The quartet waited a few minutes before daring to go out. Thankfully, the Professors seemed to all be in their rooms or just about anywhere besides the entrance hall, or the SoL dorms, as they dubbed them, SoL standing for the Star of Light (obviously). The last door, to Dean and James's delight was a huge dining room, with an even bigger kitchen attached. Unlike the other two, Hallie and Patience did not enjoy stuffing their faces with éclairs, and pastries, so they left for the library.
"Remind me again of why we picked the library of instead of our rooms to talk?" said Hallie.
"Because who in their right minds will go into the library on their first day here besides exploring it, and it's big enough to not meet up with anyone."
"Is what we're going to talk about that important?"
"Yes." Patience answered simply.
Once they were in the library, Patience dragged Hallie to one of the farthest corners that she could find. This section was full of history books in about twelve languages. She turned to Hallie, and looked like she was about to say something really fast, as to get it out quicker, but was not stealthy enough.
"Patience, Hallie. What are you doing here?" asked Marlin, a note of suspicion in his voice.
"Nothing. We wanted to take a look around that's all. This is such a huge library. You'd never know that it was this massive from the entrance." Patience lied, not skipping a beat.
"Alright then. We should head back. From what I've heard, Niveus wanted to hold a small meeting in a few minutes." He seemed satisfied with her excuse.
"Right, well, um, could you lead the way? I'm afraid that we're a bit lost." Hallie stared at Patience. Who knew that she could talk through a lie so easily?
* * *
The meeting was held in the room right before the Star's sleeping chambers. It consisted of only one medium sized table in the middle of the circular room (white, as always), and many lightly colored armchairs stood around the table. The high back one, obviously, belonged to Summise, but Hallie saw that four nearest to him were empty, and the rest of the ones present were all seated on the other side. While She stood in the doorway with Patience, Dean and James came in, guided in by Ellyn.
"Please be seated." Niveus said ever so calmly.
*Someone has to talk to him about that calmness thing. It's really starting to get on my nerves," thought Hallie, knowing full well that no one would answer. However, to her utter amazement, three did.
*I know, * thought Patience along with both James and Dean.
*This is awesome an all, but I think that we should figure this out after the meeting is over." stated James.
"Hallie, Dean, James, Patience? Please sit down." Summise asked once more. The teens quickly obeyed. "Now that you have become more or less familiar with your surroundings, we can talk about the training. We do not have long to introduce you to your powers. I think that we all know by now that Hallie is the elemental, but I wonder about the rest of you."
"Professor, I think that James is a transformer," said Hallie.
"Why do you suppose that?" inquired Austin.
"Well while we were…err…away, we ran into Utazenla and…" James began.
"What?" Every adult in the room with the exception of Ellyn stood up.
"Let him finish," Ellyn snapped "before you explode." she directed the last toward Austin in particular.
"As I was saying, he cornered Hallie's twin Amy, and then he said something about giving us a test to see how strong we were. All sorts of creatures and a ring of fire materialized, and he left. Needless to say that we were losing quite beautifully, until we got it together, and that took time. Hallie did something to the fire ring and come hags, while I took care of the trolls, and green crows. The few vampires and werewolves there were, fled soon after we started to act." By that time, everyone was gaping openly at Hallie and James.
"I see." Niveus finally seemed to regain control of his voice. "That means two down, and two to go. Dean, do you suspect yourself to be a specific part of the Star, or do you have no clue?"
"I think that I may be a warrior, since I didn't make anything happen, but I was the best of my class in fencing: no one, not even the teacher, could hit me."
"Then warrior you shall be. Miss Quiet, you know what I will ask you."
"To be honest Professor, I'm not sure. I know that I'm not cut out for a warrior, but I don't see any difference between a mage and a transformer."
