The Hathway Kingdom. (Book 1)

Chapter Forty.

~Forty. ~

"Concentrate, Your Highness," the Master that had been assigned to Larissa said to her as he watched her concentrating on what he had been getting her to focus on waver slightly. A frown creased her forehead before it smoothed out again and he continued to watch her carefully.

Master Kai Paddon was the youngest of the Masters that lived within the walls of the Falconer Palace, but he was the most well-travelled and the most experienced amongst them. His green eyes watched his pupil carefully still and he could see the pure and raw power that was residing in her. It had been suppressed for years until recently and he could see it was almost ready to burst out of her at any second. He had to work quickly if he wished to prevent that from happening without the ability to control it or it from hurting someone.

He had her sitting cross-legged in front of an unlit firepit, her eyes closed as though she were meditating. He wanted to see if she could light a fire without looking at it. He knew that she was quite adept at manipulating anything regarding water so he wanted to see what else she could do with the other elements.

Before long, a spark flew from one of the twigs before they were suddenly aflame and Larissa's eyes opened, their colour having gone from their normal green to a bright fire orange. Paddon looked at her carefully as the flames grew larger and he wondered if that was her doing or if it was happening on its own. Though another look at her eyes told him that it was the former.

"Very good, Your Highness. Now...Put it out," he instructed her as he watched her intently, wondering if she would be able to do as he told her.

Larissa concentrated on the fire before her before she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She let it out slowly before she opened her eyes and focused on the flames again. Her eyes flashed and, before the flames died out, they darted out and one licked at her arm. Paddon was on his feet before Larissa could blink but he stopped when he saw that she was unaffected by the flames that had touched her.

"Did that...Not hurt you, Your Highness?" he asked her, and she shook her head, brushing off her arm as if irritated by the fact that the fire had touched her.

"No. I haven't found a fire hot enough to hurt me yet, and I am not looking forward to doing that either, Master Paddon," she replied as she looked away from her arm and up at him now and he nodded his head.

"Very well. Try again," he said to her and Larissa nodded her head before she readjusted herself and she closed her eyes again.

They continued late into the evening, repeating the same exercise over and over until Larissa could ignite and extinguish the flames of the firepit without looking at it and still have control over it. The only light where they were now that the sun had set was the fire from the pit and Master Paddon gave her a gentle smile.

"That will be all today, Your Highness. If this is anything to go by, then I am very curious to see where my other lessons take you," he said as he stood up and Larissa joined him, brushing herself down.

"I look forward to them, Master Paddon," Larissa replied before she bowed to him. He returned the gesture before he turned and left the area.

Larissa let out a sigh as she looked towards the flames of the firepit. She knew that the Master was assessing where she was at with regards to her control and ability over each of the elements, but she was tired of it. The flames of the fire snuffed out as she looked at them before she raised her hand again in front of her. She eyed her palm carefully, barely any light for her to see as the moon was hidden behind some clouds as it rose, but she did not need it to see what she was doing.