The days passed and changed into weeks, and Kye immersed himself in the intricate art of weaving fire. Under the patient guidance of the young Phoenixes, he delved deeper into the secrets of this ancient technique. It was a practice that required not only precision but also a profound connection to the element of fire itself.
Needless to say, it was really hard. After all, Kye only unlocked his powers a few days ago. Moreover, he was still at the beginning of Ras' friend seal. Meaning that he still needed to unlock more power to be able to use fire as efficiently as Phoenixes.
And it had proven to be harder than Kye thought.
His understanding of fire had led him to explore its various aspects. Coating his weapon with fire was a straightforward task, but he knew it was merely scratching the surface of what was possible. To truly harness the potential of fire, he needed to delve deeper into the essence of the element.
Kye practiced diligently, honing his control over the flames with each passing day. He focused on precision, trying to manipulate the fire's intensity and shape with finesse. It was a challenging endeavor, one that required both mental and emotional discipline.
But thankfully it was two things that Kye had a lot. Moreover, all this training allowed him to think about other things, allowing him to bear with the fact that he still didn't know if his friends were alive or not.
Nonetheless, the young Phoenixes continued to guide him, offering valuable insights and techniques. They emphasized the importance of patience and understanding the element's responses to his emotions and intentions. Kye realized that his own inner state played a crucial role in shaping the flames. Indeed the angry he was, the more his flames would be uncontrollable, while the more at ease he was, the more gentle his flames would be.
And thus, one day, as he sat in meditation, he had a breakthrough. He found that by attuning his emotions and intentions to the essence of fire, he could achieve a level of control he hadn't thought possible. The flames responded with a newfound grace, dancing and weaving with ethereal beauty.
Excited by this discovery, Kye couldn't wait to share it with his friends. The young Phoenixes gathered around him, intrigued by his progress. He demonstrated his newfound ability, creating intricate patterns and shapes with the flames, all while maintaining perfect control.
The girl with vibrant red feathers nodded in approval. "You're starting to grasp the deeper connection between your emotions and fire, Kye. It's not just about controlling the element; it's about becoming one with it."
Kye smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. "I'm grateful for your guidance and patience. I still have much to learn, but I can feel the progress."
And then suddenly, the world around them darkened. Kye thought for a moment that an enemy was approaching, but when he looked around him, Kye could only see everyone kneeling on the ground.
'The heck is happening?' Kye thought quickly as he summoned Lightbringer in his hands. He didn't know why everyone was kneeling, but surely they didn't do that out of pure will. So it must be someone strong enough to press heavily on everyone.
Everyone except him...
'Maybe it's not an enemy, Kye, but Ras,' Lightbringer said. 'Otherwise, why would they all do that? And you can't feel any tension in their face, rather they all seem happy.'
And right when Lightbringer finished talking, a magnificent creature descended inside of the volcano.
No, the creature would be an understatement.
What descended was a noble bird so great that one couldn't help but be in awe of its presence.
Looking at that, Kye gulped down and took a step back. Thankfully the giant bird hadn't noticed him yet, so if he were lucky, he would be able to get out of here in time.
'We need to get out of-...' While he was talking, Kye felt two eyes land on him. When he looked up, the giant red bird looked directly at him... with surprise on its face.
Kye took another step back. Even though he didn't want to admit it, he was scared of this giant bird. He doubted that it could be Ras as the latter wasn't giving such vibes.
And yet after another step back, he felt someone's body press against his.
"KYE IS THAT REALLY YOU?" A man's voice entered Kye's ears. He couldn't even look up because his face was deep in the chest of the man.
He even had difficulties breathing because of how hard he was hugging him.
Kye, still feeling bewildered by the sudden turn of events and the awe-inspiring presence of the giant bird, was startled when a man's voice filled the air. It was a voice filled with excitement and disbelief, and Kye couldn't see the face of the person behind it as they were locked in a tight embrace.
Unable to breathe properly due to the tight hug, Kye managed to wheeze out, "Ras is... is that you?" The realization struck him that the majestic, giant bird before him might indeed be his friend, Ras, in his Phoenix state. The surprise and awe he had felt moments ago now mixed with a sense of hope and uncertainty.
The man who held Kye in the tight embrace finally loosened his grip, allowing Kye to catch his breath. As Kye looked up, he saw the face of someone he had missed dearly—Ras, one of his dearest friends.
"Yes it's me you dummy," Ras chuckled as he patted Kye's head gently. "If I knew you were here, I would have come back sooner."
However, before Ras could continue, tears started flowing down on Kye's face. He was in such a happy state that tears flowed on their own out of his eyes and his body moved on its own to hug Ras again.
Ras, understanding the depth of Kye's emotions, returned the hug with warmth and sincerity. He whispered soothing words to his friend, letting him know that he was safe and that their friendship remained as strong as ever. And above all, that he was here to help him
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