I am the Phoenix Lord

33

Yuka stood in the vast garden, his chest rising and falling with nervous excitement. The mansion he lived in was massive, with grounds large enough to hide any strange activity. Today, it was empty—no servants, no family, just him and Hannah. His parents were long gone, leaving behind wealth and space, but little else of value.

He clenched his fists as Hannah stood beside him, watching intently. She had insisted they come outside to train. Yuka wasn’t sure what “training” really meant, but he wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by. After all, Hannah wasn’t your average girl.

"At least the gardener hasn’t come yet... I’m doing him a favor by destroying some of these bushes," Yuka thought, smirking slightly. He stretched his palm forward, following Hannah’s earlier instructions, and aimed at a strange, fish-shaped bush on the far side of the garden.

"Focus, feel the energy within you," Hannah said softly, her voice somehow calming and commanding all at once.

Yuka took a deep breath and concentrated. His body began to hum with energy, a red lightning-like crackle forming in the air around him. And then, with a sudden surge, the energy shot from his palm, a beam of red lightning tearing through the garden and striking the bush.

The bush exploded into ash.

“Whoa! Did you see that, Hannah?” Yuka yelled, elated, practically bouncing on his feet. His body buzzed with the rush of power, and he couldn't contain his excitement. “I have a superpower! This is awesome! Plew, plew, plew!” he mimicked shooting lasers from his hands, making sound effects like a child playing superhero.

Hannah, sitting nearby, sighed with an air of boredom, though a slight smile tugged at her lips. "You're being too noisy. Let’s go back inside and watch anime. The world outside is dull compared to what’s in there," she muttered.

"No way!" Yuka was full of energy, the kind he hadn’t felt in years. He was ready to push himself further. "The TV needs a break. We’ve got two hours of training left, and I’m not stopping now!"

Hannah raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. This wasn’t the same kid she had met a few days ago. He was different now. Something had awakened in him. "Alright, fine. If you’re so eager, let's see how much you can handle," she said, her voice dropping into a low, almost mischievous tone. She pointed to the farthest end of the garden. "Run from here to there and back a thousand times before sundown. And don’t stop until you’ve reached your limit."

Yuka didn’t hesitate. Without a word, he sprinted toward the far end of the garden, his feet pounding against the soft grass. As he ran, the thrill of his newfound powers filled his mind. The air whipped past his face, but it wasn’t enough to cool the intense heat surging through his veins. He could feel the lightning inside him, begging to be unleashed again.

Hannah leaned back, closing her eyes. She didn’t expect Yuka to make it. He was human, after all, and there were limits to what a human body could endure. 'He can't do it,' she thought, already feeling herself drift toward sleep. 'No one can reach the speed of light. It’s impossible for a human.'

"Done!"

Hannah’s eyes snapped open. She sat up quickly, her heart racing as she looked at Yuka, who stood before her drenched in sweat. He was panting heavily, but his face was lit with a triumphant grin.

"What... the... hell?" Hannah whispered, too stunned to speak clearly. ‘This kid... how? He must have reached the speed of light. That distance should have taken him hours...’

“Yeah, I finished one lap,” Yuka said with a goofy smile. “And since zeros are meaningless, I figured I’d skip the other 999.”

Hannah’s expression dropped instantly. She glared at him with a mix of disbelief and irritation. "I’m done for the day. You’re on your own now," she snapped, clearly unimpressed. Without another word, she dissolved into a cloud of thick red smoke and shot into Yuka’s body, disappearing entirely.

“AHHHHH! What the hell?” Yuka screamed, spinning around in shock. He could feel her presence inside him, and a sudden realization hit him. "Wait... you live inside me?!"

//"Yep, and I see everything. Especially in the toilet,"// Hannah’s voice echoed in his head, dripping with amusement.

Gulp.

"Well, that’s awkward," Yuka muttered, shaking his head.

…

Later that night, Yuka sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at Hannah with a confused expression. She had reappeared, sitting across from him, her arms folded, her white hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. He gripped the TV remote tightly, using it as leverage to make sure she stayed focused on answering his questions.

“What... exactly is a dragon?” Yuka asked, his voice soft but curious.

Hannah leaned forward, her eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “A dragon is a powerful, proud, and unstoppable force. We’re beings of immense strength and magic, feared by most and hunted by many,” she said, her voice filled with a deep sense of pride. “I am a dragon, Yuka.”

Yuka blinked, tilting his head. “But... where are your wings? And your claws? Don’t dragons have, like, scales and stuff? You know... the whole dragon thing?”

Hannah’s expression darkened, and she glared at him. “Wings? Claws? What am I, a chicken? I’ve hidden my wings, Yuka. And dragons don’t always need to flaunt their forms. I took on this human appearance for a reason,” she snapped, clearly annoyed by his simplistic view of what a dragon should be. “And besides, you’re a dragon too.”

Yuka’s jaw dropped. “Wait, what? I’m a dragon? Does that mean I get wings too?” He quickly turned to glance at his back, half-expecting wings to sprout at any moment.

Hannah sighed, shaking her head. “No, you’re not that kind of dragon. You’re... different. You and I are connected, Yuka. My power flows through you, and with it, you’ll gain unimaginable abilities. But... you’ll also inherit my enemies.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Yuka stared at her, his mind racing. “Did they... kill you?” he asked quietly, the weight of the question hanging in the air.

Hannah’s face grew somber, her eyes distant. “Yes,” she whispered. “I was a good dragon, living in peace. But humans came for me. They poisoned the water I drank, ambushed me, and slaughtered many of my kind. I fought back, but in the end... I died a slow, agonizing death. It was disgraceful for a creature like me.”

Yuka’s heart clenched. He could feel the pain in her voice, the deep wound that time hadn’t healed. “I’m sorry, Hannah,” he said softly. “If you don’t have a reason to live anymore... then I’ll be your reason.”

Hannah’s eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, a genuine smile appeared on her face. “What about you, Yuka? What’s your story?”

Yuka hesitated, glancing down at the floor. “My parents are gone... My sister runs the family business, and I just... exist. I’m rich, sure, but it doesn’t mean anything. I’ve always felt... empty. Like there’s something missing in my life. I don’t know why, but... I don’t even feel human sometimes.”

Hannah studied him closely, her gaze softening. “You’re not human, Yuka. Not anymore. But that’s not a bad thing,” she said quietly. “There’s a world out there... a world filled with magic and creatures like you and me. Some will be your allies, others will be your enemies. But one thing is certain: they’ll come for you.”

Yuka’s eyes sparkled with a newfound determination. He stood up, his fists clenched. “Let them come.”