White quickly laid down on the ground, bowing his head down submissively. Twenty or more other beasts suddenly showed themselves from the surroundings. The beasts Adion had only felt before now became visible. They were all the same species as that huge orangutan earlier, only smaller and less powerful. Every single one of them was now on the ground, bowing before the creature. Adion did the same, not to fit in or even fear but in pure reverence.

This is something stronger than Diamond. I knew it was possible to stumble upon a beast like this in the forest, but I never thought I actually would.

The immensely strong creature in question looked like an owl. But it stood taller than Adion. Its white and silver feathers looked ethereal. It was as if the beast was part of the world itself, and it was hard to grasp its exact physical shape. Its beak was probably sharper than any sword Adion had ever seen. It had deep and wise eyes that, along with its drooping gray eyebrows, spoke of an old age.

“Now, how does a human child find his way into my part of the forest? Only Bronze strength at that.” The giant owl said. Once again, the words felt like they simply got transmitted directly to Adion's head.

“Er.” Adion didn’t know what to say. He was sure he could be killed by a thought from the beast before him. The only thing he knew was that he couldn’t lie. His grandfather could always tell when he lied, and he was ‘only’ a Diamond. This owl was above that, and a beast nonetheless. He knew he would never get away with lying to it.

“I was just trying to get home. I helped White here a few days ago and asked if he could help me back home. He seemed to agree but then led me here. Sir.”

The big owl then turned to White, and Adion could only guess they had some quiet conversation. After a while, the owl turned back to Adion.

“I see. I have a lot of questions for you, young human. If you answer it all truthfully, I will help you reach the closest human settlement. What do you say?”

“Okay. Thank you. Sir.”

Adion was now slightly panicked and slightly elated. He would definitely get back safely with the help of this owl, but he might find out about the pills and elixirs he was carrying on his back. Adion really didn’t want to have to give those up.

“Follow me. Let’s take a walk while we talk.”

Adion didn’t dare to disobey and quickly got moving. He was, for some strange reason, not afraid anymore. The owl seemed to cover its surroundings with a shroud of safety. Adion was sure that every beast around him felt the same. Even though Adion only heard the voice directly in his head, he didn’t know how to do the same, so he spoke aloud.

“My name is Adion. What should I call you, sir?”

“Hmm, it is indeed convenient to use names when conversing in human fashion. It has been so long that it slipped my mind. I do have a name. Fellion. No need for such polite speech. I don’t care for it.”

“Okay then, Fellion. Is it alright if White comes along too?” Adion asked. He had gotten used to the wolf's presence over the last few days, and even if Adion knew it sounded weird, the fact was that White was the only one he knew around here.

“White? Oh, yes. That’s alright. You should know that the Deep Snow Wolf didn’t try to fool you if that’s what you think. He simply didn’t know how to bring you to your home, so he brought you here hoping I could help.”

“That’s alright. I understand.” Adion then turned to White and called him to follow. The wolf happily obliged and came along with them as they kept walking.

“Good. Then, on to my first question. How did you end up in this part of the forest all alone?” Fellion asked him.

“Well, I’m not completely sure how it happened, but,” Adion then went on to explain everything that had happened when he ended up teleporting here. He even mentioned that he believed he saw the birth of a Phoenix that wasn’t the Fire Phoenix.

The reason for telling Fellion everything was because he didn’t want him to think he held anything back. If he felt that way, he might push Adion when he asks about the pills. And Adion had no reason to hide the Phoenix's existence. He was actually curious what Fellion might know about it.

When Adion finished, he noticed that Fellion had stopped walking and was just standing there staring intensely at him.

“If you didn’t completely lack control of your aura, I would suspect you of lying. Did the Phoenix have the same strange element as you? Is that how you managed to get it?”

This time, it was Adion who was shocked.

How does he know of my space element? I haven’t used it, and even someone as powerful as him shouldn’t be able to sense what hides in my body, right?

“You’re surprised that I could tell. I’m afraid there are even plenty of humans who could tell you have your core formed from that strange element.”

“But how?” Adion asked.

“Your aura. You have no control over it. Everything about you is like an open book for me to read.” Fellion answered, and Adion thought he could almost see a slight smirk on the bird's face.

“Anyway, I still don't know what element it is. What is it? And is it the same as the Phoenix you saw?”

Adion could only sigh and then answered everything about how he had been born sparkless, his affinity to an element he didn’t know, and then how he figured out it was the space element, just like the Phoenix.

“Incredible. The element of space, you say. Even I have never heard of it. Nor have I heard of the existence of another Phoenix in our world. But we have only been in this new Age for a few thousand years. Perhaps your sapi scholars will discover the truth of the matter in the coming years. Hold on…” Fellion stopped walking once again and looked to be in thought.

“You said this all happened at the beginning of last spring?” Fellion asked.

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“Yes, why?” Adion questioned.

“It should coincide with the time that fire started getting easier to control. Interesting, the two events should be connected.” Fellion mused to himself.

“Fire got easier to control?” Adion asked.

“Hm? Oh, yes. You wouldn’t know. About the time you arrived in the forest, strong beasts of fire and fire mages reported that fire had gotten easier to control all of a sudden. A very small difference, but everyone of sufficient strength noticed it.

“Most have attributed this sudden change to the return of the Fire Phoenix, though no evidence has been shown as far as I know. But it seems to hold some truth if what you say is true. I have been given much to think about.” Fellion said and then turned to Adion.

“Anything else you forgot to mention?” the big owl asked.

“Well, lots. I’ve been in the forest for over a year, after all. But the Phoenix left a few seconds after appearing, and I haven’t seen it since.” Adion answered truthfully.

“Hmm. You are a fascinating human. I didn’t know a sparkless sapi could form a core on his own. That is perhaps the sapi’s greatest strength. Your way of passing down knowledge through the generations given a physical form.”

