The next morning, we wake up early as usual.
After getting ready and packing my things, I meet the rest of the team downstairs.
Amelia's parents wait for us by the door as we finish gathering our things. Her mother's lip trembles as she watches us pack.
"Are you sure you need to leave so soon?"

Leanna smiles softly.
"I wish we could stay longer but we must be going. Thank you very much for your hospitality."

Arthur, Amelia's father chimes in.
"Of course, you're all welcome here at any time!"

Amelia's mother, Helena, hands us parcels.
"I've packed all of you some food for your journey."

"Oh, we couldn't possibly-"

She tuts and forces the parcels into our hands.
"I won't take no for an answer!"

Amelia packs hers without protest and the rest of us follow suit. We turn to her family one last time before leaving.
Leanna speaks first.
"Thank you again."

Kara smiles as well.
"It's been a lot of fun! Thanks for having us."

I bow respectfully.
"Thank you, it was a pleasure to meet you."

Zack nods.
"Thanks."

Amelia smiles slightly.
"Farewell Mother, Father."

Her mother squeezes each of us in one big hug.
When she hugs Leanna, she pauses.
"Please take care of our daughter."

Leanna nods with a smile.
"I will."

After one final goodbye, we leave the house and make our way back towards the town. Not without me covertly leaving a Phase Mark behind, though.
We pass the inn and other shops, but we don't make any stops. Eventually, we pass through the town gates.

We continue down the familiar dirt path surrounded by greenery.
Most of our journey is uneventful. I've become more accustomed to the walking and the silences, but I still wish the journeys to our destinations weren't so long.
It can get pretty boring…

Just as I think that, something darts in front of me!
It was probably just some scared animal. No point in making a fuss about it or scaring it further.
The creature disappears into a bush.
The pango waddles over to the bush and watches it curiously.
"Poi poi?"

The bush remains still. THe pango cocks its head to the side.
"Pooooiiii?"

Then he sticks his head into the bush. He immediately retreats as a claw swipes at him.
He rushes back to me and hides behind my leg.
"Poi!"

He huffs.

"I mean, you did just go and bother it."

The pango pouts looking betrayed.
"Poi poi…"

I chuckle.
"Sorry pango. You know I've always got your back."

He perks up.
"Poi poi!"

"So, what was that thing?"

"It's a Sabali!"
Leanna seems more excited than usual to see an animal.

"What's that?"

Zack chimes in.
"Basically an overgrown rodent."

Amelia pipes up as well.
"Untrue. Sabali are not part of the rodent family."

Kara decides to throw in a comment as well.
"They're way cuter than rodents."

I didn't get a very good look at the thing when it raced by.
"But what is it? Because from what I saw, it looked kind of like a small ball of fur with long claws and a very long tail."

Kara turns to me.
"That's a pretty accurate description actually."

Leanna chimes up again.
"They're very rare! Since you saw one, you're going to have good luck."

Zack looks unimpressed.
"I don't see how lucky it can be if it almost tripped him up."

"Well, they tend to hide from people. If one lets you spot it, then that must mean you're special."

Amelia decides to enlighten us.
"Such superstitions originated back when primitive societies were learning to recognise dangerous species from harmless ones.
Because the Sabali feed on insects and small rodents many would deem to be pests, they are recognised as a harmless and even helpful animal. As such, many humans wished to domisticate them as pets.
But the Somali are timid creatures and shy away from most other animals, especially ones which are considered threatening.
Thus, the Sabali were regarded as lucky due to the difficult nature of witnessing one.
In reality, there is no luck involved."

I nod thankfully to her.
"I see, thanks for the information, Amelia."

Though Kara pouts playfully at Amelia.
"Aww, come on, Amy, let them keep their superstitions."

Amelia's eyes widen.
"A-Amy?"

"Sure, that's your name, right? That's what your parents called you."

"I-It is, but…"
Amelia pauses, then seems to regain her composure.
"My name is Amelia."

Leanna chimes in.
"Does calling you 'Amy' bother you?"

Amelia seems uncertain.
"I did not mean to imply that it is a bother. It is merely a suprise."

