The Definer

Chapter 21

One week went by and my friends had begun their training. Hailey trained with Estelle and Jake and Mitch trained with Mark, who volunteered for the job. Ariana was insistent that I would start my training with the council members because of the speed in which I would learn. I was starting that day so I was at Dean's place getting ready.
"You look awesome." Dean said. "Before you got here, I never would have pictured you in a fighting uniform."
I looked down at my black outfit. I had super tight but stretchy pants on my legs that were thinly padded at the back. My top was also black and had sleeves that stopped at my elbows. I had a belt on that had three daggers and an unloaded gun. I was glad that it was unloaded because otherwise I probably would have accidentally shot someone before I even got there. I had a bow slung over my shoulder and a quiver of beautiful golden arrows with jewels to match my bow in it.
"I feel like I'm going to war now." I said to him.
"You should probably go now. I'll see you next week." Dean said.
I hated that this long mission went for a whole ten days or longer if that is how long it takes to complete it. I didn't know how I was going to survive that long without seeing him.

He ran out the door and I followed. Once we parted, we shared a quick kiss and then ran off in opposite directions. I walked casually to the doors of the palace. Dean taught me the password so I can get in without being let in or having someone with me. Once I arrived there I walked up to the large doors. They had patterns of dragons and swirls and angels engraved in the wood. I hovered my hand an inch from the surface and whispered the words under my breath - "levez openza".
The doors creaked open and I marched in proudly. It was only the second time I had actually been able to do that. Ariana met me at the door with a wide smile. Her long wavy hair cascaded behind her as she rushed over to give me a hug.
"You look awesome." She said.
"So I've heard." I said.
"You saw Dean before he left?"
"Yeah." I answered.

She nodded and and led me down the halls. We turned left and right several times before entering a room larger than any I'd seen in the palace. It had mats, obstacle courses, fighting arenas, weights, targets, booths for throwing magic, high poles to stand on, swings, trapezium sought of things and every type of fitness equipment I ever could have imagined.
"Amazing isn't it?" Ariana said.
I saw Hailey focusing hard to try and make the small section of rain larger and Estelle next to her, chanting her on. The small patch finally grew bigger and Estelle threw her hands up and cheered. Hailey opened her eyes and jumped up and down excitedly. She noticed me and ran up, throwing her arms around my neck.
"Did you see?! Wasn't it amazing?!" She shrieked.
"Yeah. Good job." I said.
"Come on. I'm sorry Hailey, but I need to take Jess and get her ready to kick some evil butts." Ariana said, pulling me over to one of the rectangle magic booths.
The walls were transparent and from looking at the other people in the other booths, I noticed that the magic stopped at the barrier instead of going through.
"Ok. Why don't we start with shields and bubbles." Ariana suggested.
"Will any magic go through the walls of these booths?" I asked.
"None at all. We have tried and tried and made sure that absolutely none could go through."
I nodded my head and prepared myself.
"Okay, Bubbles are like shields. They make you completely invisible - you can't even feel the presence of magic. The only problem is that holding a bubble takes energy... lots of it." She led me through the transparent wall and to an X that was marked on the ground.

"Okay, picture yourself gone - as if you completely disappear in your mind - and then will it to happen."
I listened to her words. I shut my eyes tight and imagined myself disappearing and being surrounded by darkness. I tried to push all my energy out through my hands which were outstretched in front of me. I opened my eyes.
"It didn't work." I said frustratedly.
"Okay, Jess, will yourself to come back." She said.
"What? Did it actually work?" I looked down at myself.
I was still standing, completely visible. I noticed a shimmer out of the corner of my eye. I looked closely around me and noticed a shimmer. It was barely noticeable but it was there.
"I did it!" I shrieked excitedly, throwing my hands in the air above my head.
The bubble popped and moved outward like a wave and blew away everything in its path. Ariana dived out of the booth and luckily for me, the flow stopped as it hit each barrier.
"Okay, that was good but you can't lose your focus." She said, rising once again to her feet and brushing off her clothes.
"Whoops. Sorry."
Okay, don't lose concentration. Noted.
"Let's try again." She urged.