The Journey To Orillion

Chapter 4: Magic

"Cami, Elisha said you could help me identify and control my magic. Is this true?" Esmeralda asked.

"Yes, I have a history of training champions. Come," she said, exiting the room to the kitchen. "Follow me to begin your training." Esmeralda followed her maid anxiously. I can't believe I have magic! She thought. She then wondered what powers she had. They said hello to the cooks before exiting the back door to the large yard, freshly mowed. A White Dogwood tree was in bloom a couple yards away from the door. Esmeralda continued to follow Cami along the cobbled path, stepping over the patches of grass that popped out of some of the cracks. Another tree of the same species was on the opposite side of the stone. The perfectly placed trees continued along the same pattern for twenty yards, meaning there was exactly twenty-five trees on each side. The only sound heard was the chirping of the birds, the same birds that shook the branches of the trees, sending loose petals and leaves to fall and be taken by the slight wind. The sun will set in about an hour. Esmeralda observed. Behind the many layers of leaves and branches, the sky was clear. The setting was almost dream-like; it was so beautiful that it looked artificial. They walked until they reached the end of the path, and Esmeralda found herself staring at the perfect place for her education.    

Esmeralda looked around in astonishment at the giant building. In front of Esmeralda was stone arena-like armory, large enough to fit almost 300 hundred people! The door was coded and had a password. Cami easily typed in the correct numbers. She heard a faint click as one of the locks came open. Cami then typed in the password, carefully inputting each letter, yet she did it like she's done it so many times before. The doors automatically came open and a cold wind greeted them. The training area didn't open anywhere except for the entrance, leaving the place swallowed in darkness besides of the light coming from outside.

Esmeralda impatiently waited for the lights to come on before taking any steps closer. "Oh, sorry. Almost forgot!" Cami said, speaking loudly.

"Cami, I'm right here; you don't have to-" Esmeralda was interrupted by a low, robotic sounding voice.

"Welcome, Camilia Drake," the voice said. The lights flicked on easily. Esmeralda looked at Cami dumbfoundedly.

"Voice and access code activation system. Very handy," Cami said with a smirk. Esmeralda looked around the newly-lit academy and found many armor sets and weaponry around her. So much, in fact, that it covered the entire left wall. Esmeralda walked in and admired, and carefully observed, all of the unknown battle attire in front of her. Cami walked in behind her and a tear formed in her eye she remembered what her life used to be. Esmeralda heard Cami sigh behind her.

"What is all this stuff?" Esmeralda asked.

"Esmeralda, there are things you don't know about me, about what I used to do. I want to show you, and I want to teach you, but you must know that whatever you learn in this building, you must always keep it a secret. You must never tell anybody what you have found and learn here. Your magic is a gift. If anybody were to figure out, you would be in great danger, as well as Adracia," Cami said. "Do you want to know about the past of your maid?"

Esmeralda turned to Cami and nodded her head.

"I was training in the army before I became a commander. During the battle between dragons and humans, I was leading the army against the wild dragons. I never had a dragon of my own, but I did have some hand-to-hand and weapon training. You mother said that I could have thought an army of 100 with just a battleaxe and win. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days, but I know I can't. In that battle, I was injured by a stray arrow. That one arrow nearly killed me. It pierced through my armor and it nearly cut the main artery to my heart. Luckily, my comrades were able to help me to safety before anything more happened. At that time, I knew I could never go back to be a commander. Once I got out of the hospital 3 weeks later, I knew I should settle down, and began the stage of my life where I became your maid." Cami explained.