 
The Fair Elf Princess

Book I

by

Sarah Swan

Copyright © 2015 by Sarah Swan

All rights reserved: no content in this book can be duplicated unless explicit permission is granted by the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1: The Land of His Dreams

Elliot's tale begins in the pleasant well-to-do suburban neighborhood of Rhodesia Paradies in Los Angeles, California. Elliot Clementine was a slender and pale boy of 16 with shoulder length hair the color of obsidian and grayish blue eyes. His features were soft, bare like a baby's bottom. He twiddled his mechanical pencil back and forth between his fingers, pondering his AP history homework dealing with worldly conflicts. His history teacher, Mr. Bennett, had requested his tenth grade class to write a report detailing their thoughts about environmental and societal conflicts and how they could make the world a better place. If Elliot had learned anything from the arena of fantastical video games in which he was often encompassed within, it was that the world was brutal by default in which the strong routinely and callously destroyed the weak. Who better than he was more qualified to make such judgements? He, after all, had achieved the title of Grandmaster Swordsman in Fantasy Lotus, the most popular video game of 2020.

Elliot ceased twiddling his pencil, pumped out more lead, and began writing down his thoughts.

I don't expect the majority of those who possess power to pay it forward and disperse it to those who lack it. It takes a special kind of person to selflessly go against how the natural world usually works. A person like...me.

Elliot wrote about homelessness and the growing economic divide in the states, touching on environmental problems he'd been following such as global warming and world wide pollution. For about thirty more minutes, he sat at his desk, tuning out the distant sound of a lawnmower from next door, scribbling down new information as it crossed his mind, running his hands through his hair in concentration. After reading through his paper, crossing out and editing out any mistakes he spotted, he slowly stood from his armchair. Elliot cracked his neck and, after placing his essay into his backpack, exited his room into a long unremarkable hall, the walls peppered with German and Chinese paintings.

These art pieces reflected the admiration that Elliot's parents had for their different cultures. His father, a first generation Chinese American neurosurgeon, had met his German American mother, a lawyer, nearly twenty years ago. He was the first born child whereas his sister, Faiga, came into the world four years later. Like most siblings, Elliot and Faiga had many differences between them with Elliot being quieter and maintaining a cool, detached persona while the latter expressed an almost unnaturally loud and bold personality along with the ability to see the good in any situation. Elliot found himself the victim of this boldness when he suddenly felt like his body was being constricted by a python as soon as he set foot into a large brightly lit white kitchen.

"Faiga, must you always do that every time you see me?" asked Elliot in a voice that was low pitched for his age. "I mean it's not as if we don't live in the same house."

"That doesn't matter to me, Elliot," said a robust brown haired girl, finally releasing him from her grasp. "We're family and I just like to put smiles on people's faces."

She beamed up at him. Although being only twelve, at 5'4, Faiga was only an inch and a half shorter than him, a realization that sometimes made Elliot uncomfortable. She had a nose bridge that was not as high as his and brownish hazel eyes. She was wearing blue jeans with a dark violet blouse.

"Dad just called," said Faiga, walking over to the counter, opening it, and pulling out a box of white cake mix. "He says he'll be home late because he's accompanying mom. She's having her wisdom teeth removed."

Faiga dashed across the kitchen and preset the oven.

"I can't believe mom didn't have them removed ages ago," said Elliot, walking to the cabinet, pulling out a glass, and turning on the water filter. "Oh, well, I guess this means that Ryan, Jill and Lisa can't come over tonight." He took a sip from the glass.

"Incorrect, big bro. No boys. That's what dad and mom say. I can't have any boys over when they're not home," explained Faiga, gleefully pouring the cake mix into a large plastic bowel.

Elliot frowned, placed his glass on the marble countertop, and folded his arms.

"Faiga, can you please make sure that your little friends keep quiet while I'm playing Fantasy Lotus, tonight?" asked Elliot. "It's Friday and I've completed all my homework ahead of time so that from 5:00 p.m. tonight until the end of this weekend, I can spend my time doing what I want." Elliot chuckled. "After all, the Grand tournament between the elite level players has finally arrived and I can't wait to crush my competition."

"Elliot?" said Faiga while vigorously beating the cake mix.

"Yeah."

"I don't want to seem like I'm prying but, there is more to life then simply playing video games and watching television." She paused before continuing.

"I think you should spend more time in the real world than in the imaginary world," continued Faiga cautiously.

Elliot responded by walking up to his sister and gently petting her on her head, crafting a fake smile to which Faiga rolled her eyes, responding with an even faker smile, before putting on oven mittens and placing the mixed batter into the oven.

The two didn't talk after that as Faiga went into the living room, no doubt, to practice playing the violin before the arrival of her friends, and Elliot filled his stomach with a pack of instant ramen before leaving through the front door and putting on his mp3 headphones. It was around 4:30 p.m. and many neighborhood youths could be seen out and about, either riding scooters, holding hands as couples, or getting themselves speeding tickets from zooming through Rhodesia Paradies with their 50,000 dollar cars, while the older neighborhood individuals walked their perfectly groomed dogs and checked their mailboxes. Laborers from different companies could be seen placing their cards in people's doors and performing outside work. Elliot allowed the warmth of the sun to soak his face, a light breeze riffling his hair as he enjoyed Mozart's Don Giovanni. He continued down the sidewalk perpendicular to his house, taking out his headphones to untangle the cord while thinking of visiting the 7-eleven in order to replenish his stock of energy drinks. He really didn't plan on sleeping during is gaming binge. He saw a group of three youths approaching, heading towards him in the opposite direction. Two were very large blonde muscular boys, both wearing white sleeveless shirts and kaki shorts and sandals. Each was a couple inches over six feet while a slightly shorter dark haired girl in extremely tight shorts and a black belly shirt accompanied them. Elliot averted his gaze from the group. This was a habitual gesture as he had long believed that most people close to his age did not yet have the intellectual capacities to warrant his time. The group, however, seemed to find him amusing as they started giggling provocatively to which Elliot simply ignored.

"Bro, do you even lift? You look like a stick man," one of the boys smugly blurted out, looking down at his own massive biceps. "Seriously, dude."

Elliot halted where he was, looking icily at the boy.

"Do I lift? Lift what? My IQ has already been tested at genius level," responded Elliot, annoyed at the boy's insult. "Perhaps actually picking up a book might lift your IQ but, I'm probably being too generous."

The other two gasped in shock, looking at their friend, apparently anticipating his response as the boy immediately broke from the group, walking briskly and aggressively towards Elliot, incensed at his taunts.

"That's right. It makes perfect sense to start a fight with me in front of the entire neighborhood," said Elliot, raising his hands to gesture at the surrounding people.

The boy stopped in his tracks, glaring at Elliot, his nostrils flared and his face red from rage.

"You little punk, I better not see you around here again or I'm going to kick your butt!" yelled the boy. "Come on, let's leave this loser alone."

The trio then left.

Elliot finished detangling his headphones, placed them back in his ears, and began listening to Mozart's Symphony No. 40 until he arrived at the corner that led out of Rhodesia Paradies and onto a rather busy intersection. Like always, the commuters were especially impatient and chaotic as it was rush hour and most were frantic from job stress. Nevertheless, Elliot made his way to a 7-eleven outside where two men were begging ingoing and outgoing store customers for money. As he approached he saw a younger Latino man wearing a tattered jacket and torn faded jeans come up to him and start speaking in Spanish.

"Usted me puede dar alto de dinero," said the man with a humbled expression on his face, holding out a pair of heavily calloused hands.

Elliot pulled out a leather wallet, giving the man two five dollar bills, and then turned quickly away. He continued through the store doors, glad to see only a few other customers waiting at the checkout. The coming moments were accompanied by several loud noises not unlike the pounding of large rocks. There was a rapid cracking of glass, and the echo of many cans, condiments, and other store merchandise hitting the floor at great force. This was followed by the panicked screaming and cursing of the store inhabitants, but Elliot was only aware of this disorder for a split second as he soon completely lost consciousness.

Elliot found himself sitting on his bed back in his room, staring at his flat screen television, blissfully admiring the graphics of the landscape and characters of Fantasy Lotus. However, there was something that wasn't quite right with the ambiance as he soon saw little greenish creatures begin to spawn out of the checkered patterns on his blanket. They had beady black lifeless eyes with lumpy fat bodies and grotesquely thin limbs, their clawed hands clasped around tiny wooden spears. They looked just like the soul eating trolls(SET for short) in the latest expansion set of Fantasy Lotus.

"Hey, what crafty little devils, you are!" said Elliot, amused at the bizarre spectacle. "However, you are no match for Rosewielder, the quick sword wielding princess of the Earth Nation!" He playfully jumped up from his troll infested bed and gazed over at the television. "Yes, these are the powers of a Grandmaster Swordsman!" laughed Elliot proudly as a pair of snow white arms began to slowly sank out of the television screen.

These arms were followed by a head covered in flowing glistening strands of pinkish hair. Soon an athletic looking and very beautiful female figure was gathering herself before his eyes. When she had finally stood up, Elliot noticed that she was much taller than him, and her face did not look completely human as her piercing violet eyes were slightly larger than normal. Her aesthetic features were a combination of very high cheek bones, pinkish full lips and unblemished skin with long pointy ears. She was inhumanly perfect, a flawless representation of the character, the avatar he used, from the Fantasy Lotus video game, Rosewielder. She was wearing a baby blue dress with black tights that covered long toned legs adorned with shining hazel boots. Her hands, which were complemented with neon green nails, were clenched around a grayish sword from which a whitish blue luminescence emanated from.

"Soul sucking trolls, begone!" yelled Rosewielder in a pleasant, but fierce voice, pushing Elliot aside with her arm before raising up her sword and swinging it towards his troll-ridden bed.

Immediately, the strange light that resonated from her weapon found its way to the unsightly group of creatures, and in an instant, their bodies turned into mere fiery outlines before disintegrating into sparkling reddish lights.

"Serves them right. All evil must yield to the power of good," said Rosewielder confidently, placing her sword in a brownish sword sheath.

"I agree. Only the strong and clever can survive!" yelled Elliot before walking over to his window and jumping out.

"Wow, I can fly! I can fly!"

Elliot found himself soaring above Rhodesia Paradies, a feeling of total bliss overflowing every iota of his existence. He continued to go higher and higher so that, soon, the houses of not only his own neighborhood, but all of California, and then the United States, were nothing but little dots in the blue vastness of the earth. Elliot wished he could savor this moment forever but an intuitive feeling of utter dismay began to overwhelm him. It was a feeling not unlike what a young child experiences when their parents tell them they have to leave the candy store. Everything turned to a state of utter blackness and silence for a small window of time until...

He felt a searing pain in the center of his head that was accompanied by the loud voices of several people calling his name. He opened his heavy eyelids to find himself lying on what seemed like a hospital bed, surrounded by Faiga, his mother, and his father.

"My son! He's awake. He is alive!" screamed his father as a man with graying black hair and thin black eyes just above half-moon shaped bags gently placed his hands on the sides of Elliot's head, kissing his forehead.

"I don't understand. What happened to me?" asked Elliot, puzzled and groggy.

"You were involved in a car accident at the 7-elven off of Riverdale Road," answered Faiga, wiping tears away from her eyes which were now red. "They said an inexperienced driver crashed into the store, but you were the only one who was really hurt. Luckily, the store acted as a buffer for the crash."

"Thank heve yosafe, honey," muttered a flame-haired blue eyed woman, her cheeks swollen and wet with tears as she sniffed continuously, holding a tissue up to her moist flushed nose.

This was Elliot's mother whom had not yet recovered from her wisdom teeth removal surgery.

There was a sudden knock on the hospital door, and a short balding man walked in, adjusting his glasses, and closing the door behind him with a click.

"Hello, It's Dr. Johnson, again," said the man. "It seems that his condition has improved. This is a good sign because the tests we've run indicate that your son has had a minor concussion," continued the man, clasping his hands and holding them close to his white coat as he turned towards Elliot's parents. "For this type of injury, we usually recommend a decrease in physical exertion and limiting mental stress from school and other activities. It's vital that he uses this weekend to rest and recuperate from this injury, but I think it should be okay for him to return home," Dr. Johnson continued as Mr and Mrs. Clementine nodded. "If pain persists after a couple of days then you can give us a call and we'll prescribe him some medication to help alleviate the discomfort. Hang in there, buddy," he said, turning to Elliot. "I hope everything goes well with you all."

The doctor then left the family alone once more.

Elliot languidly slid off of the bed, and after gathering themselves together, the Clementines left the hospital.

During the trip home, Elliot kept an ice pack covered in a towel up against his head which mollified the pain to a significant degree. He tuned out the faint sound of the car as it navigated through the hustle and bustle of traffic and the daily discussions between his mother and father about work, family, and other mundane affairs, noticing Faiga looking worriedly over at him.

"Are you still in a lot of pain?" questioned Faiga.

"No, I'm just thinking about something."

"What's on your mind?"

"Just some strange dream I had when I was out cold," answered Elliot, turning his head away from Faiga.

"Well, you were out for a good hour or two," said Faiga. "Maybe it was the concussion that caused the bad dreams but, I think once you get some rest everything should return back to normal."

"You misunderstand. The dream wasn't a bad one at all. It was actually quite enjoyable but, more vivid than anything I've experienced before," said Elliot.

"Were you lucid?" asked Faiga just as they started backing up into the garage.

"Lucid? What do you mean?" he asked as he slammed the car door shut.

"Lucid simply means that you know you're dreaming while you're dreaming," answered Faiga, holding the back door to the kitchen open for him.

"No, I don't believe I was," admitted Elliot.

"I think you might be interested in stuff like that since you're into fantasy worlds and virtual reality," said Faiga. "In a lucid dream you have complete control over your surroundings and can do pretty much anything."

As Faiga continued to elucidate the subject, detailing the meaning of things such as dream characters, dreamscapes, hypnagogic imagery and hallucinations and other terminologies during dinner, she only managed to heighten his insatiable thirst for knowledge on the subject.

Once dinner had ended, he resolved to research lucid dreaming in depth after his weekend of Fantasy Lotus. The pain he'd felt at the hospital had diminished into a dull headache and, so, after a quick shower, Elliot locked himself in his room. After dimming the lights, he turned on his PC6, checking the controller to see that the batteries were charged and his Wi-Fi had a strong connection. He placed the disc into the game slot and waited for it to load up. Immediately, he saw the avatars of three of his closes team members pop up in the upper right hand corner of his television. The avatars all resembled elf-like individuals like Rosewielder. Elliot was part of the international alliance known as the Earth Elves. Fantasy Lotus's popularity made it a game that was revered, the world over. Millions of players in numerous countries formed alliances to fight against each other and enemies controlled by AI.

"Hello, Cody. Long time, no chat," spoke Elliot into a game microphone after plugging his headset into the back of the console.

"Hey, Elliot," responded a nervous voice. "How are you doing, smartypants?"

"I'm fine, and it's true that I'm the smartest of our clique," responded Elliot proudly.

"Smarter than me. No way, man," said another male voice.

"Who's that," asked Cody.

"It's Ezzena," said Elliot. "He's come to join the party."

"Yeah, he's here to help us kick the butts of all the Ice Elves!" yelled a feminine voice. "Abha is in the house."

"And our party is complete!" yelled Ezzena. "Let's start by attacking the rear side of the Ice Elves's Frozen Castle."

"It's possible that we'll run into groups of wanderers who simply want to rack up as many points as possible with easy kills," said Elliot. Are you sure you want to risk it?"

"We can take them, Mr. Grandmaster Swordsman," said Cody.

After the group had all agreed, their avatars spawned in the same grassy plain depicted under a pleasant light pinkish sky and they played through the game by destroying as many types of AI controlled trolls, crimson vampires, minotaurs, golems, and a host of other creatures that had been added to the game over the past four years since its inception. They finally reached the rear position of a shinning dark blue fortress, the Frozen Castle. The group knew this was where the real fight would begin because there were many experienced players guarding the strongholds of their alliance. Human players were nearly always harder to combat against than AIs. As they approached, the gamers controlling the Ice Elf alliance strategized by sending hundreds of arrows towards the Earth Elf alliance which proved quite affective as the opposition had the high ground.

"Damn! Those spamming bastards!" yelled Ezzena.

"It doesn't matter how many Earth Elves they kill. As long as there are more of us in the end we will win," said Elliot as he equipped Rosewielder with an upgraded version of her light sword and proceeded to attack the right flank of the Ice Elves. The battle raged on for so long that Elliot found his eyelids getting heavy as he looked at the alarm clock on his desk that said 3:13 a.m. Elliot was prepared, however, as he simply began gulping down energy drink after energy drink to sustain himself without sleep.

"Hey, guys, I'm signing off for now," said Ezzena's voice about thirty minutes later. "I'm tired as crap."

"Yeah, me too," Abha said impatiently, giving Elliot the distinct impression that she'd been waiting for someone else to quit so she wouldn't feel ashamed for being the first to do so. "I'm done."

The Earth Elf alliance began to get the upper hand as new players logged in while others logged out over the course of about two more hours. "Hey, Elliot, I'm out for now," said Cody's voice. "See you later, buddy."

"Peace out," responded Elliot indifferently just as there was a knock at his bedroom door.

"What? Come on. Not now," said Elliot, irritably.

"Elliot, this is your mother. Open up, please. I want to see how you're doing."

"I'm fine, mom."

"I want to be certain. Please open your door, Elliot," said his mother.

Elliot paused the game and, with a huge sigh, walked over to the door, unlocking it.

His mother looked at him, her cheeks still slightly swollen from her surgery. A small frown line formed under her lips. She glanced over at his PC6. She pursed her lips.

"Elliot, you're suppose to be taking it easy. I don't believe staying up all night, playing video games, is what Doctor Johnson meant when he told you to get some proper rest."

"I feel fine, mom," argued Elliot. "My headache is completely gone. Why do you think I haven't slept?"

"Well, for one, your eyes are quite red with huge bags under them. That goes without mentioning the empty energy drinks laying around your PC6," she answered, her tone serious. "I insist that you turn off your PC6 and get some sleep," she said, affectionately placing her hand on his cheek.

"Okay, mom," he said reluctantly.

After his mother had left, Elliot grudgingly turned off his PC6, laid down in his bed, and placed the covers over himself, and after a few minutes, slipped soundly from consciousness.

Elliot awoke, feeling invigorated, and looked over at his alarm clock. He stared at the screen for much longer than usual before realizing that no matter how long he studied it, he could not determine the time as the numbers or letters or whatever the symbols were, kept changing, dancing around conspicuously.

"Oh, well," said Elliot as he hopped out of bed and opened his door to the hall. As he traveled down the hall by the paintings, he noticed that in one ancient Chinese painting a group of women who were normally depicted playing flutes could now be seen making unpleasant faces and pointing their instruments accusingly at him. Elliot responded by swiping the painting from the wall.

"Hahaha," laughed Elliot. "People can never just leave me alone. The stupid women in that painting have always made fun of me."

Elliot continued down the hall and had nearly reached the banister which led downstairs when an object in his peripheral vision suddenly caught his attention. It was a copper skinned European dragon, its shinning eyes of crimson glaring coldly straight into his own from within a wooden picture frame.

"You dumb dragon! You want a piece of me?!" bellowed Elliot, swinging at the frame, but, no matter how much he swatted, it seemed to bend unnaturally and unexplainably around his hands until, finally, the creature abruptly started to morph so that it was 3-dimensional as it crawled out of its frame. "What the heck is going on!"

Elliot tried screaming, but his fear spiked as he realized he could not hear his own voice, and he felt a unbelievably powerful force enclose upon him.

He'd never felt so powerless, realizing that the spiteful creature was literally attempting to crush the life out of him with its tail coiled around him. However, a peculiar realization began to fill Elliot as he lay there. Despite being in the grips of his foe, he felt absolutely no pain. He then remembered how he was unable to read the alarm clock and thought about how utterly bizarre his current predicament was.

"This is a dream. Isn't it?" said Elliot. "That makes a lot of sense. You are a part of my imagination, aren't you? You are a dream character."

"What! No, I'm not!" roared the dragon uncomfortably, sticking out its thin slimy tongue. "I'm a real dragon! Hear me roar!"

The dragon then let out an enormous roar, but Elliot was unfazed. Elliot focused on clearing his mind and closed his eyes, thinking about the tune of Mozart's Don Giovani until the music reverberated throughout the hallway every time the dragon opened its mouth to roar.

"What's going on? What did you do to my beautiful voice?" asked the dragon in a timid voice.

"I am the dreamer and, therefore, I should be able to control everything. We are in my imagination after all," said Elliot. "Now, I will close my eyes, turn around three times, and you will be gone, Mr. Dragon."

Elliot was true to his words and his presumption was correct for when he next opened his eyes he found a field with familiar tall grasses underneath a sublime pinkish sky materialize before him. He was in a perfect representation of the landscape in Fantasy Lotus. He looked around at the terrain, taking a deep breath, allowing the glory of his own imagination to disperse through every fiber of his being. Elliot curiously began walking down a thin path composed of small pebbles that shimmered and sparkled with the likeness of diamonds. The path cut through the surrounding grass and he blissfully glanced up at a group of trees whose leaves were shinning emerald, their sheer magnificence something that he'd never seen in waking life. Elliot traveled through the Fantasy Lotus wilderness for what seemed like hours, bending down and placing gems which he found exceptionally attractive in his pockets before coming to a large forest.

"This is the Forest of the Forsaken," said Elliot. "I learned from the first expansion set that the Crimson Vampires attack your avatar every time you set foot in this forest. Nope, I think I'll take a detour around," said Elliot, haphazardly turning around to see how far he'd traveled. "Oh, crap!" yelled Elliot a moment later as the entire world around him warped so that it was completely unrecognizable to his previous location.

The new dreamscape was much darker than previously, and it was accompanied by about twenty or so humanoid figures moving oddly, their bodies in bizarre poses amongst the noticeably shorter grass. He was surrounded on all sides by large mossy trees with branches moving around like bony fingers on giant hands. An uneasy feeling slowly took hold of Elliot as he realized the figures before him, after they were done morphing, began to resemble the Crimson Vampires in the flesh. Soon, many extremely tall, pale, crimson eyed vampires, robed in loose fitting cloaks of all black, were staring in his direction and swiftly moving towards him.

"Wait, don't panic. I am the dreamer and so I am a god in this world. They cannot harm me," said Elliot. "Faiga said that I should be able to do anything in a lucid dream. I guess that would include making a sword that cuts through anything. I just need to focus." Elliot tried concentrating on the idea of a sword. "Okay, when I look down at my hand I will have a sword," said Elliot.

He had his doubts but hesitantly peaked down at his hand, groaning, seeing no sword. He felt an enormous force push him back and, as he looked up, he saw a harsh looking silver haired vampire slashing at him with bony hands. His nails were as long and sharp as knives.

"It's time for me to fly away from this mess," said Elliot as he tried focusing on the idea of flying but couldn't seem to concentrate due to the stress.

He felt himself elevate slightly from the landscape but, before he could get a mere five feet in the air, two youthful looking vampires, a young male and female, grabbed hold of his feet, pulling him back down to the ground. The pair would not let go, and the vampire who'd attacked him earlier folded his hands behind his back, walking over to him as Elliot felt both of his arms be bounded by the other members of the group so that he lay on the ground, unable to move.

"What are you going to do, Grandmaster Swordsman?" he asked, kneeling beside Elliot and surveying him with his unnerving red eyes.

"I'm going to wake up," said Elliot.

The affect of these words was profound, an expression of sheer terror spreading across the Vampire's face. The two vampires holding him released him at once.

"That's simply preposterous. You are nuts. Do you think this is a dream or something?" asked the vampire, quickly recovering.

"Yes, this is a dream. Crimson Vampires don't exist in the real world," said Elliot with a laugh, trying to buy some time.

"I assure you this is no dream!" roared the vampire furiously.

"If that is the case then why um... why...," started Elliot slowly.

"Why what?! Spit it out!"

"Why do you have no legs?" asked Elliot.

The vampire sported a perplexed expression before finally looking down at his legs which began morphing into a blue unicycle, but what baffled Elliot most was what he said next.

"Well, that sometimes happens here. There is nothing wrong with this," explained the vampire, his tone unconvincing and deceptive as he began rolling around on his newly designed lower torso.

"You're saying it's normal for Crimson Vampire's legs to turn into wheels?" questioned Elliot humorously.

"If that's how the dream is suppose to go," respond the vampire.

"Aha, so, you admit that this is a dream and you're just a part of my imagination!" exclaimed Elliot.

"No, we're the dreamers. You're a part of our imagination," said the vampire nervously.

"No, you don't get it," said Elliot. "You are a dream character and I am the dreamer. I am a high school student from HighPrince High School in Los Angeles, California. I am dreaming lucidly right now, and that's how I know that this is a dream and you aren't real."

"Well, I am Zenthar, and I am a Crimson Vampire from the Vampire domain of Narusultara on the westernmost side of the Emerald Sea," responded the vampire proudly.

Elliot chuckled. "That is nonsense. That's just a whole bunch of information from the back of the tutorial booklet for Fantasy Lotus. The only reason you're saying that is because I read all the tutorials for each of the expansion sets. I thought the game developers made wicked stories. You just took that stuff from my subconscious."

"That's untrue. We are as real as you, Elliot Clementine," Zenthar responded after a long pause.

"I've had enough of this. I'm going to wake up. I'll close my dream eyes and when I open them you all will be gone," said Elliot.

"No! Please don't kill us! We beg you, Elliot Clementine!" bellowed Zenthar in terror.

Nevertheless, Elliot closed his eyes, thinking of only blackness and, before long, a strange falling sensation took over him before he found himself squinting his eyes against the sunlight coming through his bedroom window. He pulled off the blanket before taking a deep yawn, and stretching out his arms, eventually jumping out of bed. He looked over at his alarm clock on his desk and saw that it clearly read 11:30 a.m. which he took to mean that he was no longer dreaming. Feeling hungry, Elliot began readying himself for the shower when he was startled by a faint noise not unlike the clunking of rocks. Bewildered, he looked down at his stripped pajama pants, noting how he had never used his pajama pockets for anything. He clenched his hands around his pajama pocket and what he felt made his heart feel like it was going to jump out of his chest. His fingers were disturbing what felt like many small hard objects. Elliot clasped his shaking hands against his mouth, his stomach suddenly feeling like it was full of worms. Trembling, he slowly placed his right hand into his pajama pocket, pinched his fingers around a hard object and removed what looked like a perfect replica of the sapphire colored pebble he'd picked up in his dream about Fantasy Lotus.

