?I reign in my rage until you wouldn’t be able to notice it from just looking at me and shake my head.
?“Too dangerous.”
?“You suppressing it is what’s too dangerous.”
?I roll my tongue over my teeth and involuntarily look over to Nana on the other side of the arena sparring with other first years.
?“And you being able to hide your emotions and aura like that is what’s even more dangerous. There’s a difference between containment and control, Mavyn. So come out to the field with me to burn off some steam as we wait for your fated to come back.”
?It’s a tempting offer. Possible too, if I just release a stream of fire out towards the sea. I could funnel it enough so it won’t hit any trees, and even if I melt the snow over the field, it’s hard earth beneath the thin layer of grass and soil.
?A sort of release.
?Just enough to ease some strain.
?Blowing out a breath I start heading toward the door. The sky only now deepening to a darker blue as the sun dips past the tree line. Ricka claps her hands which turns a few heads, but no one stops us. Though when Kyno asks if I want a jacket, or at least some shoes, I wave him off and open that first door within me.
?Blue flames lick around my body in dancing whorls. Steady and controlled enough that I don’t burn my clothes off.
?Asher, Hanna, and Jullia pause their workout in question, and soon enough everyone is taking a break to come watch. Despite some of the actual professors and guests acting as trainers for the time being furrowing their brows in irritation, no one strictly prohibits anyone from leaving.
?Nana does sneer at me as she shakes her head, but she turns away. Fine by me. We are not on any semblance of good terms right now. And I haven’t spoken to Ms. Elaycia or anyone else at the brothel in weeks.
?Not on purpose, I’ve just been busy. Real school does take up a lot of time and my fated have most of the rest of it.
?We stop about fifty yards past the opening and Ricka gestures to the expansive field before us. Rounding me so she’s behind me, she calls, “I better be blinded by blue, Death Devourer.”
?I cluck my tongue against the roof of my mouth as I glance behind me to see at least a hundred students watching from the arena. Ricka goes to stand with Kyno about ten yards behind me with Jullia, Asher, and Hanna behind them.
?I point at Asher and then swipe my thumb over my forehead. He understands my meaning as he lifts his hands and a translucent shield appears in front of them. Clear runes look like frost cover it and he expands it to section off them and me.
?My flames dance around my body as I turn back around and stare out. The whole field is about a square mile. It should be just barely possible for someone’s magic – whichever element they possess – to reach the cliff of the field.
?Lifting my arms up from the side, I face my palms to the sky and lightly curl my fingers in. Bright blue flames wrap around my hands and they burn brighter as I twist those three other keys. The heat is so much that it begins making the snow under my feet sweat.
?When I open those four doors I begin bringing my hands forward. Palms facing out now and I can feel my eyes flood red. Touching my index fingers together, I overlap my thumbs to form a triangle right as I release my hold on my aura.
?It erupts from me in a physical wave that makes the air ripple. And then I release.
?I had already planted my feet in preparation, grounding myself into the earth, connecting to the minerals beneath. I’m still forced to take a step back, though, from the power as blue flames roar in a tunnel of heat towards the sea.
?The snow beneath my fire melts in an instant even with my tunnel being several feet from the ground. It also melts the snow around me. My feet touch grass now and even the blades begin smoking from the torrent of magic.
?It’s still not enough.
?I simply unlocked a door that has yet to be flung open. Releasing what I need. . . this doesn’t come close.
?Not even as my tunnel of fire expands and I can feel it reaching out towards the sea. Past the cliff and out to open ocean.
?Roaring, roaring, roaring.
?No strain is released, no rage is doused, no aura feels used.
?Useless. That’s what this feels like.
?Uncontrolled.
?That word whispers in the back of my mind and I shove my flames further. My aura extended so far I can’t even feel the edges of it or where it’s reaching.
