The Element Keepers

Chapter 9 Understanding

Seth woke up the next morning feeling oddly refreshed. He was able to fall asleep little after getting back to camp with Eric, who was snoring the moment he was comfortable in his sleeping bag. Despite his speech to encourage his friend, he wasn't any less uncertain about their situation than he was. Concerns about their future and the task they had been given floated in and out his mind as he fell asleep, yet he had managed to sleep soundly. He must have been more exhausted than he thought, and was relieved that he slept well. He needed his rest for the journey and battles that were ahead.

As they packed up their things after a simple breakfast of rations that Seth and Eric had, they went over their next course of action. Traveling to Gilia still seemed like the best course of action as the closest place of civilization. Perhaps another Element Keeper would be there as well. Whatever the case may be, their first destination was the small port town.

Just as Seth and Eric finished packing their things, Gaia suddenly spoke up.

"Before we start traveling, I think it would be a good idea to start your training," he said. The two boys looked at each other as the wolf continued. "Something you may not know about us, the Spirits of the Elements, is that we are extensions of the Elements themselves. We can control the Elements as well but only to a certain degree. Our power is directly influenced by how well you can control your own. The more in tune you are to the Elements, the stronger we will become as well. Thus, the sooner you understand your power and control your abilities, the better."

Seth looked at Gaia and nodded. "I understand. I'm ready to learn how to use my power."

Eric was silent for a moment, mixed emotions flickered in his eyes. Eventually, he nodded as well with a look of determination replacing the other emotions. "I am too."

Inferno grinned. "Good. Then follow me, Element Keeper of Fire. We will need an open area for this." He smirked slightly and spread his multicolored wings. "We wouldn't want to accidentally start a forest fire after all." He flew out of the forest with Eric rolling his eyes before following after the Phoenix.

Seth watched them go with a slight smile on his lips. It seemed that his friend was more willing to accept the responsibility placed on him after their talk the night before. When he turned his attention back to Gaia, there was a knowing look in his amber colored eyes. It was a look that seemed to say that the blonde was meeting the wolf's expectations. Yet, as soon as he saw the expression, it was gone the next moment.

Gaia studied Seth for a moment. "Before you can control the Element of Earth, you must be able to understand its source and power, although," he tilted his head slightly with a smirk. "You seem to be more in touch with your powers than I would have expected. Perhaps it's because you are so willing to accept this fate placed upon your shoulders."

Seth blinked in surprise. Was Gaia talking about how he was able to make spires shoot from the ground when they were being chased by the shadows? But he didn't even know how he had done that in the first place. Then again, that was what this training was for; to turn the impulsive spurts of Elemental use to controlled and willed use of its power.

Gaia stood and circled Seth as he continued. "The Element of Earth, as you know, allows you to manipulate the ground or soil itself as well as spontaneously grow vegetation. To cause plants to grow, all you have to do is call out to the life within it and it will grow in an instant." He stopped circling and faced the blonde who was silently but intently listening to his every word.

"It's the same with moving the earth itself." Gaia continued, looking to the ground they were standing on. "To everyone else living in the world, the earth is lifeless. However, you, blessed with the Element of Earth itself, can feel the energy that pulses through the soil we stand on. It's an energy only you and I can sense and feel. It is an energy that originates from the Element itself and can only be manipulated by it."