CHAPTER XVIII #9
All of the men assisted me with training on my air summoning after that, this time huddling together in a forward attack before I put a large wall around them all to hinder their movements.
The summoning barrier made my body sweat and ache profusely, and it took all of my strength to hold them together before Mana finally delivered a strong blow with his kedge that broke through wall.
We attempted three more times after that, with all men using their collective weapons to burst through, and by the last and final wall I was wearing a proud grin, successfully holding them all inside.
I could feel my air summoning becoming honed, could recognize the flow down my arms and through my hands as it worked its magic.
Yet, this still only happened when I was in the thick of training, in a faux attack.
If someone asked me to make a branch move or a leaf float through the sky, I was good for nothing.
Completely useless. The summoning was always at its strongest when I was tested with physical altercations, and I was okay with that.
So now, after a long training, the men and Golem all stand relaxed in a lose circle around Canon and I, waiting to see if anything would come from my attempt to summon the elemental water. I smile nervously to Canon and cup my hands together with my palms up, waiting for him to pour his canteen.
“Envision a single drop lifting up from the pool in your hands,” he tells me. “Will it to bend out of the mass and hover just above.”
I stare down at the liquid in my hands, heart racing in anticipation.
Could it be done? Would the element follow my command?
I do as Canon says and envision the water taking shape outside of the pool in my hands.
My fingers begin to tingle under my stare, the prickling sensation traveling up my wrists and arms quickly, a foreign feeling I’ve never experienced before when summoning.
Hiro’s air always felt like a whisper under my skin, like there was a breeze in my veins when I used it.
No feeling came when I summoned away the vines, but this new sensation feels like small spikes against my palms, as if the summoning is trying to decide if it wants to be used or not.
I want you to be used, I tell the water, help me get a hold of this before I travel to Livyatan.
I don’t know who or what I’m pleading to, but the moment I ask for it to be used the tingling against my skin begins to calm, no longer pressing its sharp warning against me.
The summoning runs down my forearms and wrists coolly before it settles into my palms, vibrating the water in my hands just slightly.
I envision the vibrations coming together once more as a single drop above the rest, staring in shock as all of the liquid begins rising in a tight sphere.
“Ancients!” I gasp at the large formation, losing all concentration as the water falls to the ground with a large splash.
“There’s no way,” I murmur to myself in disbelief, wide eyes landing on Canon’s narrowed ones, his features furrowed in thought.
“That was your first time attempting to summon water?” he asks me quietly.
I take a deep breath and nod, my glance turning to find Keane’s but stopping the moment I catch Hirovale’s golden eyes through Stormfall. Hiro’s glance is piercing, his sharp gaze reaching deep into my soul and sending a shiver down my spine.
Can I tell them? I arch my shoulders straight and look directly at the Ancient.
No, his voice fills my mind, holding no shock or amusement behind it, keep my secret. Remind them that you are the Human Reborn. That the summoning will manifest as it chooses.
And the earth? I push catching Keane out of the corner of my eye as he turns his head to Stormfall, what reason do I give for that?
Leave it be, for now. Let your King train you in silence.
“I need to think this through,” Canon turns towards Keane, breaking my small conversation. “Are there any bodies of water in this city?”
Keane shakes his head. “Just the wells and barrels. A few of the shops have fountain features at their fronts.”
“No, that will not work,” Canon turns back to me with a new excitement in his eyes. “I need to test her on something large, something that moves strong. A stream or river, even a waterfall would be good.”
“The closest is outside the gates and into the Black Forest moving north,” Keane eyes his First Guard curiously, “we have a large stream that breaks off from Wolf Lake and moves south. It takes a full turn of the sun to ride to it.”
“Perhaps tomorrow morning?” Canon requests with a hint of urgency, “we can take our training outside of Gaumond?”
Cal chuckles at my side as a knowing smile graces Keane’s lips.
“Canon,” he places a hand on his First Guard’s shoulders, “after tonight’s court, you will not be getting out of your bed tomorrow until the noon apex.”