The golden light of the portal enveloped me, and in an instant, I was back in the Phoenix Realm. The familiar scent and sky welcomed me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to fill my lungs with fresh air.
That place was filled with corruption; it smelled like blood, so it took me a while to bring my senses back to normal.
Solarys stood before me, his massive wings folded, his golden eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite place. Ember chirped excitedly from his shoulder before darting to mine, her tiny body vibrating with energy.
"You did it," Solarys said, his eyes squinting a little in happiness.
I wiped blood from my lip, rolling my sore shoulders. Fighting those spirits wasn't hard, but even for someone who has trained on a daily basis, it can still strain the body.
