Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Water surrounds me in perfect circles, parting as if I stand in the eye of a storm. The surface trembles, reflecting the light in fragments that prance across my skin.
After a long night of losing myself in Lark and managing far too little sleep, I barely finished my breakfast with her this morning before Rivlan appeared.
With just a wave of his arm, he brought me here.
Godly training ground, he’d called it. A place that exists somewhere between realms.
He probably just named it that to feel important.
As far as the eye can see, crystal clear water stretches toward the horizon. The glassy surface mirrors a sky of sorts, the faint glowing blue interspersed with fluffy clouds in a mimicry of the real world.
I flex my fingers, feeling the water respond not just to my touch, but to my thoughts as well.
My intentions tremble beneath my skin like an anxious alicorn.
The water rises, not in the familiar wavering columns I typically create, but in massive, perfectly formed pillars that shoot upward with breathtaking speed.
With just a bit of focus, I shape them with my mind. There’s no need to gesture as they bend and twist, forming archways that curl together and towers that stretch high.
The water doesn’t merely obey. It anticipates.
Normally, I coax water to my will. But now…the element feels like an extension of my soul. I can sense every molecule, every ripple. The entire body of water vibrates in harmony with my heartbeat.
None of this should be possible.
The thought cuts through my mind, breaking my concentration. Cracks appear in the liquid architecture before me, spreading like spider webs across the magnificent structure.
Too late, I try to hold it together, to reinforce the failing points.
The entire creation collapses with a thunderous splash, and water rains down around me.
Pacing in a tight circle, I drag in air that fills my lungs but does nothing to cool the frustration flooding through me.
My legs move in swift, angry strides that leave wet footprints on the strange ethereal ground.
“Fuck.”
This is both simpler and harder than anything I’ve ever done. The power is so easy to handle, so long as my focus doesn’t waver. Once that happens, everything goes to shit.
I wipe spray from my face.
Rivlan approaches, cups a hand around the back of my neck, and tugs me closer so our heads are bent together. “You’re a cocky bastard.”
Despite my frustration, a reluctant grin tugs at my mouth. “And you’re observant.”
“Point proven.” His fluid features shift into a fierce frown.
“Do not be cocky. Be confident.” His fingers tighten on my neck, and I psyche myself up for a god’s version of a pep talk.
“Cocky craves power. Confidence understands that power is already there. Use it. Be calm. Be confident. Accept who you are now.”
He releases me and steps back. My forehead is dry. The water rejoined Rivlan, leaving not even a trace of moisture behind.
I sigh and rub the back of my neck. Confidence has never been a problem. Then again, I’ve never trained with a god before.
Rivlan’s form gains definition as he straightens.
Muscles crafted from currents run under translucent skin.
His color changes with his direction and even his mood.
He wears a garment resembling a long vest that reaches past his knees and loose pants that bag around tightly cuffed ankles. His feet are bare.
He twirls his pointer finger. “Again. Stop thinking like a mortal. Don’t ask the water to obey. Know that it has no choice and already is.”
I snort. “Kind of difficult when I am a mortal.”
Or at least, I was.
Honestly, that part’s freaky as fuck. I don’t feel any different than I did yesterday.
Holding my hands up, I check for any changes. I wiggle my toes in my boots but can’t feel anything between them.
“Are you seriously examining yourself as if you might change colors? You’re trying too hard. Just be yourself, and the rest will come naturally.” With a scoff, the water deity turns away, the dark strands of his hair flinging over his shoulder.
Irritation swells at his assessment, but I nod, considering his words. “Okay.”
Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’ve been approaching this all wrong, thinking like a soldier giving orders and expecting resistance.
That’s not how my relationship with water works. Not anymore. Water isn’t my subordinate but a part of me. My arms move without conscious commands. Water magic should now function the same way.
I close my eyes to center myself.
The sensation hits differently this time. It’s an acknowledgement of what already exists rather than a gathering of power. My breath slows. My pulse steadies. I open my eyes and stretch out my power.
The water rises again. Only this time, the action is effortless.
Structures emerge from the surface. Towers, bridges, and archways interlock in patterns that I envision with my mind. The liquid bends and defies gravity yet holds its form with perfect stability.
Light refracts through the structures, casting rainbows across my skin and the strange ground beneath my feet.
Pride surges through me.
Just yesterday, I couldn’t even imagine this level of control. This level of power.
“Better.” Rivlan’s voice is measured. Bored, even. But I don’t miss the smile that tilts the corners of his lips.
Exhilaration courses through my veins, my blood pumping hot and fast. With barely a thought, a wisp of an idea, I draw the water upward and outward, shaping the fluid with greater detail and precision.
A perfect replica of Tirene’s palace rises before us, rendered in water so clear it might be crystal.
Every tower stands at the correct height.
Every archway curves with architectural accuracy.
I add the fire paddock, the wide walkways of the main halls, and even the balconies that serve as perches for the winged citizens.
The West Tower’s always been my favorite.
I add a tiny water figure to one of the balconies. Lark, with her wings outstretched. My chest aches with sudden longing. I’d give anything to have her here with me, sharing in this experience.
Rivlan’s expression shifts from approval to exasperation.
“Are you planning to defeat Zeru’s champion with architectural models?
” He waves a hand dismissively through my creation, causing ripples to distort the scene.
“Focus, Knox! And stop showing off. This isn’t a game.
” He pauses, eyeing the disturbed water.
“Also…the West Tower was leaning a bit.”
I laugh and sweep up the tunic I discarded earlier, using the material to wipe my face. “Do you know who Zeru’s champion is?”
