16 Chapter–15 A Matter of Influence

I nibble on the last of my cheese as Kate leads us down a deep stairwell.

I'm reminded yet again how big the academy is.

"—and we'll have the perfect opportunity to practice team coordination and whatnot," Marshal continues as we descend.

I nod—agreeing.

"There's a particular problem with our synergy that we need to talk about as well," Marshal mentions.

"Do you think our instructor will let us do something like that on our first day," Kate asks.

"Of course, he will. You can't be an Elite without solid teamwork," Marshal says.

It gets noticeably cooler as we descend. The air is still and damp as we step out of the stairwell. Panic rises in my chest. I can't stand how the air feels in caves—it gives me the creeps. A chill runs down my spine as I do my best to calm down.

Kate walks us farther down the hall to the second of the four doors on our right. We walk into a cavernous room. It's a pretty bare room, aside from the luminous crystal spikes that jut out of the ground, and walls. If I didn't know otherwise it wouldn't be bold to assume this was just some cave. Some of our classmates socialize on the rows of benches that line a portion of the room's walls.

Our instructor—a very tall and imposing fellow—stands in the center of the room with his arms crossed. His body is chiseled like a sculpture. I wouldn't be surprised if he considered his body alone a deadly weapon. He notices us as we approach, and greets us with a rumbly voice, "Greetings. State your names."

"Marshal Cranel."

"Benji Dariff."

"Kate…Regneil."

The instructor nods in satisfaction.

"You may talk amongst yourselves till class starts," he says.

I laugh nervously to myself as we walk to the bench area.

Before long everyone is present and ready to start.

"Alright! I will be your instructor. My name is Ron Verindaisuki. You can call me Ron. As you know this class is to keep yous from getting soft on us. Every now and then I may put together a group spar session or make you do some drills I will craft especially for you. But for the most part, you may do as you please as long as you're working hard. The drills your parents drilled into your skulls should be good for today, but if you need something harder I'll give you something hellish. Now, you may begin. I'm here to support you so don't be shy if you have any questions," Mr. Ron says, crossing his arms and beginning to do squats with a far too stern expression.

I'm sure it's my imagination but I'm pretty sure Mr. Ron's voice was hitting registers that shook the ground. I've never heard a voice so deep. I look to Marshal.

"Well then let's get to it," I say, but he's stroking his chin deep in thought.

"Maybe we should go through some of the drills you grew up with instead," Marshal offers.

I frown.

"What about team coordination, and the problem you mentioned," I counter.

Marshal waves me off.

"I know I know. Just a suggestion," he says with a laugh.

"Well, our teamwork already isn't the worst. I can keep up with you, and you can handle yourself well. So all we need is to be a little more in sync. But," Marshal looks to Kate, "Our heaviest hitter is having issues taming her magic. And we can't start anywhere else till she can."

"So what's your verdict? How can we help her," I ask, glancing at Kate.

"That's the thing I'm not really sure about. At first, I thought she was biting off more than she could chew with those big surges, but I think it's something else," Marshal explains.

My mind races trying to put together a solution.

I look to Kate, "Can you tell me a little more," I ask.

She nods.

"It's never a problem when it's coursing through me or touching, but once it hits someone or something or gets too far away it becomes…unpredictable, and I can't control it anymore," Kate explains, looking dejected.

'Escaping Influence?'

While it's not impossible, usually it didn't happen...

'Usually!'

Kate isn't a usual case. I look to her, an idea on the horizon.

"When did your affinity manifest," I ask.

"When I was 7 while going down my slide," Kate answers.

"And your training when did it start," I continue.

Kate thinks for a moment.

"When I was 5 I think," she says.

'There.' I think, my idea now solid.

"I think I have an idea of what might be going on," I say.

Marshal chuckles, "Leave it to the elite."

"Son of an Elite," I correct him jokingly as I look at Kate.

"From what I'm hearing you learned how to control magic, but never learned how to control your lightning," I explain, trying to make sense.

Kate tilts her head a little confused.

"What I mean is before your affinity manifested you probably were taught how to tame and channel fire, right," I ask.

Kate's eyes darken as she nods.

"Well because of that you never learned what your lightning wants," I explain.

"What it wants," Kate repeats.

"Yeah, it's not common practice to learn to hear your affinity anymore. The four affinities are so thoroughly researched and you're well…anyways—you'll have to learn the old way. But don't worry it's not too difficult—" I start.

"How'd you learn about the 'Old way'," Kate asks.

"My mom had to go out of her way to find a book detailing the methods," I say.

Kate nods—content, "Well, I'm ready to learn. Teach away, Benji."

Kate's expectant eyes were now focused on me. I look to Marshal for help but he's looking at me in interest as well.

I gather some memories of when I first learned of my affinity's will before I realize how difficult this would be without a demonstration. I feel a twinge of doubt that I immediately reprimand.

'Am I seriously considering not teaching her over this…' I think—ashamed. 'It's not like I'll be making a scythe or anything big.'

"First conjure some of your magic," I say, releasing a small amount of shadows.

I shape them into a small orb—small wisps come off its surface. Marshal releases a similar amount of water in the shape of an orb—the water cheerfully flows within itself. Kate releases her lightning, but it's coursing between her hands. I was hoping she would be comfortable enough to not be in physical contact but she should be able to with time.

