Chapter 48: Rocket Fuel
The next day, Nial was exhausted because he'd barely slept, turning everything over in his mind. But he stood in front of Dorian, eyes locked, and cheered a little when he finally made the connection with the power.
The rush of feeling that energy and heat flow through him was intoxicating.
"Hold it! Hold it! Don't let it run through you, or morph… just hold it!" Dorian muttered.
Sweat beaded on Nial's temple, then trickled down the side of his face as the power swooped and throbbed, as if it was trying to dodge his control—or break through it. He saw Dorian tense more than once, like he was getting ready to catch Nial if it burst out of him. But Nial wrestled it back until he was standing steadily on both feet and holding it leashed.
"Yes… Yes! Look, Dorian! I did it!"
"Yes, Nial… you held the power that God gave you. A truly incredible feat," he said blandly.
"Dorian, stop being an ass," Scar piped up from her chair where she slumped with a book, pretending she was ignoring them. But Nial had seen her eyes lock on them more than once. And she had smiled the first time he found the power without his eyes closed.
"What next?" Nial asked, marveling at the sheer power coursing through him. It felt like his veins were pulsing with rocket fuel. Like he'd explode if he didn't do something with it—or like he might go up in flames if he did.
"Settle down, Sparticus," Dorian muttered. "I want to see you keep control before we try to do anything. So put it away."
"But—"
"You heard me. Shut it down."
Nial sighed, but did as he was told. Imagining that the ball of heat and light was an actual ball. Now he was in a pool of water and he needed to push it under, and keep it there. Which proved to be a lot harder than he would have thought.
Just like an inflated ball in a real pool, the power resisted and tried to slip past him, wanted to rush up and out.
Dorian frowned as Nial wrestled with it, but finally Nial got it there. And he felt it the moment it clicked into place and stopped fighting him. As if he'd locked the door on a cage.
He slumped, victorious, but exhausted, every muscle in his body feeling weak and trembly as if the battle had been physical.
"Yessssss…" Dorian hissed, watching him for a moment longer, then finally smiling. "Well done. Now, this time when—"
"No, Dorian!" Scar snapped, tossing her book aside and getting to her feet. "We're just wasting time at this point. He can practice this anywhere, anytime. You can't have him traveling today, and we have to leave, or you know Moren's coming after you with the Naga. We have to get out of here. We need to get started."
There was a strange tone in her voice. Nial looked at her sharply. She hadn't faded since that day they arrived. He hadn't seen her pale or sweaty. And she was moving less and less like she was in pain in her side. But there was a ring of desperation in her voice. And a plea in her eyes.
He looked at Dorian, who was scowling at her, but when he turned back to Nial, his lips twisted like he tasted something sour.
"One more time—I want to see you open yourself, take control, and put it away as fast as you can," he said, raising his voice when Scar opened her mouth to argue. "And then we'll get our things together to travel. Scar is right, it's too soon for you to try that. But at least… at least we're on the path."
He glanced over his shoulder at her. She didn't look impressed, but she stopped arguing.
It took him several minutes, and at one point Nial was afraid he was about to lose control, but without Dorian's guidance, he successfully accessed the power, held it, and caged it again—faster this time.
Dorian nodded once. "Very good. Do that every day, any chance you get. Just make sure you won't be interrupted. One day that entire process will happen without thought—your control will be absolute. But until then, getting distracted in the middle is dangerous. So… practice when you're alone, or only with us. And when you have time."
Nial nodded and clawed a hand through his hair.
"Good. We need to move," Scar said quietly, walking to end of the room to one of the chests near the bed and pulling out some bags. "We need to pack and get to the Con."
"We're time traveling, we can get there whenever we please," Dorian muttered.
"We can't stay here, Dorian. Not in this time, you know that. Naga Moren—'
"Apparently all Naga Moren needs to be convinced to give us more time is you in his nest."
Scar stood up and threw the bag in her hands to the ground at her feet. "You don't want me, Dorian, so why would you care even if I did!?"
Dorian cut her a look so dark, Nial got worried. But he didn't answer her, just turned back to Nial.
"I guess we're moving. I will take you through the Nexus. You'll feel the power surge when you enter the void—that's okay. It's normal. But remember to cage it—let me guide you through."
Nial nodded, then looked at Scar wondering if she was coming through with them, or on her own. But Scar was still staring at Dorian with an angry, hurt expression.
"Oh, and don't be nervous," Dorian added with a smug smile. "Karli's already yours. You just need to decide you want her. Don't give in to any of that self-doubt shit. There's something about you she can't resist, even when she wants to. You're in complete control of this relationship."
Scar shook her head and huffed, but she didn't add anything.
It took about an hour for them to gather all the things from the room that Dorian and Scar thought they should take, but then Nial found himself standing with a bag strap slung across his chest, the weight of the clothing, tools, and technology making it drag against his shoulder.
There was no discussion, but they all seemed to realize at the same time that they were ready.
Dorian stood a little apart from him, but when Scar walked to his side like she wanted to speak with him privately, he ignored her and came to stand at Nial's side.
"Ready?" he asked quietly.
Nial nodded.
He couldn't help smiling as Dorian grabbed his wrist and the room around him began to spin.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone