From that night, Will found a routine. He would wake up and chop firewood before breakfast. When he was done eating, he and Maya would go to the field to pick herbs as well as hunt for wild turkey or whatever they could find. When they returned, Will used the rest of his day until the dead hours of night to train his fire.

 Will had lost track of time while in this routine. From constantly waking up and spending time with Maya, to training for hours on end, his days had become so meshed together it was hard to tell if he was sleeping or awake at some points. Though he couldn't find any other way to spend his days nor would he want to. While losing time, he was gaining power. He was now capable of keeping his fire lit for at least two hours.

 What started out as just a candle flame had gained in mass and height. Now instead of just a small flame, Will had in his hand what looked like a light stream of ruby red flame dancing upward almost to the first branch of the tall tree where he slept. Since he had gotten to this point in his self training sessions, he decided his flame control was at a level where he could finally try something new.

 Sitting cross-legged on his sleeping mat as he had done every day and night since he made this place his home, Will relaxed himself. He felt the ever present aura of heat around him, just as he always had. He allowed his thoughts to manipulate the aura, having it circulate into the palm of his hand.

 The ruby red flame sprang to life in his hand as tall as the lowest branch on his tree. Like a pillar of light, it stood on his palm threatening to set his tree on fire. Though this time, Will lifted his left hand palm up. He held a mental image of a flame within his other hand, and manipulated the aura to transfer half of the energy to bring it to life. Will now sat with two flames of equal size within his hands.

 Having the flames in his hands, Will felt a tremendous feeling of pride. He had done this all on his own with no mentor, no one to tell him what he was and wasn't supposed to do with what he had. The only thing that got him to this point were the books he'd read growing up, the lessons in which he never thought would actually come in handy.

 Now that he mastered both hands with the flames, Will allowed his mind to form both of them into balls. They were slightly sloppy, having only shape with nothing of actual power, but Will was excited. He had setup a target to try his luck. It was a thick wall of wood from what he was stacking. When he chopped wood for Maya, he put a few logs aside in order to tie them up for the target.

 Getting to his feet, Will threw the first fireball toward the target. Unfortunately as soon as it left his hand, it disappeared as if it were never there. Will was taken aback. If he couldn't throw it at the target, how would he utilize its power for his own defense later on? Sitting down again, he let the other fireball go out while he pondered what might have gone wrong.

 Having thought about it for an hour, Will felt the fraction of his used aura return and decided to try again. Forming just one fireball, he threw it yet again at the target. The end result was as disappointing as the first attempt. Far from giving up, Will made a second ball though instead of throwing it, he stared into the ruby red flame with a thought.

 Will channeled the aura to the ball; he imagined it floating above his head. The fireball as fast as his thought went straight for the top of his head. I don't throw the fireball, he thought to himself, I give it a direction, and it'll do the rest. Giving it a try, he channeled his intentions to the fireball, and it left the top of his head and went straight for the target.

 When the flame hit the wood, it was completely engulfed in the flame. Will had to scramble out of his camp to get water to put it out. Before he got to the well, a thought occurred to him. The flame is controlled by my thoughts, he thought to himself as he watched the ruby red flames engulf the wood. So if I will it to die, then it should right? Will gave it a try. Putting his hand up above the flame, he slowly brought it down while keeping his concentration on the fire he had started. As the hand went down, so did the flame. Interested in the aspect, Will didn't completely put it out. Instead, he willed his flame to return to his hand. The flame yet again reacted to his intent. “At least I know now that I won't have to waste any of my energy when the flame is already made,” he said in a thoughtful tone.

 Once he willed the fire out of existence, Will sat back down on his mat, excited with his breakthrough in his training. He allowed himself to fall into his sleeping bag while looking up at the stars. “I'm no Shadeslayer, but give me time,” he said to himself with a smirk on his face.

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 Seeing as though he wasn't exhausted quite yet, Will summoned his flames and sat in his cross-legged meditative position as he focused on changing the flames shapes. First it was his usual candle flame, and then he formed them into fireballs. So engrossed with his ruby red flames, he allowed his mind to wander. He thought of his father back home in his world, of what he knew about him. Will had always traveled with Jonathan since before his mother went missing. It seemed at times he was always around his father. So how did he know so much about this world? How did he know Michael? How did he know that he was in danger?

