The moon had replaced the sun in its full glory when I regained consciousness. My eyes fluttered open to luminous streaks of moonlight casting a faint hue across the room.

  Sitting upright with a soft groan, I turned to find the outlines of Spencer and Scott sleeping in their beds. They must have returned at some point and… ignored my sorry state to go to sleep? I almost laughed at the ridiculousness, but it got the better of me.

  After all the things I’ve done, writhing in bed, sweating buckets, is probably one of the least insane things. I chuckled, conjuring a small flame as I got up to leave the room.

  Checking my watch confirmed that it was just after midnight. Not too late to go for a stroll or to visit the Grand Camp.

  But before I did any of that, I went for a quick shower. I could have evaporated the sweat and the smell clinging to my body, but showering was calming. That was exactly what I needed: warm water raining down on my body, trickling down my chest and shoulders to ease the tension caused by the Elemental Phoenix’s sudden rebirth.

  I had to calm down a little, digest what happened before I lost consciousness. Minutes of silence that were only interrupted by the downpour of water passed before I inspected my World, hoping for the very best while expecting the worst.

  However, what I found behind closed eyes was much better than expected. My inner World was much larger than before, its core carrying enough ether to last for quite a while. As marvelous as explosive growth was, both World and core appeared damaged. Lines of molten lava, resembling the liquefied ether of the underground expanse, ran through the core’s surface. They stretched deep, nearly reaching its center, breaking the core apart. The World resembled the core’s appearance, looking just as bad to bear, if not worse.

  Yet, nothing was broken. No permanent harm inflicted.

  The World’s rapid expansion could be tied back to the Growth Aspect’s wondrous mechanism. It should not have been as dangerous, as binding compatible World Aspects–or Runic Hearts–was simple and painless. But with the Elemental Phoenix’s intervention, everything had been changed.

  So it should not have come as a surprise when my attention fell on the ring of condensed flames swirling around the core of my inner World, yet it did.

  The ring of fire fed the core with energy, forming a constant supply. Even if the core did not want the energy, the fiery ring provided it, barring the core from resting, pushing it to expand constantly. One step at a time.

  Your World will be the greatest of all.

  The Voice of Volca intoned in my head, but I could only sigh at that.

  The Elemental Phoenix’s rebirth was great and all. Really, I was happy the Emperor beast resurrected. Knowing phoenixes never truly died was one thing, but seeing the Elemental Phoenix, feeling it, was what I needed. It dispelled a portion of the guilt that had been feasting on my consciousness.

  Unfortunately, the phoenix’s rise from the ashes had been timed badly. It was a mess. The Camp was not yet over, and now I had to survive one more day knowing powers like the Ruler of Fire wouldn’t be fooled a third time.

  You need to grow stronger. The Primal Spirit prophesied an era of chaos. Days of change, of war, and of reunion.

  Seriously? How about you guys stop dropping bombs like that on me? I just want to finish the Camp in one piece and return to my parents. I grumbled, switching the heat off, turning the warm, cozy shower into a freezing cold storm.

  Was it really too much to ask for a few days of peace? The Grand Camp had been a grinding stone, one I’d gladly used, but I was tired. So damn tired.

  “The Primal Spirit should really have a talk with Scott. I’m sure they will have a good time together,” I murmured, gritting my teeth as the downpour felt like tiny droplets of ice splattering on my skin. Yet, no matter how cold I should feel, the flame etched on my chest pulsed with warmth.

  Studying the mark, I nearly cursed out loud. The flame was still etched on my chest and reached up to my neck, but it had changed drastically–a phoenix rose from the flame. The design was intricate and actually looked quite impressive on my steeled body. Each line merged seamlessly with my muscles, forming a perfect synergy that made it seem like the phoenix flames were alive when I moved.

  Can you do something about the mark? The changes are a little bit too obvious.

  No.

  The Elemental Phoenix responded curtly; however, there was something about the rejection that didn’t sit quite right with me.

  Is it that you can’t do it or that you don’t want to do it?

  If I wanted to, I could.

  “Then do it.” I snapped, eyes searching for others when I realized I had spoken out loud again. But this late nobody was going to take a shower–not this close to the end of the Grand Camp.

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  I would never remove Volca’s Mark. You should carry his mark with pride!

  That would never happen. Nobody was to see the mark, especially not now, after it illustrated a phoenix engulfed in flames. That was just suicidal.

  Trying to convey that to the Elemental Phoenix helped only a little. It understood what I had to do and that the Ruler of Fire was to never see this again, yet it didn’t budge.

  This is your body, and your decision to make. However, do not force me to go against Volca. I will never do anything that compromises his power, the Elemental Phoenix hissed in the heat of the moment.

  The most surprising thing about the sacred beast’s outburst was not its anger. It was the lack of anger when I showed it images of the Ruler of Fire, memories of how he nearly tore my World apart in search of the Emperor. The Elemental Phoenix did not seek vengeance. It was not afraid of Raffael Torch or the things the Ruler would do to it if they ever found it.

