Luis was wondering before the party how they would get decorations up so fast, but to his surprise, they just didn't. Most of it was done using blessings to make old decorations change appearance.
Any signs of stalls or places that may have mentioned the Xoliti clan switched to signs that congratulate the Phoenix clan. Some decorations did need to be set up, and instead of actual people setting those up. The Autonomous clone blessing was used to do most of the work. It allowed the people to celebrate with the Phoenix clan without actually having to do most of the work.
Even for the stalls, people who were well-versed in using the clones could have their clones on the stalls. Since the food was free at the party and you just had to ask for it.
There was another thing that Luis was not quite used to, and that was now being called young master. It felt odd, even the Phoenix clan members he knew in the village started calling him that. Mira, Aelina, and Rico, who were with him, also joked and called him that, but he stopped them as it just felt too odd.
But unlike him, Kael and Lira were happy with being called young miss and future clan chief, young master Kael. They flexed it on Adryn and Emberlyn, but Mira and Rico didn't let the new titles get to their heads. "Titles or not, you're both still dumb brats," Mira said, and more.
Luis chuckled as he remembered the prideful grins vanish from their faces. Except that the party went as expected, going to stalls, eating food, and there were important people who came to greet them, such as the clan guardians and many more.
The party was still ongoing, but Luis had come back to his room. Ever since he reached the advanced tier. He had started getting headaches that would happen every so often, because of that he just decided to head back to his room earlier.
Luis was just about to go and lie down on his bed when he heard a sound.
"The Phoenix is getting closer to its reincarnation time."
Luis turned around, looking at the door, but there wasn't anyone or anything there. Even though he was sure that's where the sound came from.
The confusion could be seen on his face.
'Who was that' Luis thought, thinking that maybe someone spoke to him with flameborn connection.
"No need to be on edge, I suppose it's understandable since it's our first time meeting, I'm the Xoliti clan Deity."
Luis heard the voice again, but still couldn't see anything, and he was sure it wasn't speaking to his mind. 'The Xoliti clan deity, I remember mom said it was there when I was born.'
"Why are you not showing yourself and speaking while hidden?" Luis asked
"I don't show myself unless it's the Xoliti clan chief or the Phoenix."
'That just sounds annoying to always do,' Luis thought
"Wait, what did you say you were here for?" Luis said, remembering that the Alicorn said something, but he had gotten startled instead and forgotten what it said.
"I came here to see how long it would be before my friend reincarnated."
"How long," Luis asked nervously
"At the fastest, it will be by the time you're seventeen, at the latest it will be when you're twenty-one."
Luis's parents had told him that the Phoenix might reincarnate before he turns twenty, but hearing this from someone like the Xoliti clan deity felt different. He was already twelve, about to be thirteen, and only at the advanced tier. He needed to reach the legendary tier to be able to live, and the grandmaster to have a small hope at survival, but that was three or four tiers away, and each tier took longer and longer to progress in.
Luis always knew that he would die if he didn't reach the legendary tier before the Phoenix reincarnated, but now, having heard it from the Xoliti clan deity itself. Luis was struck with doubt and fear that he would not be able to do it.
His belief in himself was lowering. Luis always tried his best in training, training more than his parents or Aunt Sera said, but it still didn't feel like enough. He wasn't talented like Aunt Sera, he had heard stories about her reaching high tiers at a young age that his parents told him, to probably encourage him, which is what he believed.
But it wasn't that encouraging since at Luis's age, she was already in the elite tier. Luis could also tell in the way she taught her. The way she would explain how to use aura. It was evident that there were things that she didn't struggle with when at his tier, so her explanations didn't show experience, experience of struggle, struggle of being stuck in a tier for a long time, failing to understand what to do next. The only struggle he knew she had was being stuck at the legendary tier.
Snapping Luis out of his thoughts, the Alicorn spoke.
"You don't need to fall into such despair, as I said, the Phoenix reincarnating could be when you are seventeen to twenty-one years old. The reason I gave an age range is that the reincarnation depends on its own choice. If the Phoenix wanted, it could reincarnate when you turn seventeen, as it would have enough essence to start the process, but if it wanted, it could delay it. The Phoenix could delay it until you're nineteen. Delaying it above that is dependent on other things."
"For example, I heard you stopped hearing the voices. This is bad for you because the more the Phoenix talks or performs actions, the longer the reincarnation will be delayed. The maximum, however, is still twenty-one. Even if it uses a lot of energy, it will be just born into a tired body if it used its powers a lot."
There was silence for a few moments after the Alicorn spoke before Luis spoke.
"That means the Phoenix wants to reincarnate faster because it stopped speaking to me."
"No, it doesn't. The Phoenix has told me about the reincarnation process before, in case it died and I needed to help defend it. When the Phoenix is reincarnating in the early stages, it doesn't have its memories. It slowly gains them over time. It may have realised later that it was better for it to grow and speak later, to not make the process longer. As it could speak more later and not tire itself out as much, because if it spoke in the earlier stages, there would be no point, it would tire itself out and not be able to speak for weeks. Also, the Phoenix is not very cold-hearted. If you're close to the next tier to save yourself it will give you time. The Phoenix will delay the process, and when it can start speaking, the Phoenix can guide you."
"The Phoenix is older than I, has more knowledge of humans as well. There is no point in despair; all you need to do is keep doing what you are doing. I just came to check the progress, I am going to leave now."
Luis stood there in silence for a few seconds in case the Xoliti clan deity spoke again, but after he heard nothing for a few moments Luis slumped on the bed. Luis stared at the ceiling, the wooden ceiling that had the tree branches running through it, and the parts where the roots weren't were covered in wood planks.
Luis just kept staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. The last statement from the Alicorn had elevated some of his worries, but it would be a lie to say he had no fears anymore.
Thinking about the Phoenix reincarnation would cause Luis's heartbeat to increase because of anxiety. Anxiety of worry, worry that he wouldn't be able to reach the legendary tier in time. 'Having Kael's blessing, Undying Will would have been nice, Luis said while taking a deep breath to steady himself.
'I can do it, I can do it'
In these moments were Luis's thoughts would become clouded, Luis would keep repeating encouraging words in his mind until it blocked out all thoughts, even if those words were for something he believed to be impossible, Luis would just keep repeating them until he would hammer the belief of possibility into himself.
Luis just stayed like that until he fell asleep. Half his legs were bent, dangling off the bed. Just thinking. Thinking of what to do.