Chapter 19: Life Like a Flame

Chapter 19: Life Like Flames

About half an hour later, Xia Zuo carried a box of potions and stepped onto the street.

Besides the higher concentration of the blazing solvent and fire-retardant oil, Tyless had also selected a rather obscure potion for him.

One must admit, those educated at the Mage Academy possess a different level of insight and open-mindedness.

“Flame coloring solvent. Adding this solvent into the fire-breathing potion allows one to emit flames of various colors. Ingesting this potion causes bodily harm, expected to deduct 10 health points within 60 minutes. Holding it in the mouth deducts 2 health points per hour.”

Tyless produced three flame-coloring solvents: purple, green, and white.

Xia Zuo could mix six different colors according to the formulas in the potion box.

Including the natural red of the flames, there were seven distinct flame colors in total.

Such a spectacle had never been seen before in Rosak Province, only in the kingdom’s capital, Starry Night City.

Smiling contentedly, Xia Zuo walked along the road, already envisioning the audience’s overwhelming satisfaction.

Before leaving the potion shop, he asked Tyless whether the latest intelligence on elemental affinity could be shared with Audrey.

Tyless reverted to his usual dull middle-aged man’s demeanor, waving his arms while keeping the accounts, ushering Xia Zuo out of the shop.

“What elemental affinity information? I don’t know what you’re talking about. You must have heard it at the tavern, right?”

Xia Zuo smiled knowingly, feeling no need to hide anything from Audrey.

The big sister was well-informed, even knew the third-in-command of the Piek Citadel. Perhaps she had already heard the rumors.

At that very moment, a military courier who had traveled hundreds of kilometers from Piek Citadel stepped into Rosak City.

Dusty and weary, the courier immediately spotted the circus flag atop the pointed tent.

He hurried backstage to the circus, dropped off a letter, brushed past Xia Zuo, and rushed toward Rosak Castle.

As Xia Zuo entered the low tent, Audrey was just finishing reading the newly arrived letter.

“Take a look too. It’s rare good news.”

Audrey handed the letter to Xia Zuo, then turned to announce loudly to the other members:

“Everyone, everyone~ another big deal has arrived. The conflict near Piek Citadel has settled for now, and the commander has invited us to perform there again!”

“Yahoo~”

The clown siblings let out a joyful, peculiar shout that drowned out Snake and Popeye’s voices.

Last time, their month-long performance at Piek Citadel brought in more than twice the usual income without the hassle of frequently moving—a dream job for any circus troupe.

Xia Zuo read the letter through, feeling a secret relief.

The rogue alchemist in the underground cave and the bandits were not allies, but they maintained a close cooperative relationship.

With the help of the plump mage, soldiers at Piek Citadel captured one of the rogue alchemists alive.

Within a minute of capture, the man secretly swallowed a deadly poison and ended his own life.

However, all his belongings were preserved.

Letters exchanged with the bandits, potion development diaries, records of a surviving boy’s origins—all were intact on the desk in the cave.

Following these clues, the citadel’s forces destroyed nearly ten hidden bandit dens, successfully quelling the bandit chaos in southern Rosak Province.

Wave after wave of bandits were sent to the city’s guillotine and gallows, executioners tirelessly sending them off day and night; the faint scent of blood lingered in every street and alley.

Audrey slipped the letter into her inner pocket. When their eyes met, both she and Xia Zuo smiled in unison.

This trip to Piek Citadel was not just for the performance, but also to collect the bounty reward at the castle.

It might be even more lucrative than the show!

...

Half a month later, at dusk.

Inside a small reception room on the third floor of Piek Castle.

An alchemical lamp emitted a soft orange glow, illuminating precious ornaments in the display cabinet along the wall, enhancing the solemnity of the red-carpeted room.

Audrey sat nearby, hands clasped tightly on her rounded thighs, gazing intently at the two figures standing opposite.

“Xia Zuo, brave child, the intelligence you provided to Piek Citadel holds extraordinary significance.”

Wilson wore a brown military robe with a standing collar, three gleaming golden medals pinned on his chest, his expression solemn, his tone grave.

“After deliberation by the Rosak Council, it has been decided that I shall personally commend you.”

Wilson lifted a scroll tied with a red ribbon from the table behind him.

“This is the first reward: citizenship documentation for Rosak Province. According to the Starry Night Kingdom’s Provincial Origin Management Law, any commoner recorded in provincial historical archives is eligible for citizenship.”

Xia Zuo’s eyes brimmed with confusion and disbelief. The concept of “origin” Wilson mentioned seemed different from what he had imagined.

He accepted the scroll with both hands, then asked, “Uncle Wilson, what exactly do you mean by origin?”

Wilson smiled gently and explained in simple terms.

In an instant, Xia Zuo’s eyes sparkled. He promptly picked up a pen from the table and left his clearest, neatest signature on the citizenship document.

[Detected change in host’s 【identity】; character template updated with new advanced entries related to 【identity】. Due to being recorded in Rosak Province’s historical archives, gained +1 Charm attribute. Unlocked 1 【Character Skill】.]

【Identity】Fire-Breathing Performer

【Origin】Starry Night Kingdom, Rosak Province

Obtaining origin means your personal information is recorded in the archives of your home territory.

When meeting people from the Starry Night Kingdom for the first time, revealing your origin grants a higher initial favorability.

【Charm】3 + 1 → 4 (Recorded by real name in Rosak Province’s historical records for significant personal contribution. Your deeds will be known by everyone joining the Warrior Guild or Mage Academy.)

【Character Skill】

【Greeting Etiquette · Starry Night Kingdom】 Within the Starry Night Kingdom, when introducing yourself with the fixed phrase “I am Xia Zuo of Rosak,” temporarily gain +1 Charm. Effect lasts until the initial meeting ends.

