Wakko had been on edge with both excitement and nerves all day and was barely able to focus on anything. He was going to start learning bending today, and even though Jayna had warned him very clearly that they would only be starting on the basics he found himself eager to get started. Although still, deep inside, there was fear too. Having any kind of power was a very new experience for Wakko but having the kind that let you manipulate the environment was almost unnerving.
But I have to do this. If there's any good I can do with it, I have to.
Finally, their last lesson for the day ended. Wakko almost ran to the door, and his siblings hurried to keep up.
"Someone's enthusiastic," Dot muttered, though she was smiling.
"Enthusiasm's good," Yakko said, grinning. "Keeps ya motivated."
Neither of them said so, but Wakko could tell they were both glad to see him feeling enthusiastic about anything. And after the week he'd had, he was pretty glad too.
His thoughts were interrupted when Yakko stepped up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. His grin never entirely left but there was a look of seriousness in his eyes.
"You sure you wanna do this?"
Wakko knew his brother meant well, but he couldn't help feeling just a slight twinge of annoyance along with his appreciation. He might be just eleven, but he could be trusted to make his own decisions. But he didn't say that out loud, just smiled and nodded.
"Absolutely."
Yakko's grin widened, and he patted the middle sibling's shoulder.
"Okay then," he said. "Go get 'em."
"I don't see why we can't come watch," Dot huffed.
Wakko shrugged, giving her an apologetic look.
"Sorry, sis… the teacher lady says it's best for beginners to have no distractions."
His sister stuck her nose in the air.
"I'm not a distraction!"
When both her brothers gave her a look, she shrugged.
"Okay, maybe I am… but I'm a cute distraction!"
Yakko and Wakko each rolled their eyes before the middle sibling took Dot's hand and gave her a smile, tongue hanging out.
"I promise I'll tell you all about it and show ya anything I learn."
At that, Dot finally smiled too.
"I'm holding you to that, so ya better not forget."
Wakko grinned and gave her a salute.
"Got it, Your Highness."
"Okay, then," Yakko said, giving his brother's shoulder another pat. "Get going before your teacher changes her mind."
Wakko didn't need telling twice. With a final wave to his siblings, he took off down the hall. People bowed or curtseyed as he passed and he acknowledged them with quick nods, too eager to get to his destination for conversation. When he finally reached the entrance hall, he found Jayna leaning against a wall near the door with her arms crossed. Her cloak was gone, and she was wearing a plain grey shirt with form-fitting black pants. She was also wearing the same solemn look she had when they met, and Wakko couldn't help wondering if she ever smiled.
As he approached, the woman looked up and saw him. Pushing herself off the wall, she faced him and bowed her head in acknowledgment. Her voice was calm, almost cool.
"Are you ready?"
Wakko nodded eagerly.
"Yep! I'm ready!"
Jayna studied him with those piercing green eyes, raising her brow just a little.
"Enthusiasm is good, but don't get too excited. Remember, we're only covering basics for now."
Feeling like he'd just been caught in a prank, Wakko couldn't help but lower his eyes even though he was royalty.
"Okay, sorry."
"It's fine," Jayna said, and when he looked up he thought he saw a flicker of amusement in the woman's eyes. But it was gone too quickly to be sure.
"Well then…" she said, gesturing to the entrance doors. "Shall we?"
Wakko nodded again, and she returned the nod before striding toward the doors. He fell in step beside her, doing his best to keep up with her wider steps. He saw her eyes flicker to him for just a second, then she slowed down. Outside, she turned off the road and headed toward the forest. Wakko followed, feeling confused now.
"Why're we going there?"
"Less distraction," Jayna replied without looking at him. "And less chance of someone seeing."
Wakko felt a twinge of unease.
"Is that bad?"
The woman shrugged, still looking ahead.
"Not bad, exactly… but the Gift isn't a very common ability. Seeing someone bend can be… unnerving to people, especially if you're still learning."
Neither of them said any more as they walked the rest of the way. As soon as they were behind the tree line, Jayna spoke again.
"I spent all day yesterday looking for a good area… it works best if you have space to move."
A trickling sound filtered through the trees, and soon they came into a clearing with a small stream. Walking over to it, Jayna turned to face Wakko and crossed her arms again.
"Now, the most important thing to remember," she said, her face serious. "Your Gift isn't something you should be afraid of. It's like any other ability… it just needs practice and refinement."
Then her face grew even more serious, if it was possible.
"But you need to respect it. And most of all, you have to respect your limitations."
Wakko cocked his head, but before he could ask what she meant Jayna went on.
"You have to be careful not to push yourself… begin slow. Spending too much power before you're used to it is dangerous."
The middle sibling bit his lip, feeling a sense of unease.
"Dangerous?" he asked hesitantly.
Jayna nodded.
"Which is why we're starting with the basics."
She looked at Wakko, and her sharp green eyes seemed to soften just a little.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure it doesn't go too far," she said in a calm voice, then sat cross legged on the ground and gestured to the spot in front of her. Slowly, Wakko sat down and Jayna reached out, taking his right hand in both of hers. The symbol began glowing on it.
"You know what this represents?"
Wakko nodded.
"The element spirits."
Jayna nodded.
"Yes. They're the reason that a Gifted person can bend the elements."
Letting go of his hand, she closed her eyes. After a few moments, she opened them again; they were glowing white. Wakko's own eyes widened, but before he could ask any questions Jayna's eyes returned to normal.
"That state I was just in is when you allow the spirits to actually enter your body. You're at your most powerful in it, but also at your most vulnerable."
Wakko frowned, confused.
"Why?"
Jayna looked at him, a look of gravity on her face.
"Letting the spirits enter your body makes it possible for other people to take your power, if they can break your concentration."
She cleared her throat then, sitting up straighter.
"But entering that state is something for the future. As I said, basics first."
She stood and reached behind her head. With a tug her dark red hair came loose, tumbling down her back in loose curls. Wakko stood, cocking his head again.
"What're you doing?"
"I like to have it loose when I bend," Jayna replied, shaking her head. "It makes me feel freer."
She moved to the stream and gestured for him to come stand beside her.
"Now, the key is focus. Basically, you imagine what you want the element to do, and you need to concentrate completely on it… you can't let anything distract you." She held her hands out. "Now watch, this is a very simple move."
She began pulling her hands toward her, then extending them again. As she repeated the action, Wakko was amazed to see the water moving in tandem to her motions.
"Push and pull," Jayna said. "A basic practice, but a good way to start."
She then stopped moving her hands and turned to look at him.
"Go on, now you try. Remember, complete concentration."
Doing his best to swallow down his tension, Wakko turned toward the stream and held out his own hands. Slowly, tentatively, he began miming Jayna's movements, trying to concentrate. As nothing happened, frustration tugged at him and he squinted more and more until he was almost glaring at the water.
"It's all right," Jayna said. "It didn't happen the first time I tried either. Just keep trying… focus."
Wakko took a deep breath, then released it and kept trying. After several more times, he saw the water quiver. Then it began moving with him, back and forth against the current. Excitement filled him and he leaped into the air with a whoop.
"I did it! I did it! I did it!"
He looked at Jayna, and though she didn't smile she nodded in approval.
"Good. A good start."
Wakko grinned even wider, tongue hanging out. Jayna still didn't smile but he saw a glint of amusement in her eyes as she spoke again.
"Care to keep going now?"
The middle sibling nodded eagerly, still tingling with excitement.
I can do this… I can!