Sci Fi & Fantasy / Felix Sierra Spade

8-27-02~7-19-03
Felix Sierra Spade
By, GeorgeAnne Colleen Connelly

Chapter 1
Trylinight Order and Orcinight Order

The amber sunlight above the small island of Trylixann poured in through the tall windows of the enormous ballroom to a great temple. Young female students mastered their swordplay in its flood of light.
They did not use real blades, but rather long white hollow batons. These batons had no enchantment to them, so they did not glow or release rainbow colors of dust that fluttered to the ground from their tips like the real trademark baton-swords that this order used in combat. Those weapons for fighting, which were enchanted, were batons, yet they were still titled “swords.” They had one end being the “hilt” and the other end made magically more dangerous to touch. The dangerous end had a slant at the end of it, almost like a cutlass sword. The other end was level and thick enough to grip with both hands.
The sword master, Killaira Mana walked around the ballroom watching her young girl students. The tall master stopped at two particular students who were in playful taunt as their weapons twirled, launched and parried.
“C’mon, Felix,” one said, her long red hair dropping to one side as she turned for better stance. “You know you can’t win.”
Felix smiled, her blue eyes twinkling. “I beat you last time, Anexi,” she said, pushing back her black hair. Her hair was actually black with white stripes flowing down, like a many-colored waterfall.
Killaira smiled. She watched Felix closely. No one could argue that Felix was not a good fencer. Her own master had taught her well.
“Well then, I might have a chance this time,” Anexi said. A smile spilled across her face as she held the end of her practice weapon with both hands and stood in a side stance with her right shoulder toward Felix.
She then twirled the baton once and attacked, just as Felix parried down.
Anexi took a step back, then struck. Felix blocked every move.
Finally, Anexi tried to launch, but then spread her legs too far apart, and stumbled, with the end of her sword rubbing against Felix’s as she fell and giving off a screeching sound that was put in that part of the baton by a spell. Half the girls winced.
Felix looked down at Anexi on the floor and chuckled as her friend’s sword dropped to the gray marble floor. Strong plastic met hard marble as the sword rolled away a few inches.
Felix stopped chuckling, and Anexi imitated her laugh with a fake smile. Then Anexi ran her foot under Felix’s leg and she fell backwards onto the ground now facing her friend.
Killaira laughed and soon, the rest of the girls were laughing.
The two friends blushed as the Grand Golden Bell sounded in the garden. It was time for the next class.
Killaira clapped her hands once to get everyone’s attention. “Good fencing today,” she said. “Put the swords back into the slots nice and neatly for the next class…I said nice and neatly!” Some of the weapons tumbled to the ground as their users paid no heed as to how they tried to put the swords away.
Felix and Anexi helped put the swords back, then hurried on to their next class: History.
They ran down the broad hallway, careful not to slip on the marble floor. They dodged the round diamond-carved pillars that held the enchanted glass ceiling under the marble main ceiling. The former was a glass ceiling with illusions. It had been enchanted that way. It now presented little silver fairies with round azure eyes, dancing on a river in the moonlight. Their wings glittered silver with gold on the edges as they came to life and flew across the ceiling. This hallway ceiling was the only one that pictured images and illusions through the glass.
The girls’ peach-colored robes swayed in the breeze as they ran, and their light gray leather slippers patted on the floor. The inside of the shoes was polyester, just to make it comfortable. The only reason for the leather was to get a better grip on the floor.
They made it to the History Room just as the gold bell dinged twice. Their teacher, Master Willa Para, gave them a noticing look as they took their seats on the crimson-carpeted floor.
In History class, the best way to hear a lecture was on the velvet carpet and linen blankets. Master Willa didn’t mind that some students fell asleep sometimes. She believed that that sleep was one of the best ways to store information in the subconscious, if nowhere else, that is.
Since there were no couches in the room at the moment, all the girls knew that today would be either a review or a lecture. Either way, they would get a story. Master Willa only had couches and chairs out if she were going to give a test or a project.
She looked around the room through her gold brimmed glasses and her blue eyes twinkled as her blonde hair rested on her shoulders. She was no older than thirty. “Everyone get comfortable,” she said as the girls crawled over the carpet. “We’re going to review today.”
Felix and Anexi exchanged excited smiles as they lay on their stomachs, elbows holding them up, cradling their chins.
Master Willa sat cross-legged on a small round mattress colored green. Finally, everyone got settled and listened:
“You all remember the story I told at the beginning of the year,” the master started. “The one of how our Trylinight Order had fallen once at the hands of the Orcinight Order. Who can remember what happened?”
Felix raised her hand. Willa nodded to her. “Felix,” she said.
Felix took a breath in as she smiled. “The Orcinights put those little rat-sized Vyja Dragons into the walls of the temple, and their poisonous stench spread throughout the rooms.”
Willa nodded. “Not too bad of a description, Felix,” she said. “But do you remember what the back story of that was?”
Felix thought hard, but shrugged. “Something to do with a Trylinight?”
Willa nodded. “One night, one of the master Orcinights sneaked into our temple with some friends. They stole some swords and even some books from our library. But the master Orcinight got lost in one of the halls. He stopped at the bedroom of a Trylinight as she was awakening from the noise. While the Trylinight fell in love at first sight, the Orcinight saw it as an opportunity.
“So, he lied to her with his charm, and she ended up giving her heart to him. Through her trust, the Trylinight, foolish as she was, told him a secret of our weakness: how to open up the marble walls, and how to get inside without anyone knowing. The Orcinight shared this secret with his High Leader. So, they sneaked into the walls, and let loose ten thousand Vyja Dragons. Through the tiny creatures’ tails, came a smoke that smelled like roses, but killed within moments.” Willa paused as the class took it all in. “Who can remember who survived?” Walla began again.
This time, the whole class raised their hands.
Willa smiled. “That’s all right, put your hands down, you all know. It was High Leader Trinity who survived. She was just a Magician back then. While the Vyja Dragons were released, she was on her Lesson, to go into the woods just outside the temple, a long way from the barrier walls, to find Wisdom Lake and listen to what its enchanted voice said.” She paused once more. “Who knows how the lake received its voice?”
The class was silent.
Willa answered her own question. “At first it was just an ordinary lake. But then the first of the Mages found it in their travels. They cast a spell on it that gave it the ability to give wisdom to whoever requested it. That was how the tradition of a Lesson began. A Trylinight, when chosen by the High Judges, would travel to the lake and listen to what message it would give. But it only speaks briefly. So when the day comes for any of you to go, listen well.”
Willa then returned to her story of the High Leader. “When Leader Trinity returned to the temple from Wisdom Lake, she saw the Orcinights going back to their own temple, a few Vyja Dragons still in their hands. She then knew what had happened. “She waited two days for the poison to disappear, and then she went before the Judges and joined them in a plan to give the order its renaissance.” She paused again for the class to absorb the story.
Then, her voice rose a bit for the next information she told. “Okay,” she said. “Oral quiz. You will all be graded on this.”
The class moaned and complained, but in the end, the bell let out a loud deep dong.

