The morning mist still clings to the edges of the forest when I wake up. The sun is just beginning to stretch its golden rays through the trees, but the air remains cool, biting against my skin. The power inside me hums softly, the usual pulse of energy I've come to recognize. But today, it feels different—more restless. Like something is pushing at the edges of my control.
I sit up, brushing the leaves from my hair, my eyes scanning the quiet cave around me. Xander is still asleep, curled up in a corner. Raven, however, is perched on my shoulder, his cold eyes studying me.
"Another day, huh?" Raven's voice is low, but his words are sharp, cutting through the morning silence.
"I guess so," I reply, rubbing my eyes. "I need to try something new today. I've controlled fire, water, lightning, light, and dark... It's time to figure out the rest."
"You sure about that?" Raven hisses, wrapping himself tighter around my wrist. "You're playing with forces you don't fully understand."
"I don't have a choice," I say, standing up and stretching. "The Games won't stop for me to figure this out. I need control, or I'll never survive."
He huffs, but doesn't argue. I grab my pack and head outside, the cold forest air hitting my face. Xander stirs behind me, groaning as he slowly sits up.
"You're leaving already?" he asks, rubbing his eyes.
I glance over my shoulder. "Yeah. I need to practice. You coming?"
"I'm coming," he mutters, standing up and dusting off his clothes. "But you know, the whole earth thing? That's a lot to ask for."
I smile. "You're a good guy, Xander."
Raven gives a low hiss of annoyance, but I ignore him. Together, we make our way through the thick underbrush, moving silently as I search for a place to practice. The forest is still quiet, almost too quiet. I feel the weight of the Games pressing on me, but I push it aside. Today is about me—about learning what I can do, and how far I can push myself.
After a while, I find a small clearing near the edge of the forest. The ground here is firm, the trees standing tall, watching over the space. It feels like a good place to start.
Xander stands a few feet away, his eyes cautious. Raven coils around my wrist, watching me expectantly.
"Ready?" I ask.
"No," Raven answers immediately. "But you're doing it anyway."
"Yep."
I take a deep breath, my fingers tingling with the familiar hum of magic. I start with wind. It's always felt elusive—like it was just beyond my reach. But today, I feel an impulse deep in my chest. I close my eyes and stretch my arms out, focusing on the air around me. The breeze catches my hair, tugging at the strands as it passes through the trees. I can feel it, the movement of the wind.
Focus.
I picture it in my mind—how the wind should move, how it should bend and flow. Slowly, I raise my hands, and the air shifts, the trees rustling as the breeze picks up. It's subtle at first, barely noticeable, but the air grows stronger. I push harder, willing it to obey me.
Come on. Just a little more.
The wind howls suddenly, a fierce gust of air, and I'm almost knocked off my feet. I stagger backward, struggling to keep my balance. The wind shifts direction, spinning wildly around me, faster and faster.
"Emerald, focus!" Xander calls, but his voice is barely audible over the roar of the wind. "You're going to blow us away!"
"I—I can't control it!" I shout, but the words are lost in the gusts.
The wind surges violently, lifting the earth beneath my feet. Dirt flies into the air, spinning around me like a miniature storm. My heart races, the panic creeping in again.
"Stop!" I scream, but my command has no effect. The wind continues to whip, fierce and untamed.
Raven hisses in warning, his voice filled with annoyance. "I told you it wasn't going to be easy."
"I'm trying!" I shout back, clenching my fists in frustration. Why won't it stop?
Suddenly, I feel it—a shift in the air, a crackle of tension. The wind stills, for a moment, before I hear a low, deep rumble from the earth beneath me. The ground shakes.
"No, no, no," I mutter under my breath. "Not this too."
The ground buckles beneath my feet, and before I can react, a thick root shoots up from the earth, wrapping around my ankle. I stumble, my heart pounding in my chest. The earth trembles again, more roots sprouting, thickening, twisting around my legs. I pull at them, but they only tighten.
"Emerald!" Xander shouts, rushing toward me. "What's happening?!"
"I—I didn't mean for this to happen!" I gasp, struggling against the roots. They're everywhere now, pulling me deeper into the earth. The wind is still swirling around me, tugging at my clothes and hair, adding to the chaos.
"Focus!" Raven snaps. "You're letting the earth take you!"
With a final, desperate effort, I draw in a deep breath and push all my focus into the ground beneath me. Stop.
The roots shudder, then slowly, reluctantly, release their hold. The wind dies down, the air returning to its usual, gentle flow.
My legs tremble as I stand up, my heart pounding. "I—I did it."
"You did," Xander says quietly, his eyes wide with surprise. "But you almost didn't."
Raven snickers from my wrist. "Well, at least you didn't create a landslide this time. But don't get too cocky. You've got a long way to go."
I glance down at the spot where the roots had emerged. The ground is calm again, still as if nothing ever happened. The wind is lighter now, gentler, as if the forest itself is breathing a sigh of relief.
"I'm not stopping," I say, my voice steady despite the fear still thrumming in my chest. "I'll keep practicing. I'll get this under control."
Xander steps up beside me. "You'll get it. Just… take it slow, okay?"
"I will," I reply, my voice firm.
And for the first time, I feel a flicker of confidence in myself. There's a long way to go before I can control all of this—before I can truly call myself the master of the elements. But I'm starting to believe I can do it. Little by little.
I'll have to, if I want to survive.