Born of Water and Flames

China

The meeting room was bright, with one wall made entirely of glass. I shifted in my red cheongsam. Akemi was here, in a white qipao, as well as a girl in a blue ao dai. At last, the last girl arrived, dressed in a green chut thai. Everyone's clothes seemed to be traditional costumes from their country, with colors associated with their element. Everyone's hair was in a bun, each with a different flower tucked in the bun.

"Black-eyed Susan," the Thai girl said, her voice cutting through the silence. She was looking at the Vietnamese girl.

"What?"

"Your flower's name," the Thai girl answered. "Flowers have different meanings, you know. Black-eyed Susan means justice."

The Vietnamese girl's hand strayed to the flower. "I like that. Anyway, we should probably introduce ourselves, and I'm pretty sure everyone's noticed where everyone's from, and their elements. So I just go ahead. I'm Lien Nguyen."

"Akemi Lin."

"Yuke Qing."

The Thai girl went last. "I'm Apinya Srisuk."

I asked Apinya what my flower was, and what it meant. She seemed to have a lot of knowledge on the subject, fitting for an earth disciple.

"Your flower is a violet. It means loyalty." She turned to Akemi. "And yours is a gardenia. It means secret love. Mine is a magnolia, which means love of nature. So, is anyone going to talk about the impossibility of going to Heaven?"

"'I was about to mention that, yeah," Akemi responded.

"Well," Lien cut in, "I am trying not to think about that, and I don't think discussing it will help. Can this just be a get-to-know-you session instead?"

There was a chorus of agreement, and Lien immediately asked Akemi if she could fly.

Akemi looked taken aback. "Something similar, yeah."

"Can you make me fly?"

"Sure. Anyone else want to?"

"I have no desire to get stuck in a tree again," I said, and she smiled at me.

"I prefer to keep my feet on the ground, thank you though," Apinya answered.

"Let's go outside then!" Lien exclaimed.

Akemi laughed and the two ran outside. Apinya looked at me levelly.

"I'm going to the garden. You can come if you promise not to set my plants on fire."

I laughed.

"Deal."