How could this be! Is this normal for lucid dreaming? No, it can't be. This is impossible! Impossible! Faiga never said anything about bringing back stuff from my dreams. Wait. Yes, that is it! I'm dreaming right now. It's just a very vivid dream.

Elliot pinched his arm and felt a very real pain. He then whipped open his door, dashed out into the hallway, and studied the paintings on the wall. All of which behaved as mundanely as any paint on canvas would, remaining still and silent.

"So, this is what lucidity really is," said Elliot.

Chapter 2: The Stuff of Nightmares

The weekend at the Clementine household passed by with relative swiftness as the melodies of classical music sounded frequently, Faiga and her friends, Ryan, Jill and Lisa practicing fine tuning their skills with their musical instruments. Elliot's father remained mostly in his private study area for he was bombarded with phone calls from his subordinates regarding upcoming operations. His mother spent the better part of the days rummaging through huge stacks of papers and communicating with a long list of clients for her law firm. However, there was a strange phenomenon that existed which went nearly unnoticed.

"Elliot, whenever we're over here, you're usually in your room playing video games," said a tall black boy with cornrowed hair and black spectacles as he rubbed a cloth against a small violin. "It's cool to see you out and about."

This was Ryan, one of Faiga's fellow music club members who was slightly closer to her than a mere friend.

"I've been thinking about things. I want to do a little good in the world. However, I doubt that any of you would understand since you're just kids," responded Elliot, watching Faiga and two attractive Asian girls, his sister's friends, Jill and Lisa.

Both of them were wearing black orchestra clothes with red scarves. They were sitting on a large leather couch, apparently halfway done packing up their instruments. One of the girls immediately shot to her feet and stormed over to Elliot, putting her finger in his face, her shinning black eyes glaring into his own underneath thin eyebrows. This was Jill. She had long since had a strong resentment towards Elliot. The feeling was mutual.

"You always think you're so much smarter and better than everyone else," she snapped. "What gives you the right to think you are above everyone?"

"Because I am older than you all and I have more power," answered Elliot bluntly.

"Dude, I don't mean to be a jerk, but you come off as extremely arrogant," said Ryan, placing his violin back into its case.

"I agree with Ryan. What power do you have? You technically aren't even an adult," said Jill questioningly.

"I am a genius," answered Elliot, savoring the implications of his newfound powers.

Jill sighed and rolled her eyes before turning on her heel and returning to the couch to continue packing up her instruments along with Faiga and Lisa.

After Faiga's friends had left, Elliot grabbed himself a pack of dinner mints and flipped on the television, sinking comfortably into a brown leather armchair. He studied the news, keeping a keener ear to the ills rather than the blessings of the world whether they were ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and surges in violent crime rates or widening gaps between the rich and poor.

"Elliot, I really think you should be more sensitive," said Faiga after exiting the kitchen with a modest plate of General Tso's chicken and Lo mien noodles in one hand and a glass of soda pop in the other. "I mean-" she started while taking a seat at the dining room table, but Elliot cut her off by holding up his hand.

I've had an epiphany. I will use my powers to better this world. I will give to the poor and aid to the sick. I know there's a way if I develop my skills in lucid dreaming to their ultimate potential. Anything this world needs, I will be able to take from my dreams. I will contact other lucid dreamers and we will make this world a better place for everyone. Surely, there are other geniuses out there who've developed their abilities to the same level that I have.

"Elliot, are you alright?" asked Faiga, worriedly.

"Huh, what?" said Elliot. "Yes, I'm fine."

"It looked like you were daydreaming."

"I was just thinking about something," responded Elliot.

"May I ask what?" said Faiga.

"It was about how Jill is such a jerk to me," answered Elliot, standing up.

"Well, I guess you two will never get along. Maybe it's because you both have such strong personalities that you always end up clashing."

Faiga shrugged her shoulders before using chopsticks to put a coil of noodles in her mouth.

"I'm going to freshen up on my AP Biology. Tomorrow is a school day," said Elliot, walking towards the stairs.

It is time. I want to see the capabilities of other lucid dreamers so I can decide if they are worthy to be led by me, the dream savior, to make this world a better place for humanity. I've always felt that the people who have power must use it to help others. I will open the doors to paradise!

Elliot reached his room and the door clicked as it closed behind him. He eagerly walked over to his desk, pulling a black laptop computer from a large slot below and turned it on. He quickly typed in www.LucidityParadise.com, causing a chat room to pop up on the screen. Faiga had told Elliot about the website after he'd expressed interest in lucid dreaming and he'd been using tips from the website to increase his lucid awareness in dreams as well as prolonging his dreams over the pass couple of days. He finally decided it was time to reach out to others.

His fingers tapped the mouse as he scrolled down, looking for any intriguing stories until he reached a discussion dealing with controlling dream objects and characters.

"One time I turned a dog into my ex-girlfriend. lol," wrote someone with the screen name Joe25. "I noticed how my dream characters did everything to convince me that it wasn't a dream."

"Well, I think they simply do anything to get the dreamer not to wake up because they cease to be when the dreamer awakens," typed Phantom@candy. "It's kind of sad really."

Elliot hesitated before positioning his fingers on the laptop buttons.

"Hello, fellow lucid dreamers. I'm Elliot. What has been your strangest experience after waking up from a lucid dream?" typed Elliot.

"Well, one time I had a mad vivid hallucination of an old hag woman," typed Joe25. "It was creepy as crap."

"Those are hypnogogic hallucinations," typed someone with the screen name Lin007.

"Correct," typed Elliot. "However, I was wondering how real did your hallucinations seem, Joe25?"

"It was mad vivid, bro, but it faded away eventually. They aren't real, just fake images and stuff like that. It's so cool how our imaginations play tricks on us," typed Joey25.

"Yeah, it's crazy how strong your mind can be," typed Lin007.

"What if I said that I could take objects out of my dreams?" typed Elliot. "What if I could bring them into the real world?"

"I'd say that you've gone mad," typed Lin007. "Dreams are just chemical interactions inside your brain. It's all inside your head."

"Yes, Lin's right. There is nothing physical to take out of your dreams. It's just a paradise inside your mind, bro," typed Joe25. "Are you sure you're not hallucinating?"

Elliot felt his stomach sink. Could the pebbles he'd brought back from his dream have been merely elaborate hallucinations, a sign that he was going mad? No, they simply seemed too real.

He opened up a drawer and removed a small white bag, and sure enough, he allowed a grand emerald stone to slide into his palm, its glint just as elegant as it had been in his dream.

"I swear to you all that I'm holding a bunch of rocks that I took out of my dream," he typed after putting down the stones.

"Your claim reminds me of these people from myth and folklore. I think they were called the conjurers. Supposedly, they summoned objects and spirit creatures from other worlds. Eccentrics believe that all the creatures from legends and even the gods and goddesses of different cultures were summoned into our world by the conjurers. They say the first conjurer was from Tibet. However, I've never seen any conjurer just as I've never seen the tooth fairy," typed Lin007. "It's like the loch ness monster and Santa Claus, all a bunch of hooey, if you ask me."

"What if it's real?" typed Elliot. What if I am a conjurer?"

"You'd be a god, bro. Just think about it," typed Joey25. "You could conjure up money, hot babes, and badass sport cars."

"That's, of course, if what he says is true which is hard to believe at best," typed Lin007. "I mean, this is a lucid dreaming chatroom. Having super powers in your dreams is one thing but it's impossible in real life."

"I agree with Lin," typed Phantom@candy. "If the conjurers exist they must keep low profiles. It's not like I've seen dragons flying over my house. It's nice to fantasize about things but we're in the real world. The only thing I have to worry about is my boss if I'm late for work again this week."

Elliot leaned back in his chair, calmly crossing his arms, pondering his own predicament in silence for a few moments, before exiting the website.

My abilities exceed those of other lucid dreamers who cannot bring things from their imaginations into the real world. Perhaps these conjurers are the ones I need to seek out. However, I agree that I should take measures to ensure that I'm not delusional. I merely have to prove that others can also see the stuff that come from my dreams.

Deciding he'd better prepare himself for his AP chemistry test, Elliot shut down his laptop and retrieved his backpack, plopping open a thick book, and began balancing a large set of chemistry equations. After reading up on his other AP classes including History, Biology, Calculus, Japanese and English, Elliot finally slipped into his pajamas before dimming his light and climbing into bed. He fell asleep after a brief time. For much of his slumber, Elliot's mind remained close to blank before it found itself contemplating one thing, bugs. Elliot had always been horrified by insects of all shapes and sizes and, so, his fear prevented lucidity.

"Help! Get away from me!" roared Elliot as he ran down a white hall which constantly distorted itself so that no matter how far he ran he could not reach the end of it. Terrified, he watched as a stinkbug the size of a lion crawled towards him.

"I need... I need... Rosewielder!" yelled Elliot desperately.

The stinkbug stopped in its track as a bizarre looking humanoid object began morphing out of the space between them.

"Grandmaster Swordsman," said a voice, that Elliot recognized as Roswielder's, though it was muffled and faint. "Grandmaster Swordsman, you rapscallion, you botched my summoning spell, but no matter. Take my sword and vanquish that beast," said the disfigured object between Elliot and the massive arthropod before throwing a sword towards him which he caught.

Nevertheless, Elliot saw the stinkbug crawl around the disfigured Rosewielder and inch closer to him. He gave two large swings, but, just as he readied himself to take another crack at the antennae that had coiled around his leg, the dreamscape vanished, a familiar falling sensation swept over him, and he found himself laying on his bed. But something was acutely wrong. Elliot and the stinkbug were still locked together in combat as the pressure of its antennae on his leg tightened so much that it hurt.

"This has to be a false awakening!" said Elliot angrily, slicing off the stinkbug's antennae and jumping off his bed.

He looked over at his alarm clock and felt like vomiting as the time clearly read 6:00 a.m.

"This is not happening! This can't be real! Surely, It's just a dream!" yelled Elliot as he charged the stink bug, wrestling it to the ground before raising his sword up to deliver what he hoped would be the final blow, but before he could administer it, he was pushed off by one of the creature's powerful legs.

Think! I don't have to defeat the thing ,but, I have to get it out of here! If mom and dad wake up then I'm done for!

Elliot's eyes scanned his bedroom and stopped at a small cactus plant in a clay pot which sat atop a low sitting metallic stand in the corner by the window. He dashed over to it, snatching it up.

"You want some of this?" he said tauntingly, waving the plant at the giant insect. "It's yummy and tasty."

It followed the plant with its one remaining antennae and Elliot ran over to the window, hoisted it open, and chucked the cactus as far as he could. The stink bug crawled through the window with surprising speed, and Elliot caught a last glimpse as it flapped its wings, flaunting its five foot wingspan, as it flew off into the distance, disappearing into the darkened sky. Elliot promptly shut the window and made his way to his bed, wiping the sweat off his face before realizing that he was still holding onto Rosewielder's sword.

"So, this is what dreams are made of?" he said aloud to himself, bending down and placing the sword beneath his bed. "Was that a...spirit?"

Breathing heavily, he grabbed the bottom of his pajama leg, lifted it up, and saw a reddish mark right were the stink bug's antennae had grabbed him. He took a good five minutes to compose himself before commencing with his morning routine, showering, brushing his teeth, and tying back his hair in a ponytail before going down for breakfast. He spotted his mother busily putting the finishing touches on the breakfast table, placing a white porcelain plate filled with toast on the marble table.

"Did you enjoy your weekend, Elliot?" asked his mother as he spread butter over his toast, her blue eyes intently inspecting him up and down. "You don't still feel any pain, do you?"

"No, I'm fine, mom," said Elliot as Faiga came briskly down the stairs in a bluish school girl uniform.

"Hi, mom. Hi Elliot," said Faiga, reaching for a bowl of white rice.

"Hello, honey," said his mother.

"Good morning, Faiga," responded Elliot.

"Your dad had to leave early, I'm afraid. He had to attend a big conference for work," said Mrs. Clementine.

"They sure are working dad a lot," said Faiga, playfully fiddling with a pair of chopsticks.

"Yes, I know honey, but his paid vacation starts in August," said Mrs. Clementine.

She turned to Elliot.

"I'm going to drive Faiga to school. Are you going to take the corvette?" asked his mother as she applied lipstick and checked to see that there were no wrinkles in the olive work skirt she wore.

"Yeah, I might as well. I need to practice my driving," said Elliot before gulping down the last of a glass of orange juice.

After finishing breakfast, Elliot ensured he had all of his items for school, swinging his backpack over his shoulder and pocketing is mp3, before leaving the house. He used the time he spent driving to school to anticipate the questions for his AP Chemistry test and refine what he was going to say in his scheduled presentation for his AP History class. After about twelve minutes, Elliot drove into the parking lot of High Prince High School. The building was large, even for a school, crafted with immaculate white bricks, and stood behind a neatly cut front lawn where impeccably trimmed bushes grew nearby. The name of the school was in huge golden letters on a sign that stood about fifteen feet in the air. After two minutes of constantly putting his foot on the break, stopping for passing fellow students, Elliot finally managed to find a space. He then embarked to his first class through the front doors, placing his earpieces in his ears as he dodged dozens of other students, all wearing khaki pants and dark blue shirts. Today was an A school day which meant that he'd be attending his AP chemistry class first, followed by History, PE, and lastly, English. The remainder of his class subjects were reserved for B days because the A day and B day pattern alternated based on the days of the week. Elliot traveled down a bustling hall, turning up the volume on his mp3 in order to drown out the hubbub of the other students as they congregated in their cliques. Some discussed the latest fashion trends and famous young heartthrobs while others talked about the most up-to-date video games while, still more,(mostly girls) excitedly and audibly expressed their infatuation for the latest vampire series which were becoming quite trendy at the moment. After Elliot had made his way up about two flights of stairs he felt a light tap on his shoulder and turned to see an extremely lanky brownish wavy haired boy with hazel eyes, his face peppered with freckles. This was Cody Peterson in the flesh. He was a long time friend and fellow gamer who'd earned himself a reputation for his frequent chatter about extraterrestrials.

"Hey, Elliot, how is it going? Is your PC6 broken or something? Want me to fix it for you? You haven't logged on in two days?" he started in a speedy nervous voice.

"No, it's not broken. I just had other things on my mind."

"Like what? You can tell me, buddy," said Cody in an almost desperate manner as they finally reached their lockers.

"I've been thinking about bettering the world."

"Do you mean like community service?" asked Cody, turning the combination lock on his locker.

"That's exactly what I mean," said Elliot, placing his backpack on the rack in his locker and shutting it closed.

"What kind of community service do you plan on doing?" asked Cody as the pair began walking towards two metallic double doors in the direction of their first period.

"I can help the sick and give to the less fortunate," answered Elliot as they entered into a brightly lit classroom.

"I hope you go far, buddy, but just to let you know, the Earth Elves are loosing against the Ice Elves. Our team has lost its foothold while attacking the Ice Elves' Frozen Castle," explained Cody, shyly looking down at his fingers. "Ezzena said the Ice Elf alliance has been recruiting gamers from Japan with crazy skills. The game developers are based in Japan. Maybe they have game hackers on their side."

"What! I leave for a few hours and our alliance starts loosing!" said Elliot angrily as a short plump red haired woman, wearing thick rimmed glasses, entered the classroom.

"Hello, boys! In here early, I see. I'm not surprised because you two are exemplary students," she said gregariously.

"Hello, Ms. Rosenberg," said Cody.

"Hi," said Elliot," just as she began writing equations on the chalkboard.

"I know you're a good gamer, but I doubt that we're losing just because you're not there," said Cody, studying a platinum watch on his right wrist. "Anyway, I'm going to do some more review of the equations."

With that, Elliot and Cody ceased their conversation, opened their text books, and began doing some last moment skimming of the pages. The room gradually filled up with students until the ringing of the bell signaled that class had began. Just as planned, Ms. Rosenberg administered a four page test and the room fell silent as they worked their ways through the exam.

"Pencils down," she said when the end of class came. "Okay, don't forget to copy down your homework. Makes sure to read pages 35-45 to be ready for our discussion next class."

"See you around, buddy," said Cody.

"Peace man," said Elliot as the pair parted ways and embarked to their separate classes.

Elliot's heart began pounding as the pores on his palms started to soak into the notebook he was carrying, his legs reluctantly carrying him closer to his AP history class. He'd never liked presenting in front of large crowds, and although, he was confident he knew what he wanted to say, he couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety. With heavy legs, he turned into a room decorated by maps, globes and the faces of historical figures, including all of the U.S. presidents. There was already a significant amount of students inside, and Elliot took a slightly secluded seat near the back of the room away from most of the ruckus.

He'd just opened his notebook when he heard several indistinct high pitch sounds come from two rows of seats ahead of him, causing him to look up and see a girl peering intently in his direction before quickly looking away, apparently embarrassed about being caught. Elliot had never spoken to her but knew that her name was Julie because she frequently raised her hand in class to answer questions. Elliot felt himself blush as he looked down at his notebook without reading anything. Curious, he looked up again to see the same brunette tanned girl, wearing a golden necklace from which both a violet heart-shaped gemstone and a silver locket hung. She blushed in his direction, but this time, her nut brown eyes did not break eye contact until Elliot looked away, retrieving a mechanical pencil from his binder. He was glad when the awkwardness ended as a tall blonde man with male pattern baldness walked into the room, carrying a coffee-colored briefcase. This was Mr. Bennett, an energetic and enthusiastic man, and their teacher.

"Hello, class!" he said loudly. "Ready for presentations?"

A couple of confident students responded while others wore faces that hinted that they had the same feelings Elliot, himself, felt.

"Oh, come on, guys and gals. Presentations are suppose to be fun!" he said just as the bell rang.

Mr. Bennett hastily opened up his briefcase and pulled out a sheet of paper, before using a capped marker to scroll down, what was no doubt, a list for the order of the presentations.

"Elliot Clementine, it looks like you're up first," said Mr. Bennett.

Elliot retrieved his essay from a red folder and walked towards his teacher's desk before handing it to him and facing the class.

"Thank you. So, I want you to just describe your thoughts on the study material," said Mr. Bennett.

Elliot inhaled deeply before exhaling and began.

"Hello, class. I am Elliot and I say that we need to save this world. I know many young people turn a blind eye to beggars and the homeless, but ignoring these problems won't cause them to go away. Those who have power must be proactive in giving. I've also admired the idea of creating sustainable renewable resources. I could explain the affects of global warming to other drivers to increase their awareness. As for the huge mountains of trash in the landfills and the pollution of the oceans, I see that is wasted potential and animal cruelty. I would propose mandatory recycling if it was within my authority to do so."

Elliot continued voicing his opinions about worldly events for nearly eight minutes before Mr. Bennett pointed to his watch, signaling that time was up. After he'd finished, the majority of the class clapped respectfully as he walked to his seat. The remainder of the period consisted of about five other people also doing their presentations, the claps of applause growing less lively as boredom inevitably put its clutches around the students.

"I know that all of you who didn't get to go today feel a little hurt," said Mr. Bennett humorously as the bell rang. "Don't worry. That just means that you're scheduled either for Wednesday or Friday."

Elliot began packing for his next class when he saw someone approach him out of the corner of his eye. He was surprised to see that it was Julie, her eyes beaming from beneath stylish long bangs.

"Cool presentation," she said in an extremely soft voice.

"Uh, thank you."

"Were you nervous?"

"Yes, a little,"

"I agree with what you said about the animals," said Julie. "My great aunt actually takes in homeless dogs and cats."

"That's great," said Elliot as he pointed his body towards the door of the classroom.

"You know, if you feel strongly about recycling then you should join the art club after school," said Julie, her cheeks flushing, her eyes suddenly dashing towards the floor. "We take recycled items and make art out of them."

"That's pretty neat. I'll definitely think about it. I'm kind of busy after school, today, but maybe tomorrow."

"Cool, that would be really great. Guess, I'll see you around," she said coyly.

"Yes, I guess so."

The two parted ways. Elliot hurriedly ran to his PE class, undressing, and getting into a pair of blue nylon shorts and a gray T-shirt before he'd reached the school's gym, panting heavily.

"You're late, Mr. Clementine!" bellowed a massive muscular hook nosed man, his balled head shinning under the fluorescent lighting. "Don't let it happen again!" he said loudly as Elliot got in line with a group of other boys against the gym wall.

"It will not happen again... Mr. Martel sir," muttered Elliot, dreading the pending exercise routines he knew he'd have to endure.

"Laps!" shouted Mr. Martel before blowing a whistle.

The class did as they were told, running a total of five times around the gym until they were then ordered to do a series of exercises, including push-ups, jumping jacks, and sit-ups. They then embarked to the school weight room in which they were required to fill out a log detailing all of the exercises they'd completed using the equipment. Elliot decided to try his hand with fifteen pound dumbbells, lifting it a total of ten times before his arm started tiring.

"Fifteen pounds! Fifteen freaking pounds! You are so weak!" said a well muscled tall boy with short brown hair as he began curling two fifty five pounded weights repetitiously.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I prefer putting my energy into things that actually matter," responded Elliot coldly.

"You look like a girl with that hair of yours and slim jim muscles," said the boy haughtily.

"You look like an ape. What's your point?" responded Elliot sharply.

The boy set the dumbbells down and made to grab Elliot who quickly dodged his advances. The next moment, the boy began swinging his massive arms at Elliot who swiftly dodged every last one until there was a distinct cracking sound followed by a yell of agony.

The boy was on his knees, clutching his fist which had apparently broken when he'd inadvertently punched the concrete wall in his attempt to pound Elliot to a pulp. Elliot stood over the boy and crossed his arms, feeling victorious.

"What in the blue blazes is going on over here?!" asked a deep voice, and sure enough, Mr. Martel came walking briskly towards the scene as onlookers watched in disbelief.

"What is wrong with your hand?" asked Mr. Martel, looking down at the boy.

"Nothing. I'm fine!" said the boy, his face screwed up, obviously trying to hide his pain. "I dropped weight on it. It's nothing."

"You're going to the nurse's office, young man," said Mr. Martel before pulling the boy to his feet. Elliot caught a murderous glimpse from the boy before he was escorted out of the weight room by Mr. Martel.

Due to the incident, Mr. Martel decided to end the class early and the boys exited the weight room.

"Hey, man. What did you do to him?" asked a short boy as they changed back into their school clothes.

"I outsmarted him. Bozos like him are no match against my cleverness, regardless of how big their muscles are."

"You're cool for standing up to Jason but that way of thinking is dangerous, man," said the boy. "If its one thing my dad has drilled into my head it's that there is always someone that is bigger and badder than you."

"Thanks for the look out," said Elliot dismissively before leaving.

Elliot's last class of the day, AP English, was uneventful as any other day, the students endeavoring to keep themselves awake as a thin frail looking older woman, Mrs. Langway, paced back and forth with a wooden cane while going over literary techniques and their definitions. After completing a packet of work handed out during the last twenty minutes of class, the bell rang, announcing the end of the school day.

Once he retrieved his backpack and the books for his B day schedule of classes, Elliot quickly hopped in his corvette and began his way back home. He turned the radio volume up which was already on the classical music station, currently playing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Upon turning onto Autumn Street, he opened the sunroof, allowing his hair to dance in the breeze, but this only lasted a short while as he approached Riverdale Road and saw that the traffic was nearly at a standstill. However, what was most peculiar wasn't the traffic, but an unpleasant odor that seemed to radiate from every direction. Attempting to alleviate the foul smell, Elliot turned on his car air conditioner before opening up the glove department and pulling out a wisteria scented air freshener. He hastily sprayed it through the car. His efforts proved mostly futile as the resulting odor turned into a deplorable concoction of the two scents.

"Come on," said Elliot, irritably as other drivers began honking their horns impatiently.

It took a good five minutes before the traffic finally started to budge, and after about another minute or so, he was able to move quicker than a snail's paste.

"Finally!" he said as he passed Riverdale Road, but not before noticing that the adjacent street, Turnpike Avenue, was occupied by five or so police cars. About two dozen cops were standing near a large group of road blocks.

Elliot was unsurprised because accidents were common near that particular intersection and, once the traffic gradually thinned out, he sped home, relieved that the awful stench had subsided substantially. After parking his car in the garage, he went through the kitchen back door and hungrily prepared himself a hefty portion of ramen. After filling his belly he went to his room, sat down at his desk, and flipped open his Japanese study book, commencing with his homework. He translated English sentences into kanji, stopping to say the words aloud every so often to better his fluency. He did this for about twenty minutes before moving onto his next subject, AP Calculus. He began working on a set of parametric equations, stopping to push out more led from his mechanical pencil every so often. He worked in relative silence save for the pleasant chirping of the birds outside his window for about another half hour before retrieving his musical notebook. Elliot cracked his neck and was just about to open the notebook when a series of loud knocks sounded from behind his door. He sighed before getting to his feet, but jumped when Faiga's voice spoke loudly from the other side.

"Elliot, have you seen the news?! Are you in there?! You just have to come see this!" she shouted ecstatically.

"What is it?" asked Elliot after whipping open the door.

Faiga wrapped her arms around him affectionately. "I'm so glad you're okay!" she yelled.

"What's going--," Elliot started before Faiga took him by the arm and quickly led him downstairs and into the living room.

"Faiga, will you please tell me what's going on?" asked Elliot.

"Look!" she screamed, pointing at the television.

"Elliot's felt his legs turn to jelly as he read the news headline and stared at the footage like a doe in the headlights.

The headline read Giant Stinkbug Terrorizes Neighborhood in Franklin County! The footage depicted what appeared to be a standoff between twenty or so cops and a comparatively larger six legged object. The sound of gunshots was clearly audible on the footage as well as the voices of the police as they bellowed orders frantically at one another, seemingly to formulate a plan to take down the giant insect.

"Where do you think it came from?" asked Faiga, her mouth slightly open, astonished. "How is that even possible?"

"I... I have no idea," lied Elliot.

"I hope mom and dad make it home okay," said Faiga, wrapping her arms around herself, a look of disgust on her face.

Faiga's revulsion seemed overpowered by her curiosity as she plopped down on the coach, continuing to study the news footage whereas Elliot excused himself for the bathroom.

He ran his hands through his hair after ensuring the door was locked behind him and looked in the mirror.

This proves that I'm not simply hallucinating and the things from my dreams are as real to everyone else as they are to me. The good news is that this shows this isn't just all in my head. The bad news is that thing is not something that I wanted to escape from my dreams. Darn it! If anyone is hurt... or worse, it will be my fault! What do I do?! That thing must be a spirit! What the heck else could it be? How do I send a spirit back? Can they destroy it?

