Dante eventually left, kissing me one last time, ordering me to be safe, and took off. As much as I loved him, I was glad to finally have the chance to talk to Ryu alone. My dangerous secret plan was about to become not-so-secret.
“How are you feeling today, Gabriel?” Ryuasked.
“I’m great, actually. But I, um... have a request for today’s training, ifthat’sokay.”
My teacher nodded. “Sure. Whatisit?”
“I don’t want to work on elemental magic today - at least not earth,” Icontinued.
Ryu watched me curiously. “Is there something in particular you’d like to learn,Gabriel?”
No use beating around the bush now. I nodded. “I’d like to learn how to createbarriers.”
Ryu looked surprised. “Barriers? Like the one surroundingCinderhollow?”
“Yes.”
He watched me, as if unsure of my motives but not wanting to pry. “Okay. I don’t know why you’d need to learn that but it never hurts to try newthings.”
He summoned me to the middle of the room and placed the carnation I previously made bloom in the center of the floor. I wondered what he was doing, but waited for him tospeak.
“Barrier magic,” Ryu began, walking around me and the flower, “is not elemental magic, but what we call clear magic. It’s not formed from a naturally occurring phenomenon, like elemental magic such as earth and water. Clear magic exists solely inside of those who can wield it.” He gestured to the plant. “Because there’s no real-world example, so to speak, it’s more difficult to teach. With the plants, I can simply point you to the soil and tell you to concentrate. But clear magic doesn’t workthatway.”
“So what do I have to do instead?” Iasked.
“It comes from within you, from the depths of your soul.” Ryu scratched the back of his head. “To be honest, I’m not too well versed in clear magic. Mine is decent enough to cover the basics, but you might benefit from learning fromLorenzo.”
“Dante’s brother?” I remembered I saw him at the barrier when we first arrived inCinderhollow.
“Yes. He’s excellent at clear magic. If you want to advance, he’s your guy.” Ryu cracked his knuckles. “But I’ll try to be good enoughfornow.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Ryu. Iappreciateit.”
He winked. “Maybe when I teach you how to create your first barrier, you’ll tell me why you’re suddenly so interestedinit?”
“Maybe,” I repliedplayfully.
To begin, Ryu demonstrated by creating a tiny orb-like barrier around the carnation. It was a shimmering, translucent blue, like the color of Ryu’s dragon’s scales but weaker. His brow furrowed intensely with concentration as he hovered his hands over the flower, never breaking eye contact. He held the barrier there for a minute before gasping and letting it drop. It disappeared like a bursting soapbubble.
“Wow,” I said. “Is it reallythathard?”
“For me, yes,” Ryu admitted. “Clear magic is not my strong suit, though. For someone like Lorenzo, he could probably do that with the flick of his wrist - he would create a stronger, longer-lastingone,too.”
I gestured to the carnation. “CanItry?”
Ryu nodded. “Of course. But don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t happenrightaway.”
“Okay.”
I stepped forward and raised my hands like Ryu had done. I shut my eyes and tried to channel the emotions and energy the same way I’d done with the plants through my fingertips. I pictured the barrier in my mind, protectively circling thecarnation.
I opened my eyes. Nothinghappened.
My shoulders sagged but I muttered, “Let me tryagain.”
I tried the same thing but imagined a thicker barrier, not translucent and thin like the one Ryucreated.
Still nothinghappened.
