Chapter 2

Training was difficult for Anton Mordrid, who was used to lectures and book research. He had not forgotten his magical ways, but was not used to working with such a strong pupil.

With a wave of his hand he emptied his apartment of its belongings. He stood on one side of the room as he placed Pedestal of flame in the center, and Xandra stood across it. She was now dressed in modern earthly cloths, of jeans, but a long sleeved shirt that much still resembled her older dress, with a peasant collar, and wide sleeves, much to Anton's taste as well. These were easier to move in and less restrictive then other cloths.

"You will need to learn concentration, especially around the 4 elements common to most earths. You have earth, air, fire and water." He explained. Xandra nodded.

"We will begin with fire." He explained. "Fire's life is air. You either smother the flame with earth, snuff it out by removing the air, or douse it with water. These are earthly remedies. Your job is to make the fire work for you."

"Control the elements?" Xandra asked. Anton nodded. With a wave of his hand the flames stretched from the pedestal towards her. She dodged the flames as they grew near and tried to concentrate her energy on controlling it.

"No." Anton instructed. "Hands out, power centered. Keep your self balanced."

"I'm trying" she said back. Anton stopped the flame, putting back in the pedestal and waited as she stood firmly in her spot and practiced her center.

She put both hands out to her side, shoulder held apart. Then he raised his hand quickly and she countered raising her arms focusing her energies on the fire in front of her. She concentrated on the fire as if it were as solid as water, and commanded it to her will. The fire stopped in front of her. She then willed it to circle in front of her, in which it twisted in to a hoop of flames. Anton took this moment of distraction to counter with a blast of energy towards her, but she caught the energy ball as it neared, and willed the fire to circle her, where it then wrapped around her, and she then sent the energy ball back towards Anton, followed by the screaming orange fire.

He caught the ball of energy, absorbing it back in to his being, then countered the fire by throwing a simple glass of water toward it, extinguishing it in front of him. The water evaporated in to steam and with the steam cleared, it was just the two of them standing in the room.

"Very good." He replied, and waved his arm, restoring his apartment to as it had been previously.

Xandra, relaxed from her stance and took a seat on a near by step. She then continued to practice her magic, by levitating upon the step, and teleporting to the opposite side of the room. This was a trait Anton could not do himself, with out using much of his energy, or even without the help of the Monitor. But Xandra could do this effortlessly. She had perfected the technique during her weeks there, and had gotten rather good at it. He had taught her how to control her center of gravity with levitating, and she grasped the rules and powers quickly. Her willingness to practice on almost a constant basis, told him she really wanted to learn this.

Perhaps his task as her teacher and guide meant she may become his replacement in this world. His thoughts were interrupted however, but his since of the Monitors watchful eye.

"The eclipse must proceeded, Mordrid." The voice said. Anton nodded.

"No…" Xandra said suddenly. "I won't go back…I'm not ready."

"Yes you are," he assured her. "I will go with you. It has been several weeks, and no one has found you just yet…the next sun must eclipse before your powers can be completely unlocked."

"Okay." She relented.

"Then come...we will go."

He took her hand and they walked to the portal. They stepped through it, and the monitor did the rest, directing them to the world Xandra had escaped from. When they reappeared, they were at the sea side she had last seen. The sky was much as it had been prior to her leaving. Anton stood back and let her complete her waking of the suns. She got her knees and removed her gloves, tucking them in her pocket, and then holding her arms up to the light, he watched as the crests symbols on her hands and forehead began to burn, and glow bright blue in the light. Her body knew the spell, and he watched as the right sun burst black as the first had. The sky changed to a reddish purple at that point, and Xandra gasped as the symbols too changed color to a deep purple and burned bright in the sunlight. Her balance was interrupted and she fell forward catching herself with her hands, her head swimming with the surge of energy in her body.

As this was happening, an old woman sorceress sat meditating in her tower. She felt the girl's surge of power and opened her eyes. She got up feebly and walked to her window where she looked across the sky at the second sun eclipsing. As she was told she called for the guard outside her door, which entered quickly.

