A few weeks had passed and Raven was continuing to look for any mention of the words Agradd had used in between teaching him and fighting crime. In the end, she came up with nothing and just sighs. "I have no choice."
"You say something?" Agradd asks, looking up from his book at her.
"Agradd…pack your things. We are going to see a master," Raven says.
"Raven…is something wrong?" Agradd asks concerned as he sees her expression.
"I am no master. So we are going to see one to ask advice from and talk to them about a few things," Raven says.
"Okay…what do I take?" Agradd asks closing the book.
"Anything that you think will be of help," Raven says before going off to inform the rest of the Titans.
Agradd watches her leave before getting up and goes to his room to find and pack anything they will need. When she returned, she got some of her items before using her magic to teleport them out and to the middle of a wilderness. Raven takes a breath before starting to use her items to draw some sort of seal. "Stay close to me Agradd," Raven instructs.
Agradd literally steps closer to her now as he watches what she is doing.
"Vi igira pilif korilath moiparran, Ne kiranann norn, Ya khetsaram moipar, Ya khetsaram moipar!" Raven chants as the wind started to blow and her eyes glowed white for the magic. Agradd looks around as he could feel how unnatural this wind is before something starts to phase into existence.
"What is…?" Agradd starts as a large wooden mansion appeared before them as the wind kept blowing, almost as if it was always there.
"It's the House of Mystery. It's a very powerful source of magic and the current residence of the master we seek," Raven informs.
"Who is the master?" Agradd asks curiously.
"John Constantine. He is a practitioner of the dark arts and is known as the lifeline of last resort," Raven says as the door opens up to a short cut haired man in a brown trench coat who looks around before looking down and notices the two.
"Lessons for Dark Art classes are canceled indefinitely. Go away," John mutters and shuts the door before Raven puts her foot in the way. "Kid, if you are here for lessons or artifacts, I have nothing for you."
"I am looking for advice and help with finding something," Raven informs.
"Oh. One of the demon children. Didn't know this particular kid needed help," John commented as he kept the door pressed closed.
"Half-demon and it's on the advice of how to teach my apprentice," Raven says.
"Here's the book. Teaching For Dummies. Pick it up at any bookstore," John groans as he is really starting to get annoyed by this girl.
"Doso daken sachenda," Raven says calmly and John went quiet for a few moments.
John slowly raises an eyebrow and looks at her. "Where?"
"Who, more like," Raven says and John finally looks to Agradd who sinks back a little and gets closer to Raven at his stare. "Will you help or do I have to go elsewhere?" Raven asks.
John kept staring at Agradd before sighing and opening the door. "Might as well come in."
Raven nods before motioning Agradd to follow, even though he was unsure. Walking in, he can see that the room was bigger on the inside as many shelves of books and some pieces of old items stood on them. Agradd could swear one of them blinked at him.
"Don't bother touching. It's more dangerous if you even get close," John informs as he walks toward a bookshelf and looks through.
"So do you mind if I ask you now?" Raven asks before a purple humanoid appeared.
Agradd blinks as the humanoid walk up to them and stares at them. "Uh...hello," Agradd greets.
"Hello. I am Black Orchid," she says as Agradd wonders what she is.
"So what do you want to know kid?" John asks.
"I will tell you when he isn't able to hear it," Raven informs as Agradd was too busy talking to Orchid to hear that.
John hums as he looks to Agradd. "Orchid, you mind showing him around?"
"Of course," Orchid says before leading Agradd away who follows her as he kept looking around.
"What do those words mean?" Raven asks John as he watches her.
"Closest thing is a panicked talking," John says.
"That's it? A panic attack?" Raven asks unconvinced.
"Yes, but what is more important is the language it was used in," John says.
"And that is?" Raven asks.
"Ancient Avalonian. That is something you don't hear everyday love. Heck, I doubt many of your still kin speak it," John says.
"I wouldn't know about that. I and my family are not really close," Raven informs.
"Then you better pick up your family album because you might have one of your people or a lost one considering things," John says now looking through a book.
"Agradd isn't a demon. I made sure," Raven says quickly.
"Then check to see if he is one of your people. If he is talking an ancient language such as that, then I would hazard a guess that he came from your home," John suggested.
"I saw some of his memories. He doesn't remember. What's worse, I think someone from a government wants to dissect him," Raven informs.
"I'm surprised he isn't on a table right now considering you and your team's track record," John points out.
"A few weeks ago, someone also tried to kill him with a sniper. I know they were apart of those who were holding him as the uniform matched those from his memories," Raven informs.
