The last thing Zander remembered was collapsing in more pain than he thought was possible. He completely blacked out and floated off into nothingness, where he was nothing but a golden spirit.
He watched his birth, saw Tej, Soraya, Zephyr, Luna, Leo and the Father with his parents. He watched himself grow up, watched how much his parents truly did for him and watched all the memories he shared with Cyrus.
Then it was the day he met Sophie, who he then tried to bind, to no avail. He tried to check his system, but was so engaged with the memories, which seemed to be playing in real time.
"Am I dead?" Zander asked Zintan, but received no response.
After the memories had finished, he tried to check his system, but he couldn't access it.
He moved around and noticed that he was just a golden spirit.
"Evolution, did it kill me? Does that mean Zintan controls my body or does he die too?"
Finally, Tej appeared, and Zander was quite happy to see him.
"Zander, my son, you have been so brave but I must warn you. Do not push yourself to the point you cannot survive an evolution. Had Sophie, Ethan and Cyrus not been there, you and Zintan would be souls in Eden right now," Tej said with a gentle smile.
"But the system is supposed to protect me from that? I don't even know enough about it." Zander said.
"Yes, it is, but in less than a year, you have leveled up from a human to a young adult Phoenix, your body can only handle so much," Tej said.
"But what about Sophie, she's been able to handle each evolution just fine?" Zander asked
"Think about it. Who is usually there to heal her, calm her, and ensure she gets through the evolution safely," Tej asked.
"You're right, it's me. I should continue to do so right?" Zander asked, knowing the answer.
"Yes, you should. I wish we had more time but you have been in this state for quite some time. I think it's time you return to your friends. I can't imagine being away from Soraya for a month, let alone worrying about her well being. Take care of Sophie, you and her are destined to be like Soraya and I are. Who knows, maybe someday there will be scripture about the chosen man and the chosen woman," Tej said with a smile.
"Wait, don't go!" Zander said but his eyes had finally opened.
He was in Cyrus's room and Sophie was laying on the medical bed next to him. The first thing he noticed was how beautiful she was, but he also noticed how tired she looked.
She was currently sleeping, holding his hand. His other arm had several IVs inserted into it and he noticed he had lost some muscle mass.
Zander slowly sat up, but felt immense pain, so he tried laying on his side, looking at Sophie, but that also hurt, so he gave her a kiss and laid on his back.
This kiss woke her up and she jumped off the bed and started crying.
"Oh, Thank Solace and the blessed four, you're finally awake babe! We were all so worried about you," Sophie said while she wiped her face.
"I was just admiring your beauty while you slept for a moment. It was strange. I relived my whole life, and got to appreciate all of it again. With how quickly everything has happened since my parents death, it was great to marry you again," Zander said with a smile.
Before Sophie could speak, he informed her of what Tej said when he met with him, and that he knew he had been out for over a month.
"He really said that?" Sophie asked while blushing.
"I'd never lie to you," Zander said as he flashed the forever bind on his hand, which is something Sophie almost forgot she had.
She shined it back, and asked if she could give him a gentle hug, to which he agreed.
He then kissed her until it hurt his body, and she pulled away and he said, "one more I don't care if it hurts, I thought I was dead." Zander said.
"You were," Sophie explained how he was brought back to life and stayed in a coma.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this while I enjoyed reliving my life and getting to meet and fall in love with you all over again," Zander frowned as he said this.
"Don't be sorry, I'm just glad you're awake and well. So much has changed. I guess Zoey and Juno had a bet, and Zoey finally asked Eldrick out so they're an item now. Juno and Cyrus are also an item and he passed his noble trial with flying colors," Sophie began.
"That's great but what about you my love, how have you been dealing with all of this?" Zander asked with the most sincere tone, staring her directly in the eyes.
"I trained hard and spent every night here with you. Once Ethan said it was up to you to wake up, I knew you would come back to me, so I remembered the good times," Sophie said, starting to tear up.
"You're pretty when you cry, I love you." Zander said.
