Training

Drindle and Lionel both slept in the back of the flying wagon for the majority of the following day. When Lionel awoke it was to a popping noise.

"Geez I hate being old." Lionel eyed the almost bald man. He was standing with his hands pressed against his lower back looking up at the canvas.

"How long before we make it to the capitol?" Lionel spoke while sitting up and folding his blanket. Drindle had given him the blanket before they went to sleep.

"We will only be able to fly until we reach the region near the capital. We should be there within a week. We will be headed to the castle, so it will be an additional five weeks on the ground to reach it." Drindle spoke while walking to the driver's bench. The weather continued to be clear as the wagon flew toward the east.

"Why do we have to go on the ground from that point?" Lionel thought it was strange.

"There are protections set up that stop flight." Drindle sat on the bench while turning to look at Lionel with an annoyed look on his face. "Ank, Let's get something straight. I have reasons for everything I do. If we spend all day discussing every little detail we will get nothing done with your training."

At those words Lionel perked up. "When do I start?"

"Now."

*

*

Drindle sat on the bench while Lionel stared intently at the old man. They had just had the remaining cheese from the chest. Drindle finished chewing before he spoke.

"Ok so first things first. You are an 'Enthraller' not to be confused with a 'Mage'." Drindle spoke while holding up one finger. "And before you ask, mages are common while Enthrallers are rare. Enthrallers also have more power and stronger reserves. Mages use a combination of their own energy and the energy found in the surrounding environment. They use that energy to perform magic"

"Magic is the process of summoning one or more of the 5 main elements to perform a task. The elements are Earth, Air, Fire, Electricity and Water." As Drindle explained he drew a diagram on a piece of parchment. "Every Element has a strength and a weakness. Earth is strong against Electricity, Electricity is strong against Water, Water is strong against Fire, Fire is strong against Air, and Air is strong against Earth. Each element is weak in the opposite direction." Drindle had drawn a circle with arrows directed from one point to the next for a total of five points. The five points were each of the different elements. "Each mage has strength in at least one of these elements. they should be able to use them all. The ones they have an aptitude in will be stronger and require less energy from the mage and the environment."

Lionel sat staring at the diagram the wizened, old man drew. "But, what does this have to do with being an Enthraller?" Lionel couldn't help but question the point of teaching him something that didn't matter.

An impatient look appeared on the old man as he responded. "You will first need to be a mage before I can teach you to be an Enthraller." As he was speaking Drindle pulled from his robe a clear glass medallion. He held the medallion by a ribbon. "This is an Elemental Stone. It will show what your aptitude for magic is. And don't drop it, this thing costs a fortune." The old man eyed Lionel with one raised, overgrown eyebrow. he held the medallion by the ribbon as he extended it out toward the boy.

"What do I do with it?" Lionel didn't want to mess anything up so he asked for instructions.

"Just grab it with your hand the clear glass will change to show your aptitude."

Lionel reached out and grasped the cool glass, he looked through the glass. It's insides began to change color. There was a light that exuded from his hand. He felt a warmth that flowed out from the medallion, followed by a soft breeze, a crackling noise, the smell of earth, and finally a taste of salt in the air. The medallion's light slowly rescinded to show a black cloud hovering in the clear glasses depths.

"What does that mean?" Lionel spoke while never removing his eyes from the glass.

"By.. Golly.." The old man spoke with a stunned expression on his face. His eyebrows were raised and his eyes were wide. His mouth hung agape.

As Lionel heard the geezer's reply, he looked at the old man's face. The look there made him worried. "What does it mean?? Is this normal??"

The old man peeled his eyes from the elemental stone and stared at the boy. "I've only encountered one mage that had every aptitude. I only have four."As Drindle spoke Lionel felt a strange feeling near his heart. He could hear another heart beat in sync with his own. Badump Badump... Badump Badump..

"What does that mean? Is that bad?"

"No boy. It means you can use every element easier than almost any other mage." The old man stayed staring at Lionel as he continued to speak. "We are going to start with the basics. First, you will learn to use your own energy to conjure one of the 5 elements."

Drindle produced a small book from his robe. "This is the process that all Mages use to control the elements. before I show you anymore you will need to read this." At that he handed the small book to Lionel.

Lionel stared at the cover of the brown book. The cover read "Duex Magus Magikae". He opened the first page and saw small script that read "A mages Guide to Magic.

"Once you are able to control an element we can start to discuss the difference between mages and Enthrallers." At those words Drindle took the Elemental Stone from Lionel and placed it within the folds of his robe.

"Which element should I start with?" Lionel asked while still engrossed in the words of the book.

"Doesn't matter; but if I were you I would hurry and start reading it and practicing it. We only have a week before we land and start to travel by road. If there are any Gardgans nearby I am afraid we will be in for a fight." Drindle spoke while looking down at the ground some distance from them.

Lionel suddenly looked up at Drindle; a look of anxiety appeared on his face. "I have one question. Where can I use the bathroom?"