[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-354":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Born as a Witch",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1702580,2172,"Chapter 354: Fenix Song","born-as-a-witch-chapter-354",354,"\u003Cp>The next morning, the Grove shimmered with the soft glow of dawn. Lira sat beneath the Great Tree, the Book open on her lap, humming faintly as if it sensed a new purpose. She ran her fingers over the pages, reviewing the creatures they had rescued. The diggers, the glowing hedgehogs, the root-creatures—all were thriving in their new homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet... a new pulse began to ripple through the Grove, one she had not felt before. A vibration so delicate it could have been mistaken for the wind through the leaves, but it carried a message unmistakably clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Giant Old Spirit Tree stirred, its massive branches trembling like a whisper in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lira,\" it said, its voice deep and resonant, \"another thread requires your attention. The Fénix—the rare birds of fire and renewal. They are nearly gone from the wilds, and the balance they bring to skies and life is fading. You must find them, and bring a few to the Grove.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes widened. She had only ever seen a Fénix once, in a vision granted by the Tree. Its golden feathers had shimmered like liquid sunlight, and its song had filled her heart with both awe and warmth. \"I... I can’t find them alone,\" she admitted softly. \"They are too rare, too scattered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seek guidance where knowledge dwells,\" the Tree advised. \"Grandmaster Elion at the Academy holds one. Speak with him. Learn where they nest, and what must be done to earn their trust. But tread carefully—few creatures will respond to mortal intentions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, determination settling into her chest. \"I will go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rose, the Book floating gently at her side, pages fluttering with excitement. Renkai and Thalanir followed silently, their faces set with quiet resolve. Even Serelyth perched beside her, wings brushing softly against the moss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Will you really be able to bring them?\" Serelyth asked softly. \"Fénix are creatures of fire and renewal. They do not take kindly to interference.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ve managed before,\" Lira replied, a faint smile touching her lips. \"If we show them the Grove is a place of safety, they will come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey to the Academy was swift, aided by the network of portals the Grove had maintained over the years. The landscape blurred past them—rolling hills, glimmering rivers, and patches of forest that whispered with life. Finally, the towering spires of the Academy rose into the sky, shimmering with magic. The air thrummed with enchantments, protective wards, and the faint pulse of ancient knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira adjusted the strap of her satchel, feeling the weight of the Book against her side. \"We’re here,\" she murmured. \"Now we just need to find Grandmaster Elion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main hall of the Academy was a marvel of crystalline walls, floating lanterns, and corridors lined with glowing runes. Students moved briskly, their robes brushing against the polished floors, carrying scrolls and glowing instruments of study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lira and her companions passed through the hall, two familiar voices called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lira! Renkai! Thalanir!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to see Maelin and Patricia running toward them, smiles bright. Maelin’s fiery hair shimmered in the morning light, and Patricia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re just in time,\" Maelin said, skidding to a halt. \"We heard you were going to the Academy. What brings you here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira smiled faintly, holding up the Book. \"I have a mission from the Old Spirit Tree. The Fénix—the rare birds of fire and renewal. The Grove needs them. I need to speak with Grandmaster Elion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patricia’s eyes widened. \"Fénix? Those creatures are... legendary. Only a few remain in the wilds. Are you sure it’s even possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded. \"Grandmaster Elion has one. If anyone knows how to find more, it’s him. I need to ask where they nest, and how to gain their trust.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin’s expression softened. \"Then we’ll help. The Academy is big, and the halls twist in ways that can confuse even experienced students. We’ll guide you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, the group moved through the winding corridors, Lira clutching the Book as it pulsed softly, sensing the presence of the Grandmaster nearby. They passed classrooms where students practiced elemental spells, libraries where floating scrolls circled in gentle arcs, and gardens where magical plants hummed in response to their energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they reached a large chamber at the Academy’s highest spire. Sunlight poured through tall windows, illuminating a single figure in flowing robes. Golden hair fell over broad shoulders, and a faint halo of fire shimmered around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandmaster Elion turned as they entered, his deep eyes flickering with recognition. \"Lira,\" he said warmly, \"it has been some time. And you bring companions, I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandmaster,\" Lira said, bowing slightly. \"The Grove needs Fénix. I was sent by the Old Spirit Tree to speak with you. Can you tell me where I might find a few, and how to earn their trust?