Crimson Phoenix Guardian- Aspiration to the Heavens: Becoming the Supreme Mage 4

Episode 86: Prana Control

*Carter*

I walked with Alto the rest of the way to the meadow.

"You came back sooner than I thought," Alto said, chuckling.

"I ate half and had the other packed as a snack. That reminds me. Ulissis and Arima gave me some to give you too," I said, reaching into the bag.

He smiled at the shrink-wrapped cinnamon toast I brought out. Quickly, he unwrapped it and started eating it.

"Toasty on the outside, soft on the inside, just like his mother's."

I took out a small bottle of syrup that Arima had handed to me. "He learned it from his mom?"

He took the bottle and poured some of the maple syrup unto his breakfast. "Yeah. Mrs. Amadeus makes great breakfast. Not that my mom is any slouch either!"

"Lucky."

"Huh?"

I looked down. "You can still enjoy your Mommies' cooking."

"Sorry." He looked away.

I forced a smile. "It's okay. I still got my big sister's cooking. Hope my niece never lacks her mama's food."

He smiled slightly. "I do too."

***

I ran a few laps around him as he finished eating his breakfast. Mom loved seeing me on the move. Hopefully, she was smiling down at me from above, if she hadn't been reborn.

"Done," Alto said, wiping away the syrup from his lips with the back of his hand.

"Yay! Training time!" I yelled, jumping up and down.

"Before we begin, safety first." He spread his firmly toned arms out. Lightning prana flowed out of his palm and fingertips and crackled, forming a wall. He spun around, making the wall cover us entirely. He then clapped his hands together by lifting them toward the sky. The wall turned into a dome.

"Woah, that was flashy! But why did you take longer making this one?"

"Because this one is stronger than the others you've seen me make. The stronger a spell, the more energy and time it takes. It's why Lei took a while to unleash his Ventus Draco Maxima."

"Woah!" I frowned. Sis told me to do something similar as a kid but my hands turned all red, so I was forced to stop. "Wish I could do that."

He smiled. "If things work out, you will be able to. Alright, young man. Show me your strongest fire spell."

"My strongest spell usually requires me to get warmed up a bit."

He scratched his face and smiled. "Oh, right. You fire mages get stronger as a battle drags on. Well, show me what spells you know."

I hand out my hand. A small crimson flame erupted from my palm.

His eyes widened. "I can see what the others meant when they said your magic was densely concentrated. Renshu taught you how to spread it out last night, right?"

I smiled. "Oh, yeah! The fire ring!" I put my right index and middle fingers just over the flame and drew it out of my left-hand bit by bit as Renshu had shown Nat and me. Ling's brother said this would make my fire punches less hot, but a lot less draining and harmful to me.

He smiled. "Nice. But have you figured out how you'll use this in a fight?"

I shook my head. "No. Oh, but I could maybe send it flying like this!" I threw the fire ring at the barrier, causing it to crackle ominously.