Chapter 17 – Sparks of the Heart
Azure Sky Academy's vast training fields glimmered beneath the morning sun. Rows of students moved in perfect rhythm, blades slicing through the air, qi waves rippling like water. The academy felt alive — a sea of ambition and spirit.
For once, Yin Jin felt peace.
No roaring beasts. No collapsing towers. Just the sound of breath, balance, and fire.
He stood at the far end of the courtyard, practicing the controlled flow of his black-gold flames. The air shimmered with heat, forming intricate symbols that flickered like dancing dragons. His once-destructive fire now obeyed him, swirling gracefully around his sword.
> "Focus, Yin Jin," murmured Instructor Mei Lian, pacing behind him. "Your flame isn't your enemy — it's your will made visible. Listen to it."
Yin Jin exhaled, steadying his heart. The flames quieted, folding inward until only a faint glow remained.
> "Good," Mei Lian said softly. "Now—again."
---
At the other end of the field, Baifang was drawing attention of his own. Lightning sparked across his spear as he spun it with casual flair, his movements fast enough to blur.
> "You call that lightning?!" he yelled at another trainee. "Come on! Make it flash!"
His laughter echoed across the yard, infectious as always. But even Baifang was more focused now. The trials, the danger, and Yin Jin's growth had awakened something in him — a drive to go beyond himself.
> "If he can fight transcendent beasts," Baifang thought, "then I can reach the heavens too."
---
After training, the courtyard filled with chatter as students prepared for the next class — Spiritual Combat Theory.
That's when Yin Jin saw her.
A girl with soft silver hair tied loosely behind her, eyes like clear crystal, and a calm aura that seemed to silence the world around her. She was standing near the mission board, reading quietly — the sunlight catching on her azure uniform and the faint glimmer of frost qi around her hands.
For a moment, Yin Jin's heart froze.
He didn't even realize he'd stopped walking until Baifang nudged him.
> "Yo… you good? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Yin Jin blinked, trying to mask it.
> "Who is she?"
Baifang smirked instantly.
> "Oh, her? That's Chaein. Top scorer in elemental control, frost attribute — said to be able to freeze an arrow midflight. Pretty, huh?"
Yin Jin's eyes lingered a second too long.
> "Pretty… powerful."
> "Ha! You're blushing."
> "I'm not."
> "You are."
> "Baifang."
> "Alright, alright!"
Baifang's laughter earned them a few glares from nearby students. Yin Jin quickly looked away, but his mind betrayed him. Every time he tried to focus, the image of Chaein's calm, radiant expression flickered behind his eyes like a lingering flame.
---
Later That Evening
The academy was bathed in gold as the sun dipped behind the mountains. Yin Jin sat beneath a lantern tree, fire flickering in his palm as he meditated. The black-gold flame no longer felt like a curse — it pulsed gently, warm and alive.
For the first time, he smiled — a real, quiet smile.
He didn't notice Baifang leaning on the nearby wall, watching him.
> "You look different, man. Happier."
Yin Jin opened one eye.
> "Maybe I am."
Baifang grinned.
> "Don't tell me it's because of her."
> "It's because of me," Yin Jin said calmly. Then, after a pause, "...but maybe she helped."
The two laughed.
---
The Days That Followed
Yin Jin trained harder than ever.
Every flame strike grew sharper. Every movement of his sword, more fluid. The Dark Dawn Fire began to reveal hidden forms — shapes of fire knights and dragons, bending to his will.
Baifang, inspired by Yin Jin's newfound determination, refined his lightning to the point where thunder answered his every motion. His spear technique became a storm unto itself.
Together, they sparred, learned, and laughed.
For the first time since his awakening, Yin Jin felt alive — not as a cursed child or a survivor, but as a cultivator walking his own path.
From that day on, the once-cold boy began to change.
The academy whispered of his power.
Baifang found new joy in competition.
And somewhere between training sessions and quiet glances under the lantern trees…
Yin Jin realized that maybe, just maybe — this was the beginning of something more than strength.
--- The next phase begins — with friendship, sparks of love, and the first official missions waiting beyond the gates of Azure Sky Academy.