The Source (Chronicles of the Elements #1)

Chapter 13

Nuada, Aine, and Aoibhe were in the front hall to see them off at dawn, and Aiden was glad to get to say goodbye to them. Training with the Valkyries was something that she would never forget and hoped to be able to do again someday with Fiadh. She hugged both females tightly sad that their time in Sky Kingdom had come to an end.

"Stay strong, young one. You are very special and much more powerful than you know," Aine told her with a smile.

"I will cherish every second I spent with you and your Valkyries. I am forever grateful to you all."

"You are ready to face this next challenge. Never doubt yourself. Trust your power when you receive it. It will not fail you."

"I will. I am going to miss you, Aoibhe"

"And I you, Aiden. Come back soon with your Fiadh. We will make her an honorary Valkyrie as well."

The night before the ball, Aine had finished tattooing honorary Valkyrie wings across Aiden's back at the shoulder blades in metallic gold ink that Aiden had enjoyed showing Liam as he explored the marking with his lips and tongue.

Liam had been quiet all morning seeming like his mind was somewhere else and only nodded a goodbye to Nuada and the two Valkyries.

"It has been a pleasure to have you here. You are always welcome in Sky Kingdom and can consider me an ally. My portal will take you within a half day trek to your source. Be alert. It is the most powerful source in the realm, and too many think they can just take something like that. The magic is only accessible to you though, Aiden. Trust it. It will know you and call to you. This power is yours alone and ready to be shaped to your will. You will need only to give a thought for it to react as you wish," Nuada instructed.

He waved his hand making a portal swirl to life, and as Aiden went to step through, she felt Liam take her hand as he stepped through by her side.

They emerged beside a beautiful alpine lake where the air was crisp and clear as the sun began to rise over sharp peaks setting the water sparkling. Something about the place felt ancient, pure, and, surprisingly familiar to Aiden. "I feel like I've been here before, but that's impossible."

"It is the source calling you and welcoming you home. This is your kingdom in this realm because you are the only one who is truly accepted by the land here."

"That's the most I've heard you say since you woke."

"I hate walking into a situation that is even somewhat unknown, especially when it poses a risk to the one person in all the realms I care about." She stood on tip toe and kissed him as he wrapped sculpted arms around her tightly for a few moments before hesitantly letting go knowing they needed to get moving. "We have to head up the mountain. The source lies within, but you will have to direct us because it will only call to you."

"How have others even come close to the power source if it only calls to the one who is meant to have it?"

"The locations for all the power sources are not really secret, so too many fools believe themselves gods and goddesses thinking they can steal what is not freely given. Magic from these sources can never be taken. The ones who try usually end up dying a painful death."

"I guess we better get this done," she nervously remarked as she bit her bottom lip and began the climb.

They hiked until the sun was high overhead marking midday when Liam stopped indicating that it was time for Aiden to take the lead. She closed her eyes searching deep for some kind of pull and felt her air magic swirling and fire magic burning playfully, but she also sensed the earth beneath her feet and could have sworn she could feel the mist of the lake they left far below. Aiden decided to send her wind and fire flowing into her veins hoping the pull of the earth and mist would somehow follow and soon felt wind merge with fire and the curiosity of the strange new earth and water. It all began to sing in her blood as the four elements flowed calmly and harmoniously happy to be reunited which gave Aiden a clear picture in her mind of where the power wanted her to go. "The cave at the peak that leads to the center of the mountain. The elements lie within its heart."