Hey AnimePrincess here! I apologize for taking so long to upload another chapter. I was busy moving back to college and preparing to go back to school. I wrote this chapter in a bit of a hurry because I wanted to get it out ASAP so I apologize if its sloppy, etc. I'll try to upload as soon as I can and hopefully the chapters will be longer so we can get to Amani meeting Ja'far soon. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

" Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do." ~ Oprah Winfrey

Amani's POV

I nodded and quietly led the way outside so we could talk. When we were standing outside my home, Yunan lightly laid a hand on my shoulder and we teleported to a cliff-hanging over the ocean.

" We should be free of prying eyes and ears here," he said sitting on a big boulder and patting the spot next to him for me to sit down.

I hesitantly made my way over to him and sat down looking at my feet. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he spoke again.

" As the rukh has told you, I mean you and your family no harm Amani. I only wish to talk with you about your abilities and why you decided to hide them. After all, you being able to see and hear the rukh show that you have the potential to become a powerful magician," he said thoughtfully.

I was stunned into silence for a few moments. 'He's known me for a few hours at most, and I haven't been able to hold a full conversation with him due to my timidness. Yet he believes that I have the potential to become a powerful magician.' I thought. After I finished pondering what he said, I looked up at him realizing I was taking too long to answer. But he was just smiling at me patiently as if to say 'take your time'.

"I decided to hide my abilities from everyone because I didn't want to put anyone in danger," I whispered, looking him in the eyes briefly before staring down at my lap, fidgeting with the hem of my dress.

"I've been able to see and hear the rukh since Papa left for war when I was about one year old. As the years passed, I would ask Mama and Sin if they could see them too. But they never could. Which doesn't make any sense to me because Sin has just as much rukh around him as I do. Anyway, the rukh told me that someone being able to see and hear them was incredibly rare and that the empire would take me away from my family if they knew. So I decided that I wouldn't tell anyone or try to practice magic because I didn't want anyone to get hurt over me." I finished waiting for him to reply.

" I see," he said looking down, " the situation in this country has left you with very little to work with. So you chose to do what you have to because it guarantees more safety for your loved ones, even if it means isolating yourself from them."

He then closed his eyes seeming deep in thought. " But you know that things can't remain this way forever. You try your best to hide the fact that you're a magician, but you can't hide the large amount of rukh around you. And combine that with your lack of training, you are vulnerable to those that would be willing to try to use you to get what they want."

' He's right,' I thought eyes widening in panic. ' Since I haven't been able to command the rukh to stop fluttering around me in large numbers, the magicians in Partevia probably already know and are probably planning to-'. I snapped out of my thoughts when Yunan put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me. Then he began again.

" So I will help you so that they don't." he finished. I blinked in surprise.

" But why would you do that for me?" I questioned quickly, " We've barely spoken to each other since we were introduced and yet you're willing to help me because you know of the situation I'm in."

He took a moment to think before responding. " Think of it as a favor from one magician to another. And besides, you and your family were willing to do the same for me. This would be me returning the favor." He replied with a closed-eyed smile.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and I felt so relieved. ' I'm not alone anymore,' I thought happily.

I gave him a small smile as I started crying. When he finally opened his eyes and noticed my tears, his eyes widened in shock. " Please don't cry Amani," he said worriedly.

" They're happy tears," I said as I sniffled. " For so long, I felt like I've had to face so many things on my own because not only could I not tell anyone, but they just wouldn't have been able to understand. I feel like I've had a weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that someone else is willing to have my back. Thank you, Yunan." I said giving him a sincere smile which he returned. There was a comfortable silence when I spoke again.

" But how are you going to help me?" I said with a questioning look.

" By giving you this," he said when a green beaded bracelet appeared in his hand. " This bracelet can hide the rukh around you from those who can see them while still allowing you to do magic."

He held out his other hand asking for my wrist. I set my right hand in his palm and he slipped the bracelet onto my wrist.

" I can also show you a spell or two as defense and offense-"

" Can we start now?" I said interrupting him with excitement evident in my voice.

" Of course." He said with a smile unbothered by me cutting him off.

And so Yunan began teaching me how to cast different offensive and defensive spells until the sun peeked over the ocean. Then we quietly teleported back home and I went to sleep with a smile on my face.

That's all for today folks! Continue being awesome as always!