Ascending Light

Light

The night passed slowly into the day and while the other occupants of the cell slept, he had Kayleen teach him how to harness light. It wasn't hard but it took concentration and a good grip on his power. He was still learning how to wield his power and wasn't very good. He could manage a ball of light by the end of the night and he could move it at will around the cell, but that was all he could do. Franel taught him how to make it flicker and dance the next day, much like a flame. Julian helped him make it flow around like water and the children were amazed to watch.

His light had no real mass and felt like air but warmer, as if one were sitting under a ray of sunlight. Yet it was more gold and resembled tiny droplet of water, almost like rain. It glowed and sparkled like glowpeeps—flying insects that had swirly glowing patterns on their bodies—and twinkled like stars. When it flowed it was a like a graceful ray of captured sunlight floating around with ease. He had it float around the giggling children and even delighted some of the jaded and reclusive adults.

Michael helped him make it spread like roots, showing him how he moved dirt and then helping him concentrate on holding more than one strand of light at a time. Soon his light was stretching around the cell in a glowing vine which had no leaves or flowers. After this he became tired and Kayleen told stories of his adventures as a guardian-in-training to pass the time.

He enjoyed the children but when the next night fell they went back to discussing Zacesi's plan. They couldn't stop him and free themselves so they had to choose what to do. After much debate, mostly between Michael and Kaylee, it was decided that Crysen's safety took priority. A light fairy bonded to a madman was a calamity. Especially when the madman already planned to use the light fairy's power to take over Faelyna.

The thing about the light was that it maintained the balance of the land and was a powerful healing force. A light fairy could heal with ease what would take any other fairy immense amounts training, focus, and energy. Healers had to train for a decade to even accomplish half of a light fae's ability. However, the light could also take away life. A light fairy could drain the power of the land and use it for destruction if they willed. Like with all kinds of power, there was a positive and negative force within the light.

Part of the duties of all light fairies was to uphold that balance and help the fae and the land continue to prosper. That was why light fae prayed and worshiped the light and honored their power. To them it was a gift and a duty which bound them to the cycle of life itself. It was intense and Crysen had always been in awe of such power and responsibility. Now that he had found his power it was his turn to become a part of that great dynasty of reverence. Like his mother, he would take up his duties with graceful acceptance.

First, he had to be free and go home. He closed his eyes and thought of what his father would do. He steadied his breathing and began to meditate as his father had taught him. It was how Emery had always calmed himself while he thought of what needed to be done. Especially when he had no idea how. It was rare for his father to not know what to do, but Crysen had always watched him in those crucial moments. Now he imitated his father.

He began to remember all of the lessons that his father had taught him, though he'd never been able to use them. Now he needed them and he shuffled through the lessons to find one he could use. Finally, he remembered something he'd seen his father do with his own power and wondered if he could manage something similar. Pick a lock.

He glanced at the cell door with its bars and its lock and brought out his light. He concentrated on it, trying to make it solid enough to use. After about an hour, he fluttered over to the lock, enjoying of a moment the feel of the air as he moved with his wings. It was effortless and required no more thought than walking. He sat in front of the door where the lock was located, crossing his legs and settling down. He brought his light up and tested it around the lock, going inside the lock and attempting to move the mechanisms.