Elemental Vice
"'The Salamanders of fire invite one to unregulated passion when they first appear; the Sylphs of wind to losing one's self in dreaming. The Gnomes of earth tempt to the extreme of sloth, self-indulgence, and – if you will forgive me – sexual excess; and the Undines of water to the extreme of self-deception, particularly where one's own abilities are concerned.'" – The Fire Rose, by Mercedes Lackey
Maxims and sayings ruled the Temple. Some were sensible. "Pride goes before fall." "An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure."
Others were philosophical. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." "A thousand lessons come in defeat, none in victory."
But one in particular could send shivers down anyone's spine.
"Those capable of the greatest good also are capable of the greatest evil."
Part One: Watered Pride
He stood in the rain, brooding, pondering. That was what he tried to do, try to keep himself in humility and meditation.
But she knew while watching him from inside that he was secretly thrilled at the new sash that was at his waist, the bright gold embroideries upon the black-black satin and silk. He hummed in delight, nearly falling over in the intricate shifting of poses he continued to do in the rain to channel his energy, like a monkey, like an acrobat showing off to a delighted, invisible crowd, reveling in his own perfection and glory.
She tilted back her head, feeling it against the cool stone of the temple. He probably knew she was watching, Instincts of the Tiger and such. But let him. Let him think that she was simply admiring him, looking at him to improve herself as well as she could, as she was a girl.
Her lip curled in disgust.
Despite her affection for the boy, despite her care for that irresistible face and manner that was so childish yet so very grave, he drove her mad. Water and Fire were opposites after all… She shook her head a bit, clearing her mind.
She- pitied him. Despite his old-fashioned manners and mannerisms, he was a child, kept from the rough things of the world. He wasn't knocked down by the elements and the bad things, the villains that were subtler than Heylin witches and manic boy geniuses. He was allowed to be arrogant, a spoiled brat, if you really thought about it. He really didn't understand others, didn't bother to empathize with the pains of the world. In his arrogance (despite his, indeed, formidable abilities), he forgot that he himself had limits, that others had limits.
But he was the first. And it seemed that's all that mattered in the story. That was what mattered by the end.
Water hid so many things, including truth.
A/N: Inspired by watching an episode or two, I also was flipping through one of my favorite fairy tale novels and realized the particular vices of each of the elements and how well they fit with the personalities of our dear monks. This is the first in a series. Anyone guess who the first is?