The Heated Discovery

In the weeks that followed, Embry spent most of her day training with her father. After training, she would join Teregan in the field and try to teach him what she learned. Teregan failed to repeat his success from the first day, and found himself very discouraged. Embry continued to encourage him, telling him to never give up.

By this point, Embry had advanced in her development a great deal. Her father had been working on helping her develop a flame shield to protect herself with. She was finally starting to see success, but the shield wasn't nearly strong enough to block an attack. Byron wouldn't explain why, but Embry sensed an increased sense of urgency in his training efforts. "You need to learn this Embry. I have seen it all, and this skill is essential to your survival."

Embry tried to teach Teregan the same manuever, but found it hard to teach a skill that she had not yet mastered herself. Despite the struggles, Teregan did manage to make a shield big enough to protect his hands, but nothing else. Everytime he tried to increase the size of the shield, it would simply evaporate.

"Here, let me show you again. The shield's growth depends on the strength of the flame it is stretched from. Your flame is not strong enough."

"But how do you make it stronger. I swear, I just can't make it any stronger." Teregan complained.

"It all comes from inside you. You have to want it...truly want it."

Teregan closed his eyes, and tried again. He had gotten quite good at finding his inner flame and moving it to his hands, but no matter how hard he tried that flame always seemed to pale in comparison to Embry's flame. The results were no different this time either. "I give up." He exhaled, and sat down on the cold dirt.

Embry walked over to him and sat down next to him. "It's probably for the best. We have been at this a long time. You need a break."

"Do you think I will ever get this? Or am I destined to always be a failure?" Teregan inquired.

"You'll get it. It's just not easy."

Teregan got back up, and looked at Embry. Her silky brown hair hung at her shoulders, curling inward, and her robe was a refreshing shade of blue. He was amazed how at peace he felt around her. "I want to try again."

Embry laid down on the ground and looked up at him. "You'll have plenty of time later. Take a break, so you can recover."

"No, I am not ready to give up."

Embry exhaled, and got back up. "Ok, if you insist, let's try again. This time, don't be so eager to pull the flame outward, focus on it while it is inside you, and try to grow it there instead."

Teregan looked at her longingly, hoping this would be the time his efforts would be rewarded. He again focused in on himself. He found the flame quickly, but instead of moving outward, he focused on the flame, trying to will it to grow. Embry also closed her eyes, hoping to be able to share some of her own focus in the hopes it would help him. As the two stood, facing each other, like two statues, they failed to notice the approach of a visitor.

"Embry, what are you doing?" the stranger boomed out.

Embry spun around in an instant, and saw her father. His hands were on his hip and a scowl encompassed his face. She could tell he was furious with her. Teregan lost the flame the moment he heard Byron's voice. He opened his eyes, and felt petrified with fear. He had never seen Byron this angry. His ice cold stare appeared like it might burn out his soul.

"What are you two doing?" Byron asked forcefully.

Teregan looked at Embry, uncertain what to do. Embry stepped in front of Teregan, blocking him from Byron. "I am teaching him to be a mage."

Byron's eyes seemed to burn with an inferno. "How could you? I told you nobody was to know about this. You have endangered you, me, and everyone who lives in the village."
"But..." Before she could finish though, Teregan stepped forward and asked, "How could her teaching me to be a mage put any of us in danger. If anything, she is helping protect us from danger. Three mages is better then two, if anybody decided to attack the village."

"So you are a mage now?" Byron asked pointedly.

"No, but I will be." Teregan answered defiantly.

"Well mage, prove to me your worthy!" Byron commanded in a deep and rough voice.

"How do I do that?" Teregan asked.

"Block this!" Byron yelled out as he sent a pulse of energy toward Teregan. The pulse hit Teregan square in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Teregan gasped, trying to get his breath back.

Byron grabbed Embry's hand and began to walk her back to their house. "Not everyone is meant to be a mage Embry. The sooner you learn that, the better off you will be."

"WAIT!" Teregan gasped out. "I am not done!"

Byron turned around and saw the defiant face of a young boy, taunting him to attack again. He hesitated, but saw the boy was determined. "If you insist."

Byron sent off another pulse of energy, but this one was bigger. Teregan was ready this time. He focused inward, found his inner flame, and pushed it outward, but he was not quick enough. Before he had even managed to get the flame out, the pulse slammed into his chest, knocking him three feet backward.

"Stop it!" Embry yelled, "You're hurting him!"

"I am teaching him a lesson, one that I hope he won't soon forget." Byron said as he again grabbed Embry's hand and departed.

Teregan laid on the ground, motionless. He had never hurt so bad in his life. Each gasping breath burnt his lungs and required all his effort. He coughed, trying to force the air out of his lungs. He couldn't move, and wondered if the last attack had left him paralyzed. He looked outward, and saw Byron and Embry walking out of the field. He tried to yell out to stop, but he couldn't make a sound.

Willing his limbs to move, he rolled over onto his chest. Martialling all the strength he could muster, he lifted himself up on all fours. "Stop!" Teregan exhaled weakly.

Despite the weakness of his voice, Byron heard it and again turned to face the boy. "You're not done yet? You still want more? Fine, I will give you more...Mage!"

"No father...no" Embry pleaded.

A second later, Byron was again shooting out another ball of energy, this stronger then both of the previous two, and threw it will full force at the weakened frame that stood before him.

Teregan was desparate to earn Byron's respect. He closed his eyes, looking inward, but when he found the flame, it was different somehow. It was bigger, more ferocious, and instead of sitting in his core, it radiated throughout his whole body. He pushed it out with all of his remaining strength, and braced himself for the oncoming blow...but it never came.

Embry looked at Teregan, shock and awe coursing in her face. She saw around him a massive shield of flame, bigger then she had ever seen before. Her father's energy ball and simply dissipated into nothingness the moment it hit the shield.

Byron was also shocked, but quickly recovered his poise. He looked at the boy with a curiosity that he couldn't understand. How could such a small boy produce such a powerful shield? he thought as he looked at the boy with closed eyes, bracing for a blow that was already gone. He looked at Teregan differently and determined that this event had changed everything.

"Teregan, are you sure you want to go down this path? Their is nothing but pain ahead." Byron explained.

Teregan finally opened his eyes, and saw a softer aura encompassing Byron. "Yes I do. I will do anything to be a mage."

"I can see that. I have seen grown men walk away from the ways of magic after getting hit by a lot less then what you just endured. If you remain this determined, I promise you...you will be a mage. But be warned, your suffering today is a mere pebble in the mountain of pain and suffering that your chosen path will take you. Are you sure you want this?"

"Yes." Teregan said reverently as he kneeled down before Byron. "Teach me how to fight, and I promise, your daughter will never be alone in a fight."

Byron looked down at the young boy with admiration. He could tell there was a special essence in this boy, and knew that his destiny was entwined with his daughter's as much as his own destiny was. To not train the boy would be to deny the fates, and he did not dare do such a thing.