Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting streaks of gold across Zeke's face. For the first time in days, there were no explosions, no assassins, and no emergencies—just the faint chatter of villagers starting their day.
Zeke yawned, stretching like a man at peace for once. "No chaos? No fires? No one screaming for help? Something's wrong."
[Ding! Daily Sign-In complete. Reward: Divine Flame.]
A burst of light flashed in his palm. A white-gold flame flickered into existence, elegant and silent, swirling like living sunlight.
Zeke blinked. "Oh… oh, that's new."
[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired the Divine Flame. A fire capable of refining every known material in existence.]
He raised his hand, staring at it. The flame glowed softly, bright but calm, its warmth wrapping around him instead of burning. The air shimmered faintly as if the flame's mere presence rejected imperfection.
"You gave me divine fire?" he muttered. "That's not suspicious at all."
[You've officially skipped 'beginner,' 'intermediate,' and 'expert' straight to 'unfair.']
Zeke grinned. "As it should be."
[Confidence level: delusional.]
"Shut up, I'm enjoying this."
The flame pulsed once before sinking back into his palm, leaving behind a faint golden glow.
He exhaled, smiling faintly. "Alright… let's not accidentally sneeze and vaporize the city."
The streets were lively when he stepped outside. The air was crisp, the villagers cheerful. A few bowed as he passed.
"Morning, Lord Boom!"
"Morning, tax contributors!" Zeke called back with mock pride. "Try not to burn anything while I'm gone!"
He spotted Alora near the courtyard, her usual black attire making her look like a shadow against the morning light.
"You're early," he said.
"I don't sleep."
"Creepy."
"Efficient."
He smirked. "You're in a good mood."
"I'm in the same mood as always."
"Ah, so slightly homicidal."
"Correct."
[She's probably right.]
"Stay out of this," Zeke muttered.
"…Who are you talking to?" Alora asked.
"My conscience."
"You have one?"
He ignored her entirely.
By the time breakfast arrived, Zeke was already leaning back in his chair while Alora stood behind him as usual.
"You could sit, you know," he said between bites.
"No."
"You ever relax?"
"Relaxation dulls awareness."
"So does starvation."
"I'm fine."
[She's lying.]
"Told you," Zeke said, pointing at nothing.
Alora sighed. "You're arguing with air again."
"It's called internal debate."
"You're losing."
"Yeah, well—" Zeke stopped when a servant ran in.
"City Lord! The guest from Pill Tower is awake!"
Zeke blinked. "Oh good, she didn't die. That would've been bad for public relations."
Inside the guest quarters, Lira sat upright by the window, sunlight streaming across her long brown hair. Her robe was repaired, her complexion still pale but lively.
"Good morning, Lord Zeke," she greeted warmly.
"Good morning, Miss Disaster Magnet," Zeke replied casually.
She smiled. "You certainly have a way with titles."
"I try."
Alora added flatly, "He succeeds in being annoying."
"Team spirit," Zeke muttered.
Lira chuckled softly, her tone light. "You're unlike any city lord I've met."
"That's because the rest have dignity. I traded mine for comfort."
[Accurate.]
"Stop agreeing with me," Zeke hissed quietly.
Lira inclined her head. "Still, you have my gratitude. You saved my life."
Zeke waved it off. "Don't worry about it. Just don't die under my roof, it's bad for morale."
"I'll try to avoid that."
She studied him quietly, her bright amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Your Qi feels… strange. Strong, but hidden. It's like it's being suppressed."
Zeke stiffened. "Natural talent suppression. Happens to geniuses."
[Host, that's the worst lie you've ever told.]
"Shut up."
Lira blinked. "Pardon?"
"Nothing. Talking to my… inner peace."
"Does it argue back often?"
"Only on days ending in Y."
Once she had recovered enough, Lira explained her situation.
"I was escorting a shipment of rare spiritual herbs. They were meant for the Pill Tower's research—ingredients for a new pill to stabilize breakthroughs during cultivation."
Zeke leaned back, arms crossed. "So basically, if I help you get them back, your sect owes me one?"
She smiled faintly. "That's… one way to put it."
[Translation: Jackpot.]
Zeke smirked. "The wind just said something interesting."
Alora's brow twitched. "The… wind?"
"Yeah, it's been chatty lately."
Lira giggled softly. "You're amusing, Lord Zeke."
"Finally, someone gets it."
Later that day, Alora brought in a report. "We found traces of battle north of the trade road. The trail leads toward another ravine."
Zeke sighed. "It's always ravines."
"It's where people hide," Alora replied calmly.
"It's also where I almost die," he said.
[Pattern detected.]
"Shut up."
Lira covered her mouth, suppressing a laugh. "You two are… interesting."
"That's one word for it," Zeke muttered.
That evening, Lira brought him several herbs she had managed to recover. "These are Flamegrass and Spirit Petal," she explained. "When heated properly, they can form a basic Qi Recovery Pill."
Zeke nodded, summoning the Divine Flame into his palm. The air glowed with a bright white-gold radiance, bathing the room in shimmering light.
Lira's eyes widened. "That… that's not an ordinary alchemy flame."
"You could say I'm gifted."
[Correction: You skipped the entire learning process.]
"Don't ruin the moment."
He guided the herbs gently into the flame. They melted smoothly, forming a golden liquid that pulsed with Qi before condensing into a perfect round pill.
Lira's lips parted slightly. "You… refined it on your first try."
Zeke twirled the pill between his fingers. "Beginner's luck."
[Lie detected.]
"Shut up."
She smiled, genuine and warm. "You really are something, Lord Zeke."
"Yeah," he said, grinning. "A miracle wrapped in bad decisions."
As night deepened, the soft light of the Divine Flame faded from the room, replaced by the faint hum of quiet contentment. For once, there was peace.
Of course, peace never lasted long around Zeke.