I crossed my arms, staring out at the digsite while STEVE messed with the training zone. His magic pulsed soft through the air, targets and sparring spots taking shape slow in the dirt. Plenty to look at, but my head was somewhere else.

  “This might be my best chance to experiment,” I muttered, cracking my knuckles. The itch to push my magic wouldn’t quit. Every bit I learned sharpened me up, and I wasn’t letting that slip. I needed to know what I could pull off, plain and simple.

  I walked further into the open field near the settlement, rough grass crunching under my boots. Time to build something real. Start with the single stuff, then mix it. I took a deep breath, raised my hand.

  Fire came easy now, flickering bright across my palm. A quick gesture sent it arcing ahead, tight and controlled. Flame Jet. Decent reach, decent punch, steady as hell. Good place to kick off.

  “Alright,” I muttered, focusing harder. “Let’s double it.”

  I willed the fire to surge, picturing it clear in my mind. Fire plus Fire: Inferno Surge. Flames roared out in a wide cone, heat hitting me sharp. Grass ahead blackened fast, catching me off guard. “That’s got some real power,” I said, letting it die down. “Perfect for a crowd.”

  Switched to Water next. Felt cool and smooth, cutting through the fire’s leftover bite. I shaped it into a tight sphere, lobbed it at a boulder. Water Sphere. It splashed clean, right on target. Not much force, but handy for small jobs.

  I pulled more water up, letting it build. Water plus Water: Torrent Shot. It squeezed tight, shot out fast. The boulder shuddered, spray kicking everywhere. “Stronger and faster,” I said. “Definitely an upgrade.”

  Earth was next. I crouched low, palm flat on the ground. Dirt felt heavy, slow to move, but rose steady into a jagged spike. Earth Spike. Simple, but it’d trip someone up easy.

  Doubled it, pressing both hands down. Earth plus Earth: Earth Maw. Ground shook a bit, rocky jaws snapping open across the field. They slammed shut hard, power clear even empty. “That’ll pin them and do some damage,” I said with a nod. “Sure as hell come in handy.”

  Air came lighter, trickier. A wrist flick spun it into a quick gust. Gale Blast. Not much punch, but fast enough to throw someone off. Doubled it. Air plus Air: Cyclone Swirl. Wind tore through, tossing dirt and tugging at my robes. I grinned. “Fast and chaotic, perfect for breaking a group.”

  Basics covered, I went for mixes. Fire plus Water first. They clashed, steam swirling thick around me. Steam Cloud. No fight in it, but it’d hide plenty in a pinch.

  Fire plus Earth next. Lava bubbled up slow at my feet, red and hot. Lava Surge. Nasty, not quick, but strong. “That’s a last-resort spell,” I noted. “Not something I’d toss out casual.”

  Fire plus Air last. They clicked, a sharp bolt streaking out. Flame Arrow. It nailed the boulder, left a black scar. Satisfaction hit me solid. “Now that’s one to keep,” I said.

  Sweat dripped down my face by then, mana running thin. Worth it, though. Each spell slotted in like a piece clicking into place, sharpening what I could do. I glanced at the training zone, nearly done now. STEVE’s targets and sparring setup looked solid, but the real work was here, out in the field. Just the start.

  I dusted off my hands, let out a long breath. “Alright, let’s see what’s next.”

  My breathing steadied, each spell sending a jolt through me. More mixes to try, and I wasn’t stopping till I’d cracked every one. Moira said my power tied to discovery, and if she meant it, this wasn’t just for me. It was building something bigger.

  Water plus Earth. I focused, picturing water sinking into dirt at my feet, turning thick. Mud Bog. It rolled out, sticky enough to snag anything in its path. “Perfect for slowing someone down,” I muttered, stepping back as it set. “Simple, but it’s got strategy.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Flipped it. Earth plus Water. Dirt clumped in the wet, then shot out hard. Stone Pellets. They smacked a target solid, farther off than I’d figured. A grin tugged at me. “Not bad at all, that’s got range.”

  I wiped sweat from my brow, kept going. Water plus Air. Mist swirled up, then froze into spinning bits. Ice Storm. Ice stabbed the ground, scattered wide. “Nice area spell,” I noted, picturing it in a scrap. “Could stir up some real chaos.”

  Reversed it. Air plus Water. Cold wind blasted out, frosting the dirt quick. Frostwind Blast. “Less damage, more control,” I said, mulling it over. “Good for messing with their footing.”

  Wind still tugged at me as I tried Air plus Earth. Dust kicked up, then turned sharp. Dust Storm. It swept out, stinging blind. “Simple, but it’ll disorient them,” I muttered, already seeing the use.

