Training Begins

The following morning went by slowly for Lionel. He laid tossing and turning for most of the night. The old man hadn't slept yet either. The duo traveled on a dirt road that seemed well kempt. There were a few sparse hills but otherwise the land was mostly flat. The southern coast of Slydall could be seen in the far distance to their right. As they reached the peak of another hill, Lionel stared to the south trying to catch a glimpse of the blue waters.

Lionel pulled his eyes away from the coast line and looked towards the geezer. "How far away is the ocean from here?" This had become a ritual for the two. Lionel's boredom would boil over and he would ask a random question.

"Far enough" The old man spoke not unkindly. Lionel felt like the old man didn't feel like putting in thought, so would give a random not-incorrect answer.

'Well he's not wrong' Lionel thought. "How come we are headed to the capitol?" the geezer still hadn't answered the boy openly on this question.

"To get a rope," The old man replied in a dry voice.

"Why are we getting a rope?" The boy felt perplexed when Drindle actually gave a reply.

The old man didn't miss a beat and replied. "To hang you with."

"Why are you going to hang me?" Lionel was even more quizzical now.

"It's a joke Ank." The old man's face looked tired as he replied. He looked at the boy before speaking. "Once we get over the next hill there will be a small stream. The road passes right over it. We'll stop there for a day or so and start your training."

"Why are we stopping for so long? Do you think the gardgans and hellhounds will catch up to us?" The boy's expression was pensive as he looked Drindle in the eye.

"Boy, you ask so many questions." The old man spoke with an exasperated tone. "I haven't sensed the beasts since we reached the protective wards. Also if we keep pushing the horse, you will be the one pulling the wagon."

Lionel looked at Harthling. The horse was barely keeping pace and Drindle would have to continuously guide him back onto the path."Plus I need some rest too." when the codger spoke Lionel took in his countenance. The old man looked even older and seemed more frail now that he was in a tired state. Lionel decided to sit quietly until they reached their destination.

As the wagon came up over the next hill a blue stream came into view. It was about 5 meters wide at its thickest point and snaked its way north and south. Upon seeing the water the horse seemed to pick up pace. "We're going to move off the road and head south a ways before we set up camp" Drindle spoke while pulling on the reins and steering the horse southward.

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Drindle was sitting on a rock looking at Lionel. They had set up a small camp near the gravelly bank of the stream. The horse was grazing on grass nearby and the two humans were talking "... See what I mean?" The old man had been explaining how to use an element to Lionel.

"No, it just doesn't make sense.." The boy looked at his outstretched hand. They had been at this for hours and nightfall was just a few more hours away. He felt irritated that he couldn't get a single element to conform to his will.

"Ank, This is the simple stuff. one more time." The old man had his hand out and was focusing energy into it. "You use the energy from your vervane and picture the element that you want to control. You have to be precise." when the geezer said 'precise' a small flame appeared in his outstretched hand. "Now, let's try fire again."

Lionel was getting annoyed. He already tried lightening, fire, water, earth and air. He couldn't get it to work. He was starting to think the geezer was messing with him. He had tried repeatedly. He would close his eyes and touch his vervane while picturing the element he wanted to use, but nothing happened. He felt like there was something missing. He didn't feel much fatigue, but he was concerned because he didn't know when his body would switch to using cellular energy. Drindle had told him "You will know when you start using it" but that didn't assuage his worry.

Lionel closed his eyes and floated above the purplish fluid. 'I may as well just bathe in this fluid if touching it won't work.' He moved his figure down and into the fluid. Only his ethereal face remained above the liquid. A huge rush of power flowed into his mind. His mental processes picked up speed from the sudden increase. He thought about fire. What it felt like, what it looked like, and even how it would flicker. Casting light in every direction.

Schmack!!! a sudden impact knocked Lionel backwards. He cried out in pain."aaargh... What was that for?!?" He was rubbing the center of his forehead when Drindle replied

"You almost burnt my robe! I said fire in your hand not spinning around you like a devil!!" Lionel looked at the old man and saw that his big, bushy eyebrows were singed and smoking. "What'd you do bathe in your Lifeforce?!"

Lionel sat up and looked sheepishly at Drindle. "yeah.." He spoke quietly.

Drindle licked his fingers and wiped his eyebrows. He spoke sarcastically, "I'm surprised you didn't fry your brain." Lionel could tell it was a true compliment disguised. The geezer barely seemed to give compliments if at all. "How does your body feel?"

Lionel took a moment to inspect himself before answering "My head hurts from you thumping it, but otherwise I feel fine." Drindle's eyes shone with a light Lionel hadn't seen before. He wasn't quite sure what the old man was thinking.

"Are you tired? Or fatigued?" The old man spoke with the same light in his eyes.

"Not really, I just feel hungry" Lionel answered honestly while he continued to rub his head. He could swear there was a knot the size of an egg forming between his eyes.

"Let's keep going for a little longer, then we will eat" The old man stepped back a meter more and motioned for Lionel to try again.

Lionel continued to submerge his ethereal body into his life force while trying to summon the fire into his hands. The gravel around him took on a black appearance from the continued exposure to Lionels flames. He was able to summon the maelstrom of fire, five more times. On the sixth attempt a sudden pain appeared deep in his skull.

"aaargh..." He held either side of his head as the magic dissipated. He rocked back and forth with his face scrunched up. His head felt like it was splitting open. He continued rubbing his temples all the while.

"..." The geezer said nothing as he watched the boy struggling.

Lionel's pain finally began to fade after a few minutes. He opened one eye and looked at the old man watching him intently "I take it the pain is from the use of cellular energy?" Lionel spoke softly afraid of igniting the full fury of pain again.

"..." The old man still didn't speak he just watched Lionel.

The pain finally receded completely and Lionel un-scrunched his face. He went to stand up and immediately the world turned dark.

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"Uhhhh" Lionel felt his body; he was lying on something soft. He lifted his hand and rubbed his face while his eyes remained closed.

"Awwweee. Is the little mage finally awake?" Lionel could hear the sarcasm in the old raspy voice.

"What happened?" Lionel spoke while cracking an eye open. It was the middle of the night and he was beside a campfire on his bedroll. He couldn't remember how he got there. A sudden memory of pain sprung to his mind. "Did I over do it? Did I do permanent damage?" Lionel asked quickly while sitting up to stare at the decrepit old man. Worry all over his face.

"Yep. you're forever stupid" There was no sarcasm in the old man's voice as he stared back at the boy.

"Ha.. Stop messing with me.." The boy really did feel stupid but he could tell the old fart was only poking fun at him.

"Ank, we need to talk about your power." There was a seriousness to the ancient man's voice that reignited the worry that Lionel felt.

"What's wrong? Did I actually mess something up?"