“The logical choice is the Guardian, though you shouldn’t necessarily expect Zeru to do what’s logical.” Rivlan considers me, his ocean-deep eyes unreadable. “It could be anyone. A powerful magic wielder, no doubt. You need to be ready for everything.”
That little piece of news prompts me to physically stagger back. Once I regain my balance, I drag my palm down my face. There’s a chance I might face off with the Guardian? If that’s the case, I’m fucked.
If Rivlan notices my shock, he ignores it. “Anyway, you’re progressing faster than I anticipated. Perhaps it’s time to introduce you to the others.”
Others?
He gestures toward the edges of the training ground, where several radiant beings materialize like condensation forming on a cold glass.
Gods from his faction?
Alarm tenses my muscles, and I ready for attack.
A feminine figure approaches first, her form cloaked in swirling air currents that twist her features into a shifting mask. She says nothing, not even her name.
With a sudden, sharp movement, a tornado spirals toward me without warning.
Battle instincts kick in. Whether this is a goddess or a likeness of one conjured by Rivlan, I’m not about to let her kick my ass.
I spin in a full circle, drawing water up around me. Instead of creating a shield, I shape the water into a funnel that meets the tornado head-on.
The collision vibrates up my arms. I hold steady, reshaping the combined energies into a massive waterspout that I redirect toward my assailant.
Clearly pleased by my counterattack, the divine creature laughs, the sound reminiscent of wind chimes in a storm.
She disperses the waterspout with a flick of her wrist, absorbing her wind and allowing the water to fall without that added momentum.
Her eyes, bright white like flashes of lightning, regard me with new respect.
Before I can react, the ground trembles.
An earthen figure crafted from packed soil and stone emerges to my right, its face humanoid. With a gesture that reminds me of a catapult release, this new opponent hurls shards of stone at me from all directions.
I drop to one knee, throwing both hands outward.
Water pours into a dome that catches each projectile mid-flight. The stones hang suspended in the liquid barrier and slowly soak up the water as the dome starts to collapse from the weight.
With a mere thought, I freeze the entire structure into a crystalline shield, imprisoning the projectiles in a steady sheet of ice.
“Not bad.” The creature’s voice rumbles like a raging river.
“Oh, you like that? I’m just getting started.” With a sharp gesture, the frozen shield explodes outward, shooting the stone shards, each now encased in a spike of ice, back with doubled force.
The earthen creature raises a wall of stone to block them, but a few still drive into his form. He nods with grudging approval.
The air creature doesn’t move, allowing the frozen pieces to penetrate her form.
But I know there’s also water in her air. Even within her divine body, I can feel it responding to me.
Instead of passing straight through, the ice projectiles expand. The crystals in her body grow, holding her rigidly in place.
She bares her teeth in a snarl. Surging lightning finds and disperses the crystals, which she then thrusts toward me.
Each challenge comes faster than the last, barely giving me time to recover.
More opponents appear without warning.
A new attacker, with skin like flexible metal, hurls balls of fire that sizzle and steam as they collide with my magic. A shadowy creature tries to blind me, forcing me to sense the water through touch rather than sight.
They might be fast, but I’m one step ahead.
I dive into a whirlpool of my own creation, disappearing beneath the surface.
The water welcomes me, embraces me, becomes me.
I can see through the magic, feel through it, exist as part of it.
Then I erupt from its center, water-dragons coiling around my arms, their liquid maws open in silent roars.
A wall of fire stretches across the training ground, but I walk through the flames, untouched within my protective water sphere. I emerge on the other side with steam rising from my shoulders but not a mark on me.
Exhilarating, dizzying power gushes through my veins.
Is this what being a guardian means?
Above me, someone creates a miniature avalanche. A massive mound of snow and ice crashes toward me.
Instead of creating a new barrier, I extend my hands and concentrate on the moisture within the avalanche itself. With a single sharp gesture, I freeze the entire mass into a thin, solid sheet of ice. The structure hovers in mid-air, the force of the avalanche arrested.
“Enough!” Rivlan calls, and the others retreat to the edges of the training ground.
I let the ice sheet dissolve back into water that splashes at my feet. My body aches, and my muscles burn, but I welcome the discomfort. Pain means I’m powerful and alive. I utter a silent vow to do whatever it takes to win the match.
For Lark. For Tirene. For humanity.
I accept a cup of water that Rivlan conjures—an irony that doesn’t escape me—and down half of it.
“Your progress is remarkable.” Rivlan studies me with those unreadable eyes. “At this rate, you’ll be ready for the Champions Match well before the deadline.”
“Good.” When I finish the water, the cup disappears from my hand. “We can start spreading the news about the match in Tirene.”
The god hesitates, his form rippling like disturbed water. “Let us keep it quiet for now. The date and the fact that you are training.”
I pause midway through wiping sweat from my face. “Why?”
“The announcement will bring…attention. Expectations. Distractions.” Rivlan’s form shivers, briefly losing cohesion before solidifying again. “Better to continue your training in peace, without the added pressure.”
Tactically, his words possess a certain logic. Keep my progress hidden from Zeru and his faction. Let them underestimate me and remain unprepared for my growing power.
“Fine.” Magic flows through my veins like never before, accompanied by an uncomfortable realization.
I’ve entered a game with rules I don’t fully understand, where other players have been moving pieces for millennia.
While I may be gaining strength, I’m still basically mortal, surrounded by gods with their own agendas.
And though I refuse to let it show, that knowledge fucking terrifies me.