Chapter Thirty Six: Flames of Guidance

The morning sun rose over Verdant Crest Academy, casting golden light across the stone paths as Roderic Vane stepped out of his dorm. His red novice robe swayed with each step, boots scuffing the rough floor as he pulled the warped wooden door shut with a creak. His lean frame moved under the crisp fabric, muscles tight from a restless night, The Ember Codex tucked under his arm, its red leather spine pressing into his side. The relic in his core pulsed steadily, its jagged edges a constant weight, dual cultivation urges simmering low, a heat that had stirred him awake with whispers of Late Initiate. He needed this session with Maris, then a beauty to push him further. Cultivation was serious business; the duels were two days away, Kael's threats a shadow he'd burn away.

He walked through the corridors, boots thudding a steady rhythm, the air thick with dust from bustling students and the faint clang of blades sharpening in sheds. Novices darted past, red robes flapping as they hauled training staffs, their chatter buzzing about the duels. Adepts in green tunics shouldered blades, shouting drills with rough voices. Seniors in silver-blue robes moved with purpose, murmurs sharp with strategy, Roderic's clash with Kael still hot on their lips, Torin's call fueling their fire. His path cut through, leading to the Inner Crest where Maris's tower stood, but a novice intercepted, red robe patched, voice breathless.

"Roderic! Elder Maris says Training Ground Three, not the tower. Go now!" The boy bolted off, boots skidding, leaving Roderic with a raised brow, grin widening.

"Fields today? Alright, I'm game," he muttered, voice low, redirecting his steps through stone arches toward the training grounds. The air sharpened with crushed grass and churned earth as he approached Training Ground Three, a wide stretch of packed dirt ringed by low stone walls, scarred with scorch marks and blade cuts, wooden dummies splintered from heavy blows. Students sparred in clusters, shouts and grunts filling the space under the sun's glare. Roderic's boots crunched gravel as he spotted Maris Veyle at the center, her presence a standout amid the noise.

She stood tall and commanding, her silver-gold robe clinging to a curvaceous frame like molten metal poured over her body, hugging the full swell of her hips and the generous curve of her chest, stopping just above her knees to show toned legs shaped by years of mastery. Her pale ivory skin glowed smooth and flawless in the sunlight, platinum hair pulled into a tight braid trailing down her spine, swaying as she shifted. She stood with arms crossed under her chest, lifting it slightly, her stance radiating authority, a storm of power wrapped in beauty that made the air feel alive. Roderic slowed, grin twitching as he leered, eyes tracing her sexy body, hips a tempting curve, legs a tease of strength, chest a swell he couldn't ignore. She's got more than fire going, he thought, lust flickering with respect, her form a spark he hadn't fully noticed before.

"Morning, Elder. We're doing fields today?" he called, voice casual, stepping closer, The Ember Codex shifting under his arm.

Maris turned, robe swaying, gaze locking his with a sharp edge, voice crisp. "Morning's half over. Move faster next time! Yes, fields today. The tower's too soft for what you need. Hand me the Codex."

He tossed it, red leather sailing through the air. She caught it with a quick snap, fingers brushing its spine as she flipped it open, robe shifting to hint at the curve beneath. Roderic's eyes lingered on her hips as she stepped forward, placing the book on a splintered wooden stand. "Today's about fire, real fire," she said, voice firm. "You're sloppy and wild. We're fixing that. Take off the robe. Show me your stance."

Roderic grinned, peeling off his robe with a rustle, crimson fabric dropping to the dirt, baring his lean, sun-browned torso, muscles taut, sweat beading in the heat, trousers clinging low as he spread his stance, boots digging in. "Wild's how I roll. It's worked so far," he said, voice steady, eyes tracing her legs as she circled, her sexy form catching his attention.

Maris stopped, hands on hips, chest pushing forward, voice loud. "Worked so far? That's not saying much! You're stuck at Middle peak. Why?"

He shrugged, boots shifting, voice dodging. "I've been pushing hard. The attack slowed me. I'm catching up."

She stepped closer, robe brushing his arm, voice sharp. "Don't give me excuses. You're not catching up. You're stuck! Show me your stance. Do it now!"

Roderic nodded, stance widening, fists thrusting forward, legs braced, breath steady, muscles flexing as he moved. Maris circled, robe swaying, her sexy curves in his view. "Legs are weak," she said, kicking his foot wider with her boot. "Fists are messy. Your balance is off. What's wrong with you?"

"Balance is off?" he asked, fists jabbing again, voice sharp. "I hit hard. Wild gets it done!"

She grabbed his wrist, twisting it, robe stretching, chest close, voice loud. "Hard doesn't matter if you miss! You're stuck. Middle peak's a wall. Where's it breaking?"

He pulled back, catching himself, her touch a jolt, eyes flicking to her hips, voice low. "Breaking? I don't know. Maybe I'm pushing too fast."

