Long months have passed since Ayu's energy started to show that it won't calm down by itself - she needed to learn how to control it. Her hopes that the growing power would settle down and quieten were met with a disastrous end when she was proved wrong. The Ki in her body was fickle, tied to her emotions and mental state. And now more than ever she needed to master control of it. The latest outburst that killed countless people, hurt both Liari and Calot - she never wished for that, but her quiet prayer did nothing to stop it from happening. Her body was a vessel for a large portion of energy... She could feel her hands curling into shaking fists as Ayu strolled around the Lookout. Although she wore herself out, perhaps was close to dying, it didn't change anything. That power was still in her - thanks to Dende's help who was healing her fatigue over and over again it was easier to keep on training, but in the long run, she could only wait. Ayu had to be patient to let her body and mind finally catch up to the Ki inside her and stabilize everything within her.

It was only easy in theory, but there were subtle changes already that came with whatever had happened to her back then. Ayu grew up two inches, her body maturing as if the whole process of unlocking the layers of repressed energy inside her added experience to her physical form. She felt quieter. Not only that, the uneven, diffused energy that felt like an amalgamation made of many different kinds was finally united into one even signature. Albeit it was certainly unique, she wasn't going to lie... But Ayu was able to finally sense her own presence, and she was terrified to learn how strong she truly was. And she was sometimes thinking that Liari was exaggerating when she claimed that her older sister was powerful like that... Yet the worse part was that despite that, she couldn't quite control her power - but she was going to work on that. Ayu decided to meditate this day... Not quite so, but something similar was going in through her mind. After Dende finished today's lessons with her and went to his chamber to rest, she was left alone outside of the temple. Mr. Popo picked up his flying carpet and went away to do some chores and there was not much Ayu could do... Well, no, that would be a lie. The library was huge and there was still so much she could and needed to learn under the guidance of the Guardian - but there was still this one matter that was sitting on her heart like a shadow.

If her body was stabilizing, why couldn't she still make it work? Ki control, energy suppression or just quietening it down to hide her presence - nothing worked for her. She was quite obviously there, unwillingly and with bashful awareness showing off her power and there was nothing she could do to hide it. Weighted Clothing did not function properly anymore...

Ayu stopped near the side of the Lookout, standing next to the stripe of well-kept grass and trees. Plants already told her that Mr. Popo was an amazing gardener and she gave them a bit of her magic to make them even more green and healthy. It felt great to have a piece of woods and meadows here with her. If this place was devoid of greenery, she would probably find it hard to stay here longer... And Ayu wasn't able to fly, so it was a given that she was staying away from the edge. Brrr... Now, she needed to concentrate. Placing both hands on her chest, Ayu breathed deeply, joining her fingers together after the beating inside her became even and steady. Like Liari taught her before - the tips of her fingers started to gleam, the strands of light weaving into a round object, not bigger than a marble. That was the orb of Ki that she wanted to control, practicing her skills, but... Before it was even finished the marble made of the energy broke into golden dust-like particles made of Ki, gleaming in the air before they faded away. Another sigh raised her chest and Ayu put a strand of green hair behind her ear, looking carefully at her hands. Bit by bit, her control was getting better, but the progress was so slow it was barely visible even if she felt the difference. Luckily there were no more headaches or nosebleeds, but Ayu couldn't afford to stop practicing. There was no way she could her energy slip out of control again.

"Once more," she quietly told herself, standing straight and gathering energy in her hands again, shaping it into a bigger orb. The Ki poured inside this marble was greater than before, strands of energy gleaming pure gold as the marking that appeared on Ayu's skin. The invisible wind was playing with her hair. This time it needs to work... And even if not, she's going to try as many times as she has to, to make it right. Over and over again, because it wasn't only her life at stake, was it..?

---

Power Level - 228,018
Word Count - 875