Kirigan's fierce strength flowed into her, mingling with her own ability and enhancing it almost painfully. Katya's hair stood on end as the fireball blazed up, white-hot and sizzling.

oOo

1. Private Lessons

All her life Katya had known she was different. She loved fire, and somehow it seemed to love her back; obeying her. Torches and lamps never burned out around her, for she could almost subconsciously summon fuel from her surroundings, and even ignite the air itself with just a flint and steel.

As she grew older, she learned two things: That people with her talent were witches known as Grisha, and that she had better hide her ability.

In Katya's village, Grisha were the most hated and feared of all people – as was the case in most of Ravka, actually. If her friends knew she was one, they would chase her away without a second thought.

When younger, she carefully avoided getting tested by the travelling examiners, finding excuses each time, until she was old enough for them to assume she had already failed the test.

All these years she had successfully managed to stay undercover. Until yesterday…

Katya leaned her head into her hands, tiredly rubbing her eyes. How could she have been so stupid?! She had thought she was alone and created just a tiny fireball to warm herself… And of course, her snoopy neighbor had seen it, and in no time everyone knew.

One mistake was all it took for the world as she knew it to be gone. Her friends, family and neighbors would never look at her the same way; from one day to the other she had become a pariah and an outcast, and the familiar and safe life she had led was over.

The old coach wheels rattled on the gravel. She was travelling to the Little Palace to live with others like her. Her kind. Her fellow Grisha.

Katya did not want to go there. What if they did not like her? Maybe they would be cruel, and perhaps punish her for hiding her ability so long.

All she wanted was to turn back time and be her old self again, back with her family.

Biting her lip to refrain from crying, she looked out through the window and caught a first glimpse of her new home. It was a wide building with many onion domed towers, and looked very luxurious. She would be living in style; that was something, at least.

The coach came to a stop before the entrance. When Katya gave the driver his coin, he snatched it from her hand and spat on the ground right by her feet. "Off with you. And don't come back. Ever."

With a lump in her throat she watched him steer the horses around and drive away. His name was Ivan. They had played together when they were children; even danced a few times in the summer festival. But Katya would never attend a summer festival again.

Trying to shake off her dismay, she squared her shoulders and walked up to the entrance.

oOo

A month had gone by since Katya's arrival at the Little Palace, and she was so ready to leave. She wished she could run away and never come back, but of course that was impossible; she was a soldier now, and would be chased down and punished as a deserter.

It was not a bad place, not as such. Contrary to her apprehension beforehand, the other Grisha treated her well, and had welcomed her to the Second Army as one of their own. She had a room with a tub and a soft bed, nice clothes – the traditional blue kefta coat – and was served food that, though simple, was tasty and wholesome.

She enjoyed her summoning lessons as well. Baghra, the old woman who was her teacher, had explained that Katya was not a witch, nor a magician. What Grisha did was science. Her specific type had an affinity for the element of fire, and therefore it served her, while others could do the same thing with air, water, metal and even human bodies.

It was a huge relief to know that she was no freak, although it would not help her getting her old life back. To the non-Grisha, her sort were witches, and nothing she could say would make them change their minds.

When she didn't practice fire summoning, Katya had Combat Class. She needed to get physically stronger and more agile in order to be a good soldier. Thus, in the evenings she was so tired she fell into a dreamless sleep almost instantly.

This way, the days had gone past in a blur, and for an onlooker all seemed well.

Only, all wasn't well. Despite having people constantly around her, Katya felt utterly alone.

The others had come here as children; they had grown up together and formed their friendships long ago. She was a stranger who had lived a life they did not understand. At meals, she was mostly silent, and if anyone spoke to her it was polite small talk.

In addition, Katya had always suppressed her powers, so using them now was a novelty. She made beginner's mistakes summoners of her age had long since grown out of. During training she was paired with Ana, another Fire Summoner, and the other won every sparring match easily. Katya felt weak and useless.

Today, at least something new would happen, and Katya looked forward to a change of routine. She had been called to her commander's office; the legendary General Kirigan, the only Shadow Summoner in the world. She had not met him before, for he never showed up at meals or during practice, and she had to admit to be slightly curious about the man. Everyone spoke of him with such awe.

