The sun had barely risen over the academy's forested outskirts when Team C found themselves deep in the Emberglow Wilds, a sanctioned training zone for dungeon-cleared students.
Mira adjusted her satchel. "Do we really need to come out right after clearing a dungeon?"
Kel groaned. "Academy schedule says so. They want to make sure we're 'combat-ready' now that we've proven ourselves."
Ryn glanced over his shoulder at Aira, who walked at the rear. "Still, I'd feel better if you were up front again."
"I'm conserving energy," Aira said casually, watching the trees like they might ignite.
In truth, she was still feeling the rush of her Phoenix Heart awakening. Her body pulsed with warmth. Wherever her feet touched, a faint shimmer of heat remained.
Phoenix Heart: Active
You regenerate HP and mana while in fire-aligned areas
Current Status: Near full
Next XP Milestone: 400/1,000 (Level 6)
Suddenly, snap.
Kel halted. "Wait. That was not me."
A low growl echoed through the trees.
Then—
AMBUSH.
Five figures burst from the undergrowth—Ashfang Jackals, twisted beasts mutated by residual dungeon energy. Their obsidian fur shimmered with lava veins, and their eyes were glowing coals.
"Formation!" Ryn shouted, but the jackals didn't wait.
The first one lunged straight at Mira.
Aira's hand was already moving.
FWOOOM.
A roaring wall of flame erupted in front of the healer, sending the beast yelping back with scorched fur. The smell of burning filled the air.
Ryn charged one jackal with his blade, landing a clean hit—but the beast kept moving.
"They're tougher than normal!" he shouted.
Two more jackals flanked Kel, driving him back. One slashed at his leg, and he cried out in pain.
Aira's eyes narrowed.
Heat levels rising...
Warning: Party integrity critical.
Flame Limiters Disengaged.
She stepped forward.
"Get behind me."
No one argued.
Aira lifted both arms. The air around her shimmered like a mirage.
Skill Unlocked: Flame Spiral
Mana Cost: 40
Effect: Create a rotating vortex of flame that expands outward in a wide radius.
"FLAME SPIRAL!"
A pillar of fire burst from her, spiraling out in all directions. It roared like a living creature, engulfing the entire clearing. The jackals tried to run—but it was too late.
They were consumed in a vortex of heat and flame. Screeches turned to silence.
When the smoke cleared, only ash remained.
Ryn stared. "What... what level did you say you were?"
"Five," Aira said, brushing ash from her coat.
Kel winced, limping. "Remind me never to stand in front of her when she's mad."
+100 XP
Current: 500/1,000 (Halfway to Level 6)
Mira cast a quick healing spell on Kel, her hands still shaking slightly. "That was... incredible. I've never seen someone command fire like that."
Aira didn't reply right away.
Because something strange had happened in that moment of release—something only she felt.
A second heartbeat.
Not hers.
A rhythm pulsing beneath her own fire. As if the flames themselves were listening… waiting.
She looked down at her hand.
The fire there didn't flicker. It watched her.
Phoenix Resonance: 1%
Aira exhaled.
Power was growing. But it wasn't just hers.
She was connected to something older, deeper, and vastly more dangerous.
And it was waking up.