A WEEK LATER.
THE FLAME flickered as Vaelora stood in the open field behind the keep, her sleeves rolled up, her palms facing each other. A small pile of dry twigs lay on the ground between her feet.
'Not force', She remembered Amaren's words earlier that morning. 'Invitation'.
Vaelora breathed in slowly.
She pictured warmth, like sunlight resting on skin. Her fingers tingled, and her skin felt warmer. A soft spark jumped between her palms immediately, and she gasped, almost pulling away.
But she held on.
The spark dropped onto the twigs, and for half a second, nothing happened.
That was before a small flame bloomed.
It wasn’t big. It wasn’t wild. But it was fire.
A smile appeared on her face.
“I did it.” She whispered, her eyes glinting in excitement. She had finally managed t
