Spirit Taming

Chapter 222: Elemental Bonds

In a single step, Isa had allowed the ice maiden's strength to freeze the very air around her. The gusts of wind that were coming from her ancestor were stopped before reaching her. But the same winds carried flames. Flames from her ancestor that deterred her and all that approached. Only Isa could attempt to take the flames for herself.

The flame sprite had struggled to break through to another level. It had gained a great growth after the taming space but felt that it was unable to truly become strong due to the ice maiden being the main beast used at all times. It lacked the burst of energy it needed to perfectly balance the cold with its flames.

The flames, however, spurred the flame sprite to take that power. To take the energy left behind by the ancestors' beasts and make it it's own. That was what Isa felt and what she supported. That was why Isa opened herself to and accepted the changes that the flame sprite was making. The changes that she fully supported and had been waiting for.

Sensing this, The ice maiden retracted the cold letting the wind fuel the flames again. It knew that her partner was taking in the energy and was about to show off in a great way. Unknown to Isa, her ancestor was smiling. This was exactly what she had wanted to see. Exactly the reason the elemental bonds their family made should be cherished.

The flames grew in strength with a mighty burst of heat. There were slight changes in Isa's appearance since the flame sprite had broken through to become different than it was before. The growth caused claws of flames and what appeared to be a layer of flame skin to cover Isa to protect her. This was not a characteristic she found surprising. This was the flame sprites' growth in to fire elementals.

"I will not be attacked without response." The energy that flowed through Isa made her want to strike back. It made her entire temper harder to handle. Yet, in battle, the temper was exactly what she needed to stand against the strength of her ancestor's spirit.

The normal long distance attacks seemed pointless to Isa. If she attacked at a distance she would be supplying her ancestor with strength just like she had taken from the flame attacks of her ancestor. But if she attacked up close, then it would be easier to deal damage and not let up on the pressure.

The burst of fire behind her body propelled Isa forward. The fire elemental knew how to use the change in heat and cold to move her body faster. It made up for the lack of wind type best on their elemental balance.

"Excellent! First test passed. Test of energy control and battle wisdom. Show me what you can do now!" The ancestor shouted out with battle fury as she received the first strike of flaming claws. The water that she guarded with was stricken away revealing the earth underneath that had also become armor.

However, the ice maiden had not retreated at all. She had just hidden herself below the flames. Therefore, when the next physical claw struck her, the earth armor was torn away. It was a surprise since the ancestor had not expected that Isa would be able to work this well with the opposing elemental energies.

The simple reason this worked was because Isa had an Ice maiden and not a water spirit or water elemental. The control of water would falter under the flame as intense as the fire elementals' control of flames. But with the ice, the ice maiden was able to remain solid and still attack while using extra energy.

"Close combat! Good! You have not forgotten that a mage is useless without additional training!" There were many that knew of the danger of close combat for long range attackers. Since Isa had been told earlier that it was bad that she couldn't fight up close, she had begun learning close combat attacks. She wanted to fuse close and ranged combat with her fusion skill.

The immense use of energy that Isa was consuming began to take its toll on her. She felt her mind become dizzy which opened her to the wind lashes of her ancestor. The combined flames within the wind and the water blades that followed were absorbed by the pure crystal golem's chainmail armor form. If Isa did not have it she would be severely damaged at this moment.

"You lack the energy for continued battle. Close combat and battle wisdom test have been passed. Now show me your finished last resort move. Show me what you can truly do to attack when cornered." The pressure in the air grew many times over. Flame, wind, earth, and water began to forcefully fuse in to a ball in front of the ancestor. She was ready to eradicate any within her path.

"Last resort?" Isa had not considered a last resort attack. An attack to use if she had no choice. She had always been able to best others in battle with long ranged. The battle with Maria had been the first time she needed to attack in close range and it had been her downfall. Now that she learned this she was able to resist things well enough.

The worry built up on as the pressure from her ancestor grew exponentially. The only thing that stopped the intent to retreat was a sudden feeling of confidence from the ice maiden and fire elemental. They knew that they could protect Isa and were screaming for her to let them take control. "I trust you three with my life. Let's see what you can do."

With a single heartbeat, Isa felt herself truly merge with the ice maiden and fire elemental. The true crystal golem was able to learn a great deal through this battle and the introduction of the taming space. This feeling that came through it encouraged its inner abilities causing it to also harmonize with Isa in a way it had not done so before.

The earth beneath Isa's feet became a crystal anchor while flames and ice swirled in opposition. The air was heated and cooled in excessive values that none could measure without being harmed in the process. The wind reacted even though Isa did not have control of the wind due to her lacking a wind type beast. It was the bond of elemental energies made clear to her.

"Show her how weak her ball of elemental energy is!" Isa screamed out sending all her energy to her partners to increase the size of the ice and flame tornado that had erupted from in front of her. It tore through the space between her and her ancestry hitting the ball of elemental energies.

With a single flick of her wrist, the ancestor absorbed the flames and ice leaving nothing but the ball of elemental energy. "A good attack. You managed to use the fire and ice with your beasts' innate instincts to manipulate the wind. Not many in the family knew how to do that.

Follow the instructions of your beasts well, they will teach you much more than you can imagine." Isa had already passed out because of her lack of energy. The ancestor just dissolved the ball of elemental energy. She had only created it to add pressure on to her. "The third test, strength to stand beyond your stature. Passed."

"Now, I might just be what's left behind but I can reward you here." The ancestor watched as the dungeon space changed in to a brightly lit hall with swirling elemental energies. "My father and I were the first two to create this space after all." The other remnant spirits of ancestors seemed to drift in and out of sight as they praised the young age and understanding that Isa had.

"Wake up now, I will send you out with a single gift." The ancestor sent a few drops of water to hit Isa's face.

"Ha! I'm awake, let's fight! I will…"

"You have already shown your strength child. I am rewarding you. I believe you are still too young to fight a serious battle here. You should return when you have grown in to a full woman and mastered your abilities. But at your age, you are many levels above what we all expected. I am giving you a reward." Isa just stared at the ancestor dumbfounded.

"When I was a child I held this staff made from the largest tree in the forest. It was a broken branch at first but changed when I channeled my beast's energies through it. It became strange and twisted with colorful orbs of energy within it. I call it my elemental staff. It should protect you as you grow.

Now go and grow well, I look forward to your return in a few years." The dungeon forced Isa out while she clutched the staff that had appeared in her hands.

Upon returning to the basement of her family's mansion, Isa was knocked back in to slumber by her lack of energy. Her beasts had returned to her taming space and father called. Isa's hands remained tightly clasped around the elemental staff even after she had finally been brought to bed to rest.

"You were stuck in there for only a day but it was enough to get handed a family heirloom." Isa's father could only revel in the strength that his daughter must have demonstrated to the family ancestors. The potential that she had shown was immense in his eyes.