Chapter 21.

"The fire energy is erratic, like flames it jumps without a goal, but still, it is not completely wild. It does not spread around in the Flow, living smoothly with the other elements.", imagined Enora. That was the best picture she could get from the descriptions in her book. It was weird though, as fire did not seem to be very controlled in nature. In fact, it felt like the opposite, where fire usually ate at everything with no concern for anything but its hunger. In the Flow, however, fire was 'erratic and harmonious, wild but not aggressive'. It felt contradictory.

Yet, it worked. After managing the Attraction, finding fire energy was quite easy as it happened to be very recognizable. Now Absorption, that was something else. Twice she tried this morning, and twice she failed. First, she went too much, thinking she could handle it and got herself a painful hematoma around her stomach, like a solid punch that took her breath away. Apparently, it was not a joke : overestimating oneself could bring a variety of ailments. The second time, she doubled down and received nothing. The energy inside the bubble just dissipated when it broke.

Enora was quite disappointed. She had thought herself to be a calm and decisive person, capable of judging a situation and taking the right decision. Yet, in magic, it did not seem to be enough. Those traits helped, but it felt like she needed to be more cautious, less focused on doing and more on how to do. Quite a change of pace.

- I did it !, a voice echoed near her.

- What ?, asked Nick.

- I did it, I just did the Absorption and Purification steps !

- No way ?!, blurted Enora. How'd you managed that ?

- Well I … I just took the light energy, bubbled it, introduced it in my body and removed what was too much, exactly as the book says., Rose said, oh so naturally. Although I know something new : why do we Purify after Absorbing ? It feels like the energy can only be precisely taken apart when the bubble is in the body, and the spare elements end up being flushed out automatically. They are not dangerous when removed one by one.

- So if I understand correctly, we need to bubble the targeted energy, absorb it and analyse it to take out one by one the little intruders, and only then release everything ?, asked Nick in a frustrated tone. Isn't that what we've been doing this whole time ?

- You have to be methodical, patient and focused., the girl corrected. All those steps must be done as slowly as needed to avoid any mistake.

Enora had not listened much after the first declaration she heard. She could not believe the girl had beaten her, taking the first step into the realm of magic. How was it possible ? The tanned woman had taken her under her wing to get as much information about that matter as possible and get better faster, yet she was not the first ? "How the fuck does it make any kind of sense ? I managed to detect and move elements first, and now I am behind ?!". She felt dejected as if her efforts were not sufficient. She knew she was being petty, her spite should only be against herself at best, but she failed to see reason. "I failed …", was the only thing her competitive mind could retain.

While the conversation kept going around her, she went back to trying. For a few hours she did, focusing as much as she could on purifying this hot looking energy, yet every time was more disappointing than the last, going on and on and on until her face turned red with anger. Then, the last drop.

- Well, girls, I guess I'm second., calmly spoke a manly voice. Really going slow is the only approach. It's quite something, to finally have this energy inside, it's like a new organ you suddenly become conscious of … a bit creepy too.

- Right ?, excitedly said Rose.

Enora snapped :

- For fuck's sake, shut up !

Not an instant had passed that she stood up and left, limping away towards the river. This constant talking irritated her so much, keeping her from practising correctly. "I can't think straight with those two around, they yap all the time. No surprise I'm the last to progress !". Then she heard :

- Got a problem ?

Turning around, she stared with intense eyes at Nick. He stood there, staring back with arms crossed.

- Yeah I do !, she shouted. I can't focus while you two talk !

- And you think that's why we got ahead of you, right ?

Startled by his calm tone, and even more by how true those words sounded, she began saying what she had on her mind but did not think she would end up putting into words out loud :

- I did everything I could for the girl to survive, and in exchange, I would get her knowledge of magic, yet I am still figuring out the basics ! And you profited from my efforts too ! That's not …

When she was about to say 'fair', she realised what she was actually saying. What 'fair' ? What was she even talking about ? This entire situation was a mess, and she decided it was the best time to make a scene ? It first hit her that MAYBE she was trying to blow off steam after repressing her fear and anxiety for so long, but then the final blow : Rose's eyes. The girl had just been told how much of an object she was to the only person she trusted. The only person she could rely on was actually using her. That was what her eyes screamed. Then she ran away towards the river, avoiding Enora as much as she could. Nick had not moved a muscle for a minute, trying to make her as uncomfortable as possible. Or maybe he just tried to convey how much she screwed up, big time.

- Good to know how much of a bitch you can be.