After a few days of practice, I had finally mastered the art of mind control. When I broke the news to my grandfather, he was not overly surprised. He had always known that I would succeed. But I could see the pride in his eyes.

When I told him that I was ready to learn my next power, I thought he was going to train me in mind control. But instead, he told me that it was a power that came with time and experience. So he took me to a different part of the forest to practice another power: earth control.

In general, my grandfather didn't want me to use my powers in the village. And I agreed with him. Using my powers without fully understanding them could lead to instability and even destruction. So my grandfather took me to different parts of the forest to train. Another reason for this was that it would be easier for me to learn the powers if I was in an environment that was conducive to their use.

The area we were in now was more gloomy and dry than the other place. There were not many animals around, and the ground was covered in mud and wet soil. Although the trees were dry, the soil seemed quite fertile. It was the perfect place for me to learn earth control.

My grandfather slowly bent down and picked up a handful of soil. "This is the perfect place to learn about your power," he said, his voice deep and wise. "Take off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet."

I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do I need to become one with the earth, like with mind power?"

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "Earth power doesn't require that much focus. To control it, you need to become a certain type of sorcerer and integrate your power with it."

"How do I do that?" I asked, curious.

"With the power you possess, you don't need a long education to achieve the ability to control soil. But you do need strong structural control, and you have that."

"How is my structural control related to earth power?" I asked.

"Earth power is actually quite similar to structural control," he explained. "When you use it, you can shape it in different ways or enlarge it. As long as your power embraces the earth power, it will keep up with you."

"How do I make it keep up?" I asked.

"Take off your shoes and step on the soil," he instructed. "Place your hands in the glass and use your power in the soil. When your power becomes one with the soil and after many repetitions, you will have the power of the earth. But remember, this power only works on the soil."

"Is it the same for all elemental controls?" I asked.

"No," he replied. "You only need the material for water and earth. For other elemental controls, the stronger the resistance, the greater the power."

"I see," I said. "What about healing?"

"What about it?" he asked.

"I thought we had healing powers," I said.

"Only two bloodlines can use healing power," he replied. "We do not possess such a power. We can only use potions for healing."

Without further ado, I did as my grandfather instructed. I took off my shoes and stepped barefoot onto the cool, damp soil. I could feel the softness of the earth beneath my feet as I dug my hands into the ground. The soil was cool to the touch and my hands itched slightly as if something was stirring beneath the surface.

My grandfather watched me intently as I prepared myself. "Okay, Lezlie," he said, tilting his head towards me. "It's time to use your power. Remember, the soil wants someone strong, so use everything you have."

Taking a deep breath, I focused all of my energy on the soil beneath me. I could hear nothing but the sound of my own breathing as I concentrated on channeling my power into the earth. The tingling in my hands intensified but still, there was no movement.

I continued to focus, drawing on every ounce of strength I had until suddenly, the earth seemed to come alive. It wrapped around my hands tightly, refusing to let go as I poured more and more energy into it.

In front of me, the soil began to rise upwards from the ground. It had a hard consistency and sharp tips that pointed toward my grandfather. One after another, pillars of earth shot upwards from the ground and moved toward him.

It was too late to warn him but as I looked at his face, I saw no fear in his eyes.

My grandfather reacted quickly to the soil that was hurtling toward him. With a swift movement, he stamped his left foot hard onto the ground. The impact was enough to stop the soil in its tracks. Suddenly, a huge barrier of earth rose up from the ground, shielding my grandfather from the pointed soil.

I watched in amazement as my grandfather effortlessly moved a massive piece of earth with just a single movement. This was what it meant to be a chief.

As my strength began to wane, I pulled my hand away from the soil. My grandfather approached me and said, "As I suspected, you have a great deal of power but it is very unbalanced. It's no wonder your mother didn't educate you. At your age, that much power could have been dangerous for you and those around you."

"How can I control my power?" I asked.

"In time, my daughter," he replied. "Only then will you be able to fully embrace it."

I continued to train with my grandfather for two or three more days. I was slowly learning to control my earth power but there was still much to learn. I was confident that I would be ready for the tournament but I had spoken too soon.

In the middle of our training session, the village bell rang out. It was not a good omen.