Stormlands ( Book 2 of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Forty: Gauging the Storm, Pt 1

Katerin grinned as she sparred with Halessia. Now she could shape lightning and manipulate it any way she wanted. Not to mention that her lightning was strong enough to singe Hallesia's skin. A feat indeed, considering most of the Caste was immune to its damaging effects, unless it was wielded by someone equally as powerful as they.

She was panting from the effort, and nowhere close to winning this bout, but she was holding her ground. Halessia was a blur, darting around the arena, and assaulting her from every angle, a mixture of storm clouds and lightning with an imposing and powerful form at the center.

"Weapons, now!" another giant called, from the side.

Katerin grinned. This was not her final test, but she was getting close. She pulled her staff from her back, and steadied her breath, quietly rejoicing. It had always been easier to form her magic though something besides her hands, and she had excelled in every class in which she got to use her staff. Halessia would not allow her any kind of advantage though, and she waited for the giant to appear, expecting one of her lightning steps, but she guessed the wrong direction. She watched the giant disappear and ducked low, spinning quickly around with her staff outstretched.

But Halessia appeared in front of where she had just been facing, and her staff swept Katerin's leg out to the side, causing her to fall. It was a simple move, that stung more than Katerin's calf. Katerin bit her lip, and did not even bother to stand. She channeled her own energy, and appeared some distance away, weaving not a ball but a bolt of lightning around the tip of her staff. "Catch!" she yelled, giddy.

Halessia grunted and charged forward, moving to meet the bolt that arced for her. She ducked, but not quite fast enough, and the bolt slammed into her shoulder. She skidded back a few inches, but continued her run.

Katerin's thought shifted away from excitement, towards worry as the giant barreled towards her. Halessia really was not planning on taking it easy on her. Even in her diminished form, she was strong, and the punch she angled for Katerin's jaw was swift.

Katerin dodged, and parried Halessia's staff strike, but then coughed out a cry as an orb of lightning burst into being in the space between them, picked her up and tossed her into the air. Katerin touched it, and dispersed its energy, with enough time to land on her feet. It was not the most graceful landing, but she was still fighting.

As much as she wished she could, she had no opportunity to show off for her audience today. She had to pass this test. Eight months of study was not something she could waste, by failing.

She had two more months, and one final test.

Kul Galysa sat watching, with an unreadable expression, her fully armored mate not far behind her, ever standing with his sword at the ready. Roahn, Fykes, and Brazen were here too. Cheering her on and gripping the railing, along with the rest of the students Katerin had trained with throughout the year. Giants, humans, elves, dragonkin, and devilkin.

She was the last to take the test today, and the only one to face Halessia, who had been preparing this for days. She thought it a purposeful thing, that she was last. They all said she was the most driven, and the thought of going last and failing after the successes of her classmates, would be an even heavier burden to bear.

Katerin ducked around the pillar, fearing another slap with Halessia's staff, and took a moment to breathe. As she gathered her thoughts, she heard the pillar to her side creaking, and felt small stones pelting her. She ran backwards, never taking her eyes off Halessia's, and pulled lighting into her hands, gripping her weapon too tightly. The lightening whipped out, wrapped around her opponent, and pulled back towards her, tripping the giant up.