He knew the 8 year old struggled, especially when he was constantly told he was behind the other kids. Bi-Han hated to see how hard Kuai tried just to be told he wasn't good enough. He had been warned not to interfere, that Kuai had to learn. Bi-Han didn't understand how he could do that when he didn't have a good teacher.
So he took it upon himself.
He watched Kuai clamber up onto a rock in the clearing. He stood, looking triumphant with his feet apart and hands on in hips. Bi-Han smirked to himself, it almost looked like Kuai was a normal boy. Like they were both normal kids, brothers having an adventure in the woods.
He pushed that thought to the back of his head.
"Okay, DƬdƬ, today we're going to try making an ice ball," he said, going to stand in front of Kuai. On top of the bolder they were more face to face, and it meant that Bi-Han didn't have to bend down so much. Why do I sound like an old man in a teenagers body?
"Like the one's you use to hit Sektor with?" Kuai asked, and Bi-Han laughed.
"Yes, exactly like them," he confirmed as he held his hands together, summoning his cryomancy to make a ball of ice. He then hurled it over at a tree, where the ice broke and then spread cross the bark.
"Can I use it to hit Sektor with too?" Kuai looked over to where the ice was continuing to incase the tree, sounding just a little too happy about the idea of being able to cause needless violence to Sektor.
"Yes, but don't tell anyone I told you that you could," he said winking and causing his brother to giggle. "Now, to start with bring your hands like this." He reached for Kuai's hands, gently moving them until he was holding both of them up side by side, palms facing each other and a small gap between them. "Focus all your powers into the centre of your palms."
Kuai nodded, his lips went tight, and his eyebrows furrowed. He concentrated on what he was doing. Bi-Han watched as small blue sparks came from Kuai's fingers tips, but then, there was nothing. Kuai pouted at his hands.
"It's okay, you just need to keep trying," Bi-Han encouraged, giving Kuai a nod to repeat the action.
Kuai's lips twitched, but he turned his attention back to his hands. Bi-Han could hear the child's teeth grind together as sparks began to show again. It faded quickly once more, and Kuai gave a frustrated sigh. He tried again, this time, a few snowflakes swirled between Kuai's hands, but they quickly dispersed.
"Again, keep going, you're so close."
Bi-Han watched, as again and again, Kuai attempted to summon his powers. Again and again, it fizzled out before Kuai could make anything of worth. Bi-Han tried to keep calm. Kuai already got enough shit from the adults in his life, he didn't need Bi-Han turning on him too.
But with every failure, Bi-Han's patience wore thinner. Kuai was trying, he could see that, but it didn't seem to be helping. He was starting to wonder if his brother was a lost cause. Kuai should have never been brought to the Lin Kuei, he'd never survive at this rate. And Bi-Han couldn't protect him forever.
"Come on, Kuai Liang," he growled, letting his frustration show a little more than he should have. "You almost have this."
"I can't," Kuai finally sobbed, "I can't Bi-Han! The Elders were right, I'm useless."
Normally Bi-Han would have jumped to snuff out any thoughts like that, but he was just too wound up to do so. How can he not get this? It wasn't this hard for me! I know he struggles, but this isn't even a difficult task.
"You know what?" Bi-Han held his hands up. "This clearly isn't working. We should just give up for the day."
Kuai flinched and his teary eyes widened. Bi-Han felt himself falter from the look of sheer betrayal on Kuai's face. You need to apologise, tell him it's not his fault. If you don't he'll resent you for the rest of his life. And yet, Bi-Han did neither, just turned on his heel and began to storm back towards the temple.
Behind him, he heard Kuai make a small frustrated screech, before the sound of something being thrown through the air caught his attention. He turned just in time to see an ice ball hit a tree. His eyes widened as he turned back to Kuai Liang.
"Kuai Liang! You did i-"
His celebration was cut short when a pile of snow fell off the tree and landed right on top of his head.
He stood stunned silence, as Kuai Liang began to giggle at him. He didn't find this anywhere near as amusing as Kuai clearly did, and tried to level the best glare he could muster at his brother. Unfortunately as he did, some of the snow dripped down his face, just causing Kuai to laugh harder. Bi-Han groaned and grimaced. As nice it was to see Kuai genuinely happy, this was embarrassing.
But... he did it. He made an ice ball.
Bi-Han chuckled under his breath. He knew his brother had it in him.
Still he wasn't about to let Kuai get away with dumping snow on him. He crouched down, grabbing a handful of the snow on the floor and crushed it into a ball. He jumped back to his feet and launched it at Kuai's face. The child let out a short āeepā, before the snowball hit it's mark and Kuai lost his footing. Thankfully, he just fell on his butt, coming out relatively unscathed.
"That's what you get for laughing at me," Bi-Han told him, walking back toward's Kuai. "But, you did it! You made a ball." He reached to ruffle Kuai's hair as Kuai beamed up at him. "Do you remember what you did?"
Kuai suddenly looked very serious, rubbing his chin, "I don't know, I was just really angry with you and it happened."
Anger. Bi-Han had long suspected that Kuaiās powers were linked with his emotions. It had always confused him, since Bi-Han's powers didn't seem to be effected by how he felt. It was times like this he wished the Lin Kuei had more information about their heritage. Still, if anger and emotion were what Kuai needed for his cryomancy to surface, then Bi-Han would have the encourage it, even if he knew the Elder's would never approve.
What do those stuffy old men know anyway?
"Okay, Kuai Liang, listen to me." He placed each hand either side Kuai's head. "Tomorrow, when they ask to see your progress, remember that anger you felt, and channel it to show them what you can do."
Kuai Liang nodded, "I will."
"Good boy." Bi-Han reached to pick Kuai up in his arms. "C'mon, we'd better get back before someone notices."
Bi-Han just hoped that lightening would strike twice, just this one time.
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