"I believe I can answer that question," said Marlin. "You see a transformer has the power to turn things and creatures into something else. They can change the way a person looks, and turn one item into another. Powerful transformers can conjure items from nothing, but there has not been one for thousands of years. Mages, on the other hand, are what you would call a witch or a wizard. They can do just about any sort of magic within their power limit, minus transforming or conjuring. Things like ways of freeing an opponents, levitating things, giving light, creating magical items, tracking spells, and just about anything that can be done with out magic, can be done by a mage. I believe there are books in the library that…"
"Stop it, Mar, you're not here to bore them to death. So just stop, " said Austin.
"Right, well what do you think you are?"
"Mage." Patience sounded confident.
"Wonderful!" Niveus clapped his hands together, and beamed at the lot of them. "It looks like every professor has someone to teach, and so no one will be left with nothing to do, or too much of the same. The training will begin tomorrow morning around eight. Patience will be first, then James, then Dean, and finally, Hallie." With that, everyone stood up, and left talking amongst himself or herself, and leaving the Star to do as they please.
"That was short," Dean pointed out.
"Yeah. Shall we go back to our common room then?" said Patience.
"I guess. I mean what else can we do?" said Hallie. James looked like he was going to answer, but she cut him off. "Forget I asked."
* * *
The next day, everyone gathered in the last unknown room: the one between the Professor's rooms and the meeting room. It was white (not surprisingly), and had a raised round platform in the middle. Unlike the other rooms, tough, it did not have pacing animals on the walls, but was completely empty safe for a single lamp overhead.
"Patience, as you must know by now, I'm Marlin Rachee, and I'm going to be your instructor in being a mage. You can call me Marlin, or Mar, whatever you prefer. The same goes for everyone. Professor Rachee sounds way too formal."
"Um, Prof- I mean Marlin, are you a mage?" asked Hallie.
"Partly. I can make simple things happen, and teach other mages what to do, but I am not powerful enough to do anything helpful to the Star. If I am not mistaken, Patience's magic level is great enough for just about anything that has been invented so far. Now, we're getting off the subject. Patience, please stand on the platform, and the rest of you, please stay close to the walls."
As soon as Patience stepped onto the platform, the room became pitch black, and more than a few resounding crashes were heard. When all was once again quiet, the room became lit again, and quite different from before. The room was now a lot like the common room. With a fireplace, couches, tables, and a bookshelf filled with books. Taking an example from Ellyn, Austin and Niveus, Hallie, James, and Dean sat down on one of the couches. Marlin was talking once more.
"Now, this room is the one we will use for training. When someone steps onto the platform, the room changes itself to fit the needs of training that particular person. A mage's magic is easy enough to understand. You just have to think what you want, and then will it to happen. This requires much concentration, and patience, no pun intended of course. Do you see the book over there? See in your mind's eye that it comes to you, and then make it happen."
Patience closed her eyes, and extended her hand toward the book. The book rose a few inches, and slowly started moving toward her. It traveled about two feet, and dropped to the floor. Patience opened her eyes, and gave a slight smile.
"Good," Marlin returned the book back with a flick of his wrist "now try it again. This time relax a little, and try using a word or two to focus your magic."
Patience nodded and tried again. "Come." she ordered. This time, the book rose higher, and flew at a considerably high speed across the room. Before it completed it's journey, Patience opened her eyes. She grinned, and looked positively thrilled. At once, the book lost heart and dropped like a stone to the floor.
"That was awesome!" said James.
"Yes, but you have to remember to not lose concentration just because you looked away. With practice, you will be able to do things without thinking about them at all. I think that it's enough for now, Practice focusing on things without disrupting what you were doing. For example, try and make something come to you while you're talking to your friends. Don't try anything besides summoning, because you'll wear yourself out. We will do more tomorrow." Marlin then went to the couch and sat, looking around at the others.
"Right then James, I'm Ellyn, and if you didn't know that already, I'm hurt. Call me that, or Ella works just as well. I don't think you need to step on the platform, since this room will do fine for today." James nodded. "Alright, you still might want to sit somewhere farther away from the rest." Again James nodded and did as was asked. "Since you turned things into other stuff before, we'll do that later, and have fun today. Basically I'm the same as Mar. I am a transformer, but I can't do major things, unlike you. Each person has an animal spirit in them. Transformers are able to bring them out. It's very complicated to explain, but what ever your animal is, you think about it, and you turn into that animal. There is a potion that can be made from regular things and it will tell us what your animal is. I think that there are only a dozen books about potions, and each book has only one or two copies. Our library is the only one that possesses all twelve. Austin here, is the only one who bothered to memorize every page…"
"I resent that!" exclaimed Austin.
