Yellains latent element: The conversation

„So, you tell me it’s just gone? Just like that?” The demon eyed Yellain up and down. He was older than her, his hair already greying from age, his horns massive in comparison to hers. Another sign of long life for her kin. The woman looked at the floor, ashamed of the truth she had just told him. “Yes. I can’t corrupt my tools anymore. Nor my metal or any other part of my equipment. As much as I try, my magic won’t answer me anymore. I fear whatever happened to me might have severed my link to our magic. Is that possible? Could that be?” She was uncertain what she should do. For her whole life, Yellain knew what she wanted and how she could get it. She knew exactly what she was capable of. But now, everything had changed. And she didn’t know what to make of it.

“Listen, young one.” The voice of the elder cuts through her mind, shooing away the thoughts. The demon stood up from his chair behind his desk and stretched before walking over to a small box. “Your proposal is intriguing. Let us test that thesis of yours. If you are indeed incapable of using our magic, then you should not be able to feel anything if I hand you one of the training gems.” He opened the box, revealing a collection of small, perfectly formed gemstones sitting on a small pillow. Yellain gazed upon the colourful stones. She remembered. Those were the gems the demons used to awaken their corruptive powers. At a young age, each of the clan’s children would be handed a gem and was instructed to focus upon the power within. And in minutes, the power in their bodies would awaken, granting them the ability to corrupt material with a mere touch, strengthening it and bending it to their will. A manifestation of one’s mind, bound to an object. Using a tool corrupted in such a manner would never fail to do its task. And each step of work would be carried out with extreme precision. An ability that made life a whole lot easier for a clan of blacksmiths.

Her teacher picked a gem at random, one with a dark blue hue, and turned back towards her. “Your hand”, he asked, waiting for her to reach for the stone. Yellain raised her right hand, palm upwards, and stepped towards him – but he just shook his head. “The other one.” She halted, thinking for a moment. He might be right. Her transformed silver hand might be the reason she wasn’t able to cast magic anymore. Made sense that she should use her healthy hand. So, the smith raised the other arm, waiting once more for the gem to test her. Like she did all those years ago.

“You remember how it works; I presume. But just in case, let me phrase the instructions I give the young ones: focus on the stone and the energies within. Let them course through you. Let them take hold and let them awaken your abilities. Accept them and do not fear.” Her master dropped the stone into her palm. “With a bit of luck, your powers should reawaken. Maybe they were only put to sleep by your transformation.” Yellain hoped he was correct as she looked upon the stone. Its dark blue light was mesmerizing, and the longer she stared into it, the lighter her body felt. But it was different then before. She remembered vividly how she felt as a little girl when she first had laid her hands on such a stone.

Before, it was like a jolt of energy. Power coursing through her body, heating up her entire being. Her heart pounding, her blood rushing through her veins, her thoughts racing. It was like she was renewed, as if she had awoken from a dream. Her sight had become clearer, her thoughts more rational. And there was this instinct, the knowledge of what she had to do to use her newfound powers. All of that happened in the blink of an eye, without her trying. She had always been a natural at using her clan’s powers. Likely she inherited her abilities from her parents, who both were excellent in their techniques as well. That was how it was back then. But not today.

No matter how hard she tried, the stone would not answer her. Although, that was not entirely true: She could feel the energy within. More so, she could reach out and call to it. It just wouldn’t react to her. Something within her resonated instead, following her call for power. Something that had always been there, was so familiar to her that Yellain didn’t understand how she could have missed it all her life. A part of her, young like herself, yet more ancient than the stone within her hand. A power so uniquely intertwined with her it felt like a part of herself. A different kind of magic. Curiously she reached out, trying to touch the newfound source of magic within her. And the energy embraced her, made her feel warm and at home, like it knew she was going to find it. Like it had waited all this time. And now welcomed her like an old friend.