Elliot put his palm against his forehead in frustration, racking his brain for solutions.

"This is all because I lost my lucidity," he said aloud. "If only I remained calm in that dream I could have brought a spirit to the real world that didn't cause so much trouble. I must practice lucid dreaming so this doesn't happen again."

But I don't understand why they need an entire police force to take that thing out. I nearly defeated it with Rosewielder's sword by myself. Wait... Is it possible that because the sword is a spirit object that it's more effective on spirits. Should I fight spirits with spirit weapons? Or better yet... could I get Rosewielder to fight that thing by bringing her into the real world if the police can't destroy it? Could I really bring Rosewielder to our world? It seems crazy, but no more so than creating a giant stinkbug.

Elliot's rumination was interrupted when he heard the front door close, suggesting that either his mother or father had arrived home, but he immediately unlocked the door and dashed into the living room to find his mother stopped in her tracks in between the living room and kitchen with her head turned towards the television.

"Mom!" he said loudly just as she jumped, dropping her suitcase and screaming frantically at the spectacle on television.

"Good gracious! What is going on?" she asked, looking at him, her pupils tiny.

Faiga leaped up from the couch, explaining what the news had previously reported. After picking up her briefcase and composing herself, Mrs. Clementine joined her daughter on the couch. Elliot hesitated momentarily before deciding to accompany them, reasoning that it might look suspicious if he just went to his room. For more than fifteen minutes, they watched as news helicopters buzzed overhead the battle below between the police and the giant insect. Elliot silently prayed that his mess would be cleaned up by the police.

"Is that bug responsible for the horrible stench I smelled while I was on Riverdale Road?" asked Mrs. Clementine, shocked.

"It makes sense. Judging by the news footage it looks like some species of stinkbug," answered Faiga.

"Except that it's nearly the size of a car," added Mrs. Clementine in a nauseated tone.

"It's about time," said Faiga as a group of suited men began shooting the beast with flame throwers.

The fire had an effect on the spirit that bullets hadn't for when hit with the fire, the stinkbug's body began to glow orange like melted metal before it exploded in a hail of white light. The camera view changed, revealing a red haired news lady standing behind a group of road blocks.

"We are confirming reports that the creature has been destroyed," she said. "And folks, please sit tight because our staff will be working around the clock to provide you the up-to-date-info regarding this bizarre occurrence."

The channel then turned to a commercial just as his mother got to her feet.

"I don't want to hear any more," she said before walking into the kitchen. "I'll get started on dinner. Hopefully it'll take my mind off of this."

Faiga simply changed to another news channel, continuing to view the story while Elliot went to his room and completed his remaining homework. At around 5:00 a knock on his door from his mother told him that it was time for dinner and he was relieved to see that his father had made it home safely. Mr. Clementine tiredly took off his work jacket, hanging it on a wooden clothe rack, before taking a seat at the dinning room table.

"How was school, Elliot?" asked his father inquisitively.

"It was good," he answered as Faiga also sat down while his mother placed a large bowl of brown pork fried rice on a a red cloth in the center of the table.

"What do you think about the whole bug thing?" inquired Elliot.

"I don't know what to think. It could be anything these days," answered Mr. Clementine matter-of-factly. "I wouldn't be surprised if that thing was some government experiment," he laughed heartily before grabbing a large scoop of rice just as his mother took her seat.

"I think that it could be extraterrestrials!" said Faiga playfully.

"Can we please change the subject?" requested Mrs. Clementine bluntly. "How was work, dear."

"It was fine, sweetheart," said his father, placing his hand on his wife's.

As the family continued enjoying their dinner together, a strange onset of guilt-ridden isolation took hold of Elliot.

What would I have done if that monster hurt Faiga or mom or dad? I could never forgive myself! The things from my dreams can hurt the people I love. I cannot let that happen, but I can't not use my power to help humanity. That, to, is a crime against humanity.

"Elliot, are you alright?" asked his father, his tired looking eyes studying him. "You look worried."

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about tomorrow's Calculus quiz," lied Elliot, poking at a piece of pork with his chopsticks.

"He does that sometimes, dad. It's called zoning out," said Faiga.

"If you need help then I'd be happy to tudor you," said Mr. Clementine.

"No, I'm fine, but thanks, dad," said Elliot as he got up from the table and scrapped his plate before excusing himself.

When Elliot got to his room he realized he had a little more than an hour before bedtime so he turned on his PC6 and began playing Fantasy Lotus. At the time, none of his close friends were on and, so, he spent his time fighting lone players who were not apart of any alliance called wanderers. He effortlessly racked up about ninety kill points before using a skill called teleportation to transfer his avatar to the Frozen Castle of the Ice Elves, and began defeating as many avatars of the opposing alliance that he could. Players received useful objects such as amulets and keys in exchange for their points. After Elliot used some of his points to purchase an amulet shaped like a goblet that amplified the users strength twenty fold, he was struck with an intriguing idea. He enlarged the screen with the picture of the amulet with a caption that read Ox Wine potion and set down his controller. Attempting to clear his mind of all other distractions, he held out his hand, focusing on the picture on the screen and imagined it being in his hand.

Come on. If the conjurers of legend can summon spirit items at will then so can I. I know I can.

Elliot sat there for a good four minutes, intently imagining the Ox Wine potion being in his hand, but nothing happened.

This makes no sense. I can accidentally create spirit monsters but can't summon spirit objects on purpose. What am I doing wrong?

He got to his feet, undressing, and slipped into his pajamas.

"Is this the limit to my powers? No, I was foolish to think I could learn how to summon something so quickly," said Elliot before jumping into bed after dimming his lights. "It's time to get some shuteye so that I can practice my lucidity tonight. Then I can bring back something useful."

Elliot shut his eyes, relaxing his mind, and after an unspecified amount of time, allowed himself to slip from consciousness.

Chapter 3: The Girl of His Dreams

Elliot opened his eyes, instinctively looking over at the alarm clock which displayed an indiscernible gibberish, and immediately realized he was dreaming. He remained calm so that he would not wake up, and got off of his dream bed. Elliot smiled, placing his dream arm in front of him, focused on the image of the Ox Wine potion he'd try to summon in his waking life, and saw a majestic goblet gradually materialize before him. He clasped it, having succeeded, and walked right through his dream door.

This time, when he walked through the hall leading to the stairs, he told himself, "When I look at the wall there will be no paintings," trying his hardest to believe his own words, before glancing to see if it had worked.

To his utter delight, there were only strange ever-changing shapes in the place of the paintings.

"Stay calm," he said aloud to himself before continuing down the stairs and into the living room.

When he looked over at the television he immediately realized his error as the enormous stinkbug was wriggling its legs, creepily popping out of the screen.

"I have total power over you in this world, Mr. stinkbug," said Elliot, walking towards the creature. "I am the master of this world."

Elliot raised the Ox Wine potion goblet to his lips, taking a sip before approaching the horrendous creature. He then charged the stinkbug, punching and kicking at it, causing greenish blood to spill from its cracked exoskeleton before using all of his strength to push it back into the television.

"What are you doing, Elliot?" asked a voice, causing Elliot to spin around and see his father looking suspiciously at him.

"Nothing."

"Are you lying to me, Elliot?" asked his father.

"No."

"Are you lying to me, Elliot?"

"I won't lie to you, dad."

"Are you lying to yourself, Elliot?"

Elliot turned his back on his dream father, believing he was wasting precious time, and closed his eyes. At that moment, Elliot cleared his mind of all except for one thing. He stood with his dream eyes closed shut for a while, trying to convince both his conscious and subconscious mind that the thing he so desperately sought after was standing just behind him. He allowed his desire to soak into the core of his being. Before long, he turned around, bracing himself so that his excitement would not wake him from his dream before he could leave with what he most desired. Standing before him, with sparkling strands of rosy hair and skin as pure as mountain snow, was Rosewielder. Her features were inhumanly beautiful, possessing an otherworldly elegance that could not be produced with the flawed devices of the real world. She radiated with an angelic light, and Elliot wondered if the being standing before him was not some divine being rather than an imagined sculpture from his imagination.

"Rosewielder, I need you," said Elliot, placing his hand out towards her.

"I'm here for you, my Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder as she grabbed his hand, instantly causing an indescribable feeling of completion to conquer him.

The coming moments encompassed a familiar falling sensation as the atmosphere vanished, Elliot eventually finding himself lying on his bed again, but this time, he was not alone. He felt himself blush, his hand still clutched around the goblet, his breathing partially constricted by a warm and heavy force laying atop his chest. The weight on his chest shifted and then lessened, making the metal springs squeak as it slid off his bed. It was Rosewielder, an expression of outright confusion on her face as her violet eyes, seemingly gazed into his soul. It was peculiar, watching her standing there, her porcelain skin glowing gorgeously beneath the sparse morning sunlight, looking like an angel who'd gotten lost on her journey to the heavens.

"Grandmaster Swordsman, did you want me to vanquish Crimson Vampires for you? Or how about Ice Elves?" asked Rosewielder, her eyes fiercely scanning Elliot's room.

"Uh, no. I don't think you have to worry about Ice Elves or Vampires, Rosewielder. Not any more," answered Elliot, sitting up and placing the goblet of Ox Wine potion on the floor beside him.

"Then it must be the troll scum!" yelled Rosewielder aggressively. "If only I could find my sword."

"No, Rosewielder. Trolls, vampires and elves don't exist in this world. I brought you into the real world," explained Elliot, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Rosewielder held out her hand and yelled, "Quick sword of Light, come to your Mistress!"

In a split second, the air was filled with a loud swoosh as a long thin object moved at immeasurable speed from underneath his bed and into the hands of its true master. Once armed, a familiar whitish blue light shined from the weapon and Rosewielder began swinging her sword with such speed that it appeared she had eight arms, before finally sheathing her weapon.

"It appears not to be contaminated with dark magic. Oh, what were you saying again? You know, about the real world. I'm afraid I don't understand you," she said, gently running her fingers through her hair.

Elliot scratched his head nervously, making sure to choose his next words with prudence.

"Well, um... You see, Rosewielder, I'm not certain but, I think you're a spirit. You came from my dreams," said Elliot slowly.

"What's a spirit?" asked Rosewielder inattentively, walking over to his desk and poking his laptop mischievously. "What is this device? I don't believe I've come across such a thing."

"A spirit is what you are. I created you. Somehow, I'm able to summon spirits from my dreams," explained Elliot.

"I most certainly am not!" said Rosewielder, sounding offended, her celestial eyes finally looking at him. "I was born in the Earth Nation. I am the Fair Elf Princess, the daughter of Elf King Methuselah, and the one who is destined to ensure that the evil of the Ice Elves does not engulf the world." Rosewielder narrowed her eyes before continuing.

"Your remarks are worrisome, Grandmaster Swordsman. An individual of your title should not tell lies. You must be an impostor!" yelled Rosewielder, pulling out her sword. "And you shall be banished!"

"No, please, I'm sorry!" Elliot yelled in horror, dropping to his knees, and holding his arms protectively over him. "I mean you no harm! Please don't attack!"

"Then explain yourself or prepare to taste steel!" demanded Rosewielder.

Elliot glanced over at his alarm clock which read 5:45 a.m. He only had thirty minutes until it was time for him to go down to breakfast.

"Alright, alright," he said calmly. "Do you see that device on the desk over there?"

He pointed at his laptop.

"What about it?"

"You wanted to know what it is. It is called a computer. If you allow me to use it I can show you that I am not lying to you."

"If this is some trickery of yours then you will regret it," said Rosewielder, keeping the tip of her sword cautiously raised towards Elliot.

"It isn't trickery."

"Go ahead then, but I will be watching you."

Elliot slowly stood up and crept over to his computer before pushing the power button.

"In a moment you will see images appear on the screen. They will not harm you," said Elliot.

Rosewielder tilted her head closer to the screen, her sword lowering ever so slightly. Elliot hastily used his keyboard to pull up the official Fantasy Lotus website. He scrolled down a list of playable characters in the game, stopping when he reached a moving clip of Rosewielder depicted chucking her sword at a ferocious looking green eyed black dragon. Below was a large amount of yellow text.

"Who is that impostor? I thought you said this wouldn't be trickery," she said, although her sword remained still.

"Just wait," said Elliot as he brought up the character biography. "I hope you, at least, know how to read," said Elliot under his breath.

"I heard that, and I'll have you know that I do know how to read. How else could I use the elf scrolls to determine what devilry that evildoers are up to?"

"Then tell me, do you know anything else about yourself other than what is in this character biography?" asked Elliot.

Rosewielder leaned in closer, her sword lowering, still more. For nearly eight minutes, Elliot scrolled down the page as Rosewielder continued reading her own biography. When she finally stood straight again, she remained silent for a few seconds.

"I must admit that this is quite accurate. But how does this prove that I was... What did you say? A spirit? Conjured by you from your dreams?"

"Fantasy Lotus is a game and I play it...a lot. In this world when people focus on things that are important to them they become a part of them. This game has been on my mind, and, so, naturally, it filled my imagination and my dreams. You were a part of that realm until, somehow, I pulled you out of it."

"So, are you saying that the world I know is merely the world of your dreams?"

"Yes."

"Yet I'm standing right behind you. I don't understand," said Rosewielder, her worried voice betraying her.

"Somehow, I'm able to bring things from my imagination into the real world."

"Are you trying to tell me that this real world is the world outside of your dreams?" asked Rosewielder.

"Exactly."

"I speak truthfully when I say that I do not want to believe this, Grandmaster Swordsman. Does this occur often in this world?"

"No, I'm the only one I know that has this ability," answered Elliot.

"But my father, Elf King Methuselah,"-- began Rosewielder but Elliot interrupted her.

"Elf King Methuselah does not exist. He is a video game character that appeared in the second installment of Fantasy Lotus."

Elliot scrolled down the list of characters until he reached the picture of a large, robust looking man with a white flowing beard, pointed ears, and a golden headpiece encrusted with an emerald stone.

"It just can't be true," said Rosewielder desperately as her sword came within inches of the floor.

"Rosewielder, do you remember actually meeting your father?" asked Elliot, curiously anticipating her answer.

She exhaled deeply, allowing her sword to hit the floor with a clunk.

"No, I do not," she finally said.

"That's probably because you only know what I imagined you to know. I studied your character biography. But those aren't real experiences."

"I concede that what you say does make sense. I remember nothing before seeing you standing before me. All I remember is taking your hand and finding myself laying with you."

"You're saying you don't remember me during our previous encounters? Don't you recall destroying Soul Sucking Trolls for me in one of my earlier dreams?" asked Elliot.

"No, I do not."

"So that is what they meant then," said Elliot aloud.

"What are you muttering about?" asked Rosewielder.

"In an earlier dream I encountered Crimson Vampires. To me, they were just imaginary characters. When I said that I'd wake up they implied that this would destroy them. I now know that it is true that when the dreamer awakens everything in that dream ceases to exist. The Rosewielders that I met earlier were not you. I think they were more like different versions of you," explained Elliot.

"Different versions of me!" yelled Rosewielder, her voice quivering angrily. "You're saying I'm not real!"

"Well, you are my... spirit partner. I summoned you using my imagination. Therefore, you aren't a real person," responded Elliot.

Elliot heard a loud thump, noticing that Rosewielder had completely dropped her sword before she walked beside him, clear streams pouring down her face, and before long, he felt a very real pain in the side of his cheek. She had slapped him.

"Why did you bring me into this world?! she screamed, her face oddly divine yet so somber that for the first time in his life, he felt truly ashamed.

"I'm sorry."

"I demand an answer! Why do I exist! What purpose did you bring me here?!"

"I think you can help me better this world!"

"Why can't you do that yourself?! Are you not a Grandmaster Swordsman?!" shouted Rosewielder.

"It's the honest truth," said Elliot, lowering his head.

Rosewielder immediately placed her hand under his chin, snapping his head up, forcing Elliot to look right into her piercing eyes, now so wrathful that he was truly terrified.

"Are you lying to me?!"

"No, I swear I'm telling the truth."

"Are you lying to me?!"

"Alright, I did it because I didn't want to go it alone! I was lonely. I wanted someone by my side to help me in my mission as the dream savior," he said in a defeated voice.

"You are pathetic."

"Yes. Yes, I am. Is there anything I can do to clean up my mess?" he asked himself aloud.

"Stand up, Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder, her face full of pity.

Elliot obeyed.

"If you truly want my forgiveness then you must help me find my reason for being," said Rosewielder. "The day I can truly call this world my home is the day I can forgive you."

Elliot took a deep breath.

"I understand. I'll help you. Since I'm familiar with this world, will you allow me to teach you even if it means listening to what I say and taking my advice?" asked Elliot.

"I will as long as you promise to never lie to me."

"I promise, and, by the way, my name is Elliot."

"Well, Elliot, I'm ready to start the first day of my life," said Rosewielder retrieving her sword and sliding it into its sheath.

"Rosewielder, you don't look like the average human. That is why I want you to stay in my room until I get home from school," said Elliot.

"My design is that of an Earth Elf's. I agree."

"Understand that I'm not forcing you to do this."

"I will heed your advice."

"First thing's first. If anyone even tries entering my room when I'm not around you must hide yourself. It's important that no one sees you," said Elliot.

"Hiding is for cowards!" spat Rosewielder.

"Rosewielder, please," said Elliot.

His desperation must have shown in his face because he saw Roswielder's head lower resistantly.

"Oh, alright. I will obey, but only because you look so pathetically hopeless."

"Thanks," said Elliot sarcastically.

Elliot then turned on the television, his PC6, and his laptop computer, suggesting that Rosewielder educate herself about the world through scanning through the channels. After showing her how to use the buttons on both his remote and his game controller, Elliot readied himself for school before running down to have breakfast. The trouble that the giant stinkbug farce had caused had gone viral as nearly every channel had footage of people giving their dramatic accounts of what they'd witnessed, but Elliot breathed a sigh of release when it was reported that there were no casualties or serious injuries. After hastily finishing a bowl of frosted cereal and gulping down a large glass of prune juice, Elliot hopped into his corvette and traveled off to school.

Calculus was Elliot's first class of the day. Their teacher, Mr. Fujita, a tall thin Korean man, with thick rimmed glasses, administered a quiz right after the bell had rang and they'd taken their assigned seats. The material was easy for Elliot who reveled in the complexities of the subject, and, after about five minutes, he'd completed the quiz. Following an in depth review of several formulas, Mr. Fujita allowed the class a break for the last five minutes of class.

"Hey, Elliot, did you hear what happened on the news?" asked a tanned skinned Indian girl, walking towards the front of the class, accompanied by a chubby black boy with brownish hazel eyes.

"Yeah, I did," he answered.

"Weird stuff, bro," said the boy, shaking his head.

"No kidding, Ezzena," said Elliot, hoping they wouldn't press the subject.

"It's almost as crazy as this new game that Playvision has released. It's called MedievalHunter," said the girl, placing her hand beside her mouth as if this was some secret.

She then whispered, "You should get it before it totally sells out."

"I'll think about it, Abha," said Elliot, putting his class notes in his notebook.

"Did you know that some girl has the hots for you?" asked Ezenna, a huge grin sliding on his face, his eyes playfully looking at Abha.

"Oh, yeah. Some girl wanted me to give this to you. She knew your name so I assumed she knew you," said Abha, pulling out a folded up piece of paper. "Hopefully she's not some crazy stalkerish type."

She handed the note to Elliot.

"Uh, thanks," said Elliot, taking it and putting it on his desk.

"Aren't you going to open it?" asked Ezzena as they both beamed at him as if they were about to receive some great treasure.

"Well, alright," said Elliot, unfolding the paper.

It read:

Elliot

I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to come by to the art club after school today. I know that we have different classes on B days so I got Abha to give it to you. I really think you will enjoy it.

Julie

He'd just finished reading when it was snatched out of his hand by Abha.

"Aww, isn't that sweet?" she asked playfully, dangling the note, before Elliot quickly seized it from her.

"So are we good for Game Con on Saturday?" asked Ezzena excitedly.

"I don't have any plans. I've already practiced for the SAT," answered Abha.

"Likewise. I have a friend that will be tagging along with us."

"A friend? Who? Is it a guy or girl?" asked Ezzena.

"Um, it's a girl. She's a professional cosplayer," lied Elliot.

Ezzena and Abha looked at each other teasingly before grinning amusedly at him.

"No, it's not what you think. I swear. Come one, guys."

"Right," said Abha.

"Anyways, the class is about to end," said Elliot just as the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Elliot waved them goodbye before traversing through several crowded hallways, and trudging down a flight of stairs, his AP Biology and AP Calculus books weighing him down. Upon arrival, he was amiably greeted in Japanese at the door by a petite woman with a long grayish ponytail, Ms. Ivanova. Once the entire class was present their teacher walked over to a black overhead projector that stood on a wooden cart in the center of the classroom, turned it on, and they began with the lesson. Everyone was called on at least once to respond to questions in Japanese. The remainder of the class was spent watching a Japanese live action film about an old tale called The Bamboo Cutter about a strange girl named Kaguya who was born in a stalk of bamboo. As the film progressed, chronicling the struggle of the girl who was supposedly from the moon and not of the world, Elliot found himself reflecting on his new task as he tried to look at Rosewielder's situation from her perspective.

Will Rosewielder, like Princess Kaguya, find herself engulfed by sadness. Will she be able to stay in this world. Will she be somehow taken from me just as the Moon people took Princess Kaguya. No, I will convince her that this world is a place worth living in! How can I be a savior, a dream savior, if I can't save one person.

When the class had ended Ms. Ivanova requested that they write a report, discussing their thoughts about the film. With new resolve, Elliot embarked to his AP Biology class, but, when he'd finally arrived, his mind was anywhere but where it needed to be in order to follow the lesson.

"Mr. Clementine, can you please repeat to me what Ms. Jennings was so kindly able to describe about structural isomers," said his biology teacher, Mr. Stewart, a diminutive balled man in a striped suit.

"What? Sorry, what did she say, again?" asked Elliot, caught of guard.

"I'm surprised, Mr. Clementine. You are usually one of my best students. You should have been paying more attention," said Mr. Stewart disappointedly.

"I'm sorry, sir. I won't let it happen again," said Elliot, surprised with himself.

Darn it! I have to stop thinking about this, right now. I have other responsibilities. I'll see Rosewielder when I get home.

For Elliot's last class, music, the students were required to practice on the violin and perform a small piece for the class. Their teacher, Ms. Matthews, a thin amber eyed brunette, smiled proudly as Elliot tranquilly ran his bow across the strings, performing Paganini's Twenty Four Caprices, making sure to keep his hair, from interfering with his performance.

"Splendid," she said bluntly.

It wasn't long before the students were packing up their instruments at the ringing of the bell, indicating the end of the school day. However, after Elliot left his last class and retrieved his books and backpack for the next day, he didn't leave school but, instead, journeyed down a long hallway that was bright from the ultraviolet light shinning through many windows from a wall parallel to it. This led to what he was sure was the art club, and sure enough, when he pushed open a pair of wooden double doors, he saw what appeared to have previously been an old cafeteria that was make-shifted into an enormous art room. In the middle of the room sat dozens of white long tables accompanied by students manipulating all sorts of materials from used bottles, old newspapers, styrofoam plates, and plastic utensils to plain paper and milk cartons. Elliot scanned the room, spotting Julie sitting just ten feet away at a table covered with balloons, glue and other craft materials. Two boys were also at the table but were busily listening to mp3 players.

"Hello, Julie," said Elliot, approaching the table.

"Hi, Elliot," she said, immediately shooting to her feet, blushing.

"So, what exactly is it that we do here?" asked Elliot, looking around.

"We can do whatever we want here. I usually practice making stuff for the school art fair," said Julie, picking up a piece of glue and pouring it into a clear plastic bowl. "My specialty is paper mache balloon heads."

Elliot placed his backpack under the table, taking a seat directly across from Julie. He nervously scratched his head before pulling a hair tie from his pocket and tying his hair back.

"That sounds...interesting."

He grabbed a small piece of cut newspaper and dipped it in glue before placing it on a yellow balloon.

"So you make heads?" asked Elliot curiously. "I've heard of paper mache but how do you make heads?"

"Once I cover the balloons, I just keep adding more glue and paper until I form a nose, cheeks, eyes and so on," answered Julie. "I'm actually a pretty good sculptor. I like recreating the human form."

"Do you sculpt anyone in particular? Could you sculpt me?" asked Elliot, struggling with a particularly sticky piece of newspaper.

"I would love to sculpt you. I like to sculpt things I find attractive, after all. Oh, and I usually sculpt members of my family."

"That's neat."

"I sculpt my mom, dad, and older brother a lot," said Julie, changing the position of a nearly covered balloon in her hand.

"I bet they like that."

"There's no way to tell. They're dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--," he started but he was cut off.

"It's okay. Besides, you didn't know."

"But still, that must be hard," said Elliot compassionately.

"They've been dead for two years. It was a car accident because of a drunk driver," she said. "I guess it's time for me to move on and accept that they no longer exist."

"I'm sorry, but I disagree," said Elliot.

"What do you mean?" asked Julie, her brown eyes gazing at him, partially obscured by her bangs.

"Even though they may not be alive. I think your family exists in you, in your memories and in your soul," answered Elliot carefully.

Julie studied Elliot closely for a few moments. She then laughed.

"What's so funny?" asked Elliot, mystified.

"You sound like my granny. That is what she says. However, she uses heart instead of soul," said Julie, smiling.

"Your granny is wise."

"She is, but I'm not sure if I agree with her. I think that once someone is gone then they are gone. It was the same with Mr. Winslow, my cat. One day he just stopped moving four weeks ago," said Julie, reaching towards her necklace and grabbing the locket, opening it, and revealing a picture of an orange tabby cat, appearing to have heterochromia with one green and one blue eye.

Elliot reached toward the locket, grasping it, and holding it closer, taking in every detail of the picture, before releasing it.

"I'm sorry for your loss," said Elliot.

"Oh, well. That's why I keep my mind busy with my art and my schoolwork," said Julie with a sigh.

The pair continued working on their paper mache creations for a good half hour before Elliot thought it best that he get going.

"They should be dry by tomorrow," said Julie, showing him an impressively detailed head sculpted from slabs of glued newspaper.

"Okay, I'll try to be here if nothing comes up," said Elliot.

The pair said their goodbyes and Elliot began his car ride home, keeping track of the time, and praying that Rosewielder hadn't caused any trouble in his absence. When he arrived at the driveway he saw that his mom's blue Lexus was already in the garage and, so, after hastily grabbing his school things and violin case, went inside.

"Hello, dear," said his mother who was already in the kitchen preparing dinner, the scent of freshly cut onions causing his eyes to water slightly.

