Vin entered the bedroom, calmly closed the door, and planted his face in a pillow before cursing. He tried to reason with himself, deciding, "It's fine. Ravenours don't care about stuff like this."

"Their idea of romance is killing each other for the person they like."

"I'm sure she was only looking because she noticed I could create flames without death. She's probably plotting a way to exploit me right now."

The magical skeletal spine spoke unprompted, "Why don't you ask her to join you in private instead of theorizing?"

Vin hauled his hand behind his back and roughly pinched the top of the bone, "Don't talk unless I tell you to."

"It's my responsibility to serve your best interest," it replied expeditiously.

"Really?" Frowned Vin. "Because it seems like your interest is a lot more personal than business. Either you're bored or lonely and looking for conversation."

The bone assistant's tone dripped with slight guilt as it admitted, "I can attest that I have craved a stimulating exchange since I evolved."

As irritating as it was, Vin understood. 'It's been in the form of a book for its entire life. Of course, it wants to talk now that it's capable.'

"Fine. But nothing personal. Instead, let's put you to work," Vin said, getting up from the bed and removing his shirt so it wouldn't get damaged. He wasn't particularly muscled, but there was a hint of his former athletic frame that bespoke resilience more than raw power.

"I'm happy to serve." There was a tone of satisfaction in the skeleton's words, as if it had achieved victory by getting the chance to debut its usefulness.

Vin exhaled, stretching his fingers as if warming up before a performance. With quiet confidence, he told his assistant, "I need to find a better use for these flames."

"Learning spells come naturally to me, so mastering fire magic shouldn't take be difficult." Yet even as he spoke, there was a flicker of doubt, unspoken but present. He may have learned spells within a day, but eternal flames pulled directly from his soul, thus inheriting their own life. Their own will. He had to grasp this ability to ensure he never blacked out again.

He opened his palm, and a small flame erupted, blooming like a flower. It crackled softly, its warmth brushing against his face. The dark light danced in his dark eyes as he stared at it, the tiny yet deadly fire ready to be commanded.

'To think, just a day ago, these flames wouldn't even listen when I told them to extinguish. The jail cell in the Volcorath region is probably still burning to this day.'

Vin increased the size of the flame, holding it steady. "This fire can be stubborn, so let's start with control. Give me something to construct- something detailed."

There was a brief pause as if the assistant was gauging Vin's limits. "How about a creature? Something intricate enough to test your focus."

Since the companion taped to his spine no longer had pages to draw on, it transmitted images directly into Vin's mind's eye. Soon, a meticulous picture of a butterfly-like insect was crafted in his head with a naturalistic quality that was as if it were pasted in reality.

Vin analyzed its slender frame and how its wings fluttered as it flew. Once he was ready, his fingers twitched as he began shaping it, coaxing the raw energy into form. The fire hissed and sputtered at first, reluctant to obey such a specific order when it was more suited to raw explosive power. Still, Vin's will was iron.

Slowly, the blaze folded in on itself, its chaotic dance becoming orderly. The insect's beginnings took shape, first with the elegant curves of its abdomen and then with the flaming wings that sparked with a vibrant violet-colored trail.

The assistant rotated and enlarged the image in Vin's head accordingly so he could capture the full vision of this winged creature. After creating an adequate replication, the skeleton companion said, "Good. Now give it motion,"

Vin concentrated, pulling more deeply from his essence. The flame shifted, almost like it was inhaling. The insect's wings trembled, then started to beat with purpose. Gentle glimmers of light broke free, swirling in the air as it lifted from his palm.

It was mesmerizing, an illusion of life imbued with fire and will. While an impressive feat, he knew there was more strain on his soul in using this deadly magic to create something so intricate and independent. Yet, as the fiery insect fluttered, he couldn't help but disregard the consequences.

The skeleton spine didn't allow him much grace. "Your command of magic is exceptional as always, but you're leaking essence. It'll draw more than you're willing to give if you don't hold a stricter grip on its behavior."

"I know that," Vin replied, holding his hand up and allowing the blazing butterfly to freely dance around his palm. Before, he hated that his flames weren't simple, fixed magic that could be easily manipulated. Yet, watching this- almost living creature explore life was soothing.

After allowing it to roam openly, he focused and reigned in its movements. The erratic fluttering of its wings smoothed into a steady beat and the range it was allowed to explore narrowed.

"Good," the skeletal assistant praised. "Now, extinguish it."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Vin hesitated. The creature, though artificial, had a spark of life. A piece of him. Snuffing it out felt… wrong. But he couldn't afford to be sentimental. He clenched his fist, and the fire flickered out, leaving only faint warmth in the room.

"I'll admit," he said quietly, "this is harder than I thought."

"Control is never easy," the assistant replied. "But if you can master this, you'll be unstoppable."

Vin nodded, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. He would never confess this, but the session was already wearing him down. Nonetheless, he felt a thrill beneath the exhaustion- a hunger to push further.

Vin exhaled, summoned another flame, and told his companion, "We're going again."

Much more time elapsed, but it was well spent. His magical attendant was invasive, but Vin no longer had any reservations about the upgrade he'd chosen. It would serve him well in the future.

