Remus refuses to see Maxine, told so by the fairy queen. Maxine asks about her items but

queen says they have been taken.

Maxine asks the fairy queen for advice as the queen is leading her around. Maeve says

she could do no better, but gives her a place where her and her friends can train in relative safety.

A lot of fairies join to have some giggles.

Rei gets angry about this and even chews into Maeve for having let Maxine into this part

of D’yalia, but Maeve says that Drakkar is welcomed anywhere. Tells Maxine that Morkoth is on

his way. Maxine tries again to plead with Rei, but he’s not listening and again refuses. Maxine

wonders why Rei is wearing her sword and he answers back because it’s too painful for Remus.

Alain attacks that night and Remus saves her. Agrees to give her lessons finally.

In practice maybe includes a prayer to time to get his attention and he comes in and

smacks her?

MYSTERIUM!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 9 D’yalia was everything Maxine had ever imagined. It was nothing short of incredible.

The three of them were guided through the halls with Maeve as their hostess, no less, which was

just as incredible. The castle felt like it wanted to do everything to bring the outside, inside.

Trees grew in the middle of halls, vines climbed up walls, and there was strange glowing fungi

hanging down from the ceiling. Fairies buzzed past them, most barely an inch or two tall, but

there were more that preferred to be human-sized. If it weren’t for their strange squinty eyes and

pointed ears and traces of different colored veins glowing through their skin Maxine might have

associated them with possibly being elves.

Humans rarely ever stepped foot inside of D’yalia. Knowing this she did her best to

absorb it all in, but her mind refused to cooperate. It constantly returned back to the issue of

meeting with Elemental Remus, and then the loss of her amulet.

“I do apologize, Lord Drakkar,” Maeve said in soothing tones, running her elongated

fingers down Maxine’s braid. “I will have my attendants beseech Lord Remus once again,” she

promised.

A shiver traveled up her back and she felt a little queasy with the touch. Wincing she side

stepped attempting to place Kriss in between her and the fairy queen. One of the peculiarities of

the queen was that she just couldn’t seem to keep her hands to herself.

Amar leaned into her and whispered, a smirk on his face. “I think someone had a crush

on Drakkar that never ended.”

Maxine groaned wanting to bury her face in her hand. “Yeah,” she whispered back, “and

I don’t think she particularly cares that I’m not male.”

Amar leaned back with an evil smile on his face. “I dunno about you, but I’m enjoying

my stay in D’yalia so far.”

“Want me to give you another shiner?” she threatened curling her fist.

Queen Maeve’s voice pulled her attention away from the warlock and back to the

situation at hand. “I have a feeling, Lord Drakkar, that you are really going to like this next

location,” she said airily.

A moment later they turned a corner and passed under through hanging moss into another

room. Maxine stopped short caught off guard by what she was seeing. It was a large open room,

big enough that it could have fit two of her school’s dining halls inside. She could even make out

a second floor that lined the walls all around, massive staircases leading upwards. It was packed

with fairies and strange instruments, many of which she had seen her school’s classrooms for

like potions experiments and some that measure a spell’s potency. There were bookshelves

everywhere and large desks. The most impressive of it all, though, was the ceiling. It was if

someone had brought the night sky inside and splashed it up on the ceiling. She could see

thousands of stars, a large full moon, and even watched as she witness a shooting star streak

across for just a breadth of a moment.

“Holy…” Amar said, his voice trailing off, the awe in his voice very unlike him. He was

the first to rush in, spinning around with a boyish delight, his robes spinning, as he took in

everything. “I thought Aunt Alain’s magic labs were impressive, but this… this is incredible.”

Maxine followed in after him feeling out of her element, confused by all of the different

things she was looking at. Even Kriss was gaping around in silent awe. He rushed past her and

joined Amar, the two of them gaping at a strange contraption on a table that was a tangled mess

of glass beakers, tubes, and vials. A strange green liquid flowed through the instruments from

one beaker and went through a series of steam puffs until it arrived red in another beaker.

“We call it the Mysterium,” Maeve said beside her, an obvious pride in her voice. “You

helped us make it so that we could advance our studies into all kinds of magics. After your Fall

you came here often.”

She could understand why. The Threads in the room were alive, humming and vibrating

excitedly. It was almost as if they were singing. The activity of it all was intoxicating to her. The

hairs on her skin stood up and a strange energy filled her.

Suddenly Amar was in front of her again. He reached out and grabbed her hand and

pulled her after him excitedly, running to another table. “You gotta see this,” he said excitedly.

“Come on, Weaver, this has got to be the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen.” He stopped at

one table and explained what it was doing, pointing out different parts in the process, stopping

from time to time to figure out a part that he didn’t understand. She didn’t have the heart to tell

them that most of his explanation went a bit over her head.

A series of bed lined up against one wall caught her attention, all of them filled with

fairies who were fast asleep. “What are they doing?” she asked.

“Fairies specialize in sleep magic,” he said. “All of the experiments and spells in this

room are about sleep.”

“They are exploring the Dream Scape,” Maeve explained further, rejoining them. “It was

one of your favorite pastimes. You would come down here and sleep for hours. In your dreams

you have full control and are able to do anything and everything.”

She wrinkled her nose at it. She couldn’t imagine what draw it might have had for

Drakkar, but it held little interest for her. What was the point of sleeping your life away visiting

delusions and things that weren’t real? There was enough mystery for her in the real world.

Besides, what was the point when in the end you simply woke up.

She turned and pointed at something else she found. A large spot on the floor had been

drawn on with white circles and looked as if it had been carefully sectioned off away from the

rest of the room. “Is that a magic circle?” she asked, walking over to it.

Amar and Kriss joined her. “Very good, Weaver,” Amar said his voice a sarcastic droll.

“A+. Next week’s lesson: prayers and chants.”

She punched his upper arm lightly. “Knock it off. I’ve never seen one before. I could

never get my wand to work.”

It was ethereal looking. A five pointed start was drawn in the middle with runes

surrounding it, and then an outer ring that contained five other smaller circles with other designs

drawn into them, and then more runes and another outer ring with more circles.

“This is an illegal spell,” Kriss gasped rushing over to it. He pointed down at one of the

symbols. “This is Elemental Remus’s symbol.”

“Illegal spell?” she asked, walking over to it and looking down at it.

“All magic circles start the same,” Kriss explained. “The star and the first outer ring.

Normally there’s only four symbols, though. It’s a prayer to the upper tier of Elementals: Aurora,

Gaea, Persephone, and Poseidon. But this one has five. Normally you never include Elemental

Remus in magic.”

“It is a spell that uses the power of time,” Maeve explained joining them.

“And attempting to use time magic is forbidden,” Amar said, crossing his arms.

“Correct,” Maeve agreed. “Lord Remus himself made this spell specifically for Lord

Drakkar’s use.”

A shiver went through her. “For Drakkar? What does it do?”

Kriss pointed to another symbol on another outer ring. “This is the symbol of Elemental

Iasa. It has healing attributes.” He looked up at Maeve. “It speeds up the healing process,” he

said.

Maeve nodded her head. “Correct, young one. Many was the time that Lord Remus

would arrive at my gates, carrying Lord Drakkar in his arms, bloodied and dying, and lay him on

this magic circle to heal him. Those were always dark and anxious days.”

Maxine felt ill imagining that. That was never mentioned in the Legends. They always

portrayed him as supreme and able to conquer the demons he fought easily. Clearly the truth was

something else entirely.

“So magic circles do work for me?” she asked after a moment. “I thought magic circles

worked on the same principles of wands and other channelers. Prayers and chants, too. If you’re

magical there’s something about your soul or something that stops it from working.”

“It wasn’t you working the spell,” Maeve said. “It was Lord Remus who needed it to heal

you. But you are not mistaken. Magic circles and wands will not work for you, but in your case

it’s not because there’s something in your soul that stops it. You don’t have a soul, for one

thing.”

Amar who was standing beside her jumped at the words and took a hasty step back,

gaping at her. “What do you mean she doesn’t have a soul?” he asked, looking her over. “She

looks normal to me.”