"Well, he isn't dead. That's a good sign. Though I can hazard a guess as to who, the problem is how are you going to deal with them once they figure out where he is living at," John adds as he kept going through the book.
"I think they already know. Another reason I came to you so they would lose track of us for a bit," Raven says.
"You're damn lucky this place has dampeners otherwise I would kick you two out and leave with the House," John huffs.
"So any ideas where he would have learned this from?" Raven says ignoring his last comment.
"Did you try your books?" John asks, turning back to his book.
"All of them. None of them gave me any hints. You knowing what language that was is my first real clue," Raven informs.
"Here is the thing love. That ancient language was spoken by many of the world's mages in the distant past. Think of it like how the English language is back in the day," John inform.
"How widespread?" Raven asks.
"From the Japanese priests to the shamans of the native Americans," John informs.
"So he could be from any one of them," Raven sighs.
"Hard to narrow down the entire world, but it hasn't been used for the past few millenniums," John informs.
"Can you at least give me some advice about his training?" Raven asks.
"Tell me, what have you been teaching him?" John says sighing.
"Fire magic to start to teach him control," Raven informs.
"At least you're not that much of an idiot. But you might want to move to water spells," John advises as he flips through another book now.
"I don't know many of those though and my library on it is limited so I may have to go to Atlantis for that," Raven says to herself mostly.
"You might want to get started. If these people are after him, then you and your friends are in danger," John reminds.
"I know, but one last thing," Raven says.
"What is it?" John expersated.
"The memory I saw this from, I saw it briefly, but it was like a demon invasion like scenario to a city," Raven says.
"You might want to be extra careful in that sense," John says raising an eyebrow.
"Also, he seems to have a power that allows him to possess people, but I am not sure if it is magical in nature or not," Raven informs.
"Then test it. Use some possessing magic and question him if it is the same feeling of power," John says closing his book.
"He also takes some of the memories of those he possesses," Raven informs, getting Constantine's attention.
"Does he now?" Constantine asks.
"We have tested it," Raven informs.
"Well, aren't you productive," Constantine says as he got she was using herself as a test subject, raising the question if he could possess even demons.
"So you will help me train him?" Raven asks.
"No," Constantine informs. "But will direct you towards someone who will," Constantine adds after a pause.
Raven sighs in relief quietly. "Who?"
"She isn't a who love?" Constantine informs as they felt the house shift.
Raven slowly turns and shields her face with her hand when a bright portal opens up and a woman in a magician's outfit steps through, stopping at the sight of her. "I guess you didn't leave on the best terms."
"You can say that," Constantine says.
"What is it, Constantine?" Zatanna asks.
"Zatanna, this one took on an apprentice and came to me for help teaching him," Constantine informs.
"She must be desperate," Zatanna comments.
"Bollocks Zatanna, let's not start that again. Look, you know I don't want to teach anyone else right now, so can you handle the little hybrid here?" Constantine says sounding a little frustrated.
"What's in it for me?" Zatanna asks, giving some money grabbing hand motions.
"How about helping out that league you are a part of love? Her apprentice, from what she says, is being hunted by a government or organization," Constantine says.
Zatanna raises an eyebrow and looks to Agradd still being lead around by Orchid and pointing him to the many artifacts in the room.
"Don't ask me. I and the world's governments have an understanding so I don't know," Constantine says.
"I'm still thinking you should never make deals with them," Zatanna notes.
"It's not a deal. It is an understanding not to get in each other's way," Constantine says.
"Uh huh," Zatanna mutters as she turns to Raven. "So…care to give me a quick recap of his powers and levels? Maybe I can come up with something better than Mr. Rusty over there."
"Oi!" Constantine calls.
"I have been teaching him fire and healing magic so far. Fire mostly so he gets better control over his magic," Raven informs.
"Great start. But to have a better balance is to use simple spells. Then move onto the water. And finally earth. Four basic elements. Then we can have more fun in other areas," Zatanna informs.
"They are all yours love," Constantine says getting up and pours himself a drink.
"Ignore him. Why don't we grab your friend and get started," Zatanna says pulling Raven away.
"Agradd," Raven calls.
Agradd stops himself short of touching a mirror on a shelf and looks to her. "Yes?"
"We are going," Raven informs.
Agradd nods and walks over and follows them out.
"Finally. Some peace and quiet," Constantine says downing his drink.
"So avoid touching him then," Zatanna says as Raven finished explaining Agradd's possession power.
Agradd pulls on his gloves just in case when he hears this and keeps watching them.
"His bare skin is all I think," Raven says.
'In general,' Passion says.
"Where do we start?" Agradd suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, he is eager?" Zatanna asks looking to Raven.
