Cinderwan had just begun her Elder training in the Earth Element when a voice in the fireplace flames spoke to her. The Fire Ancient was calling her to come to where the sky meets the sea. The Phoenix offered to accompany her on the journey. He neglected to mention that he planned to jump into a volcano with her. Or that she would need to reclaim her own voice. Only then could she begin to understand her higher purpose.

Chapter 1. The Scholar

fficially, the Scholar was the Keeper of Books, Maps and Records for the Kingdom of Oberland.

Unofficially, he was a holder of wisdom, a discoverer of secrets, and an advisor to elves, dragons, bears and other students who lived and studied at Oberland School.

“We were the strangest aliens on Sol #3, but there were others from much farther away living in Cinderella’s back yard. From Sol #3 Expedition Review AB99A, Marie GottMothercus, Zorcon University Archives.

Oberland School had been a sanctuary for Cinderella in her student days. The school was not only an escape from her duties as a kitchen maid. It was her door to a larger world. 

At Oberland School, the Scholar was a guide to new worlds of knowledge and wonder. For Cinderella, the Scholar was first a teacher and then an advisor. He encouraged her to find herself and exercise her abilities. His belief in her countered the disdain of her stepmother and the drudgery at home.

After she became queen, Cinderella continued to consult the Scholar as a trusted advisor on important matters.

One time the Scholar had teased her, reminding Cinderella that she was no longer a student at Oberland School. In mock protest, she told him, “The ‘Advisor’ position is a lifetime appointment!”

This morning Cinderella was puzzled by a single question:

Who was Pele?

King Jorgan and Queen Cinderella walked to the Scholar’s Tower. There was a bell by the tower door. Cinderella rang the bell and waited for the Scholar.

From inside the tower Cinderella heard the first sister bell reverberating. The ceilings and hallways focused the bell’s ring. Deeper in the tower a third bell began to vibrate, carrying the sound deeper into the Scholar’s home. Cinderella heard the shuffle of sandals on the stone floor inside the tower.

A man’s voice called out, “I’m coming! I’m coming!”

The doorknob turned and the tower door opened.

A peculiar red-haired man wearing green and brown clothes and sandals stood before her. Half glasses perched on his nose. Although he looked young, his red hair was streaked in grey. An open book rested in his hands.

The Scholar gazed up at Cinderella. He brightened as he recognized her.

“Your Majesty!” he said, straightening up. “Perfectly in time for Morning Tea.”

King Jorgan stepped into view from around the tower.

“Your Majesties,” corrected the Scholar, shifting to the plural.

“There are morning buns enough for us all. Welcome! Welcome! Please come in.”

The smell of fresh baked morning buns and cinnamon tea filled the air. King Jorgan smiled, and Queen Cinderella beamed.

Chapter 2. Fire Bird

spiral stairway rose Inside the Scholar’s Tower. Shelves with books lined the stairway. The tower was a vertical library.

Every few feet there was a window and a seat, where a reader could sit to read and take notes.

The Scholar led them to a dining area by the kitchen. A table was set for four. A tall bird entered the dining area, wearing an apron. It carried silverware in its claws and set four places at the table.

Cinderella recognized the bird as the Phoenix. She had seen it a few times over the years. The students said that the Phoenix was the Scholar’s pet. They were friendly to it but did not pay it much attention.

Cinderella said, “Hello, Phoenix.”

The bird bowed to them briefly. It squawked as it walked.

“I know,” said the Scholar to the bird. “That will happen pretty soon now, in a matter of weeks.”

The bird squawked some more.

“Maybe the Queen can help,” said the Scholar looking at the Queen. “I will ask.”

The big bird chirped.

“I won’t forget,” said the Scholar.

Jorgan and Cinderella looked at the bird and the Scholar. In its clicks and whistles the Phoenix appeared to be carrying on a conversation and making requests of the Scholar. It was curious.

“Is there a way that we can be of help?” asked Cinderella.

“First things first,” said the Scholar bowing. “Everything in its proper time.”

“We must find out what your Majesties seek,” he said, glancing to the bird. “But other protocol comes before that. There is the immediate matter of morning buns and cinnamon tea.”

“I am pleased to see you again,” said Cinderella to the Phoenix. “We will help you if we can.”

The Phoenix squawked slightly and bowed.

The Scholar nodded to the big bird. The Phoenix went back to the kitchen and brought out a lovely plate of morning buns.  Cinderella said, “Thank you,” to the bird as it placed the morning buns on the table.

“Thank you,” said the Scholar.

“And, of course, cinnamon tea.” The Scholar poured aromatic cups of the steaming tea. “Shall we be seated?” he asked.

Cinderella sat down. Then the King and the Scholar sat, and the big bird perched on a stool.

They sat and they settled. They munched and they sipped. They sighed and they smiled.

After a while, the Scholar asked, “Now, your Majesties. How may I help you?”

Cinderella began. “I seek knowledge,” she hesitated. “It may be nothing. It was part of a dream.”

At that moment the Phoenix started squawking and chirping at the Scholar. The Scholar nodded and turned to Cinderella. Cinderwan smiled.

“We all sleep,” began the Scholar. “And we all dream. What matters is not whether something is a dream, but whether we are paying attention.”

Cinderwan nodded and continued, “There was singing.”

“Perhaps you could sing it to me,” suggested the Scholar.

Cinderella remembered the face singing in the flames of her fireplace. “I have many blessings,” she said, “but singing is not one of them.” She cleared her throat and began to recite the poem.

The way of the Fire

Is bright and hot.

The walk is outside

The journey is not.

The Phoenix squawked and fussed.

The Scholar’s eyes opened wide. He sang the next verse of the ballad.

Go to the island

Where the sky meets the sea

To walk by the side

Of the Ancient Pele.

Cinderella was startled. “You know this song?” she asked.

The Scholar replied. “There are many verses to the Fire Ballad.”

He looked at her and continued. “Synchronicity is the universe’s way of saying that you are on the right path. The Phoenix and I were talking about Pele before you knocked.”

Cinderella was startled.

The Scholar continued. “My Queen, I do not need to search my library for this information.”

Cinderella was baffled.

The Scholar explained, “Pele is an Ancient manifesting the Fire Element. She usually resides at a volcano.”

“I have never heard of her,” said Cinderella.

“Pele lives on the other side of the world,” continued the Scholar. “She is creating an island called Hawaii.”

“Why were you talking about Pele?” asked Cinderella looking to the Phoenix.

“The Phoenix is a fire bird. He lives for a thousand years. Then he must burn on a pyre to renew himself. He must make his pyre at a volcano. Soon.”

Cinderella nodded and began to understand.

“A new Phoenix will rise from the ashes. Our Phoenix is number 999. The next Phoenix will be number zero. It is almost time for 999 to make his pyre.”

“Oh, my,” said Cinderella looking at the bird. Then turning to the Scholar, she asked, “So if he is number 999, then has this been going on for 1000 millennia?” concluded Cinderella.

“Much longer,” said the Scholar. “The numbers start at zero again after each thousand. There have been phoenixes since the beginning. On each cycle the phoenix makes its pyre on an active volcano to renew itself.”

“999 requests to go with you,” he added.

The bird squawked again and ran to Cinderella. 999 looked into her eyes and put its head on her lap. At the back of her mind, she thought she heard it say, “Thank you.”