“No. No, I'm not afraid of heights. It's falling from a great height that I'm afraid of. And making others fall.”
Lord Jakel said, “Aw, thanks, Ember. First, you wanna blow me and now you're worried about me. I didn't know you cared.”
The other Lord on duty, Sern, added, “Yeah, I thought you only cared about Xaedren.”
“Knock it off,” Rath snapped. “He's training.”
Sern lifted his hands in surrender. “So sorry to interrupt.”
“Master Bri'tar, I could accidentally kill them,” I tried again.
“If they fall, they'll simply fade to the ground,” Rath said. “Stop worrying about them and focus, Ember.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“And stop wasting my time,” Master Bri'tar said. “I have prepared you, unlike my predecessors. You will not lose control. Now, do as I instructed and summon Air.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
Closing my eyes, I held out my arms and went through the process Master Bri'tar had outlined. I felt for the Air Magic inside me, envisioned what I wanted it to do, then steeled myself, and commanded it. I instantly felt the wind whip around me, gathering into a tunnel. I sent it upward to spiral above me, then opened my eyes. Focusing on the column of air, I silently commanded it to move faster. Spinning, gathering sparks, the tornado soon crackled with lightning.
“Well done!” Master Bri'tar exclaimed. “Now send it forth. I want you to target that mountaintop, Ember.”
I glanced at Bri'tar to see where he was pointing, then sent the magic in that direction. Sweat broke out on my brow as Air threatened to go wild. I could feel its need to be free, to blow over all the mountains, not just the one I sent it to. But I reaffirmed my mastery over it and demanded obedience. Like a wild horse, the magic bucked, the tornado bending and thinning, but I held firm, and, at last, it broke.
I touched the tornado down on the mountaintop, pulling up shrubs and dirt, then lifted it before it did too much damage. Once tamed, Air became easier to wield. I spun the tunnel, twisting it into all sorts of shapes. Yes, I was getting a little cocky, but I was also testing my limits. So far, I couldn't find any.
“Great Goddess!” Jakel exclaimed.
“Yes, most excellent, Ember,” Master Bri'tar said. “Now, release it.”
“Release it?!” I asked in shock.
“Don't release control of it, release the Air,” he clarified. “Let it die out.”
“Oh. All right.” I commanded the Air to subside.
Again, it fought me, not as tame as I thought. But I pulled back, and it blew itself out.
“Excellent!” Master Bri'tar exclaimed as the other men clapped, even Rath. “I think that's enough for today, Ember.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes, you've done well, but I don't want to push it. We'll try again tomorrow. Take the day off.”
“Thank you!”
“You're welcome. Well done.” Master Bri'tar pulled in his great wings and headed for the stairs in the center of the roof, patting my shoulder as he passed by.
“Damn, Ember!” Sern exclaimed. “You'll be mastering them all in no time.”
“Yes, he will.” Rath stepped over to me. “But he needs to know more than magic.”
“Wait. What?” I went still.
“I'm going to start training you to fight today.”
“Like,physicallyfight?” I squeaked.
