The air shimmered with heat as Leon stood firm, his small frame surrounded by floating embers. The training had intensified—no longer was he simply enduring fire, but now, he was learning to wield it in ways he never imagined.
His grandfather's watchful gaze bore down on him. "You've done well to adapt, but endurance alone is not enough. It's time for you to push beyond your limits."
Leon nodded, his golden eyes burning with determination.
Seraphina, watching from the side, clenched her hands. While she trusted her father's training methods, seeing her son pushed this hard made her heart tighten. Yet she could not deny the results—Leon was growing stronger at an unbelievable rate.
The old man suddenly raised his hand, and a massive torrent of flames erupted around Leon, forming a spiraling inferno. Unlike before, this wasn't just a test of endurance—it was a battle.
"Control the fire, Leon! Do not let it control you!"
The moment those words left his grandfather's lips, the flames twisted, surging toward him like wild beasts. This time, however, Leon didn't just stand and endure.
He moved.
With precise footwork, he sidestepped a surge of fire, his instincts guiding him as he raised his hand. The flames bent unnaturally, their trajectory shifting mid-air as if responding to his will.
His grandfather's eyes widened slightly in approval. "Good… now take it further!"
Leon gritted his teeth. He focused, not just on avoiding the fire but on understanding it. He stretched his mana outward, feeling the energy within the flames, and then—
The fire stopped.
It didn't vanish. Instead, it swirled around him, no longer chaotic but controlled. For the first time, he wasn't just resisting the flames—he was bending them to his will.
A pulse of power surged through his veins, and his body trembled with newfound strength.
[Ding!]
[Fire Adaptation has reached Level 2!]
[Mana Sensory has been awakened!]
[New Trait Unlocked: Ember's Will – Your affinity with fire has increased. Fire-based attacks are 10% more effective, and resistance to heat has improved.]
Leon exhaled sharply as the notifications flashed before his eyes. His grandfather took a step forward, his expression unreadable.
"…Impressive."
Seraphina gasped softly. "He's… controlling the fire."
The old man nodded. "More than that. He's beginning to shape it with his will. This level of progress at such an age… it's unheard of."
Leon clenched his fists, feeling the warmth of his mana coursing through him. He was getting stronger—but it still wasn't enough.
His gaze lifted to meet his grandfather's. "What's next?"
A smirk tugged at the old man's lips. "You're ready for the real test."
---
Meanwhile, within the Solaris Palace, Prince Alistair strode through the grand halls, his royal cloak billowing behind him. The summons from his father had been urgent, and he had a feeling he already knew why.
As he entered the throne room, he was met with the stern gaze of King Alden. The air was heavy with unspoken tension.
"Alistair," the king began, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "The Oracle's vision was not the only sign of change."
The prince inclined his head. "I am aware. Scouts have reported unusual movements in the east."
King Alden's expression darkened. "And there's more. The nobles have been whispering—about a child. A child of fire, growing stronger by the day."
Alistair's brows furrowed slightly. "A child?"
"One whose existence could alter the balance of power in Eldora."
The words hung in the air.
Alistair's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "Then I will see for myself."
King Alden studied his son before nodding. "Very well. You will depart at dawn."
As Alistair turned to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that this child… whoever they were, was tied to the fate the Oracle had foreseen.
---
Leon's training was far from over. But now, he wasn't just enduring the fire.
He was becoming it.
And soon, the world would take notice.