Five

He watched her cook for a while, but got a bit confused by her ways. She was obviously powerful, and by now he was positive she had domain over all the four elements. However, she cooked as a peasant. She got water from a bucket she clearly got from the river, and he noticed a fireplace bellow beside the stone oven, which meant she didn’t even use air to stoke the fire. When she got the flint to start the fire, he couldn’t help himself.

“Are you really going to use that?” He pointed towards the stone. Her confused expression made his eyes roll and he ignited the wood inside the fireplace with a small hand gesture.

“Thank you. But you didn’t have to do that. No need to tire yourself.”

“Why would I tire myself with that? I don’t understand why you didn’t do it yourself.”

“Well perhaps only this small lighting wouldn’t draw me that much, but still you should be resting, I had it under control.”

He was puzzled by her statement. Why would using her magic for cooking tire her at all when she had the capacity to start a major storm from scratch?

“Where do you draw your magic from Brianna?”

“That’s an odd question. I draw it from the element that asks for it, obviously.”

“And if no one is calling?”

“Well, then I draw it from myself”

“Are you telling me you restrained me with a giant tree branch and conjured a massive water ball drawing energy strictly from yourself?”

“Where else would I draw it from? It’s not like the earth needed me to stop you from attacking me.”

Nathaniel was speechless for the rest of her cooking. He was astounded by her new revelations. Not only she had the strength to perform a massive attack out of her own energy, but also had no idea there was much less wasteful ways to do it. He was given a lucky card and knew just how to play it.

“Brianna, I believe there is something I could teach you. But I’d like you to teach me something in return. I have an offer for you.”

“What?” She was taken aback by his straight-forwardness, especially since he had been quiet most of the time.

“I can show you how to harvest power from sources outside yourself even without a calling. In return, I ask you to teach me about the elements I have no domain over.”

She might end up even more powerful after this, but the Council would know how to deal with her when the time came. He would make sure to have all the information they needed to restrain and bend her, and this little deed might get him enough points with the higher ranks to allow for his early ascension.

Brianna knew his words held more meaning than he was letting off, but the offer was too interesting, and she rarely passed on a chance to learn. Even if his intentions were not clearly stated and she was more than a little suspicious of the amount of information he was withholding, she was keen to accept his offer.

“There is a clearing not far from here. The trees are strong, the river courses through it, and the southern wind strengthens passing by the woodless grass. It is a beautiful place to practice.”

He nodded and that was it. Brianna felt nice about the turning of events. It had been a long while since she had company and perhaps the aura of mistrust that enveloped them would eventually dissipate into something pleasurable. She took him back to the village in a comfortable silence and they agreed to meet again at her cottage.