Ariadne and the Tales of Heroes

Chapter 19: September 14th, 1918

There was a small patch of dirt that Toha stood by as his eyes were closed. Ariadne stood by him. Her towering figure was dwarfing his height as she stood with her hands to her hips.

"Close your eyes, my love," Ariadne told him.

Toha closed his eyes.

"Now.....I want you to focus on the patch of dirt you were looking at. Lift up your hand towards that dirt. Picture it in your mind as it moves."

It was the next day of the grasslands of Oklahoma. The beautiful day was marked with clear skies. Ariadne was teaching Toha how to access the newly discovered powers that were deep within him. She was wearing a striking blue woven dress reminisced with the clothing of ancient greek women and, at the same time, being in her minotaur form as well. Toha was still wearing part of his uniform.

Toha lifted his hand and concentrated on the patch of dirt. He focused on the piece of sand.

"Now," she said. "I want you to focus on the sand and picture it moving towards your hand."

He did exactly what was instructed. The soil began to shift very slightly. Some of the earth began to move.

"I feel it moving.....," he said. "How is that possible?"

"You are with me. By us being together and joining the spirit within you is awakening as well. You will have access to his abilities now. All you need now is guidance."

The dirt began to move more and more till it started to levitate towards his hand. The small patch of dirt touched his fingers.

"Very good, Toha. Now I want you to stop concentrating on the dirt and now take your hands and drop it to the ground and lift them into the air while you are concentrating."

He took a deep breath and then bent over, placing his hands on the ground. The patch of soil that floated to his fingertips fell to the ground. He then stood up, lifting his hands high in the air as is eyes were closed. A small patch of soil spat up in the air like a jet stream of water. The dirt dissipated in the air.

"Se:he is the embodiment of a sand mage," she explained. "He can manipulate the dirt and sand to his will around him. He can also feel the sand and dirt, knowing how to navigate his way through anything with the exception of flying creatures. He is taking the form of a spirit now using the human body as a source of power. He will then jump from human to human as each one is born and ultimately dies."

"Let me ask you this then, Ariadne. Why do you feel such an attraction towards me?"

She looked at him with a questioning look, "Why do you ask this? Did you not enjoy our encounter together?"

"I did enjoy it, but I still have to ask.....why the attraction and feelings?"

She looked down. Her snout snorted as her hoof hit the grass hard. "I feel this way....because I feel something for him. I have not been with a human mortal for some time despite some of the advances of some mortals and even mythics. The fact is....I was lonely."

He focused his attention on her "...., I understand. I am enjoying our time together. Yesterday was.... entertaining. It felt so liberating to be away from war. I worry about those that are still trapped in that battlefield wither they want to be there or not. Nonetheless, I feel that I would be better here with you by your side than on the battlefield alone. I would rather be with you."