Ian stood firm in the middle of the yard, sweat dripping from his forehead as he extended his hand once more. The faint flicker of a flame appeared in his palm, no longer as feeble as before. It wavered, yes, but it held its shape longer than it had in his earlier attempts. He bit down on his lip and focused, refusing to let it die.
Piper folded her arms and nodded ever so slightly. "Better. Hold it. Do not lose control of your breathing. Fire feeds on rhythm, just as it feeds on air. If your will wavers, so will the flame."
Ian groaned, his arm trembling. "You know, for something that's supposed to burn hot, this is exhausting. My arm feels like it's made of lead."
From the side, Chloe smiled encouragingly. "You're doing better than most beginners, my lord. It took me days to get a flame that steady, and you've managed it in hours."
Ian glanced at her quickly before returning his gaze to the flame. "You mean this little glow worm here? You must've been really bad at it, Chloe."
