Emerald (The Protector) - undergoing editing

Chapter 27

It was almost midnight by the time Sarah drifted off to sleep. That's what happens when you sleep the day away. She had put her crystal in her pocket, hoping to meet with Jacinta in her dreams. She woke with a gasp to find herself back in the woodsman's cottage. Leaping out of the chair she was sitting in, Sarah looked around and spied Jacinta standing by the window, a huge smile on her face.

"Jacinta" Sarah literally ran to the older woman and was engulfed in a hug.

"That's what I call a welcome." Jacinta said gruffly.

"Oh Jacinta I don't know how to thank you. If you hadn't gotten through to me.."

"Hush child, I'm sure you would have eventually worked it out on your own, I only needed to give you a push in the right direction and I am pleased to finally see you again. You had me so worried."

Sarah's response was to hug her even tighter. After everything that she had been through, Sarah knew she could trust this woman with her life and was very grateful that she had met her.

"So" Jacinta began as she led Sarah to the dining table "What would you like to do today?"

"Magic" Sarah immediately responded. She grinned at her teacher "Please."

Jacinta threw back her head and laughed and Sarah found herself laughing with her.

"Perfect. By the way, I like the hair."

Sarah grimaced as she took hold of one of her locks that showed the three colours of brown, blonde and blue. "I'm still getting used to it."

"So, water is your affinity, but I have a feeling that won't be the only one."

"Are there others?"

Jacinta nodded "Water is just one of the strong elements, fire is another, air or wind, earth, nature."

"I would have thought water was part of nature."

"It would seem someone knows their elements. It is, as I said, quite possible that you will have more than one affinity, but we will have to wait and see if they manifest along the way."

"Manifest?"

Jacinta studied her with her warm brown eyes "As you grow stronger in your magic and learn how to wield it, other elements may show themselves."

"Oh. Has anyone ever been able to wield them all?"

"Not for a very long time."

"May I ask what your element is?"

"I'm going to see if you can work that out on your own. Now tell me what you have been up to child."

Over a cup of tea and a plate of scones, Sarah filled Jacinta in on all that had happened over the last few days.

"I would have loved to see that" Jacinta laughed as Sarah told her about the water that had soaked her and Emerald at the river.

Sarah grinned "Yeah, it was rather funny."

"Did you feel tired afterwards?"

Sarah nodded "Completely drained."

"That's understandable, you used up a lot of your magic yesterday making yourself better and it needs to be replenished."

Sarah looked at her in astonishment "I can use it up?"

"Yes Sarah, you will need to be careful. Once you have been fully trained you will understand your limits, but at the moment we don't know what those are."