Nyra guided him differently.
"Stop trying," she said.
Kael frowned. "That's not helpful."
"It is," she replied gently.
"Fire reacts to intention. Remove it."
Kael hesitated.
Then let go.
No pushing.
No shaping.
Just… presence.
The flame flickered—
Then settled into something softer.
Nyra nodded.
"You see?"
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…It listens differently to you."
She smiled.
"I don't command it," she said.
"I understand it."
For a moment, Kael just watched her.
Calm.
Steady.
And something about that quiet strength…
Drew him in.