Masteria Online: Shattering the Dark God's Grand Scheme

It could only be the case that the association was discovered because Eden had obtained a phoenix. That would make sense. A farmer suddenly possessing an Imperial Phoenix would attract massive attention.

But then what had happened to Eden himself?

If Eden wasn’t known to Lumi personally, if his name had never come up in any conversations or stories from the past timeline, then the boy had likely died.

It could only be the case that he had died before he could become famous. That he had died before the phoenix could grow strong enough to protect him. Died while the creature was still vulnerable.

But that raised an important question. Who would kill Eden?

Lumi ran through the possibilities.

It could have been a player. Players were chaotic, treating NPCs like disposable game characters. An unprotected farmer with a phoenix hatchling would be an easy target. Kill the boy, take the phoenix, profit.

Or it could have been the Dark One’s forces. They’d been operating on Masteria since forever. A phoenix represented significant power, especially when it was one of Henry’s descendents. Eliminating it before it could mature would be strategically sound.

Given the circumstances, it could genuinely be either option.

But the most likely scenario was the Dark One’s forces. The issue was that the players weren’t that strong right now. If Eden had just a month, he would already outclass most, if not all players.

Either way, the conclusion was clear.

Eden was in danger. Serious danger. Given his past life, then it was likely that Eden would die if Lumi didn’t intervene. That meant a change of plans.

The ribbon was still important. He still needed it for what was coming. But now he would need to ensure Eden’s safety as well.

He couldn’t just take the ribbon, leave, and let the boy die with his phoenix.

Lumi looked at Eden, who was still watching the phoenix with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

He needed to reason through this situation carefully. There were too many variables, too many unknowns. But one thing was certain. Eden couldn’t stay here.

"Listen," Lumi began to speak, knocking Eden out of his contemplation. "I need to explain some things to you. Not everything, because I can’t, but enough that you understand why you’re in danger."

Eden’s attention snapped to him. "Danger? From what?"

"From anyone who learns about that phoenix," Lumi gestured at the creature. "Imperial Phoenixes are beyond rare. They’re legendary. There are people who would kill you without hesitation just to claim it."

The boy’s face went pale. "I knew it was valuable, but..."

"It’s not just valuable," Lumi interrupted. "It’s one of the most powerful creatures in existence. Once it matures, it could level cities. Right now, though, it’s vulnerable. And so are you."

He pulled out the pouch of Ems he’d prepared earlier and handed it to Eden. "This is one million, as agreed. Take it."

Eden accepted the pouch with shaking hands, but his focus remained on Lumi’s words rather than the payment.

"You can’t stay here," Lumi continued. "This farm is too isolated and too unprotected. If the wrong people find out about the phoenix, they’ll come for it. And they’ll kill you to get it."

Eden trembled. He looked around weakly, then protested. "But this is my home..."

Lumi shook his head. "Your home won’t matter if you’re dead." He thought through the options quickly. Eden needed somewhere safe, somewhere with protection strong enough to deter attackers.

Merath’s library would work. The ancient magician was strong enough to stop any threats, and he wouldn’t turn away someone in genuine need.

If Eden agreed to go there, that would solve the immediate safety problem. Yet, there was an issue with that approach.

An asset in Lumi’s hands was better than an asset under someone else’s protection.

Eden wasn’t just a random farmer anymore. He held the bloodline of Henry and was the bonded partner of an Imperial Phoenix. Once that creature matured, Eden would become one of the most powerful individuals in Masteria.

Having that kind of ally directly connected to Lumi rather than loosely affiliated through Merath would be significantly more valuable.

So Lumi made his decision. "I want you to become my disciple."

Eden paused, and furrowed his brows in confusion. "What?"

Lumi insisted. "You heard me. Become my disciple. I’ll teach you magic, help you bond with the phoenix properly, and keep you safe while you both grow stronger."

The boy’s expression shifted from confusion to resistance almost immediately. "No."

"No?"

