Water and Wind

Arian

He watches the little girl in shock. Two days ago, was it? Two days ago they were playing with the wind, and now look at her. Freya's just called Circe's spirit, and goodness, there's a giant golden bubble that turns bad people to ash surrounding them. Everyone is stunned, especially him.

She's clearly recovered her strength now, for she looks over at him and Nimue with pleading eyes and a big smile that's lighting up her entire face. "I think Circe wants to see your show too." is all she says, but both he and Nimue get the message. They're waiting, all of them, from the children to the adults, and Freya is letting them know that they had better make her effort worth it. Well, they certainly will, and Arian nods in understanding. But he has an idea, an even better idea.

He turns to the spot where Circe's lightning first struck and kneels over to whisper into the ground. "You wanted a show sister?" A laugh bubbles up inside him. "A show you'll get." He brings his hands up into the air, summoning all the wind into his fingertips, his face strained with the effort. Finally, when his entire arm is shaking and there is no wind left to gather, he drags his hands down and gusts it all at the children. The wind carries his unspoken words. Fight it.

And one by one, the shackles fall. Freya's reattached chains are the first, her own wind bursting the metal into hot, shiny pieces. Fay is next, green ivy snaking around her wrist and prying open her chains. Then Sirena's piercing voice joins, each note higher and higher until her chains shatter. Then Alfred. Delinda. Jinx. Ondina. It doesn't stop until all hands are free, and then they all look up at Arian expectantly. He grins back on them.

"One last show." He says, grinning so wide his face may just break into pieces. "All of us."