Page 123 of Beyond The Maples
"I think maybe I'm healing faster than normal. I got rocked the other day, sparring. When I woke up the next morning all my cuts and bruises had healed overnight." He sighs, staring at his little friend, who appears to be sitting down on Leo's hand, feet sloshing and spraying droplets outwards.
I can't help it, I start pacing.
Water wielders... Every affinity, no matter the originating element, has a plethora of unique gifts that may or may not manifest with it, depending on the person's lineage and genetic makeup. Wielding the natural affinity is always the baseline. Ethra's air gives the person the ability to manipulate wind, sure, but some air wielders canalso manipulate the weather or blend into their surroundings. None of this was taught in our general knowledge classes here; it’s only because of my returning memories of dad that I know this.
I bend down to the creature's eye level. He seems childlike, innocent.
"Hey there, little fellow, is Leo a water wielder?" I ask him quietly.
The little creature perks up at me, tilting his head and then he nods enthusiastically.
"Areyouhis guide?" I question, keeping my voice calm so I don't frighten him.
This makes him smile. He nods his head again, this time even more excitedly. I smile back at him. Leo's face dawns with recognition.
My mom had this storybook about a little girl who was so lonely and desperate for magic, and a guide, she went into the forest and traded with the spirits to gain one. It went horribly for her, because instead of a sprite she got a pixie. Elemental sprites weren't something that could be requested. They were nature's choice. Silently, I send thanks to Sibs for her memory-saving herbs.
"A guide," Farra stutters. "Leo has magic?"
"From what I remember about sprites, one would only present itself to someone who carried their magic. Someone who needed guidance."
Leo face blanches.
"Hey Leo, why don't we put your little friend back in his carrier, for now? He looks sleepy," Farra suggests, sounding oddly maternal.
Sure enough, the little sprite has started to droop. I wonder if he needs to be kept near water?
Leo just nods. He doesn't move, so I grab the canteen and open it up. The little creature happily jumps from his hand, the glow brightening slightly as he slips in through the spout with a glop.
I sit down beside Leo.
"Hey, it's going to be ok. This is a good thing. We just need to get out of here in one piece. And how nice is it we have a sprite with us, for the way?" I say, trying to consolehim.
"Yeah. We better be leaving soon… if I get caught with this, I'm dead." He huffs, a hand wiping down his face in exhaustion.
"We got the okay from the twins. We just have to make it through a couple more days, and then we're good to go. Until then, I have two library shifts left. I have a few things to try to figure out before we go, and this is one of them now."
Leo just nods his head.
"I'll help. Full research mode. I agree with Maple. This is a good thing, Leo. I can't wait to see all the annoyingly cool stuff you're going to do,"Farra encourages.
"How will you see it? You're not even going to be there," Leo snaps. I knew he was upset about her not coming, but I didn't realize how upset.
"We won't be apart for forever," she mumbles, a bit put-off by his tone.
"Farra, you've always been the smartest one here, but you're being stubborn right now." He shakes his canteen. "Don't you think there's a reason all this stuff is happening while we're together? If you think they aren't going to torture the shit out of you when we leave, you're delusional. I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier, but you have no idea if the answers you need are here. And your familywill be fine. You barely have contact with your mom and your brother..." He pauses, softening a little. "We need to stick together," he pleads in a tone of desperation.
Farra looks at him, hurt flashing across her features.
"Just because you're all... special now," she gestures erratically to the canteen, "Doesn't mean you get to be an ass! It doesn't suit you, Leo."
She gets up and storms out of the room.
"Very smooth," I say, patting Leo on the back grimly. He slumps over, the heels of his palms covering his eyes.
"That didn't come out great. But you think I'm right, don't you?" he asks.
"I do." I sigh. "But Farra needs to make her own choices. She can't be guilted or manipulated into anything. We need to just support her, even if we don't agree with it."
