Forged by Flames (Darkened Skies) by H.E. Bauman

Author:H.E. Bauman [Bauman, H.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-06-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Spring, Year 1017

Chunks of rock flew through the training center’s air, the atmosphere thick with humidity and magic. Jin leaned against the low wall surrounding the training ring, watching the intricate earthmoving dance Rasa was performing with the newest member of their team, Adi Kuwat.

Like Rasa, Adi was an Earthmover, and though he was a decade younger than her, he was stronger. One thing Jin had noticed about many of the soldiers stationed at Fort Avalon was that no matter their magical affinity, they didn’t seem to think outside the box. Earthmovers liked large rocks, Fireweavers liked large flames, and so forth. Jin understood the appeal. Of course he did. There was nothing like embracing the full strength of your magic. But there was something to be said for the smaller, subtler things too. And Adi understood that after just a couple of months on their team.

Rasa and Adi had been sparring for a good ten minutes, but finally, Adi had the older Earthmover pinned back against the wall of Fort Avalon’s indoor training center. An onslaught of spring rain had forced them inside for once, and the dry dirt floor of the training center was far easier to practice on than mud. Pools of water lined the far end of the gym, and a few fire-lit lamps flickered nearby. The strongest Tidebackers and Fireweavers didn’t need those resources, but having one’s element nearby was useful in some drills.

“Showoff!” Rasa called as she grinned.

With a flick of his wrists, Adi’s rocks keeping Rasa pinned dropped to the ground. Sweat poured off his dark brown skin. “I’m not showing off,” he said, but Jin knew that smile. That dimple in his right cheek. Adi was definitely showing off.

Adi had just turned twenty-two, but that was older than Jin had been when he’d joined the team. Jin had been the exception. And though he was about to turn twenty-three—which hardly made him old—Jin still hated that Adi was going to lose his youth to Emperor Aelius’s skies forsaken army.

So far, Jin enjoyed Adi’s company. He was funny and kind. But it pained Jin to know that Adi was only there because Lando was gone. How had he been gone for nearly a year? The rest of the team had barely talked about that day. Jin didn’t think he could, even though part of him wanted to.

“You’re not getting any younger out there, Rasa!” Dorin called from next to Jin.

Rasa flipped him the middle finger before shouting, “You’re not either, old man!”

Dorin laughed, then clapped a hand on Jin’s shoulder. “Looks like you’re not the kid on the team anymore.”

“And Rasa’s right,” Jin quipped. “Neither of you are getting any younger.”

It was a conversation both Rasa and Dorin had brought up several times since Adi had joined the team. Always in private, never when the kid was around. Sometimes with Zephyrine. They’d been on her team for many years, had joined when they were close to Jin and Adi’s current ages. They were tired.

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