“Small fire! I said to set a small fire!! This is not small!!!” Helplessly, I stared at the blazing inferno raging around me. Thick smoke filled my nostrils, and I coughed, glaring harshly at the apologetic boy in front of me.
“This is all your fault! What part of ‘small’ do you not understand, you idiot!”
“I’m sorry-“ he tried.
I interrupted, “This is your first task, and you’ve already proven to be a miserable wreck! Tell me, what do I do with you?!”
He hung his head, looking dejected, and for a split second a small part of me wanted to pat him on the back and tell him everything would be okay, but I maintained my chilly facade. I had had it harder during my own initiation. If he wanted to join the league, he must pass the pre-training.
“I can’t believe they assigned me to train him,” I muttered under my breath. Extending my palm, I aimed a perfect spray of ice at the roaring flames. Immediately, they disappeared with a hiss, and I closed my palm, turning to frown at my protégé.
He winced.
I smiled, satisfied with his reaction. “Now,” I said firmly, if you want to get better at this, you need to practice. You want to join the league, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he gulped, his eyes wide. I took note that they were the color of pure honey. Suddenly disgusted with him, I began stalking back and forth.
“You were selected from your clan – only you! And here you are, making horrible use of your gift. This is only the pre-training! What will you do when – IF – you ever get to the real thing?” My voice had risen, and I struggled to keep it down, noting the way his hands were smoldering with a fiery glow.
Hmmm. Maybe that was the way to get this to work. Furiously, I began to pace faster.
“You soggy biscuit!” I barked. “Are you useless?! You were chosen for a reason, but I’m starting to doubt you! Show me what you can do, or you’re done here!”
His eyes began to shimmer with burnt orange sparks, and he clenched his flickering fists.
“SHOW ME!” I roared. That was all it took. With a terrifying cry, the boy opened his palms to the sky. Perfectly sized flames sparked to life in his hands, and he forgot his anger, gaping in awe. I congratulated myself on our success.
“Very good,” I approved. “You can stop now.” When he didn’t, I impatiently laid my palms on his, expecting my ice crystals to extinguish the heat right away. Instead, the blazes grew stronger and I gasped, feeling warmth for the first time in my life. It was… strangely addicting. I was paralyzed by the brand new sensation. The frost in my hands were melting into warm water, but I scarcely noticed it.
We stared at each other; the two of us in harmony for a few seconds that seemed infinite. What was this unfamiliar warmth in my hands and my bones? But before I could say anything, the heat suddenly dissipated and my palms were freezing cold again. I stepped back, feeling the frostiness return to my eyes.
“That is all for today.”
“Wait.” He placed a hand on my arm, and I froze, aware of the tantalizing warmth that beckoned to me. “I don’t even know your name.”
Stiffening, I shook his hand off and faced him. “That is the point of it all,” I replied, my voice hard.
“Point of what?” he asked desperately, but I flung a non-deadly icicle at his leg and disappeared into the fog as I had been trained to. He asked too many questions. I’d have to be careful.
(to be continued ;)
what do you guys think? I haven’t written a short story in so long; it feels so amazing! I hope to post the second part soon <3 thank you all for sticking with me.