Chapter 2
High Leader Trinity

Master Trinity was no older than sixty. Her long white hair flowed behind her, resembling her long white robe. Her enchanted hollow sword was at her side and she gripped it as she walked across the wheat field to the Trylinight High Court.
The castle was built from gray brick, and was very ancient. It was dim on the inside. On the outside at the moment, the evening sun spilled its rays onto the ancient walls.
Trinity’s sharp watery blue eyes watched as the huge wooden doors opened. She took a deep breath, gripped her sword a bit tighter, and then walked in.
As she walked through the dark entrance room, she waved a hand over the hanging torches on the walls and they automatically lit from her magic. She then walked down the front hallway and repeated her magic gesture, lighting every torch against the wall as she walked. She finally stopped at tall double-doors. She lit the torches on either side of the doors and stepped back for them to open by themselves. If both torches were lit, then the doors would open; they were enchanted that way. Almost everything was enchanted here.
Trinity walked through the doors and into an enormous torch-lit room. It took one hundred torches to light this room alone. Giant pillars made of stone held up the high ceiling and the floor was as smooth as the one in the Trylinight temple.
Trinity stopped before ten tall chairs. They were all next to each other in one line that had a Trylinight Judge in each one. All were very old women, yet they were the wisest of the order. Only ten Trylinights were picked once a generation to be a High Court Judge.
Trinity knew this. She would have been picked as one as well, if it had not been for her rebellious nature and her repeated request that she asked for year after year.
One of the middle judges leaned forward, her light gray eyes fixed on the Leader, and glistening in the torchlight.
“High Leader Trinity,” she said in a husky voice.
Trinity, still gripping the hilt of her sword, put one foot back and bowed elegantly before the ten Sages. “Judges,” she said in respect, her voice much smoother than the one that spoke.
Another one from the edge of the line held her tall marble staff next to her chair. Her thin gray hair fluttered down her shoulder. “Have you returned again to request this so-called ‘freedom’ for the order?”
Trinity sighed, controlling her temper.
Her repeated request had been presented before the Judges ever since she became High Leader of the Trylinight. She knew there had been barriers around the grounds of the temple and this court was just on the edge of it. The barriers were high stonewalls that circled around the grounds of the temple as well as the court. Ever since Wisdom Lake had given Trinity a message of “freedom that is longed for the order,” she had never given up to request that the barriers be taken down so that the order could do more than just stay in the temple, learning and teaching.
Trinity believed the Trylinight Order could do so much more for the outside world. “That ‘so-called freedom,’ Your Honor, is the key for the order’s destiny,” Trinity said, her voice filled with passion.
The Judges rolled their wrinkled eyes. “Here we go,” one muttered.
Trinity ignored the remark and went on. “My Lesson, Your Honors, was a message from Wisdom Lake. You all know what it said to me. Why do you continue to ignore me when you all hold that voice of the lake in high respect?” Her eyes narrowed, trying to get their attention. “Or are you all hypocrites?”
The Judge with the thin hair fixed her gaze on Trinity. “We do hold that voice in great respect. But Leader Trinity, this ‘freedom’ that you talk of is the ‘key’ to the dangers of the world outside the barriers. The temple and the high stonewalls keep the Trylinight Order safe. They are content.”
“They are trapped, and they do not know it!” Trinity’s voice was sharp and filled with passion once more.
One Judge stood up and leaned on her tall white-marble staff. “You have given this speech over and over for many years, High Leader.” Her voice was powerful, more than the one with the husky voice. “If you continue at this moment with one more word of this rebellion, you will lose your status and be exiled from the order.”
A silent pause drifted by as Trinity drew her breath in for strength.
The Judge went on once more. “We warned you last year, Master Trinity. I would advise you not to continue.”
Trinity let out her breath and glared at each one, eyes cold as ice. She finally found words. “If you all continue your ignorance, the order shall fall and it will not be saved again.”
With that, she turned from the Judges and into the lit hallway, the doors shutting behind her with the torches’ lights dying away as she passed by them, as if an icy wind stole away their flame.

Chapter 3
Master Crystalynn

Felix and Anexi made their way down the long broad hallways and to the side grand doors that led outside to the garden. The garden was bordered with high green walls of vine and bush.
The sun had set and it was dim outside. The moon was hidden behind clouds tonight, but the other master Trylinights were enchanting the high walls of vine and placing blue fire on top. They all cupped their hands and gently blew into their palms. Right then, a tiny blue flame would roll out of their hands, like a pedal of a flower would do. It would then catch onto the top of the bush, onto one of the thorns. It would plant itself there, and grow brilliantly, spreading its soft light throughout the garden. The garden then had a glow hue of moonlight blue all around.
The ground was filled with lush green plants and beautiful flowers of all kinds, as if they had been sprinkled all over the ground.
Felix and Anexi took their slippers off and walked through the lush grass, their slippers in their hands.
Just then, a younger Trylinight approached the two students. “Hey,” she said. “You guys are Fifteenth Years, right?”
Felix and Anexi exchanged looks. Felix nodded to the younger one. “I’m a Sixteenth. She’s a Seventeenth.”
The year had to do with the age of the Trylinights. First Year is actually just a master being picked for a student, while the real learning begins at age five or so.
The younger one continued. “Well I’m Eighth Year. Anyway, I was wondering what a Lesson is.”
Felix smiled. “You’ll learn that in your Tenth Year.”
“Just tell me,” the younger one said flatly.
Felix sighed. “A Lesson is like a mission,” she explained. “Like a destiny, I guess. The High Leader tells you when you’re ready, and you go to Wisdom Lake. There is a voice there that tells you a message, like a riddle of some sort. And you learn what it means through time and learning. That’s how I was taught.” Felix shrugged.
The younger one’s eyes were to the side of Felix, as if looking at something else, but she nodded nonetheless. “Oh,” she said dully.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Anexi smiled at the Eighth Year.
“No, no, I get it… I’ll just ask my master.” Without another word, she walked off, leaving Felix and Anexi by themselves.
The two friends looked at each other again. Felix shook her head. “Younger ones,” she mused.
“Felix,” said another voice.
Felix looked around, and then saw an older and familiar Trylinight. “Master!” She turned to Anexi. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Anexi,” she said as she ran off to see her teacher. Then she added the traditional Trylinight blessing: “Fortuna!”
“See you, Felix,” Anexi called after her. “Fortuna to you too!”
Felix ran up and hugged her individual master. “Master Crystalynn,” she said with a smile.
The woman smiled as she held her. “Felix,” she said in her kind voice.
Teacher and student looked up at each other.
“Why, Felix Spade, I believe you grew an inch the last time I saw you.”
Felix smiled at her.
~

