Dindi
Kavio walked to the far side of the clearing and picked up a long wooden staff. Without a word, he spun around and began to move.
He twirled the staff in loops and circles. He tossed it into the air, spun under it, and caught it again.
The ends of the staff burst into flame.
Dindi gasped and stepped back.
Kavio tossed the burning staff again, did a handstand, and caught the staff with his feet. He walked forward on his hands, rolling the staff across his feet. Then he flipped upright again and caught the staff in his teeth.
"Hu!" he shouted, jabbing forward with the flaming end, then spinning and jabbing backward. "Hu!"
If it had been Hadi or Tamio playing like that, Dindi might have laughed. But Kavio wasn't playing. Each jab and shout came with real power and focus. Even in this quiet glade, Dindi could feel how deadly he would be in true battle.
His muscles flexed and his aura burned bright Red, like fire around him. He danced harder and faster, shouting "Hu!" each time he struck at invisible enemies.
"Hu!" Beat. "Hu!"
"Hu!" He threw his head back and roared, "Yaaaaarrr!"
He tossed the staff across the practice area. Then he chased it by flipping backward, hand over heel, landing just in time to catch the staff and slam both burning ends into the ground. The flames hissed and went out.
"Red," he said, chin high. "For war."
Smoke curled up from the blackened ends. He bowed over the staff, arms wide. Then, from his belt, he took two long white feathers and fanned the smoke upward.
His movements changed—no longer fierce and wild, but sharp and graceful. Like a bird of prey in flight.
His Red glow softened into Orange.
Dindi had seen other Tavaedies dance before. But beside Kavio, they seemed messy and slow. He left Orange light behind him like perfect weaving on a loom.
"Orange," he said. "For craft."
His aura dimmed again, glowing now with soft Yellow light. His movements became slow, gentle, full of care. She could feel the healing energy in each motion.
He walked behind her with a smile, warm and teasing. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Yellow," he whispered near her neck. "For healing."
Dindi froze—but only for a moment. His hands were large and warm. As he massaged the tight muscles in her back, all her worries began to melt. His touch was like sun-warmed water. He traced lines down her spine, easing every knot.
The Yellow glow turned into Green.
His fingers slid through her hair. He turned her gently to face him.
"Green," he breathed. "For love."
Then he spun her into the dance—the same fertility steps they had done the first time they met. She followed his lead, aware of every soft touch, every moment his body brushed hers. His chest grazed hers. His hips pressed close.
He dipped her backward over his knee. His face hovered above her throat, lips almost touching—but not quite.
Before she could react, he twirled away, leaving her flushed and breathless. His aura cooled to a soft, icy Blue.
Now he danced with calm and elegance, like a sculpture come to life.
"Blue," he said, voice distant. "For purity."
Then his glow darkened into deep Purple. His kicks grew strong again, but slower—grounded. He knelt, kicked, knelt, kicked again.
"Purple. For valor! Hu! Hu! Hu!"
Each shout came with a strike. He jumped, spun around many times, and landed in a center split. He rolled toward her, then leapt to his feet, all in one move that left her dizzy.
Only the sweat running down his chest showed how hard he'd worked.
"Well?" he asked. "Did any part of that dance stand out to you?"
"Um." Dindi licked her lips. The part where you almost kissed me, she thought. But she didn't say that. She had a feeling this was a test.
The whole thing had been amazing. She had never seen anyone shine like that.
"The whole thing was very…" She searched for a big word. Glorious? Radiant? Wonderful?
"…nice," she finished.
Kavio rolled his eyes. "I'm not asking if you liked the performance, Dindi. I want to know if any Chroma felt stronger to you. Did you see a glow?"
"Yes!"
"Which color?"
"All of them!"
He frowned. "Not possible."
"You don't believe me?"
"I believe that you believe." He held out his hand. From his palm and fingers, six glowing ribbons rose like light.
"Touch the light."
She reached out and brushed one.
Pop! It burst like a bubble.
She tried again. Each time, the lights vanished before she could catch them.
Kavio patted her hand, but she could see disappointment in his eyes. Her shoulders slumped.
"I've failed again, haven't I?"
"Dindi, it's fine."
"It's not fine." Her fists clenched. "It's infuriating. I know I'm missing something. It's like I'm standing in front of a door, but I can't see the handle."
"Dindi, it's not your fault. I shouldn't have tested you."
"But why?" she cried. "Why am I so dense? Why can't I do anything right? Why do I fail over and over, no matter how much I practice—"
"Dindi." He stepped closer. "Stop. You're perfect."
He looked straight into her eyes.
A rainbow glow shimmered around them both.
Then he bent down and kissed her.
The kiss was deep. Real. Encircling. She tingled down to her toes.
And Dindi felt herself melt into light.