Chapter 46
I
n the following days, she sought refuge in various training sessions, engaging with the twins, Xol, and even Jayce.
Each of them excelled in their respective disciplines, and she was grateful that they didn’t go easy on her.
The training sessions resembled those with Zhal as they traversed Shubae—demanding, but not necessarily for the same reasons.
The time spent with Kaen proved to be both mentally and physically exhausting.
Her goal was to comprehend how Kaen controlled fire, a skill closely tied to the element she drew from Ilkiz.
While strength remained the primary aspect of bonding with Ilkiz, the accompanying element, known as Power, but often mistaken for fire, intrigued her.
Kaen explained that, although it shared properties with fire, it wasn’t crafted from the same construct.
Instead, it originated from pure, raw energy, manifesting as flames in both appearance and effect.
The released heat, once unleashed, could obliterate wolfram in a matter of seconds.
While the element radiated around her, it was just hot, and wouldn’t burn unless exuded further beyond her skin. She had demonstrated this back in Isis. Jayce mentioned that even he could feel the heat, and while not afraid, he wouldn’t actively go and touch it.
Training with Kaen was challenging but immensely beneficial. With Akua present to control any flames, practicing the summoning and release of elements felt secure. The synergy between the twins was evident, and she appreciated the balance they provided.
Akua focused on mental training, emphasizing the importance of understanding the truth behind the elements.
He delved into the history of the five elements, with particular emphasis on Space.
It had been the first she had ever heard of it, and that surprised him, considering Jayce’s Magic was that of the same existence.
Akua explained that it was taking the force around them that kept them from floating to the sky and warping it to the users will.
He chuckled when she recounted Jayce pulling down a star, but it wasn’t a lighthearted laugh.
In fact, he seemed more nervous, subtly shifting away from her.
He went on to clarify that manipulating something so distant was beyond his comprehension.
Dragons and their spirit riders manipulated Space for levitation and matter bending, while Jayce’s Magic seemed to defy the gravity laws that governed their world.
During her initial training sessions with Jayce, she brought up his Magic.
While he provided detailed explanations, it was clear that he seldom expelled its full potential.
The scarcity of Fae his age raised concerns for her, enough to refrain from revisiting the topic.
She wasn’t afraid of him, but was afraid of what others would do.
The mere thought of Jaakobai wielding Jayce’s Magic sent shivers down her spine, it was a truly terrifying prospect.
Jayce, always generous, offered to teach her how to fly.
He explained that riding something with wings was distinctly different from having wings oneself, but learning to navigate the skies would be beneficial.
Surprisingly, it became her favorite training among the four of them.
Not because she enjoyed listening to Jayce talk or watching him enthusiastically recount how he learned to fly, or even the way his smile brightened when he caught her staring and not entirely tuned in to his lessons.
The lessons proved fruitful, and by the tenth day, she was getting the hang of summoning Ilkiz on command.
While she still believed reins might make things easier, the fact that her hands didn’t need support was a confidence boost. Acquiring the comfort for aerial acrobatics akin to Kaen on Fury would take time, but she was confident that she had ample time to learn.
Azahara had gained valuable insights from Zhal in hand-to-hand combat and short sword usage, but training with Xol was an entirely different experience.
Xol neither tired, nor took it easy on her.
This training drew the most attention from the crew, and Azahara found the scrutiny more manageable than before.
With a dagger strapped to her thigh and her hair tied back, Azahara gracefully sidestepped a heavy swing.
Beads of sweat from her forehead cascaded across Xol as she lunged forward again.
She swiftly dropped, sweeping her leg across the floor, forcing Xol to leap back.
The Yuul cracked her neck and popped her fingers, steadying herself for another charge.
“Come on, you got this!” Carmen called out.
Exhaling, Azahara observed as Xol forcefully pushed off the deck, swinging out a fist. Instead of evading, she extended her hand and caught it, the sheer force sliding her backward a few feet.
Another fist struck her in the stomach, prompting a gasp of air.
“Lucky for you I only have two fists now,” Xol commented with a laugh.