"Hi, mom."

"How was school?" she asked, pulling out a bag of vegetables from the freezer.

"It was great. I actually visited the art club today," said Elliot, walking towards the stairs.

"Excellent. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

"Great," said Elliot as he hastily made his way up the stairs and towards his bedroom.

He took a deep breath before opening the door and became instantly flabbergasted by what he saw. To his right laid two square objects that looked as is they'd been cut cleanly in half, the smell of burnt plastic strong in the air. His eyes slowly moved to where his television had neatly stood, just that morning, and he dropped his backpack upon realizing the state of it. To his left, calmly flipping through a magazine, laid Rosewielder on his bed, her legs crossed, a disgusted expression on her face.

"You're back, Elliot!" she said excitedly.

She sat the magazine down and slid off his bed.

"Rosewielder, what happened to my television?" said Elliot, his voice calm but trembling, as he pointed to the two pieces of his TV.

"That device is evil, Elliot!" she said loudly. "I saw miniature versions of Ice Elves killing my people before my eyes so I destroyed the thing."

"Rosewielder, those were merely images, moving pictures," started Elliot in frustration. "They weren't real."

"They seemed real to me," she said, placing her hands on her hips.

"Nothing more than good graphics," said Elliot bitterly, taking his backpack and putting it beside his desk.

"Your room is also filled with images of impure females in degrading clothing," she said, looking over at the magazines on his bed.

"Rosewielder, you didn't," began Elliot, running his hands through his hair.

"Didn't what?" she asked unabashedly.

"Never mind," he said, scooping up a group of magazines picturing girls wearing bikinis and putting it under his mattress before plopping down at his desk. "What's done is done. I'm going to get started on my homework. Please do not disturb me while I'm working."

Rosewielder remained silent, walking over to Elliot's bed and sitting. Then, as he began reading through the instructions for his history homework, she said two words.

"I'm sorry."

"It's nothing," said Elliot absentmindedly.

"Don't lie to me, Elliot," said Rosewielder, standing to her feet. "It was wrong of me to destroy that which belonged to you."

She then walked over to the half pieces of the television, holding out her arm. An inexplicable warm breeze suddenly permeated through the atmosphere of his room and Rosewielder's hair flowed with the beauty of a goddess, her ivory skin glowing with an angelic light as an unnatural cracking and crunching noise filled Elliot's ears. It was then that he saw the two halves of the defeated television fuse together as they were levitated back to their original spot.

"Rosewielder?" muttered Elliot, awed.

When the warmth and light that radiated from Rosewielder finally ceased Elliot saw her looking intently into his eyes, her expression unreadable.

"I meant it when I told you to never lie to me. If I mess up I want you to correct me. I want to learn to live in this world," said Rosewielder.

Elliot stood up from his chair, walked up to Rosewielder and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Good job. You clean up your mistakes and the messes that you make. That's more than I can say for a lot of people, including myself," said Elliot, not knowing whether he'd imagined Rosewielder's skin flush slightly before her face adopted its usual stern demeanor.

Elliot resumed his homework, allowing Rosewielder to study him from over his shoulder as he read the texts, jotted down notes, erased his mistakes and flipped through pages for references and definitions. He gave the textbooks he wasn't using to Rosewielder to study, noticing the fierce fascination in her eyes as she gazed upon pictures of cells, animals, and insects in his biology textbook and turned his Calculus textbook every which way, trying to make sense of the problems on the page.

"Please be gentle," said Elliot.

"I will," she said, turning a page of his music book.

In about ten more minutes Elliot shut his English book closed. "I'm done, at last. Rosewielder, I have to go to dinner now. Will you be okay?"

"Yes, I'll be fine. I'm no infant," she said defensively.

"Right," said Elliot as he left Rosewielder, ensuring the door was shut tightly closed behind him before traveling down stairs to a splendidly decorated dinner table that awaited him.

His mother had outdone herself. Elliot saw that the table not only had the usual dinner towels, utensils and plates neatly set up, totaling six spots, but great care had been taken in the placing of several vanilla scented candles towards the center of the table which were accompanied with four large china bowls filled to the brim with different foods including shrimp fried rice, general taos, chicken, cucumber salad, and Spatzle noodles. Faiga and his father were already at the table while his mother appeared to be finishing up cleaning up the stovetop. Elliot took a seat parallel to his father just before his mother finally sat across from Faiga, beaming at her own masterpiece. Elliot tried a hefty scooping of the Spatzle noodles and cucumber salad after pouring himself a glass of iced chai tea. Faiga and his father invaded the shrimp fried rice.

"How is your mother?" Mrs. Clementine asked his father, using chopsticks to pick up a portion of noodles, her face concerned.

"She is doing okay, so far. She remembers my name and brother Chen. But it's apparent that the Alzheimer's is progressing. I think the prescriptions will help slow the process," answered Mr. Clementine somberly.

"That's why, when I grow up, I want to find a cure for diseases like that," said Faiga confidently. "It was sad when Grandma Wu didn't remember me."

"With grades and talent like yours you can do anything you want, Faiga," said Mr. Clementine, before taking a sip of tea from a glass.

"I just like to remember the happy times with Grandma Wu," said Elliot.

"That's all you can do, honey," said his mother with a comforting yet sorrowful smile.

The Clementines continued enjoying dinner as Mr. and Mrs. Clementine took turns discussing their daily responsibilities and problems at work. Faiga and Elliot debated about their tastes in music, stopping every now and then to put more food into their mouth, until they were all thoroughly stuffed. However, when dinner was over Elliot made an extra plate of food and poured a glass of tea.

"Wow, you really must be hungry, Elliot," said his mother, watching him.

"Well, I need the extra calories. We started lifting weight recently," said Elliot. "I have to research something online for a school project so do you mind if I finish this in my room?"

"Of course not, honey. It's good that you start learning how to multitask. But be sure to clean your plate after you bring it back down."

"I will, mom," said Elliot.

Elliot carefully carried the items upstairs before moving the glass so that it was squeezed in between his arm and his chest, opening the door to his room, and using his shoulder to close the door.

He saw Rosewielder lying on her stomach on his bed, still avidly amusing herself with his school textbooks.

"Rosewielder, are you hungry?" he asked, placing the plate and glass on his desk.

Rosewielder responded by sliding off his bed, walking over to the plate of shrimp fried rice and cucumber salad. She bent down, her tiny nostrils moving as she sniffed at the food.

"Yes, I am," she said, looking down at a pair of chopsticks and a fork and spoon.

She picked up the chopsticks.

"These are a strange pair of utensils," she said, trying to pick up several grains of rice, having great difficulty.

Elliot chuckled lightheartedly.

"You'd probably be better off sticking to these," he said, pointing at the spoon and fork.

"This frustrates me greatly! How do people eat with these things?" asked Rosewielder as a clump of rice fell from the chopsticks before she could put it in her mouth.

"Like this," said Elliot, taking the chopsticks from her, correctly positioning them between his fingers, and picking up some rice. He then handed them back to her.

"You try now."

Rosewielder took them, and to Elliot's surprise, perfectly repeated what he'd done, putting a hefty portion of rice in her mouth.

"Not bad," she said before beginning to consume the better part of the bowl.

"Don't forget about your tea," said Elliot, eyeing a glass of dark liquid.

Rosewielder hastily picked up the cup, brought it to her mouth before Elliot felt his face be sprayed with liquid as she spat it out.

"This is deplorable," said Rosewielder, her face screwed up in disgust. "What is this concoction?"

"Uh, tea leaves and a little bit of sugar," said Elliot, wiping the tea off his face with his shirt.

"I know what to do," said Rosewielder, suddenly getting to her feet and walking over towards Elliot's bed.

She bent down and picked up an object, and it was only when she brought it to her mouth and took several large gulps that Elliot realized it was the Ox Wine potion.

"Elliot, you simply must try some," she said excitedly, walking over to him.

"I don't know. I pulled that stuff out of my dream. The wine is a...a spirit object. I don't know if a normal per..." He changed his words mid sentence. "I don't know if someone like me should drink that stuff."

"Suit yourself. More for me then," she said before taking several more gulps.

Elliot took the dirty dishes downstairs and washed them clean before going back to his room.

"Elliot," said Rosewielder when he'd got back to his room.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I wish to bathe in your springs."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Don't you have springs so that I can bathe myself in. A princess must have impeccable hygiene."

"Oh, well, you can use the shower across the hall," said Elliot. "We have to be careful though so no one sees you."

Elliot peaked out his door to ensure that everyone else was down stairs before leading Rosewielder to the bathroom, and after telling her how to operate the shower, closed the door behind him and went back to his room.

Crap! How could I forget about that. If someone spots her now then we're finished. Come on, Rosewielder. Hurry up!

Elliot sat nervously at his desk, crossing his arms, praying with all his might that no one would come up the stairs, but his prayers fell on deaf ears, his heart nearly pumping out of his chest, when he heard footsteps growing ever so louder from the hallway. Terrified, he rushed out of his room, shaking as he saw Faiga walking towards the shower, wearing a pink bath gown and a turquoise towel wrapped around her head, carrying a blue bottle of bath wash.

"Why did you leave the shower door closed?" she asked as she approached.

"I think either mom or dad is in the shower," he answered, trying his hardest to sound casual.

"Mom and dad are still downstairs. I just came from down there," said Faiga. "Who's in there?"

"No one is in there. I'm just using the bathroom for my chemistry homework," lied Elliot.

"Elliot," sounded Rosewielder's voice, muffled from the bathroom door.

"Who's in there?" repeated Faiga, attempting to poke over her brother's shoulder.

"Okay. If you really want to know then it's just one of my friends who's had a falling-out with her parents. She needed a place to stay for the night."

Faiga was silent for a good five seconds, narrowing her eyes as she thought.

"Do mom and dad know about this?" she finally asked.

"No, and they can't know about this. Please don't tell them, Faiga," said Elliot.

"Why can't they know?" she asked curiously.

"You know they'd never let a girl stay here, Faiga. You know how mom and dad are when it comes to you and boys."

Faiga's eyes studied him for a few moments as she pondered.

"I don't know about this, big bro," she said slowly. "I don't like the thought of going behind mom's and dad's backs."

"Faiga, I am begging you not to tell mom and dad. I'll help you with your homework for a month," said Elliot. "Can you please just do this huge favor for me?"

"Okay, big bro," she said, hugging him, just as the shower door opened slightly, Rosewielder peaking her head out.

"Elliot, can't you hear me. I said that I need a clean war-," Rosewielder stopped in mid sentence, her eyes looking curiously at Faiga.

"Wow, she looks like a beautiful angel!" said Faiga, unable to contain her excitement.

"Don't be so loud, Faiga," said Elliot tensely.

"Hello, I'm Faiga, his sister," said Faiga happily. "It's so nice to meet you and I'm sorry about you and your parents."

"Hello, Faiga, I am Rosewielder, the Fair Princess of the-," started Rosewielder confidently before stopping, a saddened expression spreading across her face. "I'm just Rosewielder."

"What was it you needed?" asked Faiga.

"I am in need of a clean wardrobe," said Rosewielder.

"I think I can arrange that for you," said Faiga happily. "Wait here."

Elliot stood nervously in the hallway, sweating bullets, as Faiga provided Rosewielder with a violet checkered nightgown and a pair of pink slippers that had previously belonged to one of their older cousins. He breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she was back in his room and he'd locked the door.

"That was close," said Elliot. "You caught yourself before things got messy. You're learning."

"Learning is sometimes difficult," said Rosewielder, taking her sword and placing it under the bed.

"Yes, it can be."

It was nearly time for bed and Elliot made his way to the hall closet, retrieving a sleeping bag and a large pillow before returning to his room and preparing a place on the floor.

"I'm going to sleep. I have school tomorrow," he said, trying to find a comfortable position on the hard floor.

However, once he'd put his head on the pillow he noticed Rosewielder standing over him with an odd expression.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked.

"What is the meaning of what?"

"Why do you not sleep in the bed?"

"I'll let you have the bed," said Elliot tiredly.

"That is awfully strange. Is it not your bed. I should think that you should get to use the bed."

"Do you think fair princesses should sleep on a hard floor?" asked Elliot.

"Well, no but-," she started but Elliot sleepily cut her off. "Please, Rosewielder, I'm tired. Just use the bed."

Rosewielder did not argue but got into Elliot's bed, pulling the covers over herself.

"That's very kind of you, Elliot," she said.

Chapter 4: For Those Who Were Born Yesterday

That night, Elliot slept quite soundly and when he'd awakened the next day he'd only remembered dreaming very vaguely about all types of delicious candies but did not bring back anything from his dreams. He sat up, looking over at the alarm clock which had just rung. It clearly read 6:15 a.m. He got to his feet, cracking his neck and stretching his arms. He saw Rosewielder still sleeping on his bed, her face possessing a sublime tranquility like a goddess caught in her sacred slumber. He began his daily routine and readied himself for school. After combing his hair, he went back into his room and looked at the Ox Wine potion goblet which sat upon his desk.

Is there any left? Could it hurt to take a small sip? Would the Ox Wine potion work the same way on me as it does in the Fantasy Lotus video game. Could it make me... stronger?

"Well, there is only one way to find out," said Elliot as he held the goblet up to his lips and took three small sips of a liquid not unlike soda pop.

He waited for some kind of perceivable affect but felt no different. He looked down at his arm muscles which were still only slightly larger than twigs.

"Oh, well, it was worth a shot."

After ensuring his bedroom door was closed tight and having a quick breakfast, Elliot hopped into his corvette and closed the door which was accompanied by a cracking noise. He looked around curiously and gasped at three vertical cracks on his front door window.

"Was that the Ox Wine potion?" Elliot asked himself aloud.

He looked at his hands, checking his arms again which still looked as bony ever. "Well, I guess I'll find out in PE class but mom and dad won't be happy, regardless."

Looking forward to his day at school, Elliot drove off to High Prince High School, taking care to gently close his car door.

It wasn't long before Elliot surmised that the Ox Wine potion had affected him as he found himself unable to keep from breaking the ends off of his mechanical pencils no matter how gentle he tried to write.

"Are you okay, buddy?" asked Cody after he'd broken his pencil led for the sixth time in his AP chemistry class before finally changing to a pen.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just don't know my own strength."

In history class he discovered that he could not use only a single piece of paper as his pen kept tearing through it every time he tried to write. Instead, he was forced to use a thick stack of papers to prevent his pen from cutting through.

"Darn it," he said under his breath as the tip of a pen he was writing with was pushed back so far that it could no longer function. For the first time in his life, he was relieved when the time for his PE class arrived.

"Laps now!" yelled Martel after blowing his whistle.

The class obeyed. However, unlike every day before that, his body seemed as light as air as he commenced with the laps, pushups, jumping jacks and sit-ups.

"Good job, Mr. Clementine. I see you've been practicing," said Mr. Martel as they recuperated from their exercises. "To the weight room, now."

Once in the weight room Elliot studied his activity log, discerning that he needed to complete a total of two more exercises to fill up his sheet. Reasoning that he should try his hand at the dumbbells again, he approached the long metal rack on which they sat, looking at the weights which went up to ninety pounds. He hesitated momentarily before placing his hand on the ninety pound dumbbell, and with no effort at all, and to his utter delight, lifted the weight as easily as he would a spoon. He used his other hand to grab hold of the equivalent weight and Elliot commenced lifting them, feeling oddly unchallenged as he barely exerted himself, and after about ten seconds, he'd completed fifteen repetitions for each arm. He sat them on the floor mat, bedazzled by his own display of power.

So this means that I can be granted abilities from my own spirit items. This is merely super strength. Could I also make myself faster? This is too good to be true. And yet I know it's real.

"Hey, you over there. So, what are you up to, boy?" asked a tall dark haired youth, followed closely by an athletic looking black boy with dreads and a tanned boy with a buzz cut, all wearing muscles shirts. "Jason wanted us to send a message to you. He said that he broke his hand because of you."

The group got within three feet of Elliot and the boy who'd spoken glanced oddly at him as if expecting him to respond. Elliot remained silent.

"Don't you have something to say?" he continued maliciously. "He said he's going to kick your butt when he gets out of surgery."

"I'd advise you to tell him to leave me alone if he doesn't want to have another surgery."

"Oh, no, this kid did not just say that," said the boy with dreads, wonderstruck.

"And what the heck are you doing with those weights?" said the boy with the buzz cut, eyeballing the weights. "We know you're weak. You can't lift those."

"I just did."

"I'll promise not to clobber your face in if you lift the weights," said the dark haired boy, snickering loudly.

"You lack the capacity to challenge me," said Elliot as he grabbed both weights off the floor mat, hoisting up the dumbbells, effortlessly curling each one five times in a couple seconds. "I don't wish to fight those who are powerless."

A peculiar amalgam of fear, disbelief, and interest entered their faces, the mouths of all three hanging open at the inhuman performance before their eyes.

"It's a trick!" spat the boy with the buzz cut as he pushed the other two aside and reached for the weight which Elliot was still holding.

"I'm glad that you want to try your hand at this. On the count of three I'm going to let go," said Elliot.

"Go ahead!" bellowed the boy spitefully.

"One... two.. three..," said Elliot, and he let go.

The boy's strained voice echoed off the locker doors, his bicep bulging, his veins popping out, as he tried to lift the weight. With tremendous effort, he curled it halfway before it crashed to the mat, causing a large vibration under their feet.

"You're not human, man," he yelled, holding his bicep with his opposing hand. "You're a freak!"

"What the heck are you, man?" asked the dark haired boy, backing away.

"What I am is irrelevant," Elliot boldly declared.

Who I am is the dream savior.

The boys made a hasty retreat, looking nervously over their shoulders as they left, and after Elliot tested his new-found strength at several other exercises, the bell rung, signaling that the class had ended. Elliot exited to his English class in which Mrs. Langway managed to bore them all into silence as she repeatedly picked out passages of monotonous texts for literary analysis.

"Remember to study the art of literary critique, students," she said at the ringing of the bell.

After leaving class, Elliot thought it was a good idea to visit Julie at the art club and also to see if his paper mache project had dried. Upon entering the routinely crowded art room, he spotted her sitting alone at the same table she'd been last time. He approached the table.

"Hey, Julie, how are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm great."

"I see that the mache projects have dried," said Elliot, sitting his backpack down and taking a seat.

"Yeah, they have," she said, holding up a face made of mache that appeared to be of a middle aged man.

"It's my father," said Julie.

"Pretty neat."

The pair sat there and began working on making beaded necklaces that were comprised of recycled plastic, offering each other suggestions on which patterns were most aesthetic, discussing mundane subjects such as homework, tests, and the news, including the incident with Elliot's giant stinkbug. He noticed that Julie appeared happier, giggling frequently as she leaned in ever so close every time he spoke.

"You know, Elliot," said Julie when he'd decided that he'd best be going. "I really want to sculpt you one of these days. You should come visit me."

"Yeah, I should and I think I will," he said nervously, tying a knot on one of his completed beaded necklaces.

"I'm sure my granny would approve of you," she said. "Goodbye, Elliot."

"Bye, Julie."

Elliot embarked on his way home, a strange feeling taking over as he thought of the intensity in the way Julie looked at him and her fierce enthusiasm every time she said his name, but then, for a reason that he couldn't quite explain, he thought of Rosewielder.

Julie is so nice and has a keen mind. I wouldn't mind spending more time with her but what about Rosewielder? I have to fulfill that promise to her which will limit my time with Julie not to mention my duties as a dream savior. Does Julie want to be my girlfriend? Should I pursue her or should I limit my time with her for a...spirit?

Elliot pondered vehemently on the subject on his drive home before reaching his house, parking his corvette and greeting his mother as he entered the house.

No, it's not fair for her to stay cooped up in my room. This weekend Rosewielder will join us at Game Con. She'll blend right in there and will get to experience the world first hand.

Elliot was true to his word. The passing days came partnered with increasing levels of homework and tests. The gossiping about his display of strength in his PE class by many of his peers instilled a trepidation in some which appeared to have prevented further harassment from certain individuals in his PE class despite the fact that the Ox Wine potion affected his strength only temporarily just like its video game counterpart. His strength slowly but surely regressed back to normal. He'd also developed an intense appreciation for Rosewielder, who after days of studying Elliot's school books, was well versed in Calculus, Biology Chemistry, as with most of his other subjects.

"Rosewielder, how did you-," said Elliot, astonished after she'd just completed a calculus problem quicker than him.

"This stuff is so easy!" she said excitedly, springing to her feet, apparently praising herself for her own achievement as she clapped her hands. "So, what were you going on about? You wish for me to attend some event?"

"Yes, I want you to come to this thing called Game Con. It's one of the few places where you won't stick out like a sore thumb." "Must I still wear these odd clothes?" she asked pointedly, tugging at a white t-shirt she was wearing labeled Hug me that was partnered with a pair of red nylon pants which had been laying around the house.

"No, you can wear your own clothes," answered Elliot. "It's only fitting as they already look like a costume which is what most people will be wearing there."

"I am looking forward to this Game Con, Elliot," said Rosewielder. "I thank you."

When the day arrived for the event Elliot stood up from his makeshift bed on the floor after checking the alarm clock which read 8:00 a.m. He walked over beside Rosewielder who was still asleep, her face as sublime as a marble statue, her arms clenched on to a clump of his blanket. She was stirring slightly.

"Rosewielder, it's time for us to get ready," said Elliot.

He called her name again when she remained in slumber.

"Rosewielder!" he said loudly and he watched as she bolted upright with inhuman swiftness, her mouth slightly open, her expression confused. She was breathing heavily.

"Rosewielder, are you okay?" asked Elliot, concerned.

"Yes, I think I-," she began but stopped.

"You think what? Please tell me," said Elliot, surveying her.

"Elliot, can spirits dream?" she asked after a few moments.

Elliot stared, shocked, and at a loss for words. He opened his mouth and then closed it again, sitting beside her, and then finally said, "I don't know. Why? Do you think you were dreaming?" he asked.

"I saw images. I saw people," she said slowly. "I saw you."

"You saw people? Who did you see other than me?" asked Elliot, growing intrigued.

"I saw my father, Elf King Methuselah, Prince Adam of the Ice Elves, and Lilith, the princess of the Crimson Vampires," said Rosewielder.

Elliot rapidly dashed over to his computer and turned it on, Rosewielder tiredly following him with her arms crossed. He promptly typed in www.fantasylotus.com and began scrolling through character biographies and found a picture of a dashing male youth with long blonde hair, electric blue eyes, dressed in princely medieval style clothing.

"Does this match the description of who it is you saw?" asked Elliot.

"Yes, that's him," Rosewielder spat, her voice suddenly angry.

"Rosewielder, what's wrong?" asked Elliot.

When she remained silent, he turned to see her face, and gasped at her expression, her eyes now a dark shade of purple and filled with pure hatred.

"Rosewielder, do you not like him for some reason?" he inquired conscientiously.

"He's a cursed, filthy, Ice Elf! I HATE him! I despise him!" she roared. "Earth Elves loathe Ice Elves! They are evil scum!"

"Rosewielder, you do know that he isn't real, right?" asked Elliot, continuing to scroll down the page. "None of this stuff is real."

"He's lucky that he's not real. If he was I'd kill him!" said Rosewielder angrily.

"Your detest for him is artificial and it's my fault. One of Fantasy Lotus's basics is that Earth Elves and Ice Elves are mortal enemies."

Elliot scrolled down further, stopping as he reached the picture of a young woman with jet black hair, very pale skin, turquoise lips and pale bluish eyes. He was surprised to see that her beauty rivaled Rosewielder's but in a twisted dark way as she strangely reminded Elliot of a corpse.

"And that demon, Lilith!" yelled Rosewielder, her voice upset, but not as much as it'd been when she'd seen Prince Adam. "I wish to see them no longer."

Rosewielder turned away from the screen and, believing they'd better get ready for Game Con, he shut down his laptop.

Elliot freshened up, showered for a good five minutes, brushing his teeth, combing his hair and dressing in a pair of black jeans with a dark blue T-shirt. Rosewielder put on the clothes that people were use to seeing her character sport in the Fantasy Lotus video game. She retrieved her sword from beneath the bed and began twirling it with such beauty and grace she appeared like Terpsikhore in her dance, Elliot finding himself momentarily mesmerized. She then sheathed her sword and, with great difficulty, Elliot stopped ogling at her.

"Please remember, Rosewielder. It's okay to be yourself. It's a cosplay convention so people will think nothing of it," said Elliot as they made their way downstairs, Elliot thankful that his mother, father and Faiga had used the pleasant Saturday weather to visit the Owensville zoo. "But please don't tell people that you're a spirit."

"So, in other words you want me to lie?" she said questioningly.

"Yes, but won't it feel good to act like your old self again?" reasoned Elliot, as they reached the front door.

"Well, based on what you've told me, everyone at this cosplay convention is basically... acting."

"Exactly."

"Well, then I guess it couldn't hurt to act like my old self," said Rosewielder, placing her finger on her chin, apparently running the situation over in her head. "Okay, I think I can do it."

"Good. I think you're going to enjoy it," said Elliot, opening the car door for Rosewielder, his window having been repaired after having a lengthy discussion with his father.

Rosewielder stood, perplexed at the car for a moment, before climbing inside and positioning into the seat. Elliot gently closed the door and, after getting in, himself, helped Rosewielder fasten her seatbelt.

"So, this is a car?" asked Rosewielder, glancing around with interest.

"Yeah, it helps people get around in the real world," explained Elliot, releasing the parking break.

"Why don't you humans simply teleport?" asked Rosewielder as Elliot put his foot on the gas.

"You can teleport!" yelled Elliot, the car swaying slightly as his surprise overwhelmed him. "Sorry about that."

"I believe I can," said Rosewielder, seemingly surprised at his surprise.

"Rosewielder, you're amazing," said Elliot as they sped out of Rhodesia Paradies.

Rosewielder's cheeks blushed pink as she looked bashfully down at her thighs before turning her focus out the window to the passing houses. Elliot turned to the classical music station, currently playing Offenbach's Orpheus In the Underworld: Infernal Galop, and they continued listening to the same station for a good forty minutes as it persisted playing various classical tunes, Elliot noticing Rosewielder's head turning in his direction at increasingly shorter intervals until...

"Elliot, I can no longer stand that miserable noise!"

"What, you don't like the music?"

"I would hardly call that music," she said, beginning to fiddle unproductively with the car button panel, causing the volume to skyrocket and accidentally activating the heat. "How does this blasted device work!"

"Like this," said Elliot, pointing to the cylindrical button that changed the channel, after he'd returned the settings to normal. "You simply alter the music by turning this button back and forth until you find what you enjoy."