They alternated between creating small, complex creatures and simple projectiles like bullets, arrows, and throwing knives. He couldn't discharge any of those weapons inside the elven home to test how fast or far they'd shoot, so it would come down to trial by fire.

Satisfied with all he'd done, he extinguished his last flame and stretched out his back by inclining and touching his toes.

"Is that all?" The skeleton companion asked. "Are there any more matters I can help you with?"

Its words felt less like a question to Vin and more like a plea. It was just trying to continue conversing with him, even if that meant operating overtime. Then again, if it wasn't working, its existence became summed up as a lonely set of bones.

Vin couldn't risk depleting his essence pool, so he put his shirt back on and shook his head. However, there was one thing he was curious about. "Actually, there is something else you might be able to help me with."

Journals may not have had eyes, but they observed their users. He hoped his companion could shed some light on the gap in his memory. To Vin's fortune, it could perfectly recount everything that happened when he first awoke the night before, including how he abruptly rose from the bed and wandered around bare-bodied.

The magical attendant said Vin seemed hurt, confused, and plagued by something dangerous. But he soon passed out and was carried back to bed by the pink-haired Ravenour.

Vin sat back on the edge of the mattress and rested a hand on his chin. "That's helpful, Good work, Bonely."

His talkative spine pricked his mind again, questioning, "Thank you, but may I ask what you mean by Bonely?"

"It'll be easier for you to know I'm talking to you if you have a name," Vin explained.

The skeletal spine glued to his back squirmed slightly, and then it replied with its ambiguous yet satisfied voice, "I understand; please call on me at any time."

Back to his contemplation, Vin was relieved he hadn't done anything irregular during the period he'd forgotten. After waking up in the Phoenix's nest, he had to live with the possibility that the god that reforged his body could possess him- force him to do something horrific.

After some time, Gideon entered the room and angrily declared they would leave soon. Vin glared the man away, then bewailed, "It's already night..."

Vin took his time returning to the house's common area, where he saw Gideon tying his laces in preparation. He approached the slick-haired Ravenour, told them not to move, and enchanted their footwear with the silence spell. Like him, the man stomped in place to test the effects, though their reaction was much different. Jazzy lived his entire life aware of enchantments but never had access to them. He was surprisingly excited; he forced his face to stay straight, which was creepy since he began jumping and silently running from wall to wall. At the end of his activity, the winged man composedly said, masking his thrill, "Not bad."

"No, it's flawless," Vin retorted. "Since the fighting has died down, every bit of noise we make can alert the elves."

As if the mere idea of being discovered made the hairs on his neck stand, the dark-scaled Ravenour marched to the kitchen and grabbed the sharpest knife he could find. When Gideon returned to the exit, Vin grabbed it as if he could snap it in half, "What do you plan to do with this? Prepare a dish for them?"

Jazzy yanked the small blade away from him, tucked it inside his belt, and adjusted his attire while calmly challenging, "Oh? Will you use your magic to make a sword appear out of thin air?"

Vin carefully glanced around the elven abode. Because of these creatures' relationship with nature, little metals existed around their community. This meant the only weapon he could create would be wood and stone, which certainly wouldn't penetrate the knight's armor. "We may come across something along the way."

"I thought so," articulated Gideon. He slowly palmed the doorknob, ready to leave. However, he merely stared at it momentarily as if awaiting permission to exit.

Vin waited closely behind. The memories of the day before were still fresh for both of them, as their bodies involuntarily recalled all the horrible moments and deaths they'd endured. The frames felt faint flashes of that pain, remembering what it was like to be stabbed, slashed, or blown to bits.

Having died so many times, Vin felt the weighted fright of exiting that safe haven more than anyone. The mere scent of danger left him bracing for death again. It was maddening.

'I can't keep taking losses,' he thought, squeezing his eyelids shut. Even if he was the ultimate winner of a battle, it was a loss if he died even once before his victory. As callous as he'd become, he was unwilling to sacrifice innocent souls for his own gain.

Vin stepped forward and gave Gideon a light shove, telling him, "We'll stay quiet."

"I know how unimaginable that must sound for a noisy Ravenour, but do your best," he taunted. Jazzy clenched his jaw, evidently tired of the human's dry taunts. He boldly opened the door, snarling, "I can manage. But you better not get scared and run off on your toy."

Holding onto the wheeled instrument's handle, Vin plopped it on his shoulder and peered at the back of his head. "It's called a longboard."

Tristen interposed before they got into it, solemnly asking them to get along while away. Maeve followed, standing with her wooden crutch and presenting a regal "Goodluck," in which Gideon bowed and promised a swift return. Vin gazed at her, and she looked back, meeting his eyes and softly adding, "Be careful."

Vin nodded, then turned to the messy, pink-haired Ravenour and told them to keep practicing so they could ride together in the future. Tristen flipped the skateboard in his hands and mildly replied, "I can't wait."

It was a strange and unexpected sentiment, but Vin looked forward to returning to this temporary home. The thought of skating with Tristen and speaking with Maeve again made him want to be done scouting as soon as possible.

Of course- it was only a matter of when, not if, he returned. As Bonely said, soon, he would be an unstoppable force that could easily eradicate every enemy in the way of his pursuit of happiness.