Maris laughed, short and rough, robe swaying as she circled again. "Too fast? That's a weak answer! You're stuck because you're sloppy. Fists again. Make it tight!"

Roderic grunted, fists snapping out, stance tightening, legs flexing, eyes on her legs as she moved. "Tight. Got it. Still strong enough?"

She stepped back, robe swaying, voice firm. "Strong's no good without aim. Relax your wrists. You're too stiff. Loosen up!"

He exhaled, wrists easing, breath slowing, eyes tracing her form, voice calm. "Relaxed. Feels smoother. Is that better?"

"It's better," she said, picking up a charred stick, scratching lines in the dirt. "But you're still off. Look. Your flow's messed up. Chest's tight. Legs don't hold you up. What's blocking you?"

Roderic frowned, boots shifting, eyes on her curves, voice low. "Blocking me? Chest's tight maybe. Legs feel weak. How do I fix it?"

"Breathe right," she said, stick jabbing dirt, robe fluttering, voice clear. "Open your chest. Plant your legs. You're forcing too much. Stop that! Try it. Breathe deep. Move!"

He nodded, breathing deep, chest lifting, legs rooting, fists jabbing, eyes flicking to her hips, voice steady. "Lighter now. Smoother. Still good?"

"Good enough," she said, stepping closer, hand on his chest, warm, voice sharp. "Lighter's the trick. You're dragging. Middle peak's stuck. Too much force. Breathe. Flow. Do it again!"

Roderic grinned, breathing steady, fists tight, legs firm, eyes lingering on her sexy body, voice calm. "Flowing. Feels right. You're a fire cultivator too, huh?"

Maris smirked, robe swaying, voice crisp. "Took you long enough to notice! Yes, fire's mine. You're wild. Control it, or you're done! Keep this up. Break that wall!"

He nodded, stance steady, voice firm, her curves a spark. "Control. Got it. So you've been through this too?"

"Through it and past it," she said, stepping back, voice loud. "I know fire. You're sucking because you're sloppy. Chest's clogged. Legs slack. Fix your breathing!"

"Clogged chest?" he asked, fists moving, voice steady. "How do I unclog it?"

"Breathe deeper," she said, voice clear. "Push air down. Open it up. Legs too—root them. You're falling over yourself!"

He breathed deeper, chest expanding, legs bracing, voice low. "Like this? Feels stronger."

"Stronger's a start," she said, voice firm. "Keep it smooth. You're too tense. Relax more!"

"Relax more?" he asked, fists slowing, voice calm. "Won't that make me weak?"

"No," she said, voice sharp. "Tense makes you weak. Smooth makes you strong. Try it!"

He nodded, fists flowing, body relaxing, eyes on her legs, voice steady. "Smooth. Got it. Feels good."

"Good's better," she said, voice crisp. "You're stuck at peak. Breathe right. Flow right. Break it!"

"Break it how?" he asked, stance firm, voice low. "What's holding me back?"

"You're pushing wrong," she said, voice loud. "Too much chest. Not enough legs. Balance them. Feel it!"

He shifted, legs rooting, chest easing, voice calm. "Balanced. Lighter. You're fire—how'd you break through?"

"Breathe and flow," she said, voice clear. "I stopped forcing. Let it move. You're close. Keep going!"

Roderic grinned, fists steady, voice firm. "Close. I'll get it. Thanks, Elder."

"Don't thank me yet," she said, voice sharp. "Break that wall first. Wild's fine. Control it!"

He nodded, stance solid, her sexy body a spark, her fire pointers a flame lighting his path.

Maris stepped back from scratching lines in the dirt, the charred stick tossed aside, voice crisp as she pointed to a row of splintered wooden dummies ten paces off, their straw guts spilling from gashes, scorch marks blackening their frames. "Enough talk. We're practicing on those dummies now," she said, hands on hips, robe tightening. "You're talented. I've seen it. You've climbed fast, faster than most. But you're stuck at Middle peak, and I'm not letting that slide."

Roderic shifted his stance, boots scuffing, voice steady. "Stuck? I'm ready to move. What's the plan?"

She walked to the dummies, robe fluttering, voice firm. "I've watched you. Rapid improvement, real skill. But lately, you're spinning wheels. I'm training you practical, hands on. Dummies first. Hit them. Show me what you've got."

He grinned, stepping forward, voice low. "Practical's my style. Let's do it."

Maris nodded, robe swaying as she stood beside a dummy, voice loud. "Start simple. Fists only. Aim for the chest, middle spot. Go!"

Roderic squared up, boots digging in, fists snapping out, right then left, striking the dummy's chest, wood creaking, straw puffing out. His eyes flicked to Maris, her sexy form catching his leer, voice steady. "Like that? Solid hits?"

"Good start," she said, stepping closer, voice sharp. "But your fists drift. You're off center, wild again. Aim tight, middle chest. Try it!"

He nodded, fists jabbing again, right then left, wood groaning, chest denting, voice calm. "Tighter now? Feels solid."

