CHAPTER 34: ARRIVAL OF THE QUEENS

Ian stood firm in the middle of the yard, sweat dripping from his forehead as he extended his hand once more. The faint flicker of a flame appeared in his palm, no longer as feeble as before. It wavered, yes, but it held its shape longer than it had in his earlier attempts. He bit down on his lip and focused, refusing to let it die.

Piper folded her arms and nodded ever so slightly. "Better. Hold it. Do not lose control of your breathing. Fire feeds on rhythm, just as it feeds on air. If your will wavers, so will the flame."

Ian groaned, his arm trembling. "You know, for something that’s supposed to burn hot, this is exhausting. My arm feels like it’s made of lead."

From the side, Chloe smiled encouragingly. "You’re doing better than most beginners, my lord. It took me days to get a flame that steady, and you’ve managed it in hours."

Ian glanced at her quickly before returning his gaze to the flame. "You mean this little glow worm here? You must’ve been really bad at it, Chloe."

Chloe laughed softly, shaking her head. "Mock me if you want, but don’t lose focus or you’ll snuff it out again."

Sure enough, as his attention shifted, the flame shrank dangerously. Piper snapped sharply, "Eyes on the fire, Master! Do not divide your will. Fire obeys only those who command it fully."

He straightened, sucking in a deep breath, and the flame pulsed brighter. "Okay, okay, I get it. Focus. No jokes. Serious Ian in the house."

Lyra, who had been watching from the corner with arms folded, raised an eyebrow. "Finally. Took you long enough to stop acting like this was a game."

Ian shot her a brief grin without looking away from the flame. "What can I say? Laughter keeps me sane. But fine, if you want serious, you’ve got it."

Minutes stretched into an hour. The tiny flame grew steadily each time he summoned it, growing from a matchstick flicker to something more like the steady flame of a torch. His breathing grew ragged, his robes clung to his skin with sweat, and yet he refused to stop. Every failure only made him grit his teeth harder and try again.

Piper’s voice stayed steady, her sharp tone softening ever so slightly. "Good. Again. Call the mana, steady it, let it flow into heat. You are learning discipline, not just fire. Remember this...fire is destruction when untamed, but when mastered, it is creation."

Ian’s flame danced stronger, his expression shifting from frustration to concentration and then finally to pride. He looked at Piper and Chloe with a faint grin. "Well? Still candlelight? Or am I officially torch-level now?"

Chloe clapped her hands together, eyes shining. "More than torch-level. You’ve improved faster than I imagined you could."

Even Lyra’s lips twitched with the hint of a smile. "Not bad. I thought you would collapse after the first few tries."

Piper tilted her head, her hair catching the glow of his flame. "You are consistent, I’ll give you that. And that is worth more than talent alone. Consistency builds mastery. Remember that, Master."

Ian nodded, the flame still burning in his palm. "Got it. Consistency. I can do that. I’m not giving up."

The first rays of dawn had already begun to spill into the yard by the time Ian realized how much progress he had made. His flame was no longer the timid flicker that struggled to stay alive the night before. It had grown steadier, brighter, and though it still paled in comparison to Piper’s blazing fireball, it was enough to show that his efforts had borne fruit. Sweat clung to his skin, his eyes felt heavy, and his movements had grown sluggish, but even then, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Piper, who had been watching him closely, finally raised her hand, signaling that he should stop. "That is enough for now," she said gently, her tone carrying a mix of approval and firmness. "You have pushed yourself farther than I expected in such a short time. Any more and your body will not only resist you, but you might risk damaging your core before it has even settled."

Ian wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and let out a tired laugh. "I still feel like I could do more, just one more try, maybe I could make it burn brighter."

Piper shook her head and stepped closer, her eyes steady as she looked at him. "Do not be reckless. The fact that you can already conjure a flame of your own after only one night is something worth being proud of. You should rest now and allow your mana to settle properly. Rest is just as important as practice."

Chloe, who had been sitting nearby, nodded in agreement and spoke up with a smile. "She is right, Ian. If you keep forcing it, you will only end up fainting, and then you will miss everything that comes next. Besides, you deserve to sleep. You earned it tonight."

Ian gave them all a tired grin and nodded slowly. "Fine, I hear you all. I suppose a few hours of sleep would not hurt."

Piper’s expression softened, and she placed a hand briefly on his shoulder. "Not a few hours, Ian. Sleep properly. Wash, eat something light, and then allow yourself real rest. That is an order from your teacher....My Lord"

"Teacher already?" Ian chuckled weakly, though he was clearly pleased with the title.