In his previous life, he had origin and identity proof at birth. Who would have thought that for commoners in this world, origin was something longed for but unattainable?

Before gaining origin, anyone introducing themselves could only say “I come from such and such place,” not “I am so-and-so from such and such place.”

Such a simple phrasing was strictly regulated by law.

Those without merit to the provincial council or kingdom could not prefix their name with their origin.

In many cases, the citizenship document also served as a certificate of good conduct or a travel pass.

For example, at this heavily guarded Piek Castle.

Before today, if Xia Zuo wanted to enter alone, he would face rigorous questioning, and even truthful answers might not grant him entry.

But with citizenship, simply showing the document allowed the guards to accommodate his requests within their authority.

“Xia Zuo, here is the second reward. You may choose one from these.”

Wilson placed two thin booklets on the table.

They were deeds to properties in Rosak City and Piek Citadel.

The Rosak City property was a small bungalow, while the citadel property included a small house with a backyard.

Seeing Wilson’s expectant expression, Xia Zuo guessed the citadel house was added by this uncle.

He hadn’t forgotten Wilson’s words during their first meeting—he was eager to recruit Xia Zuo into the Piek Citadel army.

That would never do; he was destined for the Starry Night Academy to become a mage. After reaching the capital, he might never return to such a remote place as Piek Citadel...

Silently apologizing in his mind, Xia Zuo pretended ignorance of Wilson’s intentions and straightforwardly took the Rosak City property deed.

Wilson’s face remained unchanged; he smiled wryly:

“A house with a backyard can’t compare to a bungalow in Rosak City. Seems like Piek Citadel isn’t your favorite.”

Audrey stepped forward and patted Xia Zuo’s shoulder:

“Heh heh. This little guy already knows about the changes at Starry Night Academy. If you want to keep him in the army, these rewards won’t be enough.”

Wilson seemed to realize where he lost, chuckling heartily:

“News travels fast. It’s good that people with acquired affinity can also enter Starry Night Academy. The admission threshold used to be high, and there were too few mages. Maybe soon even the citadel army will have military mages.”

Wilson glanced at Xia Zuo with a cunning look.

“How about I have the commander issue a bounty notice at the academy? What do you say, kid?”

The pay won’t be high, so I’ll pass. Heh heh...

Xia Zuo politely smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries, then left the castle with Audrey accompanying Wilson.

...

The next morning marked the official start of the month-long performance.

When Xia Zuo stepped onto the stage, a potion belt loaded with glass bottles was wrapped around his waist.

Inside the transparent bottles flowed fire-breathing potions of various colors, each corresponding to the flame color.

Xia Zuo approached the audience and randomly selected an adorable child, breathing out white flames toward them.

“Oh my! White flames! They dance like butterflies, so cute.”

The child excitedly hugged an adult’s arm.

The unprecedented flame colors held irresistible allure; the noisy audience strangely quieted.

Above the pointed tent was a circular ventilation window; bright sunlight streamed through, casting several beams of light onto the stage.

Xia Zuo stepped into the center of a light beam, inhaled a large mouthful of a higher potency fire-breathing potion.

“Whoosh~~”

White flames shot upward and diagonally from the beam.

The fire-breathing act seemed to become a meditative ritual seeking solace.

Pure and peaceful aura spread from the dancing white flames into the hearts of the audience.

After breathing flames lasting more than ten seconds, Xia Zuo noticed many spectators immersed in memories.

He glanced backstage; behind the curtain, several pairs of eyes showed complex emotions of anticipation and reluctance.

Xia Zuo took another mouthful of potion.

The white flames merged with sunlight, intertwining and shining together like lingering dance partners embracing inseparably in midair.

His departure was inevitable, though several months remained as a buffer.

The troupe had witnessed his transformation from a rustic boy to a fire-breather.

Snake always felt like the scene of Xia Zuo collapsing roadside had happened just yesterday.

Popeye still recalled carrying Xia Zuo from the muddy grass into the carriage.

That frail, light boy seemed suddenly capable of holding his own.

The clown siblings’ eyes reddened, silent tears trailing down their cheeks.

Audrey hugged her arms, trying to remain composed, occasionally wiping away tears.

The more time she spent with Xia Zuo, the more she understood his potential should not be confined to the remote Rosak Province, nor wasted in a circus.

Starry Night Academy was indeed lowering its admission threshold; new testing would begin within three months at most.

This news had spread to every corner of the citadel earlier that day.

For boys and girls, joining the Warrior Guild after adulthood would no longer be the only choice.

All who had not cultivated breathing techniques could undergo elemental affinity retesting at each city’s testing station each June or July.

Those who had cultivated breathing techniques... due to internal injuries, were no longer suitable to switch to meditation methods.

Xia Zuo’s farewell to the circus was thus a witness to the birth of a new generation of mages.

“White is the light of the sun.”

Xia Zuo exhaled a long stream of white flames.

“Green is vibrant life.”

“Purple is inevitable hardship.”

“Fiery red flames are our will to overcome adversity.”

He produced an indigo potion mixed from green and white.

“This is the color of wind and rain; it calms our anger and soothes our wounds.”

“After the storm, we shall see once again the eternal, shining sunlight!”

A powerful white fireball ended the performance perfectly.

Applause rang out endlessly.

Audrey pulled Snake and the others onto the stage, took Xia Zuo’s hand, and bowed to the audience.

“A unique performance, kiddo. You need to give it a name.”

Audrey’s eyes gleamed with expectation as she looked at Xia Zuo.

“Let’s call it ‘Life Like Flames.’”

Putting aside the golden finger information flashing in his mind, Xia Zuo gently hugged Audrey.

“Thank you, big sister. Thank you for helping me become a fire-breather.”

(End of Chapter)