Well, this is the third chapter, of many, on this fic! :) I'm trying to think of ways to make this part go a little slower than it seems to be moving, but nothing is coming. If you think that I should try to elaborate on Firewind's training, please say so in a review, and if you think I should just get on to what I have planned, please tell me that in review. Thanks!
Touse: --grins evilly-- You know, you're never going to get this fic going, I'm going to keep giving you writer's block.
Author: --glares at Muse-- Well, this chapter took me a long time to figure out, research for (the bird mainly (you'll see)) and write. Please review! -- Trips Touse on his way out, and grins innocently.-- Thanks!
P.S. The part at the end, is a dream, hence the italics. :)
Chapter 3, Help Wanted, Help Granted.When Firewind agreed to train under the eye of Urtho, the Great Mage of Silence, she had thought that he would help her along, not push her around like he was doing at the moment. She was expected to dodge his attacks, detect his traps, and defend herself from his constant rain of lighting bolts, all at the same instant.
She panted heavily, and groaned about the unfairness of still being qualified as "human." She felt pain, got weary, still had to breath, everything like a mortal, except, she was training with a long dead man, in a place full of sand, flowers, grass and mist, and was unable to die. Thus meaning, Urtho could attack her with all his might, able to teach her a lesson with great pain, yet not kill her outright.
The 'tree,' or at least the transparent dream world version of it, in front of her set on fire, and quickly shrieked a reply at Urtho. The 'creatures' in this realm were living, seriously living. They had spirits and minds of their own, and when truly annoyed, shrieked deafening sounds at them in protest, giving the annoyance of a massive headache.
The tree shook itself, and water sprinkled out of nowhere, putting out the large fire. This meadow, as her teacher referred to is as, was made especially for her training purposes. It had a sandy-water place on the far eastern area, a grass meadow, complete with waist-high grass in the centre, a large evergreen forest in the north, a smaller bush and leaved tree forest to the south, and finally, a rock formation and invisible exit door to the west.
Dashing from bush to bush on the south side, she managed to keep out of sight, and made no noise in the underbrush. She sensed that her teacher, who was currently occupying the meadow, was tracking her magical trail, trying to find her hiding spot. She was glad she had used the last piece of magic a few feet away, and made it seems as if she were heading west, not the east route she had truly taken.
As discreetly as she could manage, she probed for magical laid traps, which were meant to snare her if she got too close. She searched the area around here, starting from the top of the forest, then scanning down to the berry decorated bushes, now in full bloom.
Firewind looked with her Mage-Sight, glancing around herself quickly, forgetting to look directly in front of her feet. After disengaging that type of sight, she sighed, glad to have finally found a place where no traps had been set.
After smelling the air, and taking in the sights, she stepped forward, only to find herself caught in a magical trap, which froze her in place, alerting it's setter. This, of course, caused Urtho to find her directly and quickly, and he soon appeared at her side, a sly grin on his face.
"What did you forget to do this time, my child?" Urtho let the trap sag enough as to let her talk to him directly, instead mind-to-mind.
"I forgot to check directly beneath me for any trap like object." Firewind growled at him. She tried to move her right arm, only to have a lance of pain shoot through it, which ended up making her gasp loudly. "And now I'm paying for it."
Urtho smiled again, and before he could answer, Firewind added, "And you're going to make me stay in this position until either the trap lets go, you let it go, or I find a way to destroy it from the inside, which means there is definitely a way to get rid of it, probably an added crack in the spell or something too simple to really notice without very close scanning."
Urtho laughed, "You know the drill, keep it up Firewind, and you'll make a fine Adept some day soon."
Firewind knew that he didn't really mean for her to be in as much pain as she was, but he had to be stern with her, or she would never have learned some of the 'tricks' she already knew off by heart. Urtho walked away, and Firewind considered her connection to the ancient Mage.
Her family tree grew proud and strong, with lineage from so far back, she couldn't even remember how long ago the first recording was place on paper. Urtho was a some-odd great grandfather of hers, and she couldn't even see how she resembled him in the least bit, even though Avatars of the Star-Eyed told her irrefutable similarities nearly every day.
'Well, no time for pondering in a position like this! Now, time to figure out how to crack this spell….'
