Chapter 36: Controlling Chaos

Alex thought for a couple minutes before he made up his mind. He wanted to become stronger and he wanted to gain recognition from Trip. He had to learn this method if he wanted to get stronger at a fast pace. Alex was no longer afraid of pain and he was ready to sacrifice anything for strength.

Seeing that Alex was willing to learn and use the method Trip began explaining everything that Alex would have to do.

“Alright Alex, this technique is incredibly dangerous and if you fail then you will die.” Trip began

Alex felt a slight shiver run down his spine. Just the idea of death terrified him, but he knew that it was necessary to take risks in order to get stronger.

Trip continued by saying “Since fire is not technically a physical entity which remains in the world like water or earth you will need to summon fire yourself. First we will need to make a massive campfire.”

“How big does it need to be?” Alex asked

“At least 5 meters by 5 meters.”

The two then went on to build a massive campfire. There were hundreds of sticks and leaves in the pile of flammable materials. Alex imagined it being on fire and while it scared him it also gave him a small amount of sick pleasure and excitement.

The closer that they came to starting the trial the more nervous Trip became. He looked at Alex and saw pure determination and focus, which scared Trip. The fact that Alex could face such danger and still want to take the risk is incredible. However when Trip thought about it he would do and has done the same. Even when he could have drowned he took the risk because it was the best way to get stronger. Trip chuckled slightly to himself as he thought that he and Alex both had a similar attitude when it came to gaining strength.

When they finished preparing everything Trip ordered Alex to sit on the top of the campfire and then told him what was going to happen and what he should do.

“You are going to set the campfire on fire and then you are going to close your eyes and let yourself become encased by the fire. The trick is that you cannot let the fire touch you, or else you might actually become a human torch. You need to bend the fire around you and learn ultimate control over it. This will help you gain control over the chaotic fire.” Trip explained

Alex nodded resolutely. He was ready. “Ok, if that’s all then I will sit down at the top.”

Then Trip remembered something “Oh right! The more chaotic and powerful the fire in the campfire is the better results you will get.”

Alex looked at Trip for a second almost as if to say, ‘You better not have forgotten to say anything else!’ before he jumped on top of the campfire.

The moment Alex sat on top of the campfire he shot the most powerful and chaotic fire he could at the rest of the flammable material below him. When Alex saw the fire slowly creeping up the sides of the campfire he started to panic. The chaotic fire he released was simply too scary. The fire appeared to almost be screaming at Alex with murderous intent. Hundreds of thoughts went through his head, ‘It’s really hot! Will I die?”

Trip saw the panic on Alex’s face and got pissed. The entire time Alex had been determined and ready to face whatever came his way, and yet now he was suddenly chickening out? It’s only some damn fire, why is it so scary?

Trip couldn’t stand it and he screamed “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!? CLOSE YOUR DAMN EYES, CONTROL THE FIRE, AND STOP BEING A PUSSY!”

Hearing Trip tell him to not be a pussy Alex suddenly woke up. He glared at Trip for a second and then he closed his eyes. He still felt the heat and it still scared him, but not nearly as much as before. However the heat kept getting closer and it began to hurt slightly. Alex refused to let the fire touch him. He thought to himself ‘Wait a second. This is my fire. I made this! I AM ITS MASTER!”

“OBEY ME!” he internally screamed at the fire.

However, while Alex was facing and intense battle to Trip it seemed like nothing was happening. Alex was just sitting there and the fire was getting dangerously close. Buckets of sweat had already fallen from Alex’s skin and Trip was afraid that in a few seconds those buckets of sweat would become buckets of blood and burnt skin. However Trip kind of realised something. He used water magic; if the fire started to touch Alex he could just extinguish it. He felt really stupid for not thinking of this before, but he guessed that it was better for Alex to be in the illusion that he will die if he cannot control the fire. Trip sighed when he saw that the fire began to touch Alex’s legs and he shot water at it in order to extinguish it all. It was a shame. Alex could have gained so much control and power over fire magic, but it seemed that he had failed.

The water which Trip used was about to hit the fire, but at the last second something happened. Trip watched on in shock as the fire that was about to touch Alex suddenly receded. A fire spear was shot at the water and pierced directly through it. Trip was ecstatic, as this meant that Alex had learned to control fire magic better. However, even though Alex had pierced the water and made a hole in its original formation there was still a lot of water and it crashed upon Alex and his fire.

Steam erupted from the campfire. When it finally cleared Trip could finally see Alex properly. It was an incredibly funny sight. Alex was completely soaked with a depressed look on his face. His soaked brown hair hung over his eyes. He slowly turned to Trip and said “Are you proud of yourself?” Trip could no longer contain his laughter. Seeing Alex in such a sorry state he simply could not laugh anymore.

To Alex is seemed as if Trip had used his water magic after he had achieved fire magic, so he didn’t know that Trip was trying to help him.

After this was cleared up they both realised what had really just happened. Alex had gained a high level of control over fire magic, and he displayed by created a powerful spear which was capable of completely penetrating Trip’s water magic. This was something which should not be taken for granted. This display of strength definitely showed that Alex was genuinely a powerful person now.

This kind of made Trip sad, as he had slightly hoped that Alex would see that he was weak and that he would instead stay and not leave and take the risk. At this point Trip knew that he had no right to try and be protective of Alex and he was ready to let Alex go now.

The rest of the days passed by quickly and it was time for Alex to depart. Trip was crying. Alex was crying. Even Emer had the sniffles.

“It’s time” Trip’s uncle said

“See you in four years!” Alex said to Trip

Trip tightly hugged Alex and then said “Yeah, see you!”

Alex walked away. His back turned to Trip. He dared not look back as he might not be able to leave anymore if he saw Trip again. They had depended on each other for so long that the idea of being all alone was terrifying for Alex. However, at the same time Alex began to feel a small amount of freedom and excitement. He was ready to become the strongest fire mage on the continent. He was ready to face the world and he would do anything to become stronger. He wanted to return in four years and show Trip how powerful he was.

At the same time Trip was watching Alex walk away and he felt similarly. Of course he was incredibly worried about Alex, but he also felt newfound freedom and excitement. He wanted to become incredibly powerful. He could use water magic and light magic. Trip decided that he would become the ultimate dual mage that has ever and will ever exist. He wanted to proudly face Alex in a couple of years.

Trip thought back to when they first met. He remembered an annoying little boy who was being bullied. That boy existed no longer. And at the same time the Trip of that time also no longer existed. They were different people and yet their bond stayed the same. They were brothers.

‘See you in four years.’ Trip thought before he turned around and walked back to the temple. He was ready to train immediately.