"Yes you did. Anyway, he's what one would call a potions master. There are only a few in the world that carry the title, and it's supposed to be a great honor, and, as I am constantly reminded, they have to be respected for their art." She glared at Niveus and Austin. "But enough about that. The point is, that you will get a potion, drink it, see what animal you are, and then become it. By the way, sorry if I don't sound too happy. It's just that some people whose name I'd rather not mention, are really getting on my last nerve, and, well, you understand."
Austin stepped forward, a bottle at hand. James took the potion from his Professor and downed it in one gulp, wincing at the taste.
"Surely you could have made these taste better by now, you being such a great potions master and all." James smirked at Austin.
"Just you wait..." Austin trailed off as a shadow appeared next to James.
"Ah, now we will see what your dominant animal is," said Summise.
The shadow started to change as they all watched. It changed into an Owl. An owl, could have been worse, it could have been a spider. James thought sniggering to himself.
The Professors were all started talking when James butted in "Um excuse me Professor is it supposed to do that?" he asked pointing at the shadow which had changed into a lion. It changed once more, this time a butterfly and then again to a stag. Everyone was openly gaping by this time. On and on the shadow continued to change until James thought that there couldn't be any more animals left and then it moved onto the magical ones. A phoenix, a fire crab, a unicorn, a manticore, an ash winder, a demiguise, a thestral, a hippogriff, a centaur, a kneazle, a runespoor, a pixie, a basilisk at least four different types of dragon and lastly a magnificent golden griffin. James turned his gaze on the professors who looked completely shell shocked. Even Summise. Ellyn was standing there opening and closing her mouth like a fish.
"Flies, Ellyn, Flies" whispered Marlin. "You don't want them to fly in, now do you?"
"Austin, I have to ask this, I don't want to, but I have to."
Austin waved his hand. "Niveus, I understand. Yes the potion was correctly brewed."
They all turned to look at James. Professor Estav was almost jumping up and down on the spot with excitement and Austin, Marlin and Ellyn just looked at James in awe.
"Now Mister Bellen, we might just start with one of your easier forms" The word easier was laced with some slight sarcasm. "
How about the lion. Just picture a lion in your mind and try to concentrate." Ellyn said firmly. All trace of the previous excitement gone now that they were getting down to business.
"You will start to feel a tingle in you hands as they are usually the first to change, don't fight it just keep concentrating on the lion until the tingling stops." She conjured up a mirror. "Don't look in the mirror until I tell you or you will loose concentration. Are you ready." James nodded.
James closed his eyes and pictured a magnificent lion. The pins and needles started in his hands. At first it was so painful that he almost lost the picture of the lion in his mind. Then it started to get easier almost as if he got used to it. There was a slight pop and James opened his eyes to find everyone staring at him again. He supposed that he was going to have to get used to that.
"Stop staring at me, " he said or tried to, but it came out as a roar. James padded over to the mirror and gasped. Looking back at his was a beautiful lion with a big bushy mane and a long elegant tail.
"Now James, listen carefully. You must now picture yourself again. Concentrate hard on that picture until the tingling stops." Professor Estav added. James pictured himself in his mind and waited. This time there was no tingling just a small pop and he was back to himself again.
"That was interesting," said Dean, earning himself a whack with a pillow from Hallie.
"That was great James!" she said, Patience nodding along.
"Yes, James, that was beyond what we expected on your first day. You can sit back down."
Knowing it was his turn; Dean stood up, and walked to the front of the room.
"Dean, I think that you need to change the room, please step on the platform. Just incase you're as dim as a few people I know, my name's Austin Reeono."
