The next morning, Kite got up early just as the sun was rising and made his way to Cassius's smithy. Liliana wanted to come too, but her dad needed her help in making breakfast.
When Kite arrived, Cassia was already there, preparing the forge for the day's work.
"Good morning," Kite greeted, his enthusiasm evident.
"Morning," Cassia replied, her tone more casual. "Didn't expect you to be here this early. Ready to get started?"
Kite nodded. "Absolutely."
Cassia led him to the clearing behind the smithy, where they had their sparring match the other day. She took a deep breath.
"Alright, first things first," she began, "as you should know by now, control is everything. You need to be able to summon your fire without letting it get out of hand."
Kite watched intently as Cassia demonstrated, a small flame dancing on her palm.
"Focus on the flame, feel its warmth, and keep it steady," she continued.
Kite mimicked her actions, a flicker of flame appearing in his hand. He grinned as she went over the basics.
"Good," Cassia said, nodding approvingly. "Now, let's see if you can make it grow."
He chuckled. "I can do that much. What I want are the more advance stuff."
She hummed. "Well, fire is an odd element compared to some of the others. Unlike ice, metal, or stone, its uses are fewer. But one thing grandpa taught me is that fire is as much about creation as it is about destruction," Cassia said, her crimson eyes reflecting the early morning light. "It's not just a weapon; it's a tool, a source of warmth, and a means to forge."
Kite listened, the flame in his hand flickering in response to his concentration. "So, it's about perspective and how I choose to use it?"
"Exactly," Cassia confirmed. "You can use fire to intimidate or to illuminate. You can wield it as a raw force or refine it for delicate tasks. The key is control and intent."
She demonstrated by shaping her flame into various forms, from a simple sphere to intricate patterns that danced between her fingers. "See, it's flexible. You can even use it to aid in metalwork, like Grandpa and I do at the smithy, or to cauterize a wound in an emergency. Although the latter is best done if you're a healing mage."
Kite's eyes widened with understanding. "I never thought of it that way. I've always seen it as just... flashy attacks. Well, I did try healing once, but it didn't work."
Cassia smiled. "That's a common view. But now, you're going to learn the subtleties of fire magic. Let's start with something practical. Try heating this metal without melting it."
She handed Kite a small piece of iron, and he focused on the task, feeling the heat of his flame lick against the cold metal. He adjusted the intensity, finding the balance between too much and too little heat.
As the sun climbed higher, Kite practiced under Cassia's watchful eye, growing more adept at controlling his fire. He shaped it, channeled it, and even learned to extinguish it with a snap of his fingers.
By the end of the session, Kite had a new appreciation for his element.
Cassia crossed her arms and grinned. "Nice job!"
He smiled. "Thanks. Although can you show me your constructs? I've only ever seen wind constructs."
She smirked. "Okay. But these go beyond what normal fire mages can do. Granted, I'm still a noobie myself." She thrust her hands forward. A sword of flame formed in her hand, but it was different than just shaping the fire like she had been showing him. The blade looked tangible, solid, not made of plasma.
"Go on, touch it," she said, smirking.
Kite gulped. He hesitated for a moment, eyeing the glowing blade with a mix of awe and caution. The sword seemed to defy all logic, a construct of flame that held its shape as if forged from steel.
Taking a deep breath, he reached out and tentatively touched the blade. To his surprise, it didn't only look tangible, but felt solid under his fingers, the heat a gentle warmth rather than a searing burn.
"It's… solid," Kite said, his voice filled with wonder. "How is this possible?"
Cassia's smirk turned into a proud smile. "It's the power of my affinity. You were taught about the difference between element and magical affinity, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah, there are over eighteen elements one can have, and there are five major affinities with rarer ones like yours."
"Yup! That right. It results in multiple kinds of mages. A fire mage with a healing affinity can seal wounds and such, while a fire mage with a speedster affinity can move like a firework."
Kite chuckled. He saw it more like a rocket, but maybe that was because he had seen a lot of them in his past life. His smile faded somewhat as he recalled the horrors of war against those mechanical giants from beyond the sky.
