Trial and error must be a frustrating way to teach, Natalia decided as she examined the various signs of agitation in her Masters.

For Natalia, it was fascinating to watch each Master puzzle through the problem after each failed lesson. The brilliance surrounding her was astonishing. Over the past month, Natalia and Raja quickly forced their Masters to adjust all of their teachings. Watching the process created a giddiness in her Natalia hadn't felt since her days in the academy. At that time, she hadn't realized the exceptionalism around her. It had been normal to her then. Ten years of life with priests and priestesses too afraid to show their intelligence and soldiers who disdained all learning outside of warfare had clarified the difference between average and excellence.

Natalia sat quietly with Persephone for today's failed lesson and watched the Tribal woman lift and lower stones with the wind. They had been working on this skill for a few days. And yet, Natalia still found it challenging to use Air for such small tasks. She mastered Wind Walking and could call Air to her quickly. Yet, learning these minor manipulations of the elements proved difficult. Luckily, patience was something Natalia and Persephone both had in plenty. It was good that it was an Air skill that escaped her and not Fire or Earth. Those Masters were not nearly as tolerant. Persephone touched Natalia's leg gently, reminding her to concentrate again on the task at hand. Natalia frowned and listened as Persephone walked through the steps differently. Natalia did not allow herself to wonder again at the Tribal woman's ability to direct what Natalia could read of her mind with a touch.

Mara worked with Raja, who had less difficulty with this lesson, far enough away not to have meshing of their magic. Mara was another who held less understanding of Natalia's failures. Air and Fire magic came so naturally to Mara and, usually, to Raja and Natalia that the woman dissatisfaction with any deficiency in her students was much more evident. Mara was not, by nature, a good teacher for those who needed more detailed and basic instruction. None of her Masters could be accused of that. They would not be who the Councils would choose to instruct the rawest apprentices. But that is not what Natalia and Raja were. Their skills could not truly be classified apprentice level.

Another touch brought Natalia back to Persephone's instruction.

"Perhaps," a new voice sounded in the courtyard where all the Air classes were held. "A different perspective is needed." Persephone allowed the rocks to lower and directed her smile at the voice. She nodded at Natalia, who waited impatiently for this permission from her Master. Natalia turned her head and mind to the young man who had spoken.

The first thing she noticed was his height. He was tall, taller than Raja and Master Paulo but with a much thinner frame than both. His brown hair was not short, but not long either. Like many Air's friends, his curly locks moved as if he were standing in the wind. His eyes caught her attention the most; they were the same blue as Air and held much of the brother's mischief. The smile that danced on the man's lips could have been a sneer or smirk if his eyes hadn't born such mirth. His blue robes announced him as a Journeyman of Air. He was, she thought, at least ten years her junior, but she could feel the strength in him. His power was like Jordan's, so solid it was like a wall. And his mind was just as well protected, but not of his own making. Diddero had met with him first. Natalia could feel the Barrier master's gentle touch strengthening the young journeyman's internal barriers.

"Ah, Vin, you have arrived." Persephone stood to welcome the jovial young man, relief leaked into her words. Mara had also stopped her instruction but remained silent. The Elemental Mage kept her expression neutral as she looked at the young man. The Wind Witch had no such reserve. She put her arm over the young man's shoulders and squeezed him with affection. "It is good to see you again."

"It is good to see you as well, Master." The man looked to Mara and bowed deeply. "Master Mara, it is an honor to be in your presence." Mara looked at the almost handsome man and gave him a perfunctory bow in return.

"Journeyman Vinder, we welcome your input." Her movements and words were stiff, but a quick breeze surrounded her and blew her hair wildly. Once her hair calmed, she smiled at the journeyman. "You have a great defender in Air. He is quick to come to your aid. He feels I have slighted you." The journeyman blushed and bowed again.

"Master, you do me no dishonor. We are well met." Vinder then looked at Raja and Natalia. "As are we, apprentices." Both Raja and Natalia bowed to the young journeyman who was, despite his younger age, their superior in knowledge and rank.

"So what perspective would you give in this instruction?" Persephone went right back to the lesson and encouraged Mara to return to her work with Raja with a measured glance.

"It seemed to me, while I was watching for the last few minutes, that perhaps you would learn best by feel. Shall I enter your mind?" The bold young man smiled openly, his hair still for a moment before dancing happily around his scalp again. "Neither of these Master's teaches in the Mindspace. But I have found this was a good way to learn things which I could not grasp."

