After a few minutes of walking, the trees opened up to a small lake. Sitting near the center was a small rock island. Val gave a small sigh of relief– this had been the right way, and it was even the right lake. He scanned the shore, positive that there had been some way to get to the island that wasn't swimming. There– a collection of rocks leading towards the island. They would have to jump across, but it was better than having to conjour a boat or swim across. "This way. We'll practice on that island just in case your magic gets the best of you. I'm sure it won't, but you can never be too careful." Val started walking towards the rocks, hoping he wasn't scaring Bryce with all the precautions. Burning down the forest before the Council could wasn't on his list of things he wanted to do, though. Val jumped to the first rock, then to the second one, continuing until he reached the island.
The sight of the lake and the island had Bryce practically bursting with nerves. He wasn't exactly the biggest fan of large bodies of water however didn't want to make a fuss over it. He'd be fine, Val was there and he had bigger issues to deal with then a fear. He understood the precautions, even though it was only making his nerves worse. For a moment he watched Val cross to the island in the middle, biting his lip before he followed, albeit slowly. One jump at a time, he crossed the rocks, wobbling here and there but soon he was joining Val on the other side. He loosed a breath, "Are you sure this is safe?"
"Oh, yes. Don't worry. I will be right here if anything goes wrong– though I doubt it will." Val nodded and quickly surveyed the island. "Now, stand in the center, please?" He gestured to a spot and stepped back towards the edge of the rocks. "Okay, so, I want you to close your eyes and try to feel the magic within you. Find it and coax it out. Be gentle at first– you don't want to scare it." Val smiled softly at him. "Just try to make a small flame appear at the center of your palm. It's alright if you don't get it at first. Be patient." He clasped his hands together and nodded in encouragement. He believed that Bryce could do this. Hopefully, his advice would help the man.
Bryce did as he was told, walking into the center of the island and facing Val. Don't want to scare it? How would he scare it if it wasn't a living being? At the thought the magic rumbled in protest and Bryce blinked, clearly taken aback a little, "Okay. Okay. Patience. I can do this." He closed his eyes, shifting on his feet to make himself comfortable. He put his arm out in front of him before he focused inwards, trying to coax out that flame he had witnessed earlier, the one that responded to thoughts about it. He dug deep until he found it, focusing as he tried to gently ease it out. Nothing happened.
Val watched intently as Bryce closed his eyes. He was clearly focused, but nothing was happening. Val suppressed a sigh of impatience, reminding himself that it would probably take a little while for Bryce to connect with his magic. He wanted to provide a word or two of encouragement, but it wouldn't be a good idea to break his concentration. And so, he waited. Val turned his attention from Bryce to the water around them for a few seconds. It was dark and deep and very ominous. He knew from personal experience that it was very, very deep. It was also mysteriously empty of life, but as long as no one fell in, it was safe. It would probably be safe if someone fell in, too. He'd done in and survived, after all. Val looked back at Bryce, praying that he would create that flame.
It took a few moments. Moments where Bryce really, really wanted to scream because nothing was happening but then he felt the magic flicker in response. He felt the warmth of it follow him out of the part of him where it lay waiting and into the air, or more specifically, his palm. The flame was bigger then he had been trying to create, the reds and oranges and the slight blues waving in the gentle breeze. Bryce opened his eyes and grinned, nearly squealing in excitement. He'd done it. He'd actually been able to summon a flame.
Val's lips spread into a smile at the sight of the flame. It was beautiful, and not only because of how it looked. This was the thing that could save him. It might be destructive, but it was also his hope. "You did it!" Val sighed, taking a step towards him before remembering that he was supposed to be teaching Bryce. "Now, can you put it out?" This was a very important part of fire magic. It was fine being able to create the fire, but putting it out was crucial. If someone couldn't put it out, then they might as well be dead. That fire could burn everything to ash if given the chance. Of course, Val wasn't going to tell Bryce any of that just yet. He didn't want to cause the man any more stress.
Bryce nodded. This time the flame seemed to listen immediately, shimmering out into nothing and leaving a warm, tingling feeling on his hand, "I can't believe that just happened. I can't believe I was actually able to do that." It felt like something out of a dream. Being able to control something so beautiful and yet so scary at the same time. At least the magic seemed to listen to him now, that gave Bryce a bit more hope and comfort that he might actually be able to do this.
Val held his breath, only letting it go when the flame disappeared from Bryce's palm. "Yes, it was very nice." He hated that he had to push Bryce when he'd only just figured it out, but time was against them. "Now, can you make fire appear in both of your hands? And once you do, snuff it out after a few seconds. You need to be able to call on your magic and put it out very quickly." He gave Bryce a slightly apologetic look. When he had thought about the chosen one before, he'd imagined that he would just use the person as a living weapon. But now that Bryce was actually here… it was harder to think of him only as a weapon. It was harder to push him. Val bit his lip and stared at Bryce intently. He could think about feelings and all that later, once they were closer to victory.