"He has an incredible interest since we started," Raven informs shuffling.
'Is it in magic or in us though?' Happy asks.
'Happy,' Raven nearly growled in her mind.
'He looks so cute when he wants to learn more from us,' Happy daws.
'Happy, you're making the rest of us feel warm,' Rage says.
'And?' Happy asks cheerfully.
'It is distracting,' Brave says.
'But he is cute like that,' Happy points out.
'We need to make a move on him soon,' Passion insists.
'Maybe a little date back in Jump City,' Happy suggested.
'With the paparazzi?' Knowledge asks.
'We also don't wear a mask so everyone knows my face,' Rage says.
'We can head to a roof and walk across them. They don't always look up,' Happy points out.
'Will you all please shut up?! This isn't helping and I'm not going to date him!' Raven demands with a pensive look on her face.
"Raven…are you okay? You have that look on your face the last time you stayed away from me," Agradd points out and makes Zatanna smirk slightly.
"I am fine," Raven says before hugging him and immediately knowing that either Happy or Passion was behind this.
"Oh…okay…" Agradd tries to respond, obviously confused at her hugging him as he looks down to her.
'Aw. He cares about us,' Happy daws as she hugs Passion. 'How long do you think before we ask him to really date us?'
Raven was about to yell something at them when Agradd hugged her back.
Raven sighs and just melted into his hug now as Zatanna look to her watch as she stood a bit away and watches them enjoy themselves. 'Young love.'
"Raven," Agradd whispers a bit happier, making Raven smile.
'See? He cares,' Happy says smiling.
'And I am now justified,' Passion says.
Raven rolls her eyes before pulling away. "Okay. Let's get to training."
"Alright," Agradd says.
'You know, why are we not trying to sunbathe when we are here?' Brave asks as Agradd kept trying to practice his magic in a pool.
'Because we are teaching,' Raven reminds as she kept watching.
'Incoming wave,' Knowledge says.
Raven looks up and uses a spell and blocks the water from hitting her.
'Don't you dare make the joke,' Raven says to Passion.
Passion just giggles as Agradd looks apologetic.
"You alright?" Agradd asks swimming to the edge.
Raven nods. "Fine. Go ahead and continue training."
"Alright," Agradd says before shivering in the water.
Raven looks a bit concerned and sighs at him. "Alright. Come on out. Let's warm you up before getting you back to training," she says grabbing a towel.
Agradd nods hearing that and pulls himself out and onto the side where Raven wraps him up in the towel.
Raven smiles a little and looks him over as he snuggles up. "You have been improving."
"Why did she say I have to do it in ice cold water?" Agradd asks shivering as he summoned a magical fire in front of him.
Raven shakes her head lightly. "Words were 'It sharpens the mind.'."
'Ah. Come on. Let's hug him,' Happy says.
Raven watches as he kept shivering before moving over and hugging him, wrapping her cloak around him. "Better?"
"Actually, yeah," Agradd says.
Raven nods and keeps hugging him. "Good."
"You are warm," Agradd says smiling now.
"No. That's you and your fire spell," Raven tries to deflect.
"The most I feel is coming from you," Agradd informs and Raven could practically feel Passion's growing smirk.
'I…I just…' Happy stutters, trying to talk.
'Finally,' Rage mutters.
'Does this mean…he has fallen for us or is on his way?' Knowledge asks.
'Let's go out more to find out,' Passion declares.
'The wizard and his half-demon wife, huh?' Rude asks before belching, freezing every one of the emoticlones and even Raven herself.
'Oh, right. Forgot about that part,' Knowledge mutters to herself.
'What? Marriage?' Rude asks.
'Half demon…how will he deal with that part truly?' Knowledge points out.
'He already knows, remember?' Raven reminds.
"But does he know how to deal with it?' Knowledge asks and they all look to Rage who looks at them all with her four red eyes.
'What?' Rage asks.
'Does he really know how to deal with you?' Passion asks, tapping her chin.
'Passion, don't take this somewhere dirty,' Rage warns growling.
'You made it dirty. I am saying, how would he deal with your rage?' Passion points out.
'Can I hurt her?' Rage asks.
'No,' everyone else says annoyed at Passion now.
"This is a nice feel," Agradd says, hoping to break the awkward silence.
"Oh…it should. You were freezing," Raven spoke up, noticing he is barely shivering at all now.
'He loves us. I know it now,' Happy says.
'But how to get him to say it is the question…oh! Romance book!' Passion suggested excitedly.
'No,' Knowledge says.
'Aw. Why not? He needs advice and it's better that he does not learn how to say 'I love you' from us. He needs outside help so he thinks he figured it out on his own,' Passion lectures.
