Cuddling with Aureus was healing. Sure, his scales were a little rough, his head a little too heavy to rest on my legs for hours, but I didn’t mind the discomfort. Resting my body against the Earthheart, feeling the breath of life course through his lungs, was heavenly.

  I fell asleep the moment my eyes closed, the doubts tormenting my mind dissipating at last.

  After months of constant work, we were finally given some time to ourselves. We trained, and I’d refined my World before finally giving in to the exhaustion that threatened to consume me. Yet I was happier than I’d been in a long while.

  Sleeping in the Sanctuary was great, but this… this is so much better. I woke up with a smile. My legs felt a little numb, but that was a minor issue.

  “The others already left?” I asked, turning to Nox, who must have left my World at some point.

  Yes.

  The Ferronox Mantis didn’t turn to face me. His large, bulbous eyes locked onto the lava streams instead, his scythes slashing down. A hiss echoed through the room as smoke tainted the air.

  I leaped to my feet, blood draining from my face. “What in the Rulers’ Names do you think you are doing?!”

  The Ferronox Mantis barely seemed to notice me when I caught up to him. He continued to ram his scythes into the lava veins coursing through the chamber anyway. His scythes were unscathed when he rammed them into the lava vein the first time, but that changed quickly. The second time he retracted his scythes, they looked deformed. The third time, the scythes were melting. Nullblade coated Nox’s blades after the third time, and he repeated the motion a few more times before turning to me.

  Tempering.

  He answered my earlier question in a matter-of-fact tone.

  The worst part about that? Nox was sound of mind. There was no killing intent in his voice for once. He knew exactly what he was doing and was actually calm about it. It did make sense, too, which was the second-worst part of this whole ordeal. However, that didn’t make it any less dangerous.

  “Just… I don’t know, dude. Go take a nap or something.” I groaned, dismissing Nox after force-feeding him a healing potion and his morning dose of basic serums. The Ferronox Mantis heeded my orders, consumed everything I told him to drink, and went to sleep without complaints.

  “At least you’re listening.” Turning around, I caught a glimpse of the Earthheart.

  His wings stretched outward and flapped twice as he woke from deep slumber. Aureus’ eyes fluttered open, the gold in them even more vibrant than before.

  “Do you feel better?” I asked with a smile on my lips when I noticed he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at something behind me.

  I had no idea how I didn’t notice her standing in the chamber’s entrance, but Zegrath was there, the fire beneath her skin flickering relentlessly. Her crimson orbs bulged and flickered similarly, yet they didn’t meet mine. I wasn’t even sure if she noticed me–her eyes were locked onto Aureus.

  What a rude woman.

  The Earthheart growled in my mind, erecting a wall before Zegrath, blocking her view.

  “You’re not wrong, but that’s still her home.” Aureus wasn’t truly angry, but he didn’t like the Caldera woman’s eyes on him.

  Instead of entertaining her, he got to his feet, wings flapping in the 285th attempt to fly. His wings spread wide until they covered most of the chamber and fluttered rapidly, creating strong gusts. Ether poured through the wings, and they all but disappeared as they accelerated again, but the Earthheart was too heavy. His body lifted for a moment, yet his claws never lost contact with the ground.

  “Oh my!” I exclaimed. “You almost did it. A little bit more and you can levitate in the air!” My praise worked wonders, dispelling the frustration that threatened to consume the Earthheart. His weight pressed down on the ground once more, and his wings came to a screeching halt.

  Do you think I will be able to fly? Won’t I be too heavy?

  That was a valid question. One I couldn’t answer confidently.

  “Since you have wings and you want to be able to fly, we’ll make it work. It… might just take a while. You’ll continue to grow, so we’ll have to make sure your wings grow stronger–wider.”

  That was one more item on my priority list: research serums and items useful for avian beasts. Aureus wasn’t exactly an avian. Curse his wings; they weren’t even those of a bird. His wings were those of a dragonfly, which had been confirmed through a myriad of experiments. They were intact and, in fact, stronger than the average wings of a beast at Aureus’ Rank. If not for Aureus weighing more than the average cruiser, he would have no problem flying either.

  Anyway, I’d have to find items to either extend his wings or strengthen them. Training the wings was possible, and probably the sole reason Aureus showed signs of improvement, but it wasn’t perfect. He needed serums or other treasures to make things work.

  “I am sorry if my actions bothered you, but I would like to talk to you.” Zegrath’s voice rang through the thick earthen wall, but Aureus ignored her. So I did the same until Aureus finished breakfast, which included high-grade meat and a few serums.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Only when the Earthheart was ready to leave did he remove the earthen wall. Zegrath hadn’t moved an inch, and she didn’t enter the chamber even as the wall collapsed before her. She stared at Aureus as the Earthheart moved closer to me, his snout pressing against my back.

  She is your issue to take care of.

  He commented before disappearing into the inner World.

  “Thanks a lot,” I grumbled quietly, rolling my eyes before turning toward Zegrath with a faint smile.

  “Can I help you somehow? I’m not too late for the Katrak, am I?” A gust of worry brushed past me, thinking I’d slept through the Katrak. That’d explain Scott and Daniel’s absence, though I doubted they’d betray me like that.

  “Too late? Oh, you mean the Katrak.” Zegrath shook her head while her eyes swiveled back to where Aureus had stood just a moment ago. “The Katrak will start soon, but… but that’s not important right now.” Her breath grew heavier, and fiery sparks crackled along her exposed skin.

