The Flames of Darkness

15 The Room

You wake up feeling reinvigorated you jump up and begin stretching "when did I go to sleep?" I just remember meditating and then...what happened after that?"

Your thoughts are interrupted by a soft pat on the head. "Talking to your self again huh...what you thinking about"

You turn to see your dad smiling brightly he is almost glowing his unkempt hair is now nice and neat and not a hair out of place his once baggy eyes are now bright and full of life.

"Nothing just waiting for you, I mean your details for training we're really vague it's not like I can keep shooting fireballs in the backyard."

You couldn't tell him you fell asleep during meditation you can remember the last time you messed up the training schedule by skipping out on training to go read with Noah. That was when the rigorous training began you and Noah both had to do hundreds of push-ups a day while constantly being drenched in ice water, sprint around the village dozens of times while carrying rocks on your backs, and when you were done you ate horrible foods all covered in silver grass you can't help but gag when you think back to it. under the excuse, it'll help strengthen your body for the intense heat of the volcano.

You and Noah never believed him, you can't help but miss that idiot as you think back to those burning hot summer days. It's nice to have someone there while training to help break the immense silence and feeling of loneliness.

Your dad nods his head in agreement "That is true I should have probably given you a better idea of what to do." He starts to think for a moment. You remember back to the huge glass hole you out into the fire pit and go to check it out and its gone nothing there but sand and a few scorched pieces of wood.

"what happened to the glass..."

Your dad jumps up and says "ok Liz your first goal is to get your flame to a point where you can freely control it and use it at will without absorbing any flame essence. That might take some time to get down so I'll be going."

"Dad wait" you shout as you grab his arm "Did you put more sand into the fire pit?"

"No if I did the hole would be gone, why would you ask such a silly question?" You pause for a moment I could have sworn I turned the sand into glass maybe I was mistaken."No reason I'm just asking" you say as he turns around and walks towards the door.

"Do all kids these days ask questions like these." He lets out a sigh, "Just call me when you're done."

You begin cultivating your flame but instead of using flame essence you use your mana and strangely it's easy to get down it as your mana turns into essence with just a simple thought and after an hour your able to don't without even thinking.

You walk into the house and see you're mom setting the table for breakfast "Morning Mom" you say as you grab some forks and knives out of the draw and help her set the table

"Good Morning Lizbee! Your mom says with a smile you can't help but cringe as chills run down your spine.

"Mom can you please not call me that." Her smile fades as she looks down you in the eyes you can see the sadness on her face "And what's wrong with me calling you by your nickname."

"Nothing mom it's fine," you say hastily as to not hurt her feelings

"Good" she replies as she places breakfast in the middle of the table. Then calls for your dad to come and eat. He rushes down the stairs and sits down at the table. "Mark." your mom says in a soft gentle tone "what have I told you about running down the stairs?"

She is now staring daggers at your father you father laughs as runs his hand through his hair and says "You told me not to dear" your mom smiles as she says "Go back up and walk this time."

"But hunn-" she looks up at your dad with a murderous look in her eye

"Now!"

Your father gets up from his chair walks all the way upstairs and back down again. "good your mom says with a smile" your father grabs his food with a defeated expression on his face and you all eat in silence for a while until your dad still looking at his food says "Hey Liz how is your control over your flame going along?"

"I think I'm pretty good at it now," you say in a prideful tone.

"So you do huh?" your dad says as he starts to laugh even your mom lets out a chuckle.

"Show us how much you learned sweetie," she says as she pops a grape into her mouth.

You get up and extends your arm out towards them, they look confused at first but then a small orange flame appears on the palm of your hand and slowly starts to dance around leaving a trail of fire behind when it's finished It forms a rose then turns into dust.

The room is quiet for a moment but then your mother bursts into tears.

"Mom are you ok? Did I do something wrong?" You get up and give her a hug she then wraps her arms around you giving you the tightest hug you ever had in your life.

She takes a deep breath then says "I'm so proud of you...You're growing up too fast soon you'll be off at blazing sect academy what am I gonna do without my Lizbee?" She cries therefor a moment as you try and comfort her as best you can but when she calms down your dad gets up from the table then says "Follow me, Liz there is something I have to show you."

He walks upstairs and into his bedroom he goes into the closet and moves some clothes out of the way to reveal a door you have never seen before.

"This is where you will be training from now on," he says as he opens the Door and a bright light shines through.