Jake was paralyzed with fear. He wasn't sure what to do. He thought about making a dash to the shop and asking Gramps, if anyone would know what to do, it would be him. However Jake didn't think he had that kind of time. Every second he wasted decreased his chance of finding Rose again. Whatever he was going to do, he would have to do it on his own, Gramps couldn't hold his hand forever.

Although Jake's independence has grown over the last 2 years, the majority of tasks he's completed on his own were only small ones. All of his major fights, like his last encounter with the Dark Dragon and his final battle with the Huntsclan, were won with the aid of his friends, family, and other allies. The majority of the time, Jake was rash, and strong-headed. It was very rare for him to remember he was still a dragon-in-training. This time was different. He was fully aware that he was still a student, and it scared him.

As badly as he wanted the aid of his mentor, he would lose too much time in trying to get it. He needed to get moving, the only problem being he had no clue where he needed to get moving to. He had to think fast.

As Jake tried to get his thoughts together, a voice went echoing through his mind, scattering them again.

"You'll never find her."

Jake was stunned. That voice, it was familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He'd heard it before, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember where. It was a female voice, and Jake was certain it belonged to the wizard he's spent the last couple of days searching for.

Jake looked around, trying to verify that the voice was only in his head, and not in the hallway. He spoke out loud, "Who are you?"

"You've forgotten me already? I'm not surprised. I didn't think it would take long, but don't worry, we'll be together soon."

Jake was starting to get a headache, he wasn't used to hearing voices in his head that weren't his own. He wasn't too fond of the intrusion from the outside source. In the turn of a second, a mild headache became a skull-splitting agony, as a thousand voices flooded into his mind, each one getting louder by the second. Jake let out a cry of agony, and fell to the ground as he clutched the sides of his head.

Among the noisy chaos, Jake heard a voice that he knew, without a doubt, was coming from the hallway and not his head. He wasn't sure what it said, but whoever it belonged to recognized Jake was in trouble. The next words the voice spoke stood out against all the voices Jake heard in his mind.

"3 bears in a bed, clear the voices from his head!"

With a flash of light, everything went silent. Jake let out a long, slow, sigh of relief.

"Are you alright Long?" Jake heard, as he looked up to see Nigel standing above him

"Man, I thought she'd never shut up." Jake replied, rubbing his forehead as Nigel helped him up.

"Intrusions in your head can be quite nasty," Nigel said, "maybe if you ask nicely, I'll teach you how to block them out someday."

"Not now," Jake said, "I've got to find the sorcerer."

"Just what I was coming to talk to you about," Nigel said with a smile, "I think I know where we can find your magical troublemaker."

"Great!" Jake replied, happy to finally have a location. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, "I better call Gramps and have him..."

"No need, I've already sent out a messenger spell, your grandfather, sister, and a couple of your other allies will meet us there." Nigel informed him.

"Well then what are we waiting for?" Jake said. He was actually starting to like Nigel.

"This way then." Nigel said as he started for a nearby exit.

Jake took off following him, happy that he wouldn't be doing this on his own after all.