The plan was pretty straightforward, and so far it was working perfectly. They had stashed Zar in the basement with a bag of chips and two simple instructions: don't burn anything, and when the phone made a sound, she would know it was time to teleport to Ty's location.

Before leaving, Ty made sure to slip the amulet into his pocket. He figured that it was the beacon she used to pinpoint his location whenever she "slipped" through space.

He and Sam took the train into the city, transferring to the underground and hopping off in Central Evanston. Their destination wasn't a long walk from there, but Ty grimaced as Sam grinned and pointed out the fire station they passed on the way. "Or, worst case scenario, at least we're close to the river," he joked.

Ty had called ahead, of course - he wouldn't dare turn up at Elias' place without notice. Even retired, the old man still commanded respect from his former protege.

They walked up the driveway to Elias' house, and he was at the door waiting. "Sam! Tyler, my boy, welcome!" He clapped Ty on the shoulder as they stepped inside. "Go on through to the kitchen, and tell me what this is about."

Ty launched into an explanation, and it wasn't long before Elias was filling in gaps on his own - he still had a surprising amount of intel for a retired hero.

"The order of the conflagration," he supplied, his tone amused.. "Nearly all in custody, awaiting charges of arson and general stupidity. We still don't have laws against misuse of magic, but they'll think of something, I'm sure." He eyed Ty and Sam, his curiosity evident. "Now, tell me about this woman, their magical warrior."

"She's a fire elemental," Ty explained. "Bound into a mostly-human form. She's? large. Strong, powerful. It's also clear that she's a spirit of flame, from a dimension without matter or mass."

Sam grinned, amused by Tyler's tactful description. "Let's get her in here so you can see for yourself."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "What, is she waiting outside? I didn't see anyone with you."

Ty pulled out his phone, and dialled the new contact, his fingers tapping impatiently. He held the phone and waited a few seconds - this time he was ready. As the line connected he began to turn, anticipating Zar's sudden arrival. Sure enough, the tinny ring-tone sounded right behind him. Zar stood there, holding the phone gingerly, like it might explode any second, but her expression shifted to mild disappointment when Ty ended the call, and the music cut off.

"Why do you always appear behind me?" he asked, half-amused, half-bewildered..

Zar gave a small shrug. Instead of answering, she raised the phone as though it's silence held grave import. "It stopped," she said.

Elias stepped forward, his eyes studying her with professional curiosity. Zar tilted her head, noticing the older man for the first time. "Hello," she said, in her deep, ringing voice. "I am Zar Kael."

Elias offered a nod, his expression warm but assessing. "I am Elias Mercer, once known as Old Guard."

"You are a champion?" Zar asked, a hint of respect in her tone.

Alias chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Not any more, child. Those days are behind me. I am far too old for that sort of business now." He have a knowing smile, glancing at Ty. "But I still manage to teach the new generation a thing or two, and sometimes," he added with a wink, "they even remember to put some of it into practice."

Zar considered this, momentarily lost in thought. She looked down at her hands and frowned, an expression of deep regret crossing her face. "The food," she murmured, as if realising she's abandoned a precious treasure. "I put it down to pick up the phone, and now it is gone."

Elias let out a hearty laugh. "Don't worry, Zar. We can find you another snack, but first you must earn it, I think."

Ty cleared his throat. "We need to figure out her powers, Guard. We need to know what she can do."

Elias raised an eyebrow, his expression turning serious. "So she can use her gifts safely, or so you can prepare yourself against her?"

For a moment, Ty hesitated, a flicker of panic crossing his face, but he glanced at Zar, who seemed blissfully unaware of the tension in their conversation and realized he could be frank with his old mentor. "A little from column A, a little from column B," he admitted, choosing his words carefully "We need to help her learn control, but also... we can't ignore the potential risk."

Elias nodded slowly, quickly grasping his meaning. It was a diplomatic answer, but it spoke volumes: Zar was a friend, an ally, but she was still an unknown element, a wild card. She could not be entirely trusted, not yet. Elias studied her closely - the tall, looming figure with the innocent curiosity of a child. Her friendly demeanour was quite disarming, but he knew better than to underestimate her. In his experience, her raw power and naivety made her as much a potential threat as she was a potential comrade. . A cunning opponent could manipulate her into acts of destruction, and it would be useful to know just what they could be facing.

