The Phoenix Heart.
It was an artifact of the Skargardian royal bloodline.
Ulrich had first encountered its name in the novel later, when Camellia started taking her role as the main female lead and love interest in the novel. At that point in the story, she had revealed the amber pendant she always wore beneath her clothes.
She had inherited it from Kaliantha after the Queen's death.
The necklace had seemed almost unimportant at first. A sentimental relic passed from mother to daughter. A royal heirloom kept close to the heart. The story had mentioned its gold wings, the warm amber stone, and the old Skargardian name carved into the metal at the back of the setting.
Then Camellia had died.
Or, at least, she should have.
The Phoenix Heart had awakened before the blade could finish its work.
Ulrich remembered the scene clearly.
