"Absolutely not!" I back up from Lukas. "I don't want to hurt you and I don't have any control over it!"

"Which is exactly why you need to practice it Jesse." Lukas walks up to me as I still cautiously shuffle back. "And I need to be here to help you do exactly that."

"Two very good points, I admit that. But what if someone comes in or I start a fire?"

Lukas raises an eyebrow at me. "The goal IS to have you start your fire."

"You know what I mean, I don't want to burn the Order Hall down."

"Come on Jesse, you can do this." Lukas pats my back. "Not only have you done way harder stuff in the past, but this place isn't built out of flammable materials and I don't think anyone is going to storm in here after yesterday."

"More good points..." I mumble my words, trailing off as I look away from Lukas. I know, deep down in my bones, that I have to practice if I don't want to fret about going out in public without Lukas. But I kinda just want to push it down, run away from it and never have to deal with it. To keep it inside me and never let it even come out into the real world.

But that isn't going to happen, so I better suck it up and deal with it. Besides, Lukas is right. I'd rather deal with this than having to be competitor in the games again with Hadrian and Mevia manipulating every single action.

"Okay, I'll try." Lukas face brightens up at my words. "But fair warning, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Just don't get yourself angry. It seems that is when you have the hardest time controlling it." Wisely, Lukas also takes a few steps back, giving me plenty of room in case I blow up.

"Here goes nothing..." I let the real world slip past my mind, basking in dark solitude for a moment. And in that moment I feel the embers of my fire, not strong enough to do anything and very easily overlooked when there are usually so many other sensations around. But always there and never dying out, even radiating a faint glow.

I reach out to it and blow on it. A bit too much for my liking. The embers grow immediately and immensely, engulfing my body with its power. No longer can I ignore this raging fire, my body barely able to contain it.

I open my eyes and tighten my mouth. These flames are under my control and they ARE NOT going to get out of hand on my watch. I push all the heat into my arms, not allowing one spark to get out of my shoulders. The limbs are bursting with pressure, about to explode more powerfully than any TNT.

Since I didn't want that to happen, I allow my fire to burn on the outside of my skin. Bright green flames burst out of my pure white shirt, yet shockingly doesn't set it on fire. I pause and just watch the flickering blaze raising up from my arms but not burning any cell or any cloth.

I'm jolted back to my senses as I see the flames slowly climbing higher and higher, the wisps reaching out to the ceiling. I don't allow myself to panic, if there's anything I learned throughout all my adventures, it's do not panic when go turn south. So instead I draw in a deep breath and suck the fire back towards me, dimming the intense blaze into a soft burn.

"Way to go Jesse, looks like you gaining control." I resist the impulse to shift my attention at Lukas, although from his cheery voice I bet he's smiling.

I slowly move arms all around, making sure the fire doesn't grow or shrink as I move positions. It doesn't, to my everlasting relief. It's a constant steady flame, radiating power and energy. And it's literally at my fingertips.

I then try to set in place, distancing it a bit from the infinite flame in my head. The fire wavers as it adjusts, but remains steady. I look back at Lukas, grinning in victory and pride. The same happy smile reflects back at me.

Moving my arms back to my side, the fire still not burning any of my clothes, I walk over to Lukas. Strutting like if I own the world. Let's be honest though, this is really cool. He shakes his head, still beaming at me.

"I gotta admit, you look incredible right now. Your fire swirling majestically and your eyes are glowing." His eyes sparkle green he's so close to the flames, totally entranced by my fire. He hesitantly raises his hand, "I wonder if it'll burn me..."

"Are you sure?" I scoot back from him as the memory from yesterday morning quickly flashes in my mind. "It only had to touch mobs to instantly kill them."

"It didn't burn me yesterday and I am certain about this." Lukas comes up to me, and I put out an arm. The emerald flames reaching up to only about our head level before fading away. Lukas raises his hand up as well, hovering it slightly above and to the left of my own. Only a second passes before he quickly swipes his arm through the fire.

"Wow," Lukas whispers in awe as he examines his arm. "It didn't even singe my armor..."

"It's good to know that you're immune to my fire then. One less thing we have to worry about." I stretch out my arms, the fire radiating energy into the limbs. An idea pops up. "How 'bout we try something new?"

"What do you have in mind?" Lukas slowly peels his eyes away from his hand and peers at me curiously.

