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AN: Here, have an extra long chapter this time :3 Enjoy!

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Chapter 15: A Sure-Fire Cure

Keahi found himself on the same training field that he had discovered his fire abilities just yesterday. And yet again he was brought there by Masou himself, the taller man breaking into his room by climbing in through the window and dragging him cheerfully through the Fire Temple by the hand.

And again he had received some strange looks from his fellow Priests, but no one said anything. Bharath simply smiled when he caught sight of them, telling Masou to make sure he brought him back safe and sound.

Upon seeing his long-time friend, Keahi remembered what he had witnessed last night with him and Brendis and he blushed a pretty pink. Bharath looked confused, uncertain of his reaction while Masou literally cooed over him and pinched his cheek. Apparently, he was oh-so adorable.

Which only made Keahi blush even harder.

He couldn’t help it. Looking at Bharath made him remember how perfect he was with Brendis, watching them as they practiced their Fire Arts together. They were so comfortable, so relaxed with their abilities and with each other. He also didn’t want to admit that he had seen them in an intimate embrace as it would probably cause Bharath some embarrassment as well. Which would cause a sense of awkwardness all round.

Except maybe for Masou. Nothing seemed to faze him.

“Now,” Masou said as he clapped his hands once in front of him, pulling Keahi out of his musings and back to reality. “Time for more training.”

Keahi nodded his head slowly; he knew he needed more training as well. Finding his abilities was just the start. But then a thought occurred to him and he grimaced. He remembered one of the things Masou said to him last night and a part of him hoped that he was joking.

“You’re not seriously going to teach me to Fire Dance here and now, are you?” Keahi asked, slightly fearful.

Seriously? Him? Fire Dancing? He was lucky to walk around in his regal robes and not fall over onto his face. Imagine what it would be like dancing? He’d make a mess of it for sure

“Nup,” Masou replied cheerfully.

It was a little too cheerful, perhaps, but Keahi breathed a sigh of relief anyway. “Ah, well, that’s good.”

“I’ll teach you that tonight when it’s dark and no one else is around,” Masou added with a wag of his finger and a flirty wink of his eye.

Keahi’s shoulders sagged in a sign of defeat. “Oh…” He was serious.

Masou carried on, oblivious to his disappointment. “It’ll better at night, trust me.”

“Sure…” Keahi sighed.

“Ok, so what should I teach you now?” Masou murmured to himself as he tapped his chin in thought, his eyes turning upwards to look at the sky.

Keahi wasn’t sure what Masou should teach him either, so he stayed silent, waiting for the other man to make up his mind. Suddenly, Keahi’s attention was drawn to a crunching noise near the edge of the training area. He turned and watched as a few of the scrubs being to rustle, twigs breaking and snapping. And a slight sense of fear touched him as it could be a wild animal. There had been reports of some rabid foxes in the area that had been tormenting the farmers and the livestock.

Of course the matter was brought to the royal family’s attention, a few days ago actually, but Flamenca knocked back the proposal of having a select few Fire Guards hunt down the deranged animals and determine what had made them go rogue in the first place.

She said that foxes were a natural occurrence and to simply deal with it themselves. Fire Guards had better things to do, she believed; which was aid her in any and every little menial task she couldn’t be bothered to do herself. Or, when she was feeling particularly bored, she would make them do something silly or dangerous just to make her laugh.

Brendis was assigned directly to the Fire Temple, so he didn’t have to put up with the Fire Princess’ wild behaviour, fortunately.

“What is it?” Masou asked, noting the rustling of the bushes as well. He had moved to stand slightly in front of Keahi, as if to protect him, his posture ready for battle.

“Could be a fox,” Keahi replied. “They have been going rabid for the last few days, though we’re not sure why.”

Masou didn’t take his eyes off the bush, but nodded his head as a sign that he heard him. Not a moment after that the rustling stopped as a bundle of reddish, orange fur tumbled out, snarling and gnashing its teeth, rubbing its face along the ground.

It was a fox and it appeared to be suffering quite badly. It had foam dripping from its lips as it fell to the ground in a twitching heap, its breathing erratic and coming in short gasps. It was obviously affected by whatever was turning the foxes rapid and it came here to die.

Keahi couldn’t help but feel sorry for it. It reminded him a little of himself. He’d too will one day die and he knew how he was going to die; it was all a matter of time.

Suddenly, Masou nudged him with his arm and when Keahi turned to look at him, Masou gave him a gentle smile. “Use your Fire abilities.”

Keahi blinked. “What?” What did he mean?

“Fire is a wonderful purifier,” Masou explained clearly. “If used correctly, you can burn the toxins from this creature’s body and save it.”

R-really? “How?”

“Listen carefully,” Masou said as he led him over to the dying creature, the fox giving a rather weak and pathetic snarl as they came closer but made no attempt to run away or attack. It simply did not have the energy. “I’ll guide you through this.”

Keahi tugged at Masou’s wrist, wanting to get away. It wasn’t a good idea. He could barely control his Spell Binding Circle, how could he possible control his abilities enough to save a creature? He didn’t want to be responsible for its death! He couldn’t stand the thought of killing another living being, even if it was a mercy killing.

“I...I can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” Masou reassured, pulling him to the ground in front of the fox, of which was now lying unmoving on the sandy soil. It was near death. “I’m here with you, remember?”

