Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was an awakening. A reuniting, the way the flame and the woman met, it as like ancient friends or old lovers than had been kept apart for entirely too long. It was beautiful really, in form, meaning and artistry. The walls, the chair, the rug, and wooden floor, they were all sacrificed for a truly awe inspiring thing.

He would not dream of interrupting her enrapturing encounter. However a few motions of his hand, would keep the flame from devouring the entire room, or house. Teira may not yet have had control, but he she tapped into her power...no..her true nature. This was beyond the tool and owner relationship of a simple power or ability. She was born to this, with this, for this.

And soon, she fell, a cushion of air drifting her down to the floor. The Lady Teira had just done something that many elemental practitioners spend lifetimes trying to accomplish. She deserved respect, honor, not a thump to the floor, and she was given such. As Walter approached he even went so far to peel a shadow over her farm. Merely a veil of light absence, something that would not burn.

He knelt beside her, as a gentleman should to a lady. His right arm scooted beneath her knee's, his left behind her back at shoulder height, and he lifted her. He had the utmost care, respect and concern. It was take a few moments for the heat in her form to sizzle through his clothes, letting a gust of steam in his path as it made an attempt at his arms, though failing, he could feel her strength as it came at him. In a few more moments, she would be placed at the watering hole down below. The lady would be gently laid in a small pool to keep her human form burning up. And he would very kindly, and very stoicly await her awakening.

Welcome to the waking world.

Walter said from his post a few feet back on a section of the small stone wall shielding off this underwater aquifer where Teira floated, from the house foundations. The black wispy shadow still rested over her nude form. Though should she try and exit the water it was grace around her figure allowing her her well deserved dignity.

You tapped into your power. You tasted the essence of flame.

He smiled, lifting up from his stone seat, walking over to the Lady and extending his hand to assist her out of the water.

How do you feel?

Walter lowered his hand, Lady Teira was not yet ready to leave the water. Instead he sat directly on the edge of the barrier, beside the water.

Lady Teira, in this world there are many types of magic, and magic users.

He smiled, running his hand through the water.

The first is the kind that directs magic. They refocus the flow.

His hand scooped up a cup of water, rolling it around in his hand.

Second, there are those that use magic as a tool. Taking, it shaping it, and making it what they please.

Lastly, he splashed the water back into the pool, reaching his hand down into it. His hand slowly fading. As if being dissolved into the water, only to be pulled up and revealed as being made of water.

Others are one with the elements, they do not control, or focus it. They are the very essence, just as much as it is them. It knows them. It misses them when they are absent. It speaks to them...You Lady Teira are one of these.

He shook his hand, the warm soothing water splashing off of it revealing a normal hand beneath. The hand, and his sleeve, both completely dry.

Your element is fire. And there, and that fireplace you two were re-united in a most beautiful display. The original strain rendered you unconscious but you are returned to us now.

He brought his hand close to him, closing his fist, and then slowly opened it, revealing a small flame on his palm.

Tell me, Lady Teira. Can you hear its voice?

Thats right. He said leaning in closer, to let her hand dip into the fire. It would not burn her, it simply could not burn her. Fire held great love for this woman, not its stinging burn of hatred. He smiled brightly from cheek to cheek as she sustained the small flame in her hand. Its color changing to a bright gold.

That was her flame. It was golden. It was a pleasure to see she had opened herself up to it once again.

Yes, thats correct Lady Teira.

He said watching her eyes mesmerized by the dance of golden dance.

...this, is who you are. You can form it, shape it, exert your will upon it. It is an extension of your being. Enjoy it.

Yes, very good indeed!

Walter said, with the brightest of smiles. She had control, she had manifestation. All that was left was practice, but she would have more than enough time for that, for the time being something else stole importance.

Shall we get you some fresh clothes?

This was of course aiming to draw attention to her current unclothed state.

Not bad. No.

Walter said being sure place his eyes floorward when she noticed her current state.

