Chapter 14
Long dead twigs cracked as Arnold, Helga, Tom, and Jake started the long journey through the miles of forest. The day had started off on the wrong foot. Tom left until midnight and when he came back he was covered in blood. Jake told Tom to keep a low profile, so as to not draw attention. Jake was tired of Tom's recalcitrant ways, and yelled at him that morning. No one spoke since that time.
The sun was High in the Azure sky and it was beginning to get warm. The trees were no help from the heat and the group trekked through the unbearable atmosphere. "Why is it so freaking hot!" Helga said angrily as the blistering heat made her irascible.
"I don't know this is highly unusual." Jake said. "This is only a sign that things are getting worse. We must hurry and return you to the palace." He said.
"Yeah, okay but when we get there how do you suppose I fight Sunil?" Helga stopped walking. "I'm not exactly good with my "powers" And I don't even know how to."
"That is why this trip will take Two weeks. The first week is to train you in Magic and then you will be ready to Fight for your people." Jake explained
"Hmm." Came a sound from the taciturn Tim. "We may as well give up. She will never be able to stop Sunil."
"Hey, don't you think you should have a little faith in Helga?" Arnold interrupted
'Was he defending her honor?' Helga wondered. The unexpected happened. The ground was coming up all around her. She was going under. "Ahh."
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Helga was in an underground cavern, it was musty and humid due to the heat above. " Helga sat up, she fell hard. "Ouch," Was all she said. "Where am I?" she asked.
"You are here." Said a female voice. "I have been waiting for you." And a woman with Black hair and dark eyes looked at the dust covered Helga. "Your training will begin straight away." The woman helped Helga onto her feet. "Come girl." Helga did as she was told and followed.
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"Helga!" Arnold yelled frantically. "Helga!" he stopped when he noticed that Tim and Jake were calm. Jake was sitting on a fallen tree and Tim was leaning on another. "Helga is gone! Don't you even care?"
"She'll be fine." This was all part of the plan. "Sit boy. We have a long wait." Jake said
"Hmm." Tim made the sound again. "She is going through her training." He said and closed his eyes.
Arnold was having a hard time trusting them. How could he? They took Helga from her world and threw her into this one, giving her a new life. Arnold was afraid that she would love it here and not want to return with him. But why would she? She hated him. But if he had the courage to tell her how he felt, there might be a chance. Yes, when the time was right Arnold would tell Helga his true feelings.
"Do we have to wait out here in this heat?" Arnold asked.
"No, I have other plans for you." Jake started. "You need to master your powers of the hope sword before it consumes your soul." Jake said and told Arnold to draw his sword. "Tim, Train the boy." Tim pushed himself from the tree and drew his long sword.
"Boy, I will not go easy on you." He said and he lunged forward and Arnold drew his sword in a flash and blocked it. Tim glanced at him outlandishly and said, "Well I see you have some potential."
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"Now Sapphire I want you to focus your energy on the cup and the water inside." The woman said. "I want you to freeze the water with your mind."
"What? I have tried it. I cannot do it. Look lady just let me have a break." Helga said
"No breaks until you freeze the water. You should be able to freeze entire oceans with the blink of an eye. And don't say you cannot. You can and you will." The lady told her.
Helga sighed and closed her eyes. She envisioned the cup and the water. She knew the look and feel of the water. She knew the taste and she knew what cold was. She was now standing in a blizzard, in her mind, with her cup and the water began to harden. The ground began to shake and Helga started to sweat, this was hard. Helga was about to give up until.
"Very good. I told you," the woman said. Helga opened her eyes and looked into the cup, it was frozen, "But now you have to learn to use the fire element." The lady told her. "Lets get started."
"Are you trying to kill me?" Helga asked
"No but I'm hoping you'll live through your training." The lady said. "Now picture a volcano.