"I do not recall this being how I taught you," Persephone stated.

"No, my methods have changed as I have journeyed with various masters. You remember how weak some of my Air manipulations were. This technique has strengthened them considerably, without being overly taxing." Vinder pointed towards the rocks that Persephone had been using, and they began to stack on each other as she instructed. When the last stone was tightly fitted on top of the pile, he looked to his Master for approval.

"Wonderful!" Persephone exclaimed. "You have so much more control now. I do see the value of this type of instruction, especially with Natalia, though Mara and I cannot offer it."

"I would be willing," Natalia said. "Do you have strong protections? Otherwise, your entire mind will be open to me."

"Of course," Vinder promised, but his smile faltered. His robes began to flap, and his hair strayed even farther from his scalp as the wind around him picked up. Natalia could feel Air's presence but could not see him. The journeyman ran his hand through his dark hair then laughed. "I am being reassured of your discretion and good intentions."

Natalia smiled and held out her hand for this stranger. She felt Raja's warning and sent him reassurance. Natalia was capable of keeping her secrets from the Air Journeyman. In matters of Mind Magic, few were superior to her.

==========

The first thing Natalia noticed upon Vinder's entrance was the warmth of his personality. He brought a summer breeze with him into her void. She responded by constructing a field where the breeze could play with the grass and flowers. When Vinder appeared, he was unchanged. Still in the apple of his youth, he had no reason to change his inner form, unlike Natalia, who knew she looked younger and more innocent in the Mindspace.

"I am in awe," Vinder said quietly as he looked around the space. "Do you even know where you have brought us? Or did you pluck this from my mind without a thought?"

"It is more the latter, something taught to us when we are so young that memories are difficult. Pulling a comfortable place from the mind to fill the Mindspace is a basic talent among my people."

"And one that none of us who possess such small talents could even fathom," Vinder offered as he put out a hand, and Natalia accepted it. She felt the same warmth flowing through him; it was part of who he was. This was the reason he was a favorite of Brother Air. Natalia wanted to explore his mind; she wanted to know how anyone could be this warm. Was he without tragedy? Or did his personality overcome any obstacle?

His protections were indeed strong, but she could break them easily. It was Diddero's work that kept him safe from her curiosity. Vinder could never have shared his mind with a true MindMaster before, or he would know how weak his walls were. Natalia pushed against one experimentally and got a flash of Vinder's childhood. Natalia pulled back and looked at the smiling young man with a start. Diddero had focused on more recent memories to protect, interesting.

So the warmth existed in this man despite his tragedies, or perhaps even because of them. Whatever injuries he held were integral to who he was. It would be fascinating to explore his mind as Destan taught her. It was a kinder process with an eye on what needed repair. But Natalia felt no call coming from Vinder.

Vinder cocked his head to the side. "When you are done bouncing against my walls, we can concentrate on your training." It could have been a rebuke, but, from Vinder, it was a gentle course correction. Natalia smiled with embarrassment and followed Vinder to sit on the ground.

"All around you is Air. I'm sure you feel it. And yet when you work to manipulate it, you hesitate. You work to keep Brother Air out, but in doing so, also block his Element." Natalia was surprised by the young man's accurate assessment. She knew he had not read her mind, that he could not. So it was his experience that guided him. Despite his youth and warmth, he was a Journeyman of Air and had seen this before. "Feel what I feel as I work with the Air, see how I keep the Elemental at bay but still utilize his Element."

Natalia felt Vinder open this part of his mind to her, and with his free hand, he moved stones that had appeared in the space. Natalia felt everything he felt understood more than Persephone and Mara's words had ever allowed. It seemed so easy that Natalia was slightly embarrassed by her earlier lack of understanding. Vinder smiled at her again and released her hand.

Natalia opened her eyes and saw the rocks carefully stacked in front of her. In minutes, he had accomplished what Persephone and Mara could not in days. Vinder had brought the feeling of magic to Natalia. She realized then how important this was to learning everything her Masters wanted her to know. Perhaps it had been wise of Paulo to call on the journeymen to train with them. So far, both Earth and Air journeyers contributed significantly to her understanding of Council magic. But they still lacked two. Fire and Water Councils had not yet sent their students.

But, perhaps that was good, Rosemund still recovered, and neither Agnes nor Mara were excellent instructors. And Water, well, she relished her time with her Water instructors and did not want to share it just yet.