"The first thing you need to know is the technique we employ here to keep our energy in check."

The training session had started, and Karzor was levitating opposite Rachel, alone in his room. Rachel was levitating in her meditation position as well, clinging on to every one of Karzor's words. Holding her breath in anticipation, she waited.

"Here, we do not see our powers as another part of ourselves. The energy inside us is part of us, like our blood. Do not attempt to keep it under control so much that you strive to hold it back. The key to truly controlling is to put a part of yourself into it. Let part of your soul merge with that energy. That alone will do the trick."

"Merge with it?" Rachel exclaimed.

"Yes. Only by putting part of yourself into that power can you keep it in check. In the past, you've been working against it, striving to push it back when it emerged. That's why it's been going out of control. From now on, you will have to learn how to become one with the energy within."

"What about meditation?" Rachel asked.

"It's good for calming the mind and controlling your emotions. But that's as far as it goes. It is a necessary step to ensure your emotions are in control, but it does not help with controlling your powers. For someone like you, your emotions and powers are twined together, hence it will be necessary to teach you how to suppress your emotions as well. When you've learned not to feel your emotions and how to become one with your powers, then you will know you are ready."

"Not feel my emotions? How can that be?"

"It's a matter of not experiencing those emotions at all," Karzor replied. "For instance, if someone were to aggravate you, it would be natural to feel anger. Here, we learn to detach our emotions completely from our mind. Though the anger is there, we do not feel it. We suppress it, and stop ourselves from feeling that emotion. Do you understand that?"

"I think I do. You're saying that I can get angry, but not feel that anger?"

"Precisely. That is the first step to take in controlling those emotions of yours. Know that you are angry, but do not give in to it. And it's easiest to start off by meditating. Close your eyes. Now, recite the words. You know them."

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos?"

"Those are the key words you will require when meditating or using your powers. Repeat them as you meditate. Let go of all your thoughts…good. Keep your mind serene, and don't feel anything. Now recite the words."

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath…"

Good. That's it. Keep it up until I tell you to stop.

Gradually, Rachel felt all her burdens lightening until they felt almost insignificant. She felt Karzor touching her mind very gently, and she knew he was in there with her, gradually soothing her mind.

Good, Rachel. You can stop now.

Rachel inhaled and exhaled deeply slowly coming back to the present. "How long have I been meditating?"

"Over an hour now."

"That long?" Rachel gasped. "I thought it had only been a few minutes!"

"Yes, things go so much slower when you're meditating, isn't it?"

"Is that a normal occurrence?"

"Certainly. And it's a good sign. That shows you're succeeding in keeping all thoughts out of your mind. Each day, we'll start off with meditation first. Then, when your mind is calm enough, we'll progress to emotion-controlling techniques. After a few weeks, I'll get you started on learning how to merge with your powers."

"Sounds good to me. Will I be joining Nightwalker for the training sessions too?"

"Occasionally, yes. When you've progressed far enough, you two will be permitted to train by means of one-on-one combat against each other."

"I don't think that's a good idea for me…"

"We'll cross the bridge when we come to it. By the time you reach that stage, you won't even be thinking about the old issues. Now, it's time to progress to emotion-controlling."

Rachel nodded eagerly.

"Close your eyes. Breathe deeply, and keep your mind calm….that's it. Now, imagine that someone has come up to you and is slapping you for no reason. How would you feel?"

"Angry."

"Alright. Now, imagine that anger inside you. Think of a scenario in the past that has angered you greatly. Let your anger build up slowly."

This wasn't too hard to do. Rachel squeezed her lids and pictured herself and Scott arguing away, as he spoke to her as if she were a monster. Anger came much faster than expected. She felt Karzor laying his hand over hers, and his voice in her head.

That's it. Now, try to distance yourself from that anger. Imagine that it's there, but it's contained. Try to think of it as something that's there, but unable to be experienced.

This is not easy!

It's not meant to be easy. No, no, don't try to suppress that anger. Just distance yourself from it. Let that anger remain, but don't feel it.

Over and over again, Rachel tried to do as Karzor instructed, trying a whole variety of methods. By the time an hour was up, she was sweating from the effort – and she had yet to find a way that worked. She was already starting to think it impossible when Karzor spoke up.

"Don't expect to succeed in this in one day," Karzor said. "This is something that will likely take weeks at least. Don't push yourself too hard. For now, it's time for you to take a break."

"I can keep going."

"Perhaps you think so, but it's not a good idea to tax yourself so hard on the first day. Today's training is meant to just be an introduction, nothing more."

There was no point in trying to persuade Karzor otherwise. With a sigh, Rachel got up and asked where Nightwalker was.

"Probably meditating in his room now. Do you want to see him in action? I think he'll be more than happy to demonstrate his powers to you."

"I wouldn't mind seeing him in action."

"I'll call him, then. You head to the training-room first. I'm glad you asked about him." Karzor got up and headed to Nightwalker's room.

Alone, Rachel headed to the regular training room, wondering why Karzor's eyes had been glinting so much as she had mentioned Nightwalker.