“I’m from level ten,” Jared began, his voice calm but measured. “A wandering cultivator, beholden to no formal master. I came to Crimson Flame City in search of Jadeheart Marrow to save someone… Guard duty offers coin, and more importantly, a path into the Earthfire Pavilion’s records where clues to the location of Jadeheart Marrow might lie.”
He revealed enough to satisfy courtesy, yet kept the darker truth—the lethal hunt launched by the Malevolent Path Hall—locked firmly behind his eyes.
“Jadeheart Marrow?” Lindsay exclaimed. “That’s something spoken of only in legends, found in the deepest reaches of the Infernal Lava Abyss. Only a single drop forms every ten thousand years. Who are you trying to save? Why do you need something so valuable and rare?”
“It’s the partner of a respected senior of mine,” Jared said softly. “Her physical body is on the verge of decay, so we need this item to anchor her life force.”
“Oh…” A thoughtful hush quickly settled over the princess. When she lifted her gaze again, respect glimmered there. “Loyal and tender-hearted. Remarkable. However, I must tell you that Jadeheart Marrow is exceedingly rare. Even the Earthfire Pavilion only possesses a few leads regarding the Infernal Lava Abyss; we have no ready stock. If you want to obtain it, it will be extremely difficult.”
“No matter how difficult it is, I must still give it a try,” Jared replied, steadiness ringing through every syllable.
For several heartbeats, Lindsay studied him, then her lips curved into a mischievous grin. “You’re an interesting one. Very well… Out of sheer admiration for such sincerity, I might petition Father on your behalf. But there is a price…” She winked, playful as a spark skimming oil. “You have to keep me company on this entire journey. Tell me every tale the greater world hides. I’ve been caged inside the pavilion walls since childhood, and boredom may yet kill me before any foe does.”
A laugh escaped Jared before he could restrain it, light and genuine. For all her rank, the princess proved refreshingly direct. “If Your Highness can endure my boring tales, I would be honored to oblige…”
From that day on, Lindsay sought him out whenever opportunity flickered. Sometimes, a maid invited Jared up to the velvet-draped carriage; at other stops, Lindsay darted away from the royal retinue to sit beside Jared and Vermilion Demon Lord under the shade of a lone basalt spire. Her curiosity blazed hotter than any forge. The saga of Jared’s climb from level ten to level eleven drew gasp after delighted gasp.
“Is the Eternal Ice Plains in level ten really that cold? Is the Northern Abyss Celestial Clan really that arrogant? And how on earth did you defeat a Heavenly Immortal Realm Level Eight celestial general?”
Jared answered what he could, letting silence paint over the secrets better left unspoken. Even the half-told stories left Lindsay wide-eyed, exclaiming, sighing, and sometimes simply staring at him as though he were the very horizon she longed to cross.
Meanwhile, Jared gleaned much about the Blaze Region and the Earthfire Pavilion from her eager chatter. The pavilion, one of the Blaze Region’s twin titans, was famed for alchemy and blacksmithing, its power braided through three great halls: Pill Hall, Forge Hall, and Combat Hall. Lindsay’s father, Ignatius Flameheart, was a Top Level Heavenly Immortal Realm Level Nine cultivator. From the moment Lindsay could walk, flames answered her touch.
“Father keeps insisting the outside world is dangerous, so I’m never allowed out,” Lindsay uttered, her cheeks red and puffed. “If I hadn’t begged for days, I wouldn’t be here at all. Yet even now I’m stuck inside this swaying carriage. It’s enough to bore me to death!”
Jared offered a soothing smile. “Your father only wants you safe. Flame Gorge truly crawls with danger. A little caution never hurts.”
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ve heard that speech before. Gosh… You sound just like my father!” She waved the thought away, then her eyes lit up. “Anyway, what kind of goodies do you have on you? Come on, show me something formidable!”
The question caught Jared mid-breath. Goodies? Dragonslayer Sword, Dragon Bell, Divine Bow? Jared’s gaze dipped briefly toward his own waist, and a blush as hot as forge-steel crept across his cheeks; he quickly realized he needed a much more appropriate demonstration for the young princess.
Lindsay leaned closer, suspicion flaring. “Don’t tell me you’ve got nothing on you at all?”
Seeing her eager face, Jared sighed, slipped a hand into his storage ring, and called forth a creature of legend. With a pop of ember-scented light, a small fire unicorn trotted onto the carriage floor. Its crimson-gold scales gleamed like fresh-poured steel, and golden flames licked around its four hooves. The creature nuzzled Jared’s shoulder, then turned its curious, molten-amber eyes on the princess.
“Oh wow! You’re gorgeous!” she squealed. Fearless, Lindsay sprang forward and reached for the unicorn’s head. The unicorn tensed for an instant, then sensing her pure fire aura, it dipped its head like a knight offering fealty.
“It’s so soft and warm,” she whispered, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. A few seconds later, she asked, “What’s his name?”
“He doesn’t have one yet. I just call him the small fire unicorn for now,” Jared admitted.
“That won’t do at all! Look at him, gold and crimson, wrapped in living flame. How can such a majestic celestial beast not have a name?” Lindsay scolded as she gave it some thought. “Ah! I got it! Let’s call him Lucky. He’ll bring fortune to everyone who meets him!”
“Lucky?” Jared echoed, stunned by the down-to-earth choice. For a heartbeat, he was back on Earth, remembering the mutt next door, also named Lucky, chasing mailmen. It was rare for a princess in level eleven to choose such a homespun name, but it was also heartwarming.
Surprisingly, the small fire unicorn seemed to understand. It rumbled approval and rubbed its head against Lindsay’s hand.
“See? He loves it!” she laughed, utterly delighted. Jared chuckled as well. “We’ll do as you say, Princess Lindsay. Lucky it is,” he said with a helpless smile.
