Vaela put a restraining hand on Adyr’s shoulder. Did she intend to keep fighting?

A better plan. They needed to think.

Under Vaela’s fingers, Adyr’s blood swirled. Fear and pain pumped to every inch of her body. Then Cold. Filling her up, Freezing her very essence. The pain dulled away. The fear faded. Adyr exhaled slowly, her breath Frosting through the air. Blue eyes, hard as Ice.

She stepped forward and Vaela’s hand fell back to her side. Thick Ice crept along Adyr’s staff, wrapping over the former Ice. At the tip, the Ice widened into a blade, an edge glinted in the sunlight. She approached Hermit and raised her weapon to head-level.

He struck first, staff stabbing towards her eyes. She knocked it aside and countered. He tilted his head and the Blade cut past his ear. His eyes danced along the Blade and a small smile curled onto his face. They circled and circled, cracks filling the air as they struck and parried. Adyr cleaved downward at Hermit’s head and he skirted around her. She whipped the Blade at him as he moved, but he ducked, his staff circling in a wide backswing. As she twisted with the momentum of her weapon, he smashed the length of his staff into her ribs.

Vaela gasped and flung out an arm. The staff rebounded powerfully off of Adyr’s side–and she didn’t cringe. Without a pause, she jumped back and hacked her Blade down from overhead towards Hermit’s shoulder. The Blade tore through his tunic and bit into his flesh. He slammed the midsection of his staff up into her weapon and the Blade jerked into the air. Adyr’s arms were flung upward with it and Hermit planted a foot to her chest. He shoved her back and she tumbled to the ground.

Vaela sprinted to Hermit, her heart pounding. They never should have used blades. She dropped her shield and fumbled to her belt. Healing. She didn’t know anything about the Power, but she had to try.

Hermit faced her and she jolted to a stop in front of him. The fabric of his tunic was torn, exposing a small cut from the top of his shoulder to his collarbone. It was so narrow, it could have been from a thorn during a leisurely hike. It barely even bled.

Hermit walked past Vaela to Adyr. “Not bad, Icestess.” He extended his staff down to her. “Not bad at all.”

Adyr grabbed his staff and pulled up to her feet. The Cold had faded from her eyes and now they burned with excitement. She clapped her hands to her mouth and let out a whoop. Her hands slid to chin-level, mouth still open. “I-I did it. I became Ice.”

Vaela stepped over to her. That exhilaration. She remembered it. To have Power flowing through you–it was incredible. She smiled and touched Adyr’s arm. “How’d it feel?”

Adyr shook her head, eyes still wide. “It felt, it felt…” She jerked Vaela to her and kissed her. Adyr’s hands, still trembling, clawed Vaela closer.

Vaela’s lips burned with heat and she pushed them hungrily into Adyr’s. She could feel Adyr’s blood pounding through her entire body, brimming with excitement. It was intoxicating.

Adyr broke off the kiss and blushed deep red. She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, I’m sorry! I was just so…” Her hands slid down an inch and she peeked out at Vaela.

Vaela bit her lip, her chest heaving. She wanted nothing more than to rip Adyr’s hands from her face and kiss her again.

Hermit called out, tearing her attention away from far more important matters. “You were Cold.” Adyr spun towards him and nodded with a laugh. Disappointment reared up in Vaela’s chest and she eyed Hermit distastefully. He saluted his staff at Adyr. “You summoned enough of your Power to let it Flow through you.”

She stepped towards him, hands curling into fists. “It was amazing. I knew you hit me, but I barely felt it. There was no…” She closed her eyes and sighed out. “No fear.”

Hermit nodded sagely. “Ah, yes, my pupil. You are strong, you just need training.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Vaela snorted and crossed her arms. She could have helped Adyr discover her abilities. This was only the first time they’d trained together. She stepped beside Adyr and touched her arm. “Yeah, well, I’m happy to help you train.”

Or do whatever…

Adyr shot her a smile and retrieved Vaela’s shield. She hugged it to her chest for a moment and then held it out to Vaela. It was hard not imagining Adyr smiling at her, looking at her with those clear blue eyes, covered by the shield–only by the shield, nothing else–and…

Vaela swallowed. “You should use it.”

Adyr tilted her head. “I use a staff.”

Vaela rubbed her arm. “Oh, right.” Adyr bobbed the shield towards Vaela again and she quickly took it.

