"Ah... this—!"

An Ya looked at the white flame and felt an inexplicable sense of closeness and familiarity.

Instinctively, she also reached out her hand.

A small white flame appeared in her palm!

Although it wasn't as stable and solid as the flame in Falk's palm, the color was exactly the same pure white.

Back then, during that Rain of Enlightenment, An Ya was one of the first beneficiaries in the Wildfire Territory.

Her Professional Awakening even happened earlier and quicker than young Sophie.

However, she had no interest in Magic Cultivation whatsoever, so she deliberately concealed from Andrew the fact that she had already Awakened.

What An Ya didn't know was that she reported to Andrew every day, and even if Andrew didn't notice at first, it didn't take long for him to sense it.

He saw through that she had actually become a Warm Fire Magic Apprentice.

Out of respect for An Ya's personal wishes, he didn't point it out.

At this moment, looking at the small white flame in An Ya's palm, Falk's eyes were filled with more laughter: "I was right; you are like me!" The old man's tone carried a trace of excitement and admiration, "I didn't expect to meet a kindred spirit here."

"Young lady, do you know what kind of flame you possess?"

"A... magic flame?"

An Ya was a prodigy in territory management, but in Magic Cultivation, she was a complete novice.

Sure enough, upon hearing this answer, Falk's face stiffened slightly, and after a moment's silence, he endured his patience and said, "Yes, indeed, it is a kind of magic flame (what else could it be?)... But this type of magic flame is one that very few people possess!

It is one of the 'Eight Strange Fires'; you know about the Eight Strange Fires, right? No, you don't? Hmm... never mind, never mind! You just need to know that the special magic flame you and I possess is among all magic flames in the world, 'the flame with the highest temperature'! That's enough to know.

Moreover, the flame most compatible with driving the 'Fire God Mecha' is also the flame we own!"

At this point, Falk's face grew solemn.

He looked at An Ya with increasingly gentle and kind eyes: "Young lady, you and I are the same kind; we both possess... the 'Pure White Blaze.'

"Pure White Blaze... Pure White Blaze..."

An Ya murmured it twice, then looked back at Falk, "So, sir, is this the reason why you specifically assigned me to become the controller of the 'Fire God Mecha'? That mecha seems ordinary, perhaps not only because it hasn't been activated by a crisis. Also because... it hasn't been truly ignited by the flame meant to drive the mecha?"

A look of approval flashed in Falk's eyes, thinking that although her foundational magic knowledge was a bit lacking and she Awakened at a slightly old age, she's very smart.

That's more than enough!

Nodding, he said, "Yes, the 'Fire God Mecha' will only be fully activated after being ignited by the 'Pure White Blaze.' Of course, the greater the crisis, the greater the mech's counterattack capability—this is also true. However, that's not the entire reason I assigned you as the mecha controller."

With that, Falk paused, then looked at An Ya, speaking warmly, "You possess this magical talent, and it's a waste to be just an administrator in this territory. If you are willing, I can talk to your Lord and bring you to Warm Fire City, come to my laboratory, and become my disciple, how about it?"

Upon hearing this, An Ya's expression changed!

And at the same time, already heading to the reform institute, Andrew could never have imagined: the seemingly mild Falk was actually poaching Wildfire Territory!

"You don't have to rush to reply. As long as you answer me by tomorrow morning."

Falk chuckled, "Your talent shouldn't be wasted like this, young lady. On the path of magic, 'possessing Pure White Blaze' already makes you one in a million! So, do you want to continue doing a job here that anyone else could do as an administrator?"

But An Ya said, "No need, I can answer you now. First, I won't go to Warm Fire City with you; I have important work here. Second, this isn't a job that just anyone can do well, sir, don't underestimate my current work!"

Falk frowned upon hearing this: "I think you still don't know what possessing such a flame means..."

"It's not important." An Ya smiled, speaking softly, "No matter what it means, it can't make me give up my current job. Can't you see? So many people here need me!"

"This..." Falk was taken aback, watching An Ya turn and leave after speaking, suddenly he called out, "Then there's no need to go to Warm Fire City, how about letting me teach you once a week through 'Heart Net'?"

"What?" An Ya turned her head.

Falk explained a bit.

The general idea was for An Ya to continue holding her administrator job in Wildfire Territory while, in addition to this work, maintaining contact with him through the "Heart Net" and receiving regular one-on-one instruction.

"This... could be considered." An Ya thought for a moment and said, "But I still need to ask our Lord."