"Tell Sonja, the girl has returned…be quick...she will not be here long!" the guard ran from the tower and down the stairs to the great hall, to the middle room of the castle Sonja had fashioned in to a temple for the "Transfer of powers"

"Madam!" the guard called. "The girl has returned!"

Sonja smiled evilly and ran from the room.

They would go after the girl and catch her before she escaped again.

At the cliff over looking the ocean. Xandra tried to stand, but then quickly fell over almost as if she were drunk. Her balance was not the same. Anton went to her and helped her stand. "Light headed?" he asked.

"Yes" she replied "very much so."

"It's okay." He comforted. "It will pass."

Anton looked around the ocean and forest near by and the odd purple sky above and smiled. "This is where you were born?" he asked.

"Yes." Xandra replied still holding her head from the dizziness.

"It's where she will die too." Sonja announced. Anton turned quickly to the raved haired woman who had emerged from the forest.

"Sonja?" he said curiously. He had remembered her from years before, but had not seen her in many a millennia. "Mordrid" she replied. "I knew the Monitor would have sent her to you."

Anton stood in front of Xandra who was still disorientated. "No" he said strongly. "You can't take her."

"Don't make me go through you Mordrid. We never were really friends, but I don't think you would like being dead very much." She threatened.

"Xandra" he whispered behind him, still keeping his eye on his enemy. "Can you get us out of here?"

"I'll...I'll try" she said. And then fell to her knees. Anton turned to her and knelt to her.

"Are you okay? He asked concerned.

"yes," she replied…"Be my center." And she took his hands in hers and held them over her head palm to palm. "Think of home" she said, and in a flash they disappeared.

Stephan ran towards them with his sword drawn, but they were gone before he could reach them. He thrust his sword in the ground and cursed.

"Calm down!" Sonja ordered. "I know were they will see the sorceress."

Anton and Xandra reappeared in the middle of the floor in Anton's apartment. Xandra fell over from exhaustion and Anton rushed to something solid to hold on to, for his head was swimming so badly from the teleportation.

Xandra giggled from where she lay and looked over at Anton. "Now you know why I ended up hitting the book cases so many times." She said. Anton caught the humor in her words and laughed with her.

"What does Sonja want with you?" He said relaxing against the steps.

"What any maniac wants…power."

"But you were born with this power, she can't take it." He said thinking out loud.

"Yes she can." Xandra said still laying on the floor, looking up at the ceiling. "The marks are just here, because both physically and mentally the powers-that-may-totally-screw-up-one's-life decided that I would be the best to protect….them…the earth…the world...whatever."

"You've been in this dimension too long" he noted from her use of slang and tone.

"I would agree with you, if what I said wasn't the complete truth...but it is." She explained. "these marks" she said touching each symbol. "They can be transferred, either by will or by force."

"How?" he asked.

"either I give them willingly to her, place my hands upon hers, and transfer my power to her by my own will, or soul displacement." She rolled over and lifted herself up. Her balance off, she steadied herself with one hand and shook her head to try and focus harder. She then sat with her legs crossed as she often did and tried to regain her composure before continuing. "It's a difficult spell. But it is possible. She would transfer her soul in to mine. Mine would then be expelled in to nothing. She would have my body and all the power in contains, and I would be gone."

"What is needed to cast this spell?" he asked.

She opened one eye and looked over at him.
"I have no idea." She replied and closed her eyes again, and breathed deep. He walked over to her and sat in the floor across from her, and took her hands. He could feel her energy's were off. The balance of the eclipse had broken and he would have to help her re-center.

She opened her eyes for a moment and watched as he turned her hands over upon his, and using his energy's he again attempted to become her center and assist her in balancing. The symbols again began to glow beneath his hands and the one on her forehead as well, until the shade of purple returned to blue, restring the balance. Then she decided to play a small trick upon her teacher. She slapped his hands quickly.

"ouch!" he exclaimed rubbing the tender spot she had slapped. She smiled playfully and winked. "rematch"

He placed his hands over hers again and she waited and slapped his hands again.

"You're out of practice." She said smiling.

"perhaps I am." He replied and moved his hands before she was able to slap him again. "perhaps not."