(Third-person perspective)
Aermir and Rickon arrive at Skagos Island, their destination being the dormant volcano at the island's center. This colossal structure, its summit shrouded in an ever-present mist, resembles a sleeping Giants, soaring into the clouds. The crater, a vast depression atop the volcano, reveals a secluded paradise of expansive beauty.
Aermir stopped Sith, his connection to the earth allowing him to use Earth Sensing. He could see 600 meters into the earth and sense the elemental magic deep within the volcano. The air was already filled with fire element. When he touched the ground, he felt a deep resonance of fire element, indicating that although the volcano was inactive, its depths contained the aura of fire.
Rickon marveled at the wisps of fire element dancing around the crater, a mesmerizing display of primal elemental power. His eyes gleamed with excitement and determination as he turned to look at Aermir.
"This place is filled with fire elemental magic. If I can harness it, I can quickly forge my Magic Heart."
Aermir was intrigued and nodded, signaling him to continue.
"Look, this is control and connection. Look closely, Aermir."
Rickon stretched out his hands, palms facing the vortex of fire elemental magic. As he concentrated, the fire elements responded, gathering around him like obedient flames.
"First, you draw the magic closer, but don't absorb it immediately. Let it dance around you, as if you were one with the elements," Rickon continued. Aermir observed that strands of magic surrounded Rickon, forming an ethereal halo around him. As the strands of fire element collided, the air crackled, and the temperature around Rickon began to rise.
"Then, inhale it, don't force it, just like a gentle breath. Imagine you're breathing through your skin. These two parts are impossible for people who can't feel or see magic. I need to activate these two parts for them. After this part, the magic will flow through your body along the pathways of your blood vessels. Without the Magic Heart, I can't infuse magic into them, nor can I control magic and make them feel it," Rickon instructed.
As Rickon began absorbing magic, the air seemed to shimmer, and wisps of magic gracefully merged into his body.
"Now, the most crucial part. You guide it into your heart. That's where the transformation happens," Rickon explained. "This part is the same as Aermir's process of creating circles around the heart to reach a higher level."
Aermir focused his attention on Rickon's chest, where the elemental magic was beginning to intensify. The crater responded; it was as if the dormant volcano was welcoming this new spellcaster into the world.
Now, Rickon began to draw upon magic with all his might. He could no longer speak, only concentrate fully. The magic around his heart began to spin rapidly, and as the speed increased, so did the absorption.
Seeing that this would take some time, Aermir began summoning some of his family members to form a perimeter around him. Then, he used earth magic to build a large shed around Rickon. He turned to Berus and spoke.
"Could you go find us something to eat?"
Berus cast a miniaturization spell on himself, growing to the size of a pony. As for Artio, although black bears should be smaller than grizzly and polar bears, Artio was already the size of a polar bear. Berus licked Aermir's hand and said.
"Yes, Master. What should we hunt? Birds, small animals, or deer? I like deer."
Artio shook his head and said.
"Brother, we should hunt salmon; they're the best."
Aermir said, "It doesn't matter, either one is fine."
Afterwards, the two of them started running towards the edge of the crater, still discussing which meat was the most delicious.
For two days straight, Rickon absorbed the elements without sleep. Aermir knew the boy would be hungry after absorbing the elements, so he prepared some fish and game. When Rickon finished forming the Magic Heart, the volcano seemed to sigh, and the elemental energy returned to its dormant state.
Aermir could sense the pulsating energy within Rickon; now he was a spellcaster, Druid, just like himself. Rickon had created this technique by observing Aermir and his familiars, which was why he was also a Druid. Of course, being Warg also helped. Aermir knew this because he could feel the natural magic harmonizing with the fire element within Rickon.
Aermir couldn't help but smile. Finally, he had another spellcaster under his command. After regaining his balance, Rickon let out a deep sigh, and then his stomach growled like thunder.
"I'm starving!"
Aermir let out a hearty laugh and said.
"I knew it would happen. Come out."
They emerged from the hut and sat on a stone table with a wooden platter laden with pieces of meat. While waiting, Aermir, not wanting to leave the meat on the stone table, used magic to create some simple wooden utensils. Rickon devoured the food like a hungry wolf, while Aermir grew impatient.
"Focus on your Magic Heart, draw your magic to your palms, and imagine a Fireball within them; feel the heat, the movement of the flames, and then call upon Perzius."
Rickon swallowed a large salmon and closed his eyes; Aermir could feel the magic flowing within Rickon.
"Perzis!"
Rickon opened his palm, and sparks flew out, but nothing else. Rickon failed. He frowned and tried several more times, but each time nothing appeared except for a few sparks. This made him very unhappy, but Aermir was overjoyed; he hadn't expected to succeed on his first try, and seeing those sparks was enough to make him happy.
Rickon was exhausted. He had been working for two days straight and didn't want to sleep. He was taking medicine in between trying to create Fireball, but he didn't give up; Aermir could see that he was about to collapse from exhaustion, but he could also see that Rickon still had a quarter of his magic left.
Aermir had warned him how dangerous it was to run out of magic, so Rickon knew when to stop, but whenever he relaxed his concentration, drowsiness crept in.
"Just sleep for a few hours. You have a lifetime to pursue magic."
Rickon shook his head.
"No, I have to do it. I absolutely must do it."
Aermir couldn't understand Rickon's obsession; it was just a matter of practice, and he already possessed his own Magic Heart. He shook his head with pity and continued to observe him. Rickon was now the most precious person in his life, so he didn't want anything to happen to him.
As Nightfall fell, Rickon practically fell asleep standing up; he could barely lift his head. But like a tenacious goat, he continued to attempt the Fireball Spell. He could feel his magic dwindling, so he had to succeed; Rickon had poured everything into this: his hopes, his dream of becoming the strongest, his ambition to fly; everything was contained in this one spell.
Rickon must see himself as a success, not a little kid, a fool like his family treated him. He'd always looked up to Jon, Robb, and Aermir, but now it was time for others to look up to him.
Perzis!!
Sparks flew from his palm again, but instead of disappearing, they began to coalesce, forming a small Fireball. Rickon's eyes were filled with shock and amazement. He grinned from ear to ear. To Aermir, it looked like a faint spell, and he remembered the first time he had cast it.
To Rickon, the faint flame was like the sun itself, piercing the night. Its heat was both comforting and blinding, but Rickon didn't even blink. His eyes gleamed with excitement. He simply stared at the tiny flame; his heart pounded.
"Finally..."
After saying this, all the power left Rickon's body, and he fainted. Aermir held his body in his arms and checked on him; he still had some magic left, so it wasn't because he had run out of magic, he was just asleep. Aermir shook his head with a smile.
"A stubborn child."