"Now first I'll show you where I was when I first started to give you an idea," I say.

I back away from Kate and Marshal, because of the danger untamed shadow poses to living things. I'll be careful of course, but better safe than sorry.

I lighten my influence, and let my shadow's true nature shine. The ball was hardly that anymore as thick wisps swirl and outstretch. If they weren't in a magic state they'd try to infect someone, and if they couldn't they'd eventually be drawn back to the shadow plane becoming tame once again.

I tighten my influence making the shadows form the orb from before.

"So my shadows for example want to conquer, they want to spread, they don't want to be tamed so if I do this," I start, forcing the untamed wisps on the orb's edge to conform, "This happens—" And just like that the shadows break from my influence.

I quickly release more shadows to surround and reclaim the untamed.

"Water," I say pointing at Marshal's orb, "Wants to flow, so even if unconsciously you ensure it's in motion."

Marshal muses at this, "Interesting so if I—" he concentrates for a moment—interrupting himself.

The orb's subtle gentle motion comes to a halt—Marshal focuses a bit more—and the orb deforms, spilling into a small puddle.

"Woah," Marshal gasps, "That's not the best feeling."

He looks to Kate sympathetically, "It's like it just slipped."

"So you want me to do that," Kate asks, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

I nod.

"It's easier to understand what your affinity doesn't want. We're going to use this exercise to help you get a feel for your affinity's will," I explain.

Kate nods, staring at the electricity between her fingers.

"First—" I start.

"Wait," Kate interjects, "You two should probably step back."

I nod, internally facepalming.

What I was about to instruct her to do was very dangerous—for Marshal and I at least. Kate would be fine. We step back a few paces.

"Okay," Kate says, satisfied with our distance, "Now what do I have to do?"

"Close your eyes. Focus on the lightning between your hands. Now imagine your body in a very uncomfortable position or situation. Once that's in mind, take that uncomfortable feeling and project it onto your lightning. Increase it more and more until it slips from your control," I instruct.

Kate nods brow furrowed in concentration. The light crackling of the energy slows, and the flickering stops as well. After a few moments, it's as if the bolts of light had been frozen, before long though a spark shoots out and the electric band explodes in a flash of energy. Kate's hair is standing on end, and she blinks in surprise.

"When it started to resist, what did it feel like it wanted," I ask.

Kate thinks for a moment not making an effort to fix her now static hair. I chuckle. She gives me a curious glance—slightly embarrassed.

"Is it normal for it to feel like multiple things," Kate asks, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Generally the affinity's want centers around one thing, but having multiple isn't impossible," I say trailing off.

"So what did it want," Marshal asks, cycling multiple balls of water around his head.

"It didn't like being held still, but I think there's something else…but I can't put my finger on it," Kate says—annoyed.

"Don't worry," I say, giving in to my urge to reach for her seemingly floating hair. It shocks me—unsurprisingly—making me flinch.

"Ow," I say, chuckling.

Kate laughs a little, brushing her hair down with her hands. I note that she doesn't seem bothered by her still electrified hair.

"We just need to keep experimenting. Once you've figured out what your lightning wants you should be able to handle it better," I explain.

Kate stares at me through her bangs with a look I can't quite decode. She swipes her bangs aside and out of her eyes.

"How long do you think it'll take till I can do cool stuff like you and Marshal," she asks, diverting her eyes—worried.

I stare at her curiously, pressing her with my silence.

"Like his sword…or your scythe," she mumbles, her face flushing, "I want to do things like that too…"

Marshal laughs, "Then let's get started already, you know how to listen for your affinity or whatever right?"

Kate nods slightly glancing at me.

"And if experimenting is the only way for us to know what it wants then let's just do that," Marshal finishes.

He then puts his hands on my shoulders with a devious grin.

"I have an idea, and you're gonna be our unwilling test subject, okay," Marshal says with a small wink.

"Huh," I ask.

Though instead of an answer Marshal just shuffles me a meter or two away from Kate.

"Okay so here's my idea," he says, "We're going to be shocking you."

"What?"

Kate and I exclaim in unison—her being far more concerned.

"B-b-but I can't…I might hurt him," Kate protests.

"That's even more of a reason to avoid his vitals," Marshal retorts with a cheshire grin, "We already know some of what your lightning wants. It just wants to keep moving right? So if you practice keeping it moving we can weed out whatever else it doesn't like."

"I don't know," Kate says, looking at me.

"You don't actually have to hit him," Marshal says, guiding a ball of water behind me, "Your goal is to hit this. Without hitting, Benji."

Marshal gives my shoulder a pat for emphasis.

"No cheating either. You need to shoot directly toward him, and figure out how to make it go around him or through," Marshal explains.

"But what if it doesn't like that," Kate mumbles.

"Then we'll know something new, now won't we," Marshal says.

Kate frowns at this.

"Just make sure not to hit his brain or heart," Marshal offers nonchalantly, walking away from me and behind Kate.

Kate and I lock eyes, while Marshal begins a calisthenic routine—keeping an impressive amount of control on the orb of water behind me.

"Are you ready," Kate asks nervously, putting up both of her hands.

I gulp at the light crackle of electricity, and nod donning a nervous grin.

"Ready."