The next morning, to his surprise, Sophie was up with Zander right at 5 am sharp. She had already changed into some running clothes and he quickly did the same.
"I have been slacking on my daily quests and I haven't really done much since that fight with Mr. Erikkson." Zander thought.
"Name: Zander Elrod. Race: Infant Phoenix. Level 7, 0/1000 experience. Strength: 7, Mana: 7, Agility: 7, Endurance: 7 Stamina: 7. 100/100 health 220/220 energy," Zander quickly checked his stats before giving Sophie a good morning hug and kiss.
Zander drank one of his water bottles in one go, and Sophie surprisingly did the same. She asked if she could borrow one of his and he reminded her everything in this house was also hers.
With a smile and she blushed and said, "sorry, it's just so surreal. Ever since Scarlett entered my life I feel even closer to you than I did before."
"I feel the same, Tej told me phoenixes mate for life so I guess you're stuck with me now!" Zander said, while jokingly sticking his tongue out at her.
With that they were off running, and to Zander's surprise, Sophie was keeping up really well, even at about 75% of his normal pace.
As they stopped at the hour mark, Sophie asked if there was a way to turn her phoenixes eyes off, as it was too much and giving her a rather large headache.
Zander wasn't really sure how to answer this as he always had his system to guide him, but Zintan asked him to let him take over.
"Hey Sophie, yes you can, think of it as activating your chi, have you been able to do that yet?" Zintan asked.
"I don't think so?" Sophie said with a confused look on her face.
"Here, close your eyes and relax," Zintan said and he put his arms on her shoulder and began moving her natural lifeforce energy in her body, explaining this was her chi and to concentrate on it.
After about five minutes, a fireball shot from Sophie's hand to which Zintan quite literally ate to avoid anyone noticing.
"I'm so sorry, are you hurt Zander," completely forgetting it was Zintan.
"I'm fine Sophie, I'm not even sure Zander knew he could eat fire, which is why I switched with him. You can too."
Zander noticed his mana increase by one in the system, to which a big smile spread across his face.
Sophie noticed she was seeing regularly again, and began practicing switching between her regular eyes and phoenix eyes as they ran on the way back, which impressed not only Zander, but Zintan and Scarlett as well.
"Looks like you're a quick learner," Zander said with a smile.
After their run, they both took a shower and ate breakfast and Zander got his usual 25 experience points for completing his daily quests.
Sophie asked, "well, what do you want to do today? I start at your school tomorrow?"
"I was thinking we should check out the Church of Solace and then my parents left me this, which I got from Attorney Frankfurt, and I'd like you to watch it with me," Zander said as he twirled the usb stick through his fingers.
"Sounds good, let me go get dressed and we can head there. Can we drive? I don't want to just rely on teleporting everywhere all the time?" Sophie asked.
"Sure, but I was actually going to ask if you wanted to try teleporting on your own this time?" Zander asked.
Embarrassed, she suggested driving, Sophie asked Scarlett if she could and would be able to help.
After Scarlett said, "yes," Sophie waved and said "see you when you get there!"
Zander quickly teleported to Main Street in central Harmonia, right next to the news drone he was staring at when Cyrus waved the two unknown girls over, and Sophie was standing there, looking very proud of herself.
"You made that look so effortless, great job," Zander said with a great smile.
"I also agree we should drive to school and such, you're right I have been teleporting way too much these days."
Sophie felt relieved.
With that, they sat and enjoyed church, and afterwards Father Glen invited Zander to introduce Sophie and told Zander he would love to stay and chat but he was going to eat, as he had a mass at noon as well.
Not thinking anything of it, Sophie grabbed Zander's hand and teleported inside of Zander's house, leaving Zander slamming into the front door.
With a big "bang," the front door broke off and Sophie immediately ran over, apologizing.
Zander said an apology wasn't necessary, as he used some magic to repair the door and put it back on.
"I just thought if I did it, you would be able to come in too," Sophie embarrassingly said.
"That was a kind idea," Zander kissed her on her head.
Sophie had made them lunch, and they both changed into more comfortable clothes.
With that, Sophie grabbed the USB drive and asked, are you ready?
With fear and sadness in his eyes, Zander agreed and Sophie led him up to their room, where she stuck the USB into the back of their 70 inch tv and waited to hit play until Zander gave him the nod.
