Elyan's mind raced with the implications of Solaris's words. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice edged with confusion.

Solaris's fiery eyes softened as he replied, "Forgive me for confusing you, my friend. When the time comes, you will understand it without anyone telling you. For now, your training is more important than what's going to happen far off into the future."

The fire spirit's gaze grew distant, almost nostalgic. "You resemble her a lot. Especially your hair and your face. You must miss her so dearly that you take her image unto yourself," Solaris said, gently patting Elyan's head.

Elyan stood frozen, unable to comprehend Solaris's words. His eyes remained wide open, staring straight at the fire spirit. Questions swirled in his mind, too numerous to process. He simply stood there, breathing.

Noticing Elyan's stillness, Zenith hovered closer. Using wind magic, he mimicked the sense of touch and placed a hand on Elyan's shoulder. "You don't have to worry about anything. Just focus on your training, kid," Zenith reassured him.

Solaris, still gazing at Elyan, noticed Zenith's translucent hand on the boy's shoulder. When he turned his gaze towards Zenith, his eyes widened in shock. "You—" Solaris began, but the words stuck in his throat, unable to escape.

"Took you long enough, Solaris. I know I don't have any presence or energy signal now, but I am literally standing in front of you. Bahahaha!" Zenith belted out a laugh, snapping Elyan out of his inner monologue.

Still in a state of surprise, Solaris muttered, "In all my years as a Fire Lord, I can finally say I have seen everything from each corner of the world." He hovered around Zenith, observing every nook and cranny of him.

Zenith turned to Elyan and smiled. "I will explain everything once you finish your training." He then turned to Solaris, who was still observing him. "My friend, I am but a memory fragment of the person who created and placed me here. Well... if you see me as him, you are not wrong anyway."

"I see... You look the same as when you left for your adventure this time," Solaris said, turning his attention back to Elyan. He crouched down to meet Elyan's eyes level. "I have no worries for you anymore, beloved friend. With my blessing, you can summon any fire spirit around you to help with any fire spell, be it for training or in battle."

Solaris straightened up, his form glowing brighter. "I must excuse myself now. As a Fire Lord, I cannot leave my station for too long. Please come and visit me once you begin to understand again."

With that, Solaris began to dissipate, the intense heat and light gradually fading. Elyan watched in awe as the fire spirit disappeared, leaving behind a lingering warmth in the air. The encounter had left him with more questions than answers.

The absence of the Fire Lord made the surrounding temperature feel warmer again. Noticing Elyan staring at nothing with wide-open eyes, Zenith waved his hand, sending a stream of cooling air. "That's a Fire Lord's expertise in anything regarding heat. With his blessing, you can do it too. You will definitely have some fire resistance now. Now, let's go have a rest inside the cave."

Elyan, still confused, followed Zenith's lead towards the cave entrance. A pang of hunger snapped Elyan out of his confusion. He grabbed some dried meat and a water canteen from near the campfire before entering the cave.

Inside, Zenith was waiting for Elyan with his arms and legs crossed, appearing to sit while floating in the air. His face was serious, eyes closed, and head slightly bowed towards Elyan. "I have been planning to tell you this once you completed your training here," Zenith said, scratching his translucent head. "But, I did not expect Solaris to come here and blurt out everything. Sigh."

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Elyan couldn't hold back his questions any longer. For months, he had refrained from bothering Zenith with inquiries. "What did he mean by my hair and face looking like her? And who is the girl or woman he talked about? Zenith, I know I am still a kid, but don't you think I have the right to know about my parents?!" For the first time in eight months, Elyan decided to push Zenith for answers.

"Because you are still twelve years old, I hold the information from you. This isn't the time for you to know yet. The damage it could do to your mental state is unpredictable," Zenith replied gently, approaching Elyan and putting his arms on Elyan's shoulder, trying to calm him down a bit.

Elyan cast his eyes down to the ground, attempting to avoid Zenith's gaze. "Then... When will you tell me? When is 'old enough' for a kid to know about their mother?"

Zenith stepped back a little to give Elyan space. "Train here until you are fifteen years old. That's two years and four months left. If you excel in everything, I teach you, you might complete your training earlier. And for your information, the woman Solaris talked about isn't your mother."

Elyan furrowed his eyebrows. "That long?! What is the training for, and for what purpose? Also, if she is not my mother, then who is she?"

"Baah! Can't even distract you from that," Zenith muttered, turning around and pacing slowly. Taking his time to answer, he said, "The day I met you among the debris of the old house... I... A status window appeared in front of me."

"And?" Elyan, now feeling frustrated and confused, did not break eye contact with Zenith, his eyes wide open again.

Avoiding Elyan's intense stare, Zenith reluctantly replied, "I am a memory fragment, Elyan. For twelve years since my awakening, I did not know that I had a status window or any system, but it somehow appeared when I saw you."

Elyan's confusion deepened. "Yes, I know that you are a memory fragment. What does that even mean? Why is that matter in this conversation? And why did it appear when you saw me?"

Zenith sighed, finally meeting Elyan's gaze. "It means that I am a part of someone's memories, given form and purpose. The status window appeared because you have a unique connection to the person who created me. Your existence triggered something within me, revealing information I didn't know I had."

Elyan's mind raced with the implications of Zenith's words. "So, the woman Solaris mentioned... she must be connected to you and the person who created you. But who is she?"

Zenith nodded slowly. "She is someone very important to both you and the person who created me. Her identity is a key part of your past and depending on what you will do after obtaining that information, will help forge your future. That's why it's crucial for you to train and become stronger. Only then will you be ready to face the truth and the challenges that come with it."

Taking a bite from the dried meat that he almost squished, Elyan tried to calm down. "I am sorry, Zenith. I still cannot wrap my head around this. This is my first time hearing about someone related to me. And to make it worse, I don't even know what she is to me."

Glancing away from Elyan and touching his chin at the same time, Zenith said, "Well, she was definitely not your older sister or younger sister. You and she may or may not be family, depending on your viewpoint."

"She is—what!?" Elyan now entered a new level of confusion, needing to massage his forehead. "Then what is she? My long-lost pet, and somehow I look like her!?"

"Haha no, please—" Zenith let out an awkward laugh. "It's a bit complicated. Aaaaghh! Damn you, Solaris!" He was frustrated by the fact that this would not have happened if Solaris had seen him first.

"I should have greeted Solaris before he even approached you. I tell you this, enough about her. Even with the knowledge of whether she was your long-lost pet or relative, there is nothing you can do about it. At least, for now. And I promise you this, I will make sure you are strong and capable enough to wander the world alone... Well, not that strong, but maybe strong enough to walk as a lone man until you reach... um... the next memory fragment... heh."

"N-n-next... me-me-memory fragment?" Elyan stammered, unable to express any coherent thoughts.

"Hehe... Yes," Zenith chuckled awkwardly while scratching the back of his head. "The moment I was awakened, I could sense that there is an existence or another part of me out there. And then I was... err... sort of made aware by a memory that there are twelve other memory fragments out there, and I am supposed to be the first one."

Elyan took a deep breath, trying to process everything he had just learned. "I understand. There is no use for me to keep badgering you for answers. I'll focus on my training and become strong enough to uncover the truth. But promise me, Zenith, that when the time comes, when I am worthy enough to go to the next fragment, you'll tell me everything before I go."

Zenith smiled, placing a comforting hand on Elyan's shoulder. "I promise, Elyan. When the time is right, you will know everything. Until then, let's make sure you're ready for whatever lies ahead."