“So, what did the lake say?” Felix walked with her master around the dim blue-tinted garden. The light gave Felix a sense of peace.
Master Crystalynn walked by her side. Besides her long white robe, she had long graying-blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. She was a slender woman, youthful at heart, but wise in her life of forty years. Both Trylinights had their slippers in their hands. That was a rule of the garden: no trampling with shoes, otherwise the flowers would die. They were enchanted that way. “Wisdom Lake gave me a message,” Crystalynn said.
“Of course it gave you a message, master. What was it?”
Crystalynn laughed. “It told me something that I will never forget, Felix. It said ‘teach her.’”
“ ‘Teach her?’ Me?”
The master nodded. “It must be you. I believe that you have a destiny awaiting you, Felix. Otherwise I don’t think it would have given me that obvious of a message.”
Felix thought for a second, but then she just shrugged it off. “Everyone has a destiny,” she said. “What makes mine so special?”
“Well, maybe we’ll find out someday,” said Crystalynn.
The two continued walking through the garden until they came to a large gap in the vine wall. This was the entrance to the Trylinight Garden Maze. This was where muses were found.
It was the way of the order to give a student more than just a master, but also a guide that would be there whenever they needed one. So, at the age of seventeen, each Trylinight would receive a Personal Muse. They were male, with the order being female. It was the other way around with the Orcinight Order; the students and master were male, the muses were female.
Felix and Crystalynn stopped and gazed into the darkness of the fairly narrow halls of the garden maze. Felix knew she would be receiving her muse tomorrow…along with her own sword.

Chapter 4
The Sword and the Muse

Felix lay in her bed, asleep. The bright morning sun shone to her balcony, through its two open doors and into her room.
Her room was big enough to fit at least ten people. It was even tall enough to fit a teenage dragon, if possible. Her four-poster bed was soft with creamed-colored covers and white sheets. The pillows matched the light amber color of the covers.
Felix was still asleep for a moment, but then her eyes opened just a bit.
Right in front of her, floating in mid-air was a green little goblin that stuck its tongue out and made a hideous face at her.
Felix quickly sat up, taken by surprise, even a bit frightened. The image of the goblin disappeared instantly, a small cloud of silver, gold and green dust following its desertion. The dust fluttered down onto Felix’s bed, only to vanish through the air just before it landed.
Felix let out an irritated sigh when she heard Anexi’s laughter by her bed. Her friend was on the soft-carpeted floor, laughing out tears with her arms hugging her stomach.
Felix glared. “Anexi,” she said. “I hope Fortuna herself frowns upon you!”
Anexi only laughed harder at the irritation. “I couldn’t resist,” she said between chuckles.
Felix took the covers off, and faced Anexi. She stood up, letting her silk gown cascade over her lap to end at her knees.
Anexi stood up, letting out a sigh of relief. “Happy birthday, Felix,” she said, straightening out her own gown. Hers was cotton with a lace design of flowers below the neck.
“Thanks,” Felix said. She would turn 17 that day, and also receive her own sword and Personal Muse.
Felix grabbed her robe, draped it over her shoulders and put her arms through the sleeves. She then found her shoes at the foot of her bed and slipped them on.
Anexi’s next words took Felix by surprise. “You should have been in the ballroom an hour ago. I hope you know that.”
Felix’s eyes flew toward the grandfather clock in the corner of her room: 11:03
“Fortuna, I’m late!” She ran to her door and out into the hallway hearing Anexi’s voice, echoing down the corridor. “Run, Felix! Hurry up!”
She finally turned a corner that led to the ballroom doors. On the ceiling were mythical creatures in a wide valley with the sunlight caressing onto them. A young elf in a green hat and red vest waved his hand through the air. Gold letters appeared in the pictured sky in handsome writing: Happy Birthday…you’re late!
“Yeah, I know!” Felix ran under him and almost into the doors had she not slowed down to open them.
She rushed in, and skidded to a halt, almost running into her master this time.
Crystalynn looked down to her with a disapproving look on her kind face. “Sleep in?”
Felix sighed, finally catching her breath.
~

The sword master, Killaira stood in front of Felix and her master. Behind the sword master was a tall gilded shelf that went to the ceiling of the ballroom. Trylinight swords were inside each little triangular nook, their “hilts” peeking out.
Felix faced the shelf now, her master behind her, watching. Killaira stood beside Felix, explaining what would happen.
“Since today is your 17th birthday, Felix, you receive your sword and muse. Both processes are a bit identical. You have to concentrate on both tasks to find what you’re looking for.” She paused. “You see all these Trylinight swords? One of them is destined to be your own. One of them is a part of you, connected to you. All you do, Felix, is focus, and call it to you …and it will come.”
Killaira stepped back, and Felix faced the shelf alone. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She held out her hand, palm up, mentally calling to her sword. She imagined all the magic within her gathering up in a cloud, and growing a voice to call to her destined weapon. A chill went through her body as she went deeper inside herself.
Crystalynn watched her student carefully…but then, at that moment, a sword near the right wall began to twitch. It rolled side to side in its nook, and then stopped. It slowly nudged itself out of the nook, inch by inch.
Felix went deeper, focused harder.
The sword then made its way out and floated in mid-air for a second, as if relieved to be free of its tiny home. It slowly flew to Felix’s palm, and placed itself gently in her grasp.
Felix curled her fingers around the end as soon as she felt it. She opened her eyes and smiled as she looked upon it.
A feeling came over Felix at that moment. It felt as if the sword smiled back.
~

