Jayde stretched and yawned, blinking in the morning light that was streaming in through the window. Last night they had stopped at the first inn that they had found. It fortunately had two empty rooms and Clef had paid for the both of them. Jayde stretched again as she got out of bed and walked over to the mirror on the other side f the room. She brushed her hair and fixed her braid, realizing that it almost reached the middle of her back. Jayde grinned and rolled her eyes when she realized that she had slept in her tunic. She slipped on her trousers and fastened the belt. Then she slipped on her tri-layered cloak and fastened the amethyst clasp. She put her headband and bracelets back on, grabbed her staff, and walked downstairs to the main section of the inn, where they served food.

Clef was already down there, and smiled when he saw her.

"Good to see that you're finally awake Jayde."

"Wow, I didn't realize that you had been so worried about me. The last time I saw you smile was when I finally figured out my first original spell, jade ball."

Clef motioned for her to sit on the stool next to him.

"Indeed. Of course you do realize that most sorceresses aren't able to do that. They simply use their masters' spells or variations. It's rare for a sorceress to create her own spell, and even rarer for one so young."

Jayde smiled and winked.

"I'll be 200 in a week. Hard to believe that I spent half of my life on Earth."

Clef nodded.

"Well, shall we be going, or would you like to eat something first?"

Jayde grinned.

"Well, since I know you hate noise I should probably eat or my stomach will be rumbling all day.

Clef couldn't help a grin.

"Well, here's the menu. Don't order anything too expensive though, I don't have a lot of money."

Jayde nodded and ordered a bowl of soup and some tea. Clef only ordered tea. After they ate they left, once again walking silently through the forest. As they walked Jayde almost laughed as she realized something. If it were almost anyone other than herself walking with Clef, they would probably be intimidated by his silence. Of course, most people preferred talking and noise, that was one trait that she shared with Clef, a preference for peace and quiet.

Just as the edge of the forest came into view, Jayde and Clef sensed something behind them. Jayde signaled to Clef to keep moving. She held up her staff and looked at the reflection in the main stone. She only caught a glimpse of their pursuer, but was able to figure out what was following them.

"Master Clef, did you know that gremlins often hide behind trees?"

Clef looked at Jayde, realizing what she meant.

"Yes. In fact, I believe I told you that. I am your master, after all."

Jayde almost objected, but thought the better of it and nodded.

"Of course, Master Clef."

Clef raised his staff.

"Lightning ball, come forth!"

Jayde heard the small explosion and glanced back once to make sure that the monster had been destroyed. She nodded at Clef and they continued walking. As they walked, Jayde reflected on their odd little code. They had created it after only a couple years of She being Clef's student. She had realized that if they were traveling and someone was following them, they couldn't share ideas about what to do about it without their pursuer knowing that they had sensed him. Clef had thought up most of it, but Jayde had come up with the core words, such as Clef being Oak and her being sapling, or referring to the both of them as trees, monsters were gremlins, other people were faeries, and friends were birds.

After they had left the woods they had begun walking on a dusty dirt road. They were still walking on that road when they heard a horse coming up behind them. Clef held up his staff.

"A green bird flies this way. You would not recognize the species, Jayde."

Jayde nodded and they both turned to face the traveler.

Ferio almost fell off of the horse as he tried to stop it.

Either they don't realize how creepy that is, or they do it on purpose.

"Hello Master Mage Clef. I wouldn't have expected to see you traveling out here. Hey, who's she, your new student?"

"Actually, she is an old student, newly returned to me."

"Huh?"

Jayde smiled, her master could be awfully annoying when he wanted.

"He means, I've been missing for the past hundred years, and just recently was able to get back to Cephiro."

"That didn't help much, kid. How could you not have been in Cephiro? Only the magic knights go back and forth."

"Long story short, I found a weak spot in the divider between worlds, broke through, lost most of my memories, attempted suicide, the magic knights found me before I could, and they were summoned here while they were pulling me back onto the bridge."

"Wow, that's an awfully big adventure for a little girl."

Jayde swung her staff and hit Ferio rather hard with the beak end of it.

"I am almost 200 years old. You are the child here."

"Ow! Hey, sorry, it's just that you look really young, like maybe ten. Though, you are probably a couple inches taller than Clef."
This time Ferio found two new lumps, another from Jayde and one from Clef.

Jayde arched an eyebrow at Clef.

"He's a friend?"

"Yes, just not a very bright one."

"I see. Well, do you have anything more to say, or would you rather leave now, and not risk the chance of any more new lumps?"