Rosewielder heeded his guidance and quickly searched through the channels, only stopping at a rock music channel, and took it upon herself to raise the volume, much to Elliot's dismay. Soon, Elliot could barely hear himself think, Rosewielder rhythmically tapping her feet and bobbing her head to the beat of the music, the usual sternness of her face entirely gone as she smiled peacefully, surveying the traffic ahead of them. Elliot endured the test of his nerves as he remained silent, allowing Rosewielder to enjoy herself as they approached a bustling intersection which led them into the city of Los Azules.

"I bet you've never seen a city before. Have you?" he asked, watching her put her face close to the glass before he rolled down the window.

"Elliot, this is so amazing. Look!" she screamed, pointing her arm out of the window at large groups of people walking up and down the sidewalk, holding hands, fiddling with their cellphones, listening to mp3 players and standing around talking.

"Rosewielder, don't put your arm out the window. That's dangerous," he said, his tone serious.

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling her arm back into the car. "These fortresses are so grand and there are so many inhabitants yet they look so different."

"We, humans, come in all shapes, sizes and colors," explained Elliot as they turned down a busy street, stopping at a crosswalk to let the pedestrians cross. "That kind of diversity is difficult to replicate in a game."

Elliot carefully navigated through the hub of city goers for nearly fifteen minutes before he backed into a parking space in an enormous parking lot accompanied by a gigantic rotunda building composed of white brick and countless sets of large bluish tinged windows. They were surrounded by vast amounts of strangely dressed people who he knew were cosplayers.

"We're here, Rosewielder," said Elliot, locking the parking break and unlocking the door.

Elliot helped Rosewielder out, and as she stood tall, rendered gold by the sunlight, pink strands of paradise blowing brilliantly in the warm spring weather, he found himself entranced by his creation.

"Elliot, what are we waiting for?" she asked impatiently.

"Um, nothing," he said. "Let's go."

The pair began traveling amongst the crowd of mostly cosplayers as well as people who'd come just to see the convention, but something was exceptionally different about this time, many heads turning in his direction, their faces either awed or envious. As they reached a line that led into the building where the convention would take place he couldn't help but pay attention to the whispers of others around them, usually noting Rosewielder's divine magnificence in some form or another. It was as if Elliot was escorting Aphrodite, herself, and the surrounding mortals could only gawk at the goddess that graced their presence. They were standing in line when a random ginger haired boy dressed up like a samurai suddenly approached them.

"Hey, I just wanted to say that you are the hottest lady I've ever seen," he said, his voice trembling. "Your sword looks awesome too."

Rosewielder looked nervously at Elliot, apparently unsure how to react.

"He means that you are very attractive. That is what hot means," said Elliot with a chuckle.

"Why, thank you," said Rosewielder, blushing.

"Dude, is this chick your girlfriend?" asked another voice from behind. "You are the luckiest man in the world."

Elliot turned to see a very fat bald man dressed like a bumblebee, holding what looked like a wand tipped with a yellowish star. He, himself, was surprised by what he did next, and could not explain what compelled him to do it.

"Yes, yes she's my girlfriend," said Elliot, awkwardly placing his arm around Rosewielder's shoulder who was at least three inches taller than him. "And she's not a chick. She's a princess."

Both of Rosewielder's admirers eventually left the pair alone, though not before blowing kisses to Rosewielder whose body had went inexplicably rigid.

"Um, Elliot, does me being your girlfriend mean that we are... lovers."

"Remember, Rosewielder, we are cosplaying or, more precisely,...acting."

"Right, I understand. This is acting," she said, her voice, unreadable.

Once they'd made it through the entrance to the Game Con center they were greeted with a large crowd that was divided into groups centered around many different activities. In the middle of the room stood huge display boards depicting the trendiest of video games, anime, and cartoons. To their left stood a red carpet where dozens of cosplayers congregated, conversing loudly as they flaunted their costumes to impress each other. On the left hand side Elliot saw several arcade styled games, old styled gamer enthusiasts frantically popping quarter after quarter to quench their thirst for their hobby.

"Rosewielder, do you mind holding on for a sec? I have to see if my friends are here and tell them were we are," said Elliot, popping out his cellphone.

"I'll be fine."

After ensuring that Abha, Cody, and Ezzena were making their way down a flight of elevators steps nearly twenty five feet away, Elliot looked around for Rosewielder, having been on the phone for merely a minute, and was puzzled to see she had gone.

"Hey, buddy," said Cody as he approached with both Ezzena and Abha at his heels.

Cody was attired in a bizarre orange ninja suit while Abha was dressed plainly in a red t-shirt and blue jeans. Ezzena's costume was that of a Buddhist monk.

"Hey, guys."

"So, where is that girl you said was coming with you?" asked Ezzena keenly.

"She ran off somewhere," said Elliot, scanning the room until he spotted Rosewielder standing beside a girl who was also costumed as Rosewielder with a huge belly and thick legs.

"There she is," said Elliot, strolling over to her, his friends following from behind.

"No, that is not the proper sword technique," said Rosewielder, unsheathing her sword. "Watch me, fellow maiden."

Rosewielder twirled her sword with excellent speed, a swooshing sound filling Elliot's ears before she began slashing at the air with such swiftness that it created a breeze, riffling the hair and clothes of everyone standing nearby. Inevitably, her feats of skill and intrepidness quickly generated a crowd of onlookers as they began clapping and cheering joyously around her, forming a circle.

"Wow, you are unreal!" said the the girl costumed as Rosewielder. "I didn't think anyone can do that."

"That's the best cosplayer I've ever seen," said Cody, his eyes beaming at Rosewielder as though he was hypnotized.

"That's her," said Elliot.

"You're kidding," said Ezzena and Abha simultaneously.

"Nope."

"She's gorgeous and great. Life is so unfair," said Abha admirably.

But as Elliot watched, greatly impressed, an uneasy thought crossed his mind.

I should stop her now before she does something that is blatantly superhuman and causes a scene.

"Rosewielder," called Elliot worriedly, causing her to instantly freeze and turn her head towards him.

"I'm having fun acting," she said before sheathing her sword.

"What is your name?" yelled one person's voice.

"That's right. Tell us your name," said another, as Elliot made his way to Rosewielder.

"It's Rosewielder," she said.

Several people in the crowd laughed.

"No, I mean your real name."

"It's Delilah," said Elliot, putting his hand on Rosewielder's shoulder.

"Is he your boyfriend?" asked a tall greying man.

"Um...Yes. Yes, he is," said Rosewielder.

"You are so cool," said Ezzena, smiling at Rosewielder.

"Why, thank you."

"So, I guess this means that you and Julie are just friends?" asked Abha as they exited the group of onlookers that had circled around to see Rosewielder's performance.

"Yes, but Delilah and I are also just friends as well. We're just having a good time," responded Elliot as they walked over to a collection of video games.

"Look! It's me!" screamed Rosewielder as she suddenly removed Elliot's arm and ran in front of a Fantasy Lotus demo, portraying a giant Rosewielder cutting down a large greenish dragon with ivory horns. "This is one of those images you were talking about, Elliot? I remember that you said they weren't real, just pictures."

"She really takes this cosplay to another level, huh, buddy?" asked Cody.

"You have no idea," said Elliot just as a female cosplayer began walking towards them in the opposite direction. Elliot saw Rosewielder's attention abruptly leave the demo as her head turned in the direction of the cosplayer, and a feeling of dread slapped him cruelly in the face as he realized the black medieval dress was of the design of an Ice Elf. He prepared to halt the ensuing disaster by endeavoring to stop Rosewielder, but her speed was too great as she hastily stormed over to the unsuspecting cosplayer.

"Why are you wearing that... that thing?!" Rosewielder angrily asked a pale brunette with black lipstick and eyeliner.

"Excuse me? Do I know you?" asked the girl coldly.

"You are wearing the wardrobe of the Ice Elves!" yelled Rosewielder angrily. "Do you support their devilry?!"

"Rosewielder, stop it!" said Elliot, finally reaching them.

"Well, you're not my mom. You can't tell me what to wear," said the girl viciously. "Leave me alone, you lunatic."

She then stormed away. Rosewielder took a step as if to follow her, but stopped, much to Elliot's relief.

"I think your friend may be a little bit psycho, bro," whispered Ezzena in Elliot's ear.

"No, she just takes her cosplay seriously," said Elliot as the group continued exploring the gaming section before heading to the snacks area. They indulged in a rich variety of food, Ezzena and Abha consuming giant chili dogs while Cody bought several packs of candies. Elliot and Rosewielder shared a small pizza, and despite the mishap, he found himself intensely relishing watching her face light up as she took modest bites, stopping every so often to wipe her mouth with a paper towel. Keeping track of time, Elliot looked at his watch which read 4:00 p.m., reasoning that they should get back to the house before his parents.

"You have to leave, already, buddy?" asked Cody, disappointedly.

"Yes. Sorry, but it was a pleasant time."

With that, Elliot and Rosewielder embarked on their journey home and she talked almost nonstop about how much she enjoyed the pizza, also mentioning how she had managed to beat Cody in a game called Duty Watch six times in a row before detailing the apparent imperfections of her outfit in the depiction of her in the game demos.

"This world isn't so bad, although I dislike how some maidens choose to dress themselves as Ice Elves," said Rosewielder, running her hands through her hair.

"You really liked today that much?" asked Elliot.

"Yes, I did."

"Do you like it so much that you've forgiven me. You know, for conjuring you, and bringing you into this world?"

Rosewielder remained silent for a good half minute.

"I don't know, Elliot," she said. "My feelings about you are...complicated."

"I understand."

The pair sat quietly for a significant time before Elliot broke the silence.

"Rosewielder, you said that you saw an image of me while you were sleeping. What was I doing in your dream?"

"You really think spirits can dream?" asked Rosewielder.

"After pondering on it, I have to say yes," he said. "If you see images while you're sleeping then I would say that qualifies as a dream."

"You were," she started but stopped.

"I'm sorry. I was being nosy," said Elliot as they pulled into the driveway.

"No, I wish to tell you," said Rosewielder, her voice, suddenly faint. "In the first dream I just saw images of my father as well as Prince Adam and Vampire Princess Lilith. Nothing really happened. But after those images disappeared all I felt was nothingness. It was like I didn't exist, but knew I didn't exist. I know I'm making no sense."

"That's okay. Most people's dreams don't make sense," said Elliot, turning the key in the ignition and shutting the car off so that it was nearly quiet save the occasional passing automobiles.

"I then saw you, holding out your hand. You were brighter than the sun and I somehow knew that if I took your hand you would save me from that strange feeling of nothingness. It was only after grasping your hand that I realized who I was," explained Rosewielder, her voice shaking. "I realized that I was Rosewielder and that's when I woke up to the sound of your voice echoing my name."

"I was calling your name."

"It scares me, Elliot. The thought of nothingness, of not existing. It is unpleasant just to think about," she continued, peering into his eyes.

"It scares other people too, Rosewielder," said Elliot.

"Was there a time when you didn't exist, Elliot?" she asked.

"Of course there was. Before I was born, I did not exist. Maybe I was just a soul but what matters is that, in this moment, we both exist and it doesn't matter how we came to be. What matters is that we're able to experience the here and now and we should cherish this day."

Chapter 5: Gift For Julie

The next few weeks kept Elliot in a state of perpetual motion because his time was consumed by an ever increasing workload concerning school due to upcoming midterm exams as well as his endeavors to familiarize Rosewielder with the ways of the world, explaining to her the ins and outs of politics, popular media, and gaming culture. Spending much of her time in Elliot's room, absorbing up the things on daytime TV like a dry sponge in water, it seemed inevitable that she'd find herself pondering modern comedies which often left her scratching her head. The pair had even took to performing infrequent neighborhood drives after Elliot had managed to normalize her appearance by placing sun glasses over her violet eyes, dressing her in casual woman's garments, and ensuring that her ears, which were pointed, were always hidden under her long hair which he'd told her to claim was dyed whenever inquired about by fellow neighborhood inhabitants. The rare times that he set aside to play Fantasy Lotus were marked by intrigued interrogations from his fellow gamers, wondering about the steep decline in his gaming time and reduced duration of each session. Elliot's work did not end when he was asleep as he habitually practiced lucid dreaming whenever he could, promising himself to cease creating more objects until he was certain he wouldn't accidentally come back with something he wasn't intending to. The night finally came when he was prepared to dream up another spirit. It was the night before the day he promised to visit Julie at her residence, excited about her intense desire to sculpt him.

"Taste the tip of my sword, you amateurs!" said Rosewielder, excitedly and rapidly pushing the buttons on his PC6 controller as she stared unblinkingly at the television screen.

"Rosewielder, keep it down, please," said Elliot before yawning. "Some of us have to go to school tomorrow."

"I will. I will," she said nonchalantly, her eyes still pressed to the screen.

"Okay, tonight is the night. I must reach lucidity," said Elliot, attempting to clear his mind, beginning to count sheep.

"One.. two..," he started. "One-hundred and one...One-hundred and two," he said sometime later before losing consciousness.

Elliot opened his eyes, gazing around at his surroundings and found himself in a majestic woodland accompanied with extremely tall trees, leaves of many colors which lay on the floor of the sublime forest, sunlight aesthetically illuminating them. He looked up at the azure sky, its view partially blocked by the massive flora.

"This place seems awfully familiar," he said aloud to himself, starting to walk forward, not really knowing where he was headed, the crunching of the leaves betraying his presence. "Wait, of course. I remember seeing this forest while mom, dad, Faiga, and I were visiting mom's late uncle, Great Uncle Baum, in Germany. It was during a picnic that I wandered off and became lost, and Great Uncle Baum found me and brought me back to mom and dad."

"That, he did, Elliot, his great nephew," echoed a voice from behind him.

The crunching of the leaves stopped abruptly as Elliot slowly turned his head and saw a balding older man with bright blue eyes and a beard as white as snow. He wore a thick light green coat and dark pants which were tucked into brownish leather boots. He was standing with his arms folded behind his back.

"Great Uncle Baum?" said Elliot, trying his hardest to remain calm. "Aren't you...dead?"

"Yes and no," said the man, coming closer to Elliot.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," said Elliot.

"Are you sure?" he asked kindly, smiling. "We are inside your dream."

Elliot thought for a moment before responding.

"You are what I imagined my great uncle to be?" said Elliot questioningly.

"Correct."

"But you're not the man I knew?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm exactly the man you knew," said the man, stopping a couple feet away from him.

"Then you are my imagination's recreation of my Great Uncle Baum but you aren't the Great Uncle Baum that I know to be dead," said Elliot.

"Exactly," said the man, taking his hands from behind his back and clapping. "Why did you come here, Elliot?" he asked politely.

"I wanted to bring something from this world into the real world. It's a gift for a girl," said Elliot.

"Ah, Julie," she's a nice girl. Good job, Elliot, my boy."

"How did you-," he began but stopped. "That's right. This whole world is my subconscious."

"That is correct," said the man. "What is it that you wanted to take from this world?"

"You already know though," said Elliot.

"I do."

"I wanted to use this world to create a cat identical to the one Julie lost," admitted Elliot. "Julie's had a lot of loss in her life and this is just a small way to help her out."

Great Uncle Baum's face suddenly became saddened.

"Why do you suppose I made you distinguish between your Great Uncle Baum and myself?" he asked.

"It's because what I bring back will be a spirit based on how I imagined Mr. Winslow, not the original."

"Exactly. You cannot bring back the dead, Elliot."

"You're right. I know that. However, I want to prove to Julie that the things we love can find their way back to us even if it's not in a way we'd expect," said Elliot. "Should I do it?"

"Would your Great Uncle Baum approve?"

"I don't think so," said Elliot.

"There's my answer."

"I respect my great uncle. I really do, but I must choose my own path," said Elliot with resolve.

"I understand. Although I do not approve, I offer you my good luck. If you shall ever need me again then merely dream up another me.

"So, this you will cease to exist...forever?" asked Elliot.

"Oh, yes. We, dream characters, really don't have long. After the dreamer awakens that's the end of us."

"But you said another you? What do you mean?"

"When you, the dreamer, awaken, this world and everything in it is reabsorbed back into your consciousness. If we meet again, it will be a reincarnated version of me."

"I understand, Great Uncle Baum. However, I must go and fulfill my duty," said Elliot before turning his back.

When he looked back he saw no one there and, so, using his dream powers, he levitated off the forest floor and flew out into the sky above, seeing the beautiful virescent landscape below as he scanned for any movement, eventually locating a four legged creature swiftly running across the landscape. Elliot flew down towards the beast and discovered a ferocious looking tiger with one green and one blue eye roaring aggressively at him. It immediately charged towards Elliot who merely focused on the creature, imagining it shrinking and, sure enough, the once massive tiger gradually began diminishing until it was the size of a house cat, its previously monumental roar reduced to a meow. Elliot quickly ran over to the cat and placed his arms around it.

"Awake now!" he roared excitedly, causing the dreamscape to waste away, and after feeling the familiar falling sensation, he found himself back in his room, lying on the floor with his sleeping bag, the cat still clutched beneath his arms.

He let go of the cat which began purring, rubbing its head against his knee, and looked over at his his alarm clock which read 6:00 a.m. He pinched himself just to be sure he wasn't dreaming and felt the pain. Elliot glanced around the room and saw that Rosewielder was snugged comfortably in his bed.

"Yes, I've done it again," he said aloud, gently petting the cats head.

My abilities have improved, and soon I will use them to balance this world by putting treasure into the hands of the needy.

Elliot lay awake on his sleeping bag, allowing the cat to playfully nudge at his side, basking in the glory of his own genius until the alarm clock rang, signaling that it was time for him to get up. A stirring in is bed told him that Rosewielder had awakened and he eagerly awaited her reaction as she vibrantly slipped off his bed, still in a pair of pink pajamas. She walked around to the foot of the bed were Elliot sat.

"Good morning, Elliot," she said. "I -," she started, falling silent, as her alluring eyes fell squarely on the cat. "Elliot, that is a cat, is it not?"

"Yeah, it is," he said, finally standing up and cracking his neck, the cat still bumping his legs.

"Well, wherever did it come from?"

"My dreams."

Rosewielder frowned.

"Is it like me, a spirit?" she asked, concernedly.

"Yes. Do you like it?" he asked as Rosewielder walked closer and bent down, studying the cat which then turned its attention to Rosewielder.

"Elliot, why did you bring this cat here? Please tell me the purpose."

"I created it as a gift to someone from school," he answered. "She lost her old cat."

"Elliot, spirits are living beings. I'm sure that this cat, like me, has a sense of individuality. We aren't meant to replace anyone," said Rosewielder harshly, tenderly petting the cat on its head.

"I know that, Rosewielder. But I truly think this could make her happy."

"Her?" Who is she to you? Is it Faiga, your sister?"

"No, it's someone who's experienced a lot of loss. Her name's Julie and she lost both her parents and her brother. Then she lost her pet. I thought the least I could do is to provide some happiness in her life."

"I know a thing or two about loss," said Rosewielder, standing to her feet. "When you first brought me into this world I felt like I lost everyone I cared about. However, I know now that I must accept that they do not exist."

"Rosewielder, the people you think you lost are still inside you, and, as Julie's granny would say, in your heart."

"Is that so?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, deep inside you, in your heart and soul, your father exists. Your love for him is just as strong as your hatred for Prince Adam and Lilith. In your dreams they were as real as I was, weren't they?"

"Yes, they were."

"I have to get ready for school now, Rosewielder," said Elliot, looking at the alarm clock which now said 6:20 a.m.

"Wait, Elliot," she said before placing her hand delicately on his shoulder.

"Rosewielder?" said Elliot, puzzled before noticing an unusual expression on her face, her traditionally snowy white skin now redder than he'd ever seen it.

Elliot then felt a miraculous warmth penetrate to his very soul as Rosewielder's arms closed tightly around him.

"I-I finally think I forgive you. But it's not for the reason I thought it would be," she said in a soft voice.

"You forgive me? Why? Have you learned to call this place your home?" asked Elliot.

"No, I haven't. Not yet, at least. I forgive you because I realized that no place would be home without you. I wouldn't be satisfied in a world without you now that I know of you."

Elliot placed his arms around Rosewielder. Her sublimely silky skin was smoother than a baby's bottom, finer and purer than anything he'd ever felt. Their faces came so close that he felt her intoxicating breath upon his face, its affect nothing short of magical, and, in that moment, he lost all his inhibition as he brought his lips to hers. An otherworldly intangible force, seemingly composed of light and accompanied by a warm breeze, encircled them both, their hair dancing harmoniously in the wind. The sensation was euphoric. Neither of the two were keeping track of time, so when a knock on Elliot's bedroom door suddenly sounded, they finally released each other.

"Elliot, are you okay? You missed breakfast." said Mrs. Clementine's voice.

"I'm fine, mom. I just overslept. I'll be down there in a sec."

After a quick shower, carefully placing the cat in his backpack, and saying goodbye to Rosewielder, he dashed down the stairs, drunk a small glass of milk and was off to school.

The school day was particularly stressful as it was close to midterms, and the faculty made it their duty to grind it into the student's skulls that their performances on their pop quizzes were good indicators of how they'd fare for midterm. In his AP calculus class Mr. Fujita gave them timed quizzes, Elliot luckily receiving extra credit for having finished before any of his peers several times in a row.

"Practice everyone," he said as they were dismissed.

Even Ms. Ivanova, who was normally more easy going, passed out sheet after sheet of practice exercises that required them to accurately distinguish all of the symbols of the kanji alphabet and perform story writing workshops using them. After filling out three whole pages of his notebook with study notes and being called on two separate occasions to recite Japanese popular nursery rhymes, Elliot found himself exultant as the bell rang, but not before they were told by their teacher that they'd have two quizzes the following class. He left and attended his final two classes for that day, detecting the familiar vibe of anxiety and distress in his classmates. The story was very much the same as it had been in his previous classes with many of his peers edgily asking Mr. Stewart to clarify all the parts of the major body systems and their functions. Elliot ultimately breathed a sigh of relief after performing a total of three lengthy classical music pieces before the bell heroically rung, signaling their freedom.

He'd survived school and was reaping his reward, ardently walking down the hall to the art club, his hair in impeccable condition, his previously ironed school uniform looking better than usual as Elliot would be letting Julie sculpt him today. After he'd pushed open the doors, he instinctively looked over to the same table he'd seen Julie sitting when he first visited. He'd long learned that Julie always set at this particular, usually uncrowded, table.

"Hello, Julie," said Elliot brightly.

"Hey. How are you doing?"

She stood to her feet, running her fingers through her large front bangs, her eyes giving him their undivided attention.

"Do you want to ride in my car?" asked Elliot as the pair began walking out of the art room.

"Wow, of course. It's so cool that you have a car. I always have to take the bus," said Julie, fiddling with the straps on her backpack.

"Yeah, I bet that can be hard sometimes," said Elliot as they approached the front doors to the school.

"No kidding. The other students can be a bit...rowdy," said Julie.

"Tell me about it. I use to have problems with this jerk in gym class."

"I dislike meatheads," she said in disgust as they approached Elliot's car. "I don't often pay that much attention to rumor mills but people are saying that you really lifted a lot of weight in PE class not to long ago."

"I'm more powerful than I look. What more can I say?" said Elliot, opening the door for Julie.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Elliot placed his and Julie's book bags in the back seat, glancing at a blanket which stirred atop a large white pillow, before turning on the ignition. After backing out of the space, carefully steering around fellow students leaving school, they were off.

"So, how long have you been sculpting?" he asked, his eyes on the road.

"Oh, for about two years," she answered. "Well, specifically, ever since my parents and brother died. Expressing my emotions through art really helps a lot."

"I bet it does. It's always nice to find things you're passionate about," he said, making a right hand turn down a street called Pleasant Avenue.

"So what-," started Julie before stopping, making a spitting sound.

"What's wrong?" asked Elliot, entering a neighborhood called Wisteria Springs.

"Nothing, I just got this piece of pink hair stuck in my mouth," answered Julie.

"I'm sorry about that. I sometimes drive my sister to school," said Elliot.

"It's okay," said Julie.

They used the better half of the ride to discuss many things school related, explaining their opinions regarding the school's various sports teams as well as their disappointment with the modifications to the school dress code requiring them to wear uniforms. Elliot let Julie choose the music station, leaving his ears displeased as they endured several rounds of punk rock.

"Oh, it's that house right there," said Julie after about seven minutes. "The one that says 3870."

"I see it," said Elliot, driving into a driveway accompanied by a medium sized brick house with four large front windows and a glass screen door.

As the two got out, Elliot noticed that the front grass looked unkept with some of it reaching more than half his height while three large purple flowery bushes in front of the house grew sloppily nearby.

"I'll carry your backpack," said Elliot, trying to buy time.

"That's sweet of you," said Julie, walking down a path of faded bricks towards the house.

Elliot removed a blanket with brown and white stripes which sat atop a moving object and saw the orange tabby cat, still lying on the pillow, looking comfortably up at him.

"That's a good boy. You kept quiet all the way here," said Elliot, gently nudging its chin before quickly placing it in his backpack, making sure that Julie did not see him as she placed her keys in the door.

They went up a small flight of steps, and he followed Julie inside once she unlocked the door. The house's interior was extraordinarily eccentric with weird silverfish half-moon and star shaped objects hanging from a wooden wall rack beside the front door. The floor was carpeted with a design depicting a spectacle of odd symbols and shapes Elliot had never seen while the portraits of at least ten people decorated the crimson walls.

"This is home," said Julie with a touch of embarrassment.

"It's...intriguing," said Elliot as Julie closed the door.

"Follow me please, Elliot."

Julie led Elliot into what appeared to be a living room with a large wooden chair in the left corner, a vintage looking television which sat atop a marble mantle in the middle, an ancient grayish couch, and a small finely polished wooden table about eight feet in front of the television. A large picture frame depicting what looked like a family portrait occupied the right corner of the room, oddly isolated. On each side, the walls were obscured by enormous bookshelves filled with books that mostly had the same black binding and golden letters.

"Granny's not here right now. She went out to the store but just make yourself at home," said Julie.

"Okay. Here you go," he said, handing her back her backpack."

"Thanks. I'm going to go get us something to drink. Do you like lemonade?" she asked.

"Sure."

"Just sit tight. I'll be right back," said Julie, placing her backpack beside the couch and exiting into an adjacent hallway.

Elliot plopped down on the couch and quickly began coughing as he inhaled what seemed like lint. He opened up his backpack and began running his fingers through the cat's soft fur. When he heard footsteps a couple minutes later, suggesting that Julie returned, he zipped his backpack up, taking care to leave it partially opened.