Felix stood at the entrance to the Trylinight Garden Maze. Her peach-colored robe swayed in the gentle morning wind and the black and white locks of her hair swept up occasionally, shining in the sunlight. Her new sword was clipped at her waist. She had on a silver belt around her waist with a clip that snapped open when the sword was needed and clapped shut when it was put away. The clip itself was designed very exotically. The design looked like the head of a phoenix with wings of a dragon. The mouth would open and clip onto the sword. Master Killaira had let her pick it out from a chest of other clips.
Felix was looking down at her left hand at the moment.
On her hand, just under the thumb knuckle, there was a dark green-colored tattoo of a clover. It was just about the size of her thumb knuckle, almost a bit bigger. She stared at it, caressing it with her other thumb, deep in thought of how she had gotten it.
Each Trylinight, and Orcinight to her knowledge, received a tattoo when they were first brought to the order. Felix was told that she was born of a single mother who had been abandoned by the father. Her mother had brought Felix to the order to be taken care of. Felix couldn’t remember her or even what she looked like. She just remembered little tiny lights from a spell shining on her hand until a clover appeared. Her master, Crystalynn, had named her Felix, meaning lucky. She had received a clover as a symbol. From what Felix knew; the tattoo on a Trylinight or an Orcinight always symbolized something.
Felix had found that it was a symbol of how lucky she had been through life, though at times, she questioned why.
Her master’s words came back to her. “I believe you have a destiny awaiting you, Felix…maybe we’ll find out someday.”
Felix sighed as she looked ahead as the sunlight poured onto her, casting her shadow on the garden flowers. She held her slippers in her hands once more, waiting for High Leader Trinity to come.
Crystalynn stood a few feet from her student, looking up at the vine maze walls. She had a nostalgic look on her face. “I remember when I was given my Muse. He helped me through practically everything.”
Felix looked at her master. “Does he still help you?”
Crystalynn looked back at her and nodded. “Every day,” she said.
“But how will I know how to find mine?”
“You’ll know, Felix. Just have faith,” Crystalynn said with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. “When you meet him, he’ll explain everything to you.”
Felix frowned and looked down to the ground, still lost in thought.
Just then, High Leader Trinity walked into the garden and approached the master and student. “I’m sorry it took so long,” she apologized, looking from Crystalynn to Felix. “Trylinight High Court is a long way from the temple.” She sighed. “I wish they were closer.”
Felix gave a hint of a smile. She was modest in her impatience to receive her Muse.
“Oh,” Trinity said, taking a step toward Felix. “I’m sorry, dear, I almost forgot.”
Felix let out a small laugh. “That’s okay, master Trinity,” she said with a nod of respect.
“Now, I promised I would be here to explain this to you, so here it goes: First, you will enter into the maze and find your way around the corners and walls and through the narrow halls. You will find your Muse, and he will find you. He will tell you everything, so may your heart stay true.”
Felix glanced to the ground. That was a rune-like way to explain it.
Trinity shrugged. “That’s been the way to explain it for many years, if even too many.”
“I guess so,” Felix said with a smile. She looked into the entrance hallway and saw another wall at the end of it. That was obviously the first turn in the maze.
Felix gulped as her master put her hand on her shoulder. “Fortuna, Felix. Go on in.”
Felix took a deep breath and took the first step into the maze. Just as she walked in, the wall of the entrance, enchanted, grew more vines and closed up.
Felix was expecting that. She heard stories in the temple of the wall closing up behind a Trylinight. The only other thing she knew was that the Muse was suppose to find a way out for the both of them…as soon as Felix could find him, that is.
That was the part she was worried about. The sun, at least, did not hide from her. The sky was still above her and the sun still shone down upon her. At least the top of the maze wasn’t closed.
After she gathered up her courage, she started walking deeper into the maze and took the first turn.
She had heard stories about the maze. She had heard that it once took a Trylinight two years to find her muse. That gave Felix a chill. She didn’t want to be trapped in the maze for that long.
She did not fully understand the nature of finding her muse, but she had to try if she would ever become a Sage, like one of the Judges in the High Court. Felix knew High Leader Trinity was a Mage along with Felix’s master, Crystalynn. Trylinights at Felix’s age were called Magicians, like Anexi. The younger ones were titled just that.
As she walked, she ran her hand against the vine wall. It felt soft and damp to her fingers.
She paused at a fork in the maze. She had the choice of left or right and she glanced in both directions, wondering which way was the wisest.
She then remembered what master Killaira told her: “You have to concentrate on both tasks to find what you’re looking for.”
Felix closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She focused and went deep inside herself.
Left…right…left…right. Her thoughts trailed off until she felt which way was the better. She opened her eyes and her first impulse was left. She took another deep breath to calm herself and took the left turn.
She walked deeper into the labyrinth and studied her surroundings. Wherever she walked, she took everything in with her eyes, felt every new wall with her fingers and followed her instinct.
Finally, she took one more turn and paused after a moment. She stood in one place and wondered why she had the impulse to stop. Her brow went forward, puzzled. She blinked a couple of times and then felt the need to look up to the top of the wall on her left.
On the top of that wall, there sat a slim man that looked no older than 25 with soft hazel eyes and short dark brown hair with a brown Scottish beret on his head. He wore a leather vest over a white shirt and black long pants. His long shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his shoes were dark brown leather, shabby.
He sat with one knee arched, his elbow idly resting on it, with the other knee swinging down from the wall.
He smiled as Felix looked up at him with curious eyes. “I was wondering when you would see me,” he said in a young-man’s careless voice. “I thought I would have to sit up here all day.”
Felix smiled back at him and shrugged. “Well,” she said, a bit awkward, “I guess I found you.”
He let out a soft chuckle and then dropped down from the wall. He sighed when he landed as he looked back at Felix.
She almost felt embarrassed, not knowing what to do.
The muse seemed to see it. He put his hands behind his back and slumped his shoulders, still in a casual manner. “Yes,” he said. “You have found me. I am your muse, Felix Sierra Spade. You now must guess what my name is.”
“I have to guess your name?” Felix had thought the worst was over.
“Don’t panic,” he said with a laugh. “It’s not that hard. I have to give you hints.”
“Oh, well that’s good,” said Felix.
“I have to give you a riddle.”
Felix frowned.
“I am named after a star pattern in a far away world. Three stars in a row, forming a warrior named…” He put his hand out in a gesture, hoping Felix would get the right answer.
Felix adjusted. “Fortuna,” she muttered, irritated.
“C’mon,” he said. “You know this.” He smiled. “And no, it’s not that one.”
Felix looked at him and sighed at his humor. She thought back to one of master Willa’s other stories. She remembered her telling of a star constellation in the sky of a distant land. Suddenly it came her like a sharp wind. She looked the other in the eye. “O’Ryan.” Her voice suddenly turned smooth, as if she knew it all along.
His smile grew and he bowed deeply to her. “At your service,” he said.
He then got down on one knee, rested his elbow on it once more and bowed his head as if in respect. “Muse to guide you and to teach you magic. Muse to show you what things you could only dream of, and to show you the wonders of the unexplained.” He glanced up at her. “Sort of,” he added. “Any questions?”
“Yeah,” Felix said. “Why are you down there?”
He suddenly got up and sighed with a short shrug. “Tradition,” he said in a voice that took Felix by surprise, as if it were the typical way. He started talking as if reciting. “A muse must follow the rules of the muse world and show Trylinight or Orcinight respect and respond at their call.” He voice went flat on the last words.
Felix clicked her tongue and her brow went forward in disagreement. “Well that’s not fair,” she said.
He shook his head, as if he had given up on something. “That’s what I said.”
“And what did they say?”
“They recited the rule a second time.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah,” he replied. “It can be pretty strict.” He took a deep breath in relief. “But the muse world has its share of wonders. I’ll tell you abut it later. But right now, I am to show you the way out of the maze.” He lowered his voice and took a step closer to her with a mischievous smile. “I know a little short-cut.”
Felix returned the same smile.
He held out his hand and she took it.
He led her down the rest of that pathway and took a right turn from there.
As he led her, he glanced back at her. “You know what else a muse is allowed to do?”
“What?”
He stopped and faced her. “A Trylinight, or Orcinight, share a bond with their muse. A closeness, as some muses call it. A friendship, a trust, whatever you may call it, it is that bond that creates a magical and powerful friendship between the two. It’s like a partnership.” He paused. “Understand?”
Felix glanced down at her hand in his. “Like when you offer your hand and I take it, knowing that I can trust you.”
A warm smile came about his face. He nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Like two hands together in trust and bond.”
She reflected the smile.
He then led her through to the next turn. They reached a corner in the maze and stopped. Felix looked up at him. She did not look at him in question, yet rather in knowing, as if she knew that this was the shortcut he had talked about.
She was right.
He waved his hand and instantly, the vines parted like a curtain. Master Trinity and Master Crystalynn smiled as they saw Felix.
Felix smiled back at them, but when she looked to O’Ryan, he wasn’t there.
Her smile disappeared and her brow went forward again.
Crystalynn went up to her student. “Don’t worry,” she said. “He’ll come back a second time. That’s one rule we Mages hold with the muses. One Mage has a muse and no other may be able to see him or her. That’s the only way a trust can be shared between you and your muse.”
Felix nodded in understanding.
She followed the two masters into the temple as the sun still shone down on her. She took a glance back at the maze and smiled once more.
Leaning against the wall of the maze, was O’Ryan, with a smile on his face. He winked at Felix and she winked back. Just before she looked away, he disappeared in a swirling cloud of silver and gold dust.

