I guess you could say that as soon as I stepped through that portal, time seemed to fast forward. I learned that the owl's name was Gamma and the old man's was Merle Ambrose and that he was the Headmaster, a great sorcerer of all magic. Within a couple of hours he taught me how to cast a spell from a spell card. These spell cards are used to summon these creatures and items from different elements. These 7 different elements are schools at Ravenwood, at which I will be studying at with many other students. He told me about battling and how that there are two types: close combat and magic dueling circles. I think he mentioned that I would most likely duel in the magic circles, which he demonstrated, but I was kinda dozing off. He told me very little about my element…er… I mean school, Life. He basically told me that Theurgists' have high accuracy and specialize in healing. When he told me about leveling up I seemed to hop off the train of thought: through completing quest and such I gain experience, in which, makes me level up and when I do so, there will be a bright vortex or light that engulfs me, but does not harm, and a number tattoo will appear/ change under my name tattoo. Along with leveling up I will be able to access new armor, spells, and other fascinating things, making me stronger. In a way to start me off, he touched my shoulder and the bright cylinder warped around me lifting my hair and making my clothes flap around. He told me I was at level 3 in strength and experience now. He handed me my stick ( which he called the 'beginners' wand) and sent me on way to Ravenwood to meet my teachers and begin my classes, well not before calling me back to explain to me about receiving whispers from teachers and how to whisper back and forth with friends, which I haven't made. Lastly he explained about teleportation, pets and mounts, like I would ever have the balls to ride on a broom or attach wings to my back. But all this was months ago, I now sit here in the portal gate to Krok- Crock? Whatever this place is, it's hot as hell and now some bug thing is signaling me over to talk to him.

Damn quest.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

I adjusted my dark green hood over my blonde hair before whistling to Dina, my tiger 'mount', to go over to the weird bug man. I am just entering this desert world within the spiral on a quest from the old man to investigate some strange mishaps. As Dina took her time, since Snoopie, my pet Satyr, often got motion sick, I took the time to check my deck, wand and pack before I unconsciously lifted my sleeve to look at my tattoo.

'Level 22…' I smirk to myself.

"Welcome mighty wizard, to Krokotopia." The bug man bowed before me.

'Oh the hell?'

"Please get up; I don't disserve your praise." I quickly dismounted, dragging a sleepy Snoopie with me. I bit my thumb nail as I looked around cautiously.

"My greatest apologies mi-"

"Call me Tara Ravensmith." I cut him off. "What are you by the way?"

"I am a Salamander, my name is Tinu Bhak'Mal."

"Oh well hi Tinu." I stretched out my gloved hand to him. He looked at it before shaking it lightly."Is there anyone I can talk to, you know to gain information about my quest?"

"Ah yes, Sergeant Talbot in the Oasis just beyond here, informs all the wizards. You may go speak to him."

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Electric purple eyes scanned the open desert. A hand brought up to a boy's forehead to wipe the sweat from it.

"This place is too hot…" he let out a laugh as a grumbled 'woof' came from his pack. "We'll get there soon enough." On that last remark the boy shot into the air and with a thrust of his wings he made his way to the Oasis.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

In the dorms, Tara usually joined the upper classmen in their discussions about their trips throughout the spiral, although no one seems to solve the threat yet. In these such discussions Tara heard that the Krokotopian desert was the largest and most agonizing desert in the spiral. Of course, being as stubborn as she is, Tara refused to believe it till she experienced it. Now she regrets her stupid stubbornness.

Dina winced as the sun pounded on the trio as they raced across the sand.

"We'll take a pit stop in a second sweet." Tara soothed, reminding herself of her father when the family went on road trips (when she was young). She quickly pushed the memory away, not wishing to bring up the life she knew she had to return to someday. Pulling on the reins attached to Dina's custom made saddle, the blue eyed girl dismounted at a large dune.

"Dina first, then you Snoopie." She whispered as she poured a giant bowl and then two cups of water. "God, where does this damn desert end?"

"Why it's nothin' more than a mile or two from here!"

Tara squeaked as she backed away from the out stretched hand in her face.

"Well that is if you're headed for the oasis." Electric purple eyes softened when the stunned girl didn't react to his greeting. "Err… I'm Connor Frostbreath. Weird name, yeah I know. I get that a lot. Whoa there!" Connor slowly backed away from the large growling tiger.

"Uh, Dina heal!" immediately the tiger silenced and laid out on the sand, but her glare didn't waver from the boy. "Sorry about that, although you gave me quite the startle." Tara held out her gloved hand, which Connor gladly shook. "Tara Ravensmith."

"So, this is your first time in the desert?"

"Um, yeah got the quest yesterday, you?"

"Eh, I've been here a couple of times with upper classmen, but quest wise, yeah."

After securing the straps, which held her traveling materials, on Dina; Tara turned to flash Connor a toothy grin. "Well I better be on my way then." Grabbing the reins, she started to walk off.

"Hey! Wait! Maybe we could travel together, since we're headed to the same place and stuff." Connor jogged up to her right side and began to walk her pace. "Since we're friends and all, we should get to know each other!" the purple eyed teen slipped his pack off his back and began rummaging through it until he pulled out a big ball of white and grey fur. "This is Rex, although he likes to be called 'Sir Rex' for some reason." Letting the dog jump from his arms, Connor turned his attention to the satyr sprawled out on the large tiger's back. "Who's that fellow?"

"Oh that's Snoopie, Lord of Laziness or Lord Snoopie as I call him for short." Tara frowned at her sun bathing pet.

"Sooo, how old are you?"

"15 and you?"

"16, your school?"

"Life, and I'm starting my secondary which is death."

"Cool! I'm in the school of Ice and my secondary is Life."

"Oh yeah, I think I've seen you in class once or twice."

"Mmmhmmm." Connor adjusted the trident-shaped-staff on his back before lifting the sleeve of his robe, exposing his tattoo. "Hey, can you roll up your sleeve for me?"

Tara gave him a questioning glance before doing as he asked. He took her hand and placed it on his tattoo and vice versa. Their forearms flashed a bright blue before a small chain and ring appeared around her neck, on top of her amulet. For Connor, another ring appeared on his chain.

"Whoa!" Tara gasped, inspecting the ice blue ring with the letters 'CFB' in the stone. "I saw these friendship rings on the other girls in the dorms, but never got one myself till now."

"Well I guess I'm your first then!" Connor held up a peace sign with a grin across his face.

"And my only…" the Theurgist huffed under her breath. She gently pushed Snoopie off Dina's back before pulling herself and the satyr on.

"We're not getting anywhere soon on foot so hop on Dina and we can go." Tara tightened her sword around the back of her waist.

"No need, I have my own mount, but you could give Rex a ride." Conner set the hound in her lap before jumping into the air and two giant black wings burst from his back.

"Well then…"

Gripping onto the speeding tiger's reins, Tara and Connor set off into the Krokotopian desert once again.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

"First talking birds, then talking horses. Cows, Frogs, and ghost, count them in too. Shoot even Snoopie talks, and now man dogs join the club. I guess every damn animal in this place talks." I huff as I scratched Dina's ear as she drank from the oasis.

"Why do you find this so troubling wizard?" the Scottish man-dog said while flexing his ears, irritating me more.

"Well Sergeant Talbot, it's just where I come from, animals are… smaller and uh, quieter."

"I thought you would have gotten used to it by now?" Connor said under his breath, a bit annoyed.

We reached the oasis over a good hour ago. We were greeted by Salamanders, Kroks, and other wizards, and not to mention the Sergeant.

"If you two are rested enough, I was hoping you can start on the mission. Many of my colleges are in that pyramid researching, so you can start out by helping them with the cursed creatures.

"Really? This place too?" I braided Snoopie's grey hair.

"It's another one of those things you have to get used to…" Connor waved his hand nonchalantly.

Gazing up at the giant pyramid with a frown, I gripped my sword, which also acts as my wand, at the low of my back. "So how do we get in?"

Connor gave me a bored glare before walking ahead. "Just follow me."

'Well then Mr. Grumpy pants…' I roll my eyes at the back of his head as I started to walk after him with Dina and Snoopie in tow.

'When you think thoughts like that try not to have your mind focused on me.' Connor's cold voice cut through my thoughts, making my deep colored face turn pale.

Connor turned his head to give me a smirk of triumph.

'Damn ring…'

[A/N]: Yeah so I noticed this chapter is short, not even 2000 words *sigh* (stupid Zafaria) :l sooooo We meet Connor :D I didn't make him too mean… right? Also Tara doesn't complain all that much does she? Lol it's okay to tell me in a nice Review just no flames 'cause those hurt my feelings. :[ (I'm a softie) Next Chapter… err.. I started it, but eh I might just rewrite it D: Also I'm sorry I'm taking forever to update this story, it's just every time I get on!... Zafaria calls to me! D: But yes, another friend pops up in the… noo I have to rewrite that part as well :/ Oh well see you like the weekend maybe. :D