Dean complied, as the rest moved against the walls. Once again, the room became pitch black, and crashes rung through the small room. When the room was done, the couches remained in the same place, while everything else was gone, leaving empty space.
"Dean, since you are a warrior, you will need to learn to fight with two different weapons. The sword, and the daggers. The second Star of Light warrior receives the staff, and the bow and arrow. Chose your weapon, and we will see what you can do."
A sword and a pair of daggers appeared in front of Dean. The sword was a sapphire blue, with an eagle carved near the hilt. The daggers were and emerald green, and also had eagles carved near the hilt. Dean paused, and then took the sword. Seeing his choice, Austin took his own sword. Dean felt the sword to change enough to fit his hand perfectly. Marlin sent a bit of red light at them, and then a gold as well, all with a flick of his wrist.
"That's for protection. This way the sword will not make contact, but when one is hit, they will glow a red light to tell if you succeeded. The first to hit the other eight times wins."
Dean took up a fighting stand that he learned while fencing at school. He was not sure of what to do when suddenly Austin lunged at him. His reflexes really came into their own here as he dodges out of the way. As he brought his sword up to meet Austin's, a vision flashed in his mind. Well it was more like a thousand visions. It only took a moment, but suddenly all of the information he needed to best Austin was in his head, and his body moved as though on autopilot. He blocked, lunged, and parried. The match was over in ten minutes, when Dean made Austin glow over sixty time, getting hit only twice himself. Dean turned around to look at every stunned face around him.
"What?" he asked looking nervous.
"Dean, have you ever used a sword before?" questioned Ellyn.
"No."
"But then…how?" said Marlin.
"Well, every time that Austin went to attack me, my mind would repeat all these visions, and it was almost like I knew how to do this all along, but had forgotten, so the visions were helping me to remember." Dean finished shrugging.
"That was something," stated Niveus. "Hallie, you're up. After you're done, this session will be over."
Hallie did not need to be told what to do. The room changed this time to be a vast field, but the couches still remained. There was no end to the field as far as the eye could see. Marlin cast protection wards on the couches, and everyone sitting on them. Summise stepped forward.
"Hallie I want to tell you not, that this will now be easy. Elements are very difficult to control. I have the power to control the earth element, and that is why I will be teaching you. While I can help you with the earth element, the other three are for you to deal with on your own. All I want you to do, is try calling up the elements one at a time, and try to create an animal figure with each."
Hallie nodded, and waited for him to return to the couch. She desided to start with the fire element. Once again in the calmness of her mind she called for fire. It came, but was not visible. Slowly, she pictured a flaming wolf in front of her. A wisp of fire appeared on her left, and grew slowly to the correct size. Even slower, it formed a wolf, and stood firm. Waiting a minute or so to make sure that it would not fade, Hallie turned to the water element, as it was easy as well. The water element came much easier out in the open, and positioned itself in a clomn behind her. It formed a cat, and sat down on the ground. More than pleased with this, Hallie desided on the earth element next. She manged to bring it out even easier than the others, but could not shape it. Hallie gave up, and left it a colomn until she was ready for another try. The wind. Hallie thought back to the times when she made things be carried by the wind, and how easy it was. She was wrong. The wind did not have to be created, since it was all around her, but it would not take form. Even a shaky colomn took almost fifteen minutes to put up. The girl banished the element, not trusting herself to keep it under control while working on the earth. Hallie looked up at Niveus, asking for help, and instantly felt the earth element become easier to work with. She shaped it into an owl, and mentaly thanked Summise for his help. She once again summoned the colomn, and started to shape it again. She could not. No matter what she did, the element refused to be controlled. Finally giving in, she banished the other three elements, thanking them for their cooperation, and walked back to the couches.
"Good jo Hal! I heard them talking while you were conjuring the fire element. It sounded like they didn't even expect you to summon or control one of them!" James informend her.
"Yes, that was exelent. You may all go abck to your rooms now, and don't forget to practice at least some.
"All except for Hallie, if she pacticed somewhere outside this room, then she'd most likely blow the place apart," said Patience.