He turned his head and saw the tent behind him, half-burned with its edges marked by jagged bck scorch marks. The bonfire, once warm and glowing, had been reduced to nothing but an ashen heap.

  Surrounding him was a dark circle of scorched earth, stark and ominous, like a crater left behind by an explosion.

  "What the hell?" was all Finn could manage, his voice barely a whisper. "What happened here?"

  "I don’t know," Yukha admitted. "But for now, let’s move to another spot. This area’s a mess, and you’re still freezing. We need to get a new fire going."

  Still dazed, Finn nodded. The two relocated a few meters away from the charred remains, setting up a fresh camp. Yukha summoned a new tent and erected it with practiced ease, while Finn bought firewood and used his small fme to light it.

  Surprisingly, the same fme hovered above him, still burning steadily even after everything that had just transpired.

  They sat around the newly lit bonfire in silence, the warmth slowly creeping back into Finn’s body. He had dried out his drenched clothes, pcing them in his inventory before re-equipping them, but the chill still lingered.

  "So, what exactly happened?" Finn finally asked.

  Yukha took a long sip of water, steadying himself before speaking. "It all started a few seconds after you closed your eyes. At first, your body was twitching slightly, like you were struggling to focus. I figured it was normal for someone unaccustomed to meditation and thought you just needed a few more minutes. Then, you seemed to settle—like you’d finally found your center."

  "That must’ve been when I started getting into the flow," Finn muttered, half to himself.

  "But then," Yukha continued, "things got... strange. The fme hovering above you suddenly shifted. It turned from red to a blinding orange, its heat intensifying. At first, I thought it was intentional, maybe part of your process, so I ignored it."

  That must’ve been when I got pulled into the fme’s perspective.

  "After a moment, the fme returned to red, and I assumed you’d found bance. But then you stopped breathing. Completely."

  Finn’s eyes widened. "Stopped breathing?"

  "Yes," Yukha confirmed. "And your body froze, like a statue. That’s when I started to worry. I moved closer to check on you, but before I could say anything, your entire body burst into fmes."

  Finn’s jaw dropped. "I—what?!"

  Yukha raised up his arm, revealing a patch of red, blistered skin. "I managed to react quickly and shield myself, but not before I got hit."

  Finn stared at the burn marks, guilt flooding him. "I’m so sorry... I can’t believe I did that."

  Yukha waved it off, summoning water to surround his arm. In seconds, the burns faded, leaving his skin unblemished. "Don’t worry about it. It’s already healed."

  What the hell just happened? Meditating led to all that chaos—and now I’ve even hurt Yukha? How did things spiral so out of control?

  "Anyway," Yukha continued, his tone serious. "After your body burst into fmes, it didn’t stop there. The fire kept spreading, slowly but steadily. That’s when I started throwing water at you. It took me seven tries to fully extinguish the fmes. And another three just to wake you up."

  "Ten times?!" Finn excimed, his eyes wide. "I only remember three of those. Wait, did you yell at me to wake up before throwing water? I thought I heard someone shouting."

  "No," Yukha replied, shaking his head. "I didn’t have time to shout. I was panicking—I thought you’d burn yourself to death. What happened while you were meditating?"

  So it wasn’t Yukha’s voice. Then whose was it? It had sounded... feminine.

  "I don’t remember much," Finn admitted, still trying to piece everything together. "I was focusing on the fme, and suddenly it felt like I was pulled out of my body. I was seeing everything—myself, the surroundings—from the fme’s perspective."

  "Wait, do you mean you merged with the fme? Like your consciousness was in it?" Yukha asked, leaning forward in disbelief. "I have never heard of that happening before. I’m confident in my connection with water, but transferring consciousness into an element? That’s... unheard of."

  "Do you think I could use it as a weapon?" Finn asked, a spark of curiosity lighting his tired eyes. "Like, transferring my mind into a fme during battle?"

  Yukha sighed, rubbing his temple. "That’s what you’re focusing on? Not the fact that you almost turned yourself into a bonfire? You need to be more cautious. What if this happens again?"

  "Sorry, I was just curious," Finn said sheepishly.

  "You’re definitely pnning to try it again," Yukha muttered, exasperated. "Fine, but promise me one thing—if you do, only when I’m around. At least that way, I can put out the fire before you roast yourself alive."

  "Alright, I promise," Finn said with a small grin. Then, after a pause, he added, "But when you said my body burst into fmes. Maybe it happened the same time as when my body and soul felt like they were being torn apart. The pain... it was excruciating. I think if you hadn’t stepped in, I wouldn’t be here right now."

  Yukha frowned, his expression thoughtful. "I’ve meditated thousands of times, and I’ve never experienced anything remotely like that. It must have something to do with your connection to fire. Maybe as you ascend the tower and grow stronger, you’ll uncover more answers."

  "Yeah, you’re right," Finn said, though his mind was elsewhere. Maybe this is something Julian would know about. If I survive long enough to ask him, that is.

  "You should sleep," Yukha suggested. "You’ve been pushing yourself since we arrived here. Rest will do you good."