"You have earned that much," Piper said with a faint smile. "Now go."

Obediently, Ian allowed himself to be led away. He bathed, letting the cool water wash away the sweat and tension from the night’s efforts, and when he finally lay down, the softness of the bed pulled him under almost immediately. His last thought before slipping into slumber was a mix of pride and disbelief at how far he had come in so little time.

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When the first rays of sunlight crept into the room, Ian stirred groggily. His body ached, but there was a strange satisfaction in the soreness, as though it was proof that he had actually achieved something. Piper’s voice from the night before still rang in his ears, reminding him to discipline his breathing and keep his will steady. He stretched, rubbed his eyes, and realized for once that he was actually proud of himself.

A soft knock came at the door, and Chloe’s gentle voice followed. "My lord, it is morning. You must get ready. The Queen has summoned you."

Ian groaned and sat up slowly. "Already? I just laid my head down. Let me guess....no one cares about sleep in this world either."

Chloe stepped in, carrying fresh clothes folded neatly in her arms. She smiled patiently. "Rest is important, but the queens are waiting. You cannot keep them waiting, not when the Queen herself insisted you attend."

"Yeah, yeah, queens and empresses," Ian muttered, running a hand through his red hair. "I didn’t sign up for any of this, Chloe. All I wanted was to live my life, now I’m here... training fire magic like some fantasy movie character."

Chloe gave a small laugh, though she lowered her eyes quickly as if afraid to overstep. "Perhaps you were always meant for something greater, my lord. Now, please change into these robes. They have been prepared for you."

He sighed but stood, changing behind a screen while Chloe waited silently. When he emerged in the heavy garments once more, he scowled and pulled at the sleeves. "I’ll never get used to these. I feel like I’m being swallowed whole."

Chloe only tilted her head. "They suit you well. But the queens will care more about what you represent than how you feel in them."

Before Ian could reply, Lyra entered briskly. Her expression was serious as usual. "The carriage is ready, my lord. We must not delay."

Ian raised an eyebrow. "That fast? Didn’t Piper say the kingdoms were far apart? How in the world did they all manage to get here overnight?"

Lyra met his eyes without flinching. "They are not ordinary rulers. Each of them commands magic and resources beyond what you can imagine. Distance is not a barrier to a determined queen."

Ian let out a low whistle. "Right. Of course. Because why not? Add teleporting queens to the list of things I need to get used to."

Piper entered last, her usual sharp gaze sweeping over him. She studied him for a moment and then gave a small nod. "At least you look the part. Remember, today is not about showing skill. It is about showing that you exist, that you are the heir they have been searching for."

Ian snorted lightly. "You make it sound like a job interview. Do I bow, shake hands, or just smile and hope they don’t burn me alive?"

"Show respect, but do not grovel," Piper instructed firmly. "You carry imperial blood. They will test you with their eyes and their words, but you must not falter. If you doubt yourself, they will doubt you too."

Ian muttered under his breath as he followed them out. "No pressure then."

The group moved to the carriage waiting outside the mansion. Ian climbed in with Lyra at his side while Piper and Chloe sat across from him. The horses stamped impatiently, and the driver flicked the reins, sending them forward. Ian leaned back, staring out the window at the unfamiliar city streets, his mind racing with questions.

He finally turned to Piper. "So all six queens are already there? Just like that? No delays, no excuses, all gathered in one place?"

Piper nodded. "Yes, my lord. The weight of an imperial heir is no small matter. They have been waiting for such a sign for decades. They would not hesitate to come."

Ian rubbed his temples, feeling the pressure mounting. "Great. Six powerful queens in one room, all staring at me like I’m their prize chicken. What could possibly go wrong?"

No one laughed. The silence in the carriage was thick, filled with the gravity of what awaited him. Ian sighed deeply, leaning back again. "This is going to be the longest day of my life."

After about half an hour, the carriage slowed. Through the window, Ian caught sight of the towering palace gates, gleaming under the morning sun. The guards bowed deeply as the carriage passed through, and Ian felt his stomach twist with unease.

They pulled up to the grand entrance, and Piper gave him one last look. "It is time."

Ian hesitated for only a moment before stepping out, his cloak pulled tightly to hide his hair. He glanced up at the massive palace looming before him and muttered under his breath, "I still can’t believe I’m walking into this madness."