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I ran out of the door into the street.
     
    The sky was burning. A pillar of flame, hundreds of feet high was shooting into the sky from the east of town. Summoning my magic I pulled water from the fountain to under my feet. Guiding it towards the fire. I rode the small wave I had created. It was taking me far faster than I could run. Frantic to get there. I used my wave to push civilians, out of my way. As I approached the base of the pillar. I could see the shadow of a man in the core of the fire. He was screaming as the fire seemed to pour out of him. My senses could feel the magic flowing into him. His link was wider than any I had seen. My wave was evaporating as I got closer. The paved stone was cracked and scorched. The water hissing into steam on contact. The heat was immense. Like stepping into an oven.
     
    My magic reacted before my conscious mind could understand that the heat was too much for my body, cooling relief washed over me. Water concepts coming to the front of my mind. Feeling better prepared I stepped toward. The man's screams piercing me, I reached out to touch the flames, the thought ran through me. This is raw wild magic. This is the horror of free magic.
    Shaking my head to clear away the distractions. I released my magic, knowing this was the man's only hope I tried to smother his link with more magic, attempting to block his link. The flames dimmed slightly and then roared out as his link widened. Magic flowing so strongly through him. The man twisted as the magic burned all around him, consuming his flesh slowly.
    My heart heavy as I realised that I couldn't help him. All I could do was end his pain. Using my earth abilities I commanded the pavement to flow around him. Cocooning him in liquid stone. I gagged as my senses told me, in exacting detail where the stone was. Flowing down his throat. Condensing in his lungs and stomach, with a final twist I solidified it. A moment later the pillar died with him. Flames dispersing. Tears in my eyes drying as the heat slowly dissipated around the stone coffin.
     

Chapter 5
     
    I woke up dreading today. Not least because I had been up late dealing with the fire incident. I refused to think about it. It was assessment day, to determine if my current posting was permanent. It was also my first session with Sophia. Going over to my wardrobe I dressed.
    As I dressed I cast around for ideas on how to teach control, to an eight year old. My own control issues were completely different. After Zelf died I had refused to use magic for years I buried it. My teachers had been unable to coax it out of me. It wasn't until I saw a healing charm. Fix my father’s arm that I had wanted anything to do with magic again.
    Sophia was a totally different person. Her magic was helping her. Like most of ours did when it first developed, but hers was going to get her in trouble eventually. What if she was hurt, would heal her, or would it lash out at the cause of the injury. One was acceptable. The other wasn't. I can't say being eight is that much different, to being eighteen in terms of wants and desires but it changed how I would be able to teach her.
    It came to me like a thunderbolt. I may not be the best to teach a little kid but I was all she had. I needed to relate to her in a way she would grasp. Magic isn’t just abstractions like I was taught. It was useful and possibly fun to a kid. It was skipping stones and repairing your toys. The idea settled into my mind, a smile creasing my lips at the thought.
    I finished dressing, feeling much better about teaching but still uncomfortable about my assessment. Taking a final look around in case it was my last time here. I left.
     
    At mage headquarters, I walked to the front desk. No sign of anyone but Orb was there, all bright and blue. Fully charged by the sense of it.
    “Good Morning, Junior Mage Tristan. I have been ordered to inform you that Senior mage Rysan is unavailable for the next few days. You will be taking