Pyzis stepped through the stone archway covered in red roses. Darkness descends, and the only light is a green glow in the distance. Pyzis shifts the pot in her arms as she heads toward the glow. Large jade steps ascend into the open air, and she steels herself to see visions. It has been told that these steps will show a person's future children. While she had never thought that far in ahead she had always loved the idea of having a family some day Her race was a rare one, and it would be her duty to further it when she had the opportunity. Her soft-soled boots made a soft sound as her footfalls landed on each of the steps. There was a giggle from above her on the stairs, and she could see the back of a child with dark brown hair. It was only for a moment, and as soon as she had seen it was gone. Pyzis shook her head, trying to ignore the questions that filled her head.

At the top of the stairs, the darkness dissapates to reveal a crystal cavern. A gasp escaped the Phoenix's lips as the crystals filled the cavern with glittering lights. While the place was beautiful everything overlapped one another, making it hard to navigate through. Pyzis held tightly to the pot with the red and yellow flower planted inside. It was the one thing that would bring her happiness. If the Goddess could help her, then she would be able to use the plant to rekindle the flames within her. 

Once she had made her way carefully past all of the crystals, the cave opened up to an endless salt flat. The water was so still it reflected the sunlight back at Pyzis. It seemed to go on forever as her weary legs continued forward. This was a test from the Goddess and Pyzis couldn't fail. So much rode on the fact that the Goddess of Earth could help her. She placed all of her hope on this unknown entity, who would possibly change her life. After she had been walking for hours, Pyzis was suddenly standing in grass. The world around her rearranged to a beautiful farmhouse surrounded by fertile lands. An orchard rolled on before her, the trees heavy with all sorts of fruit. The scent of ripe fruit and Pyzis' stomach rumbled. She plucked a green apple from a low branch and feasted upon it, juices running down her chin. 

As she continued Pyzis found herself on stone stairs surrounded bu water on either side. She dropped the apple core in the waters and giggled as she watched it flow ahead of her. Above the sun was darkened by a thick green canopy. The light that came through was tinted green. The stairs seemed moist and were covered with moss. The environment was incredible and took her breath away.

At the end of the stairs, everything was dark once more, there was a light in the distance that came slowly toward her. The light illuminated a woodland path beneath her feet. Pyzis finally felt at home. The trees surrounding her meant freedom; the humid air brought life. She had always loved being outdoors and after being imprisoned for forty years, she couldn't get enough of it. This was part of the reason she had decided to offer services to Angela. Her extensive herb gardens would give her a chance to learn more about healing.

Before Pyzis lay an intricate bridge that lead the way to a giant tree. The view was stunning, the water trickling down onto the green branches. There were windows carved into the tree, illuminating it and bringing a sense of home. On the other side of it, the double doors opened up to a greeting room. Pyzis made her way down a long corridor that ended in double doors covered in wisteria designed stained glass. With a deep breath, she pushed open the gates and clung tightly to her potted plant. It was now or never, beyond these doors she knew Angela awaited, probably aware of her arrival. 

On the other side of the doors though was a herb garden that made Pyzis' inner scholar squeal with glee. She had to resist the urge to bring her notebook out of her backpack and begin making detailed drawings of each plant she saw. Deeper in the plants was a throne shaped the tree. Upon it sat a gorgeous, voluptuous woman with red hair cascading down her back. On her lap sat a little girl with hair the same shade, swinging her feet happily and looking at a book before her. It sounded like the Goddess was reading a story to this child and Pyzis felt her heart melt. 

Slowly she approached and waited for a break before interrupting the pair. "Goddess, I am Pyzis Lux, and I came here with a new species of plant that is said to help those of my race. If oyu can help me to return my inner Phoenix's flame, I will pledge myself to you. I am an alchemist." 

Pyzis fell to her knees before the Goddess, not knowing what to do in her presence. 