Maxine felt horrified by this sudden revelation. Suddenly she felt hollow and strange, and

she instinctively reached up to her heart. She had no soul? What did that even mean? W-was she

even human?!

“Elementals do not have souls,” Maeve explained. “An Elemental is a mass of their

element given mortal form by the world. They are the protectors of their element and the world’s

guardian. This is why Drakkar could be reincarnated. When he died, he returned to his element.

The world had to re-amass him and give him human form again, but this could not be done as

simply due to the loss of your wings, so he had to be born.”

“I… don’t… have a soul…” she said softly. “So, you’re saying I’m just pure magic?”

“Haven’t you felt energized the moment that you walked into this room? If something

were to happen and you were somehow cut off from magic you would die.”

Amar stared at her and then up at his pole. “S-should I keep this thing away from her? It

draws magic out of the air and stores it.”

Maeve favored him with a patient smile. “Do not fear. There is enough magic in the air

that the meager spell on your pole would never be a threat to her.”

She turned back to the magic circle and stared at it. “So I couldn’t get a wand to work in

school not because I was a Vacant but because I had no soul,” she said, goose bumps raising on

her skin.

“Oh, no, you misunderstand,” Maeve said hastily. “Magic circles and wands will not

work for you not because you do not have a soul but because –“

“- Elementals do not pray to other Elementals,” a deep guttural voice cut in.

All three heads looked up in surprise to find a startling sight. The woods guide Rei was

laid up against the wall a few feet away. He raised a nearly empty bottle up to his lips and took a

long drink. He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and looked around at them with a glare.

“Think about it, kitten. You aren’t goin’ to pray to your brother and sister for help. Elementals

don’t bow or scrape to one ‘nother. ‘Sides, look at the middle of that circle. Tell me what it is.”

Frowning Maxine turned back to the circle and looked. “You mean the star?”

“Yeah. What is it?” he asked getting to his feet.

“What do you mean ‘what is it?’” she shot back at him, her anger at the man already

starting to come flooding back. “It’s Drakkar’s symbol.”

“Right. It’s a prayer to the Elemental of Magic for his power. Channeler or prayer or

chant, they all start the same way. They are asking for your power. You tryin’ to use a magic

circle is just you praying to yourself. Ridiculous. A waste of time.” He pointed to her and turned

to Maeve. “What the hell is she doin’ here? I thought Elemental Remus’s orders were clear.”

Maeve’s eyes narrowed. “This is not Lord Remus’s house. It is mine. I may respect his

personal desires but I will not bend to his will. Lord Drakkar is welcome to roam these halls.”

“She is not Drakkar,” Rei said, his voice low and threatening.”

“I am well aware of what the child is and is not.”

A long period of silence stretched out between the two of them, their eyes never leaving

each other. Maxine felt extremely uncomfortable and fidgeted in the silence. A part of her

wanted to speak up and agree with Rei on this matter, but another part of her did not want

anything to do with the drunk, and definitely did not want to support him in any way.

Her eyes lowered and settled on something else instead that took her a moment to realize

what it was that she was looking at – and that more importantly she recognized it. “Hey, that’s

my sword,” she announced, both surprised and excited. Her sword Shion was hanging from Rei’s

belt.

She took a step towards it, at the same time he reflexively grabbed the hilt and stepped

back. Her excitement turned to alarm. Her eyes rose back up to his face. “That’s mine,” she said,

her temper already starting to flare again.

“No, it’s not. It’s property of Elemental Remus. He created it.”

“And do you have my necklace, too?” she demanded.

“Perhaps,” was all that he answered, flicking back a stray lock of hair that had fallen in

his eyes.

“And just what the hell are you doing with them?” Amar demanded.

Rei pointed upwards to the second floor. “There’s a storage closet up there Remus asked

me to place ‘em in. It just hasn’t made it yet. I was goin’ to finish putting ‘em up there once I’d

had a few drinks and taken a brief nap.”

She balled her fists at her sides. “Elemental Remus refuses to see me, but he will tolerate

a drunken piece of filth like you.”

“Watch. Your. Tongue. Girl,” he said slowly, emphasizing each word.

“Look, if you don’t want to give me back the sword, that’s fine, whatever, but at least

give me back the necklace.”

“And why exactly should I waste my time doin’ that?”

“Elemental Aurora gave that to me! It’s how the Elementals are keeping me in check. But

more importantly it also does something to keep my powers in check.”

Rei’s eyes clouded over in confusion and he gave her a baffled look. “W-what? Aurora

said it did what?”

“Keeps my powers in check! That’s what Brother told me she said when he gave it to me.

I’m not supposed to ever take it off.”

“No, you got it confused. It doesn’t –“ he started to say, shaking his head, but then

stopped. “You know what, no. Forget it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled it out and threw

it in her direction. “I don’t have time for you, girl.”

She caught it neatly out of the air and pulled it back over her head. “Wait, do you know

something about this that I don’t?” she asked, looking up to find that Rei was already starting to

head away.

“Nevermind,” he said over his shoulder. “Forget I said anythin’, kitten.”

“But –“

He spun around on his heel, his face a mask of fury. “I said leave it alone! You don’t

belong here, girl. I’ve already sent a letter out to the Brotherhood that’s lookin’ for you. They

should be here within a couple of days.”

A cold chill went through her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “No! I’m not

leaving until I see Elemental Remus. I don’t care if the Sorcerers show up to try to drag me off. I

nearly died trying to see him.”

“That’s your stupidity, girl. I told you not to just run into the woods.”

“I don’t give a damn what you think of me,” she shouted. “I’ve got something very

important to ask him.”

“Go find someone else that will help you play hero, girl,” he said starting away again.

“Play hero?!” she gasped. “Is that what you think this is about? I’m not trying to play

hero! I’m trying to protect everyone. I’ve already destroyed one whole city and there’s

prophecies say that I’m going to do even worse. I don’t know how to use my magic and it seems

every time I try to do something it gets screwed up. Please. I won’t take up that much of his

time. Just one hour. Or even just one question.”

He stopped, pausing for a moment, and then looked over his shoulder at her. “And what

question is that? What question is so vitally important that you risked your life and the life of

your two friends for it?”

She flushed red suddenly conscious of all of the fairies looking at her, even Maeve. The

last thing she wanted in the world was to even utter her question in front of this asshole. But too

much was riding on it. She licked her lips and took a deep breath. “I… I just want to know what

he, what Elemental Remus did, to keep Drakkar’s evil in check. Everyone believes that Remus

did something. I need to know what it is. S-Sorceress Dhalia is going to take over my emotions

to try to stop whatever it is about me. I’ll do it if there’s no other choice, but, if there’s another

alternative I want to know it.” She gave the magic circle beside her a brief glance. “Elemental

Remus did something to Drakkar after he Fell that changed him from a sinner to a savior. That’s

all I want to know.”

Rei stood there staring at her for a long while before he sighed and reached up to rub the

bridge of his nose. “I’m not makin’ you any promises, here, girl, but… I’ll relay your question

on to Remus. A’right?”

“Thank you,” she said, a small bit of hope entering her heart. “That’s all I wanted.”

He turned around and started to walk off but then paused and turned back around again.

“You destroyed a city?”

The words pierced her and she looked down at the floor. “Yeah… Ailis City. I was forced

to open the door to the cave and I released a demon. It was my fault. Everything’s been my fault

since the moment I stupidly helped Sorceress Alain.”

He seemed to consider this for a moment and then asked, “Where’s your folks anyways?”

The question took her a little by surprise. She couldn’t even fathom why he would care.

“I’m an orphan. I’ve never known them. I was adopted by Sorcerer Morkoth as his sister just a

few weeks ago. Why?”

“Nevermind,” he said with a wave of his hand. He turned back around and started away

again. “Take my advice, though, girl,” he called over his shoulder. “Be prepared for the fact that

Remus might not have the answer you’re searchin’ for. I also recommend that you ignore it when

people start talkin’ to you about the rules of magic. They don’t apply to you. You’re only gonna

confuse yourself.”