I turn and point one hand towards the window. I focus on the fire steadily burning inside me. I imagine the fire taking a form, an arrow in my mind's grasp. Taking a deep breath, I charge the arrow... and let it fly.

A green flame shoots out, the tip of an arrow out front but never stops growing. It streaks forward fast and straight. The neon fire surging with heat and power as it glides through the air, getting closer and closer to the armors...

STOP!

The fire still hurls forward, only a few blocks away from slamming into the armor set. Yet a startled hand grabs my shoulder and serenity flows through me. I connect to the fire on a deeper level. Feeling the flames not as something I own but something I am, an extension of my mind that is completely connected to me.

Stop.

It halts, less than a block away from the metal. A completely straight bright green line in the middle of the room with small flames of the same color flickering off and reaching upwards. There is a tension wound up inside the fire, but my will controls it.

I loosen my rigid command to keep my fire straight, instead fully submerging my mind into it. I'm now ignorant to the rest of me, but the fluid flames can respond to my will with much more precision and speed. I whip my flames around, blazing it back towards me and Lukas. I swirl the green light around Lukas, his delightful laugh making the flames prance in the air even brighter.

"I would think you're a pro if I didn't know any better." Lukas eyes are in a daze, sparkling alongside the glowing fire. "I know I've been saying it a lot... but it really is just incredible."

I rip all my attention away from the fire and back into my own head. Instantly the fire becomes rigid, set in place precisely the moment I detached myself. Then all of the flames flicker out once I blow out the flame in my head, reducing it back to small embers.

"Wow Jesse, that's better than what I was expecting." Lukas chuckles to the side of me. "Although I shouldn't be surprised how fast you learned control an impossible fire when you been able to charm people on the spot."

"What are you talking about!?" I sputter at the grinning blonde. "I don't charm people."

"Oh sure Jesse. Being able to change people's opinions, thoughts, and beliefs with just one well placed speech doesn't involving charming them at all." Lukas rolls his eyes at me while smiling in victory. I just huff and turn away. His hand falls away, and the invincible strength dies away.

"Okay okay, you win... Gosh, I should learn to not contradict you."

"Nice effort though." He slides back in front of me, and I look into his shimmering blue eyes again. "Although you're far from done. There was that whole seeing Stella thing yesterday that we know nothing about, and you haven't really said anything about it. Also you need to be able to control your fire when you're angry or in an intense situation."

"Let's not focus on those things right now." I lift my hand back up again. "What I want to see is how quickly I can spark a flame up and get it under control."

I fan the embers as Lukas shuffles away. The little embers swell up into an inferno, not at all the small flame I wanted. I cough and stumble back, unable to properly put out the fire that is blooming inside me.

"Whoa Jesse, you okay?" Lukas puts a hand on my shoulder, and I feel the fire get yanked out of my mind. The infinite embers go cold, I can't feel any of their heat anymore.

I straighten myself and blink a couple times, as everything suddenly becomes really heavy again. Not to mention that there seems to be an invisible leech on me, slowly sucking energy away and leaving me breathless.

Did I get enough sleep last night? It sure doesn't feels like I didn't. And when did the world suddenly get so heavy, and cold, and really a terrible place I want to leave. Oh squid eyes, what happened to my back? How did I manage to get all these rocks lodged in there?

A groan resonates from Lukas, snapping me out of my daze. Lukas is doubled over, his hands clutching his hair tightly. His sharp intakes of air and quiet moans shoots panic through my mind. I yank my self pity out of my attention, Lukas needs me more.

"Lukas, buddy, what's going on?"

He doesn't reply, instead lurches upright. Lukas's face looks like he's sprinting, all distorted in pain and yet so determined to fight through. He tips his head back, redoubling his effort to breath as tremors break all over his body.

I get in front him, about to help him, when I see Lukas's eyes. They immediately stun me, and I just stare at them completely boggled. Lukas's eyes are green, glowing as if there's a small light behind them.

My memory slightly tickles me, the reason why just on the tip of my tongue. However, I don't have time to think about it now, Lukas needs me now.

Lukas grunts and squeeze his hands into a tight fist, the knuckles almost pure white. Every single muscle of his quivers of how tight he is. A few beads a sweat start to appear on his red face.

"Lukas, talk to me. What can I do-" Lukas releases a fist, and flames burst out of his palms. I jump back, my words exploding into incoherent yelp.

I lose my balance when I land, wavering and thrusting my arms out. I managed to push aside my pains out of concern for Lukas, but now they have rose up like a huge flood. Engulfing my mind is agony as a different wave of torment from behind me crashes down.

