Eflana

Chapter 4

I told them what I had done, what I had felt and experienced. They listened in silence. Ylva had a skeptical look on her face the whole time. Madam Teva looked at me in wonder.

When I finished, Ylva blurted, "But that's impossible! No one can harness the power of life except Madam Teva." She clamped a hand over her mouth, too late.

I whirled on Madam Teva, who was grinning widely. "You can do that, too? And what does 'harness the power of life' mean? How did I do it, exactly? And why did my mind seem to explode out in all directions? What does it mean, that only you and I can do it? What is it?"

"Slow down, slow down," she laughed. She seemed so happy. "One question at a time." She paused, eyes unfocused.

"Well," she began, "why only I can do it is a mystery, even to me. I believe it's because I'm closer to the life force than most people." I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but she held up a finger. "No interrupting until I'm done. Is that clear?" I nodded, though it was more like a weird jerking of the head. I was so excited. They were going to help!

"Now," She continued, "to harness the power of life, as Ylva put it, means to feel, to sense the force of life within one. The strength of the life force depends on many things. The mental state of the person, their connection to the life force, and their current stance on their lifeline the main factors, though there are many more. Like a shrimp compared to a whale. The shrimp would be much smaller, but might have just begun life, so it's life force is stronger than the whale if the whale was about to pass on, despite the difference in size.

"Now, what you did with the diamond was something I can easily explain. You were manipulating the life force. See, it's not actually a diamond. It's the scale of the dragon living in Mount Luera. It was previously attached to a living being, so it has a small remnant of the life that once pulsed through it. Hypothetically speaking, with the proper training and focus, you could have returned the diamond back to the dresser. I use my power to help the flowers blow in spring. I help the trees grows, the fish swim, and other simple things. But just a little help over time can create the most beautiful and secluded place in the world. A war could rage outside these mountains, and this valley would be the safe haven for all who wish to escape the fear and destruction of warfare. This is a valley of peace, thanks what little I have done over the years.

"But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to your questions. Why your mind 'exploded' is nothing to be concerned about. The first time my mind opened to the world, I nearly uprooted a tree. I wasn't able to control the power I had until much later, when I met . . . someone. You'll learn about him later. Other than that, any more questions?"

Yes, I had questions. Though she had answered the questions I had asked, her answers had made me even more confused. My stomach growled. The interrogation could wait; I was starving! I didn't I didn't want to eat any more of her food, knowing she had little already.

But, wait, if she could control the elements, then why not get some more food? Why not make her little shack a mansion? Why not?

I voiced these questions, and after a long silence, she looked me straight in the eye and, quietly but passionately, said, "In order to feel the life force, you must recognize that you are small. Not unimportant, but small. Life will continue on, even after the most hectic wars and most devastating disasters, life can come back. It can rebuild itself. In the grand scheme of things, you are small. This is the first step: humility. Do not take the gift you have been given as something to use selfishly. Use to help others, to heal, and you will find happiness."

Ylva and I stared at her, eyes wide in awe. I wondered just how old you had to be to gain that much wisdom.

Madam Teva looked out the window. "It's getting late. We should start dinner."