"Smart," he said quietly. "It's good to be cautious. We need to understand her talents and limits before anybody else can exploit them."

"I couldn't help notice that teleportation is one of her tricks," Elias observed, his gaze shifting to Zar. "What's her range?"

Ty cleared his throat, feeling the need to explain their lack of knowledge. "We're not entirely sure yet. She jumped here from my place, but it's not an unlimited ability. She can only jump to two specific locations: the site where she was first summoned, and? well, wherever I am."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "You? Why you?"

Before Ty could form an answer, Zar spoke up matter-of-factly. "Ty is my master."

Ty winced at the word. "I'm carrying a magic amulet," he clarified, pulling it from his back pocket for a brief moment. "It seems to be the anchor she uses, probably specified by the summoning ritual. I grabbed it, because it looked important."

Elias turned to face Zar. "You say Ty is your master. What does that mean, exactly? Is Ty always your master now, or is whoever holds the amulet your master?"

Zar tilted her head, her expression thoughtful but uncertain. "I do not know," she admitted with a shrug.

Elias pressed on. "If he was attacked, would you defend him?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation.

"And if he gave you a direct command, would you do it?"

"Yes."

"Because he is your master?" It was a statement as much as a question.

Zar frowned, searching for better words. "Because Ty is my friend, and I am a champion. If he is in danger, he could be damaged, and that? is bad."

Elias studied her for a hard moment, then gave a small, approving nod. He had expected a rigid, servile response, but Zar's answer revealed something more nuanced. Her loyalty wasn't born from mere obedience; it was rooted in a genuine bond, even if she didn't fully understand it yet.

"Hmph. Fair enough," he grunted. He turned on his heel and gestured towards the back door. "Let's take this outside and see what you can really do."

They stepped out into the back garden, a wide, open space bordered by tall hedges and trees that offered privacy from prying eyes. The autumn sun cast hazy shadows on the lawn, and the air carried a crisp bite, but Zar seemed entirely unfazed by the weather, her inquisitive eyes darting around as if soaking in every new sight.

Ty glanced around, fondly - noting that the scars from his own training had been filled in, and the new trees they planted were doing well. He hoped they wouldn't all get burned, and realised that Zar's attention was drawn to the treetops every time they swayed in the breeze.

Elias turned to her, hands on his hips. "Tell me, Zar - are you fireproof?"

"I am fire. Fire does not harm me." She gestured at her tail, as though unsure what he was asking.

Ty interjected, nodding confidently. "She is. I've seen her walk through a burning warehouse like it was nothing."

The old man raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of interest lighting up his eyes. Without a word, he went back into the house, leaving Ty and Sam exchanging curious glances. "Probably fetching a flamethrower," joked Sam, only to stare when Elias returned a minute later, carrying a compact, pistol-shaped device, worn but well-maintained. The flared nozzle and bright red canister left little doubt to the weapon's nature.

Ty's eyes widened. "You still have that thing? I thought you threw it out years ago."

Elias gave a wry smile. "Sentimental value. Sometimes it'd hard to let go, especially when it might still come in handy."

Without further explanation, he pulled the trigger and sent a jet of burning fuel onto the ground. The fire flared to life, licking at the grass with a hungry orange glow.

Before anyone could react, Zar stepped forward and leapt directly onto the flames, standing in the heart of the fire as if it were nothing but a warm bath.

Elias released the trigger, cutting off the supply, and his face twisted in a mixture of surprise and exasperation. "What the hell are you doing?" he barked.

Zar looked at him, puzzled. "It's fire," she said simply. "I am fire. It calls to me." She held out her hands to warm them, looking almost serene as the dancing tongues of fire wrapped around her legs. She raised her hands a little, as though pulling, and the flames leapt higher, swirling around her and reaching to her waist. "This is what I'm made from, my element."

"Well, clearly you can control it. Can you put it out?" They all noticed that the flames, while taller and more intense, were not spreading out from the charred spot. Zar grudgingly lowered her hands, palms down, and the flames began to lick at her fingertips. The flames died down, and she gave the men a quizzical look.

"I do not understand, do you not feel the same, when you see some? whatever you are made of?"