The general's part of the Little Palace was much finer than Katya's. Here, the corridors had oil paintings on the walls and soft carpets on the floors, and instead of smoky lanterns there were wax candles in gilded holders.

A servant showed her into a spacious office with elegant mahogany furniture and bookcases full of serious-looking tomes.

Almost instantly her eyes were drawn to the general, who sat at a desk in the center of the room. He was a very handsome man, of an age hard to define – thirty-five perhaps, or forty? He wore a jet black kefta, showing he was a Shadow Summoner, and his neat, short hair and beard were black too, matching his outfit. Even his eyes were of such a dark shade of brown they looked black.

Kirigan's persona somehow filled the room, turning everything and everyone around him dull and uninteresting in comparison. Katya could not tear her eyes away from him.

He did not look up as she entered, and said in a bored-sounding tone: "Thank you, Olga. Now, leave us."

When the door closed behind the servant, Katya took a nervous step forward. "You wanted to see me, General?"

Finally turning his gaze to her, he started to say something, but instead of words he uttered a shocked gasp. His eyes grew wide as if she were a ghost.

"Luda…" he whispered.

"Who?" She blinked.

His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her, and then he regained his composure. "Sorry. I mistook you for someone else. You look just like…" He cleared his throat, and his voice turned impassive and businesslike again. "Come closer," he ordered. "So, you're the new recruit. Do you know why I called you here?"

Katya mutely shook her head, still a bit stunned by his strange reaction before.

"Have you heard of the Sun Summoner?"

"Of course." Who hadn't read the prophecies about the one who would one day destroy the dark and dangerous Shadow Fold which had divided the country for so long?

"I've searched for many years, testing the strongest Grisha among every group of new recruits, for I know it's among them this Sun Summoner will arise. Even if their power is to control the wind or the water – or fire, like you – I'm hoping they might discover within themselves that they have the ability to summon light as well. Do you know what an amplifier is?"

"No, General."

"It's an object or a person that can amplify and increase a Grisha's power. I'm one such."

"You?"

"Yes. I was told you're a very strong summoner."

"I am?" She blinked, looking at him with genuine surprise. "But I've failed everything so far!"

His lips twitched. "Your ability is unschooled." He unfolded his long legs and rose from behind the table, taking a candle from it. Katya had to stretch her neck to meet his gaze when he walked over to her.

"Use this to create fire," he instructed, holding the candle in front of her.

Katya nodded and drew a breath. Scrunching up her face in concentration, she began to gather air from all around, focusing it on that tiny flame, feeding it. It flickered and grew, and she caught part of it between her hands until a small burning ball shimmered between them. Its heat warmed her face.

"Good. Keep it burning." Kirigan put the candle back and walked to stand close behind Katya. A musky scent reached her nostrils, and her fire wavered slightly as she lost part of her concentration.

"Focus," he ordered. His low, mellow voice so close to Katya's ear made her shiver, and maintaining her ball was harder than ever. Her forehead became damp with perspiration.

"Now, see what happens when I touch you." He reached out on either side of Katya, and enclosed her hands with his larger ones.

She instantly felt something seep from him into her, something raw and strong and dark. It filled her veins, making her heart race, and between her hands the fireball grew and grew, burning hotter and brighter than she had thought possible. Its light was dazzling.

Shocked, she stopped gathering air to feed it and in a puff of smoke it winked out.

"Amazing." Kirigan was almost purring. Still she could feel his power where their hands were joined, and it both scared her and mesmerized her. She did not want him to stop. Instead she found herself wondering what would happen if more parts of their bodies were connected.

"Amazing," he repeated. "Not a sun, not yet. But maybe, with time… We shall see. I will train you personally from now on."

Katya nodded, forgetting he stood behind her and could not see. Yes. She wanted him to train her. She wanted him to amplify her powers again.

Slowly he withdrew his hands and a coolness came in their stead.

Swallowing a disappointed sigh, she turned to face him, wanting to ask questions about what she had just experienced.

He stood so close she could feel his body heat. His nearly black eyes locked in hers, drawing her deep into their darkness, and she forgot what she had intended to say. They were like a mysterious tunnel, making her wonder what lay on the other side. Light? Or danger?

She did not think it was light, but that did not frighten her. Instead, she was fascinated. Kirigan was a dangerous man and he intrigued her.

