That night, he got a bit of specialty training.

Isaac had asked to train at night, and Aoife had agreed, so now they stood, alone, with the partial moon hanging high above them. He could feel the power humming through the gauntlet, and even with no prep, he could bring sparks of light to his fingertips and trail ghostly magic through the air.

“We’re training in the moonlight, so we’re going to start big,” Aoife said as she drifted out to the far end of the yard. “Catch me.”

She dashed forward, tearing through the air in a blur. Isaac threw his hand out and the light on his fingertips flew out, linking together into a chain to wrap around her arm and anchor her to the ground, stopping her momentum instantly.

She yelped and fell back, but due to her intangibility, she just drifted until she reoriented and brushed herself off. “Good,” she said, and pulled on the chain. “Now please release me.”

“Oh, of course.” Isaac waved his hand and the energy returned to the gauntlet.

Aoife rubbed her wrist. “I want you to make a shield and sustain it. It will slowly drain the Wraithrider, but I will recharge it when we’re done.”

As instructed, Isaac pulled that magic into his palm, made a fist, and watched it spill out into a rectangular plate on the outside of his hand and arm. It was slightly opaque, that same bright lavender color.

Aoife whipped her hand forward and bolts of lightning fired from her fingertips, which Isaac narrowly managed to block. She didn’t relent, attacking again and again, slowly advancing. The shield took the brunt of the attacks, but it still managed to push Isaac back a bit with each strike. He started to push back, standing his ground, until she got within reach. He let go of the shield and grabbed her wrist, the Wraithrider glowing, and pulled her close. She shrieked and giggled as she fell against him, actually making contact.

She fell suddenly silent, a deep blush filling her cheeks as her eyes met his.

Then the glow in the Wraithrider faded and she slipped through him. It was a brief, intense chill as she passed through his form, and then she was behind him.

“Well.” She cleared her throat and was rubbing her cheeks when Isaac turned to look at her. “It appears you’ve discovered one of the most powerful aspects of the Wraithrider. The ability to make a spirit tangible while you’re holding them.”

“That was an accident, I promise. I didn’t mean to-”

“No, it’s alright. It’s good. It’s what I was hoping to teach you.” She smiled. “Do you think you could repeat that? Do you remember how it feels?”

Isaac focused, remembered how the shield wound back into the gauntlet and made the tool thrum with power. He pulled magic to the surface but didn’t spend it, watching it glow, and held out his hand.

Aoife took it and pulled herself toward him. “Very good.” That blush still remained in her cheeks. “Wow, this is… it’s been a very long time since someone has used my energy like this.” She put her hand on Isaac’s cheek.

“Do you feel okay?” Isaac asked. He tried to keep his tone level. He didn’t want her to run away again, wanted to make her feel comfortable.

“I… being drawn on as a power source makes me more sensitive to… impulses. Emotions. I'm not used to it.” She blinked rapidly and didn’t make eye contact with him. “I’m trying to keep myself controlled but it occasionally bubbles over. I should be the one apologizing to you.”

“Is that why you’ve been… distant?” Isaac asked, putting his hand over the one she had on his face.

Aoife nodded. “It helps to keep in check. I… I really am sorry for springing the kiss on you, that night. I didn’t think it through.”

“Hey, no worries.” Isaac gave her his warmest smile. “I… liked it. And you don’t have to apologize, the other girls won’t mind. Jade thinks you’re hot.”

Aoife laughed. “Oh, stop it.” She pulled the hand from his face and laid it on his chest. “I don’t want to… disrupt-”

“You wouldn’t. I promise.” Isaac brushed back her hair. “But if you don’t want to make it anything more than a kiss, that’s okay, too.” It was getting difficult to hold the energy in the gauntlet.

“I would… like to. But I don’t think I should just yet. Maybe… when tensions are lower.” Aoife’s eyes flicked down Isaac’s body, then to his lips, then back to his eyes. “Neither of us need that distraction. Ophelia, however, would likely be glad for it. So go back to her. You know the last thing I wanted to teach you.”

“Are you sure? I can spend some time with you, too.” The glow flickered. “Maybe something quick, though.”

Aoife smiled and she leaned close, giving him a brief kiss on the lips. She let go and drifted away. “Go to your partner. Remember, we’re going in a few days. You need as much rest as you can get.”

Aoife drifted a bit closer, just long enough to lay her hand on the Wraithrider and recharge it with a faint thrum, then she floated into the house, again leaving Isaac to stare after her. This time, though, he was smiling.