Page 99 of The Last Syphon

“Well, lucky for you, I am a quick learner,” she said with a groan, lowering her arms back down.

“What?” he asked, his gaze returning to her.

“I am a quick learner,” she repeated. “So, come on, tell me how you do it. If it works similar to transportation, then all you have to do is think of where you want to go, and poof. Right?”

“There’s a bit more to it than that,” he grumbled.

“I’d love to hear it.”

He sighed—overdramatically, in her opinion—but finally obliged her. “Unlike with a Transporter, we can only jump an extremely limited distance. A Transporter can visualise in their mind where they want to go and appear there in an instant, no matter how far away it might be. For us, it is a lot more complicated. You can only jump where you can see, and you have to know your limit. If you attempt to jump too far⁠—”

“It won’t work?” she guessed.

“Your heart may explode under the pressure.”

Inara’s mouth dropped open. That, she had not been expecting.

Prince Walder gazed out at the two dragons resting on the riverbank, his eyes shifting, swirling with respect and admiration. “You must remember that, although we are able to use the powers a Guardian possesses, they were not meant for us. Not designed for us. The soul-link strengthens our bodies and grants us access to them, but the toll it can take on our human body can be detrimental. Which is why it is imperative you practice before you attempt it⁠—”

Inara focused hard on the spot directly in front of her, willing herself to appear there with nothing but the thought alone.

Nothing happened.

It should have. All the previous times Inara had used Fraener’s abilities, it had been almost instinctual. She’d wished she could do something, and then bam, she’d been able to do it. She wanted to see far off into the distance and was granted access to Fraener’s formidable sight. Same went with seeing in the dark. She wanted to hear what people were saying around her, and their voices reached her as if they were standing right beside her.

Inara wondered why it wasn’t working this time.

“Are you even listening to me?” Prince Walder asked, affronted.

“Of course I am,” she replied, still hyperfixated on the spot in front of her. “You said not to attempt it.”

“And yet, you are trying it right now!” he blasted.

“I know I can get this. Every other time I’ve used Fraener’s abilities, all I’ve had to do is will it into existence.” She popped her hands onto her hips and continued to stare at the spot, but this time, with a slightly accusatory glint in her eyes. “It’s not working this time, though.”

He rolled his eyes. “Of course it’s not. You need to move in the direction you want to go. It’s called jumping for a reason.”

Her brows knitted. I need to jump in the literal sense?

Okay. She focused back on the spot, took a deep breath, and jumped.

Well…it ended up being more like a hop, really. And it still didn’t work.

Prince Walder’s composure cracked somewhat, the slightest trace of humour appearing in the form of a small chuckle.

Inara gasped. “Did you just laugh? I didn’t think you were capable of such an emotion.” The fact that he was probably laughing at her didn’t bother Inara whatsoever. She could picture in her mind how ridiculous she must have looked, hopping like a bunny like that.

Fraener thought she needed the visual representation for herself, pushing the memory of what he’d witnessed right into her head.

Yep. She looked ridiculous.

She glared at the dragon sitting off in the distance. You’re a dick sometimes. Do you know that? She laughed in her head.

A loud, rumbling chuckle echoed in the air.

Shaking out her hands and her face, Inara recentred and attempted again.

Hop.