  Finn stifled a yawn. "Yeah, I’m starting to feel it too. My eyes have been drooping since the hot springs. What about you? Aren’t you going to sleep?"

  Yukha shook his head, his expression distant. "You go ahead. It’s been harder for me to fall asleep tely. Probably just age catching up to me." He offered a faint smile, but there was a sadness behind it. "Besides, if you burst into fmes again, someone has to be awake to stop it."

  "Alright, I’ll leave it to you then," Finn said. "Oh, what about this little fme? Should I put it out before I sleep?"

  "Yes," Yukha replied. "At your level, you won’t be able to keep it going while unconscious. But one day, with enough control, you will."

  "Another something to look forward to," Finn said, extinguishing the small fme with a soft farewell. He felt a strange pang of sadness, as though saying goodbye to an old friend.

  Inside the tent, Finn purchased a sleeping bag from the shop, barely fazed anymore by the endless inventory it offered. Lying down, he checked his mana reserves—even less than before he started meditating.

  That whole 'setting myself on fire' thing must’ve used up everything I had.

  Through the slightly open fp of the tent, Finn could see Yukha sitting alone by the bonfire, his gaze fixed on the stars. Smoke curled from his lips—tobacco, maybe.

  Finn’s thoughts drifted back to Yukha’s earlier words about struggling to sleep. That look on his face when he’d said it—haunted, tired. The same look he’d worn when talking about his wife. A look of longing.

  For some reason, it scared Finn. That expression made Yukha seem fragile, as though he might vanish at any moment, leaving him behind.

  He didn’t have time to linger on the thought; his eyes grew heavier with each passing second until he could no longer fight back. Darkness cimed him.

  Finn woke to the warmth of sunlight peeking through the small opening in the tent. The bright light reminded him it was already well into the morning. He instinctively reached out to where Yukha might have been sleeping, but there was no one there—no warmth, no trace that the spot had been used.

  A sudden pang of panic hit him. He scrambled out of the tent and scanned the area, only to find Yukha practicing with his greatsword. He swung the massive weapon through the air with fluid precision, his movements controlled and purposeful, as if battling an unseen opponent.

  Did he even sleep?

  "I see you're awake," Yukha said without stopping, his voice calm and steady. "We should eat before starting the day."

  Finn’s attention shifted to the small table set up in front of the tent. It was made of ice—Yukha’s signature craftsmanship—and covered with a thick cloth. However, it was bare, cking the food he’d expected.

  "I was waiting for you to wake up so we could eat together," Yukha continued, still practicing his swings. "You were taking a while, so I decided to get some exercise in while waiting."

  "You didn’t have to wait for me," Finn said, still feeling a little sheepish.

  "Nonsense," Yukha replied, lowering his sword. "Eating together is a staple among comrades. Back on my home pnet, no one would eat until the whole crew was gathered."

  Finn blinked, momentarily thrown by Yukha’s words. He couldn’t remember the st time he’d shared a meal with someone. Growing up, eating together had been a family ritual, but those days were so distant they felt like a faded dream.

  "If you say so," he muttered, taking a seat.

  "I’ve noticed I’m eating more tely whenever I'm eating with you," Finn remarked, leaning back after finishing his meal: three family-sized pizzas and a strong cup of coffee.

  Yukha chuckled as he polished off yet another pte piled high with meat. "I’m not influencing you, Finn. Your appetite is growing because your body is getting stronger. Soon enough, you’ll eat as much as me."

  "Not a chance," Finn muttered, eyeing the empty ptes stacked on the table. He summoned the small fme as he spoke, letting it hover zily above his head.

  "So," he said, changing the subject, "are we heading to that corrupted elemental’s territory after this?"

  "Not yet," Yukha replied. "We need a proper pn before attacking."

  "I know you said you won’t protect me after I hit level 15," Finn began, his tone eager, "but I’m already at level 12. That’s close enough, right? Let me try fighting it on my own."

  Yukha considered his words before finally nodding. "Alright. Stand over there." He pointed to an open patch of ground a short distance away.

  "Why?" Finn asked as he moved to the spot Yukha indicated.

  The moment he turned to look back, a bde of water came rushing toward him. Finn’s instincts kicked in just in time; he twisted his body and narrowly avoided the attack.

  "Hey! My body’s not even on fire! What gives?" he shouted, gring at Yukha.

  But Yukha didn’t answer. Instead, another water bde hurtled toward him, forcing Finn to dodge again.

  "Rex, Finn," Yukha said finally, unching yet another bde. "These aren’t sharp enough to cut you. I’m mimicking the Shredder’s ranged attacks. When it’s at a distance, it releases razor-sharp wind bdes that can slice deep or even sever limbs. My water bdes are the closest substitute I can create."

  "That sounds... horrifying," Finn said, ducking just in time to avoid another bde.

  "It is," Yukha confirmed. "But the creature has a short dey between each attack. If you time it right, you can dodge while closing the distance. Consider this training. If you manage to reach me without getting hit, I’ll let you face the Shredder on your own."

  "Challenge accepted," Finn said, determination fring in his voice.

  Cinnamon23