Elemental

6. HERBERT'S THEORY OF MAGICAL HEREDITY

"C'mon McKay," Tori nudged his slouched frame with her foot. "Get up, mate, I need help."
"Alright, alright." He said, slowly lifting his lean frame off the couch and regarding her for a second. "You're almost as persistent as Laverne."
"You're just lucky she's not here to hear you say that. Every little thing sets you two off." Tori rolled her eyes at him as he stood and stretched.

"What's the issue?"
"Well, it's been three weeks now, and Eventide is putting me through aquatic hell."
"I'm sure it's not that bad."
"Oh yes, it is. I haven't been able to conduct any magic at all through water."
"Oh."

They stared at each other for a second, and Tori could see what Joe meant about McKay not being able to keep a conversation flowing.
"So, shall we go to the pool? Or an empty class room?" She regarded McKay questioningly as he pushed his longish blond hair out of his eyes and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Yeah," he replied in his deep voice.
"Right, pool it is then."
"No. Let's start in an empty class room."
Tori looked surprised, but didn't argue. "Okay."

They headed out into the back yard and to the tall weathered looking tuition block where some classes were currently in session. It was a fine day for September. The sun was shining warmly on the earth and the pool glittered as it's rays hit the surface. A warm breeze was blowing and the usual electric buzz made everything seem alive.

They walked through the deserted corridors and found an empty class room on the first floor.
"This will do," McKay commented, sitting by the teacher's table. "Sit." He gestured to the chair facing his.
Tori sat, wondering what on earth McKay was doing.

He got up again and fetched a small bowl from the back of the class and put it on the table between them before resuming his seat.
"First task," he started, pushing his hair our of his eyes, "fill this bowl with water."
Tori just stared at him. "What? How?"
"You know the process, close your eyes, concentrate, and say the words." He crossed his arms at his chest and cleaned back into his chair.
"B…but…" Tori spluttered, at a loss for words. Didn't he just hear her? She couldn't do this no matter how hard she tried!
"Just give it a shot."

"Right." She cleared her throat, took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying hard to concentrate.
"Rippling water rise
Cleanse me of all lies
In front of me appear
Pure as you are clear." She whispered under her breath, over and over until the words stopped making sense to her.
A few minutes later, giving up, she opened her eyes to find McKay staring at her, shaking his head.

"McKay! I can't." She moaned, a familiar feeling of irritation creeping into her.
"Oh, now I see the problem."
"What?" Tori scrunched her eyebrows questioningly.
"You don't like water magic, do you?" He asked, looking as though he had uncovered a secret.
"Nope, I don't." Tori answered shortly.
"There. That's why you're having trouble."
"McKay, I've been practising since day one, alright? I don't like it because I can't do it, not because I don't want to."
McKay just looked at her. "Watch."

He clicked his fingers and water filled the bowl. "You need to believe it." This vaguely reminded Tori of what Morgan had told her the other night. "If you don't believe the words, don't say them. Witches have always had a knack for making spell incantations sound flowery."
"Then what should I do?" Tori felt exasperated.
"Believe in the magic. If you want to fill the bowl, will the water to. Believe that it is, and so it will be."
"Woah, too much philosophy." Tori massaged her temples.
"That's the only way, Tori." He leaned forward and looked straight into her eyes. "You don't have to say the words, for any Element. How do you work with fire?"
"I just…i just feel it, I guess." She revealed.
"Exactly. It shouldn't be different for the other Elements. Now focus," he clicked his finger, and the water dried up, leaving the bowl empty, "and try again."