  I wasn’t quite sure if that was bravery or stupidity. It felt like a mixture of both. Or maybe… maybe it was arrogance, which would be foolish, to say the least.

  Dismissing my third Soulkin’s anger, I left the topic at that.

  What’s your name? I asked instead.

  You do know who I am. For I am the Voice of Volca.

  But you’re not Volca nor his incarnation. You are an Elemental Phoenix.

  Volca’s might is unparalleled. I could never impersonate him. But for I was graced with a portion of his Essence, making me what I am today, I was appointed Volca’s Voice.

  Even then, that part was still as confusing as before. What exactly was a ‘Voice,’ and who was Volca to wield the power to command an Emperor beast? Even though the Elemental Phoenix was bound to me, it was fiercely loyal to Volca. So much so that I sincerely hoped Volca was one of the good guys and that we would meet on good terms–if we were fated to meet each other in the future.

  Since you’re not Volca, you need a proper name. And no, I am not going to call you ‘Voice’ or anything like that. Either you give me a name to call you, or I will name you instead, I said, my words ringing more like an order than a request.

  Our bond stirred and strained, and I expected the Elemental Phoenix to resist the command, yet it complied after a long minute.

  No matter what you call me, my mission will not change. However, I shall follow your command.

  The Elemental Phoenix caved in resignedly.

  Volix. Call me Volix if you have to.

  “Did you just–?” I muttered and let out a deafening groan. Did you really just combine Volca and Phoenix?... You know what? That’s fine. You’re Volix now.

  The Elemental Phoenix was unlike my other Soulkins. Volix had lived a long life before he bound himself to me. He carried the wisdom of centuries, if I wasn’t mistaken, and he knew a lot about the world of Razarn. However, the experience was not always great. Neither was extensive wisdom and a stubborn will.

  Volix may have been bound to me through the bond–a soulshare that linked portions of power–but the Elemental Phoenix was loyal to someone else as well. As much as I trusted the bond with Volix, I was not sure if the Elemental Phoenix could sever it as easily as he had forced it upon me.

  Do not fret. Our bond is eternal. Or until you succumb. But we shall make sure that won’t happen. The Spirits approve of you. That means a lot, especially for my kind.

  The Elemental Phoenix was even more adept at reading my mind than Aureus. That… was something I had to get used to. But it still didn’t explain what would happen if the Spirits–whoever they were–approved of me. Or what would have happened if they hadn’t.

  We would have never bonded. Maybe you would have survived the Etherious Heatwave, probably not, and I would have been reborn in Volca’s alcove in a few centuries.

  I exhaled heavily. Honestly, this, all of it, was a lot. A lot more than I wanted when I first thought about joining the Grand Camp.

  I thanked Volix and suppressed our bond, leaving the phoenix to feast on the sacred flame.

  After showering a little longer, it was time to leave, but not without a more thorough inspection of my World. It would have been great if I could visit the researchers and use their expensive ether devices to inspect and analyze the World’s changes, but that could wait until I was back at the Bastion. Beaster Bert’s devices were not as advanced as the machinery in the Sanctuary’s research facility, but they would do.

  Until then, I could only tell that Nox occupied just about one-seventh of my total soul energy. Volix and the sacred flame claimed two-sevenths together, though that would change in the following weeks. Once the sacred flame was fully devoured, the Second Stage bond would trigger, and the Elemental Phoenix would require less soul energy to stay in the World.

  With a few equations, a little calculation, and a lot of guesswork, I came to a result that should be close to the truth.

  Aureus was still coated in the murky, cocoon-like structure. He wasn’t bothered by the phoenix’s rebirth or… just about everything that had happened in the last few days, his attention fixed on growing stronger. And he did. His soul energy score as an Evolved beast reached roughly 350-ish units, making the Earthheart a Late Evolved beast.

  Since the Earthheart’s potential had already been consumed, such growth was tremendous. It was promising.

  The Ferronox Mantis was only a little stronger than Aureus. Nox had advanced to the Unblemished Rank, surpassing his racial limits. However, since evolving, Nox hadn’t grown much. His soul energy score was equivalent to that of a newly advanced Unblemished beast, hovering around 500 units. His potential was used up, and he wouldn’t grow much stronger–something I’d have to change, or Nox would break.

  The Ferronox Mantis was destined for greatness. Either that or he would die striving for greatness. Regardless, Nox wouldn’t stop. Not while I continued to climb, reaching for power and authority.

  Volix rested in the sacred flame, consuming it quickly. Combined, their soul energy score ought to be around one thousand units. And that left a little bit more than half of my World’s soul energy unoccupied–close to 2,000 units.

  Enough to bind a Peak Unblemished beast… or to feed the Elemental Phoenix and push him to the starting line of a Guardian beast. Although the latter would come with a few more complications, it was possible, and that was enough to excite me–to make me think of the future ahead.

  Considering my options, I chose to disregard all thoughts of the chaotic era Volix had promised and went on my way.

  It was time to solve some problems. And to visit the Beast Temple.

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