Lumi was confused. Eden was out here talking by himself. So Lumi had to ask. "You understand it now?"

"I do." Eden confirmed. He was feeling something strange through the bonding amulet around Sol’s neck.

It was a slight sensation of hunger.

That was the bond. He was feeling what Sol was feeling.

Sol was hungry. No wonder the phoenix had made such a commotion earlier.

Eden faced Lumi. "Sol is hungry. What do phoenixes eat?"

Eden expected some sort of mythical resource. Sol was an Imperial Phoenix, wasn’t he? Surely such a legendary creature required something equally legendary to sustain itself.

He didn’t know what, but he was sure of it. Maybe it could be some rare magical fruit that only grew in specific locations. Or perhaps, since Sol was a magical creature, it ate concentrated mana crystals ground into powder. Maybe even some kind of elemental essence.

Or likely, a resource he couldn’t even dream of!

His mind raced through possibilities, each more fantastical than the last. He looked at Lumi expectantly, waiting for the answer.

"Oh, just food." Lumi said simply.

Eden blinked. "Food? Like...?"

"Yes, food." Lumi confirmed. "Imperial Phoenixes just eat food."

"But..." Eden struggled to process this. "What kind of food? Something special, right?"

Lumi shook his head. "They’re omnivores. Even when young. Literally give it anything edible and Sol will be fine."

Eden stared at him. "Anything?"

"Anything." Lumi repeated. "They have an extremely similar diet to humans. Give him meat, vegetables, grains, or fruits. They’re not picky."

The anticlimax of it all left Eden speechless. Here he was, bonded to one of the most legendary creatures in existence, descended from heroes, carrying the weight of destiny on his shoulders.

And his phoenix ate normal food. Just... regular food. Like any other person ate.

"I see." Eden finally managed. He looked down at Sol, who chirped expectantly. "I suppose that makes sense. You’re still a living creature, after all."

The problem remained, however. Eden didn’t have any food on him. Why would he? He’d left his farm in a rush, bringing nothing but himself and the phoenix.

He turned to Merath hesitantly. "Um, Great Merath? I hate to ask, but do you have any food I could give Sol?"

Merath’s expression softened immediately. "Of course. The young phoenix needs to eat."

This was one request Merath didn’t mind fulfilling at all. Unlike crafting magical artifacts or identifying rare materials, this was both reasonable and simple. A newborn creature needed sustenance. That was natural and right.

"Thank you." Eden said gratefully. "I really appreciate it."

Merath waved off the thanks. "It’s nothing."

He raised his staff, and in a flash of light, disappeared.

Eden waited, still cradling Sol carefully in his arms. The phoenix seemed to understand that food was coming and settled down slightly, though it continued making small chirping sounds.

Lumi watched the interaction quietly. It hadn’t even been a day, and the bond between Eden and Sol was already forming.

Was it so fast for every phoenix master? Lumi didn’t need to be told the answer to know that this was exceptionally quick.

Lena bounced on her heels, apparently fascinated by the whole situation. "Do you think Sol will get big? Like, really big?"

"Not too big." Lumi shook his head. "According to history books, they say that while mature, adult Imperial Phoenixes are bigger than a human, certainly, the size is nothing exaggerated. Perhaps the size of a large horse, without counting the wings."

"Woah." Lena’s eyes went wide. "So it’s not like a dragon? That’s still so cool!"

Eden’s eyes also went wide, but for different reasons. "Wait wait, a large horse? How am I supposed to carry him around when he’s that big?"

"You won’t." Lumi said. "He’ll carry you."

"Oh." Eden looked down at the tiny creature in his arms. "That’s... that’s going to take some getting used to."

Merath reappeared in another flash of light, holding a small wooden bowl. Eden peered inside, and for a split-second, froze. Yes, he was just told that Imperial Phoenix’s ate mundane diets, but even then, the contents surprised him. Inside was a mixture of rice, beans, and meat.

At the end of the day, he was still next to powerful magicians with fancy robes and status. If they were going to eat anything, it would be fancy, right? That’s why Eden could have never imagined the meal would be something incredibly familiar to him.

Merath handed the bowl to Eden carefully. "Here. This should be sufficient."

Eden accepted it with both hands, having to shift Sol slightly to do so. "Thank you, Great Merath. I really mean it."

Merath gave a small nod, then stepped back to give them space.

Eden looked down at the bowl, then at Sol. "Alright, buddy. Food’s here."

He held the bowl closer to the phoenix, causing Sol to immediately perk up. The creature leaned forward, pecking at the rice with enthusiasm. Within seconds, Sol was eating eagerly, content now that it was receiving its first meal in life.

Eden watched, fascinated. But what really caught his attention was the sensation coming through the bonding amulet.

He could feel Sol’s satisfaction. The comfort of having hunger be satiated, the joy of tasting good food, and the contentment of having a need met.

It was strange. Not unpleasant, just... different. Like experiencing someone else’s emotions overlaid on his own.

"This connection is weird." Eden said aloud. "I can feel what Sol is feeling."

Lumi nodded. "That’s the amulet working. It will become more natural over time."

Eden shifted his grip on his wand slightly, maintaining the connection. "Is there a way to be connected to Sol without having to actively hold my wand? It seems inconvenient to always have to grip it."

It was something he was rather unsure about. How was he supposed to fight, travel, or even just live normally if his hand always had to be occupied holding a piece of wood? Even if it was within reach at all times, he was supposed to develop a perfect bond, wasn’t he?