Spear Of Retribution

Geraldine removed her hand on Aurelie's chest and tucked her in the bed then she faced Alexjin who has a worried look.

"She's feeling fine now, no need to worry," Geraldine muttered and tapped Alexjin's shoulders before going out.

The children are waiting outside and as soon as she went out, they instantly stand up from sitting on the floor and went to her to ask about Aurelie's condition.

"Is mother Aurelie okay?" Aaila asked while wiping away her tears.

"She's fine now. You don't need to worry. Now, all of you should go to rest as well," Geraldine gestured for them to go upstairs and rest. She knows why they reacted that way. It is because of Aurelie's scream of pain that is so painful to hear.

After a while, Alexjin went out of his mother's room while rubbing his eyes in frustration. Then he saw Geraldine gesturing for him to come into the kitchen.

Geraldine slides a cup of tea in front of him, "To calm yourself."

"Thank you, master." Alexjin took a sip and sighs loudly, "Master, thank you for healing my mother."

"You are welcome. We've been together for years. Of course, I will do my best to help her from her sickness," Geraldine sipped her tea and lean back on the chair.

A huge smile formed on Alexjin's lips and his gloomy expression was changed into a cheerful one, "I feel lucky to have a master like you. I can be vulnerable and be myself when you're around me, master."

Geraldine's eyes snapped at him, she smiles at him and took out something from her pouch, and placed it on a table. A black ore glistened under the lamp as Geraldine slides it in front of him.

"This is my gift to you," Geraldine said which makes Alexjin confused.

"Why are you giving me gifts master? It's not my birthday," Alexjin said and didn't touch the necklace that was placed in front of him.

"Consider this as a gift from a master to an apprentice. You have been training under me for years and proved yourself to be worthy. I think it's time that I'll reward you for all your hard work." Geraldine could do is wait for Alexjin's decision. It didn't take long before he grabbed the necklace and wear it on his neck.

"Thank you, master."

"Now, come with me," Geraldine stands up and walked outside. It was already night and the cold air blows on their skin. She walks a bit farther on the house and waited for Alexjin to catch up.

"Master, why are we outside? My mother--" Alexjin was worried about her mother's condition that he didn't want to go far from the house and wanted to tell it to Geraldine but he was silent by her index finger in his lips. He could feel the softness of her finger and the sweet cherry scent that lingered on her skin from the cherry pie they ate earlier.

"Shush. It won't take long and after this, you can have all the time with your mother. I know she's your priority right now but give me a small amount of your time today. After all, this is my last gift to give you." Geraldine took a few steps back and extend her hand in front of him while muttering silent spells. A soft bluish light appeared on her palm and was transferred to the gem around Alexjin's neck.

"What main element do you think is the strongest? Fire, water, earth, air?" She asked as her eyes glowed under the night light.

Alexjin remained silent at first as he thought about his master's question before he answered, "It's basically a cycle master. There isn't one all-powerful than the rest. Fire destroys air, air destroys earth, earth destroys water and water destroys fire. Maybe there are some cross-reactions between water and air, and fire and earth but my point are the same… it's a cycle."

A smirk formed on Geraldine's lips as she tilted her head to the side, "I see but you still didn't get to answer my question."

Alexjin's electric blue eyes stare into Geraldine's red ones, "For me, the strongest one is water." As soon as he said his answer, the black gem instantly turns blue indicating that he had chosen that element.

"Water?" Geraldine was confused at that moment. For all the time she was alive, no one ever said that water is the strongest element for them. It is either fire or air and sometimes water users are deemed useless next to the light element. So, she was speechless for a few seconds to recover from the shock.

"Why do you say that the strongest element is water?" she asked to know why he chooses that element among the rest.

Alexjin closed his eyes for a few seconds before he opened his mouth, "Air is inconstant - gales grow calm and tornadoes run their course with mighty but temporary power. Fire can destroy nature while consuming its vegetation, yet it can be extinguished when the fuel source is depleted or deprived of oxygen. Fires are often no match for rain or earth. Earth - Mountains can be raised up out of the sea and land masses can move around the globe riding on enormous plates, but even the hardest granite can be worn to sand but for water, is the slow and fast destroyer. Rivers carve through the earth and form wonders. Ice can expand and split rocks in the high country. Wave actions can remove beaches and alter shorelines. Water is relentless in its quest to stir the wind, erode the land, or quench fires. It has even been known to sink unsinkable ships." He said with pride in his voice.

"People mistake water as a weak element because it is light but they didn't know that it is too deadly. It can be used as both weapon and protection to one's self. Also, you can bend things that have water inside of it and almost everything in this world contains water, even humans themselves." he added.

Geraldine's skin creates goosebumps especially when she heard his last sentence, "I never think of that before," she giggled and pointed at the necklace.

"You have chosen to become a water element user, congratulations. Now, it is up to you on how you trained yourself to know how to bend water and its other magic branches." Geraldine enjoyed the confused look on Alexjin's face as he caresses the pendant.

"Master, what do you mean? Males can't bend the elements since our mana is not as high as the females," he argued.

"I know, that is why I'm working on this experiment for years to be able to finish the product today and you'll be the first one to test it out. I don't know if that's good or bad but it depends on you as well, Alexjin." Geraldine took another step back as she said her piece. She could see the excitement on Alexjin's face while looking at the pendant in hand.

Without a word, Geraldine took a bottle she prepared beforehand that contains water and throws it towards Alexjin, "Use that to try and bend the water."

With a nod, Alexjin opened the cap and uses his energy to take out the water without pouring it down but no matter how he struggled he still can't bend the water.

"Alexjin, stop straining yourself and focus on your mana. Relax your mind and make yourself light just like water. Became one of it to bend that element," She spoke calmly which helped Alexjin to relax.

He followed her words and was shocked when there's a bluish light that came out of the gem and went inside his body. He could feel the increase of his mana and was about to panic but seeing his master watching him. The urge to make her proud becomes his top priority.

It took a lot of adjustments when finally, a drop of water came out of the bottle and floats in the air, and followed his hand movement.

"Master, look!" Alexjin screamed in amazement as his eyes are glued over to the tiny water that he was able to control.

Geraldine didn't say a word so that she won't distract him. It didn't take long before the water bubble burst and falls to the ground.

"Congratulations, you made me proud." Geraldine clapped her hands gently with a smile. She knows that Alexjin will be able to do it since he's powerful enough but doesn't know it yet.

Due to extreme happiness and excitement, Alexjin wasn't able to stop himself and hugged Geraldine in his arms, "Thank you, master!"

Geraldine's eyes bulged in surprise and patted his back, "You're welcome."

"Oh, I'm sorry master. I wasn't able to stop myself from hugging you. I'm just so happy today since I admired this element since I was young," Alexjin scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. 

"Don't worry. I understand what you mean."