Elementalists: The Pyromancer

Part 3

The next few hours was a blur for Asher. News spread quickly about the new Elementalist. A Pyromancer. People who looked at him like scum his whole life suddenly befriended him. All of the warriors seemed to have respect for him now. When he got home, his father had been waiting for him. He held a wooden hoe in his hand from working outside all day. The job Asher was assigned that day. His face was red with fury.

"Son," he said grimly, "why have you kept this a secret all of these years?"

"I did not know I had this power." Asher responded, keeping his gaze level with his.

"Do not lie to me!" His father yelled and threw the plow at him. Asher burst into flames and the wooden tool disintegrated before it reached him.

"I am not afraid of you anymore father." Asher said calmly. His new power had given him new confidence. "I have been offered my own hut with its own farm. You no longer control me, and I no longer need to be your burden." With that, he grabbed his belongings and left the house. Asher couldn't believe he had just done that. He had been afraid of that man all of his life, and he was finally free. His only regret was that he wouldn't have the help of his brother anymore. But he could always visit. Asher decided he needed one thing that made sense out of this chaotic day. After settling into his new home, he decided to go find Weeko. He found her at the edge of the lake.

"Hello Asher." Weeko said with her back turned. The warrior training seemed to give her a sixth sense.

"Oh, um, hi Weeko." Asher said unsure of where to start.

"Interesting day?" She asked.

"That's one way to put it." He answered, walking towards her.

"You control fire, huh?" She asked with her back still turned.

"It seems so." Now standing right behind her.

"You better hope getting wet doesn't hurt you then." And with that she turned around, grabbed him and threw him in the lake.

"Hey!" Asher protested, now drenched, "At least help me out of here." Weeko laughed and held her hand out. Asher grabbed it and pulled her in after him. They both waded in the lake laughing.

When they could finally calm down enough to speak, Weeko said, "I knew you had some magic in you all these years."

"That makes one of us." Asher said softly; shyly looking down.

"Ok, cheer up Asher, you're an Elementalist!" Weeko said.

"I guess you're right," Asher said with a sly smile "but why did it take 15 years for me to figure it out? I've gotten angry plenty of times before, and I've definitely been scared of my father."

Weeko said with a shrug, "Maybe you just needed a life or death situation to use it first. Maybe it was the right time and the right place. Maybe you should stop worrying about it and focus on the festival being held in your honor tomorrow."

"It feels like just yesterday everyone hated me." Asher said. The two of them burst out laughing and stayed like that for a long time.