The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

43 - Guardian Weekend - Dominic POV

This is the day that EJ promised we would start our journey to coming to some sort of understanding; like that's really possible. The guy has some serious issues, and I'm not sure one weekend is going to solve it. However, EJ assures me that some progress will be made this weekend, but he didn't specify further.

We make it to the cavern and start setting up for the weekend. Hunter is grumbling in the corner, and I look at Jonah and just roll my eyes. Apparently EJ sees me and just shakes his head; a clear indication that he wants me to behave. What is it going to take to make this boy see sense?

As soon as we're done, EJ has us gather at the fire ring.

"Now Dominic, I want you to concentrate on the flames, watch their colors, feel the way the changing breeze changes their direction, feel that power building in you - once you get to a specific point, which you will feel, try and do something different with the flame other than shift its direction and bring flames into your hands to form fire balls. Concentrate on forming the flame into another shape other than a ball for instance a column, or a more oval shape that might resemble a tiny missile."

"Or a heart." Jonah jokes from beside me.

EJ lets out an exasperated sigh. "Really, Jonah? We have plenty of time to joke when I am not trying to teach you guys more magic techniques."

A whispered "sorry" comes from my left.

"Now, try to make a different shape."

I concentrate on the fire - it's colors and movement - I remember what the energy from fire magic feels when it courses through my veins. The heat starts to build from my center out to my hands. First I move my hands in a circular motion to create the sphere - a chuckle comes from my left - damn Hunter double dame his attitude. I'll show him. I move my hands further away from each other until a column of fire is seen between my two outstretched hands. I move my hands closer together and try to transfer the fire from my left hand to my right. I hold a flame in my right hand for a second before it burns out.

"That was a good try. The column wasn't bad, and you did attempt to do something different by trying to do something with only one hand. It is something you can practice, yes, but at this moment, it might be a better use of time to continue practicing making different shapes with both hands first. You can make just about any shape you want including letters and symbols. This has been proven helpful in situations where the Elementalist is in an open space and needs to get a message to someone far enough away that they can't speak to one another."

"Hunter, lets work with you away from the fire where it might be easier for you to channel the energy of the air. Moving air is a little easier for a new user of air magic to manipulate."

"Why?" Hunter asks from behind me.

An intelligent question for once. Maybe there is hope for him yet.

"Other than the fire hazard from the combination of swirling air and an open fire? You can potentially see more effects of the air, so you can work more effectively with finding the energy in the air you will need to channel to work with your air magic. Once you're better and more used to the feel of connecting with the energy within the air, you can move on to finding your way in channeling the air's energy in more confined situations where it will take more concentration."

Hunter just nods. Maybe the ass kicking he got from Tally has helped him come to the realization that he needs to take this more seriously. It's obvious Tally has been working in her free time with her air magic since she has to do the Protector training as well as elemental training.

Jonah has some of the easiest and most difficult magic to work with this weekend. We are surrounded by earth and we are surrounded by earth. A good but potentially dangerous situation for people staying within a cave. EJ is going to have Jonah do his elemental magic away from the cave along a mountain path. The path winds up a hill and over a rocky outcrop to a small clearing on the other side of the cavern; at least it feels like we hiked quite a bit of time.