"I love you too babe, and shoot I was supposed to get Ethan and the head medic, Julie, when you woke up," Sophie said as she went to leave.
"Please don't, Tej sent me back and warned me just not to over do it and that you would be safe as long as I was there for your evolutions. I want you to lay with me for awhile, I'll pretend to sleep if anyone comes in,"
With her scrunched up angry face, which Zander loved, because it always reminded him how beautiful she was, asked, "what does Zintan think?"
"Oh, crap. Sorry Zintan, how are you? How have you been the past month. I'm sorry for making you go through that and thank you for saving me," Zander said to Zintan, who was curled up in the white space, relaxing.
"Once I knew you were alive, I tried to relax and sleep as much as I could because it was heartbreaking to watch Sophie and Scarlett come here every night and feel so much pain. But other than that, I was in a super relaxed state, probably because you were in a coma. To answer Sophie's question, I'd say you're good as new and she doesn't need to get anyone yet, I'll tell her," Zintan said.
Zander's eyes turned gold and Zintan said, "I'm sorry for the last month for both you and Scarlett. You are an amazing woman Sophie. Had I not been in an ultra relaxed state from Zander's coma, I might have become depressed with how heartbreaking it was to watch you wait for him to wake up. It was so beautiful at the same time. We're both good as new, even better if you consider Zander evolved again. Enjoy the time together," Zintan said with a smile as he switched back to Zander.
Sophie requested a king size medical bed, to which no one refused, so the two lay there talking, reminiscing and Zander explained vividly the memories of meeting her, the wedding, honeymoon and all of it that he just lived through again, which made Sophie smile. She eventually fell asleep on his chest, which made him quite happy.
About 10 minutes later, Ethan came in, surprised to see Zander awake and was quiet with Sophie fast asleep.
"She's truly a trooper master, Zander. She never left your side and without her, I'm afraid you wouldn't be here today. All your vitals look good. Are you hungry?" Ethan asked.
"Starving!"
"Let me fix you two meals and I'll let the Harts know you're awake but need a good night alone. They'll understand," Ethan said with a smile.
About thirty minutes later, Sophie woke up to the smell of the delicious dinner Ethan had prepared and they both ate rather quickly.
Sophie apologized for falling asleep.
"You need rest, I've been sleeping for a month and you are so beautiful when you sleep. It relaxes me when you're asleep on my chest," Zander admitted with a red face.
"I haven't seen you blush like that in ages," Sophie smiled and gave him a kiss.
They both took five minutes to say a prayer together to Solace, to which the Father and company smiled and wished they could go say hello.
"How close was he to death?" the Father asked Tej.
"Had Sophie, Ethan and Cyrus not been there, he would have passed and Zintan would have been reborn as a baby here," Tej said.
"You didn't tell him that? Instead, I'm guessing you told him about that new prophecy about a chosen male and chosen female, destined to mate and save not only the Earth, but Solace as well?" the Father asked.
"I just hinted that maybe one day there would be scripture about a chosen man and chosen woman and I encouraged him not to push himself to evolve so fast," Tej explained.
"Wise as always, my dear Son," the Father said while petting Tej.
Meanwhile, Sophie and Zander had fallen asleep and both woke up to the same dream.
They were both in an open plains area, about to face off with what looked like 500-1000 werewolves. They both were also in full Phoenix form and it looked like Sophie had taken the lead in the fight, as it was just her and Zander.
"Sophie, did you just have the same dream as I did?" Zander asked with a smile.
"You make a very handsome Phoenix, but what was up with all those werewolves?" Sophie asked.
"You were even more beautiful than Soraya, and I'm not sure, I guess time will tell."
They both shared a kiss and drifted off back into sleep, both of them wanting this alone time to last a little longer.
The next morning, before the sun rose, Ethan brought them breakfast and disconnected the IVs from Zander and brought him regular clothes, instead of a medical robe.
"Eat up, I'm sneaking you back to your room so you can have the weekend to yourselves," Ethan said with a big smile.
"Thank you," they both said politely.
