Dawn broke in golden strands, casting warm light over the misty northern wing of the Jitters estate. The air buzzed with the scent of dewy stone and distant lilac blooms, but Floyd barely noticed it—he was too focused on his impending lesson with Gabby Fox.
He climbed the spiral staircase to the tower, his steps echoing with a rhythm of both anticipation and anxiety. The tower door was already open. A faint flickering glow pulsed from within.
"About time," came Gabby's smooth voice from inside. "I was starting to think your legs weren't keeping up with that oversized brain of yours."
Floyd stepped into the chamber.
Gabby Fox stood at the center of a wide training circle, drawn in gleaming chalk runes that seemed to shimmer with life. Her crimson hair was tied into a single long braid that swung with every subtle movement of her hips. She wore a snug crimson tunic that accentuated her lean curves and dark leggings that hugged her shapely legs.
"You didn't tell me you were lighting me on fire today," Floyd said, trying not to stare too long at the slight sweat sheen clinging to her collarbone.
Gabby grinned. "Not lighting you on fire. Just... encouraging your inner flame to express itself."
"Sounds an awful lot like being lit on fire."
She flicked her fingers, and a ball of flame blossomed in her palm. "Then I hope you wore something flammable."
---
The lesson began with elemental channeling exercises. Gabby instructed Floyd to align his mana pathways with the elemental nodes in the room—points of invisible force that resonated with fire. As he stood in the middle of the ritual circle, barefoot, his body hummed with ambient heat.
"Now focus," Gabby instructed, stepping behind him. Her breath tickled his ear. "Breathe in through your core. Let the mana swirl down your spine. Feel the fire—don't fear it."
Floyd tried to do just that.
He felt her hand on his lower back, light yet firm. The magic within him surged as he concentrated, drawing the fire into a controlled whirlpool. A spark ignited in his palm.
"Yes," Gabby whispered, her body pressing just slightly against his back. "Now hold it there—don't let it—"
The fireball exploded.
BOOM!
Flames shot in every direction. Gabby's protective barrier flared instantly, catching the burst before it could damage the tower.
Floyd stumbled back, smoke rising from his singed tunic, hair standing in wild disarray.
Gabby was coughing through laughter. "Well... that's one way to channel fire."
He blinked at her. "Did you have to stand that close?"
"Oh please," she said with a smirk, tossing him a fresh towel. "You should be thanking me. I made sure your face is still pretty."
---
They paused for a short break after several more attempts. Floyd sat on the edge of a stone bench, still panting. Gabby knelt in front of him, examining his slightly blistered palm with careful fingers.
"You're talented," she said more seriously now. "But raw. Very raw. It's like your magic is eager to leap out and show off."
Floyd met her eyes. "It's hard to hold back sometimes."
"I can tell," she said, a playful edge to her tone as she leaned in closer, her cleavage brushing his arm. "Your fire's not the only thing that flares up unexpectedly."
Floyd flushed. "I—I didn't mean it like that."
Gabby just winked. "Relax, kid. You're charming when you blush."
Before he could recover, she stood and stretched, the hem of her tunic lifting slightly, exposing a glimpse of smooth thigh.
"I think we'll call it here for today," she said. "We don't want your poor heart combusting before your mana does."
---
That evening, Floyd returned to his chambers, arms sore, hair smelling faintly of ash and roses. Mina had left a warm bath for him again, along with a fresh change of robes and a small note tucked beside the towel:
> Heard a boom from the tower. Still alive, I see. – Mina
He smiled to himself and slipped into the bath, muscles relaxing in the warm water. As he leaned back, eyes closed, he began to reflect on the day.
Gabby's body pressed to his.
Mina's gentle note.
The fire that burned not just in his palms—but inside his chest.
He was surrounded by women who intrigued, challenged, and even teased him... and this was only the beginning.
---
Later That Night
In a hidden chamber below the Jitters manor, an orb pulsed with faint violet light.
A hooded figure gazed into it, watching Floyd's training through magical scrying.
"So he's awakened this quickly..."
Another voice, feminine and icy, replied, "He may be the variable the prophecy spoke of. Shall we interfere?"
The figure shook their head.
"Not yet. Let him rise. Let him grow. The higher he climbs, the greater the fall."
---