Chapter 6

Thomas called Jayson at his house to come over for a “sleep-over” at seven and Rachel informed her parents on her “sleep-over”. Rachel packed her bag four hours ahead of time and left an hour early, to find a place to sleep.

She sat on the swings with her bag at her feet,waiting for her friends. Jayson and Thomas arrived half an hour after Rachel did. Were have you two been! She complained. I thought we all were meeting here an hour early.

We had a tough time getting my parents to go to bed. Answered Thomas. They stayed up watching some chick flick my mother made my dad watch. And thanks to that we are late. Jayson looked down at Rachel's bag and began to worry what she had planned for herself to sleep that night. Hey, Rachel, he said. Where are staying tonight? On a park bench with a blanket from home and a can of pepper spray. She replied.

Before her friends could talk her out of the arrangements she had made, a flash of light appeared and with it Rosen and two men. Greetings friends. Said the soft voiced princess. These are my friends Patron and Rocktin.

The man on her left was Rocktin. He was tall and bulk. His hair was black and his eyes were blue. His skin was fair. He was to be Jayson's trainer. Patron stood on her right. He was shorter than Rocktin but taller than Rosen.

His hair was a light brown and his eyes were green with brown specks and his skin was pale with a little color in his cheeks. He was to be Thomas's trainer.

How wonderful it is to meet you. Said Patron. His voice was sounded as if he was nineteen, which in, truth, was his real age. It is a pleasure to meet the mako and his companions. Said Rocktin. He was of the age of twenty- one. His voice was low and tough but soft, sweet, and gentle at the same time. So, shall we start training? Asked Rosen. Everyone nodded in agreement. Alright. She said. Thomas and Patron can train over by the pavilion, Jayson and Rocktin can train over at the basket - ball court and Rachel and I will train on the play - ground. Rosen took Rachel over by the swing set and told her that they would work on manipulating people.

That will be the easiest for a beginner and will be of great use to you when you are at master level. What levels? Asked Rachel. There are four different levels. Rosen explained. First beginner then, semi – advanced, advanced, and then last there's master. Rocktin, Patron, me, and Guylest have been masters for years. Now let's begin. Wait. Said Rachel. What if someone see's us? They won't. Replied Rosen. I placed a cloaking spell here just before night fell. It should last for forty-eight hours. Now for manipulating me. I want you to imagine the swings moving, then use every part of your power to force that image into my head so that I am forced to see the swings move. Rachel took a minute and thirteen tries be fore she figured out the trick was not over thinking it and clearing her mind. When Rachel finally got it Rosen's eyes widened and she could not talk or look away from the swings.

Rachel began to panic that she might not be able to get the princess out of the trance. She then looked away and Rosen found her way out of the enchantment. Well... done. Said Rosen, who still looked a little shaken. Thanks. Said Rachel.

So, Jayson, I will teach you spells and curses as well as Fighting and mako special abilities, summoning weapons. Explained Rocktin. Are you ready to begin? Jayson nodded his head yes. Then let's begin. First, Jayson, think of your favorite weapon. Jayson closed his eyes and decided that a sword was his favorite type of weapon.

A sword. He replied. Now, said Rocktin. Concentrate on what your sword would look like and imagine yourself holding the weapon. It took him an hour and a half and a hundred – twenty-one try's before he could summon the sword. It had a gold handle with ruby’s incrusted in it, a long sliver blade that pierced through the handle. It was the most beautiful sword you would ever see. Now, said Rocktin. Try to wield it. Jayson was a natural at sword fighting. Him and Rocktin spared for half an hour. Now unsummon the weapon. Instructed Rocktin. Just focus on having it disappear into your hand.

He took thirty minuets before he was able to retract the sword. Thomas tonight you will learn how to heal a wound. Explained Patron.

How? Asked Thomas. Focus all your power into your finger tips than touch the wound and imagine it healing. He replied. Thomas I need to show you how, so please don't freak out when I make a small cut in your arm. But I will heal it. Thomas stuck out his arm hoping that it wouldn't hurt. Patron reached into his large brown bag and produced a long, sharp looking, knife.

