The Ancient Book of Power

Chapter Eleven: The Trials

On the day of the great test Dalbreath woke up after a strange dream that he filed away in his mind, a technique he had taught himself. Then he got up, bathed and got ready for school. It was going to be a big day, and would undoubtedly end with joy or sadness, depending on how he did. Deearo surprised him with a hug when he told him, and a pat on the back. "I knew that first day as spies on the sacred mound that you would go further than me. I used to be jealous, but I'm not anymore. You promise me, though, that you will kill it, cause if you don't, I'll punch your arm black and blue all over."

Dalbreath tried hard to hold back his tears, but they came anyway. Then he pulled away, and held out his hand, and said fiercely: "True brothers, for life."

Deearo smiled mischievously and punched him in the arm. "Of course, but don't make it weird. You always make it weird." But then he surprised Dalbreath and hugged him fiercely. "You always make it weird."

They walked silently to school that morning. Even Neena knew better than to say anything that day. At school Deearo and Neena went off to class, while Dalbreath went to see the headmaster to test out of first year classes.

The headmaster was wearing a purple robe and a red turban. His eyes were very piercing, and he directed his gaze at Dalbreath as he knocked, and then came in without waiting for a reply. "So, I hear you are way ahead of everybody in your classes. Well, I will be the judge of whether you are ready to move ahead with second year classes, which are already in session. And you won't be given any special allowance for starting late."

"I understand and accept that," said Dalbreath.

"Good! You will face three trials, and unusually the first one will be the hardest, and is actually the trial you will face at graduation. If you can't make it through the third trial you go back to first year classes. I should tell you, no one has ever passed the first trial before graduation year."

"I accept the challenge with a good heart and a willing soul," said Dalbreath.

"Very good! In the first challenge I will portal you into a room with no doors, no windows, and where no magic ever works. You have two hours to get out on your own. If you don't, I will portal you out at the appointed time. Ready?"

Dalbreath nodded, but said nothing.

"Come with me," said the headmaster, and led him down a long hall to a great  and giant chamber, and in the middle of that chamber was a round dome. "Stand in that circle over there, Dalbreath." He pointed to a ten foot wide circle about twenty feet away. It was circled by a design of two entwining dragons. Dalbreath walked over to the circle and stood facing the dome. Suddenly there was a whoosh, and he was inside the dome. There were many strange symbols painted in fading paint on the walls. They were enigmatic symbols that didn't look like any animal, bird, or human. They weren't geometric. They were puzzling to say the least. He traversed the room, running his hand along the wall like any kid will do. There really was no way out that he could see. He didn't relish the idea of sitting around for two hours for the headmaster to rescue him. So he sat in the center of the room and meditated. Maybe his spirit guide would know what to do. He closed his eyes, but it took longer than usual to enter a meditative state. But then he entered the oval light, and spoke to his spirit guide.

"How do I get out of this room, Adrianu?"

"Search your dreams" came the familiar voice.

Puzzled, Dalbreath searched all his dreams for a clue , but he did not search the dream from that morning until the very last. He barely remembered that dream, but in meditation it came to life, and he saw that it was a dream about this room, and its symbols, and an order that the symbols had to be touched in order to open a small tunnel that would open in the floor that led out of the dome. He memorized the order, for he had an excellent memory. When he was sure he had it, he went around slowly touching each symbol exactly where the dream showed to touch it with his palm. It took him a good while to make it around to each symbol. One he actually had to jump to reach. At the exact moment he touched the last symbol with his palm a square rock in the center of the room opened, revealing a staircase that lead down to a tunnel that eventually came out inside the great chamber where the headmaster ticked off the minutes with a special timer set for two hours. The headmaster was so shocked when Dalbreath tugged at the back of his robe that he fell over.

"Dalbreath," he said, standing up as if it had never happened, his shock. "How could this be? Nobody gets out of the dome room. Nobody ever has. It's designed to reveal the . . ."

Dalbreath looked glum. "The one."

"What do you know about that?" Asked the headmaster nervously.

"Nothing! Actually, less than nothing. It's a number, that's the all of what I, Dalbreath, the one, knows about that."

The headmaster looked relieved. "The less you know the better for now. When it's time for you to know, you will. But that's enough about that. As to your future, my inclination is to graduate you now and send you on your way. The trouble with that is that is, you're five years old. Who would hire you? So, you will enter second year classes, right away. But don't tell anyone except Bekma and you mother about this, and only in hushed tones."

Dalbreath looked puzzled. "So, nobody graduates?"

The headmaster chuckled. "Of course many graduate, but we have a second trial that test their skills at magery. If they pass they can only graduate if they swear never to reveal the secret of the first trial."

"And if they don't promise?" Asked Dalbreath.

The headmaster smiled mischievously. "We feed them to a large Amenadon bear." He almost snickered.

"Ontiwa?'

"No he's much bigger and meaner than Ontiwa."

Dalbreath smiled. "You're joking, right?"

The head master took his hand and started taking him back to his office. "Of course. For those who refuse, we have a powerful spell that compels them to stay silent. Every mage school on Avalon has a dome room. We've been searching for you for a very long time."