She watched him disappear around a bookshelf half way tempted to run after him. “I

think he knows a lot more than he’s letting on,” she mumbled.

“Agreed,” Amar and Kriss said in unison.

Chapter 10 Maxine rolled over in her bed slowly coming awake. She yawned and rubbed her eyes

wondering what it was exactly that had awoken her at all. She sat up and looked around the

room. Maeve had given them private quarters but she still shared a room with both Kriss and

Amar. She could hear Amar’s soft breathing from here, and Kriss was snoring loudly. Clearly

neither of them had done anything that might have awoken her.

She slipped out of bed deciding to investigate, her own curiosity and a sort of sixth sense

making the idea of returning back to sleep impossible. She pulled on her boots and slipped out of

the room silently padding down the halls, relying more on her sense of hearing than her eyes.

There was a strange energy in the air. At first she couldn’t place it, though there was

something about it that felt vaguely familiar. It stayed there on just the edges of her mind until

she got a little closer and the window in the back of her mind opened and the world of Threads

appeared before her eyes. They were vibrating and humming excitedly. And then she placed it –

the air felt like the air from the Mysterium.

A lot of magic was being used.

She stopped and closed her normal eyes, focusing all her attention on the world of

Threads. All obstacles melted away, and Threads that were hidden behind walls and floors were

instantly visible. She felt as if she were standing in a black void hovering among the fibers of an

exotic spider web. Everywhere she looked – up, down, back, and forth – Threads crisscrossed

through the world passing her and disappearing into the distance beyond her sight. She could see

other things, too: rings of Threads. If she had never seen them before the circles of Threads

might have confused her. They looked like strange halos floating through the web. But she knew

better. Every magic creature she had seen so far had had one of these rings around them, and

without seeing them she knew that there was a person standing in the middle of each of those

rings.

And one of them was very familiar to her and it instantly filled her with terror. The ring

was composed almost completely of blue and brown Threads with trace marks of other colors. It

was full and woven tightly. She had seen it only twice in her life so far. Sorceress Alain.

Opening her eyes she immediately spun around and took back off down the hall,

returning the way that she had come. “Kriss! Amar!” she screamed.

She burst into the room and Amar was the first to jolt awake, immediately jumping out of

bed and grabbing his pole, wide awake and alert. Kriss blinked sleepily, sitting up and rubbing

his eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked, not even bothering to stifle a yawn.

“It’s Alain,” she answered breathlessly. “She’s here.”

“How do you know?” Amar asked. “Maxine, are you sure?”

“Not a doubt in my mind.” She pointed downwards in the direction that she had seen the

ring of Threads. “She’s downstairs. There’s a lot of magic being used, too. I… If I had to take a

guess I think the fairies are fighting her.”

Amar stared at her for just the briefest of moments before nodding. “Alright, Weaver. I

believe you.” He turned to Kriss who had slipped out of the bed now and was already stringing

his bow. “You know your way around here?”

“Not well enough to get us out of here. You?”

“Not a clue.” He gave her a brief look but she only shook her head. He sighed and held

his arms out wide. “Best we can do is just try to avoid her and hide. Maybe we can get lucky and

she doesn’t even know we’re here.”

“Why else would Alain be here?” she asked.

Amar sighed and shook his head before he answered. “One of those orbs are here.”

She gaped at him and then reached out and grabbed both of his shoulders. “And you

didn’t even think to tell me that?!” she demanded.

“Would it have done any good?” he asked, twisting out of her grip, his mouth twisted in a

sneer.

She heard the sound of a bow string being pulled back and both her and Amar turned to

Kriss. Her eyes immediately widened in alarm at the sight of an arrow pointed at Amar. “Just tell

me one thing, warlock,” he growled. “Tell me you did not purposely lead Maxine here to be

captured.”

Amar’s cold eyes hardened and the knuckles around his pole went white. “Would you

believe me if I said no.”

“I’m not sure.”

She jumped in between them her arms spread wide defending Amar. “Stop it, Kriss! Put

that damn thing away. I don’t care what you think but I trust him. Now’s not the time for this.”

When Kriss lowered his bow she spun around and headed towards the door. “Now come

on. Let’s put as much distance between us and her as we can.”

Amar caught her arm as she passed. “You trust me?” he asked. “You’re either foolish or

very stupid.” He pressed a knife into her hands. “For self-defense. Let me and Kriss handle any

trouble that comes. If we see Alain you run in the other direction. Got it?”

The knife handle felt odd in her hands. The idea that she might soon be fighting for her

life sent cold chills through her. She tightened her grip and nodded to him, taking the lead as the

three of them ran out of the room.

“Should we run up or down?” she asked Amar who was keeping pace with her shoulder

to shoulder. A flight of stairs ahead of them.

“If we go upstairs we run the risk that we might trap ourselves in one of the towers and

get ourselves cornered,” Amar said.

“But downstairs is running straight to her,” Kriss argued.

“Good point,” Amar agreed. “Up.”

They took the stairs two at a time. At the top she paused for just a moment to focus her

sight to find Alain. A chill swept through her at the sight of a ring of Threads suddenly exploding

into thousands of particles of tiny white gossamer Threads. They shimmered in the air for just a

moment before they disappeared, their light winking out of existence. A fairy had just died.

Amar’s tight grip yanked her back into the real world and down the hallway.

[stopped by fairies that she has mind controlled and lead back downstairs to her where

she tries to lead the back outside, killing two fairies along the way]

They had went up only one more flight when they turned a corner and all three of them

stopped dead in their tracks. There was a line of six fairies standing shoulder to shoulder

blocking the way forward, sharp menacing spears clutched in their hands.

Kriss frowned and started forward slowly. “Umm, c-can we get through?” he asked

tentatively.

Amar grabbed Kriss’s shoulder. “Wait – something’s not right. Look at their eyes.”

Maxine didn’t need to look at their eyes. In the world of Threads it looked as if a spider

had attacked them and wrapped them up tightly in their white silk. “They’re being controlled,”

she said softly. “I can see the enchantment on them.”

“Walk back. Slowly,” Amar commanded.

“Just how far is her reach?” Kriss asked from the corner of his mouth.

“Once under her control, she can control anyone from anywhere in the world. It’s the

initial catching you have to worry about. And that… maybe thirty feet away.”

As they talked they crept backwards slowly and for a moment Maxine thought that they

might get away and manage to get back down the stairs, but then a hand reached out and grabbed

her, covering her mouth stifling the start of a scream. Amar whirled around at the sound and

swore. He lifted his pole, the Threads starting to come alive around him.

The air became charged with an electric energy. A bolt of lightning struck out from the

tip of his pole, shooting out in her direction, aiming for a spot just above her head, but another

fairy jumped in its path, protecting the fairy behind her. The fairies behind them suddenly

launched themselves forward, one of them grabbing Amar’s pole from behind.

Kriss whirled around with his bow, pulling back an arrow. She managed somehow to get

her mouth free in time to scream. “No, don’t! Their innocents!”

Kriss paused at the same time Amar shouted. “No, do it! Dammit, shoot, sprite!”

Kriss hesitated clearly conflicted. His pause was all the time that was needed. A fairy

spun the butt end of his staff around and struck Kriss across the side of the head. His bow went

skittering away and he crumpled to the floor.

Amar had a knife in his hand and whirled around slicing upwards, carving into the fairy

that had grabbed him from behind. The fairy fell its grip still not releasing his staff, taking it

down with him. Amar released it to fight off another fairy that rushed at him, but there were too

many. Four fairies rushed him and grabbed him, his knife sent skittering across the floor.

“Damn you, Weaver!” he screamed at her, still struggling against the fairies who were

pulling his arms behind him and tying his wrists together. “Always place yourself first! If

someone attacks you, you strike back. Now how the fuck are we gonna get out of this?”

Kriss was pulled upright to his feet, his forehead bleeding. He was conscious but only

barely. They tied up him up too along with her. Fear raced through her, her mind panicking,

trying to come up with a solution.

“One spell!” Amar snarled beside her as they were lead down the hall, spears shoved into

their backs. “Just one damn spell, Weaver.”

