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Chapter 11: Beginning of the Fire Lesson

Keahi found himself standing in a grassy field that was out of sight of both the Fire Temple and the Fire Palace. There was a patch of sand in the middle of the grass that gave the appearance that this was once a training field. A light breeze ruffled his hair causing the darken strands to brush feather light touches against his cheeks as the smell of the sea touched his senses. It was secluded and peaceful, away from the prying eyes of his elders and royal guards.

But it was still within the shadow of the mighty volcano, standing tall and proud in the background.

It was a beautiful location and it surprised him how he never knew of this place before.

“Right, first things first,” Masou stated as he literally brought Keahi back to the reality of his situation, taking him by the arm and leading him to stand at the edge of the sandy patch.

Keahi blinked, but allowed himself to be pulled along. After all, he wasn’t here to sight-see; he was here to train with his almost non-existent Fire abilities.

“Let’s see your Spell Binding Circle.”

Keahi, however, only sighed. The Spell Binding Circle was a spell to be used at the beginning of each battle, encircling the Spell Caster in a protective fiery barrier. Despite it being the first spell cast, it was one of the most difficult to control. But what made it even more difficult to learn was the fact that there was no set incantation to say. Each Fire User had their own unique chant to call and the method of learning the chant was varied.

And so, it was a difficult spell to master and if Masou wanted to start with that, Keahi knew that this was going to a very long day.

“What is it?” Masou asked, tilting his head to the side in question. “You don’t know it?”

“Kinda,” Keahi said as he fidgeted slightly, feeling somewhat subconscious under Masou’s gaze. “I know a few words, but I can’t really contain it probably yet.”

The only words he could really understand from his dreams and meditations were Candles and Fire, which didn’t mean very much as candles were the carriers of fires. But what really made him nervous were the memories he had of the first time he tried to call upon his Spell Binding Circle.

The flames...they were so fierce and uncontrollable, he almost burnt Bharath who had tried to help him. He hadn’t tried since, despite Bharath being so supportive and telling him that it happened to every Fire User.

He couldn’t help but be worried that it may happen again.

“No worries,” Masou said, pulling Keahi out of his thoughts. He then flashed him his carefree smile and moved to stand quite a few yards away from on, on the other end of the sandy patch. “Just let it all out, I can take care of myself if anything happens.”

“Huh?” Keahi stuttered in surprise.

“You’re worried about hurting others, aren’t you?” Masou asked, his grin softening into an understanding smile, placing one hand on his hip as the other hung limply by his side. “You’re holding yourself back.”

Keahi felt himself blush. H-how did Masou guess that he was worried? Was he that easy to read? But, by the way he said it; it was almost as if Masou read his mind. But no, that would be impossible...right?

“Now, I demand that you stop that,” Masou said firmly as he straightened his posture. “My Spell Binding Circle can protect me, so stop worrying.”

“Ah, ok,” Keahi found himself stuttering again.

“Good,” Masou said with a grin before turning oddly subdued and serious. “Now, I want you to close your eyes.”

Swallowing thickly, Keahi nodded and allowed his eyes to slip close, plunging his world into darkness. He began to remember his training as a Fire Priest, pressing the palms of his hands together in prayer in front of his chest and lowering his chin, bowing his head respectfully.

Centre oneself, concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in...Breathe out...

“Detach yourself from your fears,” Masou’s voice floated to him as the noise of nature slowly began to drown out around him; the sound of the wind, the smell of the sea salty air, the feel of the sun’s radiant warmth, all fading away.

“Imagine a flaming sword cutting your attachment to any fear you hold.”

Within his mind’s eye, Keahi imagined that his fear and painful memories of his failed training were attached to him like a weight that was holding him back. He then took a sword of fire and gold, and with one swing, one slow and deliberate motion, he severed the ties his fear had upon him. The flaming sword cut through the binds effortlessly, the chains falling away and disappearing into the darkness.

And, instantly, Keahi felt the weight drop away, the burden lifted gladly from his shoulders. He felt instantly lighter.

“Focus solely on the warmth and compassion in your heart.”

Suddenly, he could hear a soft noise, a gentle spark...No, a gentle crackle of a fire, almost like a comforting camp fire. And he could feel it too, the radiant heat from the flames touching the skin of his cheeks.

The sound was getting louder and louder, but the heat stayed comforting. Then, Keahi found himself surrounded by flames. He could see them, the flames as they dance about, the bright colours of white, red and orange mixing together in their awe-inspiring beauty. The fires were so close, licking at his feet and legs.

And yet, he held no fear.

“Listen carefully to the roaring flames,” Masou’s voice whispered to him, as if he was standing right next to him, whispering encouragingly into his ear. “Can you hear the voice that is calling out to you?”

Murmuring...

Hushed voices through the crackling flames. He could hear a murmur of a voice, guiding and wise, but the words, he could not seem to understand. They were faint.

“I...”

“Easy, don’t try to force it,” Masou soothed to him as a warmth fell across his shoulders and down his back, almost like as if he had someone behind him and had pressed themselves against his back, their arms wrapping around his shoulders and across his collar. “Relax, there’s nothing to fear.”

“Words,” Keahi said as he held out his hands toward the flames, enticing them to come closer to him, wanting them to come closer to him. “I can’t hear them, but...”

“You understand them. Speak them, out loud.”

So, Keahi did.

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