Page 49 of Phoenix Chosen 3

“Too bad. Otherwise, this whole trip would’ve gotten a lot more interesting.” He drops the dead vape next to the headphones. “So, what are we doing here since your friend isn’t here?”

“Salvaging what we can from whatever supplies are still good,” Kalistratos says. “And then we keep moving. If he’s not here, he’s gone further west.”

“I didn’t think he would go beyond Aelonos,” Airos says.

“If he’s searching for me, he would head to Kausos,” Kalistratos says. “It’s where I was born.”

“There’s a thousand miles of perilous land between here and Kausos,” Airos replies. “You know the dangers. So does Alyx. I don’t understand. Why would he not regroup with me before taking on such a journey?”

“I don’t know,” Kalistratos says. “He has to be there. Hemust.”

“Airos,” I interject. “You told us that Alyx went west to look for us and to check out some of the spots on the phoenix temple map, right? Aren’t there any other locations he could’ve gone to that are on the way?”

“The map was still largely a mystery to us,” Airos explains. “Neither of us could make any sense of its writing.Youwere the only one who could read it in any capacity.”

I remember seeing the map the night we were attacked by the soul reaver. The writing had become a jumble of cursive script, some legible but not written in any order that made sense to me. I’d thought it was pretty odd a map from Circeana would have any sort of recognizable writing on it, let alone cursive script.

“So, he’s just going blind then?” I say.

“More or less,” Airos admits. “He was determined to find you two, more than anything else.”

Kalistratos sighs. “Idiot… He should’ve just waited.”

“Uh, excuse me?” Jacksons says. “Sorry. So, I know I have zero idea what you guys are talking about, but I have to ask. This whole thing hinges on Tyler, me, and one other Chosen guy getting our alien implants to this Great Phoenix’s lost temple… right? So, shouldn’t we be doing that? Shouldn’t we be looking for this third omega?”

Airos, Kalistratos and I all silently digest Jackson’s point. Airos’s arms are wrapped over his chest and he drums his fingers on his bicep. Kalistratos stares at the floor.

He’s right. We got lucky that Jackson had no problem looking out for himself this whole time, but what if the third omega isn’t so resilient and resourceful? There’s still the possibility they could’ve already given birth to their egg like I did, which would make them extra vulnerable.

“No,” Airos says in a decisive tone. “Alyx is our friend. We are all bound by this destiny. It makes us a family. I will not give up on my family. I believe our path will take us in the direction we need to find Alyx and our final companion.”

Kalistratos looks at Airos with genuine astonishment. Then he smiles. “You’re damn right. If Alyx were here, he’d probably say something about trusting the Great Phoenix, that there are no coincidences.”

Jackson nods. “Got it. No man left behind. Forget I said anything.”

“Then do we agree?” Kalistratos asks.

“We find Alyx,” I say. “The plan hasn’t changed.”

“Find Alyx,” says Airos, with a nod. “But first… allow me to speak for all of us when I say, we desperately need a bath.”

20

KALISTRATOS

Our old hideaway sits amongst a honeycomb of caves the Aelonoseans call the Nether Wells, because of the boiling steam that growls from some of the bottomless openings in the hillside. Aside from the priests and the occasional townsperson looking to make an offering to the god of the Underworld, hardly anyone comes here. It’s the perfect place for a couple of thieves to keep their loot, and it was the longest home for Alyx and me since we departed Athenos.

Through a shaft at the back of our cave is a series of hot-water pools, separated enough for each of us to have privacy. The new omega shuffles off to the furthest pool, clutching his bag.

“A strange human,” I comment, standing with Tyler and Airos.

“And strangely impressive,” Airos says.

“Oh? Are you staking your claim on him already, you perverted monk?” I ask.

He scoffs. “I think if we had never found him, Jackson would’ve ended up a wealthy trader in the Aelonos dark market. He certainly didn’t seem to need our help. Not only that… he’s unlocked his phoenix powers.”

“Iknow,” Tyler grumbles. “What the hell is up with that?”

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