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"I see you've managed to escape from your prison." Macaria laughed heartily, and her misty form swirled a little faster. Macaria had been her best friend since she'd gotten to this world, and she always had to rub it in when Firewind messed up in one of her training sessions. Firewind figured that she only did it to make Firewind burn the memory into her mind more, which, in the long run, was better for her.
"Yes, it didn't take me this long either. Since I knew what to do from the last time, I didn't waste my time just browsing over the spell." Firewind yawn. Working magic took a lot out of her, especially when she had a lesson, and then had to break a spell from the inside right afterwards.
"Now, I may not remember what it feels like to be tired any more, but that doesn't mean that you don't! You're still partly mortal, and mortals need their sleep. Now off to bed with you!" Macaria had been dead for nearly as long as Urtho, but had died when she was younger, so had decided to keep her younger appearance, rather than looking like an older, more wiser avatar.
Since avatars were completely immortal, they didn't need to sleep, eat, or even breath, so they tended to loose track of how long she could go for without sleep. Sometimes, she ended working for nearly two days straight without her much needed rest, but that teacher usually let her sleep for a day without break, to catch up with what she had missed.
Urtho had long learned her 'good' limits, and usually let her sleep before her senses gave out, and she lost control of her powerful Gift. But, accidents happened!
After making it back to her "bedroom," a small closet like room which held a bed, and a night stand, she fell into bed. After such a long lesson, every sense was dull, and she fell fast asleep when her head hit the pillow.
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Light filled her, reaching places she didn't even know existed. The light grew wider in the darkness, and she could see irregular black blobs in the darkness killing light.
The middle, was tall, much taller than the other that was ground-bound, and had a larger middle, with ears that perked up, and a tail of hair, like a horse, or so it seemed. The one on the left, was smaller, and looked as if it came up to about the shoulder of the one in the middle. It looked darker, somehow, it's ear looked rounded at the tops, and it's tail looked more like a wolf's, furry, but still had more bone in it than the middle one. The final creature, flew, gliding gracefully to the right of the group, occasionally swooping past the middle, and above the left one. It looked fairly large, and it's tail feathers were long, and moved about like a fan of hair-like strands.
The creatures moved closer, and while it seemed like a life time, they finally arrived before her. She looked from creature to creature, and the light finally swallowed the final bit of black.
:You are worried my dearest, do not be afraid.: She could here the masculine voice inside her head, and by the look in the pure white horse's eyes, it was he who had spoken to her.
The horse was beautiful, snow white coat, sapphire blue eyes, flowing long mane and tail, what more could you ask for?
To his direct left, now sitting, was a wolf-like animal. It's features looked a little more rounded, and it's ears flopped over themselves, instead of standing erect. His colours were nearly all black, like the wolves of the forest, but with some grey and white streaks near the chest, ears, and throughout the tail. It's tail was bushy, and also looked like a wolf's, but was longer.
Finally, she looked up, in the direction of a magnificent bird, an exotic bird, the kind in fairy tales. His, for it's colouring made it a him, tail was long and wide, with feathers more like red streamers than the tail feathers of eagles, owls, and hawks. This meant that he was meant for show, partly for female attraction, and partly for human attraction. His body was black with the exception of a blue, then yellow band of colour around his neck.
The group sure made a show.
:He is right my dear, there is no need to fear us, or to worry over us. You will meet us soon enough.: This time, she could see the wolf-creature, if that what it was, move slightly as he spoke to her, mind-to-mind. :And you can say I'm a dog, to cut the thinking shorter.: The, dog, looked as if he were grinning at her.
:Fear bad. Friends. Smart friends. Good friends. Here to help.: This, she could tell came from the bird, which had perched itself on the top of the horse's head, carefully placing it's talons away from sensitive skin, like a well trained bird would do.
:We came to tell you something important, listening is crucial. Fear us not, but fear what is inside you. Inside, you will find darkness at first. Fear it, don't give into it. Beat it down with your strengthened mind, and banish it from your mind.: The horse first said.
:Follow your heart's words. Don't take opportunities in split second time. Consider, great minds think alike, just as great minds think apart. Do not let the darkness sway you, believe only what trusted others say.: The dog followed.
:Wisdom come with many years. Intelligence come from practice. And smarts come from beginning. Choose what learn carefully. Knowledge help in future. Underestimate not. Power come from within mind, not arm.: These finishing words, obviously came from the bird.
With their job well done, and satisfaction filled, they faded and left…
Left her to think on what may happen.