SERENA

PART I: Chapter 12 - Water Training Ground

Serena is now fourteen years old and she feels absolutely comfortable controlling her two elements. She doesn't have to focus really hard for things to happen anymore, she just thinks about something and it happens.

She's been spending a lot of time with Rakon and Kira, who are now eleven years old, helping them practice. She basically sets a lot of fires and they have to put them out before anything gets destroyed. Sometimes it doesn't go to plan and they get in trouble, but they don't stop doing it.

"I'm going to get Kira to go practice. Do you want to come?" Rakon asks his sister in the hallways of the palace.

"Yes, I'd love to. I'll wait for you two in the garden." She answers and heads to the back of the palace where the biggest garden is located.

Even though fire is her core element and she absolutely loves it, she's always had loved earth, so she enjoys spending time in the gardens growing new plants or taking care of the existing ones.

"Kira, there you are." Rakon says when he finds her near her father. "Let's go practice."

"Is your sister going?" She asks.

"Kira!" Rafi reprimands her.

"I mean, is the Princess going?" Kira asks as she rolls her eyes.

"Yes, she's waiting for us in the garden. Let's go."

Kira looks at her father, asking for his permission, and he nods saying that she can go. Rafi loves the fact that his daughter is that close to the Prince. And also, how close she has gotten to the Princess.

Rakon and Kira start heading to the garden to meet Serena.

"I don't get why my father makes me call you Prince and Serena Princess if neither of you care." Kira complains.

"Because it's how he has to do it. And my father thinks you should too." Kira shoots him a death stare and he laughs. "I'm kidding. I mean, he does think that but there's no need to do it."

"Unless he's around."

"Of course. We don't want to make my father unhappy."

"We surely don't. Your father, your mother or your sister."

They get to the garden and see Serena kneeling down close to some bushes.

"I don't get her fixation with dirt." Kira says. "It's... gross."

"Yeah, I don't understand it either. But, if she likes it, let's not complain about it."

"Of course I wouldn't complain about it in front of her!" Kira exclaims because it just sounds too obvious for her. "Let's just go get her."

They get closer to Serena and call her so that the three of them can go to the Water Training Ground.

The Water Training Ground is filled with fountains and water tanks of all shapes and sizes, all made of white stone. Rakon and Kira approach a small fountain that doesn't have anyone around and get ready to practice. They start moving the water in the fountain and controlling the way it falls, making it hit each other. Serena smiles seeing those two so happy with their element. It's rare for her to see Rakon smiling and laughing because he's always too serious, especially for an eleven-year-old. But, when he's with water and with Kira, he transforms into a completely new person and Serena is really happy with this transformation.

She usually sits right beside them while their practicing because she enjoys watching them closely as they bend and create water, but she decides not to interrupt their adorable moment. So, she sits on the border of the biggest water tank and keeps an eye on them from there.