I tried taking deep breaths and slowing down. I tried giving myself a minute to pause. Nothing seemed to help.
I threw another stream of electricity out and watched it shoot over the target. I screamed, kicking at the ground in anger. “God damn it!”
I turned around, running my hands over my hair as I started to pace. I felt my body seeming to drum with magic, and it only angered me more. I’d seen what Jade could do. Both worked so well together, so why the hell couldn’t I get it right by myself?
I spotted Kaleb coming back from his run, having the perfect running form. He stopped near his bag, pulled a water bottle out, and took a swig.
I crouched down onto the ground, planning to just give up. Everyone had been throwing information at me for weeks. I listened to Jade explain what she could do, but I couldn’t. Jade could sense the darkness miles away. She could throw a fireball a hundred yards away, while I couldn’t even go a few feet. I had a hard enough time getting my magic to come out.
“You look frustrated.”
“That’s because I am,” I snapped. I looked up at Brandon. He was covered in sweat but didn’t look tired. In anything, he looked prepared for whatever the day was going to throw at him. “I’m not cut out for this.”
“You’re new at this, Nora.”
I pulled myself up. “Jade was able to go farther by this point in her training.”
“You’re not her,” he countered. “And everyone is different. No one has the same ability with magic. You guys don’t even possess the same gift.”
I pulled myself back up. I thought of the last time he had helped me. He had been right that I was thinking too much and that it was blocking my ability. Was I doing it again? Getting myself so worked up that I couldn’t focus?
“Would you like some help?” he asked, giving me a lazy smile. “I wouldn’t mind an ass kicking.”
I suppressed my smile. “Fine.”
We moved over to the sandpit, where Kaleb pulled out some boxing shields and placed them over his arms. He got into his stance. “These have some metal in them, so your magic should bounce off.”
“Should?” I asked.
He shrugged, still holding that lazy smile. “We’ll find out.”
I watched him get into a stance, and I took a deep breath and pulled my magic into my hands. I felt that warm spread over my palms, and it spread over my fingertips. I felt that cold spread over me like before, but basked in it now. I threw a blue light at him, but Kaleb moved, dodging it. I did it again, and he once more dodged. I took a deep breath in and threw another.
Kaleb then charged at me, knocking me back. I stumbled, landing hard onto the ground. Kaleb didn’t stop, though; he brought his arm up, ready to hit me. I threw my legs up, kicking him in the knee. Kaleb fumbled, and I rolled out of the way as he fell.
I pulled my magic up, letting the feeling soaking over me, and threw it at him. Kaleb pulled his arm up and blocked the hit. I watched him smile, though. “Nicely done.”
We bounced around each other. I kept trying to attack, and Kaleb dodged. But the more we moved, the more relaxed I came. I was nervous about hitting Kaleb, but he was quick on his feet, moving out of the way each time.
I shoved my elbow back, connecting with the pad. I felt his other arm wrap around my middle, tugging me back against him. I used the momentum of my legs and knocked us both backward. I used my magic and threw my power into the fist, as I slammed it into the pad.
I heard Kaleb groan, and I looked back, realizing I had hit him instead of the pad. “Oh my god!”
Kaleb groaned as pain crossed his face. I quickly turned, pulling my hands free. “Oh shit! Are you okay!? Oh my god.”
He waved his hand. “Give me a second.” I watched him take a few deep breaths in as he rubbed at his stomach. “You definitely are magical.”
I frowned. “This is not the time to joke. Are you okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. It just took me by surprise.”
I sighed, relieved as he wiped at his stomach. “But damn, Nora. You are some power behind your magic.”
I blushed. “You think so?”
He nodded. “Yeah, knocked the air out of me.” He pulled myself up, starting to unstrap the pads from his arm. “And you are better than you think. Working on a frozen target isn’t going to work on you. You need movement.”
I felt my magic simmer beneath my skin, unable to deny his point.
