HYBRID (Now a draft)

Ten

Twyla watched as Jay, Scotch and Ted marched out of the tent to accompany Ev. Someone was outside the camp site perimeter. There were wards set around camp.

she swung her head back to the shell-shocked boy. She sat down beside him and pulled off her mask . Her skin was a bit darker than his. Time for a little bit of fun.

" So. Odd boy." She cocked her head. " Wonderful, right? "

The boy looked at her.  He was cute in an awkward sort of way. "Wonderful?" He replied.His brown eyes widened.

" You got yourself captured by a princess. A dream come true, right?" She giggled.

" I didn't do anything! " He cried. " Okay.Maybe I did, but, hey, princess Evellyn can use magic,too. Why isn't she captured? Or shackled to the ground ?" He seemed nervous.

Twyla laughed again. " She was granted permission to use magic in the Earth World. You can't just use magic just anywhere. You'll give us away."

"Who's us?"

" Us is those-who-use-magic-in-another-world-that-you-probably-didn't-know-existed-until-the-very-last-possible-moment-of-the-time-shocking-crazy-being-that-caused -you-to-get-caught-by-us." she concluded.

"Wait, what? You mean Natatoria? "

" Yes, Natatoria is one of the kingdoms. You don't know? And you use magic!" She clapped her hands with glee.

"Well, I didn't even know I could use magic until yesterday."

"Yesterday? you mean the day before the yesterday of yesterday?"

Max gawked. His hands shot to his head, the shackles clinked. " I've been out for that long? "

"Yep. And you talk while you sleep." 

Max turned a bright shade of pink. 

" You actually remember my name! " she patted Max. " Oh.And guess what? I know yours ,too!" " You are Max. And you like sneaking out at dawn."

The poor boy was clearly freaking out but was trying hard to conceal it. "How did you know?"

" Ah. You admit it! I've been watching you for weeks."

" You were spying on me? Even when I sleep? All the time?"

Of course not ,thought Twyla. " Yep, all the time." She nodded her head.

Max squirmed. Twyla enjoyed the scene. A grin spread across her face.

The entrance flap opened. Jay stepped in. His blue eyes darted from Twyla ,then Max, then back to Twyla. 

" Twy, did you do something to him ?"

" I didn't do anything. Maybe I did. Does it matter?"

" All things matter, my young Twyla." A voice rasped. A man of old age walked in. His head was bald. His gray mustache reached to the ground like a lush smoky waterfall. His face was wrinkled, he appeared slightly surprised  when he spotted Max. Then he smiled. A faint smile like he spotted something delightful. A flicker of recognition crossed his face. Otherwise he said nothing else.

Jay put his hands together and bowed. " Master Lingfu." Twyla did the same. Master LingFu seldom ventured out. Today was a rare occasion.

The others walked in. Evellyn had her arms crossed in front of her chest.

" My greetings, young Max." He dipped his head toward Max. " How are you feeling ?"

" I feel , trapped."Said Max. Master LingFu chuckled. He turned to Evellyn. " Really, my dear Evellyn. Such a small boy. And yet you adorn him with chains."  

Evellyn was indignant. " He is a hazard to us all. He has brought danger in a dire situation."

"Yes. But he simply did not know. Am I right, young Max?" Max nodded frantically.

" That's what he said.But..." 

Master LingFu didn't let her finish. " My young Twyla,  This is the human boy you observed for the project for the past few weeks, am I right?" Twyla nodded. " He did nothing related to magic, no?" Twyla nodded again. He turned to Evellyn. "He may have caused you a few moments of distress, but did he not do anything else to help?" 

Evellyn looked tired. " He stopped the fire by draining the energy." She didn't look at Max. 

" You see? He is a youthful spirit. He is a stone that just needs a bit of polishing and then he will shine. He will be of good use to you, dear Evellyn. . What good will come out by disposing him? Or shutting him away? His casting of magic was certainly unintentional. With a little guidance and help, he will become magnificent. A powerful addition to your arsenal. A weapon only you have access to, a weapon unique like no other, that none had ever seen before."

Twyla was stunned. Master LingFu had never praised anyone so openly. He must have sensed something incredible in Max. After all, he was one of the keepers of the temples.

Twyla looked at Evellyn. She didn't seem convinced. But she didn't argue back. Silence.

She eyed Max , her gaze locked on the boy. It was a glare that promised violence if he dared do something like that ever again. She pursed her lips. She paced around the tent awhile.

After what seemed like eternity, Evellyn stopped. She slowly nodded her consent. Even she trusted the master's judgement.

She sighed a deep long sigh. Her brown-grey eyes flickered to Max. " Welcome to the team."