"Aw, well, don't worry Amy, it's a cute name!"

Amelia fidgets as Leanna calls her 'Amy'. She tries to speak but for once seems flustered.
"Well, I-It seems that-"

"Let's leave Amy alone and move on."

We stare at Zack.

"What?"

Leanna speaks our thoughts.
"You called her Amy."

"It's shorter than three syllables. Why wouldn't I call her that if she's okay with it?"

Amelia sighs.
"Well, if that is what you prefer, then I suppose you may well call me as such."

Kara grins and pats Amelia on the head.
"I knew you'd come around."

Amelia at first blinks in confusion.
As Kara continues to head pat her, she doesn't really seem to know what to do with herself.
Eventually, she just lets it happen.
Although Amelia tries to act cool, the touch of pink in her cheeks give away her true thoughts. I think she likes the nickname.

I speak to her.
"If you're uncomfortable with us calling you that, say it and we will stop. But personally, I like the name Amy. I think it suits you."

"That is fortunate as I believe that is how the group will refer to me from now on."

Zack speaks up again.
"Anyway, let's get going."

We resume our journey.

For the next three days, we travel on foot during the day and make camp at night. Leanna continues my casting trainings, but I've made no progress so far.
I've begun to feel discouraged and useless, something I am not used to, and although she tries hard to hide it, I can sense the frustration Leanna feels.
Why am I having such a difficult time casting? There must be something I'm missing.
Since Leanna won't give up on my trainings, I resolve to push past my disappointment and continue to focus myself.

On the fourth day, we travel the entire day and set up camp in the evening.
As we've done in all our past trainings, Zack, Kara, and Amelia take care of the set up, while Leanna and I find an open area to train.
I still dread whenever it is time to train as I haven't made any progress at all. It's starting to feel like a useless chore at this point.

"Ready?"

I reluctantly nod, my previous resolve slowly eroding.

"Alright, just like we practiced, focus on channeling through the manipulator."

As I've done so many times before, I try to do exactly what Leanna says. Just like all of my previous attempts, it doesn't work.

"You've got this. You just have to focus."

"I'm focusing."

I strain with all of my might, simultanously trying to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to be focusing on and wondering if this is actually all bogus anyway.
Leanna watches me intently, waiting for the spark of magic which doesn't appear.
I let go and breathe out in frustration.

Leanna's voice is firm but supportive.
"Try again."

I fold my hands under my chin.
"Have we considered the possibility that only humans from Terra can cast?"

Because honestly, I think I should have been able to accomplish at least a breeze by now. So I think something is holding me back, and I don't know what.

Leanna's voice is firm.
"Just try again."

With a heavy sigh, I bring up my hand again and try again. As expected, nothing happens.
I do not half-ass this, but I begin to feel like it's pointless.
I lower my hand.
"Maybe I'm just not meant to cast-"

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind pushes against my passive defenses and pushes me back. Taken by suprise, I still feel the force behind it.
"Oof!"

Leanna looks at me, a fierce look on her face.
"Get back and lower your barrier!"

I look at her completely lost as I step closer to her.
"What the hell?"

However, I decide to humour her and lower my passive barrier.

Leanna raises her arm again.
"Deflect this!"

With my defences down, I dive out of the way as Leanna casts another gust of wind.
That was close!

"Don't dodge. Deflect!"

I balk at the sternness in her voice. Her entire demeanor has changed from a calm and patient teacher to a dangerous Mage-Knight.
"What's gotten into you?!"

She ignores me and aims another shot of magic.
This time I jump out of the way, but she is relentless. She lines up another shot.

"I don't know what you mean by deflect-"

Leanna sends another gust after me, which I only narrowly dodge. Before I can get my bearings, another shot of magic comes at me.
And then another.

"Would you just-!"

And another.

"Hold on-!"

And another.
My breathing is short and anger warms my blood. She's shooting wind blasts so quickly I don't have time to think or move. Her attacks are relentless and keep knocking me around.
Another gust of wind soars towards me.
"Leanna! Stop!"

I take that blast, and although it is just as strong as the others, I maintain my footing.