Falk couldn't help but laugh helplessly: "It seems I'm the one begging you to become my disciple."

"—That's about it."

At this point, An Ya told Andrew about Falk's intention to take her as a disciple.

Seeing that Andrew, after listening—especially after hearing she possessed one of the Eight Strange Fires, the Pure White Blaze—didn't show much surprise or shock, An Ya suddenly asked, "Sir, did you know already? About my magical talent?"

Andrew smiled, thinking that if you report to me every day and I still don't feel anything, wouldn't I be too slow?

As for An Ya not only Awakening but also possessing one of the Eight Strange Fires, Andrew had vaguely guessed through the kind of "closeness" he felt towards An Ya that he didn't have when they first met.

Of course, he never knew which one of the Eight Strange Fires specifically.

Only now do I realize, it's the so-called "Pure White Flame," known as the "hottest flame."

"Really? So, you knew all along..." An Ya was a bit frustrated, then asked, "So, do you think I should agree to Mr. Falk's offer?"

"Of course! It doesn't delay anything." Andrew nodded, "It's just like taking online courses!"

"On...line courses?"

"Uh, nothing. Anyway, I think it won't hurt to learn."

"Oh, okay. Then I'll go ahead with it."

"Mm."

—And that was the end of their conversation about this matter.

Soon after, An Ya started discussing with Andrew the specific details of how Nongfu Spring would supply the Warm Fire Commerce Association.

Not far away, Falk seemed to be dancing, but in reality, he was using magic to eavesdrop on Andrew and An Ya's conversation.

Upon hearing Andrew agree to An Ya becoming a student, he couldn't help but show a joyful expression.

However, he quickly heard them talking about other matters and couldn't help feeling a little frustrated, even somewhat bewildered: "Do these two youngsters really not understand what possessing a 'Pure White Flame' means? Even if An Ya doesn't understand, Andrew, a mage, should know, right?"

As a genuine Grand Mage-level strongman, Falk felt that his long-held value system seemed to receive an intangible but powerful impact!

"Am I getting old?" he thought.

He pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with any reliable conclusion.

Finally, he had to comfort himself by saying, "Well, anyway, having an additional student to pass down the legacy is always good news."

Meanwhile, Andrew chatted with An Ya while thinking, "Now it makes sense why Falk takes special care of An Ya."

The bonfire party continued until midnight before it ended.

Havier, hiding in his room, thought the world finally quieted down! He went to sleep.

Seeing Havier asleep, Ivan went to find Aunt Sofia.

Little Sophie, upon hearing that Andrew would leave the next day, cried and shouted for "Brother Andrew to take me with you." Andrew had to coax the little girl for a while before putting her to sleep.

Barbara, pulled by Leia to sleep together, engaged in some girly whispered conversations, leaving Andrew unattended for a while.

Soon, the entire Wildfire Territory fell into slumber. Tomorrow morning, the expansion project would resume.

At dawn, before the sky had brightened,

Andrew got up, dressed, and went out to meet Ivan, who was already waiting at the door.

Then the two headed towards the territory's east gate together.

Upon reaching the east gate, they saw Falk, Barbara, Leia, Havier, and the knights already waiting there.

Leia was smilingly asking Barbara, "Sister Barbara, are you ready to go home?"

Barbara nodded, but her feelings were complicated.

She looked forward to returning home but also felt reluctant to leave Wildfire Territory.

She hadn't forgotten the knights who had accompanied her to Wildfire Territory only to perish in Humboldt's "Fire Snake Trap."

Even after leaving Wildfire Territory, these ashes would always remind Barbara: Wildfire Territory was where she buried her naivety, and also where she was reborn.

"...Mm! I'm ready!"

Barbara took a deep breath and said with a smile.

Then she turned to Andrew, who had just walked over, "Are you ready?"

Andrew did not answer immediately but looked back.

He saw the vast starry sky and the tranquility, with the entire Wildfire Territory still in deep slumber.

After quietly gazing at this scene for a moment, Andrew turned back, smiled, and said, "Yes, I'm ready!"

"Then let's set off." Falk ordered softly.

Thus, the group set off quietly, heading east.

Behind them, the silhouette of Wildfire Territory gradually receded in the starry night.

Ahead, as far as the eye could see, lay vast, endless desert and wasteland.

However, Andrew was not nervous at all, only full of anticipation.

Because he knew well and was certain: beyond this desert, a broader world awaited him.