strength. (leif): a bond that can never be broken.

leif stormsdatter has always loved the water element. she's a water guilder herself! normally, she usually spends her time crocheting, but today was different. she decided to train herself in her element. she'd only done this a few times, mostly with help from her older brother, hypnos, but he was travelling the seas, so she could only help herself at this time.

while trying to summon a small wave in a lake near her home (a waterfall), she heard someone groan in despair. she looked over her shoulder curiously, spotting an elf, around twelve years old. she usually didn't speak to anyone other than her brother and other naiads or sirens, but this elf looked very angry with himself.

leif walked over to him, her hair floating behind her. "hey.. i saw you were struggling with something." she said. "do you need any help?" the elf looked at the ground, embarassed. "i was just trying to strengthen my water powers.." he explained. "but it's not going as well as i hoped."

she laughed, her brown eyes sparkling. "that's nothing to be worried about! i'm also not that advanced in water, but if you want, i could train you?" she suggested, smiling. the boy nodded. "that would be very kind of you. what's your name? i'm sol."

"it's leif." she grinned. "alright, then! see that lake over there? you can try getting a fish to the surface by placing your palms just on top of the water, focusing on the current's movements."

sol did as she said. after a while, a carp rose to the surface. the young elf giggled as it nudged his palm. "that was so cool!"

"i know." leif said. "now, think of something you really love, like a family member or a hobby or something. then a small wave will appear." she said, demonstrating. she thought about the critters behind her waterfall, and a tiny wave floated across the lake. sol tried it, and a wave just a bit bigger than leif's did the same.

the elf stood there for a bit, awed by what he'd just done. he couldn't believe his eyes. leif was so glad that she got the chance to help someone. she smiled as she thought of her brother teaching her the same things when she was this boy's age. she'd thought it was so complicated at first, but after a few tries, it didn't seem so difficult anymore.

"should i try again?" sol's voice burst through the naiad's thoughts. "i really liked the wave trick. there are so many things i love. will the wave be bigger if i think of something i love more than anything?" he asked.

"i'm not sure," leif said, thinking it through for a second. "maybe. wanna try?" the elf nodded, and the two thought about something they loved at the same time. two waves formed, both of them bigger than last time. 

"what did you think about?" sol asked leif. "i thought about my dad." he waited for leif to answer. "me? i just thought about my older brother. he's my best friend in the world."

"cool." sol said. "hey, do you think we can train like this often?" that made the naiad smile. "sure. i'll be going now, but i will be back on tuesday!"

they waved at eachother, and leif left, grinning.