  Flipped again. Earth plus Air. Rocks lifted, then slammed forward. Stone Barrage. Hit hard, left dents in the dirt. “That’ll leave a mark,” I said.

  Field looked beat now, scorch marks, frost patches, shattered stone all over. Mana was low, but something shifted inside me. My magic wasn’t just growing, it was bending to what I’d found.

  Warmth spread in my chest, Moira’s voice cutting through calm and steady. “You’ve reached a milestone, Vessel. Your ‘Elemental Synergy’ perk has grown.”

  I paused, catching my breath. “How much are we talking here?” I asked.

  “Next tier,” she said, a quiet pride in her tone. “Your chance of nailing new combinations is up 30 percent, mana cost on what you’ve got drops 15 percent. Plus, your spells are starting to harmonize, chaining them amps the effect.”

  I clenched my fists, her words sinking in. “Harmonize, like they build on each other?” I asked.

  “Exactly,” she said. “Cast a water spell, then earth, and they’ll boost each other. The possibilities are wide open, Vessel.”

  A smile crept up despite the tiredness creeping in. “So, basically, my magic just got a serious boost,” I said.

  “It’s more than a boost,” she said soft. “It’s the base of what you’re becoming. Keep building, it’ll turn into something big.”

  I nodded, letting that settle as I glanced back at the training zone. STEVE had it wrapped up, sand glowing faint with magic. Kobolds lingered near, sniffing the air, chittering to each other like they couldn’t stay still.

  I sat on the arch steps, cool stone steadying me. Digsite noise had faded, just the countryside rustling low. I let myself breathe here, inside the walls, and turned inward.

  Closed my eyes, felt the wind whisper through sparse grass, the ground settle under me, a creek trickle off in the distance. Always there if I listened. I reached for my mana, the flow clear, distinct from the crystal’s sharp buzz.

  It pulsed steady, cycling through me like a loop. Colors shifted as I focused, soft reds, cool blues, green streaks, airy whites. Fire, water, earth, air, all balanced now, natural as breathing. Mana rebuilt faster, smoother, pulling from the air and dirt around me. What used to take half an hour shrank to a quarter. I smiled. Not just quick, but proof I was shifting.

  Before I could dig deeper, a voice snapped me out. “Robert!” Snow called, light but firm.

  I opened my eyes, blinking back to the moment. She stood near the arch base, hand shading her face, peering down the road.

  “What is it?” I asked, standing and brushing dirt off my robes.

  “I hear something,” she said, pointing at the uneven path beyond the walls. “Voices, wheels, maybe people coming this way.”

  I followed her gaze, straining my ears. There it was, faint creak of wagon wheels, murmurs getting louder every second. Snow turned to me, curious but cautious in her look.

  Sound grew closer, and I glanced at Hamish and Chaucer. Sparring near the wall, or something like it.

  “Oi, ye wee rat-faced devil! That was me last tartan, ye bloody menace!” Hamish bellowed, voice ringing out.

  Kobolds cackled from the walls and watchtowers. I smirked, catching Chaucer in the ring, kukri in hand. Big now, near four feet, solid as a rock. Muscles bulged under leathery skin, and he moved fast. Hamish’s kilt found that out yesterday.

  His kukri work was unreal. I’d watched him take on Hamish, strength against speed, and come out ahead with pure wit. Sliced that tartan clean off, left Hamish bare without a scratch. Kobolds roared over it.

  Hamish stomped off toward Snow’s new shop now, face red as a beet, fresh kilt on. She’d woven it from Grove fibers, and he’d needed it bad. Didn’t seem thankful, though.

  Chaucer kept going, kukri flashing smooth, stamina holding strong. Fluid and wild, like a fight bottled up small. I made a note to get DAVE on outfitting him right. He wasn’t just changing, he was turning into something else.

  The laugh faded, and I looked back to the gates.

  I smirked, shaking my head. “Hamish!” I called as he adjusted his kilt. “Snow’s spotted something coming up the road.”

  He turned, kilt swaying with the move. “What now, Chief? Another bloody portal shard or some grand new revelation?” he asked, gruff and loud.

  “People,” I said, gesturing to the gate. “Looks like we’ve got company.”

  Hamish lowered his sword, wiped sweat off his brow. Chaucer stopped mid-swing, tall over the kobolds, ears twitching like he heard it too. Snow leaned closer, brow creased. “Who do you think they are?” she asked, voice light but sharp.

  “No idea,” I said, eyeing the gate. “But I guess we’re about to find out.”