The next day, Tianna felt refreshed. After her lessons she decided to try to make another contract with nature. It seemed that making one contract a day was her limit for the time being, but the side effects made her body stronger the next day. Still, she should be cautious. That might only be how water worked.

There were a few things Tianna wondered about. What element should she approach next? Or was it nature? Either way, she decided to avoid fire. Making a contract with water had been so easy that Tianna was nearly convinced anyone could do it. After all, the legend stated that all humans could share their immunity to the taint. There was likely some drawback or risk she was unaware of.

Tianna wished she had someone to confide in. Jerath was gone, and Ruena hardly seemed like a person she should bother with her worries. Soral barely stuck around long enough to have a conversation with, and Tianna wasn’t sure how well the man could keep secrets.

She found herself wandering to the place she first saw Natina, but as expected, the woman was not there. The shadows beneath the trees were empty. As Tianna stared into the empty forest she felt something similar to when the water called to her. This time, it wasn’t an element Tianna felt, but the trees.

The trees, their roots, the sun-touched leaves. As Tianna stared into the forest she could feel all of them. She reached out and touched the trunk of the nearest tree. It was warm. It felt alive. This time, it was much easier to complete the contract, and for a moment, Tianna thought she saw a flicker of white fire at her fingertips.

Tianna stumbled away from the treeline, instantly feeling exhausted. This was much different from the water. She could still feel the trees if she concentrated, but not just the trees within view. She could follow their connections to all of the trees in the forest. Perhaps beyond. Was this what the contract was really supposed to feel like?

With that in mind, Tianna reapproached the lake the next day. Now compared to the forest, her connection with water felt incomplete so she tried again. This time she was able to feel it more clearly. The hidden waterways, the flow of the water, the life living inside of it. Just like with the trees, a white glow flickered from the fingertips she had submerged in the water.

Eager to continue her success, Tianna tried for earth the next day. She likely looked a little silly digging her fingertips into the ground, but she paid no mind to possible watchful eyes. Rather than a smooth flow like water, earth felt like a steady heartbeat. Just like the trunk of the tree it felt warm and comforting, but at the same time it felt cold and desolate the deeper it went.

This time when she started to make the contract, and her fingertips began to glow, she suddenly felt like the earth was draining all of the energy out of her. It was fast, and out of control. Tianna felt some kind of force push her over before she lost consciousness.

When she awoke, Tianna found out she had been asleep for two days.

“I don’t know what you were doing out there, but that is the end of it,” Ruena scolded, “If you hadn’t fainted you might have lost all of your magic and died! Your mother is a famous sorceress. Didn’t she teach you that magic is directly connected to a person’s life force?”

“Sorry,” Tianna mumbled weakly.

Ruena heaved a great sigh. “And I thought Soral was a thoughtless idiot. From now on, you go nowhere without a guard next to you. I allowed you to explore since I had warriors hidden around you, but that clearly wasn’t good enough.”

“I didn’t expect that to happen. It didn’t happen with the others,” Tianna tried softly.

“Oh, so just because you know about how to do one thing, you suddenly know all of it? I am still not sure what you were doing but I will warn you of this. All elements behave differently, and if you intend to continue doing whatever that was you are going to do some research first. Understand?”

Tianna shrank slightly under the pressure Ruena was exuding. “Understood.”

“Good. You are staying inside for a week as punishment. This should give you plenty of time to study slowly to be sure you don’t miss any more important details.”

To appease Ruena, Tianna rested a bit more before heading to the library. The library was larger than Tianna had expected from a warrior base. She hadn’t had a chance to go to the library in the palace yet, but this is what she had imagined it to be like. Tall shelves lined with well cared for books. Everything was neatly organized and labelled.

The first thing Tianna looked for was book about earth elementals or perhaps something that broke down all of the basic elements. Perhaps those might explain what had happened and why. She picked one from a series studying fairies titled The Unique Properties of Earth Fairies. Surprisingly, the answer she was looking for was right in the prologue of the book.

“The most unique difference between earth fairies and the rest is the sheer amount of magical power they have in comparison. The earth has always been referred to as steady and unmoving, so perhaps that is why it takes that much more magic to move it. It is my theory that those fairies without enough magic to maintain their connection with the earth turned to what we know know as forest fairies. Trees are also steadfast and steady, but they are also easily convinced to bend and always eager to grow.

But I digress. You will find a full detailed study into the phenomenon between earth and magic on page 271 if the subject interests you.”

The Prologue rambled on about many other things and where in the book to find them, but Tianna saw no need to read further. She put the book back and looked for the volume on wind fairies from the same set.

A Study of Wind Fairies was right at the beginning of the set, and likely the first written. Rather than a prologue this began with an interview with a wind fairy before the author set off to view their culture in person. Tianna skimmed through the rather long interview before a phrase caught her eye.

“It is easy to convince the wind to start, but only the most powerful among us can convince it to stop. Wind is one that must be dealt with slowly, and with patience.”

“Studying fairies now?” a voice asked from the bookshelf.

Tianna nearly dropped the book before she noticed a familiar spider there. “Aracnos? How did you get here?”

“Aracnogliths are the keepers of knowledge. Since I was given the title of the keeper of the library in the palace, I can travel between bookshelves with ease, regardless of the distance,” Aracnos replied.

“I see?” Tianna said, but it came out more like a question.

“You have made contracts with four parts of nature already. Your progress is incredible,” Aracnos complimented.

“Four?” Tianna asked, counting in her head. If what happened with earth was a success wouldn’t have just been three?

“Yes. Water, forest, earth, and wind,” Aracnos replied, “In that order too, from the looks of it.”

“Wind? But I didn’t…” Tianna trailed off as she remembered the force that pushed her and broke her contact with the earth. Had that been wind? But it had felt solid.

“That’s enough,” her warrior escort warned, “I think we should take a break from the library for now.”

For some reason, the warrior did not seem to approve of Aracnos’ presence or their conversation. Tianna did not wish to anger Ruena any more so she left obediently.

Right as they were leaving the library, another warrior ran up to them. She was panting and was visibly relieved to see them. “Good, you are here. Ruena has something she needs to show you.”

Tianna followed the warrior to Ruena’s office where Ruena was frowning at a letter written on high quality parchment.

“What is it?” Tianna asked.

“Congratulations, Tianna,” Ruena replied in a tone that seemed more wary than congratulatory, “You have received a marriage proposal from the dragon prince of the mountains, Jerath.”