Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Guidance

Moments after the two men left, Skye nearly had a heart attack. She’d set the picnic basket Tidas had handed her earlier down onto the ground, to try and see what was in it. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders, revealing a golden color. She shrieked her horror, for Skye loved the unique red of her hair. It took both Maevis and Nicolas about ten minutes to calm her. Tears had welled up in her eyes, but Maevis assured her that her new color looked beautiful, and that it complimented her as well.

Skye was now with Nicolas, discussing her powers and other possible side effects; other than her hair. Maevis used her Earth magic to create a fire pit, chairs, things to eat and drink with, and two make-shift huts out of mud and trees. Skye had never seen such a gifted magic user before. Maevis was a true master of her element.

An Earth Elemental’s abilities to manipulate various aspects of the minerals and earth were valuable, but they were normally limited. Some could only manipulate plants, some only sand. Some could shift whole mountains, while others could only work with specific minerals. But Maevis was also a fairy. Skye thought that was the most reasonable explanation to it, so that was what she’d go with.

Nicolas also seemed to be a little more than a mere Tamer as well. Hugo was obviously one of his Beta animals. Tamers often had many bonds with various animals, at any given time. But it depended upon the Tamer’s strength and willpower. From what Skye had read; Tamers weren’t as limited as many of the other magic types were. As long as they’d bonded with the animal they chosen, the connection was near impossible to break.

Maintaining the connection was relatively easy, unless it was a ‘Takeover’. Trying to connect with an unfamiliar animal was dangerous. If the connection backfired, it directly affected the other animals. Usually transferring the hostility to the other animals, and causing them to go berserk. But somehow Skye felt Nicolas had many tethers, and to a vast amount of animals.

“Skye? Skye! Are you listening?” Nicolas questioned as he fluttered near her face; trying to gain her attention.

“Back off, Nic. The girl is probably still processing her day. Nomads, magic battles, fairies... Ha ha! Oh, the girl’s had quite an adventurous day,” Maevis said as she flew over to the two; since she’d finished her work.

.....

Once Maevis was in front of them, she said: “Now: it’s starting to get a wee bit nippy. Best we get you cleaned up and into some fresh clothes. And it would probably be best if we did this while the men are still gone..”

“But what am I to wear? I’ve got no extra clothes, and there’s no point in gettin’ clean if Ima to return to these rags,” Skye gestured to her shredded dress.

“Oh sweetie; ’twas my original purpose in coming here, was it not? I can make your dress like new again while you bathe. If we combine my power with yours, we should be able to make a nice, wee hot spring for ourselves,” Maevis patted Skye’s head as she spoke with a doting smile.

Skye’s face lit up like the sun. Maevis reminded her of Peggy a bit. Her kindness was gruff, but natural and warm. Genuinely caring about someone without really knowing them was rare in this world. On top of that; Skye assumed it must be especially difficult for Fae folk to trust humans. The thought of people being anything but kind to them both infuriated, and saddened her.

Skye’s smile faltered slightly as her mind trailed. Noticing her shift, Maevis looked at Skye with a quizzical expression. Before she could ask about it, Skye shook her head and said; “I better put the basket in the hollow for now. Don’t want any animals to get to it.”

“Or the men when they get back,” Maevis replied with an impish smile.

“I know what I said,” Skye joked back.

The two shared a laugh as they headed to a small clearing about twenty-five yards away from their camp site. Maevis didn’t want the hot spring in a place that could affect the the roots of the trees. She would have to create a cave system that went close to the molten rock of the Earth.

“Did your teacher ever teach you about unison magic?” Maevis asked Skye as they came to the center of the clearing.

“A wee bit, but the concept was hard for me to understand, at the time. But I think I get it now... At least I think so,” Skye replied with uncertainty.

“What do you mean, dear?” Maevis asked as she fluttered closer to Skye.

“When I was trying to control me power, Genie’s words came to mind. He taught me: for a Unison Lock to work; the hearts of those working together must be unified in thought and will. Only then would ye be capable of an attack. But we were only ever able to do it one time,” Skye’s words held sadness as she spoke.

