Chapter Text
“That’s enough for today. It’s time for your next exercise.” Their Father proclaimed, already walking towards the palace.
The twins followed their father silently, still feeling the lingering connection between their spirits. It did well to calm their nerves as they went deeper down into the depths of their home. They stopped once they reached their father’s personal study.
The room was that befitting of a chief, an imported mahogany desk with bookshelves to match. A platypus-bear rug in the center accompanied by a cushy lounge chair, and footrest set near the fireplace. Every aspect of the study was perfectly arranged, just as their father desired, which is why they were never allowed in unless their father permitted it.
Although it didn’t matter as they weren’t there for leisure, they never were…
They waited a close distance from the foreboding chief, as he scanned his fingers over the row of books until he pulled one out of its place. Just like clockwork, the bookshelf slides from its place revealing a secret passage of stairs leading down deep into the palace.
As they made their descent, it got increasingly colder, though, the twins barely noticed the frigid air. They’ve gotten used to the cold, biting at their skin so much so that they barely register it anymore. Countless exposure left them immune to their element even in its coldest form. The memory made Eska shiver, she remembered their first time down here…
“To master the element you must immerse yourself in it, accept it in every form it comes in” Their father explained. However, it didn’t register in me or Desna as their teeth chatter due to being forced to meditate in ice-cold water.
The first time they were forced into the pool, they nearly drowned from shock. It was deep enough that their heads wouldn’t breach the water if they stood but shallow enough that their father could stand in it to pull them out by the hair. It was an intent into the tundra ice, all to ensure they’d experience the true water of the ice poles.
When their father pulled them out they were gasping for air, their skin nearly blue from the cold. Desna was so weak he couldn’t walk, much to their father’s annoyance. He had to carry him while dragging me by the arm to our room.
She remembered being thrown on the bed, shivering despite being wrapped in the thickest winter jackets and submerged in a tub of hot water, and receiving care from worried Ahnah.
They were in the pool for merely 1 minute.
Eska bit the inside of her cheek to rid her mind of the bad memory. The past didn’t matter anymore, especially when the training paid off. With continuous training they were able to withstand the most frigid waters and breath training allowed them to stay immersed in water for hours.
Desna stopped her in her tracks…more so he stopped which caused her to follow suit, by what felt like an invisible tug in the back of her head. Judging by his sharp intake of breath, he felt it too.
It appears now that our spiritual bond has been unlocked, our minds intertwine seamlessly like two tributaries flowing together to form a rushing river…
“As you know, we’ve been working to build up your connection to water, which has worked. You both can now connect with our element unimpeded by time or temperature," their father explained. It causes a smile to grow on Eska’s face. Their father’s acknowledgment of their success is almost as close as praise. Desna couldn’t help but crack a small smile himself, her joy undoubtedly rubbing off on him.
“Still there is room for improvement.” He walks over to the edge of the pool, peering into the clear, still water, he gestures for his children to follow suit. “In positions like ours, it is important that we remain calm under pressure, burry our emotions to allow our spirits to take on a peaceful state, despite current stressors.”
He reaches into his parka coat and pulls out a thick-cotton bag, that stretches and wiggles about, obviously containing a fish of some sort.
The twins watched in confusion and curiosity, as their father released the fish into the pool. All seemed well until two large creatures broke past the surface of the water, frenzied as they tore the fish into shreds.
Based on their size, jagged dorsal fins, and sharp teeth, it didn’t take long for Eska to identify the carnivorous aquatic animal.
Before she could interject, her father beat her to the punch “Don’t worry they’ve already been fed,” he bends down as one of the beasts swam over to greet him, causing the twins to step back, visibly panicking.
Their father brushed his hands against the creature's smooth skin, as it let out a series of clicks and whistles. “Dolphin-Piranhas have proven to be capable of eating humans when provoked,” he turns to them, “A calm mentality must be maintained when bending water, one can only master the element once they’ve mastered themselves, both in mind and spirit. This exercise will train you to master your emotions forcing you under stress, fear, and pressure.”
“Y-you want us to swim with dolphin-piranhas?” Densa asked, desperately hoping that their father wasn’t serious.
“They’ve already been fed,” he repeats, almost as if they were too stupid to comprehend it the first time, “as long as you remain calm under pressure, and do not provoke them then they will not attack you.”
He steps back, reforming the ice into a chair, “As always I will be overseeing the activity to ensure neither of you two experiences serious bodily harm.”
As the twins stare into the water, the dolphin-piranhas slowly circled the pool, in an endless motion of push and pull. A peace they seek to achieve…
Eska admittedly did not want to comply with their father’s request, while his reasoning made sense, the execution was insane. She could feel Desna’s eyes on her, as she met his gaze she could feel a whirlwind of emotions just by looking into his eyes, but his message was clear.
So long as they remain calm together, they will be fine.
As their father looked at them reclined in a chair fit for a leader, a smile of amusement grew on his face, “Well…let’s begin.”