The Burning Fiend

A silver winged snake crossed the air above the Starmist Sea, its serpentine body oscillated gracefully while moving toward the Bloodridge Continent. If one were to observe from a closer distance, then one would notice that the beautiful beast was a metallic life form, and a famous one at that. No one within the Jadefloat Continent would dare to use a metallic form similar to this one in fear of being accused of impersonating the monster known as 'The Burning Fiend'.

A couple of weeks had passed since Reynolds parted ways with Leylin and left Miluo Island where, although he had never considered his home, he had spent 500 years and that was as much time as he had spent in the Yulan Continent. Reynolds was completely focused on pondering the mystery of 'Combustion', after much meditation and planning, he had decided that he needed to become a Highgod as soon as possible.

Reynolds had complete confidence on using his runic arrays to aid the fusion of laws and becoming a Paragon, and the fastest way to increase his power in a short time was to master the mystery of 'Combustion' and become a Highgod. Then, he will create a runic array to represent the new law and start using the superimposing technique to find points of fusion with the other five laws.

He smiled as his heart felt full of confidence knowing that the path he would follow to master the Fire Elemental Laws to the Paragon level was clear. Reynolds had no idea how he would manage to reach the Highgod realm with the Edicts of Life and Death, but he was sure to have more resources and opportunities to consider once he had become a Paragon. However, for his current plan, he was dedicating the full time of his three divine avatars to ponder the mystery of 'Combustion', and he had expectations of managing to reach the Highgod realm in less than a hundred years.

He turned to look at the other people in the common area within the metallic life form and soon found that his four wives were chatting happily as they observed the beautiful sight that was the Starmist Sea, the sight of his family living happily made him feel satisfied with his life and current achievements. Reynolds wanted to become stronger, but he was driven neither by the urgency of security nor the d.e.s.i.r.e of conquest... both aspects had seemed to be the focus of his hard work during his early years. His objective now was to explore the truths of the universe in which he lived... and to find a way to be free from it, since he had learned that he was born, and that he lived, in an intentionally manufactured universe, he had felt terror and impotence... and longed for a way to escape from it.

Sometimes he wondered if this universe was created with a purpose similar to what Beirut said was the directive of the Necropolis of the Gods... entertainment for a higher power. Or perhaps it had another purpose, like an incubator for something. There was not much point in thinking of such topics as that only served to affect his mood negatively, but he found himself returning to such thoughts from time to time. Reynolds shook his head and took a deep breath to get rid of these ideas as he turned to concentrate on pondering the mystery of 'Combustion' again, he knew that it will take around a year to reach the Bloodridge Continent and only then would he know how to make his way to the Prefecture City where Lord Beirut lived.

He had noticed that Leylin seemed somewhat resentful towards Beirut, and he felt his own curiosity rise wanting to find the reason, but decided that it was wiser not to inquire too much. Reynolds would get what he needed at the first city that appeared in their way, and perhaps they would hunt for bandits as they make their way toward the Prefecture City. Reynolds believed that his wives could use the experience of fighting bandits as they had not participated in a battle for over five hundred years, he no longer held any interest in these battles, but they could use the opportunity to make their journey profitable.

A year later, the silver winged serpent arrived at the Bloodridge Continent leaving the beautiful, but dangerous, Starmist Sea behind. Reynolds did not feel like he was entering a new adventure, it felt more like a change of scenery... he would become a Paragon in this land. He startled by the sudden arrival of Windsor and Jenne who took hold of his arms as Rosarie sat on his l.a.p, and Koral rested her b.r.e.a.s.t over his head while encircling his neck with her arms.

He chuckled with amus.e.m.e.nt as he was restrained by his four wives as they were caught by the moment enjoying the view of the new land that extended before them. They were currently flying over a rock mountain range, devoid of all vegetation, that separated the Starmist Sea from a jungle full of life, while a sea of green trees seemed to expand beyond the mountain range. Reynolds remembered that they have found a similar, but reversed scene, when entering the Starmist Sea... does this water had a connection with the Edict of Death? Why would a rock mountain formation was needed to separate the seemly deadly ocean from the continents?

Reynolds did not have enough understanding on the Edicts of Life and Death to find an answer to this and decided to let the matter rest... perhaps not everything had a reason behind, after all coincidences and mistakes should be a common occurrence. It was still a nice change of scenery, and he could feel how Koral trembled with excitement as her draconian instincts made her look longingly at the jungle in the distance. Understanding her unspoken d.e.s.i.r.ed, Reynolds decided that they would stop for a few days in the jungle so his wife could explore it and enjoy a much-needed hunt while in her dragon form.