“…Yellain?” Her master’s voice was far away and quiet, as if she was underwater. The demon opened her eyes, even though she could not remember closing them. Surprised she looked at the gem. It had warped and transformed; the smooth surface now cracked, the blue crystal enveloping her hand and parts of her arm. She didn’t understand; it didn’t feel like a hard stone coating her flesh, but like a second skin. A living being, protecting her from harm and keeping her safe. The other demon watched her, his eyes shining brightly. As if he was in awe of what was happening. Surprised, but neither afraid nor worried.

“Uhm… Master? What is happening?”, she asked as she turned her hand, amazed at how smoothly the gem followed her movement. “I think I understand what has happened to you”, he replied. The man reached out, hesitating a moment before touching her. “May I?”, he asked. As if he ever needed to ask for her permission. He was one of the elders, and his word was like law to her. That he was asking her for permission was something new. Silently, the woman only nodded, and he touched the gem, traced the edges with his fingers. “Like I suspected. It is still there. The energy, I mean. You didn’t absorb nor did you nullify it. It is still very much in the crystal. But your body does not react to it anymore.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You call that ‘not reacting’?”, she asked, shaking her hand in front of him. The gem reflected the light, sparkling playfully. “Yes. I call that ‘not reacting’. Because, what happened here, wasn’t our magic resonating with you, but your latent elemental energies. Let me tell you about them.” He turned away and pulled his chair around the table and closer to her, only to then sit down again. “Latent elemental energies are magical powers every being possesses. They are typically dormant until you discover then. At least, that is the case with our kin. Other species might differ from that. But to us, these powers normally do not manifest. So, it is very special that they did within you.”

The demon was more confused by the explanation then enlightened by it. “I don’t think I can follow. I have never heard of such a thing. Surely, it isn’t as uncommon for our tribe to develop such abilities?”, she asked carefully. But the elder shook his head. “No, it is in fact. To give you an idea as to why: Our magic, the magic of our kind, has corruptive capabilities. Which suppresses our own elements. Not by force, but by making us less attuned to the corresponding forces. Meaning, our process of bending inanimate objects to our will blocks the elemental energies within, making it nigh impossible for them to react to us. Which is why most demons from around here have no active elemental powers and it is rare for them to manifest.”

“…So, by me transforming and fusing with metal, I have become more attuned to my element. Which, I guess, is earth in this case.”, Yellain answered, her mind organizing the facts she was given. “And in return, I have lost our peoples magic, because they cancel each other out. Somehow. Is that what you are trying to tell me, master?” The man nodded. “You always were a quick learner. Indeed, I believe your accident must have severed your connection to our powers but opened the door for a new kind of magic. Yet I cannot tell you what you are capable of. That you must discover for yourself. You must test your limits and determine how powerful you have become. I can only harbour a guess: Since a part of you is now of elemental nature, I reckon your powers have only grown, not diminished.”

Silently, the woman watched her hand enveloped by the gem and thought about it. She could feel the stone and earth around her. The caves she walked through appeared to whisper, the metal she was working with was singing in a more melodic voice than before. All of that made sense to her now. “I see. I believe you might be right. But only time will tell of what I am truly capable of. Thank you, master, for teaching me all that you did today.” Her voice was distant as she was still in thought, yet she was aware of his smile and his nodding. “Always, young one. I hope you find your answers ere long.”

She didn’t react to his words. Her focus had shifted, back to the gem acting as a sparkling glove. She concentrated. Calling out to the forces of the earth around and within. Asking them for help. And with astonishment she watched as the gem retracted from her hand, collecting in her palm like a liquid and solidifying there. “Amazing”, she whispered as she picked up the stone, twisting and turning it. It was like before, like nothing ever happened. Her control over the element made her feel warm and exhilarated. It was like a drug. Leaving her with a big smile, but also wanting for more. Power and control. To things she loved.

She stood up. “Master, I have to go”, she quickly said before turning around. “Wait, Yellain! The gem--!” But it was too late, the woman had already left the room. Caught off guard, the elder watched the door, before sitting back down. “Poor girl. I think she might be a bit too excited”, he mumbled before laughing. He stood up and closed the door behind her, leaving the gem in her care. She would be careful enough. She always was. And in exploring her newfound powers, who knows what she might be able to do? She was certainly excited and full of curiosity. What could go wrong?