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion studied her for a moment, his gaze sharp yet kind. \"The Fénix are not easily persuaded,\" he said slowly. \"They nest in the remotest peaks, where the wind carries both fire and song. Only those who show patience, courage, and purity of intent may approach. Many have tried—and failed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai shifted uneasily. \"And you... you keep one here at the Academy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion nodded. \"Indeed. But it is not a pet. It is a teacher, a guardian, and a mirror of your intentions. If you wish to bring more to the Grove, you must understand their ways. Will you do that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes shone with determination. \"I will. I will learn, and I will protect them. The Grove needs them—and I will not fail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion’s lips curved in a faint smile. \"Very well. Then you must first understand the song of fire. Come with me, and I will guide you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin and Patricia exchanged excited glances. \"Looks like this mission is going to be... extraordinary,\" Patricia whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira felt a thrill of anticipation and responsibility alike. This mission would be unlike any she had undertaken before, and the lives of rare creatures rested in her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Grandmaster led her toward a chamber filled with glowing embers and faint heat, Lira clutched the Book tighter. Each pulse seemed to whisper encouragement: the Grove was waiting, and soon, these birds of fire would light the path to renewal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandmaster Elion led Lira through a narrow spiral staircase that wound upward into a tower of warm light. The walls glowed faintly with inscriptions, tiny sparks dancing along the runes as if sensing her presence. At the top, a wide chamber opened into a dome of glass, sunlight streaming in to illuminate a nest of golden ash and ember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center, perched majestically, was a Fénix. Its feathers shimmered like molten gold and crimson, catching the light in flames of warmth and brilliance. Its eyes, amber and deep as molten fire, fixed on Lira with an intensity that made her breath catch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is Aeliora,\" Elion said softly, bowing his head slightly. \"She has been my guide and teacher. She will judge you not by words, but by your intent and your heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fénix shifted, the tips of its wings sparking faint embers that drifted upward like fireflies. Its song was not yet audible, but its presence hummed with energy, vibrating through the stone floor and into Lira’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Song of Fire,\" Elion began, \"is not merely music. It is a language. It communicates calm, purpose, and protection. You must learn to resonate with it before any Fénix will trust you. Listen first, then imitate. Only through harmony can you approach them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira knelt on the warm floor, closing her eyes. She reached out, not with her hands, but with her senses, letting the pulse of Aeliora’s energy flow into her. It was at once fierce and gentle, a rhythm of rising heat and soft current, like breathing sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, she could not replicate it. Her voice trembled when she hummed, and the sparks flickered angrily, warning her. \"Patience,\" Elion whispered. \"Feel it, do not force it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For hours, Lira practiced. She let the vibrations of her own heartbeat align with the rhythm of Aeliora’s pulse. Slowly, the ember-light flickered in response to her attempts, warming rather than flaring. She adjusted her tone, her breathing, and finally, she hummed a gentle note that carried the warmth of the Grove itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aeliora tilted her head, wings unfurling slightly. The hum deepened, resonating with Lira’s voice. Sparks rose from her tail feathers, floating lazily into the air without igniting. The Fénix’s eyes softened, and a low melodic trill filled the room—her first song in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve heard it,\" Elion said, smiling faintly. \"Now you must follow it. Fénix respond to intent as well as song. There are nests in the wilds, where the peaks rise above clouds and the wind carries no danger. But they do not approach humans easily. You must show them patience, courage, and respect. Each trial you pass will allow one bird to trust you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s fingers tightened on the Book. \"I understand. I will not harm them. I will protect them as the Grove protects everything that lives here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion nodded. \"Good. Tomorrow, you will journey to the Ember Peaks. There, you will find the first nest. You will face three trials: first, the Trial of Flame, to show your courage in the presence of fire; second, the Trial of Reflection, to show clarity of heart and purity of intention; and third, the Trial of Flight, to demonstrate your willingness to let them choose their own path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth, who had accompanied Lira up the tower, flicked her wings nervously. \"Do you think she’ll accept us... all of us? Or only you, Lira?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Fénix will respond to trust,\" Lira said softly. \"If we go together, but I act as a conduit of the Grove’s protection, they may allow our presence. But the connection must come from me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin and Patricia, who had followed to see her off, exchanged glances. \"It sounds... terrifying,\" Patricia said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also amazing,\" Maelin added. \"I can’t wait to hear about the trials. And see a real Fénix up close!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion’s gaze softened. \"Do not underestimate the creatures, or the trials. Courage alone will not be enough. They see through fear, through flattery, and through impatience. Only harmony and intention will succeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira rose, determination set like fire in her chest. \"I will do this. For the Grove, for the creatures, and for the balance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion nodded. \"Rest tonight. You will need all your strength. Tomorrow, the Ember Peaks await.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Lira sat beneath a smaller tree in the Academy’s gardens, the Book open on her lap. She traced the glowing illustrations of Fénix wings, imagining their warmth and fire. She closed her eyes and listened to the faint pulse of Aeliora’s song in her mind, letting it seep into her very being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will not fail you,\" she whispered. \"And I will bring your kind to safety. You will see the Grove, and there you will be free.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind carried a whisper through the leaves, almost like the echo of a fiery trill. Lira smiled faintly, her heart steady. Tomorrow, the trials would begin. And with each step, the Grove’s light would grow stronger, reaching even the rarest creatures of the skies.\u003C\u002Fp>",1880,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","6d182d70298229dd9996ebe6d2d348a012fea179d2ac43d04f705c578c3a5407","born-as-a-witch-chapter-154","born-as-a-witch-chapter-121",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]