"Here you go," she said, handing him a large glass of lemonade with a straw.

"Thanks," he said, taking a sip.

"My pleasure," said Julie, sitting down on the couch beside him.

"Um, Julie," he said. "I brought you a gift."

"Wow! That's so sweet of you!" she said excitedly, placing her glass on the table. "What did you get me?"

"You have to close your eyes," said Elliot sportively.

"Okay," said Julie, obeying.

Elliot removed the cat from his backpack, holding it up in between his arms. He took a deep breath.

"You can open your eyes now."

"Julie opened her eyes but, within seconds, Elliot knew something was wrong as her previously smiling face rapidly diminished into a look of shock.

"Elliot, where did you get this cat from?" she asked her tone, dead serious.

"Why do you ask?" he inquired heedfully.

She studied Elliot momentarily, a look of deep thought on her face, but reached for the cat, taking it from him, and studying it.

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that until you first answer my question," said Julie, her voice, stern.

Elliot racked his brain for some sort of fabrication he could think of before saying, "I bought it from a pet store up in San Madre. Why?"

"Exactly who did you get this cat from?" she asked, pointedly.

"Some old guy. Why? I thought I'd get him because he looked like Mr. Winslow."

"And he actually sold this cat to you?" asked Julie, aghast. "What was he thinking?!"

"I don't understand. Should he not have sold me the cat or something?"

"No, he shouldn't have."

Elliot scratched his head, carefully preparing his next words. "Julie, I'm sorry. I should have chosen a different cat that didn't look like the one you lost," said Elliot. "It was wrong and insensitive of me."

"That's not it."

"What?"

"The problem isn't how the cat looks, Elliot. It's just that I can't believe whoever sold you this cat was so reckless. It's not your fault."

"Julie, I'm afraid I don't follow. What's the big deal? Is there something wrong with it? I can take it back to the store if you don't like it."

"No, I will be keeping this cat. I'm just glad whoever sold it to you didn't disclose its true origins," said Julie, cradling the cat.

"What do you mean by true origins?" asked Elliot.

"If everything you told me is accurate and the seller didn't tell you anything then you don't need to know," said Julie. "It's no longer your problem. It's mine but I advise you to never buy from that seller again."

"Wait, Julie. I don't want the cat to be a burden to you," said Elliot slowly. "I wanted it to make you happy." He sighed. "The truth is that I didn't buy the cat from anyone."

Julie's face went white, her eyes widening, as she looked intently at Elliot and took a seat next to him so that her face was very close to his.

"You need to tell me the truth, Elliot. It's more important than you'll probably ever know. Where did this cat come from?"

"It came from my dreams," said Elliot. "I think it's what some people call a spirit."

"Yes, it is."

"What!? You know about spirits!?" asked Elliot, flabbergasted.

"Yes, I do. My granny is a mystic and has the ability to summon spirits," explained Julie. "I have no idea how you were able to summon a spirit using your dreams, however."

"I don't know either. It just happened," said Elliot.

"You are a rarity, Elliot. Normally, only people adept at the mystic arts can summon spirits. There aren't that many conjurers."

"So, there are others who can summon spirits?!" asked Elliot, exultantly.

"Yes, there are. However, I've never heard of them using their dreams to summon one."

"Julie, how did you know that this cat was a spirit?"

"Because it has an otherworldly aura."

"What the heck is that?" asked Elliot.

Julie's face suddenly went stone faced.

"So, you're telling me that you've conjured a spirit and you don't even know how they're made?"

"I always thought they just came out of my dreams," said Elliot, at a loss.

Julie shook her head, placing the cat on the couch, and stood to her feet.

"Please follow me."

Julie led Elliot out of the living room, through a narrow hall decorated with paintings of different flower species before they entered into a room lined with shelves occupied by many well crafted sculptures including Native Americans in traditional clothing, nude art of both males and female forms, as well as many head busts. In the middle of the room sat an inexpensive looking table covered with newspaper with a metal frame bolted down into a large block of wood, and large slabs of grayish pottery clay. There were also two chairs.

"Please take that chair," said Julie, pointing to a chair about five feet from the table while she took a seat at the table, and began using a thin wire to cut the clay into even smaller pieces.

Elliot sat down in the chair and looked curiously over at Julie.

"Elliot, are you comfortable?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Good. Please stay still then. I will begin sculpting you."

"Okay," answered Elliot as Julie began placing small amounts of clay on the metal frame.

"Elliot, how do you think I will sculpt you?" she asked, still mashing the clay with her palms.

"I'd assume that you'd study me first because I'm the subject matter," he answered.

"Exactly. I'll focus on you in the same way that a conjurer focuses on the image of the spirit they wish to summon."

"I understand. You're saying a conjurer is someone who summons a spirit?"

"Correct. You are a conjurer even though you aren't a mystic," said Julie. "But after I have a clear image of you in my head what is it that I need?"

"Well, I guess you do need some clay and-," said Elliot before Julie abruptly interrupted him.

"Exactly. A conjurer needs a medium just like a sculptor does," said Julie, beginning to hold up a ruler and closing one eye, studying him. "I buy this clay from an art store but where do you think conjurers get their medium from?"

Elliot thought for a couple moments.

"Are you implying it's from the otherworld or whatever it's called?" he asked.

"Yes, you're as clever as you are handsome," said Julie, her hands prodding and poking at the clay bust. "What is it about this clay that allows me to sculpt you?"

"Well, it's very soft and malleable."

"Yes, it's malleable. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

"So, you're saying that the otherworld is malleable?"

"Bingo. However, the otherworld is even more malleable than this clay. That is what allows conjurers to summon spirits with focus and meditation. Non-conjurers cannot access the otherworld. Conjurers don't actually create spirits. They merely act as a bridge between our world and the otherworld. The conjuring process allows spirits to enter into our world, but, in exchange for their passage, the conjurer can decide whatever form they wish the spirit to take. Well, that's how granny explains it."

"If that's true then the spirits and spirit items that I summon don't come from my dreams but from the otherworld. Is that what you're telling me?"

"You're half right. Conjurers control the form and identity that a spirit takes but the material that makes spirits and spirit objects resides in the otherworld," explained Julie. "That is why spirits and spirit objects can have supernatural powers not seen in our world."

"I think I get it. So, conjurers just shape material from the otherworld with their imaginations. Is that about right?"

"Yes. Throughout the centuries ancient conjurers summoned spirits to maintain peace and order in this world. In places such as Greece and Egypt these spirits were known as gods by those whom they ruled over. Their purpose was often to prevent warfare amongst humans. However, some spirits came to believe themselves as superior to humans. The Greek and Egyptian god spirits rebelled against their conjurers, defeating them, and ruled their subjects for many centuries until they were finally vanquished during the Great Conjurer-Spirit war," explained Julie.

"Conjurers can summon...gods?" asked Elliot in disbelief.

"No, not alone," said Julie. "All humans have auras. Plants and animals do too. Conjurers simply have stronger auras. However, no conjurer can summon a true god by themselves. Gods are summoned when a conjurer draws energy from the auras of many people like those who worship. It's a particularly dangerous practice because bad auras from humans can contaminate the otherworld. Mystics take oaths to only summon benevolent spirits but unskilled conjurers can bring evil spirits here unintentionally. That's why lone conjurers like you should tread lightly or the Mystic Council of Conjurers will surely be after you and any spirits you've summoned."

"What exactly is this council?" asked Elliot, his interest surging.

"It's an alliance of some of the most powerful mystic conjurers and spirits. Their duty is to ensure that the otherworld is not polluted with the negative auras of conjurers who may abuse their powers. They also wish to ensure that our world does not fall into the hands of malevolent spirits."

"Well, then that's excellent. How do I contact them?" he asked.

"You don't. They contact you," said Julie, using an embossing tool to create nostrils on the bust. "Elliot, was that giant stinkbug spirit your work?"

"Yes, it was, but that was an accident."

"That's even worse. Accidentally summoning spirits means that you could be contaminating the otherworld and this world without even knowing it," she said. "Was this stinkbug something from your dreams?"

"Yes, it was."

"So, you're saying that you can't control what you take out of your dreams?" asked Julie, worriedly.

"That was before I learned to really master lucid dreaming," said Elliot. "When I'm lucid I have total control and I can summon things like that cat."

"You don't get it. You think you have control of your imagination but your mind is as malleable as this clay. What if you have a bad day at school? What if someone makes you angry? These emotions can affect your dreams," explained Julie. "I hope the council contacts you and teaches you how to safely tap into the otherworld or something wicked could be born from your dreams."

"You don't think I can do it?" said Elliot, slightly offended.

"I would really like to believe in you, Elliot. I really would, but it only takes one slip up to cause a catastrophe. Especially, when it comes to conjuring spirits," said Julie uneasily, using a tipped toil to indent lines in the back of the sculpture which would ultimately become the hair.

"I promise that you have nothing to worry about, Julie. The world will see," said Elliot adamantly.

"Just be careful."

"I will."

Julie continued sculpting Elliot for a good thirty more minuets, the pair using the remainder of the time to chat about far less serious subjects such as their distaste for the school lunch, the projected longevity of the pleasant weather, and, as always, exams.

"Well, Elliot, I think that we're about done for today," Julie finally said.

Elliot stood to his feet, stretching after having to remain still for so long.

"Here, take a look. Tell me what you think," she said, turning the head bust around.

"Wow, Julie, I'm impressed. You weren't kidding about your sculpting talents," said Elliot genuinely as he studied a grayish incomplete yet aesthetic clay version of his own face.

"It feels like it can see through me. It's the eyes, you know," said Elliot.

"I agree. It's difficult to create realistic eyes in clay but I'll gradually add more detail," said Julie. "When do you want to come back?"

"Would the same day next week be okay?" suggested Elliot. "I'm kind of busy with school and everything."

"No, I understand. I'm pretty occupied with school as well. Next Tuesday sounds nice."

Elliot and Julie made their ways through the hall and towards the front door, and after Elliot retrieved his backpack and gave the cat a final farewell petting on its head, he turned to Julie.

"Oh, by the way, what are you going to name him?" he asked, opening the front door.

"Mr. Winslow Jr."

"I like it."

The pair said their goodbyes and Elliot hopped in his corvette and drove out of Wisteria Springs, eventually returning home. After making his way inside he saw that both Mr. and Mrs. Clementine were home from work, the dining room table already adorned with the formal place settings.

"Ah, how was your day, son?" asked his father as Elliot took a chair at the dinner table.

"Busy. Our teachers are really drilling us at school. It's because of midterms," explained Elliot as Faiga jumped off the couch and also took a seat at the table.

"You can't escape work. Not in this world," said Mr. Clementine with a sigh. "So many surgeries scheduled and so little time."

"Everything will be alright, dear," said Mrs. Clementine, finally joining her family at the table.

The Clementines dined and continued discussing the mundane things of life, Faiga talking almost nonstop about how her class was scheduled for a school field trip to the Fallwood History Museum in order to learn how people lived in the 1700s.

"They didn't even have indoor plumbing. Can you believe that?" asked Faiga in disbelief before devouring the last morsel of her green beans.

"Yes, time changes a lot of things, sweetie," said Mrs. Clementine, running her hands through her daughter's hair.

Elliot was twirling his chopsticks at a particularly long bunch of noodles, absentmindedly watching it coil around his utensils, having tuned out the voices of his family. He reflected on the monumental task he had before him.

Is tonight the night? Should I ask Rosewielder to join me on my mission to make a difference in this world? She can teleport, after all. I wonder what other abilities she has. Will she take a place by my side? Will she be the the first follower of the dream savior?

It was only at the mentioning of a certain person's name that his attention was caught by his father.

"Grandma Wu's condition is deteriorating even further," said Mr. Clementine somberly. "Even brother Chen is finding it difficult to communicate affectively with her."

"I'm so sorry, dear," said his mother, resting her hand on his father's.

No, that cannot happen. I will save my grandmother from that cursed disease. I will save everyone I can using my powers.

"Elliot, honey? Are you okay?" asked his mother after he'd gotten to his feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'd just like to finish this in my room. I have a report for school to complete," he answered, scooping up a helping of green beans.

"That's fine, honey," she said, giving him a concerned look.

Elliot exited the table and traveled up the stairs, opened the door, locking it behind him.

"How kind of you, Elliot. You've brought more delicious food for me," said Rosewielder, quickly walking over to him.

"You know I couldn't forget you," said Elliot, going to his desk.

Rosewielder hastily picked up a pair of chopsticks from the plate and hungrily dipped them into a large bowl of spicy noodles.

"Rosewielder, something's been on my mind recently," said Elliot.

"What is it, Elliot?" she asked, before slurping up a thick string of noodles.

"Would you like to help me help the people of this world?" he asked, studying her as she began picking up several green beans.

"Yes, I would, Elliot. This world is still foreign to me but I wish to help you," she said dutifully. "If this is where I must live then I should make it the best place that it can be."

"We will call ourselves the dream saviors," said Elliot proudly. "During the week I will conjure more spirit items from my dreams and we will give them as gifts to those who need them on the weekends."

Elliot stood to his feet. Rosewielder looked at him curiously, her mouth slightly open, before setting the plate on his desk.

"Please stand, Rosewielder."

Rosewielder stood up.

"Please refer to me as Grandmaster Swordsman when we are out performing our duties as dream saviors."

"I will," she said.

"What would you like me to call you?"

Rosewielder placed her fingers on her chin, her lovely eyes pointing upwards as she thought for several moments, before looking at Elliot and blessing him with a smile so divinely bright that it stole the sun's grand glory.

"Fair Elf Princess."

Chapter 6: The Dream Savior

Throughout the rest of the week Elliot had all but abandoned playing Fantasy Lotus, his PC6 sitting undisturbed, as he used his map on his laptop to familiarize Rosewielder with the locations of the surrounding districts, becoming accustomed to her supernatural ability to recall them after studying them only a single time. He reasoned that they could use her teleportation to reach any location they needed instantly and shower the needy with the treasures from his dreams. Elliot practiced his lucid dreaming all of the following nights, slowly but surely building up a huge stash of pure gold and precious stones he'd conjured from his dreams, hiding it under his bed. He'd also retrieved other spirit potions which increased his own abilities. In addition to another goblet of Ox Wine potion, Elliot had acquired other magical goblets that were based off of Fantasy Lotus. Eagle's Blood potion was said to give the drinker the ability to fly whereas Frog's Skin potion would render him invisible to all.

"Rosewielder, are you certain that you're able to teleport anywhere in the city?" asked Elliot nervously on Saturday morning, checking the mountain of shimmering riches underneath his bed.

"Yes, I am," she said, twirling her sword before sheathing it.

"Okay, I think I know where I want to begin our trip," said Elliot before grabbing a good thirty pounds of treasure that had been wrapped in small black bags, and shoving it into his backpack. "It's the 7-eleven on Grant Avenue."

He took a tiny sip from one of each of the three magical goblets and offered them to Rosewielder who also drunk from them.

They each saw the other disappear, but not before Elliot took hold of Rosewielder's shoulder.

"Are you ready, Grandmaster Swordsman?" asked Rosewielder's voice.

"Yes, Fair Elf Princess."

A strange vibrating sensation took hold of Elliot before he loss all feeling in his body. The ensuing moments were filled with awe as he saw a flurry of many colors and objects whip pass his eyes in such short succession that he couldn't make anything out before he found himself standing in the parking lot of the 7-eleven he'd visited before his accident, two beggars hanging outside the store as usual, attempting to stop all of the ingoing and outgoing customers.

"Alright, this is it," said Elliot as he approached them, still invisible. "Hello, townspeople!" he said in a regal voice.

A large pot bellied short haired man with dirty jeans and a ripped t-shirt began looking around, trying to locate the source of the voice while a thin older black woman with missing teeth and a black coat turned her attention to two men walking towards the store.

"I have come to give you riches from paradise!" continued Elliot.

"What! Who's there?!" asked the man alarmed, his head spinning around profusely.

"It's a ghost," said the woman matter-of-factly.

"I'm no ghost," said Elliot, removing two small bags of treasure from his backpack before chucking them before the feet of the beggars.

"Where did that come from?!" asked the man frantically. "They came out of thin air!"

"It must be an angel," said the woman.

"Those are my gifts to each of you," said Elliot. "Use them well. You have a large supply of what's inside."

The man curiously bent down, picking up the bags, handing one to the women. After fiddling with golden lacings which held the bags closed, there was a distinct jingling sound as they both held up handfuls of gold and jewels, their eyes widening with disbelief.

"Is this real?" asked the woman.

"I assure you that those treasures are real," said Elliot.

"You are an angel," said the woman. "I knew my prayers would be answered one day."

"You mean that I'm rich!!" bellowed the man before bringing a golden coin up to his teeth and biting it.

"You are now," said Elliot.

"Does this angel have a name?" asked the woman, tears streaming down her face.

"We are the dream saviors," said Elliot.

"God bless you!" yelled the woman.

"We must go," said Elliot before grabbing hold of Rosewielder's shoulder once again.

"Grandmaster Swordsman, where should I teleport us to next?" asked Rosewielder.

"Downtown Los Angeles. There are many people there who need us," answered Elliot, and within moments, the pair were teleported to a sparse sidewalk near a corner.

Elliot spotted a bearded man laying on a group of trash bags outside a dumpster that was overlooked by a large apartment complex, scores of people walking by, talking on their cellphones, listening to their mp3 players, paying him no mind. Elliot navigated through the other pedestrians before coming within mere feet of the man.

"The dream saviors have come to save you," said Elliot, causing the man to look around apprehensively.

He grabbed another bag of treasure and sat it beside the man who simply stared at it for a few seconds, looking around curiously, before opening it, and emitting a low pitched groaning sound, his eyes watering.

"Let's go, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot, tapping on Rosewielder's shoulder.

"Yes."

Elliot and Rosewielder continued seeking out the poor throughout the city, providing them with the treasures from his dreams and, after about an hour, they delivered their last bag of treasures to a graying lady pushing around an old shopping cart filled with blankets and bags.

"Fair Elf Princess, it's time to see what you're capable of," said Elliot. "You said that you have healing powers. Didn't you? It's part of your Fantasy Lotus skill set."

"Yes, it is," answered Rosewielder boldly.

"Then let's take a visit to the Masonville Hospital," said Elliot. "There are people in there that need you."

"I will do all within my power to help them," said Rosewielder before they were both teleported into a hospital room.

The room was filled with all sorts of equipment with a frail looking woman laying in a hospital bed, her head completely balled, and a cannula tube sitting inside her nose. He felt Rosewielder slip away.

"Who's there?" asked the woman in a weak faint voice, hearing Rosewielder's footsteps.

"We are the dream saviors," said Rosewielder just as a familiar warm breeze and radiant light dispersed not just through the one room, but through every part of the hospital that Elliot could see.

"What's going on?" said the woman in a voice that was slightly louder but still very faint.

"We have come to save you," said Elliot just as he heard frantic voices start to scream throughout the hospital.

"It's aliens, I tell you!" yelled a man's voice.

"It's armageddon!" yelled a raspy female voice before coughing loudly.

" That light. This must be heaven! I know I'm dead!" yelled another man's voice just as the atmosphere steadily turned back to its previous state.

"Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder feebly. "I feel weak."

"Grab hold of me!" yelled Elliot. "Follow the sound of my voice!"

Elliot held out his arms, moving them around ineffectively, searching for Rosewielder, until he felt a hand take hold of his shoulder. He placed his arms around her waist, walked towards the window, and, after opening it, took a deep breath before leaping out, Rosewielder still clutched tightly in his arms. The next second, he screamed in triumph as he sped through the air, looking down at the pulsating city below.

"I'm actually flying just like in my dreams!" yelled Elliot.

Rosewielder groaned loudly.

"Fair Elf Princess, are you okay?"

"Yes, I think so. I overused my magic," she said tiredly. "But I"ll be fine if I rest."

"I'll find a place for you to recover," said Elliot assuredly, looking around until he spotted an extremely tall grayish skyscraper and flew towards it, carefully increasing his altitude until he came within twenty feet, and began to decrease his speed as he surpassed its height. Elliot slowed his flight pace and gently lowered himself until his feet touched the top of the building.

"Fair Elf Princess, thanks a lot," said Elliot, softly helping her to her feet.

"Did I do it right? I used my healing powers on the inhabitants of that fortress," she said, her breathing starting to slow down.

"You what! You mean you healed everyone in the hospital?" asked Elliot, stunned.

"Have I done something wrong, Grandmaster Swordsman?" she asked.

"No, you did great, but please don't push yourself that far. I don't want to lose you," answered Elliot worriedly.

"I will exercise greater caution next time," said Rosewielder apologetically.

Elliot walked over to the edge of the building with surreal anticipation and gazed upon the wondrous metropolis that surrounded him, the city dwellers reminding him strangely of ants, the wind making his long hair dance without and audience due to his invisibility. He heard Rosewielder's footsteps languidly follow him.

"Look at us! We're on top of the world!" screamed Elliot in ecstasy. Soon this place will be as glorious as my dreams thanks to us, the dream saviors!"

"I am growing fond of being a dream savior. It feels great to use my magical powers to help humans," said Rosewielder enthusiastically.

"We have much work to do but I think that we'll continue home. You need to rest," said Elliot.

"Would you like me to teleport us back to your room?" asked Rosewielder.

"No, I want to enjoy these powers before they wear off," said Elliot. "Now that my head's cooler I realize that I shouldn't have pushed you to teleport so many times. One of the basics of Fantasy Lotus is that teleportation uses a lot of magical energy," said Elliot, lightly touching Rosewielder's shoulder. "Please forgive me."

"I'm not weak!" said Rosewielder with conviction. "I can handle it."

"Right, well, let's see if you can beat me home, then, Fair Elf Princess!" yelled Elliot as he stepped off the roof of the skyscraper and flew as fast as he could.

"How dare you cheat!" said Rosewielder.

The pair sped through the resplendent sky, towards Rhodesia Paradies, Elliot admiring the clouds turned golden by the retreating sunlight which blanketed the bluish white atmosphere. They each adapted to seeking out the other based only on the sound of their voice as they were both still invisible. They flew freely for nearly ten minutes until Elliot lowered his altitude to improve his view of the city of Los Angeles, paying close attention to the passing infrastructure, determining that they'd nearly reached his house.

"Here we are," said Elliot, landing on the grass in front of a large house composed of grayish and white bricks and a dark bluish roof which he knew was his own. "Looks like I won, Fair Elf Princess!" said Elliot, listening carefully for Rosewielder's voice. "Roseweilder?" he said, alarmed when no one answered. "No, she couldn't have gotten lost," said Elliot, realizing that his parents were still away.

Elliot ran up to the front door, unlocking it, and strode towards the stairs and, within moments, he hurriedly pushed open his bedroom door and was surprised when an unseen force took hold of him.

"Looks like I win, Elliot, you little cheater," said Rosewielder's voice playfully.

"How did you-," he started before Rosewielder interrupted.

"Teleportation. What else."

"Oh, how could I forget," said Elliot just as Rosewielder began materializing before his eyes, the invisibility finally wearing off.

"I'm glad to be able to see you again," said Rosewielder, smiling at him.

"Likewise."

"So, where will we journey to tomorrow, Elliot?" she asked excitedly.

"I want to go to Beijing. It's in China," said Elliot as they finally released each other.

"I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with such a place," said Rosewielder.

"I'll show you," said Elliot, walking over to his desk and getting out his laptop, Rosewielder following him.

"You see we are here," said Elliot, pointing to California on a virtual globe of the world.

Rosewielder nodded.

"We need to get here," said Elliot, moving the mouse, changing the position of the globe so that his finger was now on China. "Do you understand?"

Rosewielder took hold of the mouse, studying the screen intensely for nearly a minute in silence.

"I understand. I should be able to get you there," she said confidently. "This place is much farther than where we traveled to today. May I ask why you wish to go there?"

Elliot shut down his laptop and clasped his fingers, staring into Rosewielder's eager eyes.

"I want you to heal my Grandma Wu," he said. "She has a sickness with her brain."

"You mean your grandmother?"

Elliot nodded.

"I can tell by the look in your eye that this woman means a lot to you," said Rosewielder. "I will heal Grandma Wu to the best of my ability."

"You don't know how much that means to me, Rosewielder," said Elliot. "Thanks."

"It's my duty as a dream savior," said Rosewielder.

"Mom and dad will be home from the Power Bowl game soon."

Elliot and Rosewielder spent a short time admiring the small fortune under his bed, Rosewielders' eyes in a nonstop state of fascination, viewing glistening precious stones of all manner of shape and color, snatching them up one after another, until a familiar stirring downstairs told Elliot that his parents had came home.

"Rosewielder, mom and dad will be expecting me for dinner. Don't worry. I'll bring you back something. In the meantime, why don't you see what the newspeople are saying about us, the dream saviors," said Elliot, handing her a black remote.

"Okay, I'll be here, waiting for you."

Elliot made his way downstairs, seeing Mrs. Clementine in khaki shorts and a red jersey that had a logo of a roaring tiger, the symbol for the Terrible Tigers football team, her expression downcast. His father was sporting a casual dark blue cotton shirt and basic brown pants.

"Hello, honey," said his mother as Elliot walked into the kitchen and retrieved a packet of green tea. "I hope your day was better than mine and your fathers. I don't know what the quarterback of our team was thinking."

"Well, they are called the Terrible Tigers," said Elliot smugly, heating up some water on the stove.

"Ha ha, honey," said his mother sarcastically, pulling out a bag of rice.

"I could foresee our team's defeat based on their previous games," said Mr. Clementine, picking up the remote and switching the television on. "Faiga's lucky that she didn't have to bare to watch such a game."

"It's good that she's spending time at Lisa's house," said Mrs. Clementine just as Elliot released his teabag into a glass hot water carafe.

"I wonder what's going on," said his father, scratching his chin, his eyes on the television.

His father turned the volume up.

"We are confirming reports that an undisclosed number of people have been seen with bags of gold and diamonds," said a mousy faced brunette reporter on the television screen. "It is still unclear as to how many of these bags there are but authorities are trying to get to the bottom of this."

The camera then changed to focus on a bony blonde haired man missing most of his front row of teeth.

"It was an angel, man! My family has been touched by an angel! I'll finally be able to buy my daughter what she wants," said the man in a joyous voice.

Elliot smirked, taking a seat at the dining room table.

"All hail the dream saviors!" screamed a shorter gray haired woman. "They called themselves the dream saviors!"

