They began walking to the temple and Xylas let them know it’d be a few hours before they made it there. The marsh was enormous, and the temple was directly in the center so it’d take the same amount of time to get there from all directions. This tactic was meant to try to deter people from ever making it to the temple. As they walked, they talked about more childhood nonsense and Xylas filled them in on his trips around the continent. Viri kept talking so that she wouldn’t be overcome by fear and anxiety. She’d keep it together like she always did, and she’d have plenty of time to freak out later when they finally made it through this. They had to make it through this because she’d confessed her newfound feelings to Xylas, and she’d be damned if that was all for nothing. So, she’d go into this temple and make these people accept her. A small part of her hoped she’d be able to do that without having to say exactly who she was because she wasn’t sure she could say what Xylas suspected out loud. But, if things went wrong, she’d make damn sure that she became the otherworldly god she needed to be to get her friends out of there. She’d be an Asai if it meant protecting the two people having her back through all of this.

She was about thirty minutes into her inner queen monologue before she realized Alyson and Xylas were both looking at her like she was crazy. She arched a brow at both of them. “What?” Alyson looked at Xylas before answering. “Well Vi-vi, you’re scowling and there’s a fire crown above your head.” Alyson pointed the crown above her, and Viri yelled, “WHAT?” Alyson busted out laughing as she tried to fan away the crown. Xylas tried to stifle his laugh. “I don’t know what you’re thinking over there, but you looked very queenly.” She flicked him off before taking a deep breath and willing the flames away that she’d unwittingly conjured up. Alyson couldn’t stop laughing and Xylas was still trying so hard not to laugh and make the situation better. “No, keep it. I’m sure a fire crown would help our chances in the temple.” She flicked them both off and sped up. Alyson finally reined in her laughter. “Aww, come on Vi-Vi. Magic is unpredictable. Especially when you’re a newbie.” She continued her speed walking as Xylas chimed in again. “We’d be more than happy to offer a few pointers if you deign to rejoin the group.”

She wanted to tell them to take their pointers and go to hell, but she knew she needed all the help she could get. She sighed and slowed down until they caught up to her. “Well. I’m waiting. And these pointers better be good or else I'll use you both as bait once we’re inside.” Alyson pinched her cheek, and she swatted her away. “Okay. Everyone is born with a certain level of magic. There are ways to increase it, but it takes such vigorous and mental training that most people don’t go beyond what they’re initially gifted with.” Xylas interjected with, “You can be gifted with a vast amount of magic, but if you’re physically out of shape, it won’t matter. You have to have the endurance to maintain your magic so everyone should start physical training at a young age, but some people neglect that part of themselves, so they never reach their full potential.”

Alyson added, “Magic is a mental and physical process, but when it comes to elemental magic, it’s greatly influenced by emotions. Those with stronger emotions tend to lose control of their magic more often so powerful wielders are taught to try to be more levelheaded during combat, which usually doesn’t go over so well so that's why there’s always so much damage when there’s a fight in the city.” Xylas nodded his agreement and said, “Most creatures with elemental magic never learn full control, so they don’t get to decide what level they use their magic at. Their emotions decide for them.”

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Alyson swatted a bug off herself before speaking again. “You won’t have much to worry about in that aspect though Vi-Vi. Thanks to your mom, you rarely let your emotions get out of hand – aside from these past few days, but even with all that’s going on, you’ve still been mostly in control.” Xylas rubbed his chin. “Just make sure that you don’t get so hung up on controlling your emotions, that you mistake it for choosing not to feel them. I’m sure your mother taught you that from what you guys have told me, but as it pertains to magic, blocking out your feelings weakens you. You must feel everything but control your responses to the feelings. You control how your emotions present themselves. For instance, if you get angry, you let it out in concentrated, controlled blasts and not a raging fire that takes over the city. That’s the true meaning of control.”

Viri took everything they said in, but Alyson was right. She wouldn’t have much trouble in that department once she fully came to terms with who she was. “My mom always taught me to feel things but to never let them feel me, for lack of better words. I’ll be fine on that front. Is there anything else I need to know about magic?” Alyson shrugged. “That’s pretty much the whole gist of the basics. You should try giving your fire-specific instructions so you can continue to get a feel for it while we’re on the way to the temple. You never know when you might need it.”

For the next few hours, she practiced shooting fire at random targets with different intensities and creating fire on different parts of her body. She never let the fire stay too long because the feathers would appear. Xylas noticed and after a while, he asked, “Have you ever turned into a full bird form like the Asai?” She wiggled her fingers, which were currently draped in flames, before extinguishing them. “I don’t even know if I can.” Xylas edged closer to her. “Would you like to try?” She’d thought about it ever since he told her she was Anzel’s daughter, but she had been too nervous to ever try. She didn’t like the thought of being that vulnerable before facing whatever lay ahead for them, so she just shrugged and said, “I don’t want to try to use that much power and end up burnt out before we even get to the temple.” Luckily, he didn’t push any further and they continued to walk in silence while she practiced more.

They finally made it to the temple around noon. She realized that being around Xylas had helped calm that incessant tug that first attracted her to the marsh when it returned about an hour before they stepped on the temple grounds. The closer they got, the more she could feel this presence in the temple that felt like a part of her very essence calling her to it. She sped up without realizing it and Xylas grabbed her hand. She blinked a few times and looked up at him and Alyson. They both looked concerned. “Do I have another fire crown on?” Alyson shook her head no. “You just look like you might float into the temple at any minute.” She scrunched her brows in confusion. Xylas squeezed her hand to get her to focus. “I think the gem is affecting you. I need you to regain control.” She shook herself and took a deep breath. She squeezed his hand tighter to help steady her and they began walking up the temple steps. The closer they got to the door, the more she began to feel a different power, or rather, hundreds of different power sources. She looked at Xylas and his face looked strained. He looked down at her and nodded silently. The Ifrit were waiting. She took another deep breath and let go of his hand. She decided it should be her that opened the door and led them in, and if she wanted to be taken seriously, she couldn’t be seen clinging onto him.