Chapter 186: Zinna Goes For A Ride

Tyler reappeared as a much larger, stronger phoenix with a larger golden fire pulsating around him like it was alive. His eyes remained the same colors, but looked much different. They looked exactly like one would expect them to look on a mythological creature like a phoenix. His angelic white color was much more vibrant and Zinnia couldn’t believe how majestic he looked.

’Oh my...that’s my first boyfriend?!’ Zinnia gasped while thinking. ’He’s so...perfect.’

Tyler flew around and landed right next to her, standing on his two black claws. His legs grew so his proportions remained intact. He didn’t look like a large bird with short stumpy legs, more like a long legged being that only existed in fairy tales.

"Pretty cool, huh? Sorry for worrying you, it looks like I just evolved into an adult phoenix." Tyler said while walking over to kiss Zinnia’s cheek. "You look nice by the way."

"Show off." Ash laughed while coming out of Tyler in his final form.

"Thanks! You’re both so beautiful. Ash is HUGE!" Zinnia said excitedly, lighting up with passion and joy.

"Is it hard to understand me?" Tyler asked, his beak moving like human lips would to talk, which looked funny with his large black tongue.

"Not at all!" Zinnia smiled and petted Tyler’s head. "I don’t think it’s a coincidence Ash is red with white tips and a blue fire swirling around him and you’re white with a gold fire. It matches Ash’s eyes."

"He’s like my big brother, it’s kind of cool!" Tyler said cheerfully.

"I wish she could understand me, but tell her I appreciated the immediate bow and she doesn’t have to every time. She’s quite beautiful." Ash playfully chirped.

Tyler relayed the message to Zinnia, who put her hand over her heart. "That’s so kind..."

The two of them shot off into the sky quickly, playfully racing around Vox’s space. Ash was significantly faster, larger, stronger and his blue flames made Tyler’s flames look tiny in comparison.

"Hop on?" Tyler asked Zinnia.

He would have let his other wives take a ride on him, but he wasn’t big or strong enough as an adolescent phoenix. He took her flying around the unique realm and she dug her hands into his feathers. He darted up and down, side to side and tested how strong she was. If she could handle flying around on his back, that would be useful in the future. He could drop his wives or her down anywhere if they were in trouble and he could destroy whomever was in his way. Everyone aside from Kass and Amanda could teleport on and off as well and he knew they were getting close to SSS anyway. Once they were beyond, he could finally get the next clue to The Path of the Righteous.

"Am I hurting you by digging my nails into you like this? I just don’t want to fall off!" Zinnia yelled.

"You’re good! You can teleport now you know that right? Give it a try. Try going somewhere in the realm and coming back on me. It’ll be harder to hit a moving target but I’ll catch you, I promise."

"Ok!" Zinnia yelled as she quickly moved to the ground again.

’Woah...that isn’t a pleasant feeling.’ Zinnia thought.

She was determined to get this right so she tracked Tyler’s movements. She noticed he slowed down for her and was grateful for it. She gritted her teeth, focused and gave it her best shot.

"Gotcha!" Tyler said while grabbing her with his claws. "You were really close for the first try! Great job. Want to try again?"

Zinnia and Tyler practiced for about 10 minutes until she was finally able to consistently land on him without him getting jumpy. Ash eventually recalled back into Tyler and gave him pointers on how to fly, which Tyler picked up on quickly. As they were flying, Tyler realized how much fun he and Zinnia were having.

Even Zinnia couldn’t deny how amazing of a ride this was. They flew around and she finally spoke her mind. Something was bothering her and she wasn’t one to hide her feelings, unless it was for the Illusionists.

"Tyler, you’re never going to trust me." she said softly.

"Why do you say that? It’s good to know you aren’t, no offense, a rude stuck up bitch beneath that facade you put up with the mask."

She slapped his head playfully. "Shut up! That’s not a very nice thing to say to your girlfriend."

Tyler laughed in his phoenix form, which sounded funny and made her laugh.

"Oh my god what kind of sound was that?"

"I have no idea," Tyler laughed. "But what makes you think I’ll never be able to trust you?"

"Why would you? I work for the organization that’s trying to hand you over to the Necrams." She admitted.

Tyler landed and turned back into his human form. He was surprised he didn’t grow again, but he was already tall and muscular enough. He didn’t need to stand out more than he already did. His eyes did turn slightly more golden, although they remained mostly gray.

"Your eyes... they changed colors." Zinnia gasped.

"Did they? Yeah, I used to have blue ones if you can believe that. Then when I became a summoner they were green, then when I turned into an Eidolon they became gray and started turning gold. Anyway, I think I have an idea." Tyler smiled, glad he put the system command in the first time he changed forms so that he’d have clothes on after his first transformation left him standing naked.

"And what’s that?" Zinnia smiled excitedly.

"Trust building exercise. You could have tried to wipe our memories but you didn’t. That tells me you mean well, but you were also in a corner. Here it’s just me and you. Why didn’t you try?" Tyler asked politely.

"Because your wives would know, that would be just dumb. Plus I actually like you. I don’t just toss around my virginity to no one." she blushed.

Tyler hugged her and gave her a kiss. "And I don’t just sleep with anyone. I’ve been married for what feels like forever, when really I’ve only been in Vespa and at Ability Academy for almost 8 months now. You aren’t a college kid, you’re a mature young woman. I think there’s something you’re not telling us but I’m not going to ask you your secrets, as long as you don’t go prying in my head."

"I won’t...I promise." Zinnia said while looking up into his eyes.

She was taller than the other girls. She was around 6`1 and looked intimidating when she carried herself with purpose. When she lightened up like this, she was just a beautiful pink haired demon whose amber pupils looked soft and loving, not sharp and fierce.

"Well, hold off on that promise because that’s where the trust building exercise comes in. I’m going to have one of my Eidolons Vivian charm you and you need to trust me that I’m going to have her ask just one question." Tyler smiled. "Then you can use one of your demon arts on me and ask me something in return. What do you think?"