She took a deep breath to right herself, and continued: “The only thing I did when I healed Celestia was wish in my heart for her to be alright. So I thought that if I could link my active power to my dormant one, it might... I don’t know-”

“Kill you?!” Maevis looked shocked as she went on; “You could have literally made yourself explode, Skye! Most people take Years to build their capacity for magic. Ye flooded an unawakened part of yourself with powerful, non-compatible magic... By all the laws of Nature, ye should be dead!”

As Maevis’ words sunk in, Skye turned at least three shades paler. ‘Exploded?! Well, that had been what it’d felt like. It was like trying to pour a bathtub’s worth of water into a plugged up sink... What did I do?’ Skye pondered to herself.

“I pulled the plug!” Skye suddenly yelled; making Mavis flutter back in surprise.

“You did what now?!” Maevis was beyond confused at this point.

“When I funneled me power to me heart, I pictured it kinda like a whirlpool being sucked into a small hole. When another force fought back, I used me will to make it fold into the whirlpool. It felt like me heart would burst, so after they mixed, I sent it throughout the rest of me body.. And that’s the last thing I remember,” Skye finished with a contemplative expression.

“That must be why! If you would’ve tried to contain it, surely you would’ve popped like a bubble.. Quick thinking me girl!” Maevis remarked with a proud smile.

Skye felt like she had figured something out. Now, she would have to do as much research as possible on Shamans. Although she had done general studies on all magical attributes, it was never very extensive. The only one she was interested in that wasn’t her own, was Ether. But that was because in all of their known history: only three people have ever been born with it. It had peaked Skye’s interest to learn that she was related to one. But nothing ever came of it.

Her father had drunkenly let it slip on night, but he wouldn’t say if it was his side, or her mother’s. He’d acted strangely about it, and nearly yelled at her to drop the subject. Skye had never asked about it again, but kept it in the back of her mind..

“Well, it’s a good thing there’s almost a full moon tonight. Otherwise we’d already be in complete darkness.. Best that we get started,” Maevis suggested.

Skye smiled in agreement as her stomach gurgled loudly. She was suddenly far more concerned about getting clean, dressed, and fed than anything else. Maevis flew over and sat on Skye’s shoulder like Nicolas had done before. It made Skye want to squeak with happiness, but she contained herself. They had work to do, after all.

“I’m going to build the tunnel; all you have to do is control the water. I don’t want a geyser going off beneath our feet,” Maevis instructed with a cheeky smile.

Skye nodded her acknowledgment and focused her magic. At first she didn’t feel anything. Not the presence of water or Maevis. But right when she was about to open her eyes, the familiar sensation of water appeared in her mind’s eye. Skye focused on the it; pulling it to herself like she’d done at the stream.

“Good; now, widen your perspective. Do you feel where my magic starts?” Maevis asked with enthusiasm.

Skye focused harder, but didn’t know what she supposed to be feeling for. Before she could say anything; a cold, earthy smell invaded her nostrils. It felt heavy, but kind of like Maevis. Skye knew that it must be her power, so she aligned her own power with the old fairy’s.

“Perfect! Now just keep it up; we’ll need to send the water deep underground for it to be heated properly,” Maevis directed as she intensified her magic.

Several minutes passed before an uproarious noise broke their silence. The ground shook beneath their feet. It had been hard to control the water, due to the distance. But now that it was practically under her feet, Skye could feel the warmth of the water as it came closer. Skye looked to Maevis with a cocky smile.

“I can handle the water if ye can handle the creation of the tub,” Skye said, amused.

Maevis stared at Skye with shock. She hadn’t

needed to use her earth magic after creating the turn to funnel the water back to the surface. Skye was using the sheer force of the water to create the flow system for the Hot Spring. The way her magic felt and moved... Maevis would’ve sworn Skye was using both Water and Earth magic in unison; by herself. It was impossible, but somehow Skye was doing it.

The realization both excited, and terrified Maevis. It must’ve been like before, when Skye unknowingly used her power to heal Celestia. That meant that Skye had three traits: not two! As Maevis stared at Skye in astonishment, the lass looked back to the elder Fae and asked, “Well? Are we to have a bath or a geyser? I can’t contain the pressure much longer!”