“Well, I honestly believe it just stems from a lack of trying. It wasn’t that difficult.” Adion said.

“I wouldn’t be so sure. You have also managed to reach Bronze before even turning 14. That is something that perhaps the top geniuses of Quemer could do. I do not know. But on Shiora, I have never heard of it.” Fellion said as he gave Adion a scrutinizing look.

“I’m honestly wondering about that myself.” Adion answered as he tried not to come off as holding a secret to his success, “I have always trained hard and have had better mana manipulation than my peers, a lot better. That is the only thing I can think of that makes me advance so fast. And space mana is everywhere, so I never lack it.”

“Hm. What a good day. So many new things to learn.” Fellion said and continued walking in silence.

After a while, he once again turned to Adion and said, “You know, should you decide to write down and publish these findings, you might be given the title of Sage.”

Adion almost stumbled on his step, “What? No way could I achieve something like that. I’m not even a scholar yet.”

“How often do you think an entirely new element is found? Along with the report of the birth of a new Phoenix? Not to mention how a sparkless can become a mage. There are Sages with a lot less under their belt who proudly wear their title. It’s up to you, though. I won’t spill this secret.”

Adion thought about what he had heard and thought it made some sense. In this new Age, the Age of Discovery, the strong still held all the power, but not far behind were the scholars.

In order to improve and rise in knowledge and power together, the scholars are of utmost importance. That is why any scholar has a lot of privileges, not to mention a Sage. A scholar simply had to publish a paper or perhaps a whole book in some cases where they revealed a new discovery. It doesn’t have to be something big but simply new information that can benefit sapi all across the world.

And should a scholar make a discovery with utmost importance or have an extensive catalog of more minor findings, they could earn the title of Sage in the Tower of Sages on Quemer. And as a Sage, even the emperor of Alago wouldn’t dare do anything against you without thinking twice. The Tower of Sages held no small amount of power, and every Sage had done something to benefit every mage, so who wouldn’t be upset at the one who killed one?

Killing a Sage or even a scholar without cause was seen as a great offense from the lowest of mages to the most powerful rulers. They were the ones who brought everyone out of the Age of Darkness, after all, and the ones who would hopefully bring forth a new Age more magnificent than even the Age of Wonder.

Few things would work as a better shield for Adion than being a Sage, which would be helpful in his quest for revenge. However, it would also bring a lot of attention to him. At the moment, only a single Sage resided in Shiora, and that was the headmaster of Cyalis Academy. He also wasn’t sure if he wanted to share all of his secrets and just trust in the Sage title to protect him. He would much rather protect himself with his own power.

“I will think about it. But why not just earn the Sage title for yourself? Why leave it with me?” Adion asked.

“Well, as far as I know, beasts aren’t really up for consideration. And I don’t carry the proof you do in your core. Besides, even if I respect the scholars and Sages, I don’t have any need for such a title myself. But I must say I am pleased by the knowledge. To have this exclusive knowledge for simply giving you a ride back to the sapi seems like an almost too advantageous deal for me.”

Adion then quickly threw in, “If you feel like that, could you teach me how to use my aura? To hide my element and stuff like that?”

Fellion stopped and looked at Adion, “Do not get conceited, young human. Your knowledge is interesting and perhaps valuable. But to compare it to the knowledge that a beast, in the Soul stages nonetheless, has about aura is foolish. It’s a mountain to a pebble.”

That whole speech only made Adion more enticed to know more about aura. He thought about it for a second before deciding to take a gamble. Fellion might soon ask about the pill he fed to White anyway, so he might as well reveal the existence of the soul pill to his advantage.

“What if I pay you with something of equal or better value?” Adion said in a confident voice.

“Oh? And what could that possibly be?” Fellion asked, amused.

“One year. Teach me without holding anything back for one year.” Adion said as he put his hand in his pocket and grabbed the pill that had been lying there for over a year now. “And I will give you this,” Adion said as he showed him the pill.

Fellion took a look at the pill, and suddenly, the feeling of calmness that Adion had felt since he started his walk with Fellion disappeared. Adion almost panicked as he felt many strange emotions, but as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared again.

“Where did you get this?” Fellion asked calmly.

“It was in the place that I arrived here in. Apparently, it's a Grand Soul Clarity Pill, a soul pill of high quality useful for anyone in the Soul stages. I found this, as well as a couple of healing pills. One I ate myself, and another I gave to White. I have no use for this one yet, but I know its value should be sky-high. So, do we have a deal?”

Adion tried to formulate his answer so as not to lie but also not reveal the existence of the other pills and elixirs he had in the case in his backpack.

“And why should I not just take the pill by force?” Fellion asked Adion.

“Well, you certainly could. But as I see it, you have two options. You take the deal, and we are both very happy as I think this pill would be worth not only one year but perhaps ten or even twenty years of your time. Of course, you could choose not to take the deal and not waste any time, but will you really get what you want then? This is a pill from the Age of Wonder, and it concerns the soul. Who knows if the people back then had a way to render a pill useless in case of theft? I don’t see how, but the world is a mysterious place, and we know very little in this Age. Why take the risk and make me sad when you could have no risk and make us both very happy?” Adion rambled his thoughts as he was nervous not only about having the pill stolen, but he himself would perhaps get killed. After all, it seemed to be a very precious pill for the owl.

Thankfully, Adion thought he could almost see a gentle smile appear on the owl. “Hm, I can’t argue that. You have a deal, young human. I will train you in aura for a year starting tomorrow. It’s up to you how much you learn during that time.”

“Yes! Thank you, Fellion.”

The big owl waved its wing over the pill, making it disappear from Adion's hand. “No, thank you, Adion.”