You will find here the second part of my latest short story, titled The Rebirth. Its action takes place in the historical times of Ornithodea, which is a world inhabited by the species of anthropomorphic birds, who are the only sentient creatures.

The text is translated from Polish by  Luminouscales.

Table of contents
Illustration
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

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“As Phoenix once said: ‘That, which perishes, is always reborn,’” preached Kaliksta standing behind a pulpit on a construction suspended from the wall. The followers were listening in silence; they were sitting on pillows, kneeling, wings folded and tails stretched comfortably. Anastasia and another priestess, Nikanora, were sitting on a perch on opposite sides of the pulpit a short distance apart.
“Now let us think for a moment about these words. It is without doubt clear to us that our Mistress, having lived a certain number of years, turns to ashes, from which she rises to life, once again radiant with beauty and praise. It can be said that her fire dies out only to be rekindled again one day. After all, let us look at these torches.” The cleric pointed to the burning wooden sticks affixed by the columns holding the temple’s roofing one after the other. “Their flames present themselves rather ravishingly, don’t they? But sooner or later must come the time when they die out, making room for emptiness. It does not last long, however, for once we light these torches aflame again, they will shine with equal radiance as before.”
Kaliksta halted the sermon. Anastasia knew what that meant. The cleric wanted the listeners to reflect upon her words and grasp their meaning before she would decide to continue. It worked better by the fact that she called upon symbolism related to Phoenix.
Afterwards, she spoke again:
“If this demonstration is not enough proof to us, then let us look further. Even nature herself proves that rebirth is indeed ubiquitous. Don’t we see it in the cycle of the sun and moon? When day dies out, night comes in its place, and later we welcome another day, as pretty as the previous one. And is the changing of seasons not such proof, too? Winter comes, and with it plants and animals fall into slumber, and with spring all life rises, rekindles. Even we women, providing new life to the world, are an example of such miracle. Each one of us, after all, shall someday come to the end of their cycle, but when that happens, we shall return here as hatchlings, reinvigorated, prepared for new experiences. Because of this, when we see that something has its end, we should not be afraid. Indeed, it is merely the end of the present, and that always brings the beginning of something new. Phoenix says so. Let us rise.”
The followers stood up and started their prayer, in which they asked Phoenix for mercy and from then on revered all life. Now, Anastasia could do nothing but pray with them.
Completely focussed with humility and hope that everything would go well.