Chapter 5
Felix’s Future

Later that afternoon, Master Crystalynn and Leader Trinity walked down the great hall of the temple together, discussing Felix’s progress as a Trylinight.
Above the two Mages, on the enchanted ceiling, a stampede of silver unicorns galloped across a field in mid-day light. Just like the little elf and the fairies, everything that was enchanted onto the glass ceiling was mute. This stampede galloped swiftly, yet made no sound whatsoever.
Trinity walked with her hands behind her back, her sword held firmly by the silver and gold clip at her side, her robe swaying below her ankles. “So,” she said. “Felix has received both her muse and her sword.” She smiled. “I remember when I first received my sword. As soon as I saw it coming toward me, I froze stiff and my sword did the same thing.”
Crystalynn laughed. “I remember when I first met my muse,” she said with a smile as she held the rim opening of her robe at her chest, as if proud for something she did. “He kept hiding from me at first until I found him. It took me well over twenty minutes.”
Trinity nodded. “And by the Trylinight Charm Manuscript, it took Felix no more than ten.”
The two Mages stopped at the entrance of the ballroom and quietly peeked inside the open doors.
Felix sat on her knees in the middle of the room, practicing a magic charm. Small triangular shapes filled with enchanted sunlight were scattered all around Felix like puzzle pieces. They sang a continuous hum like a spoon tapping a glass as Felix, one by one, moved them into one whole shape. She used telekinesis with her eyes and guided them with her hands. She moved gracefully, carefully, knowing they could break at the slightest mistake.
Trinity spoke quietly, not disturbing the Magician. “My muse taught me the sunlight shapes charm at age eighteen. The first time, I broke every piece and that ringing got louder with every second until my master put a silence charm on them.” She laughed. “My muse and I hardly talked to each other that week. We were so embarrassed”
“I broke mine the first time too,” Crystalynn said. “By Fortuna, my muse put a disappearing spell on them before anyone noticed.”
They watched as Felix put the last triangle piece into place. As soon as it touched with the other pieces, the hum turned louder for a second, then the whole puzzle started to spin like a top. The rays of sunlight abruptly spread throughout the room and illuminated everything in sight. Then, just as fast as it had spread, it disappeared just as quickly.
Felix sighed and smiled at a spec of light that was sitting right in front of her. It looked exactly like a star in the sky.
Trinity and Crystalynn smiled at each other. They both knew that spec of light was Felix’s muse. That was the only way for a Mage to see someone else’s muse. Only Mages were able to see the star. No one else could if they were not taught in magic.
Trinity nodded to her companion and the two masters left Felix to her learning.
As soon as they turned down the next hallway, Trinity looked worriedly at Crystalynn. “The Judges demand another audience with me,” she said. “They plan to make another choice as of who will go to Wisdom Lake.”
Crystalynn looked at her, surprised and excited. “You don’t think they have chosen Felix, do you?”
“They might have,” Trinity replied. “That’s why I needed to speak with you. No Trylinight has ever gone to learn of their Lesson at age seventeen before. If Felix has been chosen, then I want someone to go with her, and not just you, Crystalynn. I want two more Trylinights to go along.”
“Why do you think it might be Felix?”
“I have learned to listen not only to my heart, but also my feelings.” She paused. “And I feel that Felix’s time has come.”
Crystalynn thought for a second. “But you sound as if it’s a bad thing, Trinity.”
Trinity shook her head. “I have a bad feeling about it.”
The two were silent until they reached the next hallway. It was there that they changed the subject all together.
~

Trinity stood in the shadows at the end of the dim room, away from the one hundred lit torches. She was by the doors, waiting for the Judges’ ceremony to finish.
All of the Judges stood in a circle and held hands with their eyes closed. They chanted a spell in whispers. On the ground in the middle of their circle was a round Sage seal. Patterns were designed in rings from the outside to the inside, to create a magical image that represented all who knew magic.
Inside the first gold ring were magical creatures such as a unicorn, a phoenix, a dragon, and other animals that inspired magic. After the creatures, there was a ring with writings of ancient Magician languages. The handwritings were like dancing ribbons in black ink. In the next inner circle, there were simple drawings resembling people. Trinity knew they presented a young Magician, a Mage, then a Sage, and then a Judge.
In the middle was a circle that shone with gold on one side, and silver on the other.
From that little circle, there abruptly came up a spew of silver and gold dust that not only lit up the room, but also recreated the seal in mid-air, as if it were a mirror image, but not backward. The dust shimmered in the torchlight as it swirled up like a twister to the unseen ceiling.
Finally, the image of the seal rose to the top of the room.
At the base of the glittering twister was another image that came together in millions of gold and silver dust specs. Soon, it created a shape, and then turned to green glitter.
It was a clover.
Trinity stared at the image, realizing the decision of Fortuna.
All the Judges opened their eyes to see what image had appeared. A second later, the whole room went back to its dim light of one hundred lit torches. The light of the silver and gold dust ceased and the seal lay silent.
The circle of Judges broke and one Judge walked up to the High Leader as the other Sages watched.
The Judge folded her delicate hands in front of her as she stopped in front of the Sage. “It seems that Fortuna has chosen Felix Sierra Spade to go to Wisdom Lake. She is the one with the clover, is she not?”
Trinity nodded. “She is,” she said rather gravely.
“Then you must send her tonight after dusk.”
“Your Grace, may I request one thing?”
The Judge nodded. “Of course.”
“I request that I send her master along with her, as well as two other Trylinights.”
The Judge turned to the others. They all exchanged glances, and then nodded, one by one.
The Judge turned back to Trinity and nodded. “You may, High Leader.”
Trinity bowed to them and then turned toward the doors.
“And one last thing, High Leader Trinity,” said one of the Judges from the circle.
Trinity turned for a moment.
“If three other Trylinights are to go with her, then they must stay behind once she reaches the lake. The voice will only speak when a Mage is alone and ready to listen.” She paused. “Remember, Leader Trinity. Felix alone must solve the words that are given to her.”
Trinity nodded, then walked out the doors, her heart still warning her of something yet to come.

