantly snapped in Cinder’s direction making the lad jump in surprise.
“The enchantment seal has been broken! Don’t tell me you opened this bottle!” Alfrund was furious now. He gripped the brunet’s arm almost painfully.
“I…” Cinder winced and instantly the older man was pitched backwards like an invisible force pushed him away.
Alfrund stumbled on his back and his hazel eyes widened this time in shock.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!” The brunet quickly knelt by the man’s side and helped him up. Fortunately he wasn’t pitched against his boiling cauldron or his jagged brick wall.
With a little effort he stood up and dusted his worn out cloak. “Was it you who entered while I was speaking with a friend?” Alfrund’s mind was racing. If he could just put a conclusion to all the peculiar occurrences tonight.
“Yes, but I didn’t want to disturb you so I left.” Cinder couldn’t lie. He couldn’t suppress his powers when they were triggered by emotion. He had to learn how to prevent mishaps such as these from ever happening again.
“I didn’t hear the door close behind you.” The herbalist’s stare still pierced him for answers.
“I’m sorry,” was the only thing he could say. There were tears brimming on the sides of his ruby eyes and instantly Alfrund felt mortified of his actions.
The herbalist sighed and embraced him. Cinder was irresistible especially on the brink of tears. Alfrund couldn’t be angry and suspicious when that very beautiful face reminded him of Jessan. He was still in doubt if this mysterious young man was Jessan’s twin.
“No, I should be the one to apologize. I’m sorry for behaving like a scoundrel. I was just really worried about you.” Alfrund said softly while combing his fingers on his adopted son’s smooth raven locks. “And that friend I was talking about wasn’t really here to pay me a visit.” He added somewhat reluctantly. His heart fretted at the thought of Cinder being taken away to the Daughters of Luna.
“What do you mean, Father?” The brunet asked when they broke apart.
“Tell me who you really are and I can keep you safe.” Alfrund gazed at him pleadingly.
The godling took a deep breath. If his foster father was a threat his memory could be wiped out instantly. But he knew deep inside that he didn’t want that.
“Are you Niccas?” The herbalist asked suddenly when he wouldn’t speak.
“No.” Cinder answered honestly then added, “Father I can protect myself.”
Alfrund slowly nodded tiredly. The sizzling and aroma from the cauldron reminded him that he had been restless enough to brew a calmative. He stood and poured a cupful of the tea. “Porphoras was here. He was Niccas’ old mentor of alchemy.”
“What did he want from you?” The brunet asked.
“He wanted to see you, the young lad who lost his memory. I denied everything of course.” The herbalist said bitterly and it was not because of the tea.
“Was he the strange old man with a nasal voice?”
“Yes. You were wise to leave as I called Tyler’s name. He didn’t know I adopted two young men.” The herbalist nodded and took another sip from his calmative brew.
Cinder remained taciturn. He didn’t know that there were still people who remembered his old and deceased self. By retaining some of Niccas’ features he understood that this was the way to cross treads with some of the remaining adversaries involved in the last war. He was to lure them with his appearance and cast the wicked straight to Tartarus. And the rest he had to figure out for himself how this journey of rebirth would lead him back to the people he loved and lost too soon.
Ra’asiel didn’t give him the exact answers he needed but the godling knew it would be hard to believe if he did. The prophecy had been wrong. When the half-immortals of Gesryma failed to maintain the elemental balance of the world, the Great Wheel will not grind into a halt but it will continue to revolve. It will give way to the Opposing One and his subjects to set things straight. And if Ra’asiel’s avatar will fail it would be Astral’s turn.
The world will go on and live with all the turmoil and chaos humans and demons brought to themselves. The world of mortals was a world of the free. The gods interfered for the greater good but they are benevolent to allow their creations to wield their own swords or follow their own wills. Each human or demon is free to worship which god or goddess he/she wishes. But the turning of the wheel amplified the manifesting power of the reigning god or goddess. The Great Wheel’s purpose was to eliminate envy or injustice among the Immortals in terms of worship. It also modulates divine intervention from each. Now it was Ra’asiel and Cind’rikh’s turn to reign. The mortals’ prayers would most likely be more powerful if they called on to the Opposing One.
The phoenix’ wisdom filled him in his silence and Cinder simply sat with his foster father to soothe his anxiety.

“Perhaps I’m a fool to hold on to the memories of the ones I love.” Alfrund continued stirring the brew absently. “Tyler reminded me of my first beloved, Fendal. He was an ex-pirate and nobody wanted to offer him lodging in his hometown so I took him here with me.”
“And you Cinder, you remind me of Jessan.”
As expected, the name tugged at his mind but it didn’t budge of course. “Who is Jessan?”
“The moment I saw you unconscious on the shore I thought you were him. My heart fooled my eyes a bit. But my reason told me it’s impossible since you couldn’t remember me. So I thought that you might be Niccas but I knew he was dead. And even if he was alive he was crippled and blind so you can’t be him as well.”
The revelations of his past life stabbed him in his heart and he suddenly couldn’t breathe. There was immense pain in his chest and he clutched the pendant firmly for support.
Alfrund’s eyes were veiled and he didn’t seem to notice Cinder’s reactions to the tale.
“I’m tired of watching my loved ones run and flee for their lives.” The herbalist said in a resigned tone. He looked very sad and regretful.
Thankfully, the strange pain had subsided and the brunet wordlessly embraced Alfrund. “I won’t run away. I’ll face them with honor and courage. I will fight alongside the righteous.” Cind’rikh vowed in his foster father’s entire being.
The tea bowl crashed on the stone floors and Alfrund’s graying brown head felt heavy on his shoulder. He had fallen asleep with tears in his eyes.
- 5
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