A soft knock sounded against the wall outside Fia's room. "Hi. Come in!" she said, looking forward to another visitation with Diwa. Fia's favorite nights involved bouncing on the same nest as Viliant, eager to hear another fantastical legend of the Malakow Jungle. However, a more serious air followed the green dragoness as she slipped into her room tonight.

Diwa lay at the base of Fia's bed and rapped a thoughtful claw against the wooden floor. "Tomorrow, I want to begin lessons with Viliant. He needs to learn the foundations of magic. I think this will be good for you too, if you'd like to join us."

"Yes! I want to," Fia said with a fierce nod. I miss the classes we had at home, she lamented to herself. All the Carlinoan dragonets, just old enough to learn like Fia and Arenis, had received instruction from a shared teacher. In addition to her passion for practicing magic, she also enjoyed playing with her friends.

"But I wanted to warn you. Our pace will be slow. Can you promise to stay with Viliant and not jump ahead of us? Your participation should encourage him, not frustrate him."

"Yes. Can do." Fia flicked her tail into a smile. There was no need to show off; Viliant had already seen her capabilities especially when she had attacked the Dragon Slayer.

"The lessons might feel too easy for you," Diwa continued, "but the basics are extremely important. Even more so now that your element has been fully awakened."

"Fully… awakened?" Fia repeated. The pink dragonette sat upright, fully awake by how cool this sounded. What does that mean?

"You've unlocked all your power." Diwa explained, "When you first discover your element, it's only partially awakened, partially available to you. Once it's fully awakened, you'll be able to use more spells—and more powerful ones—than most other dragons."

Between the time in which she had escaped from the coliseum and succumbed to her fever, Fia's fires had burned brighter than any which she had made at home. The dragonette chalked up the difference to training in the cell and putting her magic to real use. The intensity of a life-or-death situation fueled her fire, so long as her flames did not sputter out from fright. Apparently, something more had underlied her explosive growth. A shudder crawled up her spine, causing her wings to drape over her hunkered frame. Fia could recall the exact moment that the ember of her internal flame had exploded into an inferno. The Dragon Slayer….

Unaware of Fia's personal musings, Diwa continued, "Of course, you still have a lot to learn. If anything, I'm worried that too much power, too soon will make it easier to hurt yourself. Some dragons go their whole lives without ever awakening their full potential." Diwa's wings folded and tail curled out of embarrassment. "I haven't reached mine. Sage Rokirith is the only dragon who I've known, personally, to achieve the full awakening."

I'm as great as the Sage? Fia gasped, not realizing that she had become so enlightened at a young age.

Diwa chuckled and nuzzled Fia's cheek. "I'll tell him you said that. Goodnight, Fia. I'll wake you for practice, bright and early tomorrow morning. Sleep well."

And don't let the dragonflies bite! Fia said with her roar slipping into a yawn.

Diwa paused at the door, one dainty claw lifted in surprise. "Dragonflies? Who told you there were dragonflies in my house?"

"Viliant."

"Of course, he did." Diwa tromped off to the next room where she would likely tuck Viliant into bed only after he had received a scolding.

***

The next day, Diwa stirred the dragonets first thing in the morning and ventured down the tree with them. On the forest floor, a small fire crackled, started by Fia on a patch of clear ground. Later, they would use the fire in their exercise, but for now, it provided a cozy atmosphere for their lesson.

The firelight reflected off Diwa's green scales and danced in her slitted pupils as she instructed, "All magic can be broken down into the two most basic spells: bend and manifest. We're going to practice the first one right now. Fia, red fire burns in front of you. Viliant, the jungle casts its shadows all around. Focus on your element as it naturally occurs in the environment," the dragoness advised. "See if you can feel a connection to it, just as we are connected to each other's minds right now."

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All three dragons closed their eyes. Deep, slow inhalations filled their chests as they enjoyed each other's company. Fia squirmed out of happiness, grateful that Diwa could foster quiet moments with Viliant like this. Her joy let her easily feel the dancing flames, swirling them into a helix above the pile of wood.