  “I felt it. You different,” She murmured quietly before shifting back to Pyra. “I knew you were different from the rest. I cannot believe it. A sacred beast.” The sparks around her became flames, her features transforming into utter excitement. “A young sacred beast. And... you are friends with it? It–”

  What? Too speechless to say anything, I watched her swallow hard and drop to a deep bow.

  “The Spiritcaller needs to know about this,” she said, a touch of something in her voice. It felt like reverence if I’d ever seen it, but that couldn’t be it. Surely, I misunderstood something.

  What in the Rulers’ Names is she talking about? I’m different? Sacred beast? And what is wrong with that attitude of yours? You look crazy!

  The words stuck in my tight throat, threatening to escape yet never making it further.

  Almost a minute–maybe even longer–passed as I stared at Zegrath, her excitement catching me off guard.

  “A sacred beast? Are you talking about Aureus?” I finally asked when the torrent in my head transformed into a heavy weight that pressed hard on me.

  “Is that what he calls himself?” Zegrath’s head jerked up, smiling brighter than I thought possible.

  I had named Aureus, but I wasn’t sure what the Caldera woman would think of that, so I said nothing.

  “Why do you say Aureus is a sacred beast?” I asked instead, and my eyes widened when I realized something. “Have you ever seen a beast like Aureus? An Earthheart?”

  Earthheart was also something I came up with. Honestly, it was unlikely Zegrath could do anything with that name alone, but was that really important right now? She’d seen Aureus and transformed into a crazy woman. That was something–and it was definitely not a bad thing. At least, I didn’t think so.

  “Earthheart, you say? What an ample name for such a noble creature,” Zegrath marveled, the flames around her expanding and retracting. “To think we would welcome a second sacred beast into our home.” She shuddered. “How beautiful.”

  “Erm... yeah, sure. Whatever you say.” My mind rattled, trying to digest what she was saying. First, it looked like there was another sacred beast somewhere–possibly in the Elemental Spires? Second, she was too confident Aureus was a sacred beast for her to be mistaken. But how could that be? Aureus was–or had been–a Soilback. Sure, he had a powerful trait even as a Wild Soilback, but he’d only evolved a few months back. Plus, I doubted a sacred beast had the meager potential of a Mid Evolved beast, or they wouldn’t have such a pompous name.

  “What exactly do you mean by ‘sacred beast’? And is that other sacred beast you were talking about like Aureus–maybe even an Earthheart?” I asked, hopes rising. It felt almost too good to be true. After talking with Aureus about his complex and the issues we’d have to face in the near future, Zegrath appeared in my chamber, marveling at Aureus, turning him into a sacred beast? That made no sense. Where was the big, bulky but?

  “You... you have never heard about sacred beasts? How can that be?” Zegrath looked positively shocked. “Surely, humans have heard about sacred beasts.” She shook her head in disappointment. “To think you have never heard about the most marvelous creatures of Razarn when you have become one with one...”

  I noticed Zegrath avoiding talk about the other sacred beast. It was probably a slip of the tongue, which she tried to fix. Bombarding me with information would surely help me forget about the other sacred beast–not that I was particularly interested in the first place. The more I learned about potential ways to help Aureus grow stronger, the better.

  “Sacred beasts are highly intelligent,” Zegrath said, and my ears perked up. “Some say they were ordinary beasts at one point in time–until the Primal Spirit graced them with intellect. However, their intellect was too great. It was too much to bear, so they adapted. They evolved, accepting the blessing of the Elemental Spirits to unravel their true form.”

  I moved closer, trying to extract more information from her with my intense stare. Yet, all I achieved was to make Zegrath feel uncomfortable. The flames coating her receded fully, and she turned back as if to check something.

  “I–look, I don’t know how you did it, or what exactly you have done to be in the Spirits’ grace, but I can feel the touch of Earth upon you. I felt it when we first met, and it has only grown stronger. Aureus has that touch as well. However, in his case, it fills him. It is intense, and I am honestly surprised you cannot sense it. The threads of the Spirits connect you and the Earthheart. They are firmer than most spiritual threads I have had the honor to see. Even the Spiritcaller–” She caught herself in another slip-up and shook her head. “The Earthen Spirit has touched him. It is not strong enough to consider Aureus as his Voice, but your companion is young, and he can earn more of the Spirits’ grace as he grows, walk down their path, and fulfill their goals.”

  That was a lot to take in–so much that a headache was brewing in the back of my head. The last part was the most intriguing. It was helpful, yet worrisome at the same time.

  You were touched by a Spirit? What exactly are these Spirits, anyway?

  As far as I was concerned, the Primal Spirit was no more than a term used to explain how someone gained access to many, to justify the Blessed’s potential, and to console those who weren’t graced by the Primal Spirit’s touch. Henceforth, the Elemental Spirits should have been the same. So why did it not feel like that, and how was Zegrath able to see my bond with Aureus–or the touch of the Earthen Spirit?

  She was confident Aureus was a sacred beast. There was not even the faintest inkling of doubt. That should reassure me, yet it was all the more reason to worry.

  She will tell the Spiritcaller about it. Will that change something? I mused as various scenarios flashed before my eyes.

  And why was she so disappointed that I didn’t know about sacred beasts? Like I was supposed to know what they are...

  I hesitated for a moment.

  Should I have known? If so, does everyone else know about sacred beasts? Did... Ruler Kazriel know?

  If the Ruler knew, everything made a lot more sense–the reason he trained me, brought me to the Caldera’s home. He–

  I shuddered, disliking what the Katrak had devolved into more and more.