My legs turn into noodles and my head is a worn-out rag. Everything burns, and contorts itself in need and exhaustion. My heart a throbbing rock against my deflated lungs. Needles prick all over me as they suck the life right out of me.

Even so, I strain my neck to lift the iron-block I call a head. Lukas no longer looks like he's suffering, just in complete shock. Staring wide eyed into the bright green flames burning in his palms, my fire in his hands.

"Take it back Jesse, I can't-" Lukas starts to breath heavily again, although this time it might be from panic.

I crawl back up, my wimpy legs struggling to hold me up. I stagger into him and death-grip his hands. Energy surges within the hands, such beautiful strength flowing out of him. That heat, that power, belongs to ME. I might not want it, but I sure do NEED it.

With only that crazed desperation, I reach into him snatch it right out of his hands. I franticly claw at any heat I can find in Lukas, my body yearning that I find more to supply it with. And so I push deeper and stumble across the hidden thread, pulsating with the fire that Lukas is absorbing. Without a second thought, I cut it.

And immediately get thrown back into my own body, the world swaying and I slip while stumbling back. I don't even feel the impact and just lay there, slowly recovering. The embers in my head, once cold, now burst with life. Radiating heat and energy back into my dead body. I embrace it whole-heartily, relishing in the sensation of aches and stress fading away.

"Jesse?" My shoulders are shaken, wobbling my head. It's not enough to get me to open my eyes, even if I get another rush of blissful strength from the two warm hands shaking my shoulder.

"Come on Jesse, I know you're awake. Your back is going to be sore tomorrow if you end up falling asleep."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhggggggggg.... I don't wanna...." I can stay on the ground for a little longer. Not for too long, I just want more time to enjoy the warmth and lack of pain in my limbs. Is that really too much to ask for?

"Jesse, if you don't get up, then I'm going to slap you with that puffer fish." I snap my eyes open, and glare at a grinning Lukas. My leisure is put to an end as I get to my feet, grumbling slightly.

I stand up hoping to cross my arms and glare at Lukas. Instead they shoot out, as Lukas suddenly gets a few clones and I sway on the stilts that were once my legs while the world spins around me.

"Whoa, easy now. I got you." Lukas gets under one of my arms and steadies me.

"Let's..." My voice apparently didn't get rejuvenated by the return of my fire, as it crackles and I have to cough a bit. "Let's not do that again."

"Agreed, and let's stop practicing the fire today. I think we've had enough."

"Good idea. Let's get some fresh air. Walk around in the sunshine a bit." Lukas's face widens in shock at my suggestion.

"Jesse no! So many bad things can-"

"Which is why you'll be right by my side. Come on Lukas, after yesterday I don't want people thinking I'm turning into a jerk." I start to smile, moving away from Lukas to show I can stand now. "And what better way to stretch out than by helping people! I'm pretty good at it and it'll help clear my head."

"I dunno Jesse..."

"It would also be a great time to thank Nell and move the clay to the gate."

"Your fire just acted up! We don't have any idea what happened or a plan if something will happen!" Lukas shakes his head, but it seems that the action is more to convince himself than me.

"Which is why we need an afternoon off..."

"We slept in 'til about mid-morning, though."

"An afternoon to not worry about the fire and just relax. Y'know actually hang out, like what normal friends do, and not deal with all this stress." I got him with that. His defensive stance slumps, and his face tells me he has conceded better than any words.

"Fine, but the moment I feel anything bad start to happen we're coming back." Lukas goes over and opens the door. "And you get to carry the chest."

"Great!" An ember warms up as I heave the chest up with no problems and stroll outside. "I'll also show you this amazing new restaurant that opened up since the last time you were here."

"Let's look at that first then, I got so caught up in what was happening I didn't have any pie." Lukas throws a smile at me. "Although perhaps they'll serve another purpose..."

****

Yay! Jesse and Lukas are learning!

So what if that generally involves pain, Jesse on the ground, and more questions and confusion. I gotta do it while I can before I feel like you guys are due an explanation chapter. Or if my plot ideas requires one of them to be shown.

Or if Ivor shows up and somehow knows.

Who knows? (me) He could have had fire a long time ago and lost it somehow. Or he has met someone like Jesse in his adventures. Or maybe I'm just messing with you.

Ahh, suspense.

But anyway, see you all next time! And have fun with your new thoughts!