Stars Of Memory

Chapter 40

They splash around in the pool until the sun begins to noticeably set, waiting until then to finally emerge from the pool, clambering over the sides of it onto the drier rocks. Jīvitaya focuses for a moment, and the water streams off them both and back into the pool, leaving them bone dry. Iyokú beams.

"Thank you!"

Jīvitaya smiles. "You're welcome! I'll see you later?"

"Yup, bye!"

Jīvitaya waves at Iyokú as she walks back through the forest towards the city. She reaches the palace and climbs the steps, walking into the dining courtyard. Her parents are waiting for her, and as she sits down, the food is brought out. She eats it quickly and leans back in her chair. Her mother smiles at her.

"What did your Drial teach you today?"

Jīvitaya frowns at her hand, coaxing the wisps of wind swirling around them to coalesce within her palm. The wind starts spinning in a loose ball and she releases it, focusing on the next thing. She forms a cushion of air beside her and places her plate on it. As it sits, she pulls at the water in the jug and forms it into a rope. She curls it around and picks up the plate, releasing the air cushion beneath it and placing the plate back on the table. She releases the water back into the jug and leans back, sighing.

Her mother claps. "Bravo, Jīvitaya."

Her father smiles. "What can you do with nature?"

Jīvitaya grins. "Many, many things."

A vine emerges from the ground beneath her feet, gathering a handful of soil from the edges of the courtyard. It deposits the soil into her hand and she forms it into the shape of a pot, focusing intently on the little kernels of life resting inside the soil. A plant sprouts from the top, blooming into a Wood Lilly.

Her father grins widely. "Well done. But can you keep it together without focusing?"

Jīvitaya shakes her head. "Not yet." He nods his head, and she yawns. "I think I'm going to go to bed now, or I'm going to collapse."

Her mother smiles warmly at her as Jīvitaya stands up. "Sleep well."

Jīvitaya nods, walking to her room. She steps in just as her tablet pings, and she rushes to it. It is a communication link from Kysanden, and she opens it eagerly. His face fills the screen, and she waves at him. He grins.

"What have you been up to, Jīa?"

She beams. "Iyokú and I have been teaching each other things, I've learned how to control water, some air, and I think tomorrow I'm going to be working on fire."

Kysanden smiles warmly at her. "Could you show me what air looks like?"

She nods, grinning. She raises her hand and summons the wind into a ball and holds it there for a minute, struggling to keep it stable. Finally, she releases the wind and it escapes. She smiles tiredly, yawning again.

"Are you tired, Jīa?"

She nods. "Yes, but I can talk for a while longer."

He shakes his head. "No, you need your rest. You're running around all day and working, versus me being stuck in the ship. By the way, how is Laira doing?"

"She likes it here. I don't see her all the time, but she should be coming back right around now."

On cue. Laira jumps up onto Jīvitaya's lap, purring. She giggles and Kysanden smirks.
"I guess you were right, Jīa." She yawns again. "Go to sleep, we can talk tomorrow night."

Before she can protest again, he shuts off his end of the communication and it winks out. She smiles and crawls into bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep.

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Yeah, this is a bit short, I'm sorry! It really wanted to end here. What do you think? Tell me in the comments, and if you have questions, please ask! Kysanden and Jívitaya's interactions are always so sweet and heartwarming aren't they?

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.