“Wielding your element, when done right, is like moving your arm, or flexing your fingers: your element becomes an extension of your body that bends at your will,” Theo started the lecture.
“Is that what fire feels like to you?” Neera asked.
“Yes.” He continued, “I can both control fire around me, like a lit candle, or a bonfire, and create fireballs without a pre-existing fire source, as you have seen.” He paused. “Every element can be wielded in a slightly different way, as far as I understad, which is why it is best to be trained by a wielder of the same element.” He shrugged, a crooked smile on his lips. “I guess you will have to make do with me.”
Blushing slightly, Neera cleared her throat and pointed at the small waves crushing against the shore. “So, am I going to try to create a tsunami or something?”
Theo snickered. “I think it’s best if we start from the basics.” He pulled out a large beach towel and invited her to sit down facing the sea. “Keep your eyes on the sea and try to only use your senses, not your rational mind.”
Neera focused her eyes, but scoffed. “Easy,” she grumbled sarcastically.
“Just give it a try. Listen to the sound of the waves; breath in the salty sea air; take in the various shades of blue and green... Feel the water, don’t think about it.”
Neera tried to focus as Theo was directing her to do, but it was hard to let go of rational thought just like that. She had always been more of a brainy person, rather than an emotional one. She was most likely to rein her emotions in, rather than go along with them, which is why she found it so difficult to do as he asked.
Her eyes must have started wondering off while reflecting on her relationship with rationality and emotions, because Theo snapped his fingers in front of her eyes, a few sparks flying off. “Focus!”
Neera stared back at the sea in front of her. She tried to take in the sounds of the waves, the smell of salt and fish... The sea meant a lot to her, but she did not know what to do with that.
Without moving her gaze away, she asked, “Theo, what am I supposed to get out of feeling the water? Like, where am I going with this?”
Theo sighed. “You don’t have to get anywhere, Nyr, you just need to let your senses take control and become one with your element.”
It was Neera’s turn to sigh. “That doesn’t really mean anything...” She turned her head to face him, gasping softly as she realised Theo had moved closer, his face only inches from hers.
Unable to move, they stared at each other for a few moments. God, he’s so beautiful, Neera thought, her heart squeezing painfully. His deep, brown eyes, the soft curve of his jaw, his full lips... She could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Just as she moved a fraction of an inch to close to space between them, he said softly, “You did it.”
She followed his gaze, gasping loudly when she caught glimpse of a shapeless mass of water floating mid-air beside them. She reached out with an extended finger, but the water fell back into the sea before she could touch it.
Eyes wide in bewilderment, Neera brought a hand to cover her mouth, that was hanging open. “That was me...”
“It sure was,” Theo smiled at her. His smile turned quickly to an uncomfortable smirk, and he jumped to his feet. “Keep practising, I’m going to grab us something to eat.” He walked up the path that led to the woods and disappeared among the trees.
Still in shock at what she was able to do, Neera trained her eyes on the water, trying to repeat her earlier success. After what seemed like an eternity, with no progress, she huffed and gave up. A tiny voice in her head told her the only reason she had been able to manipulate water a few minutes earlier was that her emotions had took over while staring at Theo. She flushed at the memory. Was she actually trying to kiss her ex-boyfriend? Would he have pulled away if she had tried?
Shaking her head to clear those thoughts away, she stood up and took her clothes off. Wearing only her bikini, she walked in the water and dived.
How exhilarating it was, to swim again! It had been so long since the last time she had gone for a swim. Keeping to the surface, she swam for a few minutes, then stopped. Facing upwards, she floated a bit, enjoying the warm sun on her skin. She thought back to the day before, when Andrea had hit her with the etherball and she had instinctively surrounded herself in a giant ball of water. There was something in particular she had given a lot of thought, and was dying to try.
Taking a deep breath, she dipped her head underwater, staying close to the surface. First, she breathed out all the air in her lungs. Then, tentatively, she took in the tiniest breath. She was breathing air, not water! She took in a deeper breath, then broke into giggles.
Briefly, she took her head out of the water and looked at the shore, checking whether Theo had come back yet. He had not. Grinning widely, she dived underwater, swimming towards the sea floor.
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