They both sat on the bed and Zander was ready.
The video started with his mom and dad in his dads office, with his mom sitting on his dads lap happily.
"Zander, if you're seeing this, well, it means we have passed away and I know that makes you sad. Please dont cry tears of sadness, cry tears of happiness, as we are now in Eden, reunited with, well, for all intents and purposes, one of your Grandfathers."
His dad picked up the photo with a pregnant Savannah with Leo, Luna, Tej, Sebastian and what could be presumed only as the Father of creation, in his true form.
"You are special Zander and I mean really special. Your mother and I, you see, we were both born with the inability to reproduce. We had both come to terms with it and dedicated our lives to saving others. Never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine we'd meet the Father of Solace and his children, hearing the tale of Theo's betrayal. Luna gave your Mother a part of her soul and the Father gave me a part of his soul for 12 hours, which is when we were able to conceive you," his Father said with a smirk, as Savannah had whacked him in the back of the head, which made Zander laugh.
"There is a prophecy, not written in the scriptures, of a chosen one, born of infertile parents in a time when the world needed him most. You are that child, Zander. There's a reason you and Zintan coexist so well, he's been with you since I was pregnant with you. He is the only Golden Phoenix to ever exist, and it is true that he is the son of Tej and Soraya, which you already know," his mother then explained.
"We made one of these videos every year, but this one we made after meeting your new girlfriend, Sophie. Zander, something the Father promised to never tell you, unless we passed on from this world, is there was a time where two phoenix humans may exist. When that happens, do everything in your power to find that person. The Father stated that phoenixes mate for life. It's why Soraya and Tej fell in love at first sight, and why Zephyr and Nixie fell in love at first sight. Zephyr linked with Luna, Nixie linked with Leo and Tej has always been linked to the father," his father explained.
"I know you don't want us going on this mission, but I'm sure we will see you soon. If we don't, just know that you should meet our inner circle, and if you're watching this we hope you have and that Attorney Frankfurt filled you in on all of our business ventures etc. You'll be surprised to know that the biggest, anonymous donors are actually the Father of Solace, Leo and Luna, and they replenish the account for business every year with 100 million dollars," his mother explained.
"We're sorry that we have left this world and you alone in it, but everyone in our inner circle, the Harts, especially your good friend Cyrus are all amazing people and Sophie seems a lot like Luna, if I do say so myself. She's very kind, has great intuition, is thoughtful and Leo himself said her aura shines a color most humans don't shine, and that you would understand that some day," his Father stated.
"We love you so very much Zander and Zintan we love you too. We're sorry that our ask of you is to save the world, and I don't even know how to begin describing where to start, but that's why you've been given the best training and tutors your entire life," his Mother stated.
"Your protection spell lasts until you are 18. The father could only protect us for 11 years but I'm sure Theo will not know of your existence until you turn 18. For that reason, we put you on a fast track to graduate early this year," his Father stated with a smile.
The two of them stood up, gave each other a big hug and kiss and wiped their tears from their faces before saying their final goodbyes.
"Zander, Zintan, please be safe. Zander, follow your own path and continue to make the right choices. Keep Cyrus in your life, he hasn't ever told you, but he can also use magic as well and has mastered chi. He didn't want to take anything away from you. Like you in many ways, he is humble and does not wish to flaunt his abilities. He can use Earth, wind and lightning abilities, which is the same type of Magic Luna can use," his father stated.
Zander looked at Sophie, who was holding a pillow tight and tearing up, and Zander had began to fully cry but muttered the words 'that knucklehead Cyrus, why didn't he just tell me," to which Sophie laughed and said, "who knows with him."
"Lastly, before we go, Zander, in your childhood bedroom, which I'm sure has been opened with us passing, go into your closet. There is a hidden keypad that can only be revealed by light magic. You should be able to utter the Incantation Tej told us, 'Solace please show me the path.' You are to go alone, enter the combination 739474830 and follow wherever it leads you," his mother said with a smile.
"We're just a prayer away son, and cannot wait to see the great things you do for Earth and Solace. We love you and if our hunch is correct, thank you for being there for him Sophie. We already considered you apart of the family, and we hope you to live long, happy lives together."
"Zander, Zintan, be good. We love you,"
And with that the video ended.