Silverthorne Manor always glowed brightest at dawn. Soft sunlight poured through the tall arched windows, catching on the floating stardust wards that shimmered in the air. At six years old, Mavis was already up, already dressed, already humming to herself as she carried a basket of dried moonpetals toward the greenhouse. Veridia and Erevan flanked her like living contrasts—one radiant like morning mist over flowers, the other shadow-sleek and watchful as twilight.
They had become family instantly, each soul recognizing the other. And now, two months after the dragons' arrival, Silverthorne magic had begun whispering something new.
Something coming.
Something searching for her.
Mavis stepped into the greenhouse, its enchanted humidity swirling gently around her. Vines lifted their leaves in greeting. A blossom opened as if yawning awake.
"Today feels... different," she said softly.
Veridia lifted her pastel wings, feathers shimmering like rainbow pearls.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xjIcwIMpO
"Life stirs," the dragon murmured.
Erevan's long obsidian tail wrapped around Mavis's leg protectively.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpcd0Mqtoq
"And something watches."
Mavis set her basket down. "Watch—like... good watching or bad watching?"
Erevan gave a rumbling exhale.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkmZ2T2mp9
"Old. Powerful. Curious."
Before Mavis could ask anything else, a flare of blinding gold-white light burst near the center of the greenhouse.
Mavis gasped.
In the heart of the swirling radiance, a bird materialized—long tail feathers flowing like liquid sun, wings sharp and elegant, every plume white as fresh snow but burning with ethereal gold. A halo-like crest shimmered above its head.
Its eyes—ruby-red, ancient, gentle—rested on Mavis.
The creature bowed.
Mavis breathed, barely daring to whisper:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ189SSPrlHW
"...Are you a phoenix?"
{A/N: This is what I pictured the White Phoenix to look like}
The phoenix stepped forward, light trailing behind him like a comet.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFkkpVAQKi
His voice wasn't heard aloud—it resonated warmly in her heart.
"Child of many destinies... I am Aurelion. I have come because your soul called."
Mavis blinked. "I didn't mean to call anyone..."
Aurelion's soft trill sounded like laughter, like bells in the wind.
"Light seeks the heart that cherishes it. I followed your hope."
Veridia bowed her head respectfully.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MuIVJqA0U
"A phoenix of Purity and Dawn. He would not appear lightly."
Erevan narrowed his eyes.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuS4sy3S4H
"State your purpose, flame-bird."
Aurelion only inclined his head.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6sFI0TbSL
"To join her. To protect her. To rise with her."
Mavis's chest tightened. Someone wanted her—not for duty, not for bloodlines, not for prophecy.
Just her.
"Do you... want to be my familiar?" she asked softly.
The greenhouse brightened, bursting briefly into dancing motes of gold.
"If you will have me, little one. My flame is yours."
Mavis reached forward with small fingers—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf46VnOujf
—and Aurelion lowered his head into her hands.
Warmth, gentle and endless, blossomed through her as if her heart had sunlight pouring directly into it. She inhaled, glowing faintly as white-gold settled in her magic.
Veridia sighed happily.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfqKZUZVwv
"A bond of light."
Erevan nodded.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kv4M87799
"Balanced. As it should be."
A Surprise in the Twilight Garden
Of course, the manor wasn't done with surprises.
Later that afternoon, as Mavis explored the Twilight Garden (the part of the grounds that always looked like sunset no matter the hour), Aurelion perched on her shoulder like a luminous guardian.
"You're warm," Mavis said, giggling when his feathers tickled her cheek.
"I am warmth."
She stepped onto a stone path lined with glowing moss—then stopped.
Something moved behind a moon-bloom bush.
Something... pink?
A small snout poked out. Then a pair of large, liquid-black eyes. Then a body covered in cotton-soft fur, white blending into pastel rose. Tiny golden branches adorned her ears and tail, catching the fading light like jewels. She looked like a fox sculpted out of cherry blossoms and twilight.
"A fox?" Mavis murmured.
The creature crept forward silently, tail curling elegantly.
Aurelion chirped a warning.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g33RJjrm5
"Careful."
But Mavis sensed no danger. Only curiosity. Only sweetness.
The fox sniffed her fingers, then gently nudged her palm, seeking affection.
"Oh," Mavis breathed, smiling softly, "you're so pretty."
Her magic answered—pink, white, and silver threads drifting from her like petals.
The fox inhaled them with reverence.
And suddenly Mavis felt a soft voice brush her mind.
"Warm soul... may I stay?"
"Oh!" Mavis beamed. "Yes! Of course you can stay!"
The fox hopped into her arms—light as silk.
Aurelion arched a feathered brow.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNj7wrhLpJ
"A Nymfox. Rare. Gentle-hearted. She chooses you."
"What's your name?" Mavis whispered.
The fox nuzzled her cheek.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe20PEDYza
"Sakari."
Mavis giggled. "Sakari... I love it."
Sakari's tail curled around her, shimmering.
By evening, Mavis walked the manor halls surrounded by:
✨ Veridia — shimmering Life13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VfkM2lbqr
✨ Erevan — shadowed Death13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUGW6EjlOR
✨ Aurelion — radiant Purity13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38k3n6npKu
✨ Sakari — pastel Serenity
Elarisse nearly fainted when she saw Mavis with yet another legendary familiar.
Alaric merely muttered, "Of course she did," before adding a proud smile.
Isolde squealed at Sakari.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hS8cNce1Q
Nyx tried to act cool, but Aurelion's light made him flinch backwards.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF2XoPCBMf
Caelum declared he wanted a fox too.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81T8uCbxxm
Korrin bowed solemnly to both new familiars.
Mavis looked around at her family—dragons, phoenix, nymfox, and people who loved her without condition.
Her heart felt full in a way her first life never allowed.
"These are my friends," she whispered, stroking Sakari's soft fur.
Aurelion perched behind her like a guardian star.
"We are more than friends, little one. We are your constellation."
And under the glowing chandeliers of Silverthorne Manor, Mavis felt truly, wonderfully, magically whole.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfUelWC6HK
and then Add to home screen.