But I don’t know how! She thought desperately. She looked around at her captors

anxiously. She couldn’t think of anything. And… they were innocents. What could she possibly

do that wouldn’t hurt them? She wished desperately she knew how to put them to sleep. She

closed her eyes and concentrated on the Threads around her. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

She said in her mind over and over again. She controlled magic, didn’t she?! Why couldn’t she

get it to work when she needed it to? How the hell did she do what she did back at that hill in

Ailis City?!

They were lead back through the halls and down the stairs helpless to do anything.

Reaching the first floor Maxine thought things were eerily quiet. The large amounts of magic

charging the air was gone now. They turned a corner just as Alain stepped out through a

doorway, the moss hanging moss flowing around her like fairy wings.

Alain turned to Maxine, a smile spreading across her face. “My precious Weaver,” she

said in seductive silken tones. She stepped closer waving the fairies away. The fairies bowed and

stepped back leaving Maxine standing there. “I thought I had lost you when I heard that you

made it to Arcadia. Imagine how surprised I was to hear that you not only ran away but came

here of all places. It seems the Fates are favoring me.”

Maxine jerked her arm back at the same time she took rushed forward and then struck

upwards, gripping Amar’s knife tightly in her hand that the fairies had failed to remove from her.

She had struck fast and with lightning speed. Alain didn’t even bother to step out of the way. She

was sure she had the Sorceress. And then the Threads around her came to life. They worked in

the space of a breath, cocooning her. A strange sort of sleepiness overcame her senses and before

she realized what she was doing she had not only stopped, but the knife blade clattered loudly to

the floor.

“No!” she heard Amar shout. “Come on, Weaver. Fight it! You can, I know you can.”

Alain turned to him, her eyes cold. She walked up to him and raised her hand slapping

him hard across his face. “How dare you,” she said. “After I took you in. Raised you. Fed you.

Turned you into the magnificent killer that you are.”

“Go. To. Hell,” Amar hissed, glaring up at her with eyes filled with hate.

She reached out and grabbed him by his throat, her fingers cutting into his skin. “I’ll deal

with you later, dear nephew.”

She turned to Kriss who was still hanging close to limp in the fairies’ arms. She reached

out and grabbed him by his antennae and yanked backwards, a cruel smile on her lips. “Yes, I

think I’ll take you with us. With your help maybe I can manage to keep Maxine in line. If not,

well, my supply of sprite antennae is running low.”

She clicked her fingers and spun around walking away. Maxine watched as Threads

wrenched themselves from out of the world and quickly cocooned the two boys. Behind them the

fairies collapsed, falling to the floor. If Maxine didn’t know that Alain’s Restriction was that she

couldn’t control people with the immediate intent of killing them, she might have thought that

maybe she had killed them fairies with her mind somehow. But looking at them they merely

looked asleep. That was a relief at least.

A voice spoke in her mind urging her forward and she was helpless against it. Trying her

best to fight against it she followed after Alain, the Sorceress not even staring back at them as

she walked. She noticed that in her hand Alain had a small round orb clutched firmly.

Maxine lost herself within all of the turns and the hallways that they traveled through, but

Alain looked as if she knew exactly where she was going. Only once did anyone appear to try to

stop Alain. Three fairies started forward. Alain didn’t even break her stride. Threads blanketed

one of the fairies and suddenly he spun around and plunged his spear into the body of one of his

companions just before he rushed to attack the third. Maxine wanted to scream in horror, but she

was denied even that much liberty. Only tears were able to leak from her eyes and stream down

her cheeks. Clearly Alain’s Restriction did not extend to forcing someone to kill someone else.

This was her element? There was something really wrong with the rules here, she thought. How

could Drakkar have ever allowed such a perversion to be allowed.

Soon they entered a hall lined with large full-sized windows on either side. Moonlight

streamed through the windows bathing the dark hall, giving it an ethereal appearance. Not even

Alain seemed to notice the figure leaned up against the wall between one of the windows until

they were nearly upon it. She jerked to a halt. “Who are you?” she demanded looking somewhat

confused. “You aren’t a fairy.”

The figure stepped out into the hall and into one of the beams of moonlight, something

hefted over his shoulder. “No. Jus’ a simple woods guide.”

The voice and the tall figure was unmistakable. Rei! She wanted to scream out to him,

tell him to run. She’s going to kill you, she thought desperately. This drunk didn’t stand a chance

against Alain.

“I’m giving you once chance,” Alain said, placing her free hand on her hip. “Stand aside.

I don’t have time to deal with a simpleton like you.”

Rei actually chuckled shifting his the object on his shoulder. Maxine recognized it as it

entered a beam of light. It was her sword, still in its sheath, but the small size of it was

unmistakable. “Funny, I’s about to say the same to you.” He pointed behind Alain. “Release

them.”

“Release them?” Alain scoffed. “And just why would I do that?”

“Because Elemental Remus commanded it.”

There was a perceptible shift in Alain’s demeanor. She turned and gave Maxine an

uncertain look and then turned back. “This is a mortal matter. The Elemental of Time has no say

in what I do with these children. He is uninvolved.”

“Wrong,” Rei said with a simple shake of his head. “The Elemental, he became involved

the moment he rescued those children and brought ‘em here. They’re his captives until he

releases ‘em. Keep yer orb, but leave the Weaver Reborn and her two friends.”

“And if I say no?” Alain growled, spreading her feet slightly, strengthening her stance.

The air became charged with the feeling of magic, the ring of Threads surrounding her starting to

hum and vibrate.

“You’d actually risk the wrath of an Elemental?” Rei asked in surprise.

“It’s not an Elemental that I see in front of me,” Alain answered with a cruel smile. “Just

a pathetic human. How about I show you a nightmare so horrible you think it’s real.”

Threads tore out of the air and rushed towards Rei. There was no visible warning, nothing

to indicate to a normal person without her sight that he was being attacked. But for some reason

he raised a hand, only chest high, palm out. Maxine gaped at the sight of the Threads as they

seemed to hit an invisible barrier and then fell away.

Alain smiled smugly for a moment and then blinked in confusion tilting her head. “It

didn’t work?” she said softly. Then her eyes widened and she took a step back, for the first time

a small bit of fear entering eyes. “Why didn’t it work?”

“Because, mortal, I’ve run out of time for you,” Rei said.

He took a step forward and suddenly there was a perceptible shift in his demeanor. His

drunk manner melted away and from his back two shadows appeared and grew, stretching out on

either side of him, covering nearly the whole expanse of the hall. It wasn’t until he walked into

another beam of moonlight that Maxine recognized them for what they were: two gorgeous

wings, white as the moonlight that bathed them. Her mind could barely process what she was

looking at. The white even seemed to stretch up from the wings and into his skin, giving him an

almost ethereal glow even in this darkened hallway.

Alain gawked, frozen in place. Her eyes were round and full, the fear in them

unmistakable. Her legs bent and for a moment Maxine thought the Sorceress was going to fall to

the floor. “E-Elemental Remus,” she stammered.

Rei reached out and grabbed Alain by the the collar. “Get. Out. Mortal. You will not have

the Weaver. Not this time.”

A scream escaped Alain’s throat as Rei whirled around practically launched Alain

forward by her throat. The Sorceress struggled to stay on her feet before she fell hard to the floor.

Not even looking back she scrambled hastily back to her feet, trying desperately to make a mad

dash for the door ahead. Her legs refused to cooperate and she nearly tumbled again before she

got them back under her and finally was gone, yanking the door open and disappearing beyond

it.

The spell around her did not end, though. Maxine could only stand in helpless silence,

gaping at the sight of the Elemental before her. It was hard to take her eyes off of his wings.

They folded themselves against his back, the tips grazing the floor, and arching over his

shoulders. They were large and magnificent, and she would have liked nothing more to see them

in sunlight.

Rei turned away from the door and turned to her slowly. He heft Shion from his shoulder

by the hilt, pulling the sheath off with his other hand and walked towards her. “I made this sword

for Drakkar,” he said softly, the pain in his voice unmistakable. “It is made from the feathers of

your lost wings.” He raised the blade upwards. “Do not be afraid.”

