Page 75 of The Starlight Savior

“Is he?” Saige cocked her head to the side.

“Some would say that, yes.” Conor smiled, a twinkle dancing in his eyes.

“I don’t think I’ve ever spoken such a thing aloud.” Saige laughed. Rising from the ground, she moved towards the basins.

“Actions often speak louder than words.” Striding into the room, Conor gave a small nod to Tobin. “You’ve made some great progress with her. She was almost able to defeat a whole army of savage water-wielders. And light her own lantern.”

“That’s not true.” Saige sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I only scared them. That light trick wouldn’t work twice.”

“You may be right,” Tobin said with a wave, “so how about we get started?”

Conor nodded in agreement. Making his way over to the basins, he gazed across them as the elements rose, fell, and remained stagnant.

“I haven’t done this particular part since my brother.” Conor held out his hands, pointing to each of the basins. “Each of these holds a different element connected to their designated deity.”

“What about the other two deities?” Saige inquired.

“Silva and Sydera?” Conor shifted on his feet. “Silva’s abilities aren’t exactly elemental. They are inherited. Sydera’s magic is rare, thereby not understood. There is no true way of testing such a thing.”

“And what of the ancient magic Tiranos spoke of?”

“Ancient magic is a slight myth,” Tobin said from behind them. “It is often referred to as the first bloodline, Sydera. The purest and most powerful forms of magic that built our world. As you can imagine, Tiranos values such qualities.”

“I must fall into that somehow,” Saige pushed. “There is a reason why you tracked me. Why Tiranos came all the way here.”

“You’re Oscar Nerestel’s daughter. And due to the rarity of your magic’s expression, Tiranos may find answers in such tales,” Tobin said slowly. “Conor?”

Strolling to the first basin, Conor held one of the flowers in his palm. “I may have an affinity for storm, but we are often connected to multiple elements. Bloodlines mix and so does magic. Even a mortal may be able to conjure something like earth. Maybe some healing. In order to see what your blood calls to, you must practice.”

Conor held his palm over the bowl of earth, moving his fingers in an upward motion until the grains of dirt began to dance with the motion. With a closed fist, it fell back into the bowl with a whoosh.

“I have a small connection to earth from parts of my bloodline and where I grew up.” When his hand moved over to the bowl of water, nothing happened. “But I have no relation to water.”

Conor repeated the demonstration through each basin. A spark of flame lit up in his palm as he passed over the fire, but instead of being orange, it was purple. When his hand moved over the mist, it spilled over the edges, flowing across the ground. The smell of smoke smothered them as bright flashes of lightning crackled from his fingertips.

“Your arms,” Saige pointed out. The veins glowed a light purple, similar to hers when she felt consumed. It reminded her of the way he had barreled into the servant quarters, consumed by power. “It didn’t happen with the other basins.”

Conor clenched his fists, but instead of the power extinguishing, the storm intensified. Lightning traveled up and down his limbs, raising his hair around him. A breeze drifted through the training hall, sending the basins shaking.

“Only the strongest of your magic can be revealed through flesh and blood.” Conor smiled, irises glowing bright lilac, consuming the usual gray.

“Quit showing off and finish the test,” Tobin called from behind.

As his magic dimmed, he stood before the basin of bones, a representation of spirit and the Otherworld Caelum guarded. Wind flowed through the room once again as Conor stretched his hands out. The remnants of spirit floated in the air before him, just as the dirt and rocks had. But a heaviness formed around them, pressing into their bodies.

“Levitating bones makes you accustomed to spirit?” Saige choked. Anguish settled deep in her chest.

“In order to be connected to death,” Tobin said, walking up beside Conor, “one must be linked to the divinity of life.”

Saige eyed Conor as one by one the bones floated back into the basin. He could move around earth and create powerful storms and yet… “What is your spirit ability?”

Conor looked up quickly. His eyes darkened, yet he said nothing.

“I think she has a right to know,” Tobin murmured as if Saige wasn’t there.

“My father would disagree.”

“As I’ve reminded you, you’re your own person. You can speak of your life without one’s permission.”