9. Zyx

9

ZYX

I stand before Kairos and Naia, my wings slightly spread in a relaxed position. I was all too excited when they told me they were both wielders and wanted to learn how to do so on Nythorra.

"You said the magic here feels different from what you're used to," I start, reaching for the magic that hums in my veins. "That might be because our elements are different. We draw power from the shadows and twilight."

I raise my hand, fingers splayed. Wisps of darkness coil around my arm, dancing between my fingers. "Feel the energy around you. It's not just light or dark, but the space between."

Kairos's eyes narrow in concentration. His hands twitch, and I see a flicker of shadow play across his skin. "Good," I nod. "Now, try to grasp it."

Naia's brow furrows as she mimics my movements. A faint shimmer of twilight energy sparkles at her fingertips. "Excellent start," I encourage. "Remember, it's not about forcing the magic. Let it flow through you."

I demonstrate again, this time pulling shadows from the nearby trees. They twist and writhe in the air, forming intricate patterns. "Our magic is about balance. Light and dark, dusk and dawn."

From the corner of my eye, I catch Bronwyn watching. Her green eyes are wide with wonder, a hint of longing in her expression. For a moment, I'm distracted by the way the faint light plays across her face.

Shaking off the thought, I turn back to my students. "Now, try to manipulate the shadows around you. Start small – maybe just altering their shape."

Kairos grunts in frustration as the shadows slip through his grasp. Naia has more success, coaxing a tendril of darkness to curl around her wrist.

"Patience," I remind them. "This magic is subtle. It's not about brute force, but finesse."

I continue the lesson, guiding them through basic exercises. They are both pretty quick to pick it up, given that they've been on the planet for a day.

"Feel the shift," I murmur. "The world balances on the edge of day and night. This is when our power is strongest."

As I speak, I let my own magic flow freely. Shadows swirl around me, and twilight energy crackles in the air. It's a display of power, yes, but also a demonstration of the beauty and complexity of noctari magic.

I watch with growing surprise as Naia's fingers dance through the air, shadows coiling around her arms like obedient serpents. Her eyes sparkle with a newfound confidence, a far cry from the wary woman I first encountered.

"That's it," I encourage, adjusting my stance to mirror hers. "Feel the twilight energy. Let it flow through you, not just around you."

Naia nods, her brow furrowed in concentration. With a fluid motion, she weaves the shadows into a complex pattern, one that would challenge most noctari trying to learn. I can't help but raise an eyebrow, impressed.

"You've got a natural talent for this," I say, circling her to observe from different angles.

I shift my attention to Kairos, who's struggling with a more basic exercise. "Here," I say, moving to his side. "Think of it less as controlling the shadows and more as... persuading them. They're not tools, they're extensions of yourself."

Kairos grunts, frustration evident in his clenched jaw. I place a hand on his shoulder, channeling a bit of my own energy to help him connect with the twilight magic. His eyes widen as he feels the difference.

"There you go," I nod approvingly. "Now, try again."

As Kairos makes another attempt, I turn back to Naia. She's progressed even further, now manipulating multiple shadow tendrils simultaneously. Her movements are graceful, almost dance-like, as she weaves complex patterns in the air.

"Incredible," I murmur, more to myself than to her. Louder, I say, "Naia, try forming a solid object. Start with something simple, like a sphere."

Naia's eyes narrow in concentration. The shadows around her hands condense, swirling faster and faster until they coalesce into a perfect orb of darkness. She lets out a surprised laugh, the sound bright and joyous in the twilight air.

"I did it!" she exclaims, her face lit up with pure delight. For a moment, I see past the hardened exterior to the person she might have been without the weight of her past.

"You certainly did," I agree, unable to keep the smile from my voice. "Your control is remarkable for a beginner. How does it feel?"

Naia's grin widens. "It feels... right. Like I've found a part of myself I didn't know was missing."

I nod, understanding all too well. "Magic has a way of doing that. Now, let's see if you can maintain that sphere while creating another shape..."

I find myself constantly adjusting my teaching style. Naia's rapid progress demands more advanced techniques, while Kairos requires a more methodical approach but no less challenging. It's different from how most noctari learn, but I find myself enjoying it immensely.

I watch Kairos intently, my eyes narrowing as he manipulates the shadows with increasing skill. His fingers dance through the air, coaxing the darkness into intricate patterns. There's a glint in his silver eyes, a hunger for knowledge that both impresses and unnerves me.

"Excellent," I say, keeping my voice neutral despite the mix of emotions churning inside me. "Now, try to condense the shadows into a solid form."

Kairos's brow furrows in concentration. The air around him seems to thicken, darkness swirling and coalescing into a sphere of pure shadow. It's not just the speed at which he's grasping these concepts that catches my attention, but the raw power behind his manipulations.

Maybe it has something to do with the same gods creating us both.

I circle him slowly, my wings twitching with a hint of unease. "Remember," I caution, "our magic is about balance. It's not just about how much power you can wield, but how precisely you can control it."

He nods, but I'm not sure he's truly listening. His eyes are fixed on the orb of darkness, a predatory smile playing at the corners of his mouth. With a flick of his wrist, the sphere elongates, morphing into a wickedly sharp blade.

"Impressive," I admit, unable to keep the wariness from my voice. "But let's focus on defensive applications for now."

Kairos looks up at me, and for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something in his eyes - a hunger, a desire for power that sends a chill down my spine. He nods again, the shadow blade dissipating into wisps of darkness.

As we continue the lesson, I find myself constantly adjusting my teaching style, pushing Kairos towards more controlled, subtle uses of the magic. But with each new technique I demonstrate, he seems to instinctively grasp not just the mechanics, but the potential for more... aggressive applications.

I make a mental note to keep a very close eye on his progress. While his aptitude for our magic is undeniable, the ease with which he bends shadows to his will is concerning. In the wrong hands, these skills could be devastating.

"Well done," I say as we wrap up the session, my tone carefully neutral. "You've made remarkable progress for a beginner. Tomorrow, we'll work on finer control and defensive techniques."

Kairos nods, a satisfied smirk on his face. As he turns away, I can't help but wonder what I've unleashed by teaching him our ways. The power of twilight and shadow is a delicate balance - one that I hope Kairos will respect.

Just as it has the whole time, I find my gaze drawn to Bronwyn. Her intense focus captivates me, the way her brow furrows slightly as she watches Kairos and Naia manipulate the shadows. I notice the questions forming in her eyes, unspoken but burning with curiosity.

A strong urge wells up inside me to include her somehow, to bridge the gap between her world and mine. Even though she can't perform magic herself, I yearn to share this part of my life with her. It's more than just a desire to teach - it's a need to connect, to let her experience the wonder and beauty of noctari magic through my eyes.

With each passing moment, this feeling grows stronger. My heart races when our eyes meet, and I feel a warmth spreading through my chest. It's as if an invisible thread is pulling us together, growing tighter with every shared glance, every silent exchange.

Keeping her eyes, I perform a particularly intricate shadow weave, and her green eyes widen in awe, a soft gasp escaping her lips. The pure wonder on her face sends a thrill through me, igniting a fierce desire to show her more, to immerse her in the magic of my world.

My mind races with ideas of how to involve Bronwyn. Perhaps I could channel my magic through her, letting her feel the ebb and flow of twilight energy. Or maybe I could create shadow puppets for her, bringing to life the creatures and landscapes of her old world in swirling darkness.

The urge to reach out and touch her is almost overwhelming. I want to take her hand, to let her feel the magic coursing through my veins. I imagine the spark of connection, the shared moment of wonder as she experiences noctari magic firsthand.

It hits me hard. I want to show her everything.