The Hidden City

Chapter 2

I picked up a sword only to have it taken out of my hands. "Bow and arrow today, Serafine. You practiced with swords yesterday. We are also going to work on your element." I frowned. It was hard to practice with my element. I almost burned myself last month. Aiden's voice brought me back to the present. "Element first. Let's get started." I knew the routine. I positioned myself so that I was facing the wall and the targets. We had false bodies displayed out that moved at random points throughout the exercise. I lifted my arms up I brought my right one back while keeping my left arm straight out in front of me. Aiden began to speak. "Focus on the target. Think about it flowing from your fingers, out of your body. Think about it coming from the center of your body and out through your bones, out into the air. And then, imagine it going against the target. Straight at the target. Hit the target with all of your force."

I listened to his voice, keeping my eyes closed. I felt the pressure and heat rising min my body. The heat was hot to others, but to me it was only warm. The heat began to warm the tips of my fingers, and it began to flow out. The flames stayed in the air, floating. It was slow and gentle. Then the heat began to come out of my entire body. It was almost painful. But it was the good kind of pain.

It began to rush through my entire body, stirring something dark and evil inside me. My eyes snapped open, and I threw the flames and molten lava from myself. The target was demolished in seconds, leaving a pile of ash on the ground.

My hair was no longer hair, but flames curling in on themselves. The fire in my arms had outlined my vines, turning them orange and making black patterns on my arms. I smiled, proud. I turned around, everybody wore the same expression of shock on their faces, their jaws resting comfortably on the ground. "Did I do well?" Aiden quickly recovered and nodded slowly. "You did exceptionally well, Serafine. Job well done." The other two eventually came back from their state.

Training flew by after that, and we walked to the river. Aspen began to speak. "Tomorrow you will be getting your animal. The ceremony will feature your sisters as well." I nodded excitedly. The ceremony always happened when we turned 16. I was the youngest one, the others already had their animals. I wondered what mine was going to be. We walked back for our evening meal. I went to sleep that night, excited for the next day to start.