"Better," she said, circling, robe brushing dust, voice clear. "Still drifting, left's weak. You're leaning too much. Stand straight, hit again!"

Roderic straightened, fists pumping, right then left, dummy shuddering, straw flying, his leer tracing her legs, voice low. "Straight, got it. How's that?"

"Cleaner," she said, voice firm, stopping in front. "But legs, weak still. You're not rooted. Push from the ground, hit it!"

He braced, boots firm, fists slamming, right then left, dummy cracking, voice steady. "Rooted now? Feels stronger."

"Stronger's right," she said, voice loud, hands on hips, chest forward. "You've got raw power, talent's clear. I'm giving you time because you're worth it, stuck or not. Let's step it up, kicks now. Side kick, middle chest. Go!"

Roderic pivoted, boot swinging, side kick thumping the dummy, wood splintering, straw bursting, eyes on her hips, voice calm. "Kicked it. Good?"

"Good hit," she said, voice sharp, circling again. "But your hips, lazy! Twist them, power's there. Kick again!"

He twisted, boot slamming, dummy rocking, chest caving, voice low. "Twisted, better?"

"Much better," she said, voice clear, stopping close, robe swaying. "Hips need work, lazy hips suck your strength. You've been stuck, Middle peak's a wall. I'm breaking it, practical training. You ready?"

"Ready," he said, grin widening, voice firm, eyes tracing her sexy curves, chest a lure, relic humming faint. "What's next?"

Maris stepped back, voice loud, pointing to the dummy. "Combo, fist then kick, middle chest. Fast, go!"

Roderic moved, fist jabbing, boot swinging, dummy shuddering, wood cracking, straw flying, voice steady. "Fast enough? Hits landing?"

"Fast, yes," she said, voice crisp, circling, robe fluttering. "Landing, halfway. Fists drift, kick's off. Tighten, again!"

He grunted, fist snapping, boot slamming, dummy jolting, chest splitting, eyes on her legs, voice low. "Tighter now? How's it?"

"Tighter's good," she said, voice firm, stopping in front, hands on hips. "You're getting it, slowly. I've spent time on you, talent's why. You're stuck, been stuck, but you're close. Let's push, dummy's not enough. Watch me!"

Roderic stepped back, boots scuffing, voice calm. "Watch you? I'm in."

Maris smirked, robe swaying, voice clear as she faced a fresh dummy, wood sturdy, straw tight, her stance widening, legs flexing under the short hem. "Fire, real fire," she said, voice loud. "You're not the only one, watch close!" She breathed deep, chest lifting, hands rising, palms out, then thrust forward, a burst of fire roaring from her hands, crimson flames slamming the dummy, wood charring black, straw igniting in a crackling blaze, ash swirling as it shuddered and smoked.

Roderic's jaw dropped, eyes wide, her sexy body a spark, flames a shock, voice low. "Fire? You're fire, like me?"

"Like you, better," she said, voice crisp, turning, robe fluttering, flames dying as she dusted hands, chest heaving slightly, eyes on him. "First time you've seen it? Good, learn from it. Fire's free, yours jams. Mine flows, why?"

He swallowed, eyes tracing her curves, hips a tease, voice steady. "Yours flows, mine jams? How?"

"Breathe, balance," she said, voice clear, stepping closer. "You jam, chest's tight, legs slack. I flow, open chest, strong legs. See it?"

"Yeah, I see," he said, voice low, leer flickering, her sexy form blazing, relic humming. "You're good, damn good."

"Good's not enough," she said, voice sharp, hands on hips, robe tightening, chest a lure. "You're stuck, I'm unsticking you. Fire again, dummy, flow it!"

Roderic nodded, stance widening, breathing deep, fists thrusting, dummy charring, straw smoking, voice calm. "Flowing, feels lighter. Right?"

"Right," she said, voice firm, circling, robe swaying, legs a tease, voice loud. "Lighter's it, keep it! You're talented, rapid rise, but stuck sucks. I'm here, breaking that, practical. Again!"

He grinned, fists snapping, dummy scorching, voice steady. "Breaking it, got it. You're fire, been hiding that?"

"Not hiding," she said, voice clear, stepping close, robe brushing, voice sharp. "You're slow, didn't see! Fire's mine, yours now, flow it!"

"Flowing," he said, fists blazing, dummy smoking, eyes on her sexy body, voice firm. "Thanks, means a lot."

"Don't thank me," she said, voice loud, smirking, robe swaying, chest forward, eyes on him. "Break that wall, then thank me! Wild's fine, control it, or you're ash!"

Roderic nodded, stance solid, dummy charred, her sexy form a spark, her fire a flame, voice steady. "Control, I'll get it. You're pushing me, good push."

"Push needs payoff," she said, voice crisp, stepping back, robe fluttering, voice firm. "You're close, flow it, break it, I'm watching!"

He grinned, fists steady, dummy smoldering, her curves a lure.