Page 54 of Axis of Fire

“Is that where you were born?” The question slipped out.

“In the air world?”

I had no idea why I suddenly wanted to know more about him.

But it was already said.

And now—

I’d have to deal with the consequences.

“Why would you even ask that?” His brows drew together slightly.

His body tensed instantly.

I froze at that reaction.

And realized:

That wasn’t just a question to him.

“Why does it surprise you so much?” I swallowed the first bite and immediately took another.

“What’s so strange about asking an air mage if he was born in the air world?”

Silence followed.

Communication between us was... difficult, I’d noticed.

We either suffocated in silence

or poisoned each other with words.

But this time—

the atmosphere felt different.

“The next world is tied to the power of death.”

He ignored my question.

Just like that.

Which told me everything I needed to know—

we were never going to be anything close to friends.

Not really.

I noted that.

“Great.” I nodded, thinking out loud as I chewed.

“So the worlds are connected to the four natural elements, illusions or dreams, lightning, light... and death.”

The last one—

I definitely needed to learn more about.