Don’t be afraid?! She thought in alarm. She closed her eyes convinced he was going to

slice into her. She heard the soft whistle of wind as the blade came down on her but opened her

eyes in surprise. She was not cut, but the Threads fell away from her, drifting for a moment

before they disappeared completely. She staggered backwards free of Alain’s spell. Rei turned

away from her and repeated the same process for both Amar and Kriss.

Both boys instantly went to their knees, bowing deeply and stammering over themselves.

Maxine felt cold all over as Rei’s brown eyes turned back to her, and she realized suddenly that

she should probably be doing the same. Trembling she slowly started to sink to the floor.

“No, don’t,” Rei’s voice barked across the room. “What did I tell you earlier today?

Elementals do not bow to one another. The only time we observe the hierarchy is in the time of a

crisis.” He closed his eyes and looked away from her. “And then I would be bowing to you. Even

with your Fallen status.”

She stared at him, looking him over. She could barely believe her eyes that this being was

standing before her, talking to her. Her mind reeled, the events of the whole night muddling her

thoughts. Her heart was still thundering in terror. “Y-you’re Elemental Remus,” she said, the

words falling from her lips.

Rei looked away from her, pushing a stray greasy lock of hair back out of his face. “Yes,

I am. I suppose you want to ask your questions now?”

She took a step backwards. She couldn’t think and it was confusing her mind, but slowly

several emotions were starting to emerge through the fright that she had felt. Betrayal and anger.

“I don’t want anything from you.”

He turned to her again, a slightly startled expression on his face. “Listen, girl,” he started

gently, but she wasn’t having any of it.

“No!” she screamed, it felt as if a dam had just broken on her emotions. “No, you listen. I

came to you for help. I came to you because I have nothing left, not because I wanted to meet

you. And the only thing I wanted from you were some questions answered. You didn’t want me

to waste your time? Then why didn’t you just tell me who you were back at the wood pile? I

could have been safely back already! No, I almost had to die and kill Amar and Kriss with me,

and then risk getting kidnapped tonight.”

“Because I didn’t want to meet you,” he shouted, fury crossing his face, too. “I didn’t

want to ever talk to you. There are over a hundred Elementals. Why did you choose me?”

“Because you’re the only one who would know the answer to my question, and I thought

it was worth the risk. I thought an Elemental would help. I thought you would care at least a

little. I thought…” her voice trailed off, she couldn’t even put her emotions into words anymore.

Or maybe she wasn’t really sure what it was that she thought. “I hate you!” she screamed finally,

giving up.

She spun around on her heels and went racing off down the hall. Where to, she wasn’t

sure. She took corners randomly. She was absolutely lost and it wasn’t as if she belonged here

anyways. She didn’t belong anywhere and no one wanted her,

She spun around a corner, her eyes blurry with tears and tripped over something. She

landed hard on the floor, the wind pushed from her lungs. It took her a moment to sit up but as

she did so she realized there was something sticky on her hands. She stared at them and frowned

at the sight of a strange red liquid. Her heart starting to pound she turned and looked back at

what she had tripped on.

The body of a dead fairy lay sprawled out, face down in a puddle of blood. Slowly she

looked around herself and found more. There was blood everywhere and the bodies of fairies lay

floating within the sea of red. Spears still punctured the flesh of some, while others had gaping

wounds in their bodies.

A scream ripped from her chest and she struggled to get to her feet. She heard voices and

saw forms, but nothing was registering. All she could see were dead bodies. Precious creatures

that had been killed because of Alain… and because of her. Whether Alain was after the orb or

only her, it was all her fault.

She heard the flap of wings and then screamed again at the feel of hands on her. She

whirled around and try to fight them off, but the person’s grip was much too strong. She was

practically dragged out of the hall and pulled behind a wall, away from the horrific scene. The

hands then lowered her down to the floor where she collapsed, still frantic.

“Calm down. You’re alright, girl. Alain’s not here. You’re safe, I promise.” Slowly she

started to register Rei’s voice speaking softly to her. “Shh, kitten – dammit, what the hell was

your name?”

She looked up at him and reached out and grabbed his shirt, her hands trembling. “Take it

back,” she begged desperately. “Please! Please take it. I can’t do this. I don’t want it.”

Rei’s brow creased in confusion. “Take it back?” he repeated. “I don’t understand. Take

what back?”

“My magic. Or whatever the hell this is! I don’t want it. I don’t. I was fine. With being a

Vacant, I was fine. Maybe I wasn’t completely happy but this is so much worse. I can’t do this. I

don’t want to fight demons. I don’t want to stop Sorceresses. Please! I just want to go live with

my brother Morkoth. I’ll even go back to school. I swear I’ll never get into another fight or play

another prank.”

Anguish filled Remus’s eyes. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. “I am sorry.

It is not something that I can from you. It is part of you, it is who you are. You are the Weaver

Reborn, and not even the Fates themselves could change that.”

Of course. She knew that, but it had been a hope devoid of all hope. Regardless, hearing

his words shattered her heart. She choked on them, lost herself in them. She pulled away and

buried her face in her hands, collapsing against the wall behind her, letting her tears go silently.

How much time passed she wasn’t sure, but it felt much later when she finally dropped

her hands. Rei still sat beside her, Shion in his hands. The point of the sword was on the floor

and he was spinning it slowly, as if the light bouncing off of its mirror surface had him entranced

to watch for all eternity.

“I’m going to kill people,” she said, her voice come out softly, her throat felt raw and

swollen. “That’s what the prophecies say. Please, tell me, what did you do to put an end to

Drakkar’s evilness. Please, I have to know.”

The only sign that Rei heard her was that the sword stopped turning. He didn’t move or

even look at her. Finally he said, “Drakkar was my best friend,” he said, his voice somehow

softer than hers. “He was my precious brother. The honest truth to your question? Nothing.

Drakkar was not evil, no matter what anyone else says.”

“But he went hunting the demons he released –“

“And I tried to talk him out of it.” He turned to her finally, the anguish still visible in his

eyes. “When he Fell I dragged him to a cave and nursed him back to health. He was so ill after

having his wings ripped off. He was mortal – he could die. I knew that, but I don’t think Drakkar

ever quiet comprehended it. As soon as he was well the first thing he said was that he was going

to hunt down the demons that had been released. It’s all he would talk about. I was so afraid for

him, but the fool never listened to me.” He closed his eyes and leaned up against the wall,

pulling Shion close to him. “We got into a bad fight about it. Gathering up his lost feathers and

creating this sword was my apology and my acceptance of his plans.

“Girl, you’re mistaken. There is no evil in you just the same as there was never any evil

in Drakkar.”

The words did little to ease her heart, though they were a small comfort. “Then, why?

Why did you refuse to meet with me?”

He looked at her only briefly before turning away again. “My brother is dead. He was

never supposed to die. He didn’t die because of a demon or because something killed him. He

died of old age. He was supposed to be immortal. Now the world thinks it can just recreate him

and I’m supposed to accept him back as if nothing ever happened. As if you’ve been here the

whole time? You’re just a reminder of what has been lost. You don’t have his memories. You

don’t even look like him. And in another handful of years you’ll be dead, too. Why would I want

to waste my time with you? Why would I want to invite that pain back in my life?”

Invite that pain back? Maxine looked him over and swallowed hard. No, he had never

gotten over the pain to begin with. She was sure of it. His existence at the bottom of a bottle was

proof of that.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, the words feeling clumsy in her mouth. “I… I should have

stopped to consider that. I was just so scared. I –“

“Don’t apologize,” he commanded. “You’re right. I acted poorly. I wasted your time and

treated you shamefully. I feared this day for so long, but it’s not fair to you.” He slowly got to his

feet, flapping his wings gently to rearrange them back into place. He turned and reached down

holding his hand out to her. “I’ll take you back to your room. For now, put this horrible night

behind you. The Sorcerers will be here soon and will take you to a place of safety. I’m sorry

there is nothing more that I can do for you.”

