As Jimmy stepped out of the Nexus training room, the hallway buzzed with life. Afternoon light filtered in through glass skylights, casting long golden rays across the polished floors. The number of people had nearly doubled—trainees, instructors, and curious onlookers filled the space.
Yet, as soon as they noticed him, a quiet ripple passed through the crowd.Some stepped aside instinctively, parting like water before a stone.Some whispered in hushed tones.Others simply stared—eyes wide, some with fear, many with awe.The boy who didn't speak… the one who won using silence and perfect harmony.
Jimmy didn't acknowledge them. His mind was calm. But just as he was about to take his next step, a strange pulse ran through his spine. A flicker in his senses. Like something calling him… something familiar.
He turned.
There it was.
Mounted high on the marble wall, above the Nexus information center, was a large, shimmering image—a painting? No, a projection. And within it soared a majestic bird, captured mid-flight.Its plumage flowed in long, elegant arcs, blue with streaks of gold and orange like wildfire dancing in the wind.Peacock-like tail feathers trailed behind it, glowing embers at their tips.Its wings were spread wide, powerful and radiant, and a sapphire-like gem shimmered near its chest.Upon its head blazed a crown of living fire—like royalty born from flame.
Jimmy froze, mesmerized. 'I did not see in previous days.'
Something deep inside him stirred, resonating like the echo of a dream. He stood there silently, unmoving, his eyes locked onto the image as if lost in time.
It took Luna nuzzling his hand and the voice of the front desk receptionist to break his trance.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Jimmy blinked and then offered a sheepish smile, scribbling his apology in his notebook:"Sorry, I… got distracted."
She tilted her head curiously. "You're the first person who noticed that. Most walk past it without even looking. Do you… know anything about it?"
Jimmy hesitated for a moment, then nodded and wrote:"I don't know why, but it feels familiar."
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly. "Interesting... That's Pheanolix. Full name: Pheanolix the Phoenix Starflare."
The name hit Jimmy like thunder. It echoed inside him—bright, regal, and distant. He repeated it in his mind as she continued.
"She's one of the lost Whisps. No one's seen her for almost a thousand years. Legend says she's born from sacred flame and perishes in her own fire, only to rise again. The eternal cycle."
Luna tugged lightly on his sleeve, her tail flicking with curiosity and slight impatience. Jimmy placed a calming hand on her and wrote: "Give me just a few minutes."
He turned back to the receptionist, expression calm but eyes burning with determination. "Can I… get that Whisp?" he asked.
She laughed—though not unkindly—and reached over to ruffle his hair.
"Oh dear… I like your spirit. But no one gets to own something like Pheanolix. If she ever returns to the world, the Whisp Arcana Association will intervene first. They'll seal, protect, never let her be auctioned."
Jimmy's hand moved fast across the page. "If she appear, Where might will be?"
The receptionist looked at him for a moment, weighing whether to say more. Finally, with a soft sigh, she relented. "No clue but, there's a rumour. In seven days, there'll be a grand auction in Kirim City—the Rock & Roll Auction Hall, the biggest legal trading arena for rare Whisps and gear. If Pheanolix shows up… that's where it'll happen. But don't get your hopes too high. You'd need ridiculous luck… and a mountain of coins. It's just an rumour. But you know Arcana will be there. Because in myth when all.... she will born again."
Jimmy said "I kinda know this story."
Then he nodded, unfazed, and quickly jotted down another question: "How do I apply for a seat in the auction?"
She smiled and replied, "Search the Rock & Roll Auction portal online. Applications open soon—VIP seats are already booked, but there's a general draw for open slots. You might just slip in."
Jimmy nodded once more, the gears in his mind already turning.
Luna gave a small huff. She was still hungry for training or food—or maybe both. Jimmy glanced down at her and smiled.
Both of them went outside by eating something in mouths.
...........................................
Jimmy looked down at Luna, his fingers gently brushing her soft, cool fur. "Luna," he said with a half-smile, "you know you're going to evolve soon?"
The little Whisp's ears perked up. Her watery tail swirled in delight, and she beamed. "Really?!"
But Jimmy's expression dimmed. He crouched beside her, writing slowly in the dirt:"I don't have the money for evolution materials yet. Sorry."
Luna stared at the words, and then at his face. She tilted her head and gave a soft, cheerful bark. "It's okay," she said brightly. "Let's go play instead!"
Jimmy chuckled silently and gave her a nod, his smile touched with both warmth and guilt.
They walked together under the shade of the old banyan tree—Jimmy's favourite spot in the park. The playground was alive with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Kids raced from one end to the other, parents sat in groups gossiping under the sun umbrellas, and elderly folks strolled by with slow, content steps. Everything felt… peaceful.
Jimmy paused, taking it all in. It was one of those rare moments where the world didn't feel heavy.
He glanced at Luna and saw her eyes fixed on the playground. Swings. See-saws. A spinning disc. That weird half-sphere dome kids liked to climb through. Her tail twitched with curiosity.
"I want to play on those!" she said, pointing with her paw.
Jimmy smiled softly and guided her toward the see-saw. But as he approached, several children noticed him—and quickly stepped away. A few of them clung to their parents or moved to other parts of the park. His wrapped face, his silent presence—it always made others uneasy. He felt it, every time.
Still, he said nothing.
He lifted Luna gently onto the see-saw and began pushing it carefully, back and forth. Luna giggled with each rise and fall, her laughter full of childlike joy.
Some of the remaining children who hadn't left stayed behind, curious. One boy stepped forward. "Big brother, we want to play too. Can we touch her?"
Jimmy nodded and smiled, making room.
A small girl tilted her head and asked, "Why do you have that cloth on your face?"
Jimmy knelt down and scribbled carefully in the soft sand:"I can't see well, so I wear it."
Before they could ask more, he quickly added,"Go on. Play with her. She won't bite."
The kids cheered and ran over, surrounding Luna with innocent awe. Some reached out to pet her. Luna froze for a moment, unsure—but then relaxed as one brave child offered her a pebble as a gift. She accepted it and wagged her tail, and just like that, the game began.
In a few moments, the awkwardness faded. The children were laughing, playing chase with Luna, hiding behind the see-saw, and rolling on the grass.
Jimmy stood by the banyan tree, watching silently.
And for a short, beautiful while, everything was perfect.