"You're cruel. You might want to be careful around the magic knights, they might think that you're a bad guy."

Ferio rode off before she could hit him again.

Note to self: try not to talk to sorceresses who carry staffs with beaks.

Jayde rolled her eyes and she and Clef continued walking. Thinking about what Ferio said, Jayde paused, realizing something.

"Master Clef, how old are the magic knights?"

"I believe that they are somewhere around seventeen years old."

"They're so young."

"Yes, when they were first summoned to save Cephiro they were only fourteen."

"That's not good."

"Yes, I know."

"No, you don't quite get it. You think in the terms of strength and courage. Obviously they have plenty of those things. I am thinking in the emotional aspect. They're very young, even by their scale."

"They have not had severe emotional trouble in the past."

"Yes, but think of who they were fighting. Monsters, which are obviously bad, and people who were obviously bad and chose to be that way, which would be like choosing to die in the near future."

"And how is this relevant?"

"You were telling them about what they were up against earlier. I was near enough that I could hear you. This time they will have to fight, defeat, and possibly destroy innocent people who are being controlled. They may be the magic knights, but that doesn't erase the fact that they are still young girls."

"That may be true, but you still haven't explained why you are bringing this up."

"Think about it, Clef. They will all be going through the same things, with only each other to support them if they have a hard time handling it. I want to help them. I know that they should probably do this themselves, but I would still like to be there for them. They did keep me from drowning myself, after all."

"Jayde, as you said, they should do this on their own. I can see why you would like to help them, but it would be best if you didn't."

"Then, master, I am sorry but I must go against your wishes. I will help them. Creature, I summon thee!"

Jayde jumped onto the back of her giant hawk, and it took off, heading in the direction that Clef had sent the magic knights. Clef sighed as he remembered why Jayde had caused him a good number of headaches when he had trained her. She would obey him, but if she thought that something would be better accomplished a different way, there was no stopping her from trying it. Things had often backfired on her, but at least she had learned from it, after she woke up. Clef summoned his griffin and decided to follow her. He still felt that she was his responsibility, she had never actually finished her apprenticeship with him.

Jayde had been flying for over two hours when she finally found them, eating lunch in a clearing in a forest.
Why are there so many forests around here?

Jayde landed, causing the magic knights to scream before seeing who it was. Hikaru ran over to her.

"Keiko, what are you doing here? Is Clef hurt?"

Jayde laughed.

"Hikaru, calm down. Master Clef is fine, if a little annoyed with me for disobeying him. I wanted to help you."

Umi moved Hikaru out of the way.

"Keiko, where'd you get that outfit and staff?"

Fuu also moved closer to her.

"Yes, and I'm afraid that you wouldn't be able to help us, you can't use magic and don't know how to use a weapon."

Jayde laughed again.

"Magic knights, I am sorry for not properly reintroducing myself. I am Jayde, current apprentice to the Master Mage Clef. You knew me as Keiko, before I arrived here and regained my memories."

"What? But how is that possible?"

"I discovered a weak spot in the divider between our worlds, and crossed though it. I lost my memories and have lived on your planet earth for almost a century. Every four years, my memory was blanked and I'd find myself at another orphanage. If that hadn't happened, I would have most likely been killed, because I did not age. Eventually, being away from my world began to affect me, and I became suicidal. I must thank you for not letting me drown myself."

The magic knights blinked.

"That's...really weird Keiko."

"I told you, my name is Jayde."

A loud flapping was heard and Jayde held up her staff, whispering "Invisible shield." Suddenly, Jayde faded from sight, just as Clef walked over to the magic knights. He seemed to look intently at nothing for awhile, finally reaching out and grabbing at air, which instantly turned into Jayde's hood.

"Jayde, I was the one who taught you that spell. Obviously I can see through it."

Jayde almost laughed at the pun, but decided not to, Clef looked pretty angry.

"I'm sorry master, but I told you, I will help them. The only way that you could stop would be to send me back to Earth."

"And have you kill yourself? I think not. A century away from home is more than anyone should go through."

Jayde's, along with the magic knights', jaw dropped.

"Master Clef, are you feeling alright? That was oddly sentimental, not a trait of yours that I am aware of."

clef let go of Jayde's hood and put his hand up to his forehead.

"Ugh, Jayde of all the students I've ever taught, you are the only one that can cause a headache so easily."

Jayde was confused by that last remark, it didn't seem to have anything to do with his scolding. She helped him sit down on a rock.