Iva peeked over the book and giggled a bit before jumping off the chair. One would think the child would leave the two in peace but the little rose had a different idea. "OH! I can grant whatever wish you want!" The girl squealed as she put her hands on her hips triumphantly. "I am the great and almighty goddess! Who does not smite kittens and puppies! Who gran–"

As she was trying to finished Angela brought her foot up and placed it on the girl's back and pushed her over. "Sorry almighty goddess but I do believe you have class." 

Iva's face twisted. "No mama please don't send me back there. He is so old and wrinkly! He even smells like a rotten tomato!"

"Iva, that's not  very nice. He is old and wise, which makes for a very good teacher. He is the only person I could get to teach you since you scared off everyone else. You scare him off and I'll turn you into a living statue that stays shrimp size forever."

Iva gasped and pleaded with her mother not to eternally curse her with shortness before running out of the room. Angela closed the book and lounged in her chair. "Forgive my daughter Pyzis she is young and full of energy. Now child stand, a Phoenix is gracious and should bow to no person god or otherwise." Angela stood and gave the woman a smile.

"You can call me Mother everyone else does," she walked over to a table and poured two glasses of wine. "Do you want some? I make it myself. I could get you juice or something if you don't drink alcohol." Looking towards the plants she supposed she had to do her duty. "First thing, it's always smart coming into a god's domain with an offer. Never make it look like you could offer more. We gods can be a bit fickle. Some gods will take the lint out of your pocket! I'm not kidding, when I was entering the second decade of my rule we had a prankster god who took lint as payment for favors. If I remember right he was making a huge yarn ball out of it… and he also dropped it on the town of Egjora. All because he didn't get some kind of fish donation or tribute. Gods are fickle creatures."

Angela moved to the plant and took it from the girl softly. "Me? I could use some clergy around here. Would love a new alchemist willing to work. Maybe you could help Melina teach the little brat some manners."

"Mama I heard that!"

"Like you didn't know you were a brat." She yelled back and closed the stained glass doors with the flick of her wrist. "She's suppose to be in class in the library." She groaned a bit. "She is your ultimate challenge here." She fell into the chair with the plant on her lap. "Sit sit!" She tripped the girl into a pile of pillows that came out of no where. The glass of wine came to Angela's hand as she sipped it.

"You want to become an alchemist for me? Pledge yourself to the Mother and everything she stands for? You will take the oath that all Rosenites do when they are born? You do this and I will tell you exactly what this plant is and how it will help you."

Pyzis felt one eyebrow climb up to her hairline as she watched the Goddess shoo the red headed child away. Before she could understand the exchange she was suddenly falling backwards onto a pile of pillows. The little girl took off and Py finally understood that the Goddess had a smile on her face. She hadn't expected to see a child here with Angela, or as she had said Mother. Though it would be counter intuitive to think the Goddess of fertility didn't have children at home. She took the glass of wine from her gladly, it was a rich wine full of flavor. This was the first glass she had had since her first life so she sipped slowly, savoring each mouthful.

"I must admit I don't now anything about the Rosenites, what pledge do they give? I am willing to serve so long as I can help heal those in need. I spent forty years caged, prevented from healing with my Phoenix tears. They were wasted upon a man who tortured me until he collected them. I want to make up for the time that I lost and use my talents I have learned since I was reborn to heal as I cannot turn into a Phoenix at the moment. I was hoping that the rumors about this plant were true. I've been told that it is used to empower Phoenix's in some way. I think that it can help me to become whole again, but I do not know how to do so. I need your help in this and if I can transform you will have a Phoenix at your service. I must mention that I will never again be imprisoned." she explained. Pyzis was sure that this Goddess wouldn't take advantage of her talents, but she needed to make her point known. It was hard to talk seriously or be expected to be taken seriously while laying on a bed of silken pillows. 

