“I guess I was right,” Ryu said contemplatively. “Your natural affinity is to the earthelement.”
“This is all so weird,” I muttered. “I can’t believe I just didmagic.”
“You sure did.” He hummed in thought. “You’re actually progressing much faster than I anticipated. You do have a natural alignment with magic, that’s forsure,but…”
He trailed off and I looked at him curiously. “Butwhat?”
“I have a theory,” he said. “Would you mind trying out a few tests for me,Gabriel?”
“Of course,” I said. I felt an amazing rush from using magic - real magic - to make that seed grow. It was a high, like what flying must have been for Dante. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on another potofsoil.
Throughout the afternoon, Ryu presented me with multiple types of plants. Soon the floor was littered with loose potting soil. I manipulated many seeds into sprouting early, making leaves grow just enough for Ryu to notice, and even stretching the roots of Ryu’s wilting bonsai tree so that it absorbed more water. He was particularly excited aboutthatone.
“Gabriel, you have an extraordinary power!” he cried. “This is so exciting. Dante’s gonna be thrilled when hefindsout.”
Sweat trickled down my brow from exertion, but I didn’t even care. I felt amazing. I had this secret power inside of me that I didn’t even knowabout.
“I want to try to make a flower bloom,” ItoldRyu.
He smiled but said, “Maybe you should take a break. It’s been a long day and you’ve already donesomuch.”
“Come on, I feel fine,” I said. I wiped the sweat from my brow. “Just one more. I really want to see if thisworks.”
“Well, okay, but then I’m sending you home to rest,” Ryu said. He picked up a small ceramic pot from the front counter and brought it to me. I recognized it as the stubborn carnation that refused tobloom.
“I’ve tried everything with this damn plant,” he muttered. “Water, sun, fertilizer, a lack of all three… It just doesn’t open up, no matter whatIdo.”
I took the ceramic pot from him and looked at the plant. The stem and leaves were intact and seemed healthy. But the bud at the top was firmlyclosed.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I channelled all the nurturing feelings I felt towards my baby into the soil, letting it surround the plant. In my mind’s eye, I imagined the plant healthy and happy, opening up its bud to soak up thesun’srays.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Ryumuttered.
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by bright pink flower petals. The carnation hadbloomed.
I laughed. “Noway.”
Ryu was happily shocked, shaking his head in awe. “If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. You made it bloom,Gabriel.”
I sat back, feeling lightheaded but proud. Ryu took the pot and scampered over to the counter, where he placed the carnation infullview.
“Here, take a sip of tea,” he encouraged, pushing the cup towards me. I gladly drank. “I believe my theory wascorrect.”
“And?” I said, my voice slightlyhoarse.
“I believe your pregnancy is enhancing your magic skills,”hesaid.
I braced myself against the table. “Huh.Really?”
“Yes. Even the non-dragons I’ve known that are magic aligned never improved this quickly. Perhaps your magic is especially powerful because earth tends to be the most strongly influenced by nurturing people, and you obviously have deep nurturing instincts for your baby. That would explain why you’ve improvedsofast.”
I nodded along, but suddenly I couldn't quite follow. My head was starting to spin and my body rocked, despite holding onto the table. I feltdizzy.
Ryu’s excitement faded, instantly replaced by concern. “Gabriel?”
My vision blurred. Spots blew up behind my eyelids as I rocked in place. Then Ryu’s concerned face went sideways as I fell. Everything wentblack.
* * *
