Chapter 22: Fire bender

Sun was about to dive behind the horizon, a beautiful yellow-orange sunset-colored everything visible.

The ships that once surfed the cosmos now were all in whole, missing parts here and there.

Achraf was an engineer before he quit his job and ran with his daughter. Now he was more than happy to rebuild his old and loyal ship.

For O’rmon, assisting Achraf was highly beneficial. She could expand the knowledge that she already had about the basic structures of spaceships. In addition, it was distressing work for her, which she needed at that time. Many months of search led the way to the planet owned by some powerful force, they lost the battle, lost the ship, main hair to the throne was dead, she had to babysit the weakling kid, and finally, her mission was threatened with failure because she stuck on an unknown planet. Some relaxation was exactly what she needs.

Kutch on the other hand had a high spirit. He was honored to train the future King of Psiora, he captured invisible dogs with an intelligence level of 4. He anticipated the reward for the for done. Even though he missed his favorite VD game, he was sure that once they arrive in a good spot with a strong signal he will fully dive into the game. Maybe even introduce it to Safo.

Dost was his usual self, he stood still on top of the ship, he was on guard. His metal golem body, which he made a home for himself, had integrated thermal vision. He was looking for the caecunis, just in case if they sought revenge. Nothing in his sight so far.

Safo Nur was in deep meditation for almost 40 minutes or so, when suddenly…

BOOM!

An explosion. Shock waves sent vibrations through the air making everything tremble. Fragile objects were shattered into pieces or cracked badly.

By the time they all gathered at the place from where the explosion sounds came, everything was on fire. Spare parts around the area were melting and dripping to the ground, which was black covered in soot. The fire was spreading through the flammable objects, which were far enough not to evaporate instantly as some stuff did in the epicenter of the explosion. A small crater appeared in the spot, metal parts bent, curved to the opposite side from the explosion.

When they all realized what happened, they were shocked. It was the place of Safo Nur's meditation. Kutch ran immediately but could not get close heat was about to devour him. However, it was available for Dost. Moments later he emerged from the wildfire with Safo Nur on his arms surrounded by the defense shield. He was unconscious.

-- 2 minutes ago.

"How did you do that?"

"I don't know I just punched it, anyway, there is no water here. Look."

After a moment of pondering they dropped the bucket holding one end of the rope while the other was attached to the bucket.

Surely, they heard a splashing sound, indicating that there was water after all.

Safo and Luna pulled the bucket back to the surface to check, for their disappointment, the water inside of the bucket looked like… well, water. Completely transparent and odorless.

"OK, What next?"

"Drink it, I suppose."

Warily, Safo Nur got a mouthful of water and gulped it all at once.

The chain of events followed by that action had happened very fast. At the very next moment, after Safo gulped the water, the door to the darkness opened by itself. The astral body of Safo Nur was sucked into the doorway and out of that realm back to his body. The bucket that he held dropped back to the well, fortunately, Luna was able to catch the rope.

Back in his body, even before he could open his eyes, Safo Nur felt his skin itching. Itching badly, like millions of sharp-pointed needles were pinching him constantly.

It was almost dusk and the weather was not as hot as in the daytime but Safo felt blazing. His chest was burning, he felt like sweating. Though his sweat was fumed away to the air like a mist. Soon smoke started to form out of him followed by sparks all around. And then a fire was born, not in the air but from Safo's skin.

His whole body as if it was a torch started to emit flame. Soon he was enveloped in it.

What he felt mentally and emotionally was a different story. At first, he was irritated by the itch, he had to ignore the fact that he was kicked off from the soul room, rudely and brutally. He assumed that it was caused by his mental exhaustion. He started to scratch himself everywhere like a madman. Hands were flying all over the place to calm his itch down.

His body heat was also a distraction, he blamed the training for that, thinking that his body was not ready for intense exercises.

He could find an adequate explanation for things that had happened to him so far, but soon his sanity had been shaken. His sweat, on the skin, started sizzling and turned into steam flying upwards.

He felt hot, sure, but that was not hot enough for water to boil on him. His opinion changed when the smoke and small flames appeared in different parts of his body.

That moment scared Safo very much. He felt danger. He didn't want to just watch as he did before, he promised to stay alive. He jumped and was about to run to ask for help, Dost probably could help him, when his skin started published the burning inferno in huge amounts.

BOOM!

-- An hour later

"You awake, good. Man, you scared us. What the hell happened."

Kutch stood by him, eyes full of worry.

"I...am… a fuc*ing...Firebender!" Safo threw his hand upward making a "rock on" sign with index and pinky fingers up.

Then came time to apologize for all the worries and harm that was done by him.

That moment, with the first water well open Safo began to gain his resources back. Spiting fire from his body - 100° - 6000°

Safo Nur was happy as he never was before. For a regular human, who lived his 18 years without any supernatural thing in his life, having superpowers was super duper awesome.

He couldn't wait to resume meditation and try that water again but in small portions. Maybe a lick for starters.

Once more Safo Nur was instructed to be careful. Dost took him to the roof of the ship so Safo could sit near him, just in case. The metal alloy of the ship could handle the explosion that Safo Nur caused.

By Dost's estimate, he checked the epicenter of the explosion, the fire that Safo summoned was around 4000 degrees. Most things on the planet could be melted at that point.

The next 10 days Safo Nur spent in intense training, physical exercises under cutch command, meditation practice to be able to reach the spirit real faster, and his fire resource inside of the defense shield of Dost.

By that time the ship was ready, after a test flight, they all exited the planet.

After another 6 days of high-speed traveling, they entered the signal zone. Frankenstein communicator worked according to the plan by attracting other ships. The rescue came fast, towing them to the nearest planet with a track.

Track - a pocket dimension which allowed to teleport within it. The Empire spent colossal amounts of resources to connect distinct systems and galaxies.

In no time, two ships teleported through the track portal and parked in port.

"This is the highest stage that we can offer to park. I hope you will find what you need here." The captain of a merchant ship that saved the Safo Nur and his companions was a nice droid.

"Thank you very much. I owe your master. Any time you will be in New Tenga we will treat you the best. Again thank you." O'rmon and Kutch didn't tire of thanksgiving. It was as if they won a lottery in the form of a friendly ship that bravely decided to help some random folk.

They parted after wishing each other the best of luck and went into the thick of Stage 10.

AXIS - the planet of contrast. Hundred stages upward and hundred downward. HIgher the stage better the environment and the cost of living. Lower stages were for the poor, homeless, outlaws, and slaves.

Stage 10 was a considerably affordable place. The main reason for stopping was the proper bath for everyone. It was a harsh month without enough water to spend freely, thus they booked two rooms in a hotel.

"We will go get some decent clothes for you, to give you a marketable condition. King should look like a king, after all. I think we should buy a weapon too, just to compliment the outlook." Kutch made plans for Safo and him. He happened to be on AXIS before, he promised Safo to show him around after a good shower and some rest.

"Okay..." Sweat covered his hands with the thoughts about being a leader on a planet of aliens. The most thing that made him nervous - public speeches. As a king, he has to give public speeches all the time.

In two days they will teleport directly to the New Tenga where he will be introduced as a grandson of The Great King Admaloo, the heir of the throne, the King of Psiora.