Elias let out a snort. "Meat? Blood and guts?" He shook his head with a bemused grin. "Neither of those are things I'd ever dive into willingly."

Sam pointed to Zar's unburned trouser legs. "To answer your earlier question: yes, she's fireproof." He pulled out a small notepad from his pocket and made a quick scribble.

Eliase rubbed his chin, clearly deep in thought. "She doesn't burn, that's confirmed, and she can also control, enhance and put out existing flames." He scanned his garden and shook his head. "We'll need to test that further, but not here, I think."

Switching to some purely physical testing, they quickly discovered that Zar was immensely strong, far surpassing even Ty's superhuman power. She lifted a heavy stone block with ease, holding it above her head with no visible effort.

Elias raised an eyebrow, impressed but cautious. "You're stronger than you look," he remarked, "which is saying a lot."

Zar set the block down with a gentle thud. "This is appropriate. I am a champion."

They continued testing her capabilities, and after she recounted her encounter with Nightstick Nick they confirmed that she was also incredibly durable. Ty threw a punch at her arm, pulling it at the last second, but even then the impact he landed would have left a bruise on most people. Zar merely looked at it, without so much as a flinch.

Sam stepped up, offering a playful jab at her shoulder, but recoiled with a wince. Without his metal suit he was just human, and he shook out his hand ruefully. "Jeez, it's like hitting a brick wall," he muttered.

Zar looked almost apologetic. "I am not made of stone," she corrected. "But I am? not soft." She hesitated, then added "I have been punctures before, by an attacker, but the damage was temporary."

Elias caught onto that quickly. "Punctured?" he asked. "What do you mean, exactly?"

Zar lifted the hem of her jacket, revealing smooth grey skin. "The injury was here, but it went away by itself."

Ty extended a hand, but stopped short of touching her skin. "No scar. I bet you didn't bleed, did you? Blood? Red stuff, leaking out?"

Zar shook her head, mildly disgusted by the idea.

Elias pointed to the back porch. "Sam, the first aid kit, there, fetch me the scalpel." He met Ty's alarmed expression with his own calm curiosity. "Just a small cut, to test a theory. Nothing serious."

Sam handed over the scalpel, and Elias turned to Zar. "Would you mind removing your jacket, Zar?"

Ty blushed crimson, and held out a hand to stop her. "She's, uh, she's almost certainly not wearing anything underneath."

"Ah." The older man had the decency to cough, and instead asked "perhaps roll up your sleeve, instead."

"Be careful," Ty warned. "We don't know what'll happen."

Elias gently took Zar's forearm, her skin strangely warm to the touch, and pressed the blade against it. He angled the tip and applied pressure, but the blade skidded a little, like it didn't want to bite. He pressed a little harder, and made a tiny incision. The skin parted with an explosive hiss, and a jet of searing, bright orange fire surged from the wound, engulfing the blade. The scalpel melted instantly, blown away in a spray of molten droplets. Elias jerked his hand back, cursing. He narrowly avoided a face full of flames, but not before the heat singed his eyebrows.

"Whoa!" Sam yelped, stumbling backward. "What the hell was that?"

The flame sputtered out almost immediately, and Zar studied her arm. The cut was already sealed up, leaving no mark. She looked mildly annoyed, rubbing the spot. "There is discomfort," she complained, "but it will pass."

Elias, wild-eyed, took a moment to collect himself. He exhaled slowly, patting his singed brows with a shaky hand. "Well, that's a new one." His voice was tinged with dark humour as he looked at Ty. "Not as dangerous as your plasma, lad, but a nasty surprise all the same."

Sam, scribbling quickly in his notebook, muttered to himself as he wrote: "Zar is full of fire. Do not puncture." He glanced at the others with a nervous grin. "She did warn us that she was made of fire."

= = =

The small group - two active heroes, one retired legend, and one fledgling powerhouse - sat in Old Guard's underground lair, a space filled with relics from past battles, old equipment, and the hum of hidden technology. Sam had already transferred his notes onto the whiteboard, a slanting scrawl of observations and conclusions, ensuring everyone could follow along as they discussed the day's findings.

