Flight Without Wings

Chapter 8

       Next morning, I was greeted by the same warm, sticky humidity that permeated the jungle. Soon, everyone else was awake.

       Jade found a patch of dirt and grew breakfast from it. Everyone was able to eat the bright red berries that he could grow.

       "Such power is useful out here. I'll admit, I would have a much easier time, if only I had it." Iegis said. Jade didn't say anything in response. Once we were all done, Iegis stood up.

       "Zyara, come with me, it's time we practiced." Iegis declared. I nodded and stood up, following his lead.

       Iegis led me out of the cave and through the jungle that surrounded the hill. None of the massive trees grew on the island, but there were plenty of smaller ones that had taken root. The island was covered in shrubs and glowing flowers as well. It was almost as though the canopy of the jungle had been peeled away here, replaced only by what lay on the forest floor.

       However, Iegis found his way to a place where the rock was less steep, a pathway that spiraled upwards. We trudged up the path, taking fifteen minutes of uphill climbing before we reached the top. When we did, I had to suppress a gasp.

       We were almost two hundred feet up, at the level of the canopy in the rest of the jungle. I could clearly see the river that flowed around the island before reconverging on the other side. The top of the hill formed a large plateau of flat stone.

       "Here, we're relatively far away from anything problematic. Now, show me some examples of your destructive capability." Iegis said. I nodded.

       I held my hand out, and crackling energy was called to my arm. Then, I condensed the vantablack in front of me before hurtling it into the distance. It slammed into the side of a tree, leaving a scorch mark behind.

       Then, I called my power into the air, and it began to shimmer. A vantablack singularity was conjured, and after a brief moment there was an explosion of thunder. The sheer volume of the sound shook the trees and scared countless birds. My ears rang for a few moments before they recovered.

       "Alright, that is very destructive, but it might not be the most practical. You need something more precise. Recall the feeling that comes with your crackling power. Then, I want you to focus as much powerful magic as you can into it." Iegis instructed.

       I nodded and held my hands out in front of me. I tried to call upon the crackling power, but alongside powerful magic. Yet, nothing happened. I sighed.

       "Start by calling the crackling power of your minor magic." Iegis said. My arm pulsed with vantablack power, and I took a deep breath.

       I started by focusing just a bit more powerful magic into it. I saw no change. So, I focused more. The magic pulsed and crackled more violently than before, but, it wouldn't release, not in its current state.

       "Call more." Iegis instructed. I nodded.

       I focused more magical power. The vantablack began to dance around me and along my entire body, buzzing with excitement. Then, it demanded release. It wanted to be set free.

       I held my hand out in front of me and called my power forward. All of the vantablack focused into a dark singularity just beyond my palm, and there was a moment of silence. Had I done something wrong?

       Suddenly, a bolt of dark lightning erupted from my hand into the sky. Thunder exploded in my ears and echoed through the supersized trees. Instead of flashing with light, the bolt pulsed with darkness, and the entire forest went dim for a brief moment.