Savoring the Storm: Gourmet Guides and Gusty Goals

"Like Reinhart, you are adept when it comes to wielding wind magic, but unlike him, you only have access to one element," Vexille explained, and Maze put up a hand.

"How many kinds of magic can Reinhart wield?" Maze asked, and Vexille put a hand to her forehead as though the thought caused her stress.

"All of them."

"Is that normal?"

"There is nothing normal about a person that can transform into a dinner box, and then produce strange food bars from his chest. There is not one Dralkon that can use more than three types of mana at once, even if they have access to all four. Reinhart can effortlessly do things that might take an entire group of Dralkon to do, and has no idea just how amazing his power is! It is relieving, but extremely worrisome at the same time!" Vexille complained and then deflated. "While I am not strong with magic, I can use all kinds. That alone is very rare, but I can only use three at once, and not efficiently. I am sure that Reinhart can not only use all four at once but also multiple layers of each element as well!"

Maze stepped back in shock, but Vexille's rant was not over. "Did you know I had to stay awake for three days with him while he trained? Reinhart gave me and the others those strange food bars and they would restore all our fatigue and Mana. After we would eat, we then poured our mana into him, doing the same for him as us! The creature is a machine that never needs to take a break!"

"The energy output was immense, and his Mana control improved with every passing hour. The literal manifestation of an all-you-can-eat buffet," Vexille bitterly emphasized her complaint, then sighed and rubbed her temples.

"But," she conceded, "Reinhart was patient and respectful throughout the ordeal. He also showed genuine concern for us, despite the rough life he's been put through. He never forgot our needs and was always there to provide us with these 'instant dinners' when we needed a boost during the training. His...compassion and dedication are somewhat...refreshing."

Maze couldn't help but blurt out, "You like him?"

Taken aback, Vexille snorted. "Hardly. It is just nice to see someone that thinks and shows compassion for others. Normally, we would have nothing to do with humans, but Reinhart is slowly changing all the minds of the Dralkon. It started with Aldren, but we Sylphs are starting to understand what he meant when he said Reinhart was different. I truly believe that he will help both our sides in the many battles that are to come."

Maze nodded, taking in what Vexille had shared. It was heartening to hear another validate what she had felt about Reinhart right from their first interaction.

"And what about you, Maze?" Vexille asked, bringing Maze back from her thoughts. "What does he mean to you?"

For a moment, Maze hesitated, caught off guard by the serious question. Reinhart had become a significant part of her life in a short span. He had saved her numerous times, put his own life in danger for her, and went out of his way to ensure her comfort and safety. He treated her as an equal, a friend, and even more so.

"He, uh, he... means a lot to me, too. It's hard to explain, but I feel... strong around him. Safe." Maze admitted shyly, her cheeks flushing.

Vexille smirked, seeming to read more into Maze's words than she'd voiced. "Well, his strength is undeniable. No surprise you'd feel safe alongside him. As for feeling strong…" Her gaze softened. "Perhaps, it's because Reinhart is showing you the strength you harbor within yourself. He seems to have a knack for that."

"But enough discussion. Time to get back to our training," Vexille was quick to change topics, and Maze felt a rush of relief. Where she felt nervous about discussing her feelings, she was brimming with confidence when it came to her training and magic.

"Since you can only use wind magic, you will need to learn about all the intermediary ways you can use it. You are already using the wind to feel and map out your environment, and you have used it to heal Mana Circuits before, but there are many other ways to use wind. I will start by listing a few: Healing of Mana Circuits, but not physical wounds, mental soothing, air blades, air shields, altering weather to an extent, influencing sound waves, and even enhancing your speed and physical capabilities," Vexille elaborated and then swirled her finger in the air. "These are the basics of advanced wind magic. There are more, and as Reinhart has proved, even some that we do not know about yet. The greater the understanding you have of an element and how it interacts with other elements, the more diverse your abilities become."

Maze listened attentively, eager to broaden her magical knowledge and skills. Using the wind to alter the weather, influence sound waves, and even enhance her physical capabilities – all these possible abilities got her adrenaline pumping.

"I'm ready," she affirmed, her eyes sparkling with determination as she looked up at Vexille.

The seasoned Sylph nodded approvingly, her stern demeanor softening slightly. "Very well, Queen Maze. Let's begin."

Thus, their rigorous training resumed, with Vexille guiding Maze through every aspect and nuance of wind magic. The evening rolled into the night, painting the sky in hues of deep purples and blues, with stars punctuating the vast canvas above. The training had Maze exhausted, but it was a beautiful kind of exhaustion - the one that reflected hard work, resilience, and progress. Even with her fatigue, she was already looking forward to the next day's training.

What the duo didn't realize was that as they toiled away in the isolated spot of their makeshift camp, unknown to them, the danger was quietly encroaching. Unseen eyes peered from the shadows, bearing ill intent and marking their next move. But for now, under Vexille's competent tutelage, Maze's concentration was solely fixated on mastering her new skills, blissfully oblivious to the impending peril.