"Wow, Master Clef. I had no idea that my disappearance had caused you so much stress. My apologies, Master."

"There's no need to apologize, Jayde. I believe that the tea I drank this morning was bad."

Jayde simply nodded and walked over to the campfire. She summoned a kettle, two mugs, and two teabags. She filled the kettle with water from a nearby stream and waited for it to boil. Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu watched in silence. Cephiro got stranger every time they visited it. Once the water began boiling, she poured some into each mug and put the teabags in. She once again waited until the tea was ready, then carried the mugs over to the rock that Clef was sitting on. She also dragged a log over, and sat on that after handing Clef one of the mugs. He looked at the mug before drinking.

"You still have these? I remember when you made them, your first attempt at clayworking."

Jayde grinned.

"Yes, they look sloppy, but they hold a good amount of tea. Well, drink it, it should help your headache."

The magic knights were still rather shocked by the recent happenings, but returned to cooking their lunch.

An hour later Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru were discussing what they would do now, since Jayde and Clef had joined up with them. Jayde was juggling some odd green balls, and Clef had given up trying to stop her. Those were jade balls, Jayde's first original attack. The exploded very easily, and were very powerful. Jayde finally got bored and dispelled the balls, deciding to follow Clef's example and sit in silence. They all heard the horse approaching, but recognizing the sound, Jayde and Clef stayed sitting, while Hikaru, Fuu and Umi stood, swords out. As soon as they saw who was riding the horse, however, they stored their weapons and greeted him.

"Ferio! It's nice to see you again!"

"Hey Ferio. Long time no see."

"Hello mister Ferio."

"Hey Fuu, hey girls."

As Ferio dismounted he saw Jayde and Clef and groaned.

"You guys again? My head still hurts from this morning."

Jayde stood.

"Yes, us. I felt that it would be best if Clef and I helped the magical knights."

Ferio groaned again and looked around.

"Hey, do you guys have any more food? I'm starving."

Hikaru looked around.

"Umm, I think we ate it all. Sorry, Ferio."

Jayde sighed, that boy was a nuisance. She conjured a small plate with different local fruits on it. It was easier for her to conjure local things.

"Here, just shut up, my head's killing me."

Ferio took the food gladly while the magic knights looked at Jayde strangely. They had thought that Clef was the one with the headache.

Jayde sat down next to Clef again and he opened one eye.

"What was that for?"

"It was for making sure he left you alone and annoyed me in case he decided to be immature about this morning."

"Ah. Thank you."

"Don't worry. With him here, it's only a half-truth, not a complete lie."

Clef chuckled quietly and drifted into sleep, Jayde following him soon after.

Ferio had heard the entire conversation and arched an eyebrow, but didn't try to wake them up.

Man, those two are weird. I wonder if all powerful mages and sorceresses act like they do?

When Jayde woke up, it was dusk. Clef was still asleep. Jayde noticed that Clef was sweating, and began to worry. She would have been cold if it weren't for her cloak. She carefully put her hand on his forehead.
He has a fever. Wonderful, just wonderful. Normal healing spells don't work on fevers and Clef never taught me the spell to reduce fever. Ok mind, time to get to work on another spell. Oh, I hope this one doesn't backfire.

Jayde tried to think, but couldn't, so she took in steps.

Okay, what's my specialty element? Earth. Okay, what's my secondary? Water. Much better. Aha! Got it!

Jayde touched Clef's forehead with her first and middle fingers.

"Healing spring."
BA blue light swirled out from the point of contact until it covered Clef's entire forehead. Jayde concentrated and held it until she felt Clef's temperature return to normal. She broke contact, ending the spell. clef stirred, blinked once, and looked at Jayde.

"Good, it worked. I was afraid it would backfire."

"What? Oh no, you didn't test out a new spell on me, did you?"

"I had to. You had a fever and you never taught me the fever-reducing spell. I even had to use my secondary because I couldn't think of any way that the earth element would be useful."

Clef sat up straight.

"You used your secondary to make a new spell, and it worked?"

"Well, since you are able to scold me then yes, it worked perfectly."

Clef leaned back against the tree.

"You're a lot stronger then I remember."

"Apparently. Master Clef, you should still rest. That was a pretty bad fever, I had to hold the spell for at least four minutes and it decreased your temperature pretty quickly."

Clef nodded and closed his eyes again. Jayde sat for a little while longer, then got up and walked over to the magic knights.

"Umm, Hikaru?"

"What is it Jayde?"

"Do you have a spare tent? Clef needs to sleep, and I'm too weak to conjure anything at the moment."

