"As you heard from Vestialyn, I am Cynthia." I said. "I will train you to the best of my ability, but what I really want to see besides power in element is strength in character." I paused. "My partner is a dragon named SkyeMist, but she is away at the moment. My element is fire, and I am one of the last members of the clan of Azaria, with the ability Shugan that lies in my blood."
I showed both of them my Shugan, my eyes turning scarlet and then back to violet which was their normal color. "Shugan means 'Scarlet Eye', and it is part of a trio of eye abilities, another being Burugan, 'Blue Eye', which that elven boy over there-" I pointed at Kismet, "has. The third is Rudengan, 'Golden Eye'. My eyes, my Shugan eyes, are fully developed and have the ability to track extremely fast movements, reverse some techniques, and even, to a certain degree, mimic other abilities. For example..." I closed one of my hands into a fist and reopened it, in which a ball of fire appeared. "This ability is not widely known, and I wouldn't know it if it weren't for watching one of the other clan members do it."
The flame went out.
"Master Cynthia, rambling on about your heritage again..." said a rough voice behind me. I turned.
"Oh, Master Polaris!"
Polaris was a man at about sixty, with silvery hair and midnight blue eyes.
I felt a little edgy now... Polaris was known to be a little... odd.
"Cynthia, I know you are proud of your clan, but acting as if you are better than others is wrong."
"What? What makes you assume that?" I asked.
I noticed that Polaris wasn't making eye contact. He wasn't even looking at my face.
And then I realized exactly WHERE he was looking.
"Hey!" I snapped, backing away. I was REALLY creeped out now. I was eighteen, and he seemed to take a fancy to me!
"Polaris," said an exasperated female voice, "Honestly, you need to show more respect to women." It was Vestialyn.
"Thank you," I muttered.
"Ah, hello, Vestialyn," said Polaris, turning around and seemingly forgetting about me. I knew he really liked Vestialyn... maybe it was more her profile than her personality.
I looked at my apprentices. "Come on," I whispered. "Let's get away while we have the chance."