Chapter 6
The Magic of a Muse

The afternoon sunlight poured through the windows of the Trylinight temple. It reflected from the marble floor and up onto the diamond pillars that supported the ceiling.
The light created rainbows on the walls and an enchanted character of a horned gray gargoyle on the ceiling sat on a rock and stared at the colors with yellow eyes. He studied the rainbows with his chin on his gray fist.
Felix walked under him and to the ballroom. She had spent some time in her room after she practiced the sunlight shapes charm with O’Ryan. He had taught her to focus first on the shapes, then on the movement of them. In her room, she had collected her thoughts and kept to herself for a free time.
She walked though the ballroom entrance and blinked as the sunlight planted rectangular beams on the gray marble floor through the tall windows lining the great room. She felt the sunrays on her face and appreciated its brilliants.
She looked around, feeling strange at first. O’Ryan had told her that a muse could be called even by a whisper, and they would reply.
Felix took a deep breath and whispered, “O’Ryan.”
She looked around once more and saw nothing.
She turned full-circle, feeling a bit foolish as she found herself alone. She was just about to give up and go back to her room, when a voice came from one of the buttresses at the ceiling. “Don’t give up that easily, Felix. You can’t just look side to side. You have to look all around you if you want to find anything.”
Felix looked up and smiled. “There you are,” she said. “Don’t do that.”
He chuckled softly. He was sitting on the beam in the same manner as on the top of the garden maze wall, dressed in the same attire. He looked more peaceful as Felix looked upon him. He seemed more relaxed somehow.
Felix revealed the reason why she had called for him. “O’Ryan, tell me about the muse world.”
His smile grew.
“Please? I’ve heard so many rumors about that world, and I want to know the truth.”
“I don’t know, Felix. It’s a bit too blissful to even describe.”
“Try.”
He sighed. “Very well.” He stared up at the ballroom ceiling. Unlike the hallway ceiling, this one was not enchanted, but it was painted in watercolor images. The colors were merely mixed to create illusion in the eye of the beholder.
O’Ryan stared at it, almost seeing what he described. “It’s beautiful there,” he began. He voice was soft, nostalgic, as if breathing in an aura of sweet spices. “Our sky is lit and full of life in the day, sparkling and twinkling at night with the soft blue moonlight caressing all it touches.” His eyes closed. “Our lakes and rivers are forever clear as crystal, with the sunlight and moonlight glistening on the surface. The fish within them are silver, gold, and all the colors of the rainbow, like when light passes through crystal and creates those rainbows.” He paused. “Our fish are practically made of those rainbows.” He breathed in deeply and let it out slowly. “Our trees glitter with silver lining, our grass feels like soft velvet. You could lay in it all day. Birds have tails with all different colors, with wings that leave behind a golden trail that rides on the wind.” He paused, opened his eyes and stared at the watercolors once more. He paused longer between sentences, as if taking it all in for the first time. “It’s never too hot. It’s never too cold. It’s only a warm breeze or a cool breeze.” He paused one last time. “And there’s a celestial voice of music that rides the wind.”
Felix stared out the window in a daze as O’Ryan finished.
He stared at her and smiled. “Can you see it?”
She suddenly looked up from her daydream of the muse world. “What?”
He laughed. “There’s something else I should tell you, Felix. When the time comes, I will show you a place where I can teach you magic properly. And it won’t be only silver and gold glitter fluttering from your fingers.” He waved his hand and Felix watched as azure mist trailed from his fingers and turned to emerald as it disappeared through thin air.
Felix blinked at the trick. “Can you show me more?”
O’Ryan winked at her as he disappeared through his cloud of silver and gold dust.
Felix frowned and wondered if he had gone away for good.
Then she felt something drop down on her nose like a snowflake. She looked and found O’Ryan standing behind her with his fingers above her head rubbing together, as if sprinkling something like dust on her. His fingers were empty, yet Felix could feel invisible dust falling down upon her.
O’Ryan smiled. “I can show you everything, Felix,” he said. He suddenly snapped his fingers and took his hand away.
Instantly, Felix looked down and found her clothes dramatically changed. She suddenly wore a wide blue glittering gown that went down all the way to the floor.
O’Ryan came in front of her and took her hand in his. “I can show you illusion in its prime.” He gently kissed her knuckles and released her hand. Felix looked down at her ring finger and found a gold-banded ring with a sapphire on top.
He circled her again, reached under her tiger-like hair and touched the back of her neck. She looked down and found a gold necklace around her neck with a diamond charm hanging from it.
O’Ryan came in front of her and faced her again. “I can show you beauty that isn’t real, but can be touched.”
He snapped his fingers again and stomped on the marble floor. Instantly, a color spilt all over the ballroom floor and turned the gray marble into emerald starting from right where O’Ryan had stomped.
Felix looked around in awe at what her muse had done. She stared at him. “How?”
“With magic,” he said simply with his hands held behind his back. “Natural magic born into me from the moment I came into existence.” He paused. “Every muse has that gift. That is why the Mages hold the unwritten treaty with the muses. They want to learn magic and the muses want to teach it. That is why we have a trust between Mage and muse.”
Felix nodded. “I understand,” she said.
O’Ryan then waved a hand in the air and everything went back to its original form as if nothing had changed.