"That's. Not. Deflecting!"

She frowns in concentration as she ramps up another attack. Then she lets loose another gust of wind.
I try to block it with my arms, but this blast is stronger than the last and hurls me into the air. I flip in midair and land on my feet, but skid painfully into a tree.
My breathing is ragged and my body sore, but I force the pain down.
Leanna is already channeling up another attack!
I'm not sure what's gotten into her, but I can't keep on taking these hits!
As she launches another attack, I feel my anger and frustration finally bubbling and boiling over.
I know my eyes turned golden as I stretch out my arm and let my anger flow freely. But instead of channeling like normal, it passes through my glowing manipulator, and a gust of wind knocks the blast away.

Leanna gasps and drops her attacks.
"...You did it!"

I stare at my hand, contemplating how that happened. It felt similar to unleashing my anger through the Force, yet different at the same time.
Suddenly Leanna is laughing loudly. As things, mainly I myself, calm down, I notice the rest of the group is already here.
They must have heard the commotion.
Kara speaks first.
"He casted?"

Leanna grins broadly.
"He did! He finally cast!"

"That's amazing!"

That was wind magic, none of my known Force abilities… the realization slowly dawns on me.
I casted that.
My eyes grow wide and I split into a huge grin.
"Yes! Finally!"

Leanna's grinning from ear to ear. Even Zack cracks a small smile and nods.
I clear my throat.
"Of course. I knew it was only a matter of time."
That being said, I can't keep the grin off of my face.

Amelia watches us curiously.
"I assume you used the technique which we had previously discussed?"

"Hmm?"

Leanna looks sheepish and refuses to make eye contact.

"What technique?"

The high from me finally overcoming such an annoying hurdle begins to wear off and I remember the mix of anger, confusion and frustration I felt from the attacks.
I think I know what they mean, but I'm gonna play a bit with them for pulling that off.
"You mean you guys thought it was a good idea to randomly just start attacking me?"

Leanna shakes her head, her face a mixture of worried and guilty.
Amelia calmly responds.
"Indeed."

I admit I didn't expect her to so bluntly agree.

"Why?"

"You were making no progress on your training and I believed a new strategy was necessary. One such method is to utilize the ingrained need for survival. When placed in high stress, dangerous situations, the human body will use all its resources to ensure survival.
By putting you in such a situation, your response to protect yourself enabled you to tap into the manipulator and channel energy."

Yeah, that's along the lines I thought myself.
I nod.
"Your reasoning is valid and I figured you were going for that, once I was able to think straight again. However, I hope you are aware just how dangerous that stunt was."

"Leanna would not have put you in any lethal harm."

I shake my head.
"I didn't mean dangerous for me, I meant dangerous for you."

Amelia tilts her head curiously.

I sigh.
"You remember what I said a few days ago in Hearthpoint? That my dark powers try to corrupt me? Well, Sith teachings focus on drawing strengh from your dark emotions like anger and fear, and as I was trained as a Sith those connections are already made."

"So you're saying that it is possible to not have worked?"

"I'm saying it was basically a 50/50 chance of it working or me accidently killing Leanna. And if I would have felt pressured enough, maybe even in a way I cannot resurrect."

Leanna gasps.
"You could've killed me? And you can revive someone?"

I nod and point over to a boulder.

They look confused between me and the boulder.
I snap and cast a Force Disintegration, the boulder pulverizes. I may make it look easy, but Force Disintegration is already a high skill ability not many are able to use, and it usually expands from the caster in a sphere. The range is also quite limited. Unless you are godly, like Vitiate. That I am able to cast it however I want is a testament to my strenght.
They gasp, even Zack.

"I could do that to the entire planet with just a snap. Only my own morality is hindering me from doing it. But if I get angered, it... can get altered."

I look down.

Leanna walks over to me and puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"It's alright. I know that you would never hurt someone unless you are forced to."

I look back up and see her blinding smile.
"But I might, and that possibility scares me, because even I cannot make that undone."

"Shush now! I know you would never hurt someone unless you are forced to."

"You've said that just now."

She smiles playfully.
"I wouldn't have to repeat myself if you'd just believe in yourself like I do."

