Look at the Sky

Fenrin laughed, “Who knows, maybe I am,” he said with a grin. He always welcomed company on his morning swims and was pleased Skylar had started to join him. He was even more pleased that he could help her in some small way to get more comfortable with the water again. “Have you got to rush off or have you got time for coffee?”

Skylar laughed, enjoying Fenrin’s carefree and relaxed nature. She was starting to feel more at home and welcomed into their community with him around. “You are literally stuck with me for another 43 minutes. Jace is coming to pick me up from here for teleportation practice and I could never turn down caffeine.“

Minsky smiled sadly at that. “One of two. I suppose that would be enough for the book, but it wasn’t ever something I felt compelled to do. My mark was never especially strong anyways.” 

“I do have step kids though. And I still love them regardless of them not being related directly to me. Eric will love you regardless, too.”

“How would you know for sure? That your mark isn’t strong? Have you tested it out?“ Skylar asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

“Yeah.” He bumped her back. “Smart woman. It takes most people months to come to that same conclusion.”

“Yeah.” Skylar smiled. “It’s different without you, you know?”

Fenrin laughed, “Oh humans are definitely the strange ones,” he grinned. “My father was like us, my mother was Chloro like my twin. Who knows where Ingrid came from, we joke mum had a secret lover she never told us about,” 

“And before then, if you ever fancy getting out on the lake or learning to sail I’d be happy to oblige,” 

“That’s funny,“ she laughed. “So, it really is random as long as it stays in the same category.“

  “There is an old bookstore I go to just about every time I’m down here so I can find old books to restore. There are a couple nice clothing shops too.”

“Oh okay...“ Skylar said slowly not sure how to tell Fallon that none of those peaked her interest. “Audo and Emmett usual go to this other bookstore above ground. Have you heard of Priam Books?“

   “That sounds like a great plan, who knows, we might find some treasures.”

“Yeah. Do you have a favorite shop down here or anything?“

“I’ve been told I need to get with the times and stay in the loop more than once,” he chuckled. “That’s great to hear. Sounds like you’re starting to feel more at home in our strange supernatural world,”

“Oh, no,” he shook his head lightly, “Ingrid’s a pyro,” he explained. Sticking his hands into his coat pockets he started walking again as she did, listening to what she had to say. The elder witch was slightly surprised by what she said. For some reason it had never occurred to him. He considered her question. In truth he had been thinking it was time to become a mentor now that he had stopped traveling so much. “I haven’t accepted them in the past,” he told her honestly, “But now that I’ve settled here I’ve been thinking about it.” Turning his head to look at her he smiled, “If you really want me to I’d be honoured to mentor you,” 

“Well, the more I get use to it the more the human world seems like the strange one.“ She said, shaking her head. “Fire and water? What are your parents?“ 

Minsky didn’t have to hear her thoughts, though he did, to know where that sentence was leading. “He is great, but he has also been waiting a thousand years for someone to show up who was related to him. I can understand where that would be overwhelming… especially if you haven’t had much of a family before.” Minsky paused for a few moments and debated telling her more about himself. “I…” He began hesitantly. “I have found that people who have the capacity for that kind of love, usually give it regardless of how the person is related to them.”

“You’re not the only Edison are you?“ Skylar asked slowly, trying to recall seeing his name in the marks book. “It’s not in the book...“

“Have you explored much of the flea market? There’s some pretty cool stores.”

“I’ve been a few times but we’ve never really shopped around. It was mostly a tour the first time and the second we were killing time.“

Audo’s lips formed into a smirk. “Sounds like some heavy lifting.” He teased as they walked. “Do they really think the new tub will what? Mute your powers? I’m not an elemental, but I know that most aquakinetics have problems like yours.”

“It’s a good thing I have you.“ She laughed, bumping their shoulders together. “Yeah. I found out it was easier not to argue with Eric within the first 3 hours of moving in. I’m letting him do his thing.“

“You’re welcome. I hope you’ll tell me if there is anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable.” 

“Yeah. Of course I will.“

“It gets less scary. I know that right now that feels impossible, but it truly does. There’s a lot to learn, but Skylar, you have centuries to do it. There are things I’m learning and I’ve been around for over a millennia. That’s the gift that comes with everything else that’s terrifying. We have so much time to grow and understand ourselves.” He squeezed her shoulders. “And sometimes losing control is the scariest thing in the world, but you have survived so much on your own. That isn’t going to to be the thing that takes you down, I know that. So does everyone around you.”

“I’m also glad I’m not dead.” He joked cautiously. “Skylar everything may seem overwhelming, but know that you aren’t going to have to deal with it on your own anymore. You’ve got me, and the other girls, and Audo and Emmett and Lyla. Plus the Cleirighs, which is some heavy fire power.”

Fenrin chuckled, “I’m not always in the loop with the news of our community,” he confessed. “But congratulations! How does it feel? And what’s more how are you finding Eric?”

“It’s not surprising given that you haven’t known about it all that long. It’ll come, don’t worry about that. My little sister struggled to get in tune with hers for a long time and she grew up in a magical family,” he told her casually. Ingrid was the first to admit she was a late bloomer so he knew she wouldn’t mind him telling Skylar about it. Fenrin stopped when she did and watched her looking round at the snow. “That’s the first step, the hardest one, so it’s good you can already feel it. I think of it as a connection, like it’s an extension of me that I’m reaching out for and that’s reaching back to me,” if they hadn’t been standing on a public street he’d of tried something then to demonstrate but it was too risky. 

“Gotcha. Okay.“ She laughed it off. “Thank you. Eric is great and sometimes it feels like we’ve been living together for years. It’s making this all a little better with a support group that’s growing larger everyday.“

He entwined their fingers and followed along behind her. “Oh, and what did you order?”

“Bee and Eric are searching for materials to build a craftsmanship tub?“ Skylar blushed. “Eric’s place only have tubs and shower/tub combos. Sitting in a tub filled with water sent my powers haywire the first few night. I think I messed the plumbing up really bad. So your job is dropping off the necessary equipment and supplies to baby proof the house for me. His words, not mines.”