Chapter 7
Trinity’s Message

As Felix and Anexi walked down the hallway, heading for the Main Hall where the temple entrance stood, the ceiling above them pictured a blue-winged fairy playing keep away with the red hat of a helpless elf.
Anexi glanced at the poor creature and sighed. “Poor thing,” she murmured.
Felix looked at her. “What?”
Anexi shook her head. “Nothing,” she said. “Tell me more about your muse. I want to know everything.”
Felix laughed. “I can’t tell you everything, Anexi.”
“Then just tell me what you know.”
“Okay,” Felix said. She took a deep breath. Then from her instinct, she suddenly knew how to describe him. “He has charm, but he shows his true self. He shows his judgment on certain things, yet still manages to show you the wonders of magic with a twinkle in his eye.”
“Hmm,” Anexi said. “Interesting. Has he taught you any magic charms?”
“He taught me sunlight shapes.”
“He what?” Anexi’s eyes widened. “He showed you sunlight shapes? I thought they weren’t supposed to teach that charm until a Mage is at least eighteen years old.”
“Well, you better check with your muse on that,” Felix said as they turned a corner and stopped near the two gold-railed staircases. “High Leader Trinity said she had a message for me and to bring you along.” She paused. “I wonder what it could be.”
“I bet she wants a word with your muse on teaching the sunlight shapes charm too early.”
“I doubt it.”
At that moment, the High Leader came down the stairs and stopped in front of the two young Magicians. She looked at Felix. “Felix, I have returned from the High Court. They have chosen a Mage to travel to Wisdom Lake for their Lesson.” She paused. “They have chosen you.”
Felix’s jaw dropped slightly. “They…they chose me?”
“Yes, Felix Spade,” Trinity said. “They have chosen you. I have requested that you have your master go with you, along with two other Trylinights of your choosing.”
Felix looked at Anexi. “Do you think your master would want to come?”
Anexi shrugged. “Sure,” she said. “You know how my master loves adventure.”
Trinity smiled. “Very well,” she said as Felix beamed at her. “You shall go tonight. Fortuna until then, Felix.”
“Fortuna, High Leader,” Felix said as Trinity walked back up the staircase.
Anexi gave her friend an excited look. “You must be the youngest Trylinight to ever face Wisdom Lake!”
Felix laughed out of her joy. Anexi’s words stuck with her at that moment and she wondered why.
~

Felix headed for the ballroom as Anexi went to her master’s room to request her presents for Felix’s Lesson.
As soon as Felix entered the ballroom, she was too excited to remember one rule of a muse’s hearing. “O’Ryan!” She called throughout the ballroom.
The muse suddenly appeared in his usual attire. The instant he appeared from the cloud of silver and gold dust, he winced and put a hand to his ear. “Fortuna,” he swore. He opened his eyes and looked at Felix. “What? What is so important, that you forget the fragility of a muse’s ear? You know even the slightest mutter of my name would reach my ears.”
“I’m going to Wisdom Lake tonight,” Felix blurted.
O’Ryan held his words for a moment. Then the news sunk into him. He looked Felix in the eye. “You’re what?”
“I’m going to Wisdom Lake, O’Ryan. I’m going to learn what my Lesson is!”
O’Ryan let out his laughter. “By Fortuna, Felix, that’s wonderful!”
“I can’t wait to hear what the lake says to me.”
“You’re really excited, aren’t you?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”
O’Ryan gradually went grim. “Because this is a big step for you, Felix,” he said, his voice serious. “In all my years, I have never heard of a Mage at seventeen years old being chosen to go to Wisdom Lake.”
“You’re not worried about me, are you?” Felix’s brow went forward.
“I’m just concerned,” he said. “I believe fate has something in store for you, Felix. I believe that something could start tonight.”
Felix’s eyes turned warm at his words.
~

Felix held her white piton-like sword firmly as she listened to her master’s instructions.
“Now as you swing, move more swiftly this time,” Crystalynn said as she stood behind her student.
The two were at the steps of the temple in the field that surrounded the home of the Mages. The High Court castle looked like a black dot from their view.
Felix obeyed as she swung her sword down in a parry. She moved her arm swiftly with the hilt of her sword. At the other end of the long pole, came a mist that changed color as it fluttered down through the air. It glittered in the bright sunlight, like water.
Crystalynn watched Felix. “Now attack your opponent.”
Felix swung the sword, turned full circle, and then launched forward.
Crystalynn clapped her hands once. “Excellent,” she said with a smile.
Felix dropped her arm and clipped her sword to her belt. “Is that all we’re going to do?”
“I think I’ve taught you enough to prepare you for tonight.”
Felix looked down at her Trylinight sword and studied it. Inside her, it felt as if the sword itself was just as exhausted as Felix. She was aware of the subtle life of the weapon. She had been ever since she first held it.
Crystalynn put her hands behind her back and walked with her student. Their robes swayed at their ankles with their sashes untied and their gowns revealed. The elder Mage wore a silk gown, just as her Magician pupil, but this gown had a blue ribbon at the neck with designs of flowers underneath.
Felix looked up at her master. “What will happen?”
The Mage thought about the question for a moment. “Usually in a Lesson, the Mage faces obstacles that can be overcome by magic charms, spells, or physical combat. Combat is rare, though. If it comes up, then you will only need to fight illusions. That is all they are.”
“So I will be fighting illusions?”
“The tests themselves are charms and illusions. That is what my master told me.” She paused. “I’m sure you’ll overcome it, Felix.”
“Master Crystalynn?”
“Yes, Magician Felix?”
“Will I know the answer to the riddle Wisdom Lake gives me?”
“The answer is in you. The voice of the lake is a magic guide, Felix. It is not quite a muse, not quite a Mage. But it will hint you to your destiny. Listen well. It only gives it once.”
“I only have one chance,” Felix said.
Crystalynn nodded. “One chance. It is a puzzle, Felix. All you do is put the pieces together. Then you will have your answer.”
As the Mage and Magician walked back through the tall doors of the temple, the afternoon sun turned into evening and graced the field with its sigh of light.

Chapter 8
The Lesson

Felix stood in the garden with her hands folded behind her back as the sun set in the sky. Pink clouds sailed across the azure sky and the sun spilled the last of its rays onto the vine walls of the garden.
Felix sighed. After she told O’Ryan about her Lesson, he told her to wait in the garden before she left. He said he had one other gift to give her before she faced her journey to Wisdom Lake.
Felix looked around and remembered O’Ryan’s last words. “I’ll show up,” he had said. “You don’t have to call me every time.”
She had agreed with him and showed her rebellious nature to typical tradition. She thought it unfair anyway for a muse to act like a dog and answer to a call.
So Felix stood and waited for her muse to show himself.
“I’m going to give up in a second,” she murmured.
“Why would you do that?”
Felix turned around. She shook her head with a disapproving look. “O’Ryan,” she said as her muse stood at her side with his arms crossed over his chest. “You could tell me when you’re going to surprise me like that.”
“That’s why you have to look all around,” he said with a shrug.
Felix took a deep breath. “Alright,” she said. “I’m here. What did you want to give me?”
He held up his finger. “One more gift before you go.” He smiled and held his hand out, palm up. “The gift I give to you, Felix Spade, before you go to Wisdom Lake, is the gift of the Golden Sphere.”
As if on command by his words, a smooth round golden ball, no larger than a tennis ball, slowly appeared an inch above O’Ryan’s palm. It was as if it came from thin air.
As it floated in mid-air, O’Ryan seemed to move it with his eyes toward Felix.
She held out her hands as the sphere was slowly placed into her palm.
As it touched her skin, a gleam of light appeared from its core and spread throughout the sphere and made it brighter.
Felix looked up at O’Ryan, speechless.
“It can come in handy in a dark place,” O’Ryan said. “Just hold out your hand and call it with your concentration. Picture it in your mind, and then picture it in your hand. It will appear by magic.”
“Thank you, O’Ryan,” Felix said as she held the brilliant ball in her hand.
O’Ryan nodded. “Fortuna, on your Lesson, Felix.”
“Fortuna, O’Ryan.”
The sun spilled the last of its rays. The clouds turned dull and the sky revealed the first star of night.
~