She reached out and took his hand, allowing herself to be lead back to her room. She had

went to so much trouble and had had so much hope.

What was she going to do now?

Chapter 11 “You’re going to go to Terrisma and you’re going to train so that way the next time that

bitch tries to take you, you’ll be ready,” Amar said to her over breakfast.

Breakfast with the fairies was very subdued. Everyone was in mourning over the tragic

losses of their friends and family. Watching it all only made her feel that much worse. Not only

had she been the cause, but she had been unable to even lift a finger to stop it. If the true Drakkar

had been there last night she doubted that Alain would have gotten away with it so easily.

“At least you have Elemental Remus’s vindication that there is nothing wrong with your

personality,” Kriss said, trying his best to be be helpful. “Maybe this will keep Dhalia away from

her emotions?”

“Yeah,” she said miserably. “The prophecies that I’m going to destroy the world are just

because there’s something wrong with me and not because I’m Drakkar’s reincarnation.”

Kriss gaped at her and shook his head head frantically, his antennae swirling around his

head. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. I meant that –“

She turned in her seat and rose to her feet. “I’m not hungry anymore,” she said softly, and

started to pad away.

“H-Hey, wait, is that Elemental Remus?” Amar said, his voice full of surprise and awe.

She looked over her shoulder and followed his line of sight. Her breath instantly caught

in her throat. Enter the dining hall with Maeve, and talking with several fairies who were crying,

was the tall figure of Rei.

Only, it wasn’t Rei. Rei was unshaven with greasy locks of hair that hung in his face, and

wore brown peasant clothes that were stained and looked as if he slept in them. The man walking

into the room now was the perfect antithesis of Rei. He was shaven, devoid of any trace of facial

hair, which made him look young again, maybe in his thirties rather than looking as if he were in

his forties. He had also bathed and washed his hair. His ambers locks had been well brushed and

were now pulled back into a ponytail, tied off with a silken blue ribbon. His clothes looked

straight off of a nobleman that she had seen in the castle. He wore a light blue doublet with a

diamond imprint, and a long sleeve shirt that hung off of his arms. He wore off white leggings

that disappeared into tall knee-high boots. He also had on a number of rings and even a single

piercing in his left ear, but more prominent was the pendant around his neck. A sold gold disc

pedant with an hour glass emblazoned in it. The symbol of the Elemental of Time.

He was absolutely regal and now easily identifiable as the person carved as a statue the

world over. His wings trailed behind him, folded, but grazing the ground. His hand was placed

on the back of one of the crying fairies, concern on his face, but as soon as he entered his eyes

raised and met hers. The hand dropped and he walked across the room in her direction.

He paused as he neared her, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Something wrong?” he

asked, looking briefly over his shoulder.

She blinked and woke herself up. “Uh… n-no, but yeah. You don’t look like a fall down

drunk anymore.”

Amar made a choking sound and Kriss burst out laughing. Remus crossed his arms and

scowled at her. “I’m pleased that the sight of an Elemental doesn’t curb that tongue of yours.”

She winced and felt heat rise to her cheeks. “S-sorry, Elemental Remus –“

“Don’t apologize,” he said gruffly, “and don’t attach the honorific to my name. Any of

you,” he said glancing over at Amar and Kriss. “My brothers and sisters seem to enjoy all the

pomp and circumstance, but I’ve never had time nor the patience for it.”

For an immortal being, there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of things that he didn’t have

time for, but she decided to keep her mouth shut this time and not voice that particular thought.

He looked over at her plate and then back at her. “Are you done eating? Good. There’s a

few things that I need to take care of yet, but I want you to meet me in the Mysterium in ten

minutes.”

She blanched, confused by the order. “S-sure, I don’t mind, but can I ask what for?”

“I’m going to give you lessons, that’s what for.” Her eyes widened, her heart

immediately filling with excitement, but he shook his head. “Don’t overthink it. It will only be a

few lessons until a Sorcerer arrives to take you back home. I will teach simply the basics, enough

to give you something to go on and hopefully allow you to be able to protect yourself going

forward. In Drakkar’s name I owe you that much.”

“N-no, that’s perfect,” she said, screaming inwardly. “That’s all I ever wanted from you.”

“Very well, then. Don’t be late.” He turned to walk away and looked back at Amar and

Kriss sitting at the table. “I’m afraid that you boys will have to stay behind. What I have to teach

is for the Weaver-only and should remain that way.” He turned and then strolled away.

“Well this is perfect,” Kriss said happily waving his fork in the air. “Looks like

everything is working out for you after all. Uh, is something wrong?” he asked when she didn’t

respond.

She groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Oh dear elements, I’m going to be alone

with him!”

“Yes, you are,” Amar sniggered. “You better hope you get real smart in ten minutes,

Weaver, ‘cause I don’t think the Elemental of Time is going to be a patient teacher.”

Ten minutes later she entered the Mysterium nervously. At least of all the rooms that he

had asked her to meet him in it was this one. She felt so comfortable here. Which was odd since

the room was empty for the most part today. The fairies that had packed it before were now in

shared grief elsewhere over the loss of their companions during Alain’s vicious attack.

A young fairy with bright yellow hair walked up to her and bowed. “Lord Drakkar,” she

greeted, “Lord Remus sent word that you would be arriving. Come along and we will start

getting you prepared.”

Maxine allowed herself to be lead towards one of the beds that she had noticed before.

The attendant instructed her to take a seat and roll up her sleeves. While she did so the fairy

along with two others stood over a table with a mortar and pestle, grinding up different

ingredients from different jars. They were already applying the grinded substances to the

underside of her arms when Remus walked into the room.

His doublet was missing and he was in the process of rolling up his sleeves already when

he walked around and took the bed beside hers. He held out his arms even as the fairies bowed to

him and began to apply the same substances to his arms.

“You’re very quiet,” he said after a silent moment passed between them. A single

eyebrow was raised and smile was playing at the corner of his lip.

She fidgeted feeling heat rise to her cheeks again. “D-don’t know what to say after last

night,” she confessed. And dear stars, she was sitting across from an Elemental. What do you say

to an Elemental? She couldn’t even tolerate standing before a statue of an Elemental for heaven’s

sake.

“It was a rough night in many ways. I understand. I am sorry that I couldn’t do more last

night – and that I didn’t do more before last night. You were right to be angry with me. Please,

relax. You don’t have anything to fear.”

She stared from him back to the designs they were drawing on her skin. “What are we

doing anyways?” she asked finally. “I thought you were going to teach me magic?”

“I am. We are going to enter a dreamscape where we can more easily practice.”

“And you’re having the fairies cast the spell? Can’t you do it?”

“What did you learn yesterday? No, I cannot. Like any other person, unless they are born

with the gift, I would need permission from my brothers and sisters. I would need to consult the

Four and then Morpheus for this one spell alone. The fairies were born with this talent. This is

far more efficient.”

“What about me, though? Do I need to get permission? You did tell me I was an

Elemental.”

Remus smiled and shook his head. “No, you’re a special case. Magic is a mixing agent

for all elements. There is very little that even we can do without needing to consult you and there

is little you can do without consulting us. This is why Drakkar is at the top of the pantheon. He

found it ridiculously tedious and a waste of time asking permission and having us continuously

ask him, so we came to an agreement. We may use your element without seeking your

permission, and, with a few exceptions, you may use our elements without asking permission.”

“I know you forbid normal people from using your power but can I –“

“I am one of those exceptions. As much as I dearly loved Drakkar I always found that he

could be rash, temperamental, and sometimes just generally clumsy, if not downright lazy. My

element is too frail for the risk. If he created a paradox it could destroy the world.”

Ok, duly noted. Probably a very wise decision on his part.

The fairies instructed them both to lay down, the designs on their arms complete. She laid

back and closed her eyes as the fairies began chanting.

“By the way, girl,” Remus called out to her, “I never did get your name.”

The question brought a smile to her face. “Maxine Alciard.”

She opened her eyes a few minutes later and blinked. She rose up looking around her

wildly. Instead of a bed in the Mysterium she was suddenly in a wide open grassy field. It was a

warm summer day, the sun beating down on her. She could even hear birds in the distance.

