The Scrap Tamer - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: The Phoenix’s Test [final]: Merging.

Vivian sat on the edge of her bed, gripping her head as memories flooded in, memories of her real family not the ones created by the test.

The illusion created the perfect family she always wanted. A harmonious family was what she always dreamt of but

“This is not real” she said, her voice trembling “I need to leave”.

Suddenly her environment became eerily quiet, the sound of the wind blowing and even the incessant creaking of the crickets went completely quiet.

The door to her room quietly creaked open and a head of white hair peeked in.

“Mommy?” The white haired kid, Reid, called out.

Seemingly not noticing the quietness of the environment, Vivian looked at the cute Reid peeking and couldn’t help but invite him in.

“Come here” she called and Reid, wearing a blue pajamas, walked in, dragging his blanket behind him.

He climbed up her bed and Vivian noticed he had tears in his eyes so she asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“I had a nightmare” Reid sniffed “you’re not going to leave us,right mommy?”

Vivian hugged him as tears streamed down her eyes. The warmth coming from Reid felt so real, trying to convince her that everything going on right now was real but she knew better.

“I’m sorry” she whispered “but I have to go back to my family, my real family”.

The door barged open and in walked Maximus behind him was Nathan and Alexander.

“What do you mean you have to go back to your family when we’re right here?” Maximus’ voice sounded calm but the look in his eyes showed he was anything but.

Alexander and Nathan stood by his side, their blue eyes devoid of any emotion as if they were puppets on a string.

Vivian looked into his green eyes, spotting some kind of fear in them.

“You’re not real” she said calmly “all this is just an illusion”.

“An illusion?” Maximus asked “I think you just had another nightmare, you should go back to sleep.”

Reid got down the bed and walked to his dad before saying “good night mommy”.

But before they could walk out, Vivian spoke up “no”.

She spoke with resolution. She had no idea how to break out of this illusion and pass the test but she knew that she couldn’t spend another day here.

The quartet paused and in sync, turned back to her, their eyes casting an eerie glow.

“What do you mean by ‘no’?” They asked in sync, their voice coming out distorted.

Without her realizing, a spear appeared by her side and by reflex, she tightly gripped it.

“Isn’t this what you always wanted?” they continued as they slowly advanced towards her “A perfect and harmonious family?”.

“Yes, but I also wanted a real one” she stood from the bed, at this point the spear in her hand was already noticed “not the illusion that all this is.”

“Are you really willing to harm us?” Their eyes drawn to the spear in her hand.

“If that’s what it takes to finally complete this test.” Vivian said and tightly gripped the spear.

Seeing that there was no way to convince her otherwise, ‘Nathan’ and ‘Alexander’ jumped at her, their features distorting.

With a swipe of her spear, the two were sliced in half and they dissolve into ash. It took all of her will power to swipe at the two wearing the faces of her beloved children even though she knew that all this was not real.

But she knew that she had to do this if she ever wanted to see her family in the real world ever again.

The turned to the remaining two, one was the man she fell in love with and the other was her favorite child who she had failed once. This caused her to grip the spear even tighter.

An inhumane cry came from their mouths as they lunged at her but they were easily dispatched by just a swing of her spear.

After they dissipated into ash, she dropped her spear as she fell to her knees as the environment around her disappeared in flames.

It had taken all her will power to do what she just did and only the fact that they were illusions was currently keeping her sane.

The phoenix appeared but didn’t say anything, it just let her seat there for a while before she spoke.

“That was cruel” Vivian said. She had noticed the phoenix’s presence since it appeared.

“I’m sorry” it really did sound regretful “this was the only way to know if you were physically and mentally worthy to wield my power.”

Vivian said nothing else, waiting for the phoenix to announce what the next test was but the phoenix said nothing else so she turned to it.

She didn’t know how but she could feel that the phoenix was truly sad about making her face that illusion.

“What’s the next test?” She asked, hoping to change the topic.

The Phoenix’s flame brightened and it spoke “that was the final test, you have proven yourself more than worthy to wield my flames.”

The phoenix flew high up before coming back down and flying straight into her chest.

Vivian’s entire ‘body’ burst out in flames and she felt pain like never before. She almost couldn’t endure it but she suddenly felt as if someone was holding her hand which gave her the strength to bear the pain.

Her body suddenly started crumbling and she looked down noticing her feet turning into literal ash.

“Don’t panic” the phoenix’s voice sounded and she calmed down.

A few minutes later, she had completely turned into a pile of ash and even though it was weird, Vivian could still feel her ‘body’.

The ash glowed and started swirling, taking the shape of a human. Like before, a pillar of flame rose and when it faded, it revealed Vivian and unlike before, she wasn’t completely made of flames.

Only her hair was a flaming one and her eyes also glowed orange, lacking irises.

“Congratulations, you’re the first human to merge with a primal” the phoenix informed. Its voice came from within her head “you will wake up in a few minutes”.

Vivian stood in the temple as she waited, she currently felt filled with power much more so than when she fought Malrath.

_______

Reid walked into the room his mom lay unconscious with Ellie leading the way. His anger quickly faded when he saw how peacefully his mom lay.

“You can leave us Ellie” he told her as he walked to sit on the seat his dad was on a few minutes ago.

“Hi mom” he quietly said.

For a few minutes, he didn’t know what to say so he just quietly sat there observing her even breathing.

His father’s words of her dying echoed in his head the more he looked at her.

“I’m sorry” Reid whispered.

He knew that his presence there would have changed nothing. Hell it might have made her die earlier while trying to protect him but he still couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“I promise to become strong enough to not let anything like this happen again” His words were sincere and sounded determined.

He blamed all that happened on his weakness and he was determined to change that.

Vivian’s unconscious body suddenly started heating up, her skin becoming redder as an uncomfortable expression marred her face.

“What’s going on?” Reid panicked.

[Calm down, she’s just going through a complete merging] Evo informed.

“Merging?” Reid asked.

[Yes, she and her forged beast had somehow merged before but it was unstable, forcing her unconscious but it has been stabilized and it is being completed] She explained causing Reid to nod.

He looked at his mother again and gently held her hand. Her body was scorching hot but Reid kept his hand still even though they were burning.

Vivian’s breathing started becoming stable and her expression eased. Her body also started cooling down and Reid noticed her eyes slowly opening.

“Mom” he said, a wave of relief washing over him as her eyes completely opened.

Vivian’s eyes glowed orange for a while before they faded, revealing her normal blue eyes.

“Reid” she whispered in a hoarse voice but her happiness was evident in it.

He let go of her hand, noticing his was red and blistered which she also quickly noticed.

“Your hands” she said and tried to get up but Reid gently pushed her back.

“It’s fine” He said with a smile ” all that matters is you’re awake and Okay”.

Vivian stared at him and tears welled up in her eyes “I’m sorry for worrying you”.

“It fine Mom.” He replied, still keeping his smile.

The door opened and Ellie entered cautiously entered “Mistress” she exclaimed “you’re awake.”

She almost dropped her professional demeanor and jumped to hug Vivian but she restrained herself.

“Ellie” Vivian regarded her with a smile before she asked “where’s Maximus?”

“The Master is currently attending a meeting with the council” Ellie replied.

Vivian nodded and attempted to get up again but Reid stopped her again.

“You need to rest Mom” He said.

“I’m fine” Vivian assured “besides, there something cool I want to show you.”

Reid relented and let her get out of bed and walk towards the door with him following closely behind.

“Where are we headed?” He asked, a question that was also on Ellie’s mind.

“The training hall” she replied with a small smirk.