Surah joined them in the field, a stick of chest-height in his hand. He glanced sourly at Vaela. “Oh, so you’ll loan a weapon to her, even though she doesn’t even need one.” Vaela rolled her eyes and pulled the shield back on her arm. He shook his branch at her. “And just because she’s pretty–”

Vaela flinched and pushed his shoulder. “Shut up!” She flushed and glanced at Adyr.

Adyr hid a smile behind her hand and nodded to Surah’s stick. “Um, that looks nice.”

“Wanna trade?”

Vaela elbowed him. “Surah.” He sighed and grumbled to himself.

Hermit strode in front of them and pulled out a knife Vaela hadn’t known he carried. He handed it to Vaela. “Ice Baby learned how to get stronger. Your turn.”

Vaela took the knife and held it up. “I’m not drinking my friends’ blood.” Adyr shied away from the blade, looking down at the ground.

Hermit stepped up to Vaela. “You’re going to exclusively drink your friends’ blood. People have to willinging Sacrifice to you in order for you to use their Power, you know that.”

She pushed the knife back to him. “Can’t you teach me how to fight first?”

“Yes, easily. But I’m not going to.” He leaned on his staff, ignoring the knife. “You’ve got to train your Power. Jace can do all the dirty work of teaching you to fight.” He nodded to her vials. “And if you want to be a snob and not drink any of the local vintage, then dip into your supply there.”

Vaela glared at him and dropped the knife. Surah dove down and retrieved it.

Hermit rolled his eyes and stepped beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Look, kid. You want to learn to fight? Learn to use your Power. You want to become strong? Learn to use your friends.”

Adyr still wouldn’t look up. Vaela rolled her fingers over the vials. Maybe she could get by just knowing how to fight. But no.

No more running.

She held the tension in her shoulders for another moment, before sighing. No matter what anyone else thought, she had to get strong. It was the only way to protect herself, protect the people she cared about. Her fingers trailed over each of the vials on her belt. Sight, Fire, Healing, Shadow.

Hermit faced her, eyes serious. “Choose carefully. You’ll likely only be able to master two other Powers.”

“Which ones are best?”

“One you’ll have a steady supply of.”

Vaela’s fingers reached the empty vials. Maybe one day, she’d be able to use Ice… “What’s the best for fighting?”

“Fire and Lightning for a mage. Strength for a physical fighter.” He peered in her eyes. “Of course, there are more, but they’re rare.” He put a hand to his chest. “Shadow is obviously the strongest all-around Power. But in general, it’s best for a, let’s say, more intelligent fighting style.”

With Surah at her side, she had Fire at her disposal. But, as much as she loved him, he was no mage. His Power could Warm people, but as far as generating actual Fire, well, he just wasn’t strong enough. And as much as she didn’t want to admit it, she had access to a far more powerful Mage. With a sigh, she pulled the vial with Shadow blood out.

Hermit nodded. “Excellent choice.” He stepped back and spread his arms. “New game, kiddos. Two versus two.” Surah immediately crossed to stand next to him. Hermit laughed and put a hand to Surah’s chest. “Not so fast.” He pointed his staff at Adyr. “Icy. You’re with me.”

She flinched back in a small motion as if he’d threatened her. Her eyes darted over to Vaela then back to Hermit. “I-I don’t want to fight my allies.”

He walked a few paces away from them and waved over his shoulder. “If you won’t help your friends grow stronger, then you’re shirking your duty to them.”

She stiffened, then bowed her head and strode after him. Surah edged over to Vaela’s side, clutching his branch and the knife. “Uhh, I’ll take her. You get Hermit.” He whittled off the stray offshoots on his branch.

Vaela raised her shield into position. She hardly blamed Surah–she wouldn’t want to fight Hermit either. Especially not after he easily knocked down her and Adyr multiple times. It was better this way. Besides, given the choice between attacking Hermit or Adyr, she’d gladly pick Hermit.

Hermit raised a fist overhead. “Ready?” He dropped it down. “Get set.”

Adyr took a step towards Surah and Hermit’s staff blocked her. She looked back at him and he walked past her. Vaela hissed, but Hermit ignored her and circled around Surah’s side. Surah pivoted, branch in one hand, knife in the other. Adyr circled the direction opposite of Hermit and Vaela tracked her with her stick. Hermit and Adyr walked until they were across from each other, forcing Vaela and Surah to stand back-to-back.

“Fight.”