Infinite Fantasia: The Guertena Malice (Book One)

Chapter Two: Master and Apprentice

By Dottalynn (Carissa Lynn V.)

I pulled myself away from the contraption. Unhappy at the way the after affect always made me feel. Slow, and heavy in both thought and motions, while pain throbbed within my head. Master Terrence's words still spinning around in my head, had yet to register with me. 

"That's a massive lack of enthusiasm for someone who just past their fear test." Said Master Terrence, while shutting down the machine. "Especially when its taken them five attempts in order to pass it."

I snapped my head in his direction glaring at him for his comment. The words partly cutting through the foggy feeling in my brain, upon recognizing the tone of mockery in his voice. A sharp pain shot from my neck up the back of my head, making me further feel unbalanced. I reached up my hand to apply pressure, in a sad attempt to re-leave some of the pain. 

Master Terrence left his place at the monitor and stood before me. Quickly taking my face gently into his old, leather hands. I could feel the warm tingling sensation of him channeling his manna through the tips of his two middle fingers as he ran them down the skin of the back of my neck. Master Terrence was not well experienced in the form of healing, but he did know a trick or two on how to lower the level of pain a person can be feeling. As he was doing for me know. 

The pain began to subside in a large amount, allowing me to think a bit clearer. I exhaled, grateful for this aid, even though it did not completely stop the side effects. 

"How do you feel?" he asked me, watching my face intently. Obviously trying to read my body's reaction to his spell. 

"Unpleasant," 

"Good." he said, while taking away his hands. 

"What's so good about me feeling unpleasant?" I asked, slightly annoyed. 

"It matches your personality." 

I opened my mouth to argue further, but another small dizzy spell interrupted me. I closed my eyes hard, and held tight to the side of the chair that I was still sitting upon. Dear Holly Sprites I despise this machine!

"This test is killer on the mind 'And' the body." I complained. 

"The road to becoming a full fledged Encanteon is not easy. Especially when your my student." he said to me. Reaching out and taking my hand from the edge of the chair and turning it palm up. He pressed his figures against my wrist to take my pulse. "Though I have to admit after you figured out how the after effect to the machine was the first time, I never imagined that you'd continue to fail it three more times."

I felt rather annoyed at his mockery of me. It may be his job as my teacher to point out my flaws for improvement, but I don't see why he has to do it in a way that it comes out where I'm the butt of a joke. Though if I complain about this out loud I just get the 'if you can't even handle me ,than how can you expect to handle the responsibility of being an Encanteon' speech in return. 

I felt the dizzy spell finally pass, though I knew my sense of balance wasn't yet a hundred percent. I watched my Master's expression as he continued to examine me. Taking a bit longer than he normally dose. That made me uncomfortable, though not as uncomfortable as when his expression changed from a 'serious' tone to a 'eh  good enough' expression. 

"Oi, I'm not going to die am I?" I asked in a low tone of voice, completely serious. I had heard a few tall tails along our past travels about some apprentice's who didn't fair well from the fear simulation. Even rumors of death. Though Master Terrence on many occasions has reassured me that this is all rumor. Yet I'm still not sure if my lack of confidence in his reassurance is because he really is terrible at comforting others. Or if its because if it is true, he knows i'll become uncooperative with his choice of methods for training and he despise it when I become difficult. 

"Nah, not yet any way." he said to me, releasing my hand. "Your here to torment me for a while longer."

I rolled my eyes at his words. He speaks harshly at times, but considering that I know I'm here because he desires the company, and I've no where else to go anyway, I try my best to not take any of it personal. Though I must admit there are times he seriously pisses me off. 

"I'll make sure to do my part of torment after a nap." I said. Sliding off the edge of the chair and firmly placing my feet on the hard wood floors.  "Are you done with me for the day?"

"Yep, you can go." he said to me, stepping aside so that I could squeezes by him in the small, disorganized room. Seriously I don't quite understand how he can live in such dysfunction. With the fear simulation machine taking up more than half of the space, he also had book shelves stuffed full of books, and random papers scattered upon anything that might have a surface to it. A man's office is a man's office, I dare not ever again question the madness out loud. Not after the three hour lecture he gave me on why my questioning the madness itself was in fact irrelevant to begin with. 

I stepped over some scattered papers that had from somewhere else leaked onto the floor. Ignoring the twinging need to pick them up and put them away. 

"Hey, don't over sleep." He called after me as I stepped out of the office into the hallway of his small cabin. "Master Armity of the head council of Encanteon's is coming all the way to our small village of Faye, just to see you. Don't be late to meat him at the village entrance tomorrow."

"I won't" I said, my tone full of seriousness as the weight of the responsibility for this meeting began to weigh upon me. 

Master Armity was coming all the way here from Henabell City at my Master's request. To review my past tests and training, to decide upon weather or not I will be granted the title of Encanteon, or remain as an apprentice to Master Terrence a while longer. To show up late and give a bad first impression is defiantly not an option. 

I gave my Master a half intended wave before making my way through his home and onto the porch. The fresh mountain air was crisp with the evening breeze that often came up from across the lake. It was quite refreshing, especially after being attached to that machine for most of the day. I drew in a deep breath to calm myself, before stepping down onto the beaten path and making my way towards the little cabin on the lake I currently call my home. Though to be truly honest, there's nothing 'home like' about it at all.