Umi looked at Jayde.

"What happened? Why does Clef need to sleep?"

"I just cured him of a rather severe fever and ant him to sleep to make sure that it doesn't come back."

Now Fuu was interested.

"You can cast healing spells?"

"Yeah, normal ones, and those don't cure fever. I had to create a new spell on the spot, not something that I particularly like to do. Newly created spells are rather draining, especially ones of the strength level that this one was."
Hikaru jumped up.

"I'll be right back with tents for you and Clef."

"Thank you Hikaru."

Hikaru returned a couple minutes later, looking sheepish.

"We only have one spare tent. Ferio already told us that he can sleep outside without trouble, so you and Clef will have to share."
Hikaru looked like she was about to blush.

"Hikaru, you are weird. I can sleep outside without trouble, it's just Clef that I'm worried about. Thank you for the tent."

"You're welcome Jayde."

Jayde walked back over to near where Clef had once again fallen asleep. She set the tent up and then checked Clef's forehead, it was still normal. She smiled and carefully removed his cloak, she figured that it couldn't be comfortable to sleep in. She carefully folded it and put it in the tent. Then she removed her cloak and took off the amethyst clasp. She put the clasp in her pocket and put the two inner layers down on the bottom of the tent, then carefully carried Clef over and laid him down on it, using his cloak for a pillow. Then she took the last layer of her cloak and laid it on top of him for a blanket. Jayde knew that it got pretty cold at night around here. Once she was sure that he was still asleep she closed the tent and walked back over to the campfire.

"Jayde?"

"What Hikaru?"

"Wow, I almost didn't recognize you. You look different without your cloak."

"It gets cold around here, so I'm letting Master Clef borrow my cloak."

"But won't you get cold?"

"Cold doesn't really bother me."

Hikaru nodded, but she didn't really believe Jayde, neither did the rest of the knights or Ferio.

Oh please, the little brave act. 'I will suffer so that my master will sleep comfortably' what is she on? I thought she was smarter than that.

Suddenly, Ferio felt someone watching him. He looked around and saw that Jayde's eyes were narrowed and she was staring straight at him. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his head.

Please do not broadcast your thoughts so loudly. I can block out quiet or faraway thoughts, but you are four feet from me and doing the equivalent of shouting. It's very annoying.

Ferio's eyes widened

You're a telepath?

Somewhat. I can only speak, not send images or move things. I have mastered the very basics and plan on learning no more.

Oh. So, you like Clef?

He is my master.

That doesn't answer my question.

But Ferio could tell that she wasn't listening anymore. Jayde yawned and stood up.

"I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning."

She smiled at the knights but glared at Ferio. Umi looked at him.

"What was that about Ferio?"
"Oh, we ran into each other this morning. I don't know what I said, but it made her really mad and she hit me with her staff a couple of times. Clef even hit me once, when I said that she was probably a couple inches taller than him."

"You idiot."

"What?"

Fuu interrupted before it turned into a shouting match.

"Clef dislikes comments about his height. Apparently Jayde also dislikes such comments."

"Oh. I guess she didn't much like being called a little girl either."

Umi cheered sarcastically.

"Tada! We have a genius!"

Ferio just rolled his eyes and walked off a little ways to try to fall asleep. He saw Jayde, trying to do...something. He walked over to her.

"What do you want, Ferio?"

"Wha? How did you...? Never mind. What're you doing?"
Jayde sighed.

"Trying to summon a tent, but I' still exhausted from that fever spell. I swear, if it had been any one other than Master Clef, I wouldn't have bothered using so much energy but without him you guys would be dead and I'd have been driven insane by your and the knights' need to talk."

"What do you mean by that?"

"By nature, humans are social creatures. And for those of us who aren't, putting up with you can be torture."

Ferio shrugged and found a comfortable place to sleep. Jayde gave up trying to summon anything and curled up in the nest of tree roots formed by the tree that she and Clef had been sitting under earlier that day.

Sometime around midnight Clef woke up. He carefully made his way out of the tent, glad that he had slept, he still felt weak.

That spell works well, but leaves both people drained.

Clef used his staff for support as he looked around. The fire was now just dying embers, and he could only see three tents. He kept looking and saw Ferio, propped up against a tree near the fire, sound asleep. Then, looking behind him, he saw Jayde. She was curled up into a ball at the base of a tree, wearing only her tunic and pants. Realizing where his blankets had come from, he took he top layer and laid it over Jayde, who uncurled slightly.