Py shifted until she was mostly sitting up and looked around at the beautiful garden before her. The bright colors seemed tame in comparison to the Mother's hair. She took a deep breath and reveled in the heady smell of flowering plant life. It calmed her and made her feel safe compared to the stuffy, dusty confines and burnt out candles. Those things made her feel on edge after so long trapped in an Alchemists workroom. Pyzis couldn't help but enjoy every second out in the sun and soon, the Mother be willing, she would be soaring through the skies. The rush of the wind beneath her red wings, seeing the world from above, having no boundaries was something she yearned for. She shook her head and opened her eyes before looking back at the Goddess. 

"Might I ask after your sweet daughter? She seems spirited like her mother and I was wondering how old she is," asked Pyzis. She admired the Mother for raising a child who was so strong willed. If the child was willing to pretend to be a Goddess, there was no telling what she would amount to one day. Those who had that kind of passion made the world go round.

The Goddess moved back to her seat slowly as she put the pledge in the best term. “A pledge is what you take. This is a rule we must not break. We must never hurt children and save them when we can. They are our lifeblood and our future. We are mothers in arms and their future is what we protect.” Listening to the girl’s words carefully as she sipped on her wine Angela began to stew. “Nature is free but we as beings that live in nature are not. We are bound by rules and obligations from the time we are conceived. Many fate strings are written out so our stories are foretold. I will not put you in a mental or physical cage, that is cruelty. There really is no peaceful freedom, something to think about.”

The question about Iva brought a smile to her face. “She is five. My child is like three hundred stone of sugar. Being around her too much might kill you and it’s not because she is sweet. She is always getting into something. Always doing something she shouldn’t be doing.” Angela said the last bit with a booming voice.

“THAT’S NOT FAIR YOU CAN’T EVEN SEE ME!” Iva’s voice rang through the temple back at her mother.

For a moment the goddess palmed her forehead. “See? It pays to be the Goddess of Earth.” She chuckled and sipped more wine. “She is but one of my children in about a hundred or so. I’ve been a goddess for a long time. Many men have made me their conquest but in the end I decide if they win or lose.”

Pyzis listened quietly to the pledge that Angela told her it seemed a reasonable exchange for her skills and access to the extensive herb garden. Nature was something that she had always revered, especially once she had tasted freedom. Her first moments had been in a rain forest, fingers in the dirt, breathing in the fresh humid air teeming with life. The other half of the pledge about children, Pyzis couldn't agree more. Being a rare creature instilled the importance of future generations into you at a young age. The short time she had spent with her parents were filled with talks about the importance of carrying on their race. With a solemn nod, Pyzis rose to her feet and knelt before the Mother. This pledge would be the way she could gain freedom and become whole again. 

"I will take this oath and swear to you loyalty and service," she proclaimed. Pyzis heard the girl Iva yell back at her mother and a smile cracked across her face. This place was the life she wanted to live. Here was life, growth, the future and someone who understood the value of all of this. Pyzis could feel the change in the air; the scent of blooms mixed with the pungent aroma of herbs made her chest swell with comfort. 

Pyzis rose and sank back onto the fluffy pillows, the air of formality melting away. She reached for the glass of wine and sipped at it, savoring the sweet, tangy flavor that exploded on her tongue. Everything Pyzis experienced since her confinement had been heightened. Her skin more sensitive and the sunlight felt like an ember that fed the fire within her being. The crippling fear had vanished within her and hoped blossomed for the first time in a long time. 

"Please, would you tell me about this plant? If it does what I think it can, then I will be of better service to you. You will have Phoenix tears on hand. I promise to use them in particular to help children," she pleaded as she looked at the red flower at the Mother's feet. Pyzis hadn't meant to be so hasty, but she yearned for the wind in her feathers. "Pardon me if I'm too blunt with my request, but I want to serve you fully and as soon as possible. I've spent too much time searching for answers." 

