cascade | kotlc

3. Flawless

 June decided to visit Alluveterre. Biana heard and wanted to come with her. She knew why, of course.

Surprisingly, Mr. Forkle had let them, even after what happened at Foxfire. She was quite glad the Black Swan understood why.

They used leaping crystals this time, instead of riding eckodons or traveling in underground tunnels. Thank god.

"Oh, hi," Linh said nervously when they arrived in front of the girls'. "Um. I didn't know you'd be coming. If I did, I would've changed into something else. Something better."

"You look beautiful," June promised as she took a seat next to her. "Where's your brother?"

"Sulking somewhere in Biana's room. He's getting restless, you understand. He doesn't like to be trapped in one place for too long. It reminds him-" her voice cracked. "Honestly, it reminds me too of our time..."

June took her hand. "It's fine. I'll find a way to sneak you out. And I'm sure Tam'll be happy Biana's here."

She cracked a smile. "I've heard my brother finally found a girl. He's done that faster than I have."

"Your brother's upstairs, right? I'm just, uh, going to head up." Biana scrambled up the stairs, her face flustered pink. June laughed as she headed up.

"Anyways, what were you doing?"

"Practicing Hydrokinesis. It's taking a toll." She snapped her fingers and the waterfall arced upwards, creating a stream of water that sprayed across their heads, coming down as mist and projecting a rainbow onto the far wall.

"Woah," June breathed. "That's so cool."

Linh blushed. "It's not even perfect control for a Hydrokinetic. If I let my control loosen... the water takes its own path down. Usually that includes getting everything in the room wet."

"That's how I learned too." June stepped over and scooped up a rock, flinging it at the other side. The rock boomeranged through the air, twisting and turning, diving up and over the raised waterfall before it circled around Linh and flew back into her hand. "It takes time."

"Well, yeah, but you manifested later than I did, I think," she argued. "I've had four years to practice. Fitz told me you manifested two years ago."

"That doesn't make you any less amazing," June told her. "Besides, water is far harder to control than wind."

"No, it's not." She shook her head. "The wind is wilder."

"Honestly?" June tilted her body toward the waterfall. "I don't think so."

Linh raised an eyebrow. "You seriously don't think so?"

"Well, yeah. Wind is mostly calm all the time. I like to think about it this way." She turned her palms over. "The wind goes where it wants. It doesn't need my help if it wants to get somewhere. But water does. If water wants to go somewhere, it can't just divert from its natural path. That's why it calls to you so much, I think. It needs you for it to get what it wants. And that's powerful by itself. Water is much more obedient, in a way, if you understand it."

"But I don't understand it, June. That's the issue." Linh shrugged helplessly. Indeed, she was losing control of the waterfall. Leaks were bursting through the arc above them, water trickling down onto them. June held out her hand, feeling the gentle drops of water tickle her palm.

"You have to learn to understand it. And I think the first thing you'll need to do is accept it." June stood up, waving her hand and casting a shield of air, diverting the water away as storm clouds formed above them. "Tell me this. Are you afraid of water?"