The basic magic lesson was too simple for Fia personally, but Viliant had never received formal instruction. He needed to rehabilitate his twisted ley lines and rebuild the strength to cast the spells which he had learned too quickly. The gloom of the forest pulsed, responding to Viliant's demands of it. The darkness pressed inward on the three dragons. A shadow of guilt crept over Fia's mind, as she was the one who had helped him awaken his element and encouraged its misuse. Her vortex of fire destabilized and collapsed inward, sending sparks over the other dragons.

Diwa yelped and cast a quick healing spell to soothe the spots where embers landed on their scales.

Hissing, Viliant said, Stop. You're not the only one here—

"Shh." Diwa's meditative voice washed over them. "Quiet your minds, both of you. The more attuned you are to your element, the less effort it will take to manipulate it. Empty yourselves of all thoughts and emotions. Focus. Become one with fire and shadow."

Fia sighed, knowing that Diwa tried her best to teach her own understanding of magic. However, she was feeling less certain how much of the magical foundations overlapped from element to element. The nature dragoness must require a tranquil mind, but the fire dragonette needed to burn with passion. Can I ask something? Fia asked tentatively.

You just did, Viliant pointed out.

"What is it, dear?" Diwa replied. Some annoyance flitted through her mind directed at Viliant's bluntness.

Since this question gnawed at her conscience, Fia asked, Is there only one way we can connect to our element? Fire dragons are supposed to stay bright and happy, but I don't know if that's something I can always do… anymore. The dragonette dwelled on the journey ahead, the tough times which she knew would inevitably come. Do you think there's another way I can connect to fire?

As the glow of the bonfire reflected in her wavering, blue eyes, Viliant hissed an answer. Rage. The fire crackled and popped, whispering to her the same suggestion.

"Viliant—" Diwa started to reprimand.

I'm serious, he said before she could deny the legitimacy of his idea. Viliant focused on Fia with an intensity to match the sincerity behind his emerald eyes. The fire you made right after the Dragon Slayer declared war on your clan was the hottest of all your flames.

A knot twisted in Fia's stomach. The feeling back then, she could hardly remember because she was so blinded by rage. The explosive fire spell had burned through all her energy and caused her to pass out shortly thereafter. That was the kind of boundless power that she needed. Viliant's right, Fia admitted in a somber, hushed tone.

Absolutely not! Diwa exclaimed. Don't listen to him. You'll be as much a fool as Rokirith if you willfully go down dark paths!

The so-called sage had nearly rationalized leaving two baby dragons to die. As much as Fia admired Sage Rokirith, she cowered, afraid of the cost to obtain such strength—the strength to save her people. But if I don't… how is that fair? Viliant's shadow magic draws from his despair. He can't be the only one to carry that burden. It's supposed to be my burden! Fia's thoughts rushed through her mind, as if she could blurt them out loud.

A tension, almost palpable, hung in the humid, tropical air. After a long pause to cool the fire dragonette's head, Diwa finally answered her concerns. "The way you understand magic… that's not accurate at all, I'm afraid. Magic doesn't care about your feelings."

An anxiety welled within Fia over her wrongful magic education. But that's what they taught me at home, she whined.

A hefty sigh passed Diwa's jaws. That model is called the emotion theory of magic. It's an extremely harmful way to engage with the element in your magical core. At least it sounds like the Carlinoa Clan has made room for positive emotions, but the dragons of the plains are steeped in negative emotions. That's why Sage Rokirith struggles so much, because he believes blackfire simmers from vengeance."

After a pause intended to let these new concepts sink in, Diwa turned to Viliant, "Have you really been trying to channel your magic through despair?"

Viliant recoiled at the question, ashamedly tucking his tail beneath his body where he lay. Nevertheless, he repeated the same two words which he had said upon awakening his magic. Misery and despair.

The stubby horns on Diwa's head smacked against the nearest tree. That explains a lot, she projected before she could withhold her judgment from the children. Aloud, she said, "Both of you must find a more sustainable way to engage with your element. In Malakow, we strive for balance in all things. You only need to meditate with a clear mind to connect to your element. Try again."

Viliant closed his eyes to refocus on the exercise. His frame rose and fell, seeming to draw in more turmoil than that which he hefted out. The small muscles around his closed lids twitched and drew tighter. The shadows around them bore down, more drastic and insistent than before.

Is it working for him? Fia wondered in her own head. Hastily, she rejoined the exercise to try the new technique for herself, siphoning the flames and swirling them around the bonfire.