"I can’t." Eden said firmly. "The farm is my life. It’s my legacy. My ma and pa died here. I’m not abandoning it to become some magician’s apprentice."

Lumi kept his voice calm. "Your parents would want you alive more than they’d want the farm maintained."

"Don’t talk about them." Eden shot back. "This place was everything to them. They worked their entire lives to build it, to keep it running. I’m not going to throw that away."

Lumi slowly replied. "You’re not throwing it away by staying alive."

"I’d be throwing it away by leaving!" Eden’s voice rose slightly. "What happens to the farm if I just abandon it? It falls apart. The fields go to waste. The animals die or get sold off. Everything they built disappears."

Lumi tried a different angle. "The farm can be maintained by hired hands. You can pay them with the money I just gave you."

Eden shook his head and replied stubbornly. "Hired hands aren’t family. They won’t care about it the way I do."

After a bit of further back and forth, Lumi decided to play a card he’d been holding back. "You’re descended from Phoenix Master Henry."

Eden stopped mid-sentence. "What?"

Lumi repeated his words. "Your ancestor. Phoenix Master Henry. One of the heroes of this world. You’re his descendant."

The boy stared at him. "That’s... no. That’s not possible. I would know if I was related to someone that important."

"Would you?" Lumi challenged. "How much do you actually know about your family history? How far back can you trace your lineage?"

Eden faltered. "I... my parents never talked about anything like that."

"Because they probably didn’t know either," Lumi said. "Knowledge gets lost over generations. But the connection is real. Why do you think that phoenix egg appeared on your property specifically? Why do you think it hatched for you?"

Eden got flustered. "T-that! That could be coincidence..."

"There’s no such thing as coincidence when it comes to Imperial Phoenixes," Lumi countered. "They choose their bonded partners. That creature chose you because you carry Henry’s bloodline."

Eden looked at the phoenix, then back at Lumi. "Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change anything. The farm is still my responsibility."

Lumi shook his head. "Can you take care of it if you’re dead? Can you take care of it if villains raze it and you don’t have the strength? Have you read the books on your ancestor? He was a farm boy, too. He left his home one day and the rest is history."

Eden didn’t respond. The boy was quiet, processing that.

"I’m not asking you to abandon your heritage," Lumi continued. "I’m asking you to honor it. Henry left his home to grow stronger. You need to do the same."

Eden clicked his tongue. "You’re just saying that. You don’t have proof of any of this."

Lumi thought about what evidence he could provide. He couldn’t reveal everything, but he could offer something concrete. "The phoenix egg appeared one day out of the blue. Not just any phoenix, but an imperial phoenix. Do you really think that’s a coincidence? And it hatched now, why? Why not yesterday? Why not tomorrow?"

Eden looked at the phoenix again. The creature chirped and tilted its head, watching him. He looked back to Lumi. "If not coincidence... then... Henry?"

"Perhaps." Lumi noted. "Or fate."

"Fate..." Eden shook his head. "What nonsense..." Though he said those words, he didn’t seem entirely against the situation anymore. He just needed time to process it all.

Lumi turned to the phoenix, gesturing to henry to focus on it. "Test it yourself. Hold out your hand. See if it comes to you."

The boy hesitated, then slowly extended his arm toward the nest. The phoenix chick hopped forward immediately, moving across the hay until it reached Eden’s hand. It stepped onto his palm, tiny clawed feet gripping carefully to avoid hurting him.

Flames flickered around it, but Eden’s hand didn’t burn. The fire simply flowed around his skin harmlessly, recognizing him as its bonded partner.

Eden stared at the creature in his hand, his expression shifting. "The fire... doesn’t burn me? Is that normal?"

"No." Lumi replied resolutely.

He hovered his hand nearby. "May I?"

"Um." Eden looked a bit uncertain, confused why he was being asked for permission. He nodded. "Sure."

Lumi slowly approached his hand to the bird. It seemed wary, but didn’t react. Despite not taking action, when his hand touched the flames, it sent a searing pain through him. He rapidly snapped his hand back, revealing the red skin to Eden.