Born of Water and Flames

Vietnam

Akemi's wind blew around me, suspending me off the ground. I laughed and laughed, the wind whipping my hair. Eventually she lowered me to the ground, with me a little bit dizzy. Apinya was on her knees in a rose garden, and Yuke appeared to be climbing an oak tree. I found out why when she lit a broken-off branch on fire. She jumped from the tree, still holding the flaming branch, waving it around so that the tree caught fire. When she landed, she closed her fist, extinguishing the flames. The tree was untouched, and the branch wasn't burnt at all. Akemi was staring at her. Apinya seemed about to yell at her, but stopped. Then everyone went back to what they were doing before. I went over to the pond, and submerged myself in the water. Akemi started to stack up rocks, using the wind to make an impossibly towering stack. Apinya was tapping the earth with one finger, making a plowed trench each time. Suddenly the High Priest Chakrii came toward our group.

"Disciples, we suggest you go back to your homes to sleep, as we have another meeting scheduled for you tomorrow."

We went back to our homes, and I stayed awake for a long time, wondering what the next day would bring.