He then placed the tip of the knife into Thomas's skin and pierced a long, but nit very deep cut.

Thomas winced as blood began to trickle out of his right arm. Patron then placed his right hand index finger traced the outline of the injury.

Within seconds Thomas was healed and the pain was gone. There was no sign that he was ever injured. That is amazing. Expressed Thomas. Now it's your turn. Instructed Patron. He then made a cut that was almost the same as the one he had given Thomas. Patron looked as if he was in little to no pain. Thomas healed him within one touch. That was wonderful! Exclaimed Patron, examining his arm. Now for a bigger more stressful task. He then explained. He pulled from his a longer darker more evil looking sword. The blade was black with a green stripe in the middle of the knife on either side. I will lose the ability to heal. He continued. If the poison from which the weapon holds, is left there for two days I will die a very painful death.

Within twenty-five minuets I get to were it will be a struggle to breath, move, and talk. So ,I beg of you, please hurry. I'm not ready. Said Thomas. Why on earth are you doing this for? The man who taught me did the same. He replied.

Unfortunately I healed him in half an hour into my trying. It was a panicked and painful experience for the both of us, more so for him than me. Now you get to try. Patron lifted the knife and cut his left arm open. He collapsed from the pain that immediately started. Thomas tried and tried again but he couldn't. He called for his friends and the other trainers to see if they could help.

They were all there within seconds to help revive there friend. Patron lay there struggling for ten minuets. Thomas continued trying but it wasn't working. The others looked for spells and enchantments. They all had finished their lessons but Thomas had just begun his because Patron had given him the longest intro to a class that anyone has ever heard. Twenty minuets had passed and everyone was panicked even more now that they only had five minuets before the real pain begun. Patron whispered something to Rosen. After she was done she gave Thomas these instructions.

You'll need to whisper a spell while trying to heal him and if that doesn't work take him to Tanlon to find a master healer. Thomas remembered some of what Rosen had said when she healed Jayson. Thomas tried this and finally, just before a full twenty-five minuets passed, he healed Patron.

Patron shot and took a deep breath [ which lasted for a minuet] and then congratulated Thomas for his accomplishment. That was almost perfect. He told him. With little more practice you'll have it down.

Now I think it's time to leave. Said Rocktin. We'll drop you three off as well. Where will everyone be staying? I'll be staying at Thomas's houses. Answered Jayson. And you Rachel? Asked Patron as he stood up.

On that park bench. She replied pointing at a bench across from them.

You can't. Said Rosen. If I drop any concentration the concealing spell will drop and you'll be in danger of Guylest and his darklings finding you. I have an idea were you can stay. Follow me. They all followed the young ruler of Tanlon through a small forest which was located at the beginning, end, and even a little after the park ended. In the center of the forest were four trees that had fallen do to a big storm that had happened last summer. Stand back. She instructed. She closed her eyes or minuet ti gain concentration, and after half a second her eyes flew open and the fallen trees [ along with a few stones] swirled in the air and started to make a small house looking building. There. She replied. A cottage for Rachel to stay and a place for teaching supplies, books, maps, and potions. This shall be our hiding place. Rosen did one more thing after it was built, she conjured a spell that would conceal the cottage for as long as she wished and she would not have to constantly keep focusing on the spell. Now it is time for us to leave. Said Patron, who had almost completely regained his strength and had no more need for support to walk from the others. Farewell young enchantress. Rocktin said to Rachel. See you soon. Said Rosen. Till next time. Continued Patron. Bye. Said Thomas who still couldn't believe what had happened that night.

See you tomorrow. Finished Jayson. Good night. Said Rachel, as they vanished back to their homes.

Rachel looked around and went inside the small cottage. It was a one room home and inside was Rachel's bag, a table with six wooden chairs around it, and a small bed with a quilt and some sheets laid across it. She made up the bed and locked the door for safe measure, blew out the light, laid down under her blankets, and fell asleep. She dreamed that night that all the tall tales and stories that she had ever heard or read were true.

She couldn't decide if this was a nightmare or not.