Tales Of Elementia The Astral Return

Chapter 4: The Cabin of an Outsider

Blaze followed the figure deep into the woods. The forest was really dark. So dark it was hard to keep up with tripping over some rocks or running into a branch. Suddenly, they walked out into a little opening. In the center was a small cabin, with a training ground behind it. The figure walked up and opened the door, his dark cloak illuminated by a warm light from a lantern. Blaze slowly walked in. "What is it, Uncle." Ezra pulled down his hood, his black fur puffing up. Ezra ran from the group two years ago. He wouldn't say why, but it was a big reason, as Keado requested he is captured. Ezra sat down. "I know what happened to you. That day." Blaze looked at Ezra in surprise. "I know I saw you there but how do you-"
"I was looking for the shrine. Apparently, a hybrid is was destined to find it and assemble the power of the gods to protect this world. I thought I could do it but you fell right into it. And you came out with these." He slowly pulled out Blaze's swords. Blaze nodded. "Well... yea... I found them next to me when I awoke." Ezra suddenly walked outside. "H-hey! Wait!" Blaze quickly rushed out after him. Ezra twirled the sword before muttering something. The swords glowed red before jumping out of his hands. Ezra chuckled. "You must learn how to use these powers." Blaze tilted his head . "You mean my speed and weird flashes from my hands?"
"Those weird flashes is your emotions. To use these powers at its full power, you need to channel a powerful emotion to use them. Each one is different, for example..." Ezra raised his hand, breathing in, and out. He then pointed it at a dummy at the training field. His hand glowed a light blue and a beam appears, hitting the dummy and freezing it. Blaze looked at Ezra. "YOUR AN ASTRAL???" Ezra nodded. "I am. So was your mom, and your dad. However, powers are blessed upon us by Onali, goddess of creation... but after the raid... she apparently vanished with Belanta." Blaze looked at his hands. Both gods were like yin and yang. Both hated each other, but both did what was right. "Kovu mentioned they vanished with the rest of the gods..." Ezra nodded. "But only Lazanti has been seen around the world. Belanta and Onali are gone. So are the Astral powers. Yet, you have them from the incident shrine and you have no idea how to use them. So I will teach you. Now... your powers are most definitely fire, as you have said, flashes from your hands. And only light and fire can do that." Blaze recalled Azar and Inigo's words. "Yea... they said fire."
"Good. Astral power is brought up by the user's emotions of anger, pain, or determination."
Blaze looked at him some confusion. "So... I just feel these and they happen?" Ezra shook his head. "You feel them, then you quiet your mind, then think what you want it to do. Fire can be pushed into beams or balls of it, move along your body to help defend yourself, release when you strike, causing extra damage, or ignite a weapons for fights. So, think of a memory. One that angers you or hurts you. Then think of the fire moving in a beam." Ezra slowly stepped back. "Try it." Blaze stood there before closing his eyes. He imagined that night. The night he watched his mom get killed. He never wanted to think of it, but this might do the trick. He then changed the thought and pictured a beam of fire. He felt anger, and pain bubble in him. His arm felt warm. There was a loud fwoosh, and Blaze opened his eyes. Fire beamed from his hand, hitting the dummy. Blaze looked at it in amazement. "HOLY SHIT!!!" Blaze lowered his hand and the beam stopped. Ezra looked surprised. "Your beam is not like a beginners. It's bigger and more accurate. Here, try to ignite your fists." Blaze held out his hand. He re-imagined the same thing, and his hand ignited in flames. Blaze moved it around before turning to the dummy. He moved his arm in a throwing movement, and a fire ball flew by and hit the dummy. Ezra looked at Blaze in amazement. "You're already so advanced in this! How?" Blaze was about to speak when something flew by his face. A blue knife stabbed into Ezra's shoulder, knocking him down. He groaned in pain and pulled it out. Blaze turned and drew his swords. His eyes filled with shock as he saw Damian, scythe in hand. "Blaze, step away from him."
"Damian! What are you doing!"
"Keado has been on a search for him, and then tonight, someone tries to kill Keado with a poison dart! It all points to him!" He pointed his scythe at Ezra. Ezra stood, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "Killed him? I wish, but I only care about my nephews, and wouldn't go near Keado and his stupid fucking camp!" Damian snarled and quickly charged at Ezra, scythe in hand. Blaze quickly jumped into the way and lifted his hand. A burst of flames erupted from his hands. Damian was blasted back. He slid on his feet and looked up. "B-Blaze!?!" Blaze felt fire crawl up his shoulders. "I'm sorry Damian but I can't have you turning in one of my last living family members." Damian stood in shock, before his eyes filled with seriousness. "Blaze. Get out of the way." Blaze drew his swords and flourished them in his hand. Damian charged at Blaze, scythe in his hand behind him. Blaze quickly jumped, front flipped, and clashed his swords with Damian's scythe. Blaze then forced the fire on his hands to blast Damian. Damian flipped backwards and landed on his knee. "How... How are you an astral!"
"It was a gift to help us! All of us!" He looked at Ezra. Damian snarled. "Blaze. GET!!! OUT!!! OF!!! MY!!! WAY!!!!" As he yelled, he pressed both his hands forward. There was a glowing blue light. Blaze quickly reacted by firing his fire beam at him. There was a large zapping. Blaze managed to get a look and saw... lighting!?! Blaze quickly moved his beam to the side, disconnecting. Damian stood in front of him, blue sparks slowly coming out of his body. His eyes had a blue glow to him. Blaze stepped back for a second. "Damian!?!?!" Damian looked down at his hand as a bolt of static traced between his fingers. He suddenly dropped his scythe and fell back. "AGH!!! WHAT IS THIS!!! GET IT OFF!" Blaze quickly rushed over to him. "Hey, Hey! Its ok! Holy shit. Your an astral too?" Damian looked at him. "No!!! I didn't have these before!!! How!!!" Ezra came closer. "Damian. How did you get that?" He pointed at Damian's bandaged shoulder. Damian took it off, revealing his wound from his and Blaze's fight at the tournament. "I got it from him." He gestured to Blaze. "Blaze, did you have any blood of yours on your hands when you gave that?"
"No?"
"I did." Damian spoke.
"Did you touch it afterwards??"
"Well, yea-"
Ezra stood and turned to Blaze. "Another thing to learn, astral powers are transferred through body fluids. An example... your blood."
Damian looked at Blaze, then back at Ezra. "WHAT!"
Ezra nodded. "That's how I got mine, from your dad..." He quickly turned to Blaze. "Blaze, you gotta be careful. If your blood or anything gets into the wrong hands, it can be dangerous. You both need to keep it hidden."
Blaze recalled Kovu's words. "I can't. Kovu told me to build an army of astrals."
"Well, even sometimes the gods are wrong!"
"This is our way to take back Elementia!"
"Even so, your group isn't big enough!"
"We will find a way!"
Ezra seemed to growl a little before his gaze softened. "Fine. But be careful with who you trust. You two better get back to camp so they don't find me."
Damian stood, looking at his hands. Blaze nodded and walked over to Damian. "Damian, its ok. I'll teach you how to use them tomorrow."