Oakbrook - The Portal

Training

Training

Sam watched nervously as Lily closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. They were standing in Lily's kitchen, feet bare on cold stone. Rolling her open hands around each other, palms and fingers facing but never touching, Lily drew magic into her hands. Sam could almost see a globe of warm golden light begin to weave. Lily's eyes opened slowly as the magic took form, ice in the blue. Sam held her breath, watching, observing, unable to take her eyes from the magic happening in front of her.

Lily pulled her hands apart, the globe floating over her cradled palms. She held the globe out to Sam.

"Take it." Her voice low but commanding. Sam backed away half a step, uncertain. "Take it!" The command firmer. Sam held out a hand, palm up, fingers cupped to receive the gift. The globe hovered millimetres above her skin, spinning slowly, holding her eyes.

"Lily?" Sam breathed softly, unwilling to raise her voice for fear of shattering the delicate object. "What do I do now?" Lily's hand rested on her shoulder, Sam could feel the warmth seeping through her, guiding.

"Whatever you want. Remember what I told you at New Year? Look deep."

Sam could feel the magic tingling on her palm, running through her fingers. She stared at the globe and as she did she felt it twist and change. Now swirls of green threaded through the gold. She let her imagination play for a time, increasing the green, making patterns.

"Look deeper." Lily's hand brushed against her, she flinched and the globe spun madly for a moment. Lily cradled Sam's hands in her own, settling the globe.

Sam took the suggestion at face value and peered closer to see through the swirling light. Something pulled from deep inside, and she felt rather than saw the change from the centre of the globe as it swirled from the middle and a window opened. She leaned closer and felt Lily's weight on her arm as she leaned to see as well.

Sam peered into the small, dark opening in the core of the globe. The first thing she noticed was the smell of earth and fresh new spring grass. She felt a slight, warm breeze on her face. Irritated that it was dark she held the ball in one hand, flicked a finger on the other, and it became light.

Lily's eyes were wide, she hissed in surprise. That had been instinctive, it had taken Lily months to work that part out. How did Sam know how to do that?

Sam didn't notice Lily's reaction, totally focussed on controlling the globe in her hands.

They gazed at the scene, gently rustling leaves shrouded tall sturdy trees, casting a dappled light to the grassy floor beneath. The smell wafting from the globe was of dark earth, green grass and the warmth of a late spring day. Leaf mould and rich life, the smells of a clean, pure woodland.

Lily carefully reached out a hand and lifted the globe from Sam's fingers. She firmly wound it tight to close the window and then with a complex flicking of her fingertips she compressed the globe into her palm and the entire swirl of ethereal light shrank until it disappeared. She turned and smiled at Sam, who was watching this display of power and mastery with an expression akin to awe on her face.

"That's enough for now. A good start." Lily commented with an inflection of warmth and a hint of admiration in her voice. "There is so much you can learn," she sighed, "It will be hard and there will be huge holes in your knowledge. I only hope I can teach you enough before we go." Sam nodded, speechless at what she had just done. Sam leaned back in the chair, pushing against Lily's big oak dining table. She stretched, shoulders suddenly feeling taut and tense. Lily left her side and went to collect mugs on the way to the kettle. Sam rubbed at her eyes like someone just waking up. She glanced out of the window and was a little surprised to see it was fully dark.