Kaskia: A Hero's Awakening

Chapter 6

Rina sat down, legs crossed, facing the lake. She focused as she had done many times before, remembering the encounter with the boar, seeing its face in her mind, her eyes closed, she remembered the smell, the drool dripping from its mouth. Feeling calm, Rina opened her eyes, concentrating on a part of the water that rested in front of her. Slowly the water began to steam as a small ball of fire was being created just above the surface. Rina fixated on the flame, holding it at the size of her fist, watching it blaze just above the water, then releasing the flame back from where it came, causing the water to become calm again. Over and over, Rina practiced this technique, wanting to perfect it, for hours, she continued, each time the magic seemed to flow from her faster and easier.

Aiden watched in amazement between his sparring with imaginary opponents. Rina was mastering her ability to control the fire. It had only been a few days since the boar attack and now she was able to hold a flame in the air. He watched as the fire danced over the water when a thought occurred to him on another technique she could attempt. Excited to try, Aiden ran towards Rina. "I have an idea!" He yelled.

"Huh?" Rina replied, turning to face her brother. "What?"

"Hang on." Aiden answered, looking at the ground around him, gathering more rocks into a pile by Rina. "This." He said, holding up a rock triumphantly, showing it to Rina.

"It's a rock." She said confused, poking the rock in his hand.

"Yes." Aiden agreed. "Can you hit it if I throw it over the water?"

"I... I don't know." Rina answered, staring at her hands and then the rock. "I can try."

Aiden gave her a minute to focus, then asked if she was ready to begin, receiving a nod in return. Aiden aimed his rock into the air, throwing it as high as he could so that the rock would end up falling not too far in the distance. Rina watched the rock, focusing on it as she had done when she practiced summoning the fire above the water. The rock soared upwards, it felt like forever that it went into the sky. Rina waited, waiting for it to fall back towards the water. The rock began its descent, she waited, thinking it was out of her reach, waited and waited, she closed her eyes and released her power. Aiden watched as a ball of fire erupted where the rock had been only seconds before. Rina opened her eyes as she heard the rock splash into the water.

"I missed." Rina sulked, hoping that she would have been able to hit the rock.

"It's ok." Aiden comforted. "It was your first try and you were close. You almost had it." He continued, picking up another rock. "This time, try to aim where it's going to be, not where it is."

Again, Aiden asked if she was ready only to receive another nod. He threw another rock into the air as he did the first. Again, Rina waited for the right time to strike, and again, she missed. Aiden reassured her that she did better and to keep trying. Rock after rock, Aiden threw them into the air, each one Rina was getting closer to hitting with her fireball. Aiden asked if she wanted to take a break, determined, she shook her head and pointed into the air, signaling him to throw another rock. (I will get it.) She thought as she watched another rock fly into the air. She focused hard, watching its path. She imagined the rock falling faster than it was. Imagining where it will be. "There." She muttered, staring at the spot she knew it would be. Summoning her magic, Rina engulfed the rock in fire as it passed the spot she focused on, destroying the rock, sending rubble raining down to the water below.

"You did it!" Aiden cheered, amazed at the power of the fire she had summoned. He had expected her to hit it, but not destroy the rock.

Rina sighed in relief, happy that she had managed to hit a moving target. "I need a break." She said as she plopped down on the grass, exhaustion taking over. "That was awesome!"