After they left Cyrus' room, Zander and Sophie had both written thank you cards and upon arriving in their rooms, they saw very comfortable looking pajamas, with a note from Ricardo,
"Thank you for giving me the courage to ask Lana out, she said yes! We made you a gift. They are embedded with magic to keep you above 110 degrees at all times!"
They immediately stripped down and tried them on and to Zander's surprise, he got a system notification.
"Ping! Congratulations you are now a young adult Phoenix. All stats have been assigned to 25 to meet the minimum requirements. 5 skill points available. 10 chosen-one skill points available. Strength 25, Mana, 25, Agility, 25, Endurance, 25, Stamina, 25. Upgraded skill: self healing [passive] you will now regenerate 20 HP per minute when exposed to sun's light. New skill obtained: unbreakable bond. When in combat with your mate, both of your stats will be boosted by 10%. If you two separate or divorce, both your souls will shatter. 450/450 health, 550/550 energy. Level 25. 0/55,000 experience. Ping! Your body temperature is now above 110 degrees, all stats boosted by 2%."
"Sophie, you really mean forever right, even after our big argument and all?"
"Of course, unless you cheated on me or something then I'd say no!"
"Ping! Warning your mate thinks you are cheating on her. Convince her the truth or unbreakable bond may activate."
Panicked, Zander said, "you know I'm not cheating and never would right," flashing the forever bind on his hand.
"Of course I don't think you're cheating on me and no I don't think you would ever and I hope you feel the same," Sophie said.
"Of course I don't think you would ever, you're the chosen woman after all and phoenixes mate for life," Zander said while giving her a big hug and kiss.
"Why the sudden random barrage of questions babe?"
Zander explained the new skill he acquired and Sophie laughed.
"Solace really did decide our fate, and I'm glad they did, I love you Zander Elrod, forever, even after we leave this world," Sophie said.
"I love you Sophie Elrod, formally known as Sophie Grace, and I will love you forever, even when we leave this world," Zander said.
They then enjoyed their warm, cozy pajamas and binge watched a new tv series they both liked, produced in Haven. Well, Sophie was much more into it than Zander, as it was a love triangle between a werewolf man, a vampire woman and a human woman. Zander just enjoyed being with Sophie.
The next day Cyrus and Juno stopped by to catch up. They were happy to have the company and Eldrick and Zoey came by as well, with Eldrick formally introducing himself.
"About time Zoey!" Sophie said, rolling her eyes.
"I know right, I've been telling both of them forever," Juno explained.
"Haven problems amirite," Zander said with a laugh.
"You're too right," Cyrus said while mocking his attire, to which he got a nudge from his sister.
"Come on, admit it Zoey, you can't stand wearing the same exact thing every day. I mean I'm sure you'd love to see Eldrick in something more casual," Cyrus joked.
"I mean I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Zoey get to dress like Sophie or Juno, no offense ladies, my heart is taken as our yours," Eldrick said, to which Zoey blushed heavily.
"Alright you have a point Cyrus," Zoey laughed.
"By the way Cyrus, that's a nice amulet. That reminds me I missed your 18th birthday. First one I've ever missed, I'm sorry bro and I'm sorry I didn't get you anything," Zander said.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Technically you were in my house at the time so you were physically there for it. You did get me a gift, well you and Sophie did. Sophie had this amulet forged from her beast core. It adds 5% to my base stats and has a protection enchantment on it. It was quite the thoughtful gift," Cyrus said, smiling at Sophie.
"It was something I wanted to do and I know Zander has been there for all of your birthdays, well, since you moved to Harmonia, but I'm glad you like it," Sophie said.
"Thanks, my love, it's perfect and I'm glad Cyrus enjoys it too. That was very generous of you," Zander said with a big smile.
Afterwards, they enjoyed a great night until they finally said their goodbyes and Zander got his favorite notification. "Your mate is not in her fertility cycle."
He grabbed Sophie and took charge, and they spent the entire night having a very romantic evening, making up for the month of lost time.