“What’s an affinity test?” Connor asked as Sarah grabbed his hand, finally feeling relief about why they were so very different as mates; compared to others of their kind that is.
Sarah looked up at him to explain what it meant. “An Affinity test is to see what element you can use. Since we became one, my affinity might have changed. That is not uncommon. Most Balancers can only use one specific element per mate. But my sister Amber’s mate can use two.”
Jillian chipped in. “My element is Liquid, where before mating it was Terra. Here let me show you a glimpse of what I am capable of.” Connor stopped his next question and she looked at her mother as she held her arm straight and turned her palm up. Sarah actually felt her mother gathering energy within her. This is a new sensation too. She’s never felt someone gathering their power before.
“Connor, what she’s doing is calling upon her body’s energy reserves and focusing it to her hand.” Connor nodded then the sensation changed. “Connor, now she is using her mind to focus on her element.” He nodded again, and then the air began to move. “Now she is collecting the water vapor in the air and pulling it to her hand.”
“I can see… That is amazing!!!” Connor thought loudly.
Jillian held a ball of rotating water only an inch above her hand. It flowed and moved like a clear water balloon that’s been thrown. She took her other hand and tossed it at Connor. He put up his hands to catch it, but it lost cohesion and soaked his shirt. “I don’t care if I am wet. That was amazing, Jillian!”
Jillian bowed for the praise she received. “Thank you. Now Connor, the morning I called you over to my home for the first time, to have you and Sarah return, I disturbed the moisture in your room to swirl to get your attention…”
“Hey Jack, what’s your element?” Connor’s playful side emerged as he jumped past Jillian’s explanations. He began acting like a little kid who just received a new and shiny toy.
Her father threw his head back and laughed and when he settled down he said “My element is… Fire!”
Connor stepped back when Jack pulled most of the heat around the area and ignited a flowing fireball the size of a regulation softball. Connor said quickly and respectfully “I’m ok, but please don’t throw it at me.” “Wow Princess I wonder what our elements will be? Hey I’m going to be a kid for a moment. Love you!” Connor quickly kissed her head and turned to her father “Hey Jack? READY… SET… GO!” and Connor suddenly ran as quickly as his new abilities could take him through the woods.
Not one to be outdone, Sarah’s father soon had a challenging grin on just before he took off after Connor, while still holding the fireball. “Boy, you’ve got a lot to learn…” and they both disappeared in the forest. The pull of the bond told her just how quickly her mate was traveling.
“Connor is something else isn’t he, Sarah?” Her mother stepped next to her as they walked back to her parent’s house.
“I know. That’s why I love him, but tell me why you think so?” Sarah asked in a voice of awe.
“Besides being an unprecedented Balancer, as far as I know, he has turned this family upside down. I have only seen your father have that look of challenge and follow through with it only three times since... never mind. I will say it again though, your mate is so much fun.”
As they made it to the house, Connor and her father sat on the front step together, just laughing. “Who won boys?” Sarah asked. Connor’s knees were dirty for some reason. The two men looked as excited as before.
“Jack did. I was startled and tripped in the dirt when a fireball whizzed over my head.” and Connor laughed.
“Father! You didn’t?” She almost yelled at the allegation.
“It was just a small one.” Connor playfully punched Jack’s shoulder like they were now the best of friends. It was a sight to behold. They both started laughing at their own immaturity.
“Just you wait Jack, when I find my element, we are going to have a rematch.” They both stood up, ready for another challenge and went inside.
Jillian started to actually cry and wore a haunted smile when she knew they weren’t watching. “I haven’t seen your father this playful since Amber was a child.” And Sarah hugged her knowing why her father hasn’t had fun since then. After her mother’s tears dried up they went inside. Now it was time to discover just what element they can use.
Connor sat next to Sarah as her father brought out the simple items for the tests. He placed five different objects on the coffee table that occupied the space before them. The table held two solid cubes of metal, a cup of water in an antique clay bowel, a lit candle, a black river stone and two inflated balloons.
Connor picked the balloon up. “I get most of the objects like the cube for Metal, the candle flame for Fire, the cup for Liquid and the stone for Terra. What is the balloon’s element?”
“It is for testing for the element Pressure” Jillian explained. “It is better than using a leather bladder like when we tried to find our element.”
Jillian sat down in the loveseat across from them, to explain the tests while Jack moved around to stand behind Connor. “Connor, this is the simplest way to find the element that you’re compatible with. Since your new to this world and haven’t accumulated enough energy yet, Jack is going to stand behind you and supply you with some extra stamina.” Connor looked behind at Sarah’s father and nodded. “Connor, take off your shirt. To transfer energy you need to touch skin to skin.” Her mother said and he didn’t question. He took his shirt off and laid it on the floor beside him. Jack then put both of his palms over Connor’s shoulder blades. And his hands began to faintly glow.