"The blood the chiefs were given was extracted from them and doing so put too much strain on their bodies. Humans can't endure this process and as they lost their powers they also lost their lives. When the Precursors killed the clan leaders everybody thought that we as a race would never witness the great divine powers again. Now, Kai, as u said earlier after decades full of peace the leaders secured for us the unexpected occurred. Can anyone elaborate on this topic?" - asks Hiroshi sensei.
I push my chair back and stand up vigorously to answer sensei's question.
"It all happened approximately four hundred years after the Precursors left and the six clan leaders died. The boy was born into an aristocratic family, his father was Mitsue - the Undying Flame clan leader and a descendant of one of the great chiefs. The name and origins of the child's mother are unknown. He was born perfectly healthy, was full of energy, and playful but bizarre events began occurring after the boy reached the age of three. He started being unusually attracted to fire. The boy would spend all his time next to the fireplace and cry if taken away from it. Little fires began to ignite in the boy's vicinity and..." - I speak passionately but Hiroshi sensei stops my monologue.
"Okay, that's enough Sunai, I see you already learned some of the material required for the upcoming exam. I am very happy with how diligent you are but let me take it from here." - says Hiroshi sensei with a gentle smile.
"Ah, yes sensei, I'm sorry, I got a bit too much into it." - I say while I sit back in my chair embarrassed, sensing the gazes of other students.
"No no no, you have nothing to be sorry about. Your interest in my classes and the knowledge about Aterra's past pleases me very much, it's just that I don't want people to think that I put the burden of teaching on one of my dear student's back, haha!"
My embarrassment is now replaced with pride as I hear Hiroshi sensei's praise. I know that it's far from easy to impress him and earn his favor.
"But let's get back to the subject matter. As u all heard from Sunai's precise explanation, leader Mitsue's son wasn't a normal child. When even more cases of this nature started to unfold, the fires became more recent and more dangerous, the clan leader decided to reach out for help and called for the greatest sage of the Undying Flame clan, hoping he could shed some light on this matter. The great sage spent the whole month in the clan leader's mansion conducting various experiments and trying to figure out the boy's condition but in the end, he couldn't confirm anything regarding the child's case. Many started to think that the leader's son is cursed and distanced themselves from the boy." - says Hiroshi sensei as he takes a look through the window.
"The sage gave up and apologized to the clan leader as he couldn't figure the origin of these bizarre events. But just as he was about to leave the great sage decided to try one last thing before he goes and asked a question."
"Great leader Mitsue, before I take my leave, will you let me check just one last thing?"
"What is it that you want to do now sage, after a month of your fruitless efforts?"
"Let me examine the child's blood, oh great leader!"
"What?! How exactly would that suppose to help?" - The leader replied angrily.
"Please, great leader, I promise I mean no harm to your son! You have nothing to lose, just let this old man try one last thing!"
"Hmmm... I guess you're right, well then, I give you the permission, but if I notice that my boy is in any discomfort or pain during your little escapade there will be consequences!" - said Mitsuo while clenching his fist in front of the sage's face.
"I understand that, great leader."
"Alright, son, please come over here for a second, there is one last thing the sage would like to check before he leaves."
"Come here child, don't be scared. The old me won't take too much of your precious time."
After calling the child the sage took out a weird device from his bag, looking much like a long needle with some kind of tank at the top of it. Then with a slow movement, he pierced the area around the boy's wrist.
"Aghh, it hurts, stop!" - the boy groaned.
"That's it, you old fart! I ran out of patience! Guards, get him!" - the leader screamed furiously.
But the sage didn't even notice the guards running in his direction. He just stood still, as if frozen, looking at the gold particles emitted by the boy's blood...