It was midmorning when Morgana entered the training room to meet Alexander, the fae who'd trained Aelys and Damon in elemental combat since they were faelings. Damon introduced Alexander, who shook Morgana's hand firmly. His hand was rough with calluses. Alexander was an older fae with tanned skin, laugh lines, and short grey hair. He wore black training clothes and had an athletic build, which made Morgana wonder if the training was going to be physically demanding. Footsteps at the door made them turn.

King Erik walked in, wearing an indigo suit made of crushed velvet. His gold crown winked from the midday sun that was pouring through the high windows.

Alexander and Damon bowed.

Morgana curtseyed.

Erik gave them a once over. "Has it begun?"

"Not yet, father," answered Damon.

"Good, I'll observe." King Erik walked over to a row of benches and sat down.

Morgana glanced quizzically at Damon who wore black training clothes like Alexander. Why was Erik here? Why did he want to watch her training session? The added pressure of him watching her made the room hotter. Suffocating. It didn't help that the sun bounced off the swords and armor and heated the quartz room like an oven. Morgana dabbed her brow.

"I've spoken to Alexander, and we've come up with a training plan for you," said Damon. "First, you'll learn how to sense and recognize the different elements, and then you'll learn how to repress them. Over time this should reduce the amount of magic your body absorbs and mitigate the damage it can cause."

"It's normal for magic to escape during these sessions," Alexander said. "But it's necessary for it to escape in a safe environment whilst you learn how to control it."

"You must keep these training sessions a secret, Morgana," Damon said, eyes flicking to his father.

Erik's face was like a mask.

"Only the four of us know about it."

Morgana nodded, her mouth suddenly dry. Who would she tell anyway?

Damon stepped to the side and revealed a row of ceramic bowls lined up along the floor. The first bowl held five sticks of incense that swirled sandalwood smoke into the air. The second bowl was filled with water, the third had a large candle, and the last one was filled with dirt.

Damon went to the corner of the room and Alexander stepped forward. "These bowls will help us identify which element comes forth because the contents will agitate for the element present. It will also serve as a focal point for you," Alexander said. "Did you have your elixir this morning?"

"Yes." Afterwards, she'd lain in her bed for a good two hours, sweating and shaking. She was drained and nauseous and hoped that this training session wouldn't be too hard.

"Good. Please, take a seat." Alexander pointed to a spot in front of the bowls.

Morgana sat down on the floor with a thumping heart.

"I need you to take a deep breath and relax. Focus on your surroundings."

Morgana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Damon shifted in the corner. The candle flame crackled, and the smell of sandalwood curled around Morgana, lulling her, as if she were in a fragrant field all by herself.

She took another deep breath, mind going empty, heart slowing.

Then a spark flashed in the corner of her eye, and she flinched.

What was that?

A force she'd never felt before crept forward like a shy kitten begging for food. She frowned, wondering which element it was. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple.

Go away, she begged the unseen force.

It felt like it was hiding something from her, like the force was pretending to be a kitten when really it was a panther hiding in a tree.

"Do you feel anything?" Alexander asked.

"There's something there, but I don't know what it is." Morgana's face scrunched in concentration.

"Let it out ... and when it comes try to feel which element it is. A burning sensation is fire, a liquid sensation is water and so forth. Earth magic is the only exception because it manifests differently for everyone. Which element can you feel?"

Morgana's fists shook. "I don't know."

"Each element requires a different method of repression. If it was air, you would have to focus on stilling the air, if it was water you would have to focus on the water disappearing. But as soon as you feel that element, you'll have to repress it immediately."

"What if it feels like all of them?"

"If you can't identify the element, just imagine a dome around you that pushes the magic back down. That's always the safest option."

A bead of sweat slid down Morgana's neck. Fear slithered into her gut like a snake. She didn't want to let this strange force out.

What if it ate her sanity?

What if it ripped her arm off?

What if it killed her?

Alexander sensed her apprehension. "It's okay. Damon and I can stop the magic if needed."

Morgana swallowed nervously and glanced at Damon, who gave her a reassuring nod.

She closed her eyes, then let the strange feeling unfurl. It was as if it were a rose, unfolding petal by petal, inside her chest. Morgana tilted her head and wondered if it was the element earth. The moment the rose bloomed she tried to push it back down as ordered. Her teeth clenched. It was like trying to push a boulder up a cliffside. The force kept testing her, pushing here and there, trying to find a weakness. She was buckling, tiring.

No, no, no. Keep pushing!

But it was too much, and Morgana crumpled.

The force sensed her weakness and surged forth. Her eyes flung open as magic raced throughout her body. It sang in her blood, heady and intoxicating like a bottle of the finest wine. It was exhilarating, like diving into the Undine Ocean. It was natural to let the force run free and to lose herself in it. Morgana had expected her training to hurt, but it didn't.

"Concentrate. Don't let it seduce you." Alexander took a step forward.

The smoke from the incense swirled higher, and the water spiraled out of the bowl like a pillar. The candle flame turned blue and wax hissed. The dirt from the last bowl levitated into the air.

"Imagine that dome pushing the magic back!"

Damon gave Alexander an uneasy look.

King Erik's mouth thinned.

Morgana panted, as she imagined a dome encircling her. Caging her.

The candle spat wax and the bowl containing the earth floated into the air. Morgana's fists clenched as she tried to bury the magic. The swirling water turned to ice and the incense became a wind that howled and rattled a rack of weapons.

"Morgana." Damon stepped forward, caution in his voice.

"I can do it!" Morgana yelled, trying one last time to imagine the dome around herself. Then all the elements overwhelmed what little control she had. The candle flame became a fireball that erupted to the ceiling and the water exploded into chunks of ice. The wind blasted a row of shields, skittering them over the floor.

"Morgana!"

She floated into the air, and Damon's mouth dropped open.

She screamed as magic exploded out of her in a spectacular display of light, shattering bowls, and blasting weapons across the room. Damon shielded himself with earth magic. Alexander and Erik did the same. Morgana plummeted to the ground, but Alexander caught her with his earth magic and floated her to the ground.

Damon ran over.

Erik stood up, a sneer twisting his features.

Morgana's whole body ached, as if she'd fallen down a rocky chasm.

Damon's voice was faint as he called her name over and over. His face was blurry. A wave of dizziness smashed into Morgana and she vomited onto the floor.

"Both of you leave the room," Erik's voice was as sharp as a blade.

"But father she's—" Damon fell silent at the look on Erik's face.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Alexander bowed. He shot Morgana a concerned glance before he went out the door.

Damon stood up. "I'll wait outside." His shoulders were tense.

Morgana's breath was shallow, as the last of Damon's footsteps dwindled into silence. For a moment Erik glared at Morgana, and cold fear trickled into her gut. There was hatred in his eyes. It was a familiar hatred she'd seen before, one that was there whenever the Golights spoke of the Aeperians. She tried to keep her eyes dry. Tried not to cry.

"I expect you to get a handle on this soon," Erik said.

"I will."

Erik turned and left.

Why is he so angry at me? Tears blurred Morgana's vision.

She was awake long enough to see Damon come rushing back in before she blacked out.