Grinning, she retorted, “It’s too bad.” She spun swiftly, turning her back to Xol, who hadn’t time to pull her fist away.
Azahara used her shoulder to toss the Yuul over onto her back.
A grunt escaped Xol, and instead of allowing her to stand, Azahara took her wrist, turning it enough to elicit another groan.
With one foot pressed against Xol’s shoulder, Azahara crouched down, her dagger between her fingers. “Multiple hands sound fun.”
Xol bared her teeth in a smile, saying, “Bold words, Violence.”
Azahara winked and stepped off of her. “I’m not violent; I don’t know where you guys get that from.” She spun the dagger between her fingers, flipping it up, and once she caught the hilt, she tucked it back into its sheath.
“I beg to differ,” Jayce said, and when she shot him a glance, he threw his hands up. “See, don’t harm me, I’m fragile.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
As the sun set on their final day, Itotaki came into view, and they slowed the ship for a precise arrival.
Nervousness had accompanied her throughout the journey toward their destination, but now, with only a single night remaining, her stomach threatened to release every bit of food she’d ever eaten.
“Alright everyone, let’s set up dinner on deck tonight,” Alyse called out, and without hesitation, they all began getting to work. “Aza, can you do me a favor?”
“Of course,” she said.
“Take a bath, relax.”
She pulled her eyebrows together and turned her head down to sniff herself, “Do I stink?”
“No, you don’t,” Jayce stood beside her, his head close to hers as he wrapped his arms around her waist. With a gentle tone, he whispered, “They want to make it nice for you, kind of like a surprise, but shh, just go.” He kissed her cheek and swatted her butt.
“Hey!” She squealed.
He quickly stepped away from her, saving his butt from her own assault.
She did as he said and retreated back to her room. The last thing she wanted was to be alone, but she understood why they didn’t want her to help.
This was beyond anything that they had signed up for, and for them to continue to go out of their way again for her, she couldn’t help but wonder how she had become so blessed to have them.
Come get me when it’s time, she slipped through Jayce’s window. The tingling sensation of him reaching through hers was answer enough that he would.
The tub was large, but the water didn’t stay warm.
Attempting to use the Power of Ilkiz to keep it so proved ineffective.
After a very quick bath and dressing, she sat at the window, gazing back at the sea they had traversed.
The sky displayed a beautiful blend of orange, blue, and pink hues.
It reminded her of the sky just after she bonded with Ilkiz, evoking memories of Rah.
Hoping that Death took care of him, she smiled and leaned against the frame.
She needed to keep her thoughts clear for the day ahead and stop dwelling on the countless “what ifs” that could happen.
“Ilkiz,” she spoke out loud, feeling that the silence around her would soon drive her insane.
“Yes, little one?”
“When we go, I need you to allow my emotions to run rampant. I’ve asked Jayce to do the same because I need them to think me weak.”
“Have you seen yourself? It will be hard to think that.”
They both shared a chuckle, “They will see a short, frail woman, especially the King.
“Do you really think Jaakobai is taking you back to the King? Have you thought of the prospect of him taking you back to Howl?”
“I have,” she swung her feet, “He is playing a game with the King, and taking me to Howl would ruin whatever he has spent all this time building. I have this feeling it has to do with the Book of Vespera, and the Book of Aurora.”
“Vespera was destroyed.”
Her eyebrows pulled together, and she felt a lump in her throat, “What?”
“I would know, I destroyed it.” She gasped and slumped down. “Unless they found a way to create another one, which would be impossible, because Rah wrote it himself and has been with me since his death.”
A strange sense of victory washed over her. “How did you destroy it?”
“I ate it, along with the one that held it.”
“Oh, I hope that is what he is after, so I can crush all of his hopes in one, swift—”
“Violence is a good nickname for you.”
She almost slipped forward into the sea, swiftly leaning backward instead, and tumbled to the floor. The loud thud echoed, and she groaned. “Ow,” she muttered, leaning her head back and seeing Xol shaking her head. “My tailbone.”
“How did I even sneak up on you? I said your name like three times,” Xol rolled her eyes and crossed the room, leaning down and giving her a hand back up to her feet. “While I have you alone, if I may?”