'I think she means no you are not getting into her collection,' Rude says.
Passion sticks her tongue out annoyed at that.
'Moving on. Do you think it is about time we determine what his soul animal yet?' Knowledge asks.
'Could be a good thing,' Raven says looking Agradd over. "Agradd?"
"Yes?" Agradd asks looking back at her as she takes in he now had blue hair.
"Might be a good time to start to figure out your animal," Raven says smiling a bit.
"My animal?" Agradd asks.
'So what do you girls think? He looks better as a redhead or blue hair?' Passion asks.
'Red/Blue,' most of them spoke up and look to each other.
'We are split,' Passion jokes.
"You have trained enough. It would be a good time to see if we can figure it out," Raven informs Agradd.
"And what is your's?" Agradd asks.
"Raven. Mine is the dark raven," Raven informs.
'You still holding him,' Passion reminds.
Raven blinks before slowly letting go of him. "Now let's see if we can get started," she says turning away and floating over a book to find the spells he needs.
"I see," Agradd says putting on his cloak before moving closer to her.
Raven hums as she kept flipping through the pages. "Okay. First, set up this spell circle and then meditate," she instructs, giving him the book that is stopped on a page.
Agradd did as she instructed and started to form the seal as Raven's emoticlones were debating why they prefer one of the hair colors over the other.
Agradd looks over the seal to make sure it matches before going to the center and sits down and meditates, trying to find his magic and pour it into the circle.
'Girls, he is starting,' Knowledge says.
Everyone shuts up now, even the emoticons as they watch the aura around Agradd start to flare up and turn a golden color. Raven became interested and wonders how he gains such a color while a figure seems to emerge from his aura, lifting off of him and seem to form a winged creature with the amount of aura off to the sides. They all soon see a beak rise up and then a body coming out, looking like a raven itself, but then another set of wings came out under the first, spreading out even longer. Raven gasps surprised now as the rest of the emoticons were still stuck watching until the large spirit animal came out above him and flaps its wings once as it seems to look around. Only now is Raven recognizing that it is a…
"Phoenix."
'It's a flipin Phoenix!?' Rage calls in shock.
'Yes…yes it is,' Knowledge says, now wondering what else Agradd can do.
'Knowledge, find us a book on what that means,' nearly every emoticlone says.
'Alright, give me a second,' Knowledge says, going to find something on what this means.
Knowledge immediately went to her books and start searching until she finally comes across it. 'Phoenix symbolizes transformation, death, rebirth, renewal, creation, protection, hope, and invincibility. The immortal Phoenix never truly dies. It continually rises from the ashes, just as the fiery sun "dies" and is "reborn" every morning. Because the Phoenix willingly sacrifices itself to death, it's able to regenerate through reincarnation and gain awareness and spiritual growth. The Phoenix's presence tells you that you're ready for a significant change, a new perspective, and a renewal of self. By using the cleansing energy of fire, Phoenix will help you overcome impossible odds, shining hope in the midst of despair. The Phoenix is always listening to your song and brings with it the ability to heal physical and emotional wounds. Surrender your feisty and complicated feelings to the perpetual cycle of transformation,' Knowledge reads.
"Amazing," Raven voices and breaks Agradd's concentration, making the Phoenix disappear and the light of the spell circle die down.
Agradd breathes hard as he seemed to be covered in sweat on his forehead now.
Raven rushes over now and looks him over, pressing her hand against his forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted," Agradd says letting her hold him.
"Okay. You can rest now," Raven says slightly concerned. 'And maybe since your spirit animal can drain your magic.'
"Raven," Agradd tiredly mutters, holding onto her before falling asleep.
Raven sighs as she brushes some of his hair while watching him snore quietly. 'We're going to have to work on his magic pool.'
'I am in no hurry if we keep getting into situations like this,' Passion says.
'Passion, I swear…' Raven mutters.
'You love him?' Passion asks giggling.
Raven was silent on that as she held Agradd closer as if someone would take him away.
'I win,' Passion declares smirking.
'Yeah, I…we all love our apprentice,' Raven admits to herself.
'This would be awkward if we have sex,' Knowledge says bluntly.
'Why…oh. Why did you bring that up?' Raven asks.
'Look at all of us and think about it,' Knowledge just says.
'I rather look at Agradd,' Passion says.
Raven actually the curiosity hit her from Passion and wonders herself how he will look. 'Passion.'
'Yes?' Passion asks smirking.
'Stop sending those thoughts,' Raven requests.
'…I'm not sending any,' Passion says, trying to sound innocent.
"Right," Raven huffs while still watching Agradd rest.