The following week Rune had to leave on "official business" and that left Fig and I with nothing but free time. The things Fig started teaching me didn't really make sense or stick the first couple of times but then something changed when I started using my magic as I trained. Things just started happening naturally. It felt like second nature and I liked the way it felt. I liked feeling stronger.
A man named Ren was always lurking around and watching. I found out he was the guy Rune was sparring with that day and was also known as Rune's right-hand man. He didn't speak much and kept to himself but that made me want to mess with him even more. When he wasn't around Fig tried to teach me about my powers and the things I could do with nature.
That afternoon Fig and I sneaked into the back garden and started practicing. The fairies there already knowing what to expect came over but kept a safe distance. Fig handed me a small fruit seed and said "Okay, I want you to concentrate. I want you to grow the seed... not blow it up." As he says the last part he runs off behind a rock. Several fairies giggle as they all look to me. "Thanks.." I say dryly as I try and focus.
Grow... I want to grow the seed. I gently start releasing my power and the seed starts to open. I look to Fig and smile. He gives me a little thumbs up but continues to hide behind the rock as his tail twitches. I shake my head and look back at the small seed and push more power into it. POP! It explodes and all the fairies jump around laughing. I wipe the little pieces of seed off me and sigh. Why can't I do it?
"It's okay Syn, we can try again," Fig says trying to lighten my mood. "How many times will I have to explode seeds before I get it right? I'm not doing something right Fig... I feel like I'm missing something." I sit down and bury my head in my hands. Fig doesn't say anything but sits by the flowers and picks at them. Sighing I lay down and look at the bright blue sky.
I've already been here for nearly two weeks.. I needed to hurry. I can only imagine what my friends and family must be thinking. Had they already had a funeral? I didn't want to think about it.. I placed my hands on the ground and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and it suddenly felt like the plants were breathing with me. Hmm... Keeping my eyes closed I use my power to feel the plants around me and suddenly everything made sense.
This was what I was missing. I could feel everything. Like logging on to the internet... I was logging on.. well more like connecting to the plants around me. I push a little power out and immediately feel the plants answer in return. I smile as I completely open up and just relax. I could feel the soft grass under me growing longer as the fairies sucked in out of surprise. They started cheering and giggling as Fig nervously crawled on to my stomach away from the growing plants.
I continued to release my power as the fairies laughed and danced around the growing plants. The shrubs grew larger and the flowers bloomed and grew more. I felt the shade of a small tree grow larger and cover me. I start laughing and open my eyes as Fig says "Umm.. you can stop now. I think you've got it." I lift my head and look at Fig with a smile. "I finally figured it out," I say as Fig gives me a large smile.
Fig's little head whipped up and quickly said "Incoming." I sit up to see Rune walking over looking at everything in awe. "What did you do?" He asked looking at everything. "I see you made it back," I say getting up and wiping my white dress off. He looked at me for a few seconds without saying anything. Like he was assessing me and the situation and says "Yes.. I'm back and was able to see your little trick." I smile and nod my head as I walk back to the castle.
His large hand gently caught my arm stopping me and said: "How did you do that?" His golden eyes searching mine in question. "I was just playing around chill." I pull my arm away and walk off. I didn't want him to know what Fig and I were up to and I didn't want him to knowing what I could do. Something told me I was going to have to be super careful from now on.