The next day, Pyramia and company set out early for Peronica. They were in a carriage, accompanied by guards on horseback. It was already afternoon when they arrived.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by important people and the council, all bowing to welcome Pyramia and Pyramus.

"Welcome back, Queen Pyramia. And also to the prince of Peronica, the chosen one of the Phoenix," said the person leading the welcome.

"Instruct them to give Pyramus the most beautiful room," Pyramia commanded.

"As you wish, my Queen."

"Also, tell them that tonight, the entire council will gather for a meeting. All of them will dine with Pyramus this evening."

Pyramia thought that this would make it easier to introduce Pyramus to the entire council, and it would also make it easier for him to be accepted in Peronica if he could get to know the people there quickly.

Pyramus remained calm, but he was struck by a sense of change in Peronica. He had always thought his grandmother's stories were just fantasy. "I never imagined the things I'm seeing now were real." It was springtime, the weather was cool, and the afternoon twilight created a delightful view.

"Oh, Pyramus, it's already dusk. You haven't even seen the true beauty of Peronica yet," Pyramia chuckled.

"Come... I'll show you your mother's old room."

As they walked to the room, she spoke passionately about Perlend's life. Perlend was the one who brought joy and strength to her father. But Pyramia also said that when Perlend was lost, it felt like they had been shot in the back and didn't know where to find the strength to carry on. However, Pyramia focused more on the beautiful memories of Perlend, how she was brave and a good daughter to them.

"I still remember your mother's memories in this room."

"I want to sleep here," Pyramus said, surprising Pyramia.

"Pyramus, it's too old. I don't think this old room suits you. Others might think I'm being stingy, or Xerxez might think I'm not treating you well."

"Grandma, I'm more comfortable in this room."

"Pyramus, ever since your mother was lost, I haven't touched anything here or removed her old belongings. It might have dust or insects."

"Don't worry about me, Grandma. I'd rather live in a room that has traces of people who are important or a part of my life."

"If that's what you want, you are stubborn. Let me have it cleaned—"

"I don't want my mother's things to be touched," Pyramus quickly replied.

"It's a good thing we both want the same thing for my daughter's room. Because this is all that's left of her memory."

That evening, the leaders and council of Peronica gathered at the dining table. Pyramus sat at the center of the long table, and everyone respectfully greeted him.

"It is an honor for all of us to have the Phoenix return to the land of Peronica," said one person, and everyone stood and bowed to Pyramus.

"This is my only grandson, Pyramus... the son of Perlend, and by the blessing of the Phoenix, he has been chosen," Pyramia announced.

"How long will we rely on Thallerion? Now that the Phoenix has returned, perhaps we no longer need help from the people of Thallerion!" one suggested.

"Isn't he the son of the king of Thallerion? In the end, he might choose to serve Thallerion instead of Peronica, Queen Pyramia," a heavy sense of doubt entered the previously calm discussion.

"Prince Pyramus!" someone called to him. "Perhaps you've heard their worries, and I am one of them. I want to hear from your own mouth where you will pledge your allegiance." The man who spoke seemed to have a higher rank in the council.

"Don't you have any consideration for his reaction? You are pressuring him to make a decision," Pyramia said.

"I understand why you are speaking this way. You are afraid that you will be forever dependent on the country I came from. But, it is still too early for these matters," Pyramus replied.

"Thallerion ended the legend of the Phoenix before, so perhaps it is destiny that Thallerion will also bring back the lost legend of Peronica. So, in a way, we should still be thankful to the people of Thallerion," another person insisted.

While they were talking, someone suddenly arrived to report a strange occurrence in the sky.

"Leaders!!! Look outside, there's—" The person stammered from fear. "There are strange things happening."

Everyone who heard became immediately concerned. They went outside and were shocked to see a glowing, bird-like object in the distance. And because the moon was full, it acted as a light of fire in the middle of the moon.

"Is this a sign that the Phoenix will descend upon Peronica?"

"The Phoenix!!!?" They were stunned by what one person said. "Is this what the legend foretold?"

"Everyone, move away, you in the hall and the wide space!" someone shouted. "Its presence is scorching, so do not dare to get close or look at its full form, or you will be incinerated and turn to dust. Only the chosen one can approach and look at its brilliance and light."

"We can already feel the intensity of its heat, let's take cover!!!"

"Pyramus, trust that you can do this. The life of Peronica rests in your hands," Pyramia said.

"What do I do?" Pyramus asked.

"Talk to the Phoenix so that the two of you can join forces, so the whole land of Peronica doesn't burn."

The people of Peronica believed that according to the story, if the Phoenix stepped on the ground, everything around it would burn within ten minutes.

