After they dropped the twins off at Sam's mom's house, Sam, San-Li, and Alex piled into his car and headed towards Joleena's house. As he drove Sam noticed that while Alex seemed excited about taking a mystery trip, San-Li sat in irritated silence. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he knew that it might not be the best idea.
"You okay?" He asked quietly. "You're really quiet."
"Of course I'm not okay." San-Li mumbled angrily. "I can't believe that bastard best friend of yours, ordering me around like that. Magicians are all alike. They think their power gives them to the right to do whatever they want."
Sam grimaced. San-Li had briefly filled him in on how Joe got the swollen read mark on his cheek. While he thought Joe was out of line threatening to order San-Li with their bond, it did make sense that Alex should learn about his time dragon powers. But there was no way he would tell San-Li that.
Going against his earlier logic, he reached out and gingerly laid a hand on her knee. "Hey. No matter what, we'll both be there to protect Alex."
San-Li's eyes flickered towards his and for a brief moment he thought her lips twitched up in a smile. But then she brushed his hand away and went back to looking out the window.
"And just what the heck could you do? Blind them with science?" She mumbled.
"It would be poetry in motion." Sam chuckled.
This time San-Li did actually smile and Sam felt his heart leap. It had been so long since he had made her smile that part of him was worried that he wouldn't be able to do it anymore. They pulled up to Joleena's place and Sam put the car in park.
"You know, I'm really glad we're taking this trip with the others." He smiled. "It'll give us the chance to get to know each other all over again."
San-Li rolled her eyes and opened the car door without answering. She got her and Alex's things out the car and started to head into the house. Before she reached the door though, she looked over her shoulder at him.
"This isn't some vacation Sam, so don't get any ideas." She sighed. "But... I appreciate the effort."
Sam smiled sheepishly and followed them inside. San-Li could try and be cold all she wanted, but he had still made her smile.
Anna was rocking back and forth on her heels in nervous excitement as she stood in Joleena's magic library. She had barely slept at all the past three days ever since Joleena told her that she was about to officially become a licensed magician.
"Ah, here it is." Joleena said pulling a wooden box down from a shelf.
She levitated the box down to Anna and carefully climbed down the ladder. Anna carefully grabbed the box from the air and hissed when the magic laden wood stung her skin. There was a line of Latin text carved into it that was faded and worn.
"Pro illis etiam caelestis numinis." Anna read out loud. "For those of divine power."
"Oui." Joleena smiled and took the box from her. "This is my gift to you ma cherie. As my student, you have made me so incredibly proud with how much your magic has grown."
Joleena then opened the box revealing a set of three clear crystals on a gold chain. She took them out and held them in front of Anna. The glowed faintly with white light and seemed to move in their own breeze.
Joleena whispered, "Hold out your hands and focus your magic."
Anna did what she said and cupped her hands under the crystals. She then focused her magic into her palms. The crystals immediately reacted. The white light shone brighter and the crystals detached themselves from their holdings. They began levitating in a circular motion above her hands, glowing brighter and brighter until they blurred into a halo of light. Anna felt something pull from within her and she gasped as her magic left her hands and went into the halo. The crystals absorbed the Anna's magic and slowed.
When the crystals came to a stop they were now a deep pink color. They dropped into Anna's hands and she could feel her magic within them.
"These crystals are now bonded to your magic." Joleena explained. "Not only will they help you divine the future, but they will also help you focus your magic and can be used as a weapon."
Anna opened her mouth to thank her but no sound came out. It was all just to incredible and exciting to really believe. Tears stung her eyes and she threw her arms tightly around Joleena's waist.
"Thank you." She whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Thank you for everything Joleena."
"You're welcome ma petite soeur." Joleena hugged her back. "Now let's get back downstairs to the others so we can leave."
Anna nodded and fastened the chain around her waist like a belt so she can always keep her crystals close.
"I still can't believe I'm going to be the Warp Wizard!" Joe said excitedly.
Fred snickered and nudged his arm. "Yeah and it only took you eleven years to do it."
"Shut up!"
The three of them were sitting in Joleena's living room with their luggage stacked up around them, waiting for everyone else so they could leave for the magic world. Fred and Fina were lounging around on the couch but Joe was way too excited to sit down.
"By the way, what happened to your cheek?" Fina tilted her head to study Joe. "It looks red and swollen."
Joe shrugged and looked away. "I um... had an argument with San-Li about... stuff."
Fred and Fina exchanged a look but didn't comment any further. After a while Sam, San-Li, and Alex finally showed up. Joe and San-Li exchanged heated glare but didn't say anything to each other.
"Ah, finally you three have finally arrived." Joleena said coming into the living with Anna. "Now we can finally be on our way. Is this all your luggage?"
They nodded and she pulled out her notebook. "Now where is that spell again? I just wrote it last night... ah, here it is! Transporto impedimenta ad Medate!"
Purple smoke billowed out from under their pile of luggage and their suitcases sunk through the floor.
"So where'd all our stuff go?" Fred asked.
"I transported it to where we'll be staying ahead of time." Joleena smiled at Joe. "Now mon amour, if you'll use your book we can head to the sea port I told you about and we can be on our way."
"Right." Joe nodded.
He pulled out The Book and flipped towards the back pages. He then turned The Book on its side, letting the symbols form a map of the magic world, and touched the small island that Joleena showed him earlier. The green mist poured out and warped them away.
A/N- Sort of more set up, but the next chapter will be more interesting as they set sail towards Syrania! Don't forget to read and review please