"And, as you can see, there is a growing number of reports on these individuals called the dream saviors," said the news lady, putting the mic back up to her lips. "Perhaps, what is most bizarre about this case is that no one seems to have seen these individuals. Many, in fact, firmly believe that these dream saviors are actually supernatural in nature. Our team is working around the clock to keep you posted on this breaking news. Jim, back to you."

Elliot's mother suddenly stopped fiddling with a pot of rice, walked into the living room, and joined her husband at the couch.

"Thanks, Joanna. We actually also have breaking news coming in from the Masonville Hospital in west Hollywood. Apparently, the hospital staff claims that all the patients are saying that they no longer feel ill. What's most bizarre is the apparent relationship between this case and another report with the connection being individuals calling themselves the dream saviors," said a black man with glasses and a goatee before the camera changed, depicting a large group of people standing outside of the Masonville Hospital.

An attractive Asian reporter was holding a mic up to a pale woman with curly brownish hair.

"I actually came here because I suspected I had pneumonia. I had just walked into the lobby when a bright light came out of nowhere. I know it sounds weird, but I felt a warm feeling take hold of me and, after this happened, the pain in my chest was gone."

"You're saying it was gone, just like that?" asked the reporter.

"Gone. It had to be God. What else could it be?" asked the woman. "It just wasn't my time."

The news then went to a commercial break, Elliot's pride now inflated as he continued grinning cheek to cheek, fiddling with his teabag.

The world knows who I am. They appreciate my work, my genius, my power.

"Elliot, were you listening to the news?" asked his father from the couch, turning his head towards him.

"Huh?" began Elliot, snapping out of his daydream. "Oh, yes, I did. How odd."

"It's more than odd. It's crazy. With all of my years through school I still don't know what's going on. It's true what they say about some things just being unexplainable," said Mr. Clementine with incredulity.

"It seems all fine and dandy now but we don't know the intentions of these dream saviors. They could be criminals that have access to technology we don't yet understand," said Mrs. Clementine disapprovingly.

"Criminals? Didn't you see what the people were saying? They were helping people," said Elliot, offensively.

"Honey, I know this sounds harsh but, it can be unwise to trust someone that doesn't reveal their identity. How can we trust anyone who doesn't show us who they are?" asked Mrs. Clementine warily.

"Mom, people were calling them angels to show their appreciation," argued Elliot.

"Satan was an angel and a demon."

"I can't believe you're comparing the dream saviors to Satan," said Elliot in disgust. "I'd suddenly rather eat in my room."

"Elliot, I'm sorry, honey," started Mrs. Clementine, but her son heatedly used some of the remaining hot water to make some ramen before storming off to his room.

"You've returned," said Rosewielder, cozily laying on his bed, her remote pointed at the television as she flipped through different channels. "What yummies have you brought for me this time?" she asked excitedly, getting off his bed as Elliot walked over to his desk and sat down the bowl of noodles.

Something in his expression must have exposed his emotions because she then asked, "Have I done something to upset you?"

"No, it's not you," he answered assuredly. "My mother is just so paranoid sometimes."

"Well, perhaps she just wants to make sure that her family is safe," said Rosewielder, grabbing some ramen with a pair of chopsticks.

"Maybe," said Elliot, getting into his sleeping bag.

"You're sleeping earlier than you normally do."

"I'm tired, and we have a big day tomorrow," said Elliot, placing his head snuggly on his pillow. Elliot fell asleep much quicker than he normally did.

That morning he woke up at 9:16 a.m. with a small pot of green jade in his hands, having retrieved it from his dreams. He placed it beside his sleeping bag. Elliot then got to his feet, brushing his hair out of his face, and looked over at the sleeping beauty upon his bed.

"Rosewielder?" he said after walking over to the bed.

Rosewielder stirred slightly, before opening her eyes and sitting up.

"Did you have sweet dreams?" asked Elliot cheerfully.

"Not really. I just dreamed of eating more of those noodles."

Elliot laughed.

"Come on. Let's get ready."

The pair prepared themselves for their journey to Beijing with Elliot concealing the jade in his backpack after finishing with his morning hygiene routine. They both sipped from the magical goblets just as they had previously and watched each other disappear.

"Are you ready, Fair Elf Princess?" asked Elliot.

"I am, Grandmaster Swordsman."

"Take us to the Crimson Dragon Nursing Home in Beijing. Grandma Wu is in room 116."

"I understand."

Elliot felt the same set of peculiar sensations grip him as he did the first time, the pair traveling at an incomprehensible speed before he found himself standing in a small light greenish room with a large television that sat atop a brown table in the corner. Pots of tall plants occupied the other corner while sunlight shined tranquilly through the white blinds of a window to the left, illuminating a burgundy carpet and a tan bed that was occupied by a very thin elderly woman laying peacefully, her small eyes, looking up at the ceiling, seemingly staring into space. A long haired Chinese woman who looked about three decades younger and dressed in a white nursing outfit was standing over the woman, looking worried. She retrieved a food tray with dirty dishes before saying, " Hen hao de xiuxi" and quietly exited through a yellowish metal door.

"What was it that she said?" said Rosewielder curiously.

"She told her to rest nicely," answered Elliot before walking over to the bed and looking down at his grandmother.

He felt Rosewielder come stand beside him.

Elliot sighed deeply.

"Okay, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot. "May you please heal Grandma Wu?"

"I'll do my best, Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder just as a familiar warm light and breeze began radiating off of her body, creating arm-like luminous shapes that enclosed around his grandmother.

Unlike the patients in the Masonville Hospital who'd expressed shock and anxiousness when touched by Rosewielder's magic, Grandma Wu simply continued smiling aimlessly up at the ceiling until an odd but alert expression unexpectedly appeared on her face. When the room had, at last, reverted back to its natural state Elliot's grandmother sat up with great agility and, to his horror, grabbed at where he was standing, her hand softly grazing his shirt.

"Who's there?" she asked with a heavy accent.

"We are the dream saviors," answered Elliot in a kingly fashion.

"Elliot, my grandson, is that you? Is that your voice?" asked Grandma Wu, getting off the bed, spreading her hands out as if trying to grab the air.

"We have come to free you of your illness," said Elliot, trying to avoid the clutches of his grandmother.

"I know my grandson's voice. I know you're here, Elliot," she said as her arms seemed to lock around an invisible object and, with great dread, Elliot recognized that she had caught Rosewielder.

"Are you some foul demon that is using my beloved grandson's voice? You don't feel like my grandson."

"I'm the Fair Elf Princess," said Rosewielder nervously. "My partner is the Grandmaster Swordsman."

"You don't sound like a demon," said Grandma Wu matter-of-factly.

"I'm not."

"Wait, a second," said Grandma Wu, releasing Rosewielder, starting to survey the place where she stood. "I sense otherworldly aura. Are you a...spirit?"

"What! How did you know?!" asked Elliot tumultuously.

"In my younger days I dated a man from Italy who left me to pursue the mystic arts. He was a lone conjurer before joining the Mystic Council of Conjurers. I have no idea how I remember that."

"Well, now that the cat's out of the bag I guess there's no point hiding it. Yes, I am Elliot Clementine, your grandson. My spirit friend and I are also the dream saviors. Rosewielder restored your mind to its natural state."

"It's natural state?" said Grandma Wu inquisitively.

"You're in a nursing home. It's because you had alzheimer's disease until my partner, Rosewielder, rid you of your illness a few moments ago," explained Elliot.

Elliot watched his grandmother's mouth open in shock, and then close.

"Well, I am ninety five years old. Losing your mind is just one of the fine gifts of aging," she finally said.

"Grandma Wu, now that you know our identities our destinies are in your hands," said Elliot. "We must remain anonymous if we continue our duties as dream saviors."

"But why?" Why must we hide in the shadows like cowards? Why not let people see the dreams saviors as the heroic people we are?" asked Rosewielder.

"The world isn't ready for it, Rosewielder. Just trust me."

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Elliot," said Rosewielder compassionately.

"I must agree with my grandson," said Grandma Wu. "Often times people fear what we don't understand."

"But you didn't fear us," said Rosewielder.

"I'm not all people," said Grandma Wu. "I also know a little about conjurers and spirits and that is why I will keep quiet about this."

"Thank you, Grandma Wu."

"Elliot, I must warn you that if you're not careful you could get into trouble with the council. Or even worse, other lone conjurers might try to challenge you and capture your spirit friend," said his grandmother earnestly.

"There are other conjurers not a part of the council?" asked Elliot.

"Not many, but yes."

"What are you-," began Rosewielder before Grandma Wu interrupted her.

"I believe the nurses are coming now. I love you, Elliot, and good luck to the Fair Elf Princess. Please go," said Grandma Wu.

"I love you too," said Elliot. "Rosewielder, please take us back home."

After a touch on his shoulder and the usual sensations of teleportation, Elliot and Rosewielder were back in his bedroom.

"Elliot, what is this otherworldly aura that your grandmother mentioned?" asked Rosewielder. "It has something to do with us, spirits, doesn't it? Please tell me," said Rosewielder eagerly.

"Okay, I'll tell you. However, as thanks for helping my grandmother I want you to take us to any place you desire," said Elliot graciously as they gradually became visible once again.

"Anywhere?"

Elliot nodded. "Our work is done for this weekend. We deserve a short vacation. Besides, I have school tomorrow."

A thoughtful expression dispersed across Rosewielder's face before she walked over to Elliot, wrapped her arms tightly around him and, the next moment, the pair were suddenly transported beneath a single tree that occupied a grassy hill beneath a dazzlingly bright atmosphere. All Elliot could see on all sides was the vast alluring horizon, a beautiful concoction of the endless grassy plains on which they stood, and the slightly cloudy sky. It seemed that Elliot and Rosewielder were in total seclusion in a sublime natural setting completely removed from the world of suburbia.

"Wow, Rosewielder. Where did you take us?" he asked, his hands around her waist.

"It's a secret, Elliot," she said blushingly. "Look here, Elliot," added Rosewielder, turning to the tree behind them, walking over to a low branch, and removing an apple.

She took a bite, and then handed it to Elliot. He hesitated before also putting it to his lips and allowing the sweetness to saturate his taste buds.

"Not bad, Rosewielder," said Elliot before kneeling down tiredly.

"Is something wrong?" asked Rosewielder, walking over and laying down comfortably on the grass.

"I'm just a little exhausted but that won't stop me from telling you all I know about spirits."

"I'm ready to listen."

"Alright."

Elliot divulged all the information to Rosewielder that Julie had told him regarding the spirits, how they were summoned, the otherworld, and about the Mystic Council of Conjurers, stopping every now and then to eat from the apple which he and Rosewielder had decided to share, passing it back and forth, taking a bite when the other either explained or inquired further. When he'd finished Rosewielder took the last bite from what was left of the fruit before tossing it down the hill.

"So, you're saying that I am real? I'm just from, the otherworld, the world of spirits," said Rosewielder in awe.

"According to Julie," said Elliot, brushing his hair behind his ear.

"I wonder if my world has anything as beautiful as where we are now," said Rosewielder, turning from him, and gazing up at the sunlit sky.

"Who knows," said Elliot, watching an august glow outline her faultless complexion.

"But my family doesn't exist in that world if what you say is true," said Rosewielder dispiritedly.

"That appears to be the case," said Elliot sympathetically. "Spirits take whatever shape their conjurers imagine them as so, unless another conjurer out there is also summoning spirits in the form of Fantasy Lotus characters then... Well, you see where I'm going."

"Yes, I do."

They both remained silent for some time until Elliot's hand found its way on top of Rosewielder's.

"Rosewielder, you do know that I'm a conjurer? Do you want me to summon a spirit in the form of Elf King Methuselah? It is within my power."

Rosewielder's hand grasped Elliot's. He relished its tender touch.

"No, Elliot. Although my knowledge about my family seems so real, I would never bring another into this world for self satisfaction," she answered unwaveringly. "But I'll hold this day dear to my heart for as long as I live."

Their eyes met, followed by their lips. Elliot and Rosewielder lay engrossed with each other's company for a great time, watching the sun set as the sky went from blue to pink, the light calmly fading, until Elliot felt it best that they get back home.

"Thank you for telling me the truth," said Rosewielder once they were back in his room.

"Thank you for giving me a taste of paradise."

Spirit Sleepiness

The following day Elliot reluctantly awoke at the sound of his alarm clock with a light weight on his chest. This time he'd managed to take from his dreams more Frog's Skin potion. He lazily got to his feet, feeling envious of Rosewielder as she continued resting soundly beneath the covers, appearing motionless and tranquil with the incorruptible innocence of an antique doll.

After adding the potion to the other spirit items beneath is bed, he readied himself for breakfast. He yawned heavily as he made his way to the table.

"Good morning, son," said his father as he studied the business section of the newspaper.

"Huh? Oh, hey dad."

"You look like a zombie, Elliot," said Mr. Clementine, folding up the newspaper and taking a sip of chai tea. "Have you been getting proper sleep?"

"Yes, it's just because I've been really practicing for midterm exams," he answered just as Faiga came frolicking down the stairs.

"Hello, mom. Hey dad," she said jubilantly as she sat across from Elliot. "What's with the bags under your eyes, big bro?"

"School. What else?" answered Elliot just as his mother took her seat at the table across from his father.

They commenced with breakfast, listening as Faiga spoke of her enjoyment at the Fallwood History Museum and her time over at Lisa's.

"We practiced our instruments for a little while. Then we made gimp string designs," she said, holding up a piece of plastic made of patterned coils of different colored strings.

"That's nice, sweetie," said Mrs. Clementine before putting scrambled eggs into her mouth.

"We also had so much fun watching the news about the dream saviors," Faiga continued. "They're so awesome!"

Elliot's and his mother's eyes met for a fraction of a second before Elliot began concentrating intently on a piece of toast in his hand, feeling his mother's eyes still on him for another few moments before she looked away, taking a large gulp of orange juice.

"It's still to early to tell, Faiga," said Mr. Clementine. "However, if the reports of patients of the Masonville Hospital are true then I'd say they seem like they have good intentions."

Elliot felt a feeling of reassurance with both his sister and father in support of the dream saviors but, for his mother's sake, did not outwardly express his gratitude. They continued eating for a few more minutes before it came time for school. Elliot had just swung his backpack over his shoulder when he felt someone grab hold of him. He turned to see his mother standing behind him with a worried look on her face.

"Elliot, I want you to be careful," she said. "I know we argued the other night but I just want you to stay safe. You also look like you need more rest."

She planted a kiss on his forehead.

"I'm fine, mom. You don't have to worry yourself."

The family bid each other farewell and Elliot sleepily began his journey to school. The ride was a perilous one, Elliot finding himself nearly rear ending other motorists several times as he battled his heavy eyelids. Once he'd turned into the parking lot of High Prince High School he was cursed at as he nearly and unintentionally bumped a couple holding hands as they traveled by the crosswalk.

What is happening to me? I can barely focus on anything. I'm so tired all the time.

"Hey, buddy. Do you know that the newest expansion set for Fantasy Lotus allows you to upgrade your avatars with new abilities," said Cody as soon as he'd taken his seat in his AP chemistry class. "They're upgrading the Ice Elves and Crimson Vampires first and then they'll improve the other avatar types."

"I haven't had time for that, Cody," said Elliot, opening up his class notes.

"I understand, buddy. Knowing you, you were probably too busy doing the extra homework assignment," said Cody, removing from his textbook a thick stack of notebook papers with many chemistry equations on them.

Elliot's heart felt like it just dropped into his stomach. He'd forgotten about the extra midterm homework assignments.

"Are you okay, buddy?" asked Cody, watching Elliot with alarm.

The bell rang. Elliot snapped his head towards his teacher, seeing Ms. Rosenberg walk to the front of the room as the class began settling down.

"Okay, first thing's first. Hand up your homework, students," she said.

The class did as they were told with Ms. Rosenberg checking the stacks for the names of each person in the row. By the time she reached Elliot's row he felt like he was going to vomit as he took the stack of homework from the person behind him before handing it to the teacher.

"Good, good," she said before looking at Elliot with amazement.

"Mr. Clementine, where is your homework?" she asked.

Elliot felt the eyes of his classmates descend upon him.

"Um, well, I was quite sick. I think I still have a fever," he said, putting his hand on his forehead.

Several people giggled softly but Ms. Rosenberg shook her head disappointedly.

"I expected better from you, Mr. Clementine. Please don't let this happen again," she said, turning from him and walking back to her desk.

Elliot sunk in his chair, his ego damaged. He'd always prided himself on his academic performance.

"It'll be okay, buddy," said Cody empathetically. "It happens."

"Yeah, you're right. I just slipped up once," said Elliot calmly but he would soon discover how wrong he was as the school day progressed.

In history class Elliot haphazardly put his head down over his textbook while Mr. Bennett was in the middle of reviewing notes on the overheard projector about the forty years war. He didn't realize when Mr. Bennett abruptly stopped, followed by a wave of heads turning in his direction.

"Um, Mr. Clementine, I'm sorry to wake you from your nap but it would benefit your grade if you pay more attention," said Mr. Bennett, scratching what little hair he had.

"Huh, what? I'm sorry," responded Elliot, his mind in a daze.

Mr. Bennet continued with his speech but not before Elliot saw Julie give him a worried look before turning back around. Elliot endured a torturous struggle with the onset of sleepiness until the bell rang, signaling his victory.

Only two more classes to go and then I can get home and sleep.

He hastily chucked his books into his backpack and was ready to leave when Julie approached him, her expression very concerned.

"Elliot, are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm just tired," said Elliot, walking slowly towards the door.

She followed, surveying him closely.

"Your aura is noticeably weaker since I last saw you," she said as they entered the hallway.

"I'm fine," said Elliot immovably.

"Elliot, please tell me you're not the one responsible for these strange occurrences lately," said Julie. "I'm referring to the people getting bags of gold and the incident at the Masonville Hospital."

"What if I was?" he asked boldly.

Julie brought her mouth to his ear so as to ensure no one around them could eavesdrop.

"If you were the one who conjured all those things then your aura is probably dangerously low, right now," whispered Julie. "It's probably only a matter of time before the council gets involved and cleans up the damage you've done."

Elliot pulled away from her, offended.

"Damage?" he said, awestruck. "Julie, we gave to people in this world who don't have much of a chance. Our deeds were justified."

"We!" whispered Julie loudly. You have an accomplice, another conjurer?" asked Julie in a grave voice.

Elliot shook his head.

Julie's expression turned to one of sheer terror.

"You didn't. You conjured another spirit, didn't you? And what's worse is that it's a person, a girl," she said, shaking her head, backing away from him as if he was diseased.

"How did-," he started before Julie retorted.

"The pink hair in your car. At first, I thought I must have imagined it because the aura was so faint but now I know," said Julie, turning her back on him.

"Julie, wait!" pleaded Elliot frantically but it was to no avail as Julie quickened her stride away from him.

Elliot miserably made his way to his P.E. class, being greeted harshly by Mr. Martel once in the gym.

"You're late, again, Mr. Clementine. This is your second time this month which means an extra lap," said Mr. Martel before blowing his whistle.

Elliot reluctantly began his laps, finding all the other students overtaking him as he struggled to keep up, and, by the time he'd completed, his peers had left to the weight room a good six minutes prior. He saw Mr. Martel shake his head as he exhaustedly joined the rest of the class.

"Come on," he said frustratedly as he struggled to push a hundred pounds with his legs.

"Hey, man, you don't look so good," said a voice over his shoulder as he stood up.

He turned to see Jason standing behind him, his hand still lightly bandaged.

Elliot instinctively backed away but he was grabbed by the collar and slammed painfully against the wall.

"What happened to all that strength my buds told me you had?" asked Jason tauntingly, his unpleasant breath smacking across Elliot's face.

"Oh, I still have it," said Elliot, trying to think of something quick.

"Where?"

"It comes from anger," answered Elliot confidently.

"Anger?"

"Yes, I have this disease where my adrenaline surges and my strength goes insane. My parents have to keep me on meds so I don't hurt anyone. I would listen to your pals," fibbed Elliot, trying to keep a straight face, noticing Jason's hazel eyes betraying his concern. "You can beat the crap out of me today because I've had my meds but on days when I don't take my pills you better watch out, man."

"You're a freak," said Jason, angrily before aggressively releasing his shirt collar. "Forget you, man."

Elliot took a sigh of relief as he watched Jason disappear behind a group of lockers. With tremendous effort, Elliot completed his exercise log before changing and heading to his English class. He wasn't sure what happened between the time he took his seat and the time he heard a woman's voice repeatedly calling his name.

"Mr. Clementine. Um, Mr. Clementine," called the voice repeatedly.

"Huh. What's going on?" he said, removing his head from his desk to find old Mrs. Langway hunched over, holding a wooden cane, watching him.

"The class is over, Mr. Clementine," said Mrs. Langway. "I hope you took good study notes."

"Yes, sure I did," he said before quickly packing up and heading out the door.

Grateful that school was over, Elliot embarked on his ride home, driving as slow as possible to avoid getting in any accidents despite the continuous honking of the motorists behind him.

He made it home before either of his parents, reasoning that they had a late workday, and desperately made his way to his room.

"Welcome back, Elliot," said Rosewielder gleefully as she practiced swinging her sword about.

"Good evening, Rosewielder," he responded, dropping his backpack beside his desk and collapsing on his sleeping bag.

"You don't look so good," said Rosewieder.

She bent down, placing her weapon beneath his bed, and walked over to Elliot.

"Do you want me to try to heal you?" she asked as he put his head on his pillow.

"Yes, that would be much appreciated."

Rosewielder followed through with her usual healing magic, Elliot eagerly awaiting the end to his chronic fatigue, but groaned after Rosewielder was left standing confused, scratching her head.

"You don't seem to be sick," she said, at a lost.

"Well, maybe it's my aura," said Elliot. "Julie said my aura could be low because of the spirit items I conjured."

"So, humans have auras as well?" questioned Rosewielder.

"Apparently," said Elliot. "I'll have to ruff it for now and do my homework."

After getting his textbooks, Elliot slowly but surely toiled his way through his studies, stopping every now and then to stretch his eyes and yawn before going down to dinner, promising to bring Rosewielder back something. That night Elliot endured through his parent's repeated questions concerning him getting enough sleep which was only interrupted by the evening news report claiming that several cancer patients were proven to have miraculously recovered by doctors.

"I'm simply grateful that my mother has been healed. Thank you very much to whomever is responsible," said a young brunette woman on the television before a blonde news lady put the mic up to her mouth.

"We've confirmed reports from multiple sources that all of the patients have, in fact, been cured, but the question on everyone's mind is by who or what."

"From what I've just seen, the dream saviors appear to be virtuous individuals," said Mr. Clementine, grabbing the remote and turning off the television at the end of dinner.

Elliot couldn't help but to smile proudly at his father before retrieving an extra plate of food and making his way back to his bedroom. He watched as Rosewielder happily enjoyed a hefty helping of his mom's mashed potatoes before zipping himself up in his sleeping bag.

"You wish to slumber already? Don't you want to partake in my victory in Pirate's Treasure?" asked Rosewielder, placing a disc into his PC6.

"Not tonight. Tomorrow perhaps," answered Elliot before immediately dozing off.

For a lengthy time Elliot's mind remained utterly unaware until he felt a slew of negative thoughts flood his brain as he tossed and turned uncomfortably. He opened his eyes, finding himself at school, standing in a hallway that was totally vacant except for himself and the school lockers. He knew he was dreaming and intended to take full advantage of it, pointing to a locker and imagining a bunch of money falling out.

"Just concentrate," he told himself before the door of the locker opened with a loud clink. "Yes, I did it."

However, what popped out of the locker wasn't money but Ms. Rosenberg's head. Elliot backed away, perplexed, but gasped as a snake-like tongue slithered out from his teacher's mouth.

"Elliot-s-s Clementine, where is-s-s your homework?" she hissed.

"I don't need to give you my homework. This is a dream," said Elliot defensively.

"Is-s-s that s-s-so?"

He gasped as Ms. Rosenberg's head slithered out from the locker followed by a long scaly black snake-like body. When the entirety of the half human half beast creature emerged he saw that it was nearly twenty feet long and a good two feet wide.

"I'm the dreamer and you're just a figment of my imagination," said Elliot, placing his hand behind him and, after considerable focus, conjured a sword.

He then charged for the snake, slicing the front half cleanly off.

"You see. I can't lose here," he said egotistically, but yelled in shock as the stump which oozed thick greenish blood quickly morphed, gradually forming into long neck like appendages which branched off, displaying two heads, this time belonging to both Ms. Rosenberg and Mr. Bennett.

"Ew, gross," said Elliot as he flew into the air and tried slicing the creature again, but failed as it dodged his strike, causing him to crash to the ground.

"You were s-s-sleeping in my class-s-s-s, Elliot-s-s," hissed Mr. Bennett's head.

"I was tired," said Elliot, getting to his feet.

"You should get s-s-some more s-s-sleep then."

"Okay, that's it," said Elliot, now focusing on the creature, imagining it shrinking. The creature shrunk slightly before lunging towards Elliot, knocking him cleanly off his feet, causing him to drop his sword.

"We are in s-s-school, Elliot. We have the power now," said Ms. Rosenberg's head as the bottom half of the snake began coiling around Elliot's body.

"It's time to s-s-say s-s-sweet dreams my s-s-sleepy s-s-student," said Mr. Bennet's head before opening its mouth, revealing long fangs, causing Elliot to yell in terror.

The dreamscape around Elliot and the creature instantly vanished, having been changed into the inside of his bedroom. The pain was very real as he felt the bones in his torso aching under the tremendous pressure.

"Rosewielder! A little help here!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Elliot saw Rosewielder bolt upright out of the corner of his eye before yelling, "Quick Sword of Light, come to me!"

Rosewielder's sword flew into her hands and she appeared atop of the creature so swiftly that he was certain she'd teleported there. With a single strike she chopped off the two heads, causing the constrictive force around his body to loosen. She took hold of Elliot's arm and hoisted him from the creature's clutches with unnatural strength, causing him to collapse on the floor. However, the air was filled with Rosewielder's scream as she was smacked into the bedroom wall by its lower half, apparently working independently of its head. Elliot watched in horror as it grew four necks this time, each one being occupied by the head of a different teacher. Now Ms. Rosenberg's and Mr. Bennett's heads were accompanied by Mr. Martel's and Mrs. Langway's.

"Why aren't you in s-s-school, young lady?" asked Mr. Martel's head, bearing its long teeth and thin tongue.

"You need a s-s-suspension," said Mrs. Langway's head just as Rosewielder got to her feet.

Elliot saw Rosewielder retrieve her sword from the corner just as a sound of shattering glass filled the room. He looked over and saw the creature slither right through his bedroom window, leaving its severed pieces behind.