Pyzis took another sip of wine and wondered what it was that Iva was doing that she wasn't supposed to be doing. If the Mother had so many children, she wondered where they were. Though they could have ben born many years ago and no longer live here in the Temple. At least, Iva would serve as entertainment when the tasks of Alchemy got tedious. Sometimes waiting hours for a potion to stew got boring. If Iva visited these gardens often then Pyzis could play with the child occasionally, though it seemed like Iva wasn't the type of child to wait for a convenient moment to wan to play. It was good then that Py didn't mind.

The Mother watched the phoenix as the light in the room brightened. A smile came to the woman's face as with each word of Pyzis's pledge the magic got stronger. They were becoming bound together as clergy and goddess. "I name you my clergy. In my name you will do good deeds that spread life across Revaliir. You will help those who cannot help themselves. You will give freedom, NO you will be freedom for those who need it most."

The power of the goddess erupted in the room as Pyzis felt the full force of what it was like to have the Triune Goddess's power. When the oath was over Angela gave her a wink. "I can help you." She moved about once more and put the glass of wine to her lips. "You are not too blunt my child. Never be afraid to ask requests of me. This is a give and take relationship. You have pledged yourself to me and in a way already done a task."

Picking up the flower she gave a smile and looked at Pyzis. "I do know about this plant. I am the earth and the earth is me. Many people before you have come for this plant. I'm relatively young for a goddess but still much older and wiser than yourself." 

Angela ran her long slender digits over the pot before dropping it. It smashed to the ground and the dirt went everywhere. "Wild flames need to be free. In Arri the white rose often symbolizes the wildness of the flame. My own sister a fire elementalist is a white rose." She bent down after the shock went through Pyzis. 

"This plant in a way needs to be free. Let the breaking of the pot symbolize the freedom you desire." She blew on the flower and like it went through a series of hot days and nights the flower dies out. "True freedom never dies. It rebirths which is why the Phoenix is the symbol of the cycle of life." She sprung forth an a work area. "It's why you are so heavily sought after. Mortals are scared of death and seek a way to get away from it." She put the flower in her mortar and began to ground it up.

"Even some gods are scared of death. We often forget that we can easily fall and be purged. Those in Parvpora forgot and they paid the price for their ignorance." Sliding her eyes over she turned her head and looked at Pyzis. "But so did the people looking to punish them." She mixed a few other things together and dropped the mortared flower into the vial. The goddess corked the vial and shook it. Applying harsh flames to it the vial began to glow and like the fires of a re-birthed phoenix the vial came to life.

The flames from Angela died down and she offered the vial to Pyzis. "This is what you want, no? Drink it all."

Pyxis felt her heart drop with the precious flower she had risked her life to acquire. While she knew she should trust the Mother she couldn't help but wonder if her dreams had shattered among the clay pieces of pottery. Not only had it taken the dangerous expedition, but the freedom and gift of a second chance at life for so many people seemed to slip fro, her grasp. When the red haired Goddes picked up the flower and took it to a work station she was relieved. it amazed her that the Mother didn't summon another to mix whatever potion she was making, she used her own hands to bless the life of one of her servants. Pyzis stood on the balls of her feet, practically bouncing with excitement when she realized this was the moment she would be whole again. Tears began to well in her eyes as Angela turned to her with a vial in hand. The fiery light emanating from Angela to the tiny glass vial seemed to surround her. Pyzis could practically feel the warmth before it faded to a gentle glow as the Mother offered it to her.

With a trembling hand she grasped the potion before pressing it to her lips and swallowing its contents in one gulp. Immediately a raging heat burned through her entire being, a human would have burst into flames, but Pyzis was flooded with joy. The warmth stoked the embers of her heart and suddenly they were ablaze. It was as if her eyes were opening for the first time. Her anchor to exsistamce was finally whole, the flames inside her raged until she could feel them engulf her physical body. Pyzis could feel the fire turn to feathers and her limbs morphed until she was finally a large red bird. She shook her head adjusting to the differences in her body before spreading her wings and flying above the Goddess' garden.