Thats just something The Lady should only share in private, with someone very close to her.

He said, he felt the shadow maneuver. That was odd. He was certainly only himself and Maximos could command shadows. It was a simple technique, but...he looked back up.

She had formed it into a long toga. Maximos would be proud, he was as well.

Yes, very good. You were it well! But...

The question lingered. The old man brought a finger to his chin, as he inquired.

Where did the Lady acquire that skill?

Walter's eyes squinted for a moment at the display. Did she....see these two as the same? Had her new form granted her oneness with the darkness as well as fire? Together there was no more utterly destructive force. Together the two formed the stereo type of pure evil...darkness and fire...the symbols of hell.

And she held both in her hands like childish toys. She had no perception of the potential of her power.

For a moment, Walter felt pity for his Master, and for the weight Maximos had accepted unto himself. For now he would do all that he could to assist. He reached up his left, placing it above the golden fire in one Teira's hands.

This is fire.

His right, moved over the other hand, hovering above the black orb.

This is darkness. It seems the Lady has been gifted with two elements.

His hands slid underneath hers, gently resting his hands against the back of hers. His curiosity pushing him to explore.

Now, try to place them together...

He said, gently easing both hands toward each other. Dark is able to mimic any element allowing it to work well with all if the practitioner is able to control them both. Her body knew one, her mind and soul new the other...she as a natural at both...but what would result was up to her.

Of course, Sir Tomorrow.

The Butler said with a bow. He had no idea how the Master would react and he would never go so far as to presume, or as far as to give the guest any false hope. He turned about to make his way to the windmill when Tomorrow's comment caught his ears. He turned on his heels back with a smile. Walter did so love his garden, he tended to it every day. Not a single leaf was wilting. Not a branch was out of place. It was a masterpiece of sorts...and he was very particular about keeping it that way.

The island is actually home in an aquifer. Its refilled and cleaned bi-monthly.

He tapped his foot gently on the grass. Granted they were 6000ft up. But...he did in fact have preparations for back before the Master returned when the island was simply floating in the sea. As opposed to in the air as it is now.

A while down, I've set up a natural irrigation system of sorts. And our high elevation and a few enchantments helps keep the air purified, while Shadow keeps the weather regulated.

He gestured up in the air. Maximos' pet cloud shadow provided Shadow Island with its own predictable weather pattern. You could tell, that Walter was really interested in this topic, and he could have continued on about his garden for days but...there was a duty. To be performed, and so he curbed himself.

I shall return shortly. Feel free to enjoy the garden Sir Tomorrow.

He said. His voice was only ever an octave or two above a whisper. Yet another part of his training. Walter made his way toward the Windmill peeling open the creaky wooden door and vanishing in the black behind it. Within about 8 minutes the door opened again. This time Walter exited first. He had said something though it only came out as a mumble. As was the response.

....well as long it remains civil.

Of course Master.

Maximos said to Walter while wiping what appeared to be blood off his hands. He was alone at home. And so there was no need for the glove and bandages. Maximos was dressed more casual than Tomorrow had ever seen him before. He had a silky black shirt that looked about a size too big for him, and pants about the same way. When the wind blew properly the burns on his right arm were visible. They were months old, but they looked like they were fresh. They were stained a rich purple as if something had infected the skin. Oddly enough the burns had order to them, they were runes, runes burned into his arm.

One could tell Maximos had recently changed. And a close observer could see the blood beneath his finger nails despite the fact that he had handed the towel to Walter before reaching Tomorrow. His bare feet giving a tell tale patter on the grass.

Yes? What can I do for you?

He said calmly. He was not cold. This was not the Reaper, that Tomorrow had worked out of him. But it seemed Maximos simply was not in the proper disposition to smile at Tomorrow. He knew what Walter told him, he had stated the message verbatim. But he preferred to hear it from Tomorrow's own mouth.

Walter, stood about three feet behind and to the left of his Master. His eyes more focused the buds of a nearby tree.