The Forsaken Heir's Ascension
Chapter 86: Fire Element Cultivation: Flames of Destiny

Chapter 86: Fire Element Cultivation: Flames of Destiny

Later, in a Private Dining Room

Riven and Lyra sat across from each other, the candlelight casting soft glows on their faces. They ate in comfortable silence, though Lyra kept stealing glances at him.

Riven noticed and smiled warmly. "What is it, Lyra? Do you need something?"

"N-No," she replied, flustered.

He grinned teasingly. "Why so shy now? Weren’t you the one who kissed me the moment you came back?"

Her face flushed red as she stared intensely at her plate, as if trying to find meaning in the food.

Riven chuckled heartily. "You won’t find any answers in that plate. Yours truly is sitting right in front of you."

Lyra pouted and playfully stomped on his foot under the table.

"Ouch!" Riven yelped, quickly pulling his foot back.

Her laughter rang out softly, the candlelight dancing in her eyes. That smile—it was like the moon breaking through a stormy sky. Riven etched every expression into his heart, like carvings on ancient stone—permanent and unforgotten.

As they finished their meal, the air grew heavier.

Riven leaned forward, serious now. "That wasn’t just a normal mission, was it? Someone tried to kill you all... deliberately."

Lyra’s smile faded. Her posture stiffened. "Yes. It wasn’t normal. Something... something in there wanted us dead. We would’ve all died if..."

She stopped mid-sentence, her voice faltering.

Riven gave her a gentle, encouraging smile. "You were lucky to survive. Really lucky."

She nodded. "Yes... we were."

Alex woke up to the sound of the little phoenix. As he opened his eyes groggily, he saw her standing in front of him.

He asked in a sleepy voice, "What happened?"

Before she could reply, her stomach let out a loud growl.

He immediately sat up, wide awake. "You’re hungry?" he asked anxiously.

She nodded.

Alex glanced out the window—sunlight streamed in. It was already midday.

Wide-eyed, he shouted, "I overslept!"

Jumping to his feet, he rushed to the door. "Wait here, I’ll bring you food," he said over his shoulder.

A little while later, he returned carrying a tray filled with sizzling steak, a large sandwich, and a jug of milk on the side.

Placing the tray on the bed, he smiled warmly. "Dig in, you two. I’ll be back after washing up. Don’t leave anything for me."

The little phoenix stared at the food, drooling.

"Is it... for me?" she asked hesitantly.

Alex chuckled softly. "Yes, it’s for you. And for Hati too."

He stepped into the washroom and closed the door behind him.

The delicious aroma overwhelmed her senses. Without hesitation, she climbed onto the bed and started wolfing down the sandwich. Hati followed suit, happily chewing on his favorite juicy steak.

When Alex returned, he saw the tray was completely clean. Both gluttons were now lying lazily on the bed, looking satisfied.

With a smile, he said, "Let’s go for a walk."

He gently lifted the little phoenix, who climbed onto Hati’s back. The loyal beast carried her happily.

After a peaceful stroll, they returned.

"Little Phoenix," Alex said, "do you have any elemental affinity?"

She looked at him in confusion. "What’s that, Brother Alex?"

"It’s power—elemental power. Do you have any?"

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No... I don’t have phoenix powers. But I will!"

She raised her chin proudly, putting her hands on her waist. "I once made fire appear when I was very cold!" she declared smugly.

Alex’s eyes widened in realization. "When did that happen, Little Phoenix?" he asked carefully.

She placed a finger on her chin, thinking hard. "It was... when I was very cold. Very, very cold."

Alex nodded, understanding. He reached into his ring and pulled out a glowing golden fruit.

"Here," he said, "eat this."

She took it eagerly and munched it down in seconds.

Moments later, a golden-green energy began to swirl around her.

Trembling, she asked, "What is... happening... Brother Alex?"

He smiled warmly. "Don’t worry. Relax. It’s a healing fruit."

She slowly relaxed as the energy formed a cocoon around her, mending every scar and healing the malnourishment of her small body.

As the energy faded, a beautiful little girl stood in its place. Her face was pure and innocent, her fiery red hair shimmered in the light, and her large brown eyes sparkled with life.

She now resembled a phoenix in both presence and majesty.

As Alex stepped closer, his gaze caught something unusual on her neck—a faint marking. Kneeling down, he gently brushed aside her fiery red hair to examine the back of her neck.