Below her the grounds spread in splendor, the hundreds of shades of green sharpening in her more perfect vision. She saw the Mother from above and felt tears well in her eyes again. This time they would not be wasted. Pyzis landed by the abandoned vial and clasped it in her talon. She brought it to Angela to hold then released pearly, luminescent tears into the bottle. When she had shed enough tears to fill the vial, Pyzis returned to stand before Angela. She stoked the flames within once more until they consumed her again. This time she stood before The Mother as a woman again. 

"Thank you for giving me my freedom and returning my ability to save those who can't save themselves. I will serve you to the best of my ability starting with that vial." Pyzis avowed. "Is there anything you need me to begin collecting or brewing as your alchemist?" 

She knelt to the ground and lowered her head before the Mother. She hadn't just granted Pyzis her life back, but had already saved an untold amount of lives in that process. The least she could do was bow in her presence. Though her nakedness was something she wasn't sure how to address. The transformation burned any garment on her body. It didn't bother her in the slightest seeing as she felt more exposed in her bird form, but she knew it was impolite to stay this way. 

"Might I begin work immediately, after I find clothes of course. I'm curious what plants you have here, not to mention finding out about the ones I don't know." Pyzis looked back up at Angela from the grass. 

Angela knew that helping Pyzis would help others as well. As she worked she remembered that Phoenixes were blessed creatures already. Once the girl had gone through her transformation Angela just offered a smile. “Do you know why I ask for things when I do blessings? It’s because people have a tendency to have the power of gift go to their head. Young Pyzis, I try to be a good and just god in a world that quite frankly will never be able to be fully good. Sometimes it means that I need to charge a price for a good deed so things don’t go to the heads of others. You should do the same. Never let people use you as a door mat. You are a strong independent Phoenix and you should be so proud of yourself. Never let talent go for free for fear of that very mortal problem.”

Taking a moment to think about what Pyzis needed to do the Goddess nodded. “You need rest. My son will look after you while you are here. He will be your guardian and make sure that you stay safe. You are beautiful with a fiery spirit and should hold that up and be proud.”

It took a few moments for a blonde haired elf to walk in. He looked freshly shaven and as his green and red eyes stared at the naked backside of a woman he gently let out a sigh. His hands brought his cloak off of his shoulder as he gently placed it around Pyzis. “Do you do this to torment me Mother?” A light chuckle left his lips.

“Of course not! She did it to herself!” Angela gave a smile and Thyme shook his head. She knew damn well what he meant. “Could you take Pyzis to go get dressed in some temple wear and keep her safe for me? You are to be her guardian and I know that you will do well.” 

Thyme looked over at Pyzis and tilted her head. “Why would she want to be around a mutt like me?”

Angela reached over and gently cupped his chin. “You are my mutt. I think you will make a wonderful guide for Pyzis. Go on now. She is probably very tired.” 

Thyme nodded and looked away as he pulled the cloak tighter around her and fastened it so nothing was showing. “Bare with me please Miss. My mother may let you walk around nude but it might be embarrassing for the temple children.” When she was finally covered Thyme got a good look at her. She was a pretty little thing. “Come on then. Don’t get too lost.” He chuckled as he paraded her out.

Getting her to the nearest room he put her behind a changing panel and tossed over a plain dress. “Don’t worry about my cloak too much. If you are cold you can keep it with you. My mother told me you are Pyzis… but I bet she didn’t tell you my name is Thyme.”

Pyzis stood and looked The Mother in the eyes, her green and red iris' held an assurity that Pyzis wanted to emulate someday. Despite her naked form the gardens temperate environment kept her form shivering. When Angela spoke she felt a strange shift in her being. Was it true that she could be independant and charge something for the price of her tears. Most Phoenix's served one family for generations, keeping their masters healthy until they died of old age in their sleep. It would be unprecidented of her to ask for something in return of those she assisted. It was a puzzle she would have to work out another day, she could feel the weariness in her limbs. Transforming through fire was a task that cost a great amount of energy. Pyzis could feel herself swaying on her feet and didn't notice the man until he wrapped a cloak around her shoulders. The action brought her out of her reverie. 

