The Land Never Lost

Chapter 16

Leif was carrying Peter back towards the tree house. The normally excited boy was passed out from exhaustion. A silly grin spread across his unconscious face. Leif could not contain his own smile. The boy was not only proof humans could harness nemerald, but the rate at which he was learning gave Leif more hope than ever. When he reached the tree, Leif's eyes glowed intensely as wings appeared from his back. He flew upwards. With a loud thump, he landed on the porch and startled Blink. Blink fell off the chair he was sitting on. Leif reached out a hand and pulled Blink back to his feet.

"How are you keeping watch while asleep?" Leif asked.

"I was not sleeping. I was so focused it only appeared that way" Blink responded with his natural wild grin. "So, was the kid able to do it?" Blink asked as he crouched in front of Peter. Brutus walked out onto the porch to take the next shift as lookout. "Hey Leif. Blink can you back up before the kid wakes up and punches you? I know I would."

Leif removed his armored breastplate. He ran a large hand through his curly brown hair. "Yes. He's exactly what we have been looking for." Leif picked the boy back up. "I'll give the details when the princess returns. I'm sure she has much to tell us as well."

Leif placed Peter on a sofa in the living room of the tree house. Ramona was standing at the large circular table in the middle of the room. A large shield filled with soil rested on top of the table. This was Ramona's ability. By channeling her nemerald into the soil she could create a living map that depicted events in real time. She spent most afternoons watching the map.

"I assume by the look on your face Peter proved our theory right." Ramona stated as she stared at the moving map. "It's possible, well at least for this boy. Which is a good start." Leif stood by Ramona's side following the movements of the map.

"The very fact that he proved to be capable increases the possibility that other humans could learn to use nemerald. Which means we are closer to our goal than ever before." On the map two glowing lights were shooting towards the location of the tree house. "The princess and Belias are almost here. Maybe we should wake the boy?" Ramona asked.

Leif looked back at the sleeping boy. "Let him sleep. His training was very intense. He pushed himself harder than I thought possible."

When Trinkett and Belias arrived, the Fallen convened on the porch. Trinkett explained how the meeting with her father and Cadman went. How her father's council wanted to cease all activity in the human world, including the actions of the Fallen.

Blink asked, "Well we got the kid, how long do you think we have before the king enforces the law?"

"Does it matter? We have been so focused on proving we can teach humans to defend themselves from glooms, we haven't considered if the King and his council will accept the plan." Brutus said.

"The King isn't the problem." The usually quiet Belias spoke up. "His majesty would welcome humans defending themselves if it lowered the risks to his people. Cadman is who we have to try and convince." Belias looked at Trinkett out of the corner of his eye. "Cadman's advice is rarely opposed."

Ramona walked to the porch's railing and leaned over. "Well we present so much evidence that Cadman has no choice but to agree. We will get Peter ready. That's where all of our focus should be."

Peter had groggily stumbled onto the porch and fell to one knee. Leif walked to the boy and crouched in front of him. He placed a hand on the boy's back and began funneling nemerald through Peter's body. With a sudden deep breath, Peter rose to his feet.

"How are you feeling Peter?" Leif asked.

After a short pause, "I can't wait to train again." Peter replied.

Leif smiled warmly, "Glad to hear. Tomorrow morning I'll have you demonstrate what you learned for the rest of the Fallen."

Ramona said, "Yes. No rush Peter. Get some more rest because starting tomorrow everything gets a lot harder."

Trinkett turned to the twins. "Brutus and Blink set up a room for Peter." Blink pushed past his brother and threw an arm around Peter's shoulders. He started walking back into the tree house when Trinkett said, "Blink..."

"Yes?"

"Let. Peter. Get. Sleep." Blink sighed and said, " Yes princess."

Brutus walked by Trinkett and said quietly, "I'll make sure he listens." The brothers led Peter to his room.

"You need rest as well Trinkett." Ramona hooked her arm through Trinkett's and walked into the house.

Leif and Belias stood on the porch. "Perhaps you should rest up as well, Leif." Belias sat down on a chair and pulled on his hood. "I'll take the first watch". Leif said, "Good night Belias. See you in the morning." Belias was left alone looking out into the night.

The next morning Peter, Trinkett, and the Fallen walked towards the Room of Rumination. Peter was excited everyone was there. So excited that when he woke up to Blink staring at him, Peter instinctively punched Blink. Brutus was standing in the doorway chuckling. "That's what you get."

Brutus tossed some clothes onto Peter's bed. A clean white shirt, green shorts, and green running shoes. Peter hopped out of bed. He got dressed in record time and ran down the steps into the main room of the tree house. Trinkett was wearing all white and holding her green leather jacket in hand. Ramona was dressed in a similar outfit to Trinkett's and was noticeably uncomfortable. Her white hair was pulled back into a bun. She carried a round wooden shield on her back. The brothers, Brutus and Blink, were dressed in their normal athletic gear. Complete with red muscle shirts and black bottoms. Belias wore his normal all black attire. All except his bomber jacket. His hood was still pulled over his long black hair. Leif stood with his armor breastplate over a white long sleeved shirt. His blue jeans were tucked into brown boots.

Peter said hello to all the fairies and followed them out into the woods. The walk to the Room of Rumination was peaceful. Peter had only been there two nights and felt more relaxed than he ever had in twelve years back in his own world. After a few minutes walking and taking in the beauty of Pan, Peter and the fairies finally reached the huge wooden dome. Leif walked to the entrance and placed both hands. In a flash of green energy, the entrance to the room opened up. Today the inside of the Room of Rumination looked like a long, far reaching, green field.

Trinkett and the Fallen all formed a circle around the boy. Leif walked up to Peter. His bright green eyes fixed on the boy. "Okay, just do exactly what you did yesterday." Peter looked around at the fairies. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and closed his eyes. He saw nothing. Darkness. Until... the same girl he had been seeing in his visions. Her smile. So wonderfully familiar. Peter chuckled at the sight of the girl. Her face slowly highlighted by a glowing green light. And Peter's own body began to glow. The Fallen watched in amazement as the boy's hair turned a pure gold color. His shoes glowed as small wings made of light appeared out of his ankles. A green aura encased the boy as he rose off the ground and floated just inches above it. Leif smiled and clapped his massive hands. "Attaboy". When Peter heard the cheers surrounding him, his eyes shot open. Only, they were no longer the brilliant blue they once were. Peter looked at the fairies with irises of pure gold.