 While in his meditative trance, his flames depicted his desires, forming the face of his father, and then that of his mother. It was because of his desire to find Isabella that he was okay with being in this other world, to find her, and bring her home no matter what the cost. Jonathan deserved at least that much. If Jonathan was a true Minnesotan, that would just leave his mother as the one that originated from Crystallia, how else would he have these gifts?

 As the red flame burned bright with his mother's image, Will heard footsteps coming out to his tree. Quickly, he willed the flames back within his aura as he turned to see Maya and the thoughtful expression that adorned her features.

 “Hard at work as always I see,” she said as she sat on the grass next to him. Within the few months they spent together, Will had gotten pretty close to Maya. They spent most of their day out in the field picking herbs and talking about life. Will wasn't really that good at locating anything of which would be useful, so usually he would just be there for conversation. Maya didn't mind his lack of knowledge; instead, she found comfort in his company. Ever since that day, in which he saved her, she had always felt safe by his side. Will continuously renewed his vow to ensure her safety no matter the costs. He knew all that she had lost so far, and he couldn't bare if she lost anymore.

 Most nights while Will was training his flame, she would watch him sit for hours, constantly doing the same monotonous routine. Over the time, she had seen the improvement he'd made though never questioned how he seemed to know each step to overcome every obstacle. It was like watching a genius in action. She had always known he was different, of that; he would never try to cover up. He had already told her he was from a different realm so even though he knew what he did, she was sure there was a reason for it. Every once in a while, she would see him take out his phone and check it; she knew there was a picture of the woman he loved that he couldn't stop thinking about. To see the look he'd made after each time he'd check, as if he were in a faraway place completely alone, it would make her heart ache for him.

 Will summoned up both flames and in an instant, they flew one foot above his head. “I've finally figured out how to make multiple flames,” he began. “Though the density of the flame seems a little wild and untamed, it will only take a little more practice to be able to make something of these.” He pointed above his head with a smile playing on his lips.

 Maya started fidgeting; playing with a blade of grass she plucked when she sat down. Will had noticed a long time ago that she only did that when something was on her mind. “Have you enjoyed your time with me?” She asked with a half smile.

 “In my time within this world, you have been the only one to show me true hospitality,” Will said in a matter-of-fact tone. He allowed himself to fall back on his sleeping mat and look up at the stars. “If I could express the way I feel toward you, it would be the feeling I have for a family,” he said, turning his face from the heavens to look into the eyes of his friend.

 Maya's half smile turned full as she looked down to her single blade of grass. “I'm honored you feel that way, Will,” she said quietly. “I am going to Nearwood Village in a few months in order to give the herbs to the town herbalist for our annual sale. Since you've been here for a few months helping out, I should get a much better turnover than last year.” Maya looked back at Will. “I was wondering if you might accompany me to the village. After my incident a few months back with the guards, I do not really feel safe alone.”

 “Do you even have to ask?” Will chuckled as he looked at the serious expression Maya had. One that turned from steeled to a look of embarrassment as Will took hold of her hand. “As if I would let you go off on your own after the way we met in the first place.”

 Maya moved Will's hand away and instead embraced him, her head buried in his chest. “I knew you wouldn't let me down,” she said as a tear of happiness fell to the grass. For a few minutes, Will allowed her to remain within the embrace, but as the time passed, his thoughts drifted to Bianca.

 Maya noticed Will's eagerness to get out of their hold and quickly let go. She wiped her cheek and stood up. “Two months from today we will leave, until then just rest and gather yourself for the journey.” Will nodded with a smile, and she turned on her heel to walk back to the shack.

 Just before the door to the cottage shut, Maya saw Will turn his phone on once more. Looking at Bianca in the picture she sent him, the picture showing him that she was still there for him, all he could do was shut it off and look up. Maya could feel the loneliness Will was going through and wished with all her heart that there was something she could do for him.

 There was not even a single cloud in the sky as Will looked up. If only my mind could be as clear as this night, he thought to himself as he allowed his aura to make a wave of flames, constantly showing him pictures of his loved ones within his own world. The more Will saw, the more he realized just how alone he really was.