There it was: a fire-red tattoo shaped like a phoenix. Its wings curled elegantly, and its crimson eyes seemed almost alive, watching him. The tattoo pulsed once, then faded into her skin, vanishing as if it had never been there.

Alex blinked in surprise, his thoughts racing.

A tattoo that reacts like a dimensional key? But... she doesn’t have any artifact or item on her.

What exactly is this?

He stood back up, still processing, but was soon distracted by the sight of the little phoenix admiring her hands. Where there had once been scars and roughness, her skin was now soft, healthy, and smooth. Her feet, previously calloused and bruised, were now pale and delicate, as if she’d never walked a day in pain.

She looked up at him with wide eyes. "Brother Alex..."

He smiled gently, running his fingers through her silky red hair. "Don’t worry," he said warmly. "It just healed you."

Then he took her small hand in his.

"Now," he said, "let’s try something. I want you to feel the fire around you."

She tilted her head curiously.

"First," he guided, "sit down cross-legged."

She obeyed, settling onto the floor.

"Close your eyes," he said softly.

"Now... take a deep breath. Try to feel the heat in the air around you. Don’t force it. Just... listen. Let your heart reach out to it."

Following Alex’s words by heart, she tried to feel the heat around her.

She quite easily felt it—red particles in the air.

Alex’s voice came, "Now try to drag that inside your chest with your calm breaths. Don’t rush, just go with the flow."

As she heard the sound, she followed it exactly. She calmed her breathing and guided the red particles she felt inside through her relaxed inhaling.

Slowly, the red particles in the air were drawn toward her and entered her lungs.

Through her lungs, they were absorbed into her blood and traveled to the left side of her heart.

The red particles merged with the blood being pumped through the arteries. As they moved all over her body, they strengthened her muscles, bones, and internal organs—little by little—with every heartbeat.

She felt a warm sensation. Then, the remaining red particles slowly returned to the right side of her heart. A hazy red circle began to form.

She was so disconnected from the outside world that she didn’t notice the passage of time, nor did she even feel hunger.

Alex, standing above the little Phoenix, looked at her with a smile and whispered to Hati,

"She’s a genius. She only needed a little guidance, and now she’s already cultivating. She’s in the process of forming her first circle... and she’s completely disconnected herself from the outside world."

After two days, she finally opened her eyes, surrounded by a faint red halo.

She could feel it—her strength had grown.

She immediately jumped to her feet and looked around for Alex.

He was sitting on a chair, dozing off while waiting for her to wake up.

She ran toward him, shouting, "Brother Alex! Brother Alex!"

He opened his eyes and smiled as he saw her. "Oh! Little Phoenix!"

"Brother Alex, I think I can control fire!" she said joyfully.

He smiled. "Show me."

She nodded, extended her hand, and directed her fire element toward her right palm.

A small red flicker appeared.

She looked at Alex with pure joy.

He nodded and asked gently, "Does it hurt?"

She replied with a wide smile, "No—it feels good!"

He nodded again. "Now you have fire element affinity. Keep cultivating the way I taught you. It’ll grow stronger over time. And with it, you’ll become a fire phoenix who soars in the sky."

The little Phoenix beamed with happiness and nodded with her innocent smile.

Then, a loud growl came from her belly.

Alex laughed, "Hahaha! Are you hungry?"

She nodded meekly.

"Then let’s go down and eat."

Alex had spent five peaceful days with Little Phoenix—roaming the city, enjoying simple pleasures, and basking in her laughter.

Now, they sat at a cafeteria table, sharing a quiet meal.

With a bright smile, Little Phoenix looked up at her brother.

"Brother Alex, where are we going today?"

Alex smiled warmly. "We’re going to the Hunter School today."

She jumped onto her chair with excitement. "Yeah!"

Alex didn’t say anything. He just let her enjoy the moment.

Once she calmed down, he pulled out a chain with a red gem embedded in a circular, black-coloured pendant. Extending his hand, he said gently,

"Here. This is a gift for you."

Her eyes sparkled as she took it. "Thanks, Brother Alex!"

He nodded, letting her enjoy the gift for a moment longer.

Then, his tone turned more serious. "Listen, Little Phoenix. That locket is a spatial locket. I’ve stored sixty gold coins inside. Its doesn’t have much space, but you can use it to keep your necessities safe."

Her expression changed. Her eyes widened, then welled up with tears.

In a trembling voice, she asked, "Brother... are you leaving me?"

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