Beside her Remus also sat up. He looked himself over, nodding in approval. “Efficient as

always,” he commented.

“So where do we start?” she asked eagerly. “Are you going to show me how to do a

Lightball spell?”

Remus looked up at her a small smile playing around his lips and he shook his head. “No,

girl. I’m not here to teach you individual spells. That’s not how your magic works. Mortals have

their souls or the Elementals do the mixing of elements for them. Your talents are vastly

differently. You aren’t going to learn how to cast spells, you’re going to learn how to control

magic.”

She wondered what the difference was but decided not to ask. Hopefully by the end of

the day she would know.

“Before we get started, Maxine, I first want to explain a few things to you, about you,

your element, and about you being an Elemental.”

Maxine felt a shiver go down her spine. “R-Remus, I know I’m the reincarnation of the

Weaver, but I really don’t feel comfortable being thought of as an Elemental.”

“You don’t get that choice, kitten. You are an Elemental. You are not human. I told you

yesterday that you do not have a soul. You are the walking entity of magic. You were the first of

us to awaken, created after the Fates. As an Elemental it is your duty to protect your element and

to protect the balance.”

“I’m just a fifteen year old girl. I don’t even know what the balance is. I can’t even pass a

simple math test in school and you want –“

“I don’t want anything, Maxine, except for you to listen. I know you’re scared, and I

realize this is a big responsibility. It’s not one that you have to face right now, but you must

prepare yourself for the future. Furthermore, you know the hierarchy. Even with his Fallen status

Drakkar is the most important. In the time of a crisis to the balance you will be the one we look

to.”

Oh great. Yeah, real nice. She didn’t have a clue about anything, but just place her in

charge. Damn this messed up situation. “I won’t know anything.”

“You will, Maxine. You are magic. This will eventually be instinctual to you.” He

reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Elementals are born first to mold and shape our

elements. Drakkar – you – created the rules. You are not my brother with all of his memories and

experiences, but you are the Elemental with all of his personality quirks and his talent.

“Which moves me to my next important point. A bit of a disclaimer, if you will. I am not

the Elemental of Magic. I woke up after Drakkar and for the longest time it was only me and him

until the others came. I know more about his element than others because I spent the most time

with him. However, just as there are things I would not share with him about my element, there

are things that I’m sure he kept secret from me. The truth is I can only provide general

instruction as best as I understood how things worked for him. But, Maxine, if there ever comes

a time that you feel I am wrong about something, or you might have done it in another way –

trust your own instinct. It is a very real possibility that I could be wrong. Understand?”

She nodded, feeling overwhelmed and awed. She wondered if there ever would come a

time that she might think that Remus was wrong – would there ever come a time that she might

actually get that good?

He leaned back and nodded. “Alright, let’s get started then. Open your third eye.”

“T-third eye? Wait, you don’t mean the window that I open in my mind to see the world

of Threads?”

“I do. It’s your third eye. All Elementals have one. It’s what you have in place of a soul.

It allows you to see the magic plane. Before you Fell it allowed you to see all planes of

existence, including the ability to see people’s souls, but you lost that gift with your immortality.

You do not even have the ability any more to step onto that plane of existence and off of this

one.”

Doing her level best not to imagine herself as a cyclops, she opened her eye. Remus held

out his hand and a handful of Threads pulled out of the air and landed on his outstretched hand.

She gaped at it, leaning forward. “How did you do that?” she asked.

He looked up at her with some small bit of surprise and then sighed with an air of patient

tolerance. “You simply call out to them. They’ll come. They are your element. There is nothing

that these strands wouldn’t do to please you.”

“You make it sound as if they’re alive,” she said, looking upwards at the strands.

“They are. Do you hear the hum? That’s them talking to you. Eventually you’ll

understand them. I can’t help with that, I’m afraid. The language they speak is something beyond

my comprehension.”

She looked around at them apprehensively not sure how she felt about the idea that

something so inanimate looking could actually be considered alive.

Remus laid the strands out on the grass between them. There were six strands in all, that

he laid in two rows of three. “I’m sure that you’ve noticed by now that there are six colors in

all.”

“Seven,” she corrected. “Blue, green, gold, brown, red, purple, and white. Though, I’ll

admit that I’ve never seen the color white when it was still connected with the main strand.”

“For a very good reason. A Thread only turns white when it is active and releasing its

power. White isn’t a color but the absence of color. So, six colors. And each of these six colors

falls into one of two categories. Focus and Restriction.”

“Like a Sorcerer?”

“Exactly like a Sorcerer. Their Focus is what they can do and their Restriction is what

they can’t. This applies to the two categories. Focus Threads allow for something to occur while

Restriction Threads stop it.”

“Ok, that’s simple enough so far.”

Remus smiled and nodded. “Drakkar was a simple person. Prone to confusion easily and

had a penchant for being lazy.”

Thanks, pal, she thought indignantly.

“Each color represents a certain level of intensity in its category. From weakest to

strongest for the Focus group we have green, blue, and red.” As he recited them he pointed to the

strands on the ground. His finger moved to the next row, the Restriction category. “From

weakest to strongest we have gold, brown, and purple.”

She winced and looked up at him. “This sounds like something I’m going to need to

memorize.”

“You will need to, yes, but just hold on. It’s going to get a little easier for you to

remember them,” he promised. He then reached down to the Restriction category and rearranged

the Threads so that it was now in reverse order, as he did so he continued. “There’s a balance to

everything and your element is a perfect example of it. Like a Sorcerer, there cannot be a Focus

without a Restriction. You do not want to let a power go out of proportion, otherwise it could do

too much. No matter how complicated your spells get going forward there is always going to be

at least two colors. The colors must always be matched up with its perfect pair.”

“And if it’s not?” she asked. “What happens if I create a spell that only as red Threads?”

“You could possibly create a paradox. The element you are calling will go unchecked.

There will be nothing to stop it from doing too much or even reacting in a way that it shouldn’t.

Your system prevents mortals or even other Elementals from potentially crossing that line but

there’s nothing stopping you.”

She jerked back, a vivid memory jumping back to the forefront of her mind. “Remus,

back at Ailis City, when that demon was attacking us with a spell – I stopped it with a net of

purple Threads. That’s all that was there.”

“Do you remember what the demon’s spell looked like? And do you remember what it

was that you were thinking?”

“The demon’s spell was… red, I think, and I think I saw gold, but I’m not sure. And I

remember all I was thinking was how much I just wanted all spells to just stop.”

It made sense now. The strongest Restriction was purple.

“The Threads were trying to carry out your command. You wanted spells to stop, you

very nearly achieved that. Do you remember what happened when the spells met?”

“Yes, they exploded.”

“That was the result of the paradox. Fortunately it was a small one. Strongest Focus met

Strongest Restriction. It was the best outcome that could have occurred. Had the spell been

anything weaker, there is no way to know how devastating your spell could have been.” Remus

reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m glad that I decided to give you these lessons.

The idea of you accidentally creating a paradox did not occur to me until just now. I will have to

keep this in mind for future Reborns. It would seem I am not going to be afforded the luxury of

just letting you live out your lives without my having to meet you.”

Well at least some good was going to come of her going through this ordeal. It was nice

to know in some small way that future generations of herself would not have to endure her

experiences.

He pointed down to the Threads again. “Strongest is matched with weakest, and those

combinations form the three types of magic that applies to you and all other magic users: Active,

Reactive, and finally Restrictive. Active spells are red and gold. Reactive are brown and blue.

Restrictive spells are purple and green. There was nothing wrong with your spell per se. All you

had to do was include green. It doesn’t even take much. Just a single small strand of green.

You’ll learn as you go that the amount of each color is what changes the spell’s effect. That’s all

that would have been needed to prevent a paradox. But to answer your earlier question about

memorization, this is what you will have to memorize.”

Grouped like this it was actually rather easy she had to agree, and she already had some

very vivid memories to make sure that she would not easily forget.

“Alright, so… what else?”

“That’s it.”

