Page 229 of Elemental Becoming

“Not everyone.” He tears off another piece of bread. “Those with an affinity for healing learned to quiet the mind before they ever laid hands on another person. A restless healer is a dangerous one.”

I glance at him over my lunch. “Quieting the mind sounds more difficult than healing.”

“It often is.”

He smiles, his expression carrying the kind of wisdom earned through years rather than learned from books.

I study him for a moment.

“Valen,” I ask, tilting my head, “have you ever been in love?”

My mentor smiles to himself, his gaze dropping to the ground. For a few moments, he says nothing. When he looks back up, old memories flicker in his eyes.

“Yes,” he says thoughtfully. “Once.”

“Really?”

“Can’t an archivist and mage also be in love?”

“That’s not what I meant,” I say quickly. “It’s just . . . you’ve never said anything. Ever.”

“It was a long time ago. Now my duty is to you, Thane, and the realm.”

My heart tightens at the thought. Valen puts love second to duty, just as Thane once did.

Instead of dwelling on it, another question comes to mind.

“Was she from the Water Clan?”

Valen’s brows lift. “What makes you say that?”

“You speak about your time there more than any of the other clans.”

A knowing smile touches his lips. “You are observant. Yes, she is Water Clan and still lives there. But what happened between us is a story for another time.”

Our conversation gives way to companionable silence. I lean against Calryx while Valen watches the rolling hills beyond the training field.

His stories have painted a picture of winding rivers, mist rising from quiet lakes, and villages built to move with the water instead of against it. I can almost picture Sevrin.

Taila and Darius grew up there.

My thoughts drift to Fenric and Nessa in Caelir, the Air Clan capital.

I wonder how all of them are doing. How their training is going. Whether any of them have been called by a dragon.

I know they all hoped to be.

My chest tightens with the familiar ache of missing them. I make a promise to write to them this evening and tell them everything that has happened since arriving in Volcaris. Only a week has passed and yet it feels like months.

That’s when Rian steps onto the training field. He lifts a hand to shield his eyes from the sun, his gaze finding me easily. Valen and I stand to greet him.

A warm smile spreads across his face. “Looking good, Spiritborn.”

“Hi, Rian!” I call, pushing my braid over one shoulder. “What are you doing out here?”

He grins.

“Thane asked me to train you today. He’s still tied up with thecouncil.”