Chapter 12: Fire Affinity.
They stood there, lost for words. Not a single sound escaped their lips. The air around them felt frozen — time itself seemed to pause, as though the world held its breath to witness what had just happened.
Jonathan and Sara didn't know what to say, what to think, or even how to react. Their minds were blank. Their son… their seven-year-old son… had once again done something beyond their understanding.
He was not only the youngest mana cultivator in history and the first with a unique mana heart that even high-stage cultivators could not detect, but his heart was truly special — but now, he had done something even more outrageous: he also had affinity with all ten elements. He was not bound by any laws; he could freely use all the elements.
He was, in the truest sense, an elemental mana cultivator unbound by anything. His very existence defied all logic, all reason, all recorded history. He was the pinnacle of a genius, something that had never existed before. He was the first in history to defy all laws of nature.
It was a miracle that had not been seen before in this world. It was outrageous.
Aiden His existence itself was a miracle that cannot be comprehended by common logic.
He had done it not once, not twice, but three times — three impossible things in just a short span of two days.
Jonathan and Sara still hadn't recovered from the shock of learning that their son had formed an invisible mana heart and become the youngest mana cultivator ever. And now this — another situation that shattered everything they thought they knew about cultivation, mana, and the world itself.
They felt as if the ground beneath them had vanished, as if everything they had learned their entire lives was now meaningless. Their beliefs, their teachings, their understanding of mana, all the things they learned and know about, all the history of the world— all of it seemed as if they were lies.
Aiden, who was standing quietly at the side, was also completely stunned. He couldn't comprehend it either. His mind raced as he thought to himself. After a short silence, he finally spoke hesitantly, his voice calm but uncertain.
"Mom, Dad… I think this instrument also had a problem with it."
His words snapped Jonathan and Sara out of their daze. Their gazes, which had been blank and distant, refocused on their son. They came back to reality as they heard their son's words.
Sara blinked a few times, then she frowned slightly as she thought for a few seconds. "Did you check it properly? Was it really working properly?" she asked, her tone serious but composed.
Jonathan, who had been silent all this time, nodded slowly. "Yes," he replied in a firm and serious tone. "I checked it properly, and it was working completely fine. When I poured my mana into it, only fire and water elements glowed, and I checked it two times to be sure, and each time it gave the right result."
He paused, lowering his head slightly, deep in thought. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke again.
"I think this happened due to the unique mana heart of Aiden; it is interfering with the working process of the instruments."
Sara listened carefully, her brows furrowing slightly before she nodded as she said. "I also have the same opinion," she said softly. " It should be because of his unique mana heart, or else how can it be possible for a single child to have an affinity with all 10 elements? It's impossible."
Even though Sara said this, she doubted even her own word because what she had witnessed in the last two days was also completely impossible, but Aiden still managed to do it. So she wasn't sure if having all 10 elements was possible or not.
Jonathan nodded again, his tone calm but analytical as he continued. "Aiden's mana heart is unique, and it cannot be detected by high-stage mana cultivators like us. So I think that is the main problem."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as his thoughts deepened. "But even if it's undetectable, there's still mana stored inside it… so it also makes me think of something else. If it really has mana, then there should not be any problem with detecting it because the mana is being poured inside it, so it should be able to check his affinity."
Sara turned to him curiously, while Aiden looked up with wide, attentive eyes.
Jonathan continued, his tone thoughtful yet steady."Or… Aiden really does have an affinity with all ten elements, and it's because of that unique mana heart of his that he is able to use all 10 elements."
As he spoke those words, both Sara's and Aiden's expressions changed — Sara's eyes widened in shock while Aiden's heart began to beat faster.
Jonathan looked at both of them as he said, "Why don't we check this theory? We will teach Aiden how to use our respective elements, and if he really has an affinity with all 10 elements, then he will be able to use all four of them."
Sara took a deep breath, then nodded slowly. "Okay," she said in agreement.
They both turned toward Aiden, who was standing quietly but listening carefully. Jonathan looked at him seriously and said, "Your mother and I can only teach you how to convert your mana into fire, water, healing, or puppeteer elements. So, if you really have an affinity with all ten elements, you will definitely be able to use all four of these elements. If not, then there really is a problem with your mana heart."
Aiden heard this and nodded seriously. "Alright, Dad," he said softly.
Jonathan continued, his tone calm but instructive."Now I will teach you how to use fire mana first. Close your eyes, then think about the heat in your body — feel it. Then feel the heat in your heart. After that, use the breathing technique and push that mana toward your palm, and thrust it outward just like last time. While doing this, think about fire."
Aiden listened attentively, not missing a single word. Then he nodded and said softly, "Okay, Dad."
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began focusing. The garden around them was quiet, only the faint sound of rustling leaves and distant birds filling the silence.
Aiden slowly started to sense the warmth inside his body — the subtle heat that flowed through his veins. He felt it spreading from his chest, faint but alive, and then he focused deeper, reaching toward his heart.
There, deep inside, he sensed the core of his power — the unique mana heart pulsing quietly with rhythm and warmth. He focused on that heat, synchronizing his breathing with it.
He then began using the breathing technique his father had taught him — slow, steady, and controlled. With each breath, he guided the mana from his heart toward his arm. He could feel the warmth moving through his mana veins, slowly flowing down from his shoulder, traveling through his arm, until it reached his hand. As the process occurred, Aiden began to think about fire in his mind
His palm began to heat up — faint at first, then stronger, the warmth turning into a gentle burn.
Jonathan and Sara stood a few steps away, both watching silently. Their expressions were calm, but their hearts beat faster with each passing second.
As the warmth concentrated in Aiden's hand, he opened his eyes slightly, focused his mind, and — following his father's instructions — thrust his hand forward.
The mana surged from his palm in an instant.
With a soft whoosh, a bright flame burst out from his hand — small at first, then growing stronger. The fire danced in the air for a few seconds before fading away into gentle wisps of smoke.
The orange glow reflected in Aiden's eyes as he looked at the fire that had just appeared from his hand. His face showed astonishment — and realization.
He had done it. He had used a fire mana spell.
He had truly conjured fire.
The mana he used was real. The technique worked. There was no backlash, no pain — only the smooth flow of power from his heart to his hand.
The flame vanished, leaving only silence behind.
Aiden had just proven it — he possessed not only wind affinity, but fire as well.
Sara placed her hand over her mouth, her breathing quickening. "He… he really did it," she whispered softly.
Jonathan stood still, his expression solemn but filled with awe. His son had just demonstrated that he had fire affinity; even if he did not have any other affinities, he would still be considered a genius in this world. It was proof that his mana heart, his very existence, was extraordinary.
The morning sun shone faintly on the three of them as the realization settled in. As they were lost in deep thought.
Aiden, at only seven years old, had become at least a dual elemental mana cultivator while also having a chance to become an all elemental mana cultivator again.
And this was only the beginning of his life. He still had a long life to live, and he will have more time to do more extraordinary stuff.
Author's Note / Disclaimer: This chapter is a work of fiction. All characters, names, and settings are original creations of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. The chapter is part of an ongoing fantasy novel and reflects the unique world, systems, and logic within its own lore.