After the umpteenth smoky misfire, Edlyn’s face grew rigid, the light drained from her eyes, and soon she was mechanically sketching a magic array.

I stifled a laugh and held her two little hands, cold and stiff. She looked up; her gaze was already dead.

Think about it: a dignified Demon King, bright with enthusiasm, trying every trick to talk to the element, failing a hundred times. She was seething, with nowhere to vent. Bottle it long enough, and it turns into a sickness.

I pinched her cheek, fighting a grin. “I’ll teach you from the start.” She stared back, still blank.

I pulled her into my arms and tightened the hold. The girl felt like she had no warmth at all.

So dramatic. Does she know I’m dying trying not to laugh?

I rubbed her head, torn between pity and amusement, and sighed. “Fire is a radiant power, the wildest of natural elements. It’s passionate. Once it recognizes you, fire is actually the easiest of the big elements to summon. That’s why most spells mages favor are built on fire.”

“Fire? He?” Edlyn looked at me, vacant and puzzled.

I nodded. “Think of an element as a person—talk to him, engage him. For beginners, just find a nearby flame to make contact. So—”

Edlyn cut me off and swung, punching me in the face. “Bastard! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Oh crap, I’m toast. I pushed it too far; the silly girl blew her top.

...

“Edlyn, I was wrong. I swear I won’t mess with you like that again.” Eli reached to pull her back, but the little tyrant turned away. She leaned against the seat and watched him coolly.

The car was cramped, so they just stared at each other, face to face.

“Edlyn...”

“Shut up.”

“Edlyn~”

“Shut up.”

“Ed—”

“Ed your head! Are you done? Call me again and I’ll put a knife through you.” Edlyn shot Eli a glare, teeth grinding.

“Uh. Okay. Okay.” Eli scratched his head, then helplessly shrank to the side and crouched in the corner, silent.

Edlyn let out a breath, steadying herself. She drew another array the way Eli said—and failed again.

She frowned, lips pouting. Maybe I really have no talent?

She bit down, unwilling, glanced at a certain someone in the corner. She walked over and nudged him with her little foot. “You. Get up.”

“Edlyn, you forgive me?” Eli looked up, eyes squeezing out tears. He slipped the onion out the window, then gazed at her pitifully.

“Ew. You’re gross.” She curled her lip. “Conjure a fireball.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t look at me. I said do it, so do it.”

“Oh...” Eli raised his right hand. A ball of fire bloomed in his palm. “Edlyn, are you going to use this to talk to the element?”

“What else? You want me to set you on fire inside the car? Hmm? Hold on—that’s not a bad idea.” Edlyn gave him a wicked grin.

Eli flapped his hands. “My bad, sis! My bad!”

Hah. The Demon King’s aura still works.

Edlyn stared into the flame for a while, then sat down before him, closed her eyes, and began to meditate.

Darkness. A single flame flickered, pulsing crimson like a heartbeat. Edlyn reached toward it, curious, and a surge of heat rushed up.

It burned. She snatched her hand back and glared at the fire element.

The flame shuddered, a curl of disgust veined with fear. A voice rippled into her ear. “Demon King? How can you possibly touch me?”

“No... something’s off.”

“Hmm?”

“Huh? That’s the Hero’s scent.”

“Mm? It is.”

“What is this?”

“Interesting, this one. Hahaha.”

“Another good show coming?”

“Yes, yes.”

More flames gathered, and a chorus of strange voices poured into Edlyn’s mind.

“Uwah!” Edlyn jolted and dropped out of meditation.

Eli closed his hand and dispelled the fireball. “How was it?”

Edlyn gave him a strange look, then lifted her left hand and shut her eyes. After a while, a pale wisp of flame floated from her palm. “This... counts as success, right?”

Eli blinked, then chuckled and nodded.