MISTRESS OF FLAME

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 27

SOLLEL UNFOLDED the bird paper and was surprised to see a message inside. It was not the message that surprised her; it was the fact that it was written in an old language, not the new one. "Old language..."

Zassia gasped when she heard her teacher. "I'm sorry, Teacher! I forgot that it's written in the old language. I can translate it for you, if you want, Teacher."

Sollel got curious. "Why use the old language? To hide the content of the letter?"

Zassia shook her head and smiled proudly. "In our village, we used the old language because we revered the queens of Yther who helped us humans developed the language. Even now, I'm speaking to Teacher using the old language, but because of the linguae elixir I drank, instead of the old language, you're hearing the new developed language."

Sollel blinked. "Linguae...Elixir?"

Zassia nodded. "I don't know where my grandmother bought it though."

"Can you ask her?" Sollel knew she was demanding, but upon hearing the elixir, she had a feeling that that elixir had something to do why she could talk normally to others, like Zassia.

Zassia became sad at Sollel's question. "I'm sorry, Teacher. I don't have the means to communicate with Grandma. Only Grandpa could make this paper bird because he's a wind sorcerer."

Sollel looked at the bird paper in her hand. "Wind sorcerer, huh..."

Zassia nodded and looked down. "Sorry, Teacher."

"It's okay," Sollel replied nonchalantly, but it was a big deal to her. She just didn't want to sadden her student. It was not her fault. "Anyway, with your grandfather's message, I don't think we can enter Ager without a solid plan, or else, we're all going to prison."

Zassia paled, but she remained brave. "I will listen to the teacher's instruction. I will not endanger Teacher."

Zassia looked so adorable, like a child, in Sollel's eyes that Sollel couldn't help messing Zassia's hair. "You're my first student. I won't let anything bad happen to you too." Sollel stopped messing with Zassia's hair. "Now the first thing you should do is hide that staff of yours and wear a cloak to hide yourself."

"Yes, Teacher."

"And don't wander alone, Zassia. Your flame may be fierce, but you're still inexperienced."

Zassia nodded.

"How's your crawling flame, by the way? Are you getting better at it?"

Zassia blushed. "Only a little. My flame could follow me for fifteen seconds only—only a few meters." Unlike her teacher who could control her flame to follow her wherever without a time limit because her control over her flame was incredible, Zassia was having a hard time.

"Keep practicing." Sollel's voice was strict. "As you practice, you'll learn how to control your flame better. No one can get better at something overnight."

Zassia nodded earnestly, willing to give all her free time to practice. "Yes, Teacher."

"Before we reach the city of Ager, your crawling flame should be able to follow you for thirty seconds. If you're fighting against two opponents or more, the crawling flame that I'm teaching you is ideal for blocking, trapping, and attacking. It's a very important ability a flame sorceress should have."

Zassia was listening intently, but her mind was wandering. Teacher says that it's important, but no one in my village could do that, even the powerful ones.

"After you get better controlling your crawling flame, your next lesson will begin."

Zassia nodded and accepted the bird plane that she handed to her teacher.