Stoking

His flames focused on their healing character, slowly and delicately mending his severed nerves and sheered bones. Although he could use a medicinal pill to do this much quicker, Dyon had learned that pills were akin to a common cold medicine. A one fix for all.

Although it would work, lower level pills would be too general to really help much of anything, which is why higher level pills were usually much more specific. However, higher level pills would most likely still be too general. Often, medicine alchemy specialists create new pill formulae on a case by case basis. At least, that's what the top tier professionals would do.

This was not to say that medicinal pills were moot, as they were very useful as a quick fix in battle, for example, but, Dyon preferred to be diligent with a friend he cared for as much as Eli. Although they had only know each other for a few months, Eli's awkward nature and kind soul had touched Dyon.

This was a friend one wouldn't meet often. As much as Eli idolized Dyon, Dyon placed Eli on the same pedestal.

Ava, Venus and Uncle Ail watched anxiously off to the side. Holding their breaths in delight when they noticed the color returning to Eli's face.

Eli's eyes slowly opened as he groaned.

"Dyon?..." Eli sighed, "I guess I did die then… I hope big sister Venus doesn't blame herself… what kind of brother can't protect his own sister…"

"AH!"

Venus flew into Eli's arms, sobbing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Eli's eyes were still out of focus, but when he heard Venus' voice, he trembled.

"Venus?... Did you die too?..." Eli's fists clenched in anger, his eyes tearing up, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

Eli held onto his sister tightly while Dyon smiled off to the side.

"You idiot, how could you be dead with me here," Dyon's grin got wider as Uncle Ail's eyes reddened.

Ava smiled a sad smile off to the side, thinking about her brother and her supposed best friend. She had known for a long time that Tammy had loved her elder brother… but she now knew that clearly relationships like that didn't run too deeply for Tammy.

She might delude herself into thinking she had no other choice… but when you truly love and care for someone, would something as ridiculous as that even matter?

Ava was disgusted with the martial world, its principles and its doctrines. She wanted nothing more than to love with all her heart and protect those she wanted to protect. But, it seemed like no one else cared for things like that.

However, when she saw Venus and Eli crying in each other's arms, each having been hurt in their own way trying to protect the other, Ava smiled.

'Maybe there's hope after all…'

With everyone healthy, Dyon took a deep breath and steadied his mind…

'Tomorrow, I'll start with the Sapientia and Kami family… when the time is right, I'll make the Storm family witness something worse than death!'

**

Early the next morning, the center pillar roof was bustling with people. Focus Lake was filled with silver boats and the tunnels were flooded with people making their way to the grand event, unbothered by the dense cold and falling snow.

Pillar family leader Kami walked respectfully behind a middle-aged man. Even the crowds of thousands seemed to know to part ways for him.

"Right this way Big Sect elder Kami, the rest of the Big Sect representatives are in the VIP area. It's quite funny really, usually only one was enough to represent all of the sects, but today they've all come because the seeded geniuses have decided to participate."

"Ai, it seems as though your son's soon to be wife has quite a number of suitors. He's brought pride to the Kami God clan. Although we are mere branches, if he continues to work hard and improve we believe he can one day reach that peak. I hope he doesn't let down the intentions of our branch."

Kami nodded obediently, "Of course, of course. He's prepared to work very hard, in fact, he's broken through to the 9th layer of the foundation stage now that his god level blood is slowly awakening more and more."

"Not bad, not bad. Such a young peak foundation stage expert. He can lift his head high in many places."

The two Kami family members reached a box lookout. It was the highest point in Focus Academy and it looked down on a massive stadium. Today, the clouds were so thick that the bottom of the center pillar was cut off from the view of the top. A sea of fluffy white made it seem like the roof was floating on clouds which was emphasized by the slowly falling snow.

"Ah, big sect elder Kami, you're quite fashionably late. If you were part of the main Kami branch, I'd understand, but don't you think it's a bit disrespectful in this context?" A fat robust man spoke as soon as he noticed elder Kami enter the box lookout.

Knowing he had no place there, Kami bowed and immediately left.

"Nice to see you too Orbis. Is your seeded disciple still as lazy as always?" Elder Kami asked with a faint smile.

Orbis was about to respond when a feminine voice cut it.

"No use in arguing. Although we're not sure why you're so cocky these days, it remains that we're the representatives of the Big Sects, squabbling amongst ourselves doesn't set a good example for the young. My Wind Blade sect won't stand for it."

The three other elders could only shake their heads witnessing a scene that they had seen all too often.

Saying nothing else, the six elders took their seats. Earth-Bound, Wind Blade, Destruction, Green Blade, Fire Sword, and Infinite Arts sects were all there. It was about time for the wedding ceremony to begin.

To Kami, this was of course the most important. However, the other sect leaders were eager to watch whose geniuses bested whose. It was the reason they came in the first place. The idea of recruiting disciples, what should have been the true purpose on their minds, was actually the furthest thing from their thoughts.

Slowly, the crowd began to settle into their seats. No one noticed a young man sitting amongst the clouds, even higher than the box lookout, staring at the scene with an incomparably calm gaze while he stoked his burning fury.