She seemed to have realized his intentions by the emotions and superficial ideas that they shared unconsciously through their telepathic link, she was his magical beast companion after all. Koral couldn't help but press her body tighter to his back to express her happiness while her smile turned a little deviant with anticipation for the hunt. It was at this moment that Talia and Sasha entered the room and both girls blushed profusely at the sight that welcomed them, Sasha tried to go back but Talia held her hand and forced her to stay. Talia was soon seating next to her father looking at the jungle below, and while she did not have the craving that her mother had for nature, she still smiled and welcomed the view that no longer contained never ending waters.

"Father, what is the plan?" She asked with curiosity. Reynolds took a moment to answer while being a little drunk under the affection of his four wives, but after a short while he managed to put his thoughts in order. "We will stay in the jungle for a few days, your mother could use a good hunt and it might be a good place to explore the Edict of Life... who knows, after all this time I might finally find a new insight". He chuckled at the last comment with a little frustration of his lack of talent for the Edicts.

Talia chuckled as well, he was suffering from the same problem... since she had completed her seven elemental avatars, she had not managed to gain a single insight on the Edicts regardless of how much time Jenne spent explaining her about the wonders of refining poisons and soul or how many demonstrations Windsor did for her using the mystery of 'Vitality'. Sasha, on her part, was thinking on undergoing the ancestral baptism to unlock her water elemental affinity and innate talent, she was sincerely hoping to have more talent for the Water Elemental Laws than the one she had for the Light Elemental Laws since her current progress was not to her satisfaction, and she seemed to have run into a block. Both girls sighed with frustration as if rehearsed.

After a couple of days, the silver winged serpent dived into a valley they found within the jungle and buried itself on the ground leaving only its head and part of her long neck above the surface, they would be using the metallic life form as a house instead of camping. As soon as they walked out of the metallic life form, Koral gave Reynolds a passionate kiss before turning into her saint body as she flew away while releasing blood thirsty aura that flared in excitement for the hunt to come.

Reynolds smiled as she flew away, she had agreed to stay within his divine sense range to avoid any danger since it was better to be safe than sorry. With his current power, Reynolds would be able to arrive almost instantly if she encountered a danger that surpassed her ability to defend herself. While he looked at the distance, Windsor walked on her own for a moment until she found a boulder deep under the ground. She used her divine power to force the boulder to rise above the surface, and her eyes focused completely in what would be her new sculpture practice while a beautiful smile appeared on her face as the air danced with her dark red hair that was as long as she was tall.

Reynolds found himself intoxicated by her beautiful ethereal figure and smiled as she started to dance gracefully around the boulder trying to decide what form would this giant rock should take. Rosarie and Jenne sat on each side of him while resting their heads on his shoulders as they started to read their books, Reynolds smile turned gentle as he closed his eyes and started to try feeling the life energy that surely was ever present in this seemingly never ending jungle.

It did not take long for him to connect with the life energy around him, as the jungle was like a torch that even a nearly blind man would be able to see, and he soon identified the aspects of 'nurturing' and 'healing'... but he could not make head or toes of the other aspects that were obviously present within this rich life energy. He did not give up though, and continued pondering while trying to keep his mind empty and ready to respond at the slightest sign of an insight if it were to made its way to him, no matter how small or insignificant... he would latch to it with hunger and greed.

His saint body was completely immersed in trying to commune with the life energy that he did not notice when he started to feel, through his telepathic link with Koral, the happiness and freedom his wife was experiencing as she made her way through the trees, how delicious was the clear water that she drank from the lake and how tender was the meat of the innocent horned beast she had captured after an exciting surprise attack that caught her prey completely unaware.

Her eyes glassed over while she was enjoying the juicy taste of the raw meat, and she entered a trance. Koral had been surprised as she felt how her husband and Master was experiencing her hunt through their telepathic link, and she had a glimpse of how it had helped him to enter a trance while pondering the cycle of life and the enjoyment it was to be part of nature. She had helped him to understand a little more of the Edict of Life and, as their telepathic link was completely open as he experienced the hunt through her perspective, all his emotions and thoughts at that moment were opened to her as well allowing her to gain entrance to the Edict of Life that seemly had come to her in the beautiful and cruel way that life always was at its very root.

She had understood that truth since she was a hatchling, but only now did she manage to relate this understanding to the Edict of life. Reynolds smiled as he felt the change in Koral and felt gratitude to her as she had helped him to make a new much awaited step on the blurry path that the Edicts always had been to him, but now he had a new direction to explore. The trance was short but useful, Koral shook her head with a little confusion and continued to enjoy the fruit of her hunt happy for their unexpected success.

After a couple of weeks, Koral returned to the valley and coiled herself on Reynolds l.a.p while keeping her dragon form, albeit smaller. Reynolds was still immersed in his meditation and pondering, but his smile turned gentle as he felt that Koral was back. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath. 'It is time to continue with our travel'. He thought while gently petting the head of the small dragon resting on his legs.