The Witch's Apprentice

Chapter Twenty Four: Breaking the Seal

The group waited in front of the light blue glowing door. Kiwi slept on the ground in front of the door, using his bushy tail as a pillow. Ulrich was also asleep, resting his back on the wall. Yumi was next to him, staring blankly at the wall in front of her as if she too was about ready to sleep. Odd was sitting on the ground next to his dog, examining his arrows and fixing broken ones. Jeremie was sitting against the wall opposite to Yumi and Ulrich, trying not to fall asleep. Aelita was sitting next to him, reading her book on spells, learning about earth spells.

"Anything interesting in that book?" Odd asked. Aelita looked up at him and saw him looking at her.

"Uh…kind of," Aelita answered. "Well, for me anyways. I'm reading about earth spells right now."

"Earth spells? Isn't it just easier to throw a rock at someone?"

Aelita chuckled. "No. From how the book is explained, you can summon vines from the ground and bind enemies with said vines. You can also do the standard rock projectile attacks as well."

"Interesting," Odd said with a sigh. He placed a hand on his dog and smiled. "I'll stick to my archer abilities and using my handsome looks."

"Okay…good luck with that," Aelita giggled. Odd gave her a mock glare.

"What's that supposed to mean? I can throw an arrow at you, you know?"

"Yes, and I can try to lit you on fire again." The two began to laugh, making Kiwi wake up. The wolf perked his ears and wagged the tip of his tail.

"Sorry it took us so long," Anne Marie's voice suddenly spoke up as they rounded the corner. "We got lost looking for your scent. It was mingled with monster stench."

"You guys did quite a number to the hallways from the looks of it," Christopher said. "Someone had a fit out there?"

"No…just cranky monsters who wanted their asses kicked," Odd responded. "How are you guys? You're not dead, so that's good."

"Thank you for your concern, blonde archer boy," Anne Marie muttered. "But I think we could've handled ourselves."

"And thanks for waiting for us," Christopher added in. The dark cat trotted to the door and sniffed it. "Aw…this brings back so many memories!"

"He's been saying that the entire time we were down here…" Anne Marie said with a sigh. "Wake up your friends and let's get that book."

Aelita nodded and went to Jeremie while Odd shouted at Ulrich and Yumi to wake up. She heard the two shout back at the archer but didn't catch what they were saying. Aelita placed a hand on Jeremie's shoulder and shook him gently. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"What's going on?" he asked in a drowsy voice.

"Time to wake up, sleepy head," Aelita said quietly. "Lady Anne and Christopher are here."

"That's nice," Jeremie said with a smile.

Aelita helped the blonde young man up before looking back at her mentors. The two were in front of the door, examining it. Aelita noticed Anne's eyes narrowing.

"Someone placed a seal on this while we were gone," the witch growled.

"What?" Aelita's eyes widened.

"Someone must've taken a trip here in the past thirteen years," Anne Marie continued. "Now we can only hope they didn't take the books."

"Can you break the seal?" Ulrich asked.

"Of course we can," Christopher answered. "But it'll take a lot of magic. There is a heavy duty seal placed on this door and it won't be easy to break."

"You know what that means, Christopher," Anne Marie said with a smirk.

The cat dipped his head and let out a sigh. "I really don't want to do this…"

"Do what?" Jeremie asked. "What is he doing?"

Christopher's blue eyes gleamed as he looked out at the younger members, and dog, of the group. "I now saw that this is not for the faint of heart."

And with those words, Christopher's feline body began to glow brightly. The air felt hotter, as if she was outside on a hot summer day. Aelita remembered this feeling and knew what her mentor was about to do. Kiwi began to jump around and bark at the light as it grew. Aelita wanted to warn her friends at what was going to happen, but she was curious to see how they would react with this.

Then, as quickly as it appeared, the warmness and the light disappeared. And now where the cat once stood, was a tall man who looked about Anne Marie's age. His dark coloured, past-shoulder length hair shone in the dim light and he opened his blue eyes to look at the group. He smiled at the younger members. Aelita looked at her friends and saw the shocked looks on their faces.

Yes…this was her mentor, Christopher, in his human form.

In this form, his voice was more mature but maintain it musical tone. "What is wrong with you? Haven't any of you seen me like this before?"