Bryce once again nodded. This time he felt like it would be much easier to do so. Now that he had a connection with his magic, that he could feel it lurking, waiting for him to tell it what to do, he knew he could do this. Well, this little bit of training at least. He looked down at his hands, focusing on the exposed palm and brought out the flame. The fire danced on his skin, weaved its way around his fingers and wrists and then it was gone again.
"Perfect!" Val nodded happily. "Now, can you make a ball of fire? One that would be sturdy enough to hurl at something?" With how things were going so far, it probably wouldn't take Bryce too much time to figure out how to make a fireball. That was a wonderful addition to Val's day. He didn't know what they would use as a target, though. Val glanced towards the water and smiled slightly. Manipulating water wasn't too difficult. With two simple words, he created a large circle of ice sitting on the surface of the lake. This would not have worked if it had been windy, but thank the gods it wasn't. "Once you get a good fireball, I want you to throw it at that." He pointed at the circle of ice.
He bit his lip. Making fire appear and reappear in his hands was one thing. Making a ball of it was another. Let alone having enough control to aim it at the ice circle now on the water. A moment ago he had been confident, unfazed, ready to do anything. But now Val was leading up to the larger tests and he could feel those nerves swirling in him again. But he'd got this far, why not give it a try and see what happens? "Yeah, yeah okay, I'll have a go."
He steadied himself, making sure his feet were steady on the ground and he was ready to go. Swallowing his nerves, he brought his hands up, cupping them close together as he tried to focus his energy into a ball of flame.
Val's eyebrows furrowed at Bryce's hesitation. He could understand it. Making fireballs defianatly seemed very daunting. It was a more advanced action than simply making fire appear, but Val needed Bryce to be able to do things with his magic. And it would probably help him too, if he ever encountered an enemy that Val couldn't get to in time. He nodded, glad Bryce was deciding to try on his own accord. As Val was waiting, the faint sound of wings caught is attention. He looked up at the sky, trying to find the source of the sound. His eyes soon found a small hawk flying towards him. Oh, gods. A message. It could either be a note from the city, telling him off for sending Tahre back the way he did or an update on the Council. He hoped it was an update on the Council. Val needed to know how much time he had left to train Bryce.
Bryce didn't let the flap of the wings distract him from his task. He couldn't lose his concentration, not when there was so much riding on him to get this, to be able to use his magic to save probably hundreds of people. The magic rose, swarming up and over his hands. He opened his eyes, controlling the fire until there was enough to form a ball of hot, burning flame. Now the only challenge was aiming it at the ice and not missing. He made sure the fire was in one hand. Even though his arm was slightly shaky, he took aim and threw it at the ice, hitting the edge and flipping it over. The fire dispersed.
Val held up his arm and the hawk landed on his forearm. Although he desperately wanted to know what the message was, it seemed like Bryce was making progress. He watched as the fire grew in the man's hands, turning into a ball. Val smiled slightly. One part down. Now all he had to do was throw it at the ice cicle. Bryce's aim wasn't the best, but he hit the circle. "Hmm, pretty good for a first try. Want to try again?" He tilted his head sightly, the impacient screech of the hawk making him wince. "Alright, what do you want to tell me?" Val turned his attention to the hawk. It opened it's beak, the ancient tongue coming out instead of the usual bird sounds. He listened, his expression dropping the more he heard. "Ah… gods. Thank you." The hawk took off and disappeared into the sky. Val sighed heavily and looked back at Bryce.
Bryce braced his hands on his knees and shook his head, "Two minute break." Magic was taxing, and for a first timer it was probably worse. He understood now how Val had felt earlier when he had sent his friends back to where they had come from, "What did the- the bird say?" It felt strange to say, however everything else that had happened today was in the same boat so he supposed he should be used to it by now.
"Alright." Val nodded curtly, understanding of the strain this magic was probably putting on the man. The relief that Bryce could use his magic was totally obliterated by the news the hawk had delivered. "Well… the Council is moving faster than I thought they were. I think… I think in order to make it in time to stop them we'll have to leave tomorrow." He bit his lip and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. We'll need to train you on the road for most of this, it seems." Val twisted a lock of hair around his finger, trying to stop the feeling of doom hovering over his head. It felt like it was about to crush him.
He blinked, "Tomorrow?" He'd only just got here. Only just found out what his powers were and this whole prophecy and he was supposed to leave tomorrow?! He knew he didn't have a choice. For the sake of Val and all his people then they had to leave. At least they could train on the road, he supposed, "Right, right yeah okay."
Val nodded, completely clueless to why the Council was suddenly moving so fast. It wasn't good for the quest, that was for sure. Maybe Tahre had said something. It would make sense. He was usually very pro-Council and anti-Val. "Are you ready to try that fireball again, or do you need a little more rest?" Val really hoped Bryce didn't need more rest, but if that was the case, so be it. Having him pass out would only slow them down more.
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