"You need to face the Phoenix alone, or it will become a monster, and we will be in even greater danger."

"What if I can't do this?"

"Think about how Peronica rests in your hands."

Pyramus bravely did what Pyramia told him. The moment the Phoenix landed, he immediately faced it.

Pyramus noticed that he was not being scorched. He felt like a glowing piece of metal that wasn't burning. The surroundings looked like embers, with walls glowing yellow and red. He looked at the face of the Phoenix, which was suspended in the air. Its feet seemed shy to touch the ground of mortals, and its fiery wings flapped constantly. Every beat of its wings created a hot wind as strong as a tornado. The fiery bird let out a cry, and its words immediately entered his mind. To other people, it would have sounded like a screaming bird. But inside Pyramus's mind, the voice and words of the Phoenix were crystal clear.

He understood it, but the bird told him not to tell anyone about their conversation. No writer could read the words of the Phoenix, only the two of them knew. The events unfolded quickly. The large bird became a glowing ball as bright as the sun, and it suddenly spun around Pyramus's body like fireflies playing with Prince Pyramus.

An amazing change occurred throughout Prince Pyramus's body. The fire became an expert in creating clothes, and from it, he gained a golden, shimmering outfit that resembled the Phoenix bird. Its beauty was like the clothing of a god. The people couldn't see the change in Pyramus's appearance and clothes because he was enveloped in a bright, blinding light that made it feel like daytime. The night closed its eyes as the Phoenix and Pyramus merged their powers.

Pyramus disappeared from the world due to his new, extraordinary power, going to the world of the Phoenix, which was like a sun. He had a Phoenix symbol on his chest that glowed at that moment along with his heartbeat. His eyes were on fire, but he could also hold fire and step on lava without sinking. A living fire, shaped like a human, spoke to him.

He was in a world like hell, where many people were cast and were suffering in fire and lava.

"What is happening here?"

"This is the punishment for those who do not follow and disregard the sacred commands."

"There are so many of them, it's as if an entire world was cast down here."

"Because many years have passed, their sins are the same as the sins of their ancestors, repeated over and over in their lineage."

"How long will they suffer?"

"No one knows."

Meanwhile, they no longer saw Pyramus. After the intense light, he disappeared with it.

"My Queen, the prince is missing! This is not in the story!"

"How—that can't be! Pyramus, my grandson, where are you?"

"There are no clues, my Queen, because even we were unconscious at that moment," a soldier said.

"No!" Queen Pyramia was dismayed. She sat down on the steps of the wide space in front of her kingdom.

The next day, news arrived that soldiers were to be sent to Thallerion for a general alignment.

"Do as they have recorded, and don't tell anyone what's happening here in Peronica!" She left and went to the wise men and scholars, the most intelligent people in Peronica.

"Search the entire library and tell me the meaning of Pyramus's sudden disappearance," Pyramia commanded.

"I summoned you because I want you to tell me about what happened last night, Pyramus's disappearance!"

"My Queen, we were also surprised by what happened. We couldn't believe it."

"It was not mentioned, but we have our doubts..." a man said. "Is he really the true chosen one!?"

"You doubt my grandson!" she replied sharply. "Pyramus is the true chosen one!"

"If so, why is this going against the river's current? If he were truly the chosen one, what happened to the first chosen one should have happened to him."

"I only have one question, and that is to find out the reason for the change!" Pyramia said, annoyed.

"Have you forgotten what the legend said? When a person is not chosen, they will just disappear like dust!"

Pyramia became nervous. "But according to Perlend, they saw the Phoenix!" she defended. "And the ashes are proof that they saw the Phoenix."

"What if Perlend fabricated it? Think about it: she left without you even knowing that she was getting married, and everyone thought she was dead." This was Garith.

"Are you saying my daughter is a liar?" Pyramia asked. "That all of this is an invention?"

"If he were truly the chosen one, the prince should be alive right now."

"Don't annoy me, Garith!"

"My Queen, the country of Thallerion has sent two guards. King Xerxez said they are Pyramus's personal guards."

"Tell them to go home!!!" Pyramia shouted, her temper flaring. "And tell those two that Pyramus does not need Thallerion's guards!"

Pyramia was confused because all day, no one could tell her the reason. Even the researchers couldn't find anything.

"You are all useless!!!"

"My Queen, we were all surprised, but let us just have faith in the prince," said an old man.

"How can I be calm? My grandson is missing, and I don't know the reason. So tell me, what should I do, Golan?"

"We are too focused on the old legend. Perhaps it's time to open our minds to its new chapter," Golan said. "History cannot repeat itself in the future because it is a thing of the past. Like a river whose current does not flow backward. So, perhaps this is just part of the new chapter."