Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Branden and Esmeralda are still alive, and Liss is also there," Asche said after crossing her arms. "You should at least talk with them before leaving. That being said, your presence might worry them more than anything else."

Rain felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him as he pondered with the continued disbelief and skepticism regarding his return. The weariness stemmed from the ceaseless effort to convince others of his identity, a tiresome task that seemed to yield little rewards at first.

It weighed heavily on him, the persistent struggle to make everyone understand that he was indeed alive, present, and ready to take action. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

Moreover, Asche's words resonated in his mind, hinting at an underlying concern among the group. Her implication that his return might bring more challenging times ahead bothered him. It seemed evident that the assumption of an impending storm lingered among them, fueled by the knowledge that Rain wouldn't simply fade into the background…

"I will meet them, and I burdened them a lot as well," Rain thought. "I am sorry for causing you all so much trouble."

Rain walked to the forefront of the warship, seeking solace in the quietness of the moment. He sat down there in silence, and he found himself troubled with his thoughts. The weight of responsibility and the uncertainty of his next steps bore heavily upon him.

Amidst the solitude, Rain wondered with conflicting emotions. The pursuit of reuniting with his family and friends, once a fervent desire, now seemed fraught with complications and potential dangers. The realization that his presence might inadvertently invite more trouble and upheaval for those he cared about weighed heavily on his conscience.

In the midst of his contemplation, an unsettling idea emerged. Perhaps vanishing completely would be the most prudent course of action. The notion of disappearing without a trace, relinquishing his ties to this world and those he loved, flickered in his mind as a possible solution.

He entertained the thought that his continued existence might only bring further turmoil and danger to those he held dear.

It was a somber realization for Rain — the idea that his own survival might inadvertently cause more harm than good. The possibility of sacrificing his own life to prevent further chaos lingered in his thoughts. He grappled with the idea that if the necessity arose this time, he might not cling to the desire to return.

Rain understood that the very act of dying might not bring about the resolution he wanted . His return from death once before had set a precedent, leading others to expect the impossible from him. The mere act of dying again might not bring closure but rather ignite a cycle of anticipation for his eventual return.

After a couple of hours, Rain was able to see an island in the distance. They were heading there, and although the weather had improved considerably, the place was surrounded by ice walls. That seemed like something Branden would have made with his magic, and he was good with ice, after all. Besides, he probably decided to return to the fighting after everyone assumed that Rain had died…

As the warship got closer to the ice walls, a massive hole appeared in it, big enough for the warship to cross it. Rain dedicated his attention to studying the massive ice wall. The wall stood tall and imposing, but what struck Rain was its resilience against the natural elements. Despite the brilliant sunlight that bathed it, the ice remained firm and unaffected by the warmth.

Usually, exposure to sunlight would cause ice to melt, but this wall defied that rule.

Moreover, the wall didn't emit any coldness despite its icy appearance. Typically, such massive structures of ice would radiate a freezing aura, but this wall remained devoid of any such chilling presence. It seemed to be a spell or construction that resisted the influence of external factors, maintaining its structure and integrity regardless of the surrounding environment.

On the other side of the wall, Rain saw the island completely and soon realized that it was a manmade one… he didn't realize it at first. Still, it was something similar to the island that the giant blue shark that the pet that Seadrei had once carried on his back… they decided to build their new home, and it was probably expanding over time.

"Don't be creeped out," Asche said when the warship began to slow down.

"Why? This isn't a bad idea," Rain said. "If it can move relatively fast…"

"I was talking about what you will see… the royal family in particular," Asche said while looking away. "You might annoyed troubled about that."

Asche's words caused a frown to form on Rain's face. However, as they landed on the beach, a new sight unfolded before him. Countless trees, heavy with fruit, were around the landscape. Alongside them, people were engaged in fishing, using their magical abilities in the process to catch them. The mana levels in this area were notably high thanks to it…

Venturing further, Rain observed individuals utilizing their magic to accelerate the fruit-bearing process of the trees. It reminded him of his own experiences, manipulating his mana below the barrier to sustain himself. These people seemed to be transforming their mana into nutrients, speeding up the growth of the trees and ensuring a steady supply of food.

People around looked at Rain with suspicious eyes since he wasn't someone they had seen before, but he was walking with Asche, so they didn't mind him that much. They assumed that he was someone from another camp. They had heard of those, even though most of them had been born on that island.

The external layer of the island was used to gather food, but the central part of the place, which was around five kilometers in radius, was of the residences of the people. It resembled quite a lot the capital of the human kingdom, and when Rain looked at Asche, wondering about the meaning of that, she just shrugged.