"So, on a purely physical level," he began, gesturing to the first set of bulletpoints, "Zar is incredibly durable and shockingly strong. She's basically immune to blunt force trauma, because whatever she's made of there's no bones to break and no organs to damage. Similarly, bullets might annoy her a bit, but won't cause any lasting damage. Talking about strength, she's high on the scale, can dead-lift a thousand pounds without breaking a sweat." He paused as Zar started to raise a hand, "Yes, I know you don't sweat, it's a figure of speech."

He tapped his pen on the next line. "Running speed is impressive, not super-speed but easily Olympic sprinter level. Agility and reflexes? Also very sharp, like a seasoned gymnast or martial artist."

Zar sat cross-legged on a backward-facing folding chair, quietly munching on spicy tortilla chips, her eyes darting between the speakers. She seemed unbothered by the analysis, occasionally nodding as they discussed her capabilities.

Sam moved over to the next section of the board, his enthusiasm growing. "Now, her fire powers - that's where things get really interesting. She's completely immune to flames. No burns, no discomfort, not even a singed hair. She can breathe and see perfectly in the middle of a blazing inferno, like it's clear air to her."

Elias leaned in, his eyes narrowing in thought. "And her control over fire?" he prompted.

"Off. The. Charts," Sam replied, almost giddy. "She can manipulate existing flames with precision, adjusting intensity, size, and direction. From what she's shown us, she can influence fire up to at least ten yards away, possibly more. She was able to snuff out a candle from across the room with a flick of her fingers, or make the flame reach from one wick to the next. And it's not just passive control - she can create fire on demand, drawing it forth from herself. It's like a built-in flamethrower."

He grabbed the red pen and drew a quick diagram on the board. "She can breathe fire, like a dragon, or shoot jets of flame from her hands, and here's the kicker - she can bend the fire mid-flight, make it dance. She can pick up a handful of fire from a torch and sustain it in her hand without fuel. She can steer it around, make it curve and climb and flare up on command. It's not just pyrokinesis; it's full-on mastery."

Zar preened at the praise, and Ty rubbed his chin. "With that level of control? we need to think beyond combat. We've got to get her in touch with the fire department. Imagine what she could do in a rescue situation - she could pull victims out of burning buildings, control the spread of a blaze, extinguish fires before they get out of hand. Think of the lives she could save."

Elias nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "A noble idea," he said, his voice carrying the weight of years of wisdom. "But it's not just about what she can do. We need to make sure she understands the responsibility that comes with such power. If she's going to fight crime in my city, she has to know when to hold back, when to step in. It's not just about the strength; it's about judgement."

Zar crunched another chip, tilting her head. "You want me to put out fires?" she asked, a flicker of curiosity in her glowing eyes. "This will save lives, make me a champion?"

"You have a gift, Zar. We just need to help you learn how to use it safely, and if we can do that, then, yeah, you could save a lot of people."

"Okay, I will learn."

Sam grinned and scrawled "Firefighter" below the notes, in large letters.

Elias rubbed his temples, clearly skeptical. "There are still plenty of mundane issues to sort out," he grumbled. "For one, smoke inhalation is a serious risk. "Even if <I>she</I> can breathe just fine, nobody else can, so she won't have backup. And she's not equipped for search and rescue - no protective gear, no training for entering a blaze safely. The Fire Department isn't going to let her charge into a burning building, especially not when there could be civilians inside. They have to consider everybody's safety, including yours."

Sam leaned back, crossing his arms with an exaggerated shrug. "Then we get her registered as a hero. We introduce her to some of the local supers, show them she's not just a walking fire hazard. Once she's got a few good deeds under her belt, and public opinion's on her side, we get the Mayor on board with some good PR. You know how it goes, save a kitten from a tree, maybe a kid or two from a wrecked car, and suddenly she's a hero everyone's rooting for." He grinned at the simplicity of his plan. "You know it works, it's the same way you turned Ty's career around."

Zar, raised a hand. "What is a kitten?" she asked. "And what is a tree?" She'd been sitting backward on her chair with her tail hanging free to avoid accidentally setting anything on fire. "Also, my tail is under control now, see?" She demonstrated by making it swish slowly, the flames burning low and faint. It was an impressive display of restraint, all things considered.

Ty grimaced. "That's a work in progress, Zar. We'll keep an eye on it."

Chapters...