Keahi swallowed thickly and sunk down to his knees, close to Masou as possible. “...Right.”

Ok, he had to have a bit more faith in himself, like Masou said yesterday. Have more trust in his abilities. He could do it. With Masou with him, he could save this creature’s life.

Masou moved behind him, pressing his chest against Keahi’s back. Keahi felt his cheeks heat up at the contact, a slight shiver of that familiarity racing down his spine. He didn’t have time to ponder that familiarity as Masou shifted and seemed to wrap his arms around him. He moved his arms around so his large hands were resting on top of Keahi’s. Together, they gently touch the fox, holding it down and keeping it still so it wouldn’t hurt itself or them.

“Now, close your eyes,” Masou whispered into his ear, his warm breath tickling his ear.

Obediently, Keahi did just that, knowing without a doubt that whatever will happen, Masou would not let harm come to him. He was safe with Masou, safe in his arms and in his presence. Masou wanted him to trust him and to show him that he did. And that was what he was doing.

“It’s important for you to identify which intentions you most want to fulfil,” Masou whispered to him. “As you prioritise, you give your singular attention to what is most important. And in return, you attract the power unto that intention this is most important to you.”

What was his intention for the moment? To save this animal’s life. Simple, really.

“Will you save this creature’s life?” Masou asked him.

“I will,” Keahi replied firmly.

“Then do it.”

Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation was felt all over Keahi’s body; it was intense and heated. It started at the very top of his head and radiated down his body to his toes like waves. He felt warmth reach his very fingertips. It was an odd sensation. He wouldn’t say it was uncomfortable and it didn’t exactly hurt; it just felt exceptionally strange. It burnt, but it wasn’t a burning sensation.

As the tingling feeling in his fingers increased, he imagined placing that power into the dying fox’s body, willing it to live for a bit longer.

Words formed within his mind’s eye and they fell from his lips like a gentle whisper. “Gift of Fire – Eternal Flame.”

Abruptly, the heat in his hands disappeared, rushing from his hands so quickly that he fingers felt cold and numb. But he could still feel a light sensation of heat being admitted, but from the fox under his hands.

Opening his eyes, Keahi pulled his hands away from the creature and felt his breath hitch in his throat. Did it work?

Suddenly, the fox sprung to its feet as if it was brought back to life! It looked at Keahi with its dark eyes and flicked its ear back, its head quirking to the side. It was almost as if it was silently thanking him for what he had done. Then, it turned around and bounded back into the bushes, full of life and energy. It was hard to believe that it was on the verge of death.

Did he really do that?

“That’s great, Keahi!” Masou congratulated, wrapping his arms around Keahi in a hug, pulling him back so Keahi was sitting in his lap while Masou sat on the sandy ground. “You can cast Purity Fire Magic. Not many people can.”

Still a little shaky from the adrenaline coursing through him, Keahi managed a smile and felt his cheeks heat up. “Thank you, Masou.”

“Don’t mention it,” Masou replied, keeping his arms around Keahi as well as keeping him in his lap, holding him as if he was a teddy bear or something to cuddle. “Your powers and belief in yourself are growing by the day. You should be proud of what you’ve done.”

…What he had done?

Keahi didn’t know how it was possible for him to grow so quickly. Two days ago he met Masou, yesterday he learned his Spell Binding Circle and met his Fire Beast and today he learnt how to use Purifying Fire Magic. And it was all because of one person.

Masou…Who exactly was he?

Keahi looked down at his hands in disbelief. “How did I…?”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Masou said as he poked him on the forehead. “But at least you know what’s happening to the foxes; they’re not going rabid, they seem to be coming across something toxic to them. Probably a plant or another animal like a poisonous toad or something.”

Keahi allowed that to mull over in his head for a moment before he nodded. It made a lot of sense. If the fox was infected by something like rabies, than he would not have been able to cure it.

Well, he had something to inform the farmers with.

Keahi’s breath suddenly hitched in his throat when he felt Masou practically nuzzle him with his cheek against his. He abruptly remembered where he was – in Masou’s lap, being held like someone dear and precious.

Inwardly, he freaked. Outwardly he blushed and made an undignified squeaking noise.

Gah! What was he doing?!

With a blush as hot as the flames he could now wield, Keahi peered up at Masou through his bangs. “Could you let me go now?” he asked.

Masou frowned and gave a whine. “But I’m so comfortable right now.”

Keahi feared that if he didn’t get out of Masou’s arms (and his lap) soon, he’d faint from all the blood rushing to his cheeks, which would only make matters even more awkward. “B-but it’s hard to train if I’m like this, yes?”

Masou suddenly loosened his grip on him, but didn’t relinquish it entirely. “Oh right,” he said as if he just remembered why they were on the private training field in the first place.

Suddenly, Keahi felt himself being lifted up off Masou’s lap and into the air as Masou took to his feet, stilling holding Keahi in his arms. He then swiftly placed him on his own feet, holding him by the shoulders as Keahi stumbled from the sudden movement.

And Masou grinned his trademark smile at him. “Hey, now that you can use Purifying Fire, let’s see if you can summon your Fire Beast with your purity and communicate with it!”

Communicate with his Fire Beast so soon? “Ah, ok.”

“Great!”

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