The lighthearted air vanished when the staircase to the final floor came into view. A dozen boulders blocked the way, completely sealing off the descent. The phoenix landed beside the obstruction, its gaze fixed on me with a mix of caution and something unreadable.

  “Remove the blockage, and I will bestow my blessing,” it said, its tone firm and eyes unwavering.

  I brushed off the strange look and moved toward the boulders. The sooner they were cleared, the faster we could move on. Clover’s hand on my arm stopped me short. I turned to her, watching as she raised an eyebrow at the bird.

  “Why wait to give the blessing? Wouldn’t it make sense for us to have it now? That way, if the snake attacks immediately, we’ll be ready,” she reasoned.

  Straightening from my crouch, I looked expectantly at the phoenix. Its expression didn’t change, but its wings twitched, puffing up in irritation.

  “You’ll have my blessing once the blockage is removed,” it repeated, its tone sharper. “Not a moment sooner.”

  Clover’s scowl deepened, suspicion clear as she crossed her arms. “Not until you explain why this is so important.”

  The air grew tense, and I braced myself, eyeing the phoenix warily. Clover’s perception was sharper than mine–proven earlier when she spotted the traps–and if she thought there was something off here, more than likely, there was.

  The phoenix’s wings beat once, its eyes narrowing. “We don’t have time for this–”

  “Then explain,” I cut in, my tone firm. “We want to help, but I won’t risk our lives if you’re hiding something.”

  Clover nodded beside me, her expression set in steely stubbornness. The phoenix glanced between us,then hissed out a reluctant sigh.

  “I have known many of your kind,” it said finally. “Most take their boon and leave, agreement or no. Once you have my blessing, my fire will be useless against you. Nothing would stop you from leaving without fulfilling your end of the bargain.”

  Understanding dawned, and my wariness eased. Clover still didn’t look convinced, but I squeezed her hand. When she met my gaze, I shook my head gently.

  “They’re not wrong to be cautious,” I said. “And we don’t have anything to lose by helping.”

  Her lips pressed into a thin line. “What if it attacks us after we clear the stones? We’re not immune to its fire yet.”

  She had a point, but that left us at an impasse. Before I could think of a compromise, my spirit’s voice echoed in my mind.

  Assure your cleric that all is well. I will personally end the phoenix if it breaks its word.

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  The voice faded, and I turned to Clover, keeping the increasingly irritated bird in my peripheral vision. “My spirit said she’ll deal with the phoenix if it tries anything. I may not trust the bird, but I do trust her.”

  Clover’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and she nodded, albeit reluctantly. “The phoenix did promise not to harm us... Fine, let’s do this.” Rolling up her sleeves, she stepped toward the boulders.

  “You don’t need to help,” I began, confused. “It should only take me half an hour–”

  She pressed a finger to my lips.

  “And it’ll take half that between the two of us. Now hush and get to work.” Her eyes softened with affection, but the flash of challenge to her tone warned me not to argue.

  I nodded, turning to the task. Together, we made quick work of the boulders. When the last one was cleared, I stepped back to admire the now-visible staircase.

  The phoenix launched into the air, its tone laced with relief. “I will bestow my blessing. Then, we shall slay the beast.”

  Clover wiped sweat from her brow, moving to my side as the phoenix closed its eyes. The air charged with power, a current so strong it raised the hairs on my arms. As pure mana saturated the room, the bird’s eyes glowed brilliant white, illuminating every corner.

  The phoenix descended and touched its beak to my forehead. I froze, not daring to breathe as the foreign mana in the air surged into me. Warmth coursed through my body, leaving every inch humming with energy. Then, as abruptly as it began, the sensation faded, though the lingering warmth remained.

  The phoenix’s eyes returned to normal. “My end of the bargain is upheld. Now, let us continue,” it said, diving down the staircase.

  Clover linked her arm with mine, muttering, “Well, looks like we’re off to skin a snake.” She shuddered in disgust. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Pulling her closer, I promised, “It won’t get within striking distance of you, trust me.”

  This wasn’t about protecting just anyone–I was protecting her. We still had things to discuss, especially after that kiss, but for now, I pushed those thoughts aside.

  Her expression softened, and she leaned into me. “I do trust you–a mind-boggling amount, given how short a time we’ve known each other.” She laughed lightly, pinching my cheek. “It’s your face. You wear your heart–and thoughts–on your sleeve. It makes you laughably easy to read.”

  I shrugged, ignoring the warmth creeping up my neck. “There are worse things to be than painfully transparent.”

  A distant shriek from the phoenix pulled me back to the present. “But we can talk about this later. We have a job to do.” My focus sharpened as we descended into the final floor. Clover gripped my arm tighter as we crossed the threshold.

  The phoenix circled above, using the high ceilings to its advantage as it spun and dipped away from the snake below. The beast’s jaw snapped at one of the fire bird’s wings, missing by mere inches as it dodged. I caught the phoenix’s gaze.

  “Keep it still,” the bird shouted. “I blinded its left side, but be wary. It can cross this room in seconds.”

  I hadn’t noticed the red streaks against the snake’s black scales before, but now they stood out, shining faintly under the light. Its left eye was gone, blood running in rivers down its face.

  Long gauges tore through the area around it as well, courtesy of the phoenix’s fury. Fury radiated from the creature as its remaining eye flicked between the bird and me.

  If it weren’t trying to kill me, I might have called it beautiful. The flecks of light in its ebony eye mirrored the stars, and its scales blended seamlessly into the shadows. Shaking off my awe, I drew my sword.

  “Let’s get this show on the road.”