She blushes and corrects herself.
"Like we do."

I take a look at all their smiling faces.
Finally I nod with a small smile on my own.
"Alright. But please, for the security of everything, don't anger me again."

Leanna looks guilty.
"I'm really sorry! Amelia felt this was the best way for you to learn since you didn't seem to get it my way…"
She trails off.
"I hope I wasn't too hard on you."

I smirk confidently.
"I can take a beating. I mean, obviously I'm not happy to have been suprised by this, but I will admit that it's an effective method."

Leanna looks hopeful. Damn cute.
"Does that mean you forgive me?"

Cuteness overload.
I nod and turn away to try hiding my blush.
She smiles as she sighs in relief.

I clear my throat.
"So, what now? Should I try it again?"

"Are you feeling up to that? If you need to take a break we can do that."

"I think I should be okay."

Just as the words leave my mouth, my arm stings and I feel a wet spot on my elbow. When I look down, I notice blood on my shirt.
Leanna gasps.
"You're bleeding!"

I twist my arm, trying to see the damage.
"You don't say. You did smash me into a tree, after all."

"Hold on! I brought bandages."

I wave her off.
"No need-"

She ignores me and races back to camp and grabs a roll of gauze from her pack. When she returns, she kneels beside me and reaches for my arm.
I move my arm out of her grasp.
"I'm okay, really. 'Tis but a scratch."

Based on the level of bleeding, I can tell it's a bit more than a scratch. So can Leanna.
She shakes her head.
"It's my fault you got hurt."

Without taking no for an answer, she grabs my arm and takes a look. This time I don't bother resisting. Being tended to by Leanna beats a self heal. I also can do that later.
Gently, she dabs at the blood with a damp cloth. I try not to wince from the sting, as I've had worse. But a little involuntary twitch comes out anyway.

"I'm sorry, I'll try to be gentle."

"You're fine."
In every way.

Her hands are warm and delicate and for a moment I forget what she's doing and can only feel her touch. Her gentle fingers deftly wrap the gauze around my arm.
After she secures it, she lets her hand fall back in her lap.
I feel a split second of disappointment as I let my own arm fall beside me.

"There, good as new."

"Not quite as good as new."

Leanna looks at me questioningly.
"Is something wrong?"

"You forgot to kiss it better."

"W-what?"
Leanna's eyes grow wide.

"Back where I come from, when someone gets hurt, you kiss the sore spot to help it get better faster."

"This is something that everyone does?"

"Yup."
Granted, I've only seen it on a few occations, whenever a child injured itself and a parent, mostly the mother, kissed it better. But the opportunity is too good to pass up.

Leanna shifts uncomfortably.
"I don't know… that's not something we do here."

I pout playfully.
"First you injure me and then you make fun of my culture…"

"No, no, that's not my intention at all."

"It's like you don't want me to get better."

She bites her lip.
"Okay! If it's something that you guys really do then I suppose I can do it for you too."

I hold out my elbow.
Leanna's face turns bright red. She hesitates and looks around quickly to make sure no one is watching, then leaves a small peck on my elbow.

"There."

I grin, a slight blush warming my cheeks.
"I'm feeling better already."

Her face is still crimson as she nods.
I get to my feet and we return to camp. After we've all had a chance to eat and relax, we get ready for bed.

Amelia, who's bedroll is besides mine again, looks at me with curiosity and amusement. Or rather at the bandage on my arm.
"Oh, you've got a bandage? Did you not tell me that you are capable of healing?"

I steal a glance at Leanna.
"I did, and I am. However, with the choice of boringly healing myself or getting nursed by Leanna, it wasn't really a hard one to make."

I smile.
"Besides, Leanna was adamant on taking care of me, who am I to refuse her?"

Amelia tries to hide a yawn.
"Well then, I hope you get better soon. Good night."

"Goodnight, Amy."

She turns around, but I noticed the small blush.
I guess she's still not used to us calling her by her nickname.

However, I turn in as well, casting a quick self heal.
For once, as soon as I lay down my head, exhaustion overtakes me and I fall right to sleep.