The moonlight shone down onto the Mage temple as five Trylinights stood outside the tall doors on the white stone steps. Torches were lit with enchanted blue fire on either side of the doors, just like in the High Court, but these were made of stone to hold magic fire and the ones in the High Court were wood to hold modern red fire.
Four of the Trylinights stood and faced the fifth Mage while she told them of their mission.
High Leader Trinity looked at Felix. “You will be faced with illusion obstacles and will have to get through them by magic. You will face only one illusion obstacle that will require your sword skills. No one else is allowed to break through the illusions but you.”
Felix nodded.
“Fortuna, Felix,” Trinity said. “And may she guide you to your destiny.”
“Thank you, Master Trinity,” Felix said. “Fortuna.”
Crystalynn and Anexi’s master, Taila Makor, bowed to Trinity in respect.
As Felix, Anexi, Crystalynn and Taila turned from the temple and through the field, Trinity took in a deep breath of night air and let it out as her heart ached for what could happen to Felix. The High Leader still had her ominous feeling of what fate was capable of.
~

The four Trylinights walked across the field using moonlight and starlight as their guide. Crystalynn had urged Felix to walk up front as leader since this was her Lesson and no one else’s.
Crystalynn, who walked behind Felix, looked ahead of the group and recognized a patch of land that was kept sacred to the Order of Trylinights. It was where souls slept after long trudging life. “We may have to pass through the Trylinight graveyard,” she said. “It’s too dangerous to use the route through the forest. It’s too dark.”
Taila walked with Anexi. She glanced in the forest with sharp hazel eyes. “Vyja Dragons,” she whispered and pushed a lock of her short black hair behind her ear. “They’re always out in the trees at night.”
Anexi looked ahead to Felix. “Felix,” she said. “Don’t they only hang out in the trees?”
Felix glanced behind to her friend. “They hate the light, even the moonlight.”
Anexi nodded.
Crystalynn looked to Taila. “Through the graveyard then,” she decided.
Felix swallowed.
She had only heard about the Trylinight graveyard. She had never seen it. She heard that there was a thick fog that hung inches above the ground, blanketing it, and went no higher than that. One of the other master Trylinights told her that it was a spell to keep the dead safe and sacred from intruders.
As they traveled on, the clouds began to gather too close for comfort. They turned dark and as Felix stared up at the moon, a dark thick cloud passed over and hid it from her eyes.
Thunder growled and threatened the air but no rain came down. “Looks like a harmless electrical storm,” Taila said. She looked at the clouds, her eyes taking in the last star she saw.
Anexi looked at her master. “Do you think we’ll get hurt?”
“I doubt it,” she answered. “But I’ll bet you those Vyja Dragons will soon be the least of our problems.”
Anexi smiled at her teacher. She knew Vyja Dragons hated storms, especially if they had light. They only took the pure dark to their hearts.
Felix sighed nervously as she led the way to the graveyard. Crystalynn put her hand on her shoulder. “We’re right behind you, Felix,” she soothed. “We won’t leave your side.”
Felix looked at her and tried to show bravery through a smile. “I’m alright,” she said. “I’m just nervous.”
“We all are the first time of a responsibility,” the Mage said. “But the truth is, Felix, that if we don’t face it, then we will be standing still forever. If we face it and accomplish it, we will not only be through it, but we will learn from it as well.”
Felix nodded to her teacher and understood.
The clouds still threatened and Felix suddenly had a bad feeling about what she would have to learn.
The group approached the tall black gate that led into the graveyard. It was at least seven feet tall with ribbon-like design decorated in its lattice. The gate whined as Crystalynn opened it for the others to go through first.
It whined again when she closed it. The others looked around, their hands cautiously touching the hilts of their swords.
Crystalynn joined Felix at her side as the young Magician took slow steps amidst the foggy ground.
Taila walked with Anexi. The Mage felt very protective of her student at that moment and so did Crystalynn of Felix. They felt it. It was as if something was about to happen.
Once they walked deeper into the forest of gray headstones and crosses, their feelings were confirmed and the danger presented itself.
Four other Mages were found huddled together near the only mausoleum in the whole field of graves. Their heads were covered with hoods.
Only these Mages, both Crystalynn and Taila knew were not Trylinights because these were men Mages.
These four were Mages of the Orcinight Order.
All Orcinights wore the same kind of robes as the Trylinights did, but these robes were black and they wore their swords in a buckled sheath on their backs. Instead of silver and gold dust, they used shadow for their magic.
When one male Mage noticed the Trylinights watching them, he nudged one of the others on the shoulder and they all looked back at the female Mages. Three stood up cautiously, keeping their eyes on the other Mages.
These three pushed back their hoods and revealed themselves. They were a bit older than Felix and Anexi. The fourth, however, still kneeling on the ground, seemed older than the younger ones.
“Orcinights,” Taila said in disgust.
“Trylinights,” said one of the younger ones in the same tone.
Crystalynn, Felix, Taila and Anexi, one by one, drew their swords from their waist and walked up to the Orcinights.
The Orcinight on the ground hid something in a bag near the tomb and waved a hand over it. The bag disappeared in a cloud of shadow. The mage finally stood with the others and pulled back his hood. This one was older and taller than the others.
All four Orcinights stood and faced the Trylinights. Each one drew his sword from over his shoulder and held it firmly as they glared back at the Mages.
“What are you doing on Trylinights territory?” Crystalynn demanded.
“Like we’d tell you?” Still the younger ones answered. The elder didn’t say a word to the Trylinights. Felix studied him, but he was hard to see in the faint hidden moonlight. She glanced down to his hand to see if she could make out his tattoo marking, but she couldn’t make that out either.
“Then we’ll just have to slice the reasons out of you!” Anexi took a step forward but was suddenly held back by the hand of her master.
“Anexi,” Taila said, pulling her back to her original place. “Wait for them to make the first move.”
The other Mage chuckled. “Let her attack us in haste. Besides, that is your way, isn’t it?”
“No, that’s your way, dark Mages,” Crystalynn said, narrowing her eyes. “If you do not leave this sacred ground, then you will face your end.”
“By Fortuna so be it!”
Taila moved first as she twirled her sword once, leaped, then took on the first Orcinight with swings and slices from her enchanted blade.
Anexi, relieved that her wait was over, pursued the middle one as he pursued her in the same manner.
The third one attacked Felix first and she parried the other’s dark sword.
At first Crystalynn stood still before the older Orcinight. She held her sword, waiting for him to attack.
He held his own sword firmly and glared at her as they began to circle each other. The other battles soon spread throughout the graveyard.
Crystalynn felt something about this man. She could not name what it was, but