Pyzis contemplated the male before her, he was a full foot taller than she with sun kissed skin and eyes that reminded her of The Mother. Now that she was attentive she remembered Angela had mentioned that this was her son and he would look after her. Pyzis smiled when he pulled the cloak closed, she had forgotten that it was uncomfortable for others if she was without clothes. It had only been a year or so since she had first held human form after her torment. In that time she had hardly learned anything about living outside of a family home.

"I apologize for my lack of attire, it's hard to keep clothes from burning when I transform. It's nice to meet you Thyme, I was in such a hurry to fly again after a year of being human that I didn't take my clothes off before I started changing." she realized sheepishly. The man had introduced himself as Thyme as he tossed her a plain dress over a changing panel. She unfastened the cloak and donned the dress, stifling a yawn. "So you are The Mother's son? How many of her children actually live here at the Temple? Do you live here or are you just visiting? I'm planning on staying here and becoming a clergy member, an alchemsit to be exact." 

As she pulled her long chocolate hair out of the back of her dress she realized she was rambling. It was a good thing there was a screen between her a Thyme or he would have seen her cheeks turn red. The absence of conversation or any sort of human interaction for 50 years had made her fairly blunt. Pyzis tried desperately to cling to conversation so she didn't ahve to remember the awful silence that had been her only companion. She took a deep breath to center herself before grabbing the cloak and putting it on once more. It had a scent of woods about it that made her feel more at home. She stepped out from behind the changing panel and cocked her head contemplating what on earth she was supposed to do next. This temple was huge and she couldn't sleep in the gardens, no matter how much she wanted. Outside the air moved and the breeze ruffled the tree leaves, there was ever complete silence. 

"Thyme, what is it you do here at the Temple?" she asked as she clasped her hands in front of her. If she was going to be spending time with him she might as well know a little about him. She waited patiently for his reply.

Thyme thought about her words for a few minutes before a chuckle escaped his lips. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall near him. “If I were stuck in a body that didn’t give me freedom, I would have done the same thing. I can imagine that it might have felt like a prison. When I can’t run in the trees I feel caged up, I can’t imagine knowing my body is a prison.” 

Thinking on the number of his siblings. “Fifty? Less? We come and go once we reach a certain age but there are always those of us who come back.” Tilting his head, he thought about her question. “Yes and no, I come and go but sometimes I do stay for extended periods of time since there is technically a forest here. While Laeto is a good place for me to tree run this tends to be a good spot as well. Many people come here to make their names. I imagine that isn’t what you are here for though based on our conversation.”

She seemed innocent and not to want. From what he heard she was someone who wanted to do a greater good. That was something not even he could ever understand. He had been raised on doing a good thing for a price, and that was what he lived by.  He admired her from a distance before leaving the wall and coming up to her. Tilting his head he thought more about what she had said. “I’m a ranger, for the most part, I look for information that my mother might want. She has the ability to listen in on anything but not the time. So it’s my job to find whatever it is she is looking for. I’m good at my job, at least I think so.”

He offered her his arm so they could walk in the temple. He figured from the way she spoke that it would be more comforting for her. From the way she hesitated, Thyme almost pulled his arm back but he found the phoenix taking comfort after an initial flinch. He had been around others that had suffered torment and he found it reassuring that she ended up here. “This is a good place to make yourself feel better about all the bad things in the past.”

He led her out into the temple and found a room for her. “I suppose,” he stopped for a minute. “That you could stay with me for now.” He wasn’t  sure why it was so important that she stayed with him. “Only because I worry about how you will take to being in such a large place by yourself. If you take the wrong turn in the temple you could get lost for days, I’m afraid my tracking abilities might not find you.” He teased her lightly. “So you can stay with me and I’ll sleep in a chair or something. I can at least make sure you don’t get lost or teased that way. My sisters can be gossips at times. Is that alright with you?”