Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Talent Awakening

A light breeze carried the clean scent of the wild. Fire-colored clouds spread across the sky, and the world beneath them glowed red-gold as if the sun had spilled molten paint.

Su Yan sat in the open courtyard, wrapped in comfort: thick deer fur on the stone stool, a fox pelt over her legs. In front of her, the roasting rack breathed out rich, smoky heat. Fat sizzled; smoke curled and broke apart in the wind.

“So fragrant,” she murmured, swallowing against the hunger that never quite left. “You really can roast meat.”

“If you like it,” Zulu said, turning the leg with practiced ease, “I can roast it for you every day.”

“Every day would get boring. Once in a while is enough.”

She glanced at Little Luo, still rushing to finish boots nearby. “Stop working. Come rest. We’ll eat in a bit.”

“Two more pairs and I’m done,” Little Luo said without looking up. “Brother Zulu is amazing. He only ate roasted meat once and learned how to do it.”

“Only once?” Zulu’s hands paused. He looked at Su Yan. “Who roasted it last time?”

“Sister did,” Little Luo answered for her. “You carried off the deer leg afterward.”

Zulu’s gaze lingered on Su Yan. “So your roasting wasn’t very good.”

Su Yan pouted. “It wasn’t good enough to leave an impression, apparently.”

“My fault.” Zulu leaned closer, voice turning soft and coaxing. “Don’t be angry. It’s bad for the child.”

Su Yan slid a hand over her belly. “So you’re only this attentive because of the child?”

“Of course not,” he said at once.

He sprinkled seasoning into the slits he’d cut into the meat—herbs and spice he’d chosen from the tribal shaman, mixed with the fine salt she’d provided. The aroma deepened, rich enough to make her eyes water.

Oro came in carrying a small blue-and-white rabbit. His face was tight with worry. “Su Yan, Fa Se seems sick. Touch him—he’s burning hot.”

Su Yan took him, panic flaring bright and sharp. The cub’s body felt too warm in her palms, heat pulsing under fur. “Besides the fever, any other symptoms?”

“No,” Oro said.

Zulu wiped his hands on rough cloth. “Give him to me.”

To everyone here, he was the cubs’ father—the one who doted on them the most. Su Yan could only hand Fa Se over unless she was ready to tear open the truth right now.

“Be careful,” she said, unable to hide her tension.

“I will.” Zulu accepted Fa Se and met the cub’s clear eyes without blinking.

“He’s awakened his talent,” Zulu said, calm as if he were discussing the weather. “Fire-element profundity. Profound rank.”

Oro went rigid.

“I’ll help him straighten out his fire elemental power,” Zulu continued. “Otherwise he could burn himself to death.”

He carried Fa Se into Su Yan’s cave.

Su Yan stared after him, stunned.

How could he tell?

Oro looked like he’d been struck. “Yan Er… what did your good son-in-law just say?”

“He said Fa Se is profound rank fire-element profundity.” Su Yan turned the meat on the rack, voice steady. “Dad, does our mouse clan even have profound rank?”

Oro’s mouth opened and closed. “I’ll go ask him again. Make sure I heard right.”

He rushed after Zulu.

Little Luo jabbed his needle clean through his own finger and didn’t even notice the blood. “Profound rank?!”

Su Yan took a bite of roasted meat. “Mm. It’s good. His roasting really is better than mine.”

“I can’t take this.” Little Luo threw down his tools and bolted. “I have to see!”

Su Yan kept eating, calm in a way that would have looked strange if anyone knew what she already knew.

Since she’d gotten pregnant, Zulu’s attitude toward the three little ones had shifted in subtle ways.

Before, he accepted them, but if he could avoid touching them, he did. Now he reached out on his own, held a cub, even helped him manage his elemental power.

In the past, he might have watched coldly while little Fa Se burned himself from the inside out.

Little Luo came back not long after, eyes shining with awe. “Brother Zulu is terrifying!”

“How?” Su Yan asked, chewing, grease on her lips.

Little Luo spoke fast, words tumbling. “He pulled all the fire elemental power out of Fa Se, condensed it into a tiny fire dragon, then put it back into his body. It circulated a few times and finally settled in his left front leg—leaving a fire-dragon mark!”

Su Yan’s chewing slowed. “A fire dragon?”

“Yeah! You should’ve seen it.”

“He’ll bring him out soon,” Su Yan said, handing him a piece of meat. “You can look then. Eat.”

Little Luo usually preferred raw meat, but he took a bite anyway. His eyes widened. “Brother Zulu is good at everything. This is delicious. It’s even better than yours.”