Page 10 of Scars and Burns

Giving into my hunger. I sit at the table. The food here in Akino is fancy. I haven’t found much other than standard fruits and vegetables to satisfymy palette. Rejecting most of the food on my plate at meals.

The cook was making an array of breakfast food for the announcement of the Queen being with child today. She offered me a tray of what were called danishes. I look upon the selection. The middles all remind me of guts from their gooey center. Even some in color. I shake my head slowly and ask, “Is there anything… solid?”

She gives me a weary look. Turning to set the tray of danishes down. Picked up another tray with items that look like fat mushrooms. They all have the same shape but look slightly different. Immediately sensing my hesitation and confusion. She smiles and says, “They are muffins. We have 4 flavors; banana nut, blueberry, chocolate chip, and lemon poppy seed.”

Feeling a little bolder. I reach for the oddest in color of all of them. It’s yellow with little dots all over it. I take a bite and immediately consume the whole thing in another three. The large pieces of sugar on the top being my favorite. I ate two more just to make sure I really liked them. Never tasting anything so sweet and my belly being so full my eyes lit up with a spark I had not had since before we came to Akino.

The cook giggles, as I ask, “Is there anymore?”

“Not right now little light. I’m glad to see you finally eating. Maybe we can get some meat on your bones. But you will need more than just muffins if you are going to be a great magic and sword wielder.”

A little taken back. I falter.

The magic part is easy. My mark is clear and exposed on my wrist. But how does she know I am beginning to train with a sword?

Noticing my shock. She gives me an even bigger smile and says, “Your Mother told me”

Huh, okay odd that she would tell someone random in the castle such a thing. But I trust my Mother. She is probably the only person I do trust. And if she can speak openly with this woman then perhaps so can I.

“What is your name?” I ask

She smiles as me, “Everyone just calls me Cook. I run these kitchens andI oversee all the meals and food preparation.”

“Cook doesn’t seem right. May I call you Cookie?”

She gives me a small laugh, “If that is what you would wish Princess.”

I snicker at her, “I’m not a princess.”

Tilting her head, “No, but someday you could be a queen.”

Since then, Cookie has been my only friend. The only one in the castle even willing to speak to me.

Arriving in the garden, I return my thoughts to the present. My Mother is already waiting for me. Helping a blossom bloom on a bush with her magic.

Harnessing her powers. My Mother grew every item in this garden. She gave it life and rebirth. I’ve never even come close to that sort of power. Magic takes time to develop.

We’ve focused more on just bringing my magic to life. Making my white flame bigger or smaller at first. Spreading it throughout my body and the area around me. I’ve been able to make blasts and throw them but they always fizzle out before reaching their target.

But to do what my Mother does. Create life and sustain it. To wield life in your hands. I can’t imagine the kind of power and control that it takes.

Mother says it’s easy to do with plants. Occasionally, the most gifted magic wielder can heal, but the injury is typically not life threatening.

Developing and nurturing, her warm magic fills the air and I smile. Walking toward her asking, “So what are we doing today?”

Still focused on the flower she says, “solidifying”

Curious, I ask, “Solidifying? What do you mean?”

“Your flame always seems to extinguish the moment you release it from your body. You have the power within you that it will continue to burn after you let it go. We just have to figure out how to extend it past you. So today, we will work on creating ropes and whips with your magic. This way it is still connected to its center and source butyou get the feeling of it being an extension of yourself.”

She finally stands and faces me fully. “The key is to not let whatever the flame touches burn until you are ready to release it. Remember little light. You control the magic, not the other way around.”

This sounds intense. How am I supposed to touch my white flames to something and not let it burn? And worse, how am I supposed to create a rope like whip that is meant to reach an object a great distance away when I can barely extend my flames around me a few feet?

Unsure of how I should react. I bring my hands together around my back. I look down at my feet. Twirling a piece of grass with the tip of my shoe.

She places her hands gently on the upper part of my arm. Running your hands down in a soft caress. Unfolding my own, grasping them into hers and bringing them together in between us.

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