Part 3
Chapter 4
Fit is to fight, as fragile is to flee.
Training. The very word made Maia’s head spin, her breath come quicker, and a desire to give up on everything filled her. But instead, she nodded weakly to Anna, and hobbled off to her bed, avoiding her family. She had woken up only two hours ago, but her bones hurt. The second she sank into her bed, her head drifted off into oblivion.
And Water interrupted her dreamless sleep.
Oh stop Maia, he said when she groaned and expressed wishes to just sleep. While I speak your body and mind will gain the rest they need. I am not making you do anything with your powers. I don't even need you to talk. Just listen. Maia groaned.
Water, taking that as submission continued. When you wake up, you and Anna will train. In a week I will join you. Then, together, we will train you to defeat Aether. For the world must be purged of this dastardly being.
A flaw, a gaping, wide whole appeared to Maia. You can’t destroy something as vital as an Element! If any of the Five are destroyed, the world won't function. Without Water we would not survive. Without Fire -plasma- there would be no light, etc. You can’t ‘purge the world of this dastardly being’! What will we do without the stars, atmosphere, and darkness?
Water was silent. I wished to spare you from this information. You are correct. We need you to pin him. Once he is pinned, you must draw the evil from Aether. The other Elements and I cannot do this, for that would mean one part of nature conquering another, and that could tip the balance of the world.
What about that did you wish to conceal? Asked Maia, for nothing there seemed especially significant or scary
The withdrawal of his evil will be gruesome and painful- the most painful thing you will ever do. The knowledge of approaching pain may daunt you, and you may try and train less hard than we need. You are a smart girl, Maia. Prepare for later, it will be hard, but worth it. Sleep now.
***
“You owe a debt of gratitude to Water. This rejuvenation is his doing. without the energy he gave you, you would still be extremely sleepy. I’m glad of it, now you can train hard, and not break your body and brain,” said Anna to Maia as they sat in the backyard. “This exercise is simple. The purpose of it is to teach you to hold the Water or whatever you have created for as long as you need. If you are riding upon a Water horse, and suddenly you can’t hold your concentration o anymore, and fall, that won't be good. You must learn to hold the power for hours, days. Cross your legs, and create Water. “
Maia did as she was bidden. She closed her eyes, lay her wrists upon her knees and concentrated.
For the next 3 hours, Anna helped her to practice maintaining her Water.
“Every day you will add five minutes to what you can sustain.” At the end of her very first lesson, she could hold it for 25 minutes.
Those hours were hard. Extremely. Maia gritted her teeth and pushed on. If I can’t survive the first day, how will I ever face Aether?
Comments