The Journey To Orillion

Chapter 5: Training

(Esmeralda's POV)

Scalene started moving towards me, walking angrily but not losing any grace. Her arms reached for me, grasping to control me, my body, trying to force me to kneel and surrender. I slapped her hands away, but to my horror, she didn't stop. She didn't even flinch. My hands passed through her arm, splashing water on me and making her hands disconnect from her body. Still, no reaction. She continued to move towards me, and I felt her arms grip my shoulders, getting my nightgown wet. I tried to escape her grip, but I knew trying to break free would be like trying to swim against a strong current. 

I looked into her deep blue eyes and knew I had failed this round. Scalene let me loose, knowing my fate was clear. I had a crazy idea, and knew it could possibly work. I dropped low, and landed on my backside, trying to land a kick on her. When I landed, I aimed to knock her over, knowing I would take her by surprise. And, to my surprise, it worked! I don't know what happened for sure, my eyes were closed, but I think my foot connected with her knee or thigh, and even though I passed through her, her dress moved awkwardly, and it made her trip and fall backwards. I hear the fabric rip as her heel steps on her long dress, tearing it and making her watery form fall back on the white tile. I took this as an opportunity to take the higher ground, and, after getting my feet under me, I sat on the stunned Scalene. I passed through her again, but it altered the dress's position, revealing a necklace of long crystals hidden under the material. I took these things to be the water shards, and stole one while I could. This ended the battle between Scalene and I. I got up and admired the glowing, aqua-blue crystal I had just won. Holy heck, I am lucky!

My heart was pounding hard as I realized my situation. Adrenaline was soaring through my veins, and my breathing was labored. Scalene opened her eyes to find me and the crystal.

"Well, I guess you won," she said gloomily.

"Barely!" I said, extending my hand to her. "You were awesome! Luck was just shining upon me today, I guess." Scalene smiled and took my hand, pulling herself up. She looked down and fixed her dress, hiding her necklace again.

"When you saw me, could you tell that not the whole dress was water?" 

"Hmm?" Had I heard her correctly?

"This is like, one out of the two dresses I have that have actually lace in them. I was wondering if you knew, so I could try and fix it." she looked at me sincerely, but she added with a snarl, "I do not like losing."

"No, I didn't know it was actual lace. I just kind of had this feeling... I can't really explain it."

Her voice dropped to a low whisper, strained by fear, "It must be you. It must be fate finally unfolding."

Huh? 

But it ended as fast as it came.

"Well, good battle, I guess," she said, in the best congratulating tone she could. Scalene held her hand out.

"Good battle," I replied, shaking her hand.

My eyes flicked open to see Cami looking at me, concerned. "You okay, dear?" She took my response as failure. "Oh, it's okay. I don't think I've met anyone who has done it on their first try."

"I did it," I said, amazed at myself, too caught up in earlier happenings to hear Cami. "I actually did it!"

Cami looked at me, and I couldn't analyze her face. "You did it?" Her voice was weak. I looked at her, realizing she was talking.

"Hmm?" I ask. "Sorry I wasn't listening."

Cami didn't say anything, but instead went back to the opposite side of the pond. She pointed to the water. "Lift up a ball of water," she commanded.

"Uhh... I'll try," I didn't actually know how to control the water, but I tried to move it anyway. I closed my eyes and imagined the water rising up and forming a ball above the pond. I heard Cami gasp in surprise as, I assumed, she saw a water ball rising from the pond. Cool!

I opened my eyes to see the water rippling, but no sphere of floating water. "I... Uh... Might need some help with that," I said, embarrassed.

"Oh, that's okay, Mera," she said, using the nickname I don't hear from her often. "I'll help."

Cami walked around the pond to me, and stood to my left. She grabbed my left arm and rose it perpendicular to my body, making my palm face the ground. "Here, this may be easier." She said, moving to stand in front of me. "Mirror me."

Camilia rose her left arm, similar to how she lifted mine. Then she lifted her right arm to her right side, outstretching her palm to the wall, creating a right angle.

I followed.

She then looped her right palm clockwise, bringing her arm to the middle, palm facing her left arm. And in that process, she twisted her wrist to make both palms face each other. She did it so gracefully, like she's done it so many times before. How many times has she done this?

I followed her movements once again, doing it properly, but completing it less graceful than my experienced trainer. As soon as I finished, she did the next dance to help me complete the challenge. She pulled her still-facing palms closer to her stomach, then pushed out quickly, palms out.

I mimicked her moves again, and as soon as I thrusted my hands out, the water shifted roughly. I looked behind Cami to see the water being pushed away from me, similar to how I pushed my hands from my body. Large waves formed and lapped over the edge of the walls, getting the floor wet. I brought my hands back to my sides, and the waves slowly ceased.

"That made the water move roughly, but it didn't make a floating water ball," I said, a little sad by the results.

"Esmeralda, be patient. Do the dance a couple more times and focus on what you want to do," Cami said calmly.

I closed my eyes and thought about the moves. I then concentrated on what I wanted to accomplish. Come on Esmeralda. Let's make a floating ball of water! I followed through the moves with my arms and palms. I went smoothly through the dance and heard the water lap slightly. I continued to follow through, making my own rhythm to follow through the moves, and my hips started to move with the graceful dance. I started to think of nothing but making the ball of water, my body getting a mind of it's own, moving faster with the familiarity of the dance. I started to lose my senses, losing my emotions to the consuming dance, until I felt nothing. I opened my eyes, seeing nothing but black. Panic climbed up my throat, but never made it to my mouth before being consumed as well. My body slowed it's movement, and I closed my eyes again, feeling the rhythm die and feeling the weight of my body once again. I pushed my palms out slowly, feeling everything once again. I dropped my arms to my sides, opening my eyes slowly and trying to get used to the glare of the light. What I saw in front of me was extraordinary, and it was mine.