I find myself at the training grounds watching young men fight. Among them is a familiar face even if he's much younger. He looks to be in his early teens but I'd recognize that wild and messy blonde hair anywhere. In the sunlight, young Phoenix's hair looks like white gold.

"Don't forget! Whoever wins gets to become the young princess' guard!" I hear someone beside me call and look up. I recognize him too. This is the famous war general and strategist Salazar Shedu. He's an ancient demon who works under the demon king. After her family was suddenly killed, he took her under his wing until Anna was sixteen.

Salazar looks down at me. His red eyes hold calm intelligence. "Don't worry. I'll make sure no one has any bad intentions." He pats the top of my head before looking back at the young man. I do the same and shift in my seat. How old am I here? I feel like I'm still so tiny! I know Anna's a small fairy but still.

"Come on, commoner! Do you think you can beat us all? You have another thing coming!" The other boys are teaming up on Phoenix. They all must be noble born which makes them think they're better. However, I know how this ends. After all, he is her personal guard still when Anna turns eighteen.

Phoenix says nothing his expression just as blank as it normally is. He has a fresh cut on his face along with others. He then continues to defend himself and takes them out one by one. Salazar lets out a faint whistle as he watches them fight. "Someone his age dual wielding... what a sight to see." He says under his breath. I honestly couldn't agree more.

I've never seen him in action as an adult but if he's his good as a kid then he has to be a master swordsman. "... He is good... for sure." My voice is soft and timid. Salazar looks down at me. "Don't be frightened... if he has any bad attentions, I'll know." I swallow hard and nod still watching the fight. Soon it's just two boys standing: Phoenix and the noble boy who tried to taunt him.

"What kind of monster are you?" The boy mutters and glares. Phoenix only tilts his head. "... The kind that can beat you." His accent is thicker than what I'm used to hearing. He sounds arrogant at that moment which sets the noble boy off. "We'll see about that! No way I'm letting a brat of lesser blood defeat me!" He makes the first move blinded by rage.

Phoenix doesn't even flinch as he blocks the hit. The noble boy pales as Phoenix just stared blankly at him. "... You sure about that?" He asks and shoves him away. He holds the mock dual swords expertly and goes after him next. They continue to fight but in the end, Phoenix is the only one left standing and awake. He pants faintly and then looks over to us.

I freeze as his mismatched eyes, one teal and one blood red, lock with mine. I can't read what he's thinking at all. He starts to approach us which only seems to make Anna get even more anxious. Salazar steps forward to meet him halfway. "State your name, child."

Phoenix blinks up at him. "... Nix... Phoenix." He says. Salazar's eyes turn red and black as he seems to be staring him down. He doesn't look threatened at all and stays still until the war general chuckles and nods. "You seem to have pure intentions. Tell me... why do you want to be the princess' guard?"

Phoenix cock his head to the side. "... I want to protect her." Such a simple and innocent answer... it's honestly adorable. "I want to be by her side and be her loyal sword... I want to make a blood vow." He dips his head. Salazar raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what that entails, young man? That's a lifelong vow you can never take back."

I blink and look up to Salazar. A lifelong vow? And Phoenix wants to take it now at his age? Why? Just who is Anna to him? "Yes, sir. If I fail to protect her while I'm employed, I will pay the price with my own life and sanity." I look at Phoenix with wide eyes. His eyes are clear and determined. "I will do anything to be her guard. My only desire is to protect her." He meets my eyes again. Now both are teal.

Salazar stares the boy down and then looks down at me. "It's your choice. Do you accept this young man as your personal guard?" He asks me. I feel my hands shaking as if I'm some sort of under pressure. Phoenix keeps his eyes down as he waits for my answer.

"... Yes." I finally say. "I'll accept Phoenix as my guard." He looks up and meets my eyes. While he doesn't have any expression on his face, his eyes look bright and excited. Salazar nods and kneels to my level. "For this blood vow, you both must cut your palms and then hold hands." His eyes soften seeing my face stiffen. "It will only sting for a second." He promises.

"As for you... can you control yourself around fairy blood?" He stands up and asks Phoenix. He nods. "Yes. I won't attack her. I don't want to ever hurt her." He's so sincere and sweet... it's no wonder Anna has a crush on him. Too bad he isn't a lead... I'd choose him after what happened with Tristian.

Salazar nods and takes out a small but sharp dagger. "Hold out your hand." Phoenix does as he's told and after cleaning it with some water, Salazar slices his palm. The boy doesn't even flinch and just stares. "You're turn... it will only sting for a second." I whimper a bit but after a moment I hesitantly hold out my hand. I wince as it's sliced and then he brings our hands together after watching Phoenix for a while.

Phoenix watches our hands and I see a faint glow between them. He closes his eyes. "I vow to protect and remain loyal to Princess Anna. Only she can dismiss me at any point. I will only follow her orders and be a perfect shadow for her. If I ever break my vow, I will take any punishment worthy of my crimes." He says without being prompted. Salazar raises his eyebrow again but the vow is complete.

We both take our hands away but I just stare at him. "W-why...?" I stammer out. "Why... would you make such a one-sided vow? You're not getting anything out of this arrangement." Phoenix watches me and then dips his head. "... I get to protect you. Keep you safe... that's all I want out of this." He looks back at the cut on his hand our blood mixing and his eyes dilate.

His fangs are long right now but he doesn't move to lick my blood off. Instead, he washes it away with water before licking it to seal his wound. I look down at my hand and note that it's already healed. "I wish to stay by your side as well." Phoenix suddenly says. "However, I merely want to protect you. Oh..."

He looks up at Salazar. "Can you train me better? I feel that my skills aren't good enough to protect her effectively." He dips his head. "I won't be a burden. I will do whatever it takes to be Princess Anna's perfect guard." He's so determined. Maybe one day soon I'll find out why he's so devoted to Anna.

Salazar chuckles and nods. "I was going to tell you that's a given but I'm glad you brought it up first. Only when you can beat me is when you'll be ready to guard Anna on your own." I let out a gasp and look up at him with wide eyes. "S-Sal...! That's impossible!" I squeak out.

He chuckles softly and ruffles my hair. "We will see. I do agree with you but you never know." He looks at Phoenix thoughtfully. "I believe he'll surprise us all with how determined he is." Phoenix nods. "I won't let you down." His voice echoes in my head as the scene fades away.

Memory fragment has concluded! I see the blue screen pop up and a wave of dread overcomes me. Now what? I'm in a white space now with no one around. 

Congratulations on finding the complete ending in Tristian's route! Because of this, the player will be taken back to the first choice without needing to go through the same morning routine! The player will also have the ability to go back to certain choices to see new dialogue and find new minor endings! Do you wish to go back into Tristian's route?

No! I immediately tap that response. I don't ever want to go through any part of that ending ever again.

Ok! Going back to the first choice! The player will gain a new reward after finding (2) more complete endings!

As the world comes back into focus, a chill runs down my spine. In front of me are the four male leads and the blue screen asking me to choose which one will be my husband. Tristian's name is blacked out but I still have three more to go.

I want to scream and run away but I still can't control this body. Might as well go down the line... I select the name and my mouth moves on its own again. "... I choose Silas Bane."