"Where are you from?" he asked unexpectedly. Something about her clearly intrigued him as well.

When Katya said the name of her village, his eyes widened slightly. "I see," came his reply. He was withholding something. Had he known a villager there? A relative of hers, perhaps? He had thought she was someone else when he first saw her.

"Can we… can we do the fire again, General?" she asked, longing to experience that wondrous feeling once more.

His lips twitched and formed a genuine smile. "You enjoyed it?" he asked.

She nodded wordlessly. His smile made her legs weak.

"Tomorrow," he promised.

oOo

That night Katya dreamed of liquid darkness seeping from Kirigan into her body, filling her with strange and exciting emotions. When she woke up her heart was pounding and she noticed a familiar ache between her legs. It had not been that kind of a dream, yet it had felt the same. Lust. Desire. She desired his power.

Though, she had to admit, she desired him as a man, too. She was attracted by both his physical appearance and his personality.

Again Katya wondered what it would feel like if she touched more of him. His whole body, intertwined with hers… raw power seeping into her from everywhere…

Her breathing increased and she reached down to touch herself, trying to satisfy that burning itch, but the release she got was not enough. Not nearly enough.

oOo

"Good morning. Slept well?" This time Kirigan met Katya at the door. It looked like he had waited for her to come as eagerly as she had longed to go there.

"Uh, yes, thank you General." Her cheeks grew hot.

"And your breakfast was satisfactory?"

"It was delicious. My appetite has grown lately." She met his gaze, and noticed his dark hair was still slightly damp from his bath. She fought down an urge to touch it.

"Suppressing your ability for so long made your body weak. I'm glad you have finally come to a place where you could be yourself. You look healthy."

"I'm glad I came here too." Katya realized it was true. Until yesterday she had hated it here, but now… Not anymore.

"Today I'm going to summon darkness, and you will try to make your fire bright enough to dispel it."

"Alright, General."

"Please. Call me Aleksander."

Katya stared at him. He was the most influential man in Ravka – next to the king – and he wanted them to be on a first name basis?

"Don't look so surprised. You're extremely powerful, almost on a par with me, and I have never met my equal before. We ought to be friends." Something in his gaze made her certain he was telling the truth.

"Alright then, Aleksander." She smiled shyly, feeling a warmth in her chest.

"Good. Let's begin!"

He put his hands together, and when he brought them apart Katya saw tendrils of darkness gather in the corners of his office. They billowed and grew, drawing closer, and her heart beat faster when the cheerful morning light shaded over and the room became dim. Soon it was almost too dark to see anything.

A spark flared as he lit a candle and brought it before her like yesterday. Its lonely little flame fought to penetrate the compact darkness, but only managed to illuminate his face rather spookily from below.

Putting her own hands together, Katya summoned fuel until the candle burned large enough to split into a new fireball.

Kirigan blew out the candle and positioned himself behind her like before. When his hands touched hers, the feeling was even more intense than yesterday. His fierce strength flowed into her, mingling with her own ability and enhancing it almost painfully. Her hair stood on end as the fireball blazed up, white-hot and sizzling.

Involuntarily she took a step backwards. His hard, flat chest stopped her, and she relaxed, comforted by his close vicinity; his strong arms enclosing her. She felt his breath on her neck, and realized he was breathing as fast as her. Did this feel the same for him?

The darkness was still compact around them, but the globe of light from Katya's fire was gradually expanding. It did not dispel the shade entirely, but not far from.

The effort was tolling on them both; her fingers shook and she felt his breathing get irregular and labored.

"I think this is enough for today," he choked.

"Okay." Slowly she allowed the flame to shrink, smothering it until it was gone, while simultaneously Kirigan's darkness dissolved.

He did not release her at once, and with the fireball gone, she felt another heat; his body flush against hers. It struck her that no power had come into her from that direction. Was this because he could only send it through his hands? Or was it… their clothes getting in the way?

"What happens now?" she asked, still a bit breathlessly.

"Now… We've earned ourselves a break."


A/N:

Since this is a new fandom to me, and I haven't read the books, I apologize for any mistakes I may have made. :) Hope this was enjoyable anyway!

In the next chapter Katya and Kirigan take a ride together.

Note: This story was originally published in a second person POV on AO3. If it seems familiar, that could be why.