Cassia noticed Kite's smile fade and gave him a curious look. "What's on your mind? You seemed a bit distant for a moment there."
Kite shook his head, dispelling the lingering thoughts. "It's nothing. Just lost in thought about how much I have to learn."
Cassia's expression turned understanding. "We all have our moments. But remember, you're not alone. We're all here to help each other grow."
Kite nodded, grateful for the support. "Thanks, Cassia. I'm ready to keep learning."
She clapped him on the back. "Good. Because there's a lot more I want to show you. Fire constructs can be versatile, and I'll teach you how to use them beyond just combat."
"Although constructs are specific to your affinity. I guess I'll have to wait and see what my affinity is before I can try something more refined."
Cassia smiled, her eyes reflecting a mix of sympathy and encouragement. "Don't worry, Kite. Discovering your affinity is a journey in itself. And once you do, you'll unlock abilities that are unique to you."
Kite's curiosity was piqued. "Until then, what can I work on?"
"There's plenty," Cassia assured him. "You can refine your control over fire, learn to manipulate its shape and intensity, and even use it to sense changes in the environment. Fire is more than just flames; it's warmth, energy, and light."
He smiled. "Thanks."
They spent the remainder of the morning focusing on these aspects. Kite practiced controlling the size and heat of his flames, using them to sense hidden objects by the warmth they gave off, and even experimenting with creating light in varying intensities.
As the session ended, Kite felt a sense of progress. Even without knowing his affinity, he was becoming more in tune with his element, and that was a victory in itself.
"Thanks for today, Cassia. I've learned a lot," Kite said, gratitude evident in his voice.
Cassia puffed her chest out and chuckled. "Of course, I'm not your run of a mill fire mage."
He grumbled mentally. There was her arrogant side showing itself again. But she did seem to have something to show for it.
Kite's expression softened into a genuine smile, appreciating Cassia's expertise despite her boastful demeanor. "You definitely proved that today," he said with a nod of respect. "Hey, why don't you come over to Liliana's place for breakfast? Her family's cooking is amazing, and it's the least I can do to thank you for the training."
Cassia's eyes lit up at the mention of food, her earlier bravado giving way to a more down-to-earth excitement. "Count me in!"
"Great!" Kite replied, pleased. "Let's head over then. I'm sure they'll be happy to have you join us."
Together, they made their way to Liliana's home.
"Welcome back," Elara said, smiling as she sat at the table. She blinked when she saw Cassia. "Another new friend?"
Liliana smiled. "Hey, you brought Cassia to eat?"
Kite nodded. "Yeah, uh, I probably should've asked first, huh?"
Elder Mirrin chuckled. "A friend of yours is a friend of ours."
"Plus, we're friends too, right?" Liliana asked, grinning at Cassia.
Cassia blushed slightly. "Uh..."
Kite sighed and nudged her. "Remember what I told you yesterday?" he whispered.
Cassia's blush deepened as she nodded, taking a deep breath. "Right. Thanks for inviting me. And yes, Liliana, I'd like to be friends."
Liliana beamed. "Awesome! Come on, sit down. There's plenty of food."
Kite felt a sense of satisfaction as they all gathered around the table. The aroma of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air, and he watched as Cassia's eyes widened at the sight of the feast. There were fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and an assortment of fruits. Kite's stomach growled in anticipation, and he realized just how hungry he was.
Elara smiled warmly at Cassia. "Help yourself. We always make enough for extras."
Cassia hesitated for a moment, then reached for a plate. "Thanks. This looks amazing."
As they ate, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and chatter. Kite and Liliana shared stories from their past adventures, and Kite noticed Cassia relaxing more and more. It felt good to be part of a group, to share a meal and enjoy the company of others.
Elder Mirrin watched them with a contented smile. "It's good to see you all getting along so well. Friendship is a powerful thing."
Kite glanced at Cassia, Sylvana, Tomas, and Liliana, feeling a warmth in his chest. "Yeah, it really is."