“That’s… it?” she repeated confused.

“That’s it,” he confirmed.

She frowned and glared at him, folding her arms. “Remus, how is that it? No offense but

I don’t feel like I learned anything. I still have no idea how to create a Fireball spell, for

example.”

“Oh? Don’t you? Well, think about it, kitten. What type of spell would you say is a

Fireball spell.”

“Active.”

“So, stand up and create a Fireball spell, Maxine.”

Feeling frustrated, and just a little as if Remus was trying to pull one over on her, she rose

to her feet and stared out towards the field. Remus rose with her, the tips of his wings moving,

creating a small snap. He took a spot just slightly behind her.

“So… where do I begin?” she asked uncertainly.

“You want a Fireball spell. You’re overthinking it. Just tell the Threads to do it for you.

Since it’s a simplistic spell they’ll get the mix right for you. Like I said, Drakkar was lazy. If he

could order someone else to do something for him, he would. Just think of what you want and

reach out to the Threads that you need.”

Equal parts annoyed and nervous, and incredibly pessimistic, she closed her eyes and

focused on the Threads. She imagined a magnificent Fireball – the sort that only the highest

grade magicians could cast. Round and boiling hot with a molten surface. The image fixed in her

mind, she called out to the Threads, reaching out to them like she had tried to do so many times

through her wand.

Red and gold. Red and gold. She repeated in her mind over and over.

“Come on, Maxine,” Remus barked behind her. “Command them. You’re the Elemental.

You control them.”

She opened her eyes, a rush of power sweeping through her. Fireball! She commanded in

her mind, releasing the image. The Threads in the air came alive, humming and vibrating, pulling

away from their main strands and creating a weave of her image in front of her.

There was a rush of heat, a flicker of fire in the air, and then a small puff of smoke. White

Threads shimmered in the air, falling and disappearing like so many tiny stars.

Remus burst out laughing behind her. It was a deep laugh and full of mischievous

intentions. She turned to him both surprised and indignant. “Impressive Flame spell. I’m sure my

Wands instructor at school would be pleased. Elemental Remus, did you just set me up?” She

couldn’t resist the urge to smile herself.

He regained control of himself and gave her his most innocent smile. “Does it look like I

have time for pranks?” he asked lightly.

“I’m not so sure suddenly. Do you?”

“I might have helped now and again with some of Drakkar’s more elaborate schemes.

But in all seriousness, I really wasn’t purposely trying to set you up this time. Actually

demonstrating just another lesson. You were right. It was an impressive Flame spell.”

“Alright, so, what did I do wrong? Did I get the mix wrong? You said I didn’t need to

worry about it, that the Threads would take care of that part.”

“You’re right, and they did. There was nothing wrong with your Weave. It just needed to

be a little more powerful.”

“More powerful? There’s a world of difference between a Flame spell and a Fireball

spell.”

“Is there? Tell me. What differences are there?”

“It’s a Flame spell. The second spell most wand users are taught. Something dumb to

light a stove with. A Fireball spell actually attacks. It’s a bit sphere of molten lava. It takes years

for a magician to learn it. There are several incantations and many times a magic circle

involved.” She sighed and looked down at the small patch of burnt grass where bits of the flame

had fallen. “It was probably silly for me to try to cast that right now as my first spell.”

“Fascinating. However, the only difference between a Flame spell and a Fireball spell

that I’ve ever seen is that Drakkar used thicker strands of Threads.” He reached out his hand and

two strands landed there neatly, both red, but one was the thickness of a strand of hair while the

other was as thick as a string of yarn. “Thickness dictates how much power is in the Thread. You

want a stronger spell, you use thicker Threads. And honestly, when you think about it, a Fireball

spell is really just a very powerful Flame spell.”

“You’re not serious,” she said, gaping at him. “B-but it takes years –“

“It takes years because Hephaestus, the Elemental of Fire, doesn’t want to dole out that

much of his element to a mere mortal. Phae isn’t always the warmest person emotionally, but he

knows the destructive capacity of his element, and he’s very protective of it. Now take Khione,

the Elemental of Ice. It doesn’t take that many years for people to learn her power because she

doesn’t care as much. Honestly, though, Maxine, the only difference between a Fireball and an

Iceball is just the elements you use. The weaves look exactly the same.”

She stood there, stunned, the information taking a moment to absorb into her mind.

“Remus… the spell the demon threw at me, it’s the same as a Fireball spell and an Iceball spell,

too. It just used different elements.”

“Magic is only a mixing agent. You have full access to nearly all of the elements. How

you mix them depends on how you weave them, from the colors that you choose to the width.”

“So… right now I could cast any spell that I could possibly imagine?”

“Theoretically, yes, but the more complex spells that require more precision and are

maybe even a balance of the three types of spells, those will be a bit beyond you just yet until

you are more skilled and have a more firm grasp on what you are doing. There is one other

limitation.”

He walked around her slipped his fingers underneath the chain around her neck and

pulled her necklace out of her shirt. “The Sorcerers misunderstood when they were given this

necklace. When you asked for it back you told me you were under the impression that this limits

your powers. You’re correct but in the wrong way. Magic asks only one thing in return when it is

used. Magic demands energy. It’s a tradeoff.

“Now normally either a prayer or a magical creature’s soul prevents certain things from

being achievable, such as turning off the sun, for example. There is no spell to do that. A

magician can exhaust themselves from casting too many spells and possibly kill themselves, but

there’s rarely a spell that’s beyond their means and power. You don’t get that benefit, though. If

you so wanted, right now, you have the power to turn around weave a spell that turns off the

sun.”

“I… I can do that?! Why the heck would I want to, though?”

“Why doesn’t matter, it’s the fact that you can. Maxine, you can do anything. For

Drakkar, an immortal, that wasn’t an issue. It even helped when we were shaping the world.

Creating mountains, growing trees, wiping out whole ecosystems if necessary. However, if you

were to try it, the amount of energy that would be required would be beyond you. I told you last

night that Drakkar did not always seem to grasp the idea that he could die. I also told you that he

was rash and temperamental. The hardest thing he had to learn was that he couldn’t do all of the

spells that he used to be able to. The first demon battle he tried to fight the idiot nearly died not

because the demon got the best of him, but because he used too strong of a spell.”

He looked down at the amulet. “Drakkar created this for himself. It was his protection

against using a spell that required too much of his power. It will be painful for you, and you’ll

still come very close to dying, but it will save you should you ever get too adventurous.” He

smiled and shook his head. “There are other spells that got added to it over the years, too. I know

Iasa threw some enchantments on it. Drakkar never got a cold and he always healed quickly. I

think Tyche even gave him an extra dose of luck on it. I think some others added some things to

it, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what all was added.”

She stared down at it, picking it up and looking it over. “Did you add anything to it?” she

asked.

“Sort of. Drakkar asked me once if he could borrow just a little bit of some of my

element. He wanted to slow the progression of time in a spell. He never told me exactly what it is

was for, only that it was something for his future selves. He had given up demon hunting by

then, his age starting to catch up with him. I didn’t have the heart to say no even when he refused

to tell me what it was for.” He shrugged his shoulders and removed his hand. “Maybe one day

you can tell me.”

He cleared his throat and turned away. “Anyways,” he said gruffly. “So, how about you

try that Fireball spell again? Then I’ll teach you a few other tricks Drakkar used.”

A smile growing on her face, she tucked the pendant inside her shirt. Inwardly she hoped

that if Drakkar was anywhere inside of her that he knew just how much Remus loved and missed

him.

Chapter 12 Amar lifted the cup to his mouth to take a drink and then swore. He slammed the cup

down and glared across the table at her. “Oh that’s funny,” he said, his voice coming out more

growl. “Unfreeze it.”

She gave him her most innocent smile. “Sure.”

Amar swore and jerked his hand from the cup, wincing and shaking it. The cup tumbled

from the table and spilled over the floor, the contents steaming. “Real comedian there, Weaver,”

he shouted at her. He slammed his hand on the table and leaned in to her. “Tell me, did

Elemental Remus teach you anything useful.”