"Soo," I looked at Jiya expectantly. "You tell me something like that but it's kind of hard to believe even after that magic trick you showed me."
"It's not magic," Jiya started slowly "it's... too complicated for me to explain in a way that you can understand."
"Try me." I offered.
She sighed, "the world energy here and where I come from is strong enough to be used in conjunction with arcane artifacts or what you'd probably call technology and from the mixture between the two..." she paused, probably noticing my confusion.
"See?" She poked.
"You have to really explain, like cause I'm a slow learner but I really wanna understand!"
She narrowed her eyes "if you're gonna take me seriously then I will."
"Student lalie reporting for duty!" I tried doing my best albeit corny salute feigning seriousness.
"Ok," she confirmed sighing as she added more fuel to the fire which in turned burned brighter.
"Come take a look at this, I joined her stooping by the fire beside her. She poked the bright orange flames with a stick pulling it out and taking a small fading flame with it, the small flame growing weaker with time.
"This is a form of world energy."
Jiya started.
I nodded profusely.
"This type of world energy is self contained and has a limiter, self contained meaning it will get weaker over time if left alone. This is its law and thus its container, limiter on the other hand meaning that it cannot be a force on its own."
She passed her hand over the bonfire quickly and then over the flame and to my surprise the small dying flame on the stick slowly grew bigger. While the bonfire grew noticeably smaller.
"This is what we call interrupt or 'hou', 'this method of manipulating world energy also has its own law but as it's a form of control it doesn't have a limiter like fire so it's considered continual and we call this 'dan'. "
She placed her hand over the flame on the stick which moved in a serpentine pattern until it met with its tail.
The ring danced on the small stick slowly consuming it until she let it fall. The flame immediately got bigger and instantly burned the remainder of the stick till nothing was left to burn. It, however continued to turn as if it were alive only stopping and dissipating when Jiya stated sharply "en."
My look if amazement caused Jiya to laugh a little. "You have the look of one who believes in magic!" she laughed even more.
"but that was so cool how did you do that and can I do it too?" I asked grabbing her hand and clasping it in mine. Her cheeks became red and she sheepishly pulled her hand away before nodding slowly. "but its complicated even for me and everything I'm capable of doing is because I've been training for my whole life under a master."
"So its impossible for me?"
"N.. No it's not that rare for geniuses to be able to understand and be able to wield such power in weeks," she paused "there is one such Person among my people but, he's unhinged however, dangerous even."
She looked at me, "there is great beauty in using the world energies but, you must promise me not to use it for evil."
In her eyes were a terrible sadness which brought a question to my heart "Have 'you' ever hurt someone with it before?" she turned her gaze to the flames again adding more fuel.
"Lalie, I'm not like you, you've probably been treated with love and kindness and even respect for your entire life haven't you? Its obvious you're only a year younger than I am and yet you're like a flower." she didn't wait for me to answer. "pretty hair, such soft skin and such radiance... but this queen had to earn everything she has." she smiled sadly.
"I don't call myself queen because I want to, its been taught to all the girls who're in line to serve the monarch and their desires, to refer to themselves as queens, to fight for the things they need even until blood is drawn as everything is ours and we have a right to it all."
"that's.."
"I know," she replied "but none of us dare defy the monarch and since its considered such an honor to be chosen by them, if we were to try to leave during our training to return home our families wouldn't take us back because of the shame."
"So much fighting and hurting my friends, that's not the life I would've wanted given the choice."
I stood.
Jiya looked at me in confusion then, "You despise me, I get it," melancholy grew from her confused expression but as she was about to look away.
"Jiya," I took her hand and she tried puling away again but this time I didn't allow it.
"let go, I'm not worthy to... don't you get it? I'm dirty." she tried pulling away again but gave up when she realized I wouldn't let go.
She locked eyes with me finally. "I was trained by the monarch to hate you, to hate all your kind but why, because if all humans are like you then what were we even carrying all that hate for?"
"Jiya,"
She shook her head. "No Lalie, I was really mean to you when we first met and I hurt you like so many of the others, I'm dangerous."
"Jiya, please," she finally gave in to my call standing slowly while I embraced her.
With her being so tall my arms around her waist and my head against her chest I really felt protected like nothing would harm me once i was in her embrace however she didn't hug me back and I knew why.
"Self-resentment."
I knew what she felt, she probably thought I was too good for her, with all she had done... and even though I'm not sure what she did or who she'd hurt but the one thing I knew for certain is that she saved my life warming me with her own body, at risk to her own health.
"Caring."
The way she smiles shyly when she compliments me and the way I feel when she does... maybe she 'is' a bit strange but this feeling.
"Surely."
this feeling, the way my heart races when I think she's coming or how giddy I feel then. The way my heart flutters when I'm close to her.
"This anticipation."
How I just want to protect her.
Its just all so weird, but I cant deny it this feeling is....
"its all love, isn't it?" I slipped my hand into hers interlocking our fingers.
"hey." I whispered to Jiya softly "did you know that I'm scared, terrified that I wont see you when I wake up tomorrow and its not being alone that scares me. Its, what if none of this was real? If that were to happen then I think I'd just die, I'm a flower after-all, without your love I'd just wither and die, so no matter what, don't leave me ok? In return I will always accept you and no matter what happens you'll always have a place in my arms."