"No…it's just that-"Yumi began to say.

"You're naked!" Odd finished.

It was true. The only thing that he had on was the sun pendant he'd wear in his panther form. Christopher looked down and laughed.

"Of course I am! Cats don't wear clothing, you know. And I kind of like the freedom of not be constricted by fabrics!"

Anne Marie walked to Aelita and undid the bag that the girl had on her back. In no time, the witch pulled out some clothing and threw it at the newly human wizard.

"Put these on, you bloke," Anne Marie said. "People don't want to see you in your glory."

"Maybe I do…" Christopher pouted as he pulled on his pants.

When the wizard finished with that, he looked Anne Marie. "Did you bring my weapon?"

Anne Marie slapped her forehead. "You know how to summon your weapon out of space. Do it."

Aelita watched as Christopher's beloved rapier, Alraune, appeared in his hand. He gazed at the steel and sighed.

"It's been forever since I last held you, my beauty," he whispered to the weapon.

"Is it just me or is he even more melodramatic in human state?" Yumi asked.

"I think he is…" Ulrich answered.

"Anyways!" Christopher raised his blade high into the air and grinned. "Let's break this seal. Aelita, you pay close attention to this now."

Aelita nodded and watched as her mentors stood in front of the door. She listened as Lady Anne began to chant something in ancient tongue. Christopher bowed his head. When Anne Marie finished, the door stopped glowing for a brief moment. In that moment, Christopher looked up and stabbed his blade into the door. The door began to glow a deep red, symbols and markings that Aelita has never seen before appeared on the door. Then, the markings shattered like glass, falling to the ground and disappearing.

Christopher pulled his sword back and placed it into a stealth connected on his belt. He brushed a hand through his hair and smiled, looking back at the group.

"There, the door is open now," Christopher announced.

"That was actually pretty cool," Odd admitted. "Will there be any monsters beyond here?"

"Just a sentry," Christopher answered. "But he won't hurt use since we created him."

Aelita looked at Anne Marie and saw a flash in the witch's eyes. What was going on in her mentor's head? Who exactly came to the ruins before they did?

"Let's just go in and get this over with," Ulrich muttered. "I don't like the feeling I'm getting in this place."

Aelita nodded, as did the rest of the group. Odd and Christopher pushed open the door. The door crept slowly open, dust falling from the top as it moved, as for it hadn't been opened very often. Aelita felt a rush of negative energy fly past and through her when the door opened and felt anxious. Who exactly visited the ruins before and why is this presence here?

Aelita gulped and followed after her friends through the door.

Response Time!

Traveler: I guess the Codex is pretty neutral. It's kind of like rap music in comparison, if I'm trying to be hilarious. Just has a bad rep…Ha ha! Yes, Indiana Jones music in the background. I was thinking more boulder trap from the first Resident Evil but that works too. And hm…I must trump your Silent Hill quote. Here's from the outside the bowling alley in Silent Hill 2!

"I'll wait here…I hate bowling." "I didn't come here to play you know." (I came here to win…)

Ha ha…James you are a twat.

Sheograth: Really? Darn it! I was going for the obvious booby trap approach! Oh well, glad it made you laugh.

Comacazy Freak: Yeah, Christopher does kind of remind one of Odd in a way. But then again, I'm doing a horrible job of representing Odd in this by being sarcastic and junk like that…And I will not spoil what is in store with William until we get closer to his appearance. Which won't be for a while, unfortunately…But he'll be around! And I'll try to have the Skid in the story. The group needs a way around the land besides a horse and carriage, now don't they?

And it's no problem! I always like responding to my reviewers, especially in expansive stories like this. Makes me feel closer to the readers. And I heard that the company is trying to make a fifth season, but it is in the reflective stages right now. Cross your fingers and we might have a season five!

A/N: So there you have it, Christopher in his human form! He is much more melodramatic in this form and it'll be a lot more fun to write for him now that he isn't a cat. And now I have to work on a screenplay so I have to make this note quick! Next chapter, we have a battle! Yay! More work for me but more fun for the reader. And that's all that matters to me is the happiness of the reader.

So anyways, thanks for the read and please review! Stay thirsty, my friends.