The Elementalists: Dawn of Shady Schemes

Chapter 19

  I crawled out of the den and made my way towards the clearing with Atlas. It seemed like the positivity from last night's meeting was already bubbling through. She seemed to have a wolfish grin as she happily frolicked to the clearing.

Excited? I asked with a smile.

Of course! She replied. I can't believe that he actually thought about us!

We finally were in the clearing, and Atlas went back to professional teaching mode, and was now focusing on my new warm up.

Ok, She said. Now, I want you to close your eyes, and relax.

I sat down on the grass and closed my eyes, my legs twisted into a pretzel, and let all the possible zen I had come to me, until I was very relaxed.

Now, She said. I want you to clear your mind of all distractions, and just invite the spirits to you... they'll come, and typically in huge quantities.

I nodded and closed my eyes. I imagined a blank canvas of nothingness, and then lifted the barriers that guarded my mind, and waited for a feeling, small, ghostly presences, to come.

It seemed like forever as I stood there, waiting as nothing seemed to happen. Atlas finally said, Ok, you're now going to open your eyes up to fairly large sphere of spirits. Maintain control of it, and we'll be able to move on.

I opened my eyes to a fairly large sphere of swimming spirits. I was surprised, and almost lost control... but managed to keep the sphere in balance.

Now, close your eyes, and they'll invite you in, too.

I was confused at this statement but closed my eyes...

and the meaning became clear.

I began to see many different flashes of memories of many different plants and animals:

A mother squirrel jumping from branch to branch to bring food to her babies; a small swallow swirling through the air on a windy day; the grass swaying side to side; a chipmunk running from the thumps of human steps...

You see it? Atlas asked.

...a ladybug flying out of a window after so long; a flower blooming on the first day of spring...

Yes, I replied. I can see everything.

...a hawk diving through the air and catching a fish; a trout jumping up a waterfall to get to the spawning grounds; a butterfly breaking free of its cocoon...

Now control all of these sights... I know it's overwhelming at first, but you'll break free of this spell if you concentrate... Atlas said.

I sighed, and directed the flow of spirits into my crystal, and I no longer felt fascinated at a rabbit frantically hopping from a bullet or a deer winning its first fight...

I felt relieved I was released from whatever spell the spirits bound me to.

Why...why do they do that? I asked.

They do it as a distraction, Atlas said. I gotta admit, you've attracted a LOT of spirits... you've got a lot of energy now.

I smiled. Well, that's a good thing, right?

She shrugged. I guess so...

I'm gonna summon the council now, I said.

Atlas nodded, the excitement beaming from her.

I summoned them, bowed, and greeted them as formally as possible with, Good evening, Trinity.

They smiled. You've figured out our group name, Scarlet. Wolf said. Well done.

He cleared his throat, and said, So, here's what we thought of...

Fage has gone through so much already with the prison with all those rotting Shades, Stallion said.

She seems to be fine, but we feel like she has a lot on her chest. Tiger finished.

And, Wolf continued. We've decided you should wait until your mission is complete.

Why cannot we teach her when our necessities are complete? Atlas asked formally.

Tiger growled. It still causes distractions, and that's the one thing we don't need.

Wolf nodded in agreement. It's too important... your minds should be on the mission, and the mission only. We don't need Shades penetrating our borders and killing off our race because you wanted to teach a human girl elementalism. He turned to me. Scarlet, we think that the responsibilities you bear already is a lot... and a child... it's too much.

No no, sir. I said. I am fine, honestly. She's no trouble at all.

I know that, Wolf said, starting to sound slightly agitated. But we need you focused on SHADES. We can take her off to one of the Elemental camps...

No. I interrupted.

Wolf looked at me. Excuse me?

I sighed. I'm sorry, sir. I can't let you do that. I made an oath AND a promise... and those are two things I can't break. I made a promise to Fage I'd take care of her, and that's what I'm going to do. I made an oath to the Grand Master that I'll take care of her, and I'm going to. Please sir, just give me a chance.

The wolf and his companions frowned, and had a moment of silence.

Very well, Wolf said in a dead-serious tone. But if you fail the mission, the girl is being taken to an orphanage and her entire memory will be whiped out.

With that, he vanished into a thin ribbon back into my crystal.

And I just stood there, shocked.