"Rosewielder! We must destroy the pieces in here first so they won't regenerate!" called Elliot just as Rosewielder made for the window.

Rosewielder stopped in her tracks, raised her sword which emitted a familiar light, and with a single swing, disposed with the hacked off pieces of the creature, still wriggling as their heads muttered indiscernible gibberish before they exploded in a hail of whitish sparkling lights.

"Do you wish me to go and find the beast?" said Rosewielder, looking out the window at the twilight sky.

"Yes, but drink from the goblets, first. We can't risk being spotted," said Elliot, pointing towards the spirit potions which sat under his bed. "I'll follow you."

Rosewielder gave Elliot an annoyed expression before running to his bed and taking sips from each of the goblets before disappearing.

"I think you should remain here, Elliot," said Rosewielder's concerned voice.

"I'm fine," said Elliot.

"No, you're not or this wouldn't have happened. Don't lie to me! Please just stay here and get some rest!" yelled Rosewielder's voice. "I'll deal with this monster."

"Alright, but just promise me you'll come back safely," said Elliot defeatedly.

"I will."

A short while later he dropped to his knees, feeling he had no energy left, and then collapsed on his bedroom floor. When he'd awoken he was laying on his bed and the sound of Rosewielder's voice was calling his name, panic-stricken. He opened his eyes and saw her watching him from above, appearing like a grieving angel. Her eyes were somber and filled with tears.

"You're alright," she said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.

"Yes, I'm alive, at least," said Elliot, weakly sitting up. "I've no choice. If I don't improve I have to go to Julie's house to see if she can help. She knows about auras."

"I agree," said Rosewielder. "My healing magic won't cure whatever it is that's wrong with you. I'm afraid I'm powerless to do anything."

"Don't worry yourself. It's not your fault. Did you manage to destroy that thing?" asked Elliot.

"No, I was unable to locate its whereabouts but I will continue my search while you're at school."

"Sounds like a plan as long as no one sees you," said Elliot, looking over at the alarm clock which read 5:30 a.m., attempting to sit up, but Rosewielder placed her hand over him, preventing him from getting up.

"What's the deal?" he asked, puzzled.

"I want you to rest in the bed. I'll take the floor until morning," said Rosewielder sternly.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"Do you think exhausted conjurers should have to sleep on the hard floor?"

"Well, alright, Fair Elf Princess, but I won't be sleeping. We can't afford for me to accidentally summon more monsters," said Elliot.

Elliot staid awake as Rosewielder used her magic to fix the damage the creature had done to his window. For a little more than a half hour he watched her as she practiced wielding her sword, twirling it around, chopping the air, apparently preparing herself for the next time she'd meet the monster until the alarm clock bossily told him it was time for school.

"Be careful," he said after getting dressed.

"Same to you, Grandmaster Swordsman."

After going to breakfast and enjoying two large servings of his mother's cheese filled grits, enduring the continued pestering of his parents about him not getting enough sleep, Elliot embarked on his way to school after ensuring that he had in his possession all of the assignments that were due that day. He arrived at High Prince High School, having ridden there at a snail's paste, and carefully pulled into a parking space. He slammed his door shut and noticed three of the school's security guards standing in a group around the exit, seemingly in deep discussion as the students flocked into the main entrance. He began his journey to his locker, and after retrieving all the books he'd needed, started going over in his head calculus problems for Mr. Fujita's class, evading bumping into his peers as he navigated through the halls. Elliot was pondering a particularly difficult problem when he found himself being pushed around rudely by other students, yelling fearfully as they ran in the opposite direction.

"It's a monster!" roared a brown haired boy holding a girl's hand as they dashed towards him.

A blonde haired girl repeatedly shouted, "Call the police!" as she sped past him with dozens of other students.

It wasn't until the double doors at the middle of the hall swung violently open that Elliot understood the source of the commotion as he dropped his books at the horrendous scene before him.

The spirit creature was slithering down the hall and, even more alarmingly, had two of its necks wrapped around Mr. Martel and Mrs. Langway as the pair dangled their feet and flailed their arms helplessly.

"Get off of me!" roared Mr. Martel as the neck belonging to the fake Mr. Martel stuck out its snake tongue. "It's the Russians. I know it's the Russians!"

"Escape while you can, boy!" yelled Mrs. Langway hopelessly.

Elliot stood his ground.

"Let them go!" yelled Elliot as the monster slithered quickly towards him.

The next moment he was forced into a set of lockers after being smacked with its massive tail.

He wiped his nose and saw that it was bleeding.

Crap! What do I do? I"m done for!

"We will first dis-s-spose with these impos-sters before dealing with you, shameful s-s-student," said the head of Ms. Rosenberg.

Is this really it for me? I, the dream savior, destroyed by a spirit that I summoned?

Elliot closed his eyes, waiting for the worst, just as a loud chopping sound followed by a thump echoed through the hall.

He opened his eyes and saw both Mrs. Langway and Mr. Martel hovering in midair, carried by some invisible force, the snake heads squirming around on the floor, and then he realized...

"I am one of the dream saviors and I've come to slay this horrid demon!" yelled Rosewielder's voice right before both of his teachers disappeared.

Elliot immediately stood up and ran towards the front of the school as the creature began regenerating. He burst out of the front doors just as the security guards stormed inside. He took a sigh of relief, seeing Mr. Martel and Mrs. Langway being led away by a member of school security. Thinking there wasn't much he could do without his powers, he did as many other students did, and ran towards his car, putting his hope in Rosewielder's hands. The next moment, he saw a group of security guards springing out of the school, their faces mortified, as the snake creature slithered into the parking lot. He placed his hand on the door handle, ready to ride home and use the goblets to clean up the disaster he'd caused, when a long luminescent object appeared to slice through the beast like butter. He froze in awe as long pieces of light continually sliced at the monster until, after a long battle, it exploded, flicking pieces of light in all directions. It was finally over. Tired but relieved, Elliot got into his corvette, watching at least four police cars hurrying into the school parking lot. He placed his foot on the gas when a high pitched voice nearly made him lose control.

"How did I do, Grandmaster Swordsman?" asked Rosewielder's voice proudly.

"Rosewielder, it's you!" he said surprisedly. "Please don't scare me like that."

"I apologize," she said, still invisible.

"You were excellent, Rosewielder."

The pair journeyed home, laughing relievedly as they feverishly discussed the highlights of Rosewielder's battle with the spirit monster. Happier but still very tired, Elliot parked his car in the garage just as a familiar popping sound told him that Rosewielder had teleported. He was fairly certain that she'd returned to his room. Elliot had just entered into the kitchen through the back door when he heard the phone loudly ring. He quickly dashed across the kitchen, snatching up a white cordless phone.

"Hello, who is there?" he asked .

"Elliot, is that you?" asked his father in a shaking voice. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, dad," said Elliot.

"Thank God that you're safe. They said that an incident occurred at your school and I just wanted to be certain that..."

He paused for a few seconds before continuing.

"You wanted to be certain of what, dad?" asked Elliot curiously. "I assure you that I'm not hurt or anything."

He heard his father make several unintelligible sounds and Elliot realized that his father was crying.

"I wanted to be certain that I did not lose my son as payment for the blessing that has been bestowed upon your grandmother," said Mr. Clementine.

For a few seconds, Elliot was speechless until he remembered how Rosewielder had healed Grandma Wu.

"A blessing?" he said questioningly even though he knew what his father had meant.

"I don't know how this happened. It's unexplainable," said Mr. Clementine, his voice still shaking.

He heard his father take a deep breath.

"Your grandmother is no longer showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The nurses don't know how it happened but mother says that she was healed. She says that she was healed by the dream saviors," said Mr. Clementine.

"I knew the dream saviors would heal her," said Elliot. "That's what they do. They save those who cannot save themselves."

"Whoever the dream saviors are, I thank them from the very bottom of my heart. They are heroes who people like me aspire to emulate. " said Mr. Clementine.

"You don't have to emulate anyone, dad," said Elliot proudly. "I like you for the hero that you already are."

Reunion of the Royals

The news of Grandma Wu's recovery put the entire Clementine household in high spirits. When not at work his father was often on the phone talking for hours to his brother, Chen, who was quite pleased that he and his mother could resume their in depth discussions about Chinese art and literature which they'd expressed great interest in whenever they arrived at the Clementine household during family gatherings.

Classes at High Prince High School were cancelled for the rest of that week as the school was investigated. Elliot learned from news reports that the school security had initially suspected a group of rebellious teenagers were responsible for breaking into the building the night before the incident. An uneasy feeling of guilt crept upon him as he sat in his room, flipping through the news channels, knowing that old Mrs. Langway had been so traumatized by the incident that she'd decided to retire. However, he took consolation, reveling in the increased praise and support Rosewielder's performance had gained for the dream saviors. Some were even calling them superheroes. Elliot had heeded Julie's advice, taking a hiatus from conjuring to replenish his lost aura and, after a night of meditating on his anxieties about school, stopped himself from summoning more unwanted spirits from his dreams.

"You're saying that if you conjure too many things too quickly then it drops your aura?" asked Rosewielder one Thursday evening that he was off from school.

"That seems to be the case," answered Elliot, sitting with his legs crossed on his bed, turning to a gaming channel.

"How will we continue our duties as the dream saviors?" asked Rosewielder, flipping attentively through his AP English book.

Elliot thought long and hard before responding.

"I'll summon more spirits to aid us in our mission," answered Elliot. "We'll use their magical powers to get more work done than we could with just the two of us. I wouldn't have to conjure more spirit items so frequently."

Rosewielder ceased fiddling with the book, stood up,crossing her arms, and gave Elliot a displeased glance.

"Elliot, why would you even think of doing such a thing? Have you forgotten the beast I just destroyed?" asked Rosewielder.

"That's different. That thing wasn't loyal to me because I summoned it by accident. I know that if I bring more spirits to this world they'll join us," said Elliot, self assured.

"I insist that you don't, Elliot," said Rosewielder, her eyes glaring at him.

"Rosewielder, don't you remember what happened to you at the hospital? If we had more help then you wouldn't have to exhaust yourself."

"I could never forget that! However, there must be another way," she said. "I have a very bad feeling about this, Elliot. I don't want to see you like that again."

"What do you mean?" he asked, slipping off the bed and walking over to her.

"When that monster had you the thought of losing you was the same as that feeling of not existing," she said, breathing heavily. "I felt that if you died then I, too, would die."

"Rosewielder," he said, gently brushing her hair back. "I'm sorry, but I must use the power I have to do what I believe is right."

"I'll stand by your side even though I don't support this decision," said Rosewielder firmly.

"That's all I ask of you."

Elliot continued watching the gaming channel, becoming increasingly intrigued by the enhanced abilities of the newer avatars for Fantasy Lotus, watching an enormous burly looking video game character called a berserker smack down twelve Ice Elves with a swing of his axe. He admired the life-like graphics and pondered on the identities of the next generation of dream saviors. Rosewielder continued feeding her hunger for knowledge as she copiously studied text book after text book of Elliot's before a loud scurrying downstairs told him that either his mother or father had arrived from work.

"I have to go, Rosewielder," said Elliot.

"Fine."

Elliot traveled downstairs to see his mother and Faiga in the kitchen preparing dinner.

"Hello, honey. Are you enjoying your time off from school?" asked Mrs. Clementine, spraying cooking spray on a pan.

"Yes, although I'm upset about Mrs. Langway," said Elliot, pulling open the refrigerator and taking out a bottle of cranberry juice. "She didn't deserve that."

"There are so many bizarre things happening lately that sometimes I wonder if this is all just a dream," said Mrs. Clementine, turning on the stovetop. "But your grandmother's Alzheimer's being healed is a bizarre blessing so I'm not complaining."

"Mom's right. Either we're all going crazy or it's the alien invasion," said Faiga, opening a pack of noodles. "It's just too weird. Where did that snake monster come from and that giant stinkbug? So many students at your school said they saw it. It's not like they were all hallucinating or something."

"Who knows, sweetie," said Mrs. Clementine merrily. "I'm just so happy for your father and his brother, Chen."

"Well, witnesses say that the dream saviors brought the teachers to safety. They're also saying that the dream saviors destroyed that thing," said Elliot before taking a sip of juice. "Even Grandma Wu claimed it was the dream saviors that led to her recovery."

"Perhaps I misjudged them," said Mrs. Clementine, placing her hands on her hips, giving Elliot a apologetic look.

"It's okay, mom. It happens."

She smiled warmly before turning her attention back to preparing dinner. Elliot helped his mother and sister with the meal preparations, stirring noodles, seasoning beef tips, and mixing in the vegetables so that when Mr. Clementine arrived home he was greeted by a finely decorated dinner table.

"Good evening, dear," said Mrs. Clementine, affectionately kissing her husband as he took a seat at the table.

"Good evening, everyone," said Mr. Clementine. "Work went well. A young man who had a traumatic head injury awoke from a coma, today."

"That's awesome, dear," said Mrs. Clementine, picking up a pair of chopsticks. "I'm sure his parents are grateful to you."

"Dad, you're a hero," said Faiga, picking up a large plate of rice and beef tips.

"I agree," said Elliot.

"Oh, I'm just a man doing his job," said his father before putting a large helping of vegetables and noodles in his mouth. "I believe the real heroes are the ones that saved my mother, your Grandma Wu."

Elliot thought to himself.

Healing the sick. Helping those who can't help themselves. My goals mirror my father's. That's why I need more followers. With the magic of more spirit warriors the dream saviors could heal the world.

"Yes, I know but they're right, dear," said Mrs. Clementine, grabbing his father's hand. "We'll be in need of more heroes if we continue seeing incidents like what happened at Elliot's school."

"Maybe dad can team up with the dream saviors," said Faiga jokingly before picking up the remote and turning on the television.

For the next half hour they dined on quality food and togetherness, watching the continuing reports of numerous witnesses from many of the visibly shaken students of High Prince High School to the security guards, the majority of whom still sporting the same looks of terror on their faces they had the night the school was attacked every time the reporters questioned them about the details. Even Mr. Martel, who normally exhibited a fearlessly obnoxious demeanor, was visibly sweating heavily as he explained what happened into the reporter's microphone. Before long, their supper came to an end, and Elliot helped his mother clean the table before taking a large plate of food and heading back to his room. When he'd arrived Rosewielder was standing in the center of the room, steadily holding her sword as it dispersed its light and warmth through his room, causing her glistening strands of rosy perfection to dance in the resulting breeze.

"What is it that your doing?" he asked curiously, placing her meal on his desk.

"I'm attempting to strengthen my sword attacks by raising my magical energy," she said, still gazing intently at her sword.

"What makes you think you can do that?" he asked, at a lost, covering his eyes from the intense light.

"I've been watching shows about meditation. Some humans claim they can use meditation and focus to raise their body's natural energy. I was testing to see if this applied to spirits like myself."

"You really take initiative. It's like you were born for battle," said Elliot, deciding to use his time off to play a session of Fantasy Lotus.

"You summoned me and based my design off of an Earth Elf warrior, therefore, I think it's only logical that I yearn for combat," she said, finally lowering her sword.

"I can't argue with you there. Hey, Rosewielder, I know that I was too tired last time you asked to play a game with me. Do you want to now?" he asked, placing the Fantasy Lotus disc into his PC6.

"Sure, I will right after I eat your mother's delicious meal," she said before taking a place at his desk and quickly consuming the entirety of the bowl's contents after a few minutes.

When he logged in, after placing on his earpiece and microphone, he saw that only Cody was online and he was immediately messaged.

"Hey, buddy. We need your help! The Ice Elf and Crimson Vampire alliance is kicking our butts pretty badly!" said Cody's voice. "Spawn your avatar to the Forest of the Forsaken as fast as you can!"

"Ice Elves!" muttered Rosewielder irritably.

"This will be no problem for a Grandmaster Swordsman," said Elliot cockily.

He allowed Rosewielder to choose an avatar and she picked Elf King Methuselah whereas he, ironically, chose Rosewielder before the game loaded, spawning their avatars in the middle of a massive dark forest filled with at least thirty other avatars.

"You ready, Fair Elf Princess?" asked Elliot.

"I'm ready, Grandmaster Swordsman," she responded, her fingers on the buttons, her prepossessing eyes watching the screen unblinkingly.

"Okay," he said as he began pushing buttons skillfully, attacking the first enemy avatar he saw.

They both played relatively well for the first five minutes, each having managed to take down several opponents. He'd just defeated a Berserker when his character was attacked from behind by an avatar in the likeness of Prince Adam. Thrilled to face the new challenge, he pushed button after button strategically, attempting to hold an advantage, but his frustration increased as he saw his health bar drop and then, the unthinkable occurred... He had died.

"Elliot! I hate watching myself die!" yelled Rosewielder angrily, seeing the avatar version of herself be impaled by Princess Lilith's claws.

"I don't believe it! I've NEVER lost a duel in Fantasy Lotus!" roared Elliot, possessed by rage.

He used an item called a healing rose to quickly revive his avatar and immediately went after the same person he'd fought earlier, fully determined to win. His heartbeat raised and his palms became sweaty as he tried his damnedest to defeat his opponent, only to lose again.

"How can this be happening!" he yelled, waiting for his avatar to spawn again.

"Oh, no, I've been killed for the third time by a tiny Prince Adam!" bellowed Rosewielder, pointing to a Adam avatar on the screen.

"It's like the bastards kill us with two freaking hits," said Elliot angrily after his avatar was revived for the sixth time.

"Have you had any luck, buddy?" asked Cody's voice after a good eight minutes.

"What the heck is going on, Cody?! These avatars aren't normal! Their so strong!" yelled Elliot, palming himself in the forehead.

"Well, the Prince Adam and Vampire Princess Lilith are newly released avatars with stronger attacks than their previous versions," explained Cody.

Although Rosewielder and Elliot valiantly continued their struggle against the upgraded avatars, neither of them were able to land a single kill on Lilith or Adam, and when Rosewielder grew increasingly distraught after seeing the game versions of herself and Elf King Methuselah get killed for an untold number of times, Elliot shut the PC6 off and stormed to his laptop.

"I told you that those two were evil!" screamed Rosewielder, following him.

"They're not evil, Rosewielder. They aren't even real. However, their avatars are superior," said Elliot, turning on his laptop, visiting the Fantasy Lotus website, and studying the powers and abilities of Prince Adam and Vampire Princess Lilith.

I believe that I've found the next generation of dream saviors. Once I summon spirits in their likenesses our group will be more powerful.

Elliot studied their images and abilities for a good while, allowing them to sink into his mind, before turning the laptop off.

"I'm tired, Rosewielder. I'm going to take a little nap," he said before getting into his sleeping bag.

"You're going to sleep already? It's only 7 o'clock and you don't have school tomorrow," she said suspiciously. "You're going to summon more spirits. Aren't you?"

"Yes."

"I don't wish to ask this, Elliot, but the identities of these spirits wouldn't happen to be Prince Adam and Vampire Princess Lilith. Would they?" asked Rosewielder, folding her arms disapprovingly.

"Yes."

"I can't believe you. You're going to create two more monsters," said Rosewielder.

"Rosewielder, can you please just trust me?" asked Elliot.

She stayed silent, walking over to his bed, and laid down, her back facing away from him.

Elliot allowed his body to relax, emptying his mind as he closed his eyes and began counting sheep.

"One...two...," he began. "One hundred and one... One hundred and two...," he said some time later before finally losing consciousness.

After an unknown amount of time Elliot opened his eyes. He was dreaming, finding himself in a glorious environment as he looked upon a group of towering splendid trees, their shadows rendered just as grand from the sunlight's raze. The forest was divided by the same diamond clad path he'd seen during his first visit. He was, again, standing at the entrance to the Fantasy Lotus location known as the Forest of the Forsaken, but, this time, he was lucid and ready to begin his quest for what he was looking for. Elliot began walking down the path, studying the sublime craftsmanship of his own imagination. He gazed in wonder at a group of luminous butterflies of many colors as they fluttered passed him, landing on a group of white flowers with tops the size of dinner plates. He continued traveling, listening to the soothing chirping of birds as they sped through the air. After a while the path gradually became quite steep. He reached the peak and spotted two individuals standing beneath an apple tree, seemingly in a romantic embrace. He immediately recognized a tall and alluringly handsome youth with blonde shoulder length hair and pointed ears adorned in impeccable black medieval styled nut-brown pants and a light greenish shirt with golden lacing. On his feet he wore brownish boots while on his back there was a sword secured in a scabbard. It was the spitting image of Prince Adam from Fantasy Lotus, his godlike flawlessness an impossibility in the real world. He was directly facing a shorter, less robust, hooded figure dressed in robes of all black, their pale hands being held by Adam's. Elliot was certain it was Lilith. As he approached Lilith pulled an apple from the overhanging tree, placing it to her hood before handing it towards Adam who took it but froze as Elliot approached.

"Hello, Adam and hello, Lilith," said Elliot, entering the shade of the apple tree and coming within feet of them.

"How do you do, Elliot Clementine?" said Adam in a voice as regal as his appearance, turning his head and revealing electric blue eyes with a luster that made diamonds look like ordinary rocks.

"I'm excellent now that I've found you two. Do you know why I'm here?" he asked.

"Of course we know why you are here. We're in your imagination. This is your dream," said Lilith in a cool voice, turning towards him and revealing a set of sharp cheekbones, pale bluish eyes and turquoise lips.

"Then you know that outside of this dream world I'm a conjurer?" said Elliot questioningly.

"Yes, you possess the power to bring us to the real world as spirits," said Adam matter-of-factly.

"That's correct. Anything that I touch or am touched by when I awaken gets to come back to the real world with me," said Elliot. "Do you wish to assist me as a dream savior?"

"I don't rightfully know," said Adam.

"What do you mean you don't know?" asked Elliot, appalled.

"I say that we should help him, Adam," said Lilith with an odd smile. "We'd be freed from this dream world."

Adam looked from Lilith to Elliot, appearing to think it over.

"You know what will happen when he wakes up. We won't exist anymore," said Lilith abruptly, stepping towards Elliot. "We cannot let that happen! I wish to know what this real world is like!" yelled Lilith as she lunged towards Elliot, swiftly grabbing a hold of his wrist.

Elliot tried to release his arm but was unable to contain his terror as she opened her mouth, revealing fang-like teeth, and emitted a blood curdling noise reminiscent of a combination of a scream and a roar, causing the dreamscape to vanish. The next thing he knew he was back in his bedroom with Lilith still clutching his wrist with unimaginable pressure, and standing calmly behind her was Adam. Lilith enclosed her free hand tightly around Elliot's neck, finally releasing his wrist, effortlessly lifted him off the floor, and backed him up against the wall. She laughed wickedly, unhooding herself and brushing her long hair out of her face.

"You are a dream savior. You saved us from the dream world. Now we're as real as you are," she said. "What's more, you're pretty handsome. I'll give you a kiss," she said, lowering her teeth inches from his neck before she was pulled off by Adam.

"Lilith, he's the one that summoned us. You can't turn him into one of your servants," said Adam defiantly, still holding the apple.

"What's going on?" said Rosewielder's voice as she sat up quickly and momentarily studied the scene before zipping into action. "Quick sword of Light, come to your mistress!" she roared before there was a loud popping noise just as Rosewielder teleported above Lilith and took a swing.

Lilith was fast. Lilith was very fast as Rosewielder's sword sliced through thin air, Lilith moving to the side, avoiding the Fair Elf Princess's attack with her vampire swiftness. Elliot grabbed his neck which was still painful from Lilith's assault, watching as Rosewielder skillfully but ineffectively teleported around the room, trying to slice Lilith into two. He then glanced up at Adam who was still clutching the apple, his expression unrevealing.

"Who's side are you on?" he asked.

"No one's," he said cooly, pocketing the apple at last, and bending down to pick up Elliot's AP English book. "If you recall, I never agreed to take anyone's side. Lilith brought me into this world along with herself."

"Fine!" said Elliot angrily as he looked for an opening, Rosewielder and Lilith still locked in mortal combat.

He crawled to his bed, trying to stop himself from becoming entangled between the pair, and reached for the Ox Wine potion, got to his feet, and brought the cup inches from his mouth.

"What the-?" he began, nonplussed, noticing that the cup kept lowering every time he tried touching it to his lips.

He studied the cup, and gasped, noticing that a long silver blade was sticking through the left handle. Adam was at the other end, holding a gorgeous golden handle, eyeing Elliot as though daring him to resist.

"If you drink from that goblet be prepared to duel to the death, Elliot Clementine."

"What?! I thought you said you weren't on anyone's side?!" he spat.

"Lilith is battling Rosewielder. I will not stand for two on one combat. It's dishonorable. Therefore, I will be your opponent if you wish to fight."

"I probably don't stand a chance against you...But that doesn't matter. I will protect Rosewielder!" yelled Elliot before sliding the goblet off of Adam's sword, bringing it to his lips, and...wham!

Elliot was knocked bodily into his dresser by a large soft object, his landing accompanied with the cracking of expensive wood. He looked down to see Rosewielder laying on top of him,motionless, the hairs on his neck standing as Lilith's wicked laugh echoed through his room.

"Rosewielder!" he screamed, distraught, grabbing both of her arms, attempting to sit her body up, her head hanging due to its own dead weight.

"Let us leave, my love," said Lilith, grabbing hold of Adam's shoulder who then placed his sword back into its scabbard. "I'm sure there is an entire world out there for us to explore. I'm also quite hungry as well."

"Lilith, I gave you passage to this world! If you hurt anyone I swear that I'll find a way to destroy you," said Elliot, a mixture of hatred and guilt coursing through him.

"Elliot? What is going on, honey? Your father and I heard banging sounds coming from your room," sounded Elliot's mother's voice from the hall.

Elliot froze, finding it hard to think.

No, not mom. She can't be here. I cannot lose her.

Both Adam and Lilith whipped their heads towards the door.

"Elliot, please let me in, honey," said his mother's voice.

"I'm fine mom! Just give me a second!" he said, finally finding his voice. He looked pleadingly into Lilith's malicious face, realizing his own powerlessness, shaking his head, hoping against all hope that she would not open the door.

"That sounds like my lunch," whispered Lilith, taking a step towards the door, but again, her wickedness was halted by Adam who held out his arm, blocking her.

"Elliot has lost enough already," said Adam in a bored tone. "It would be unjust of us to destroy two people whom I'm sure he cares deeply for. You can satisfy your appetite elsewhere, my love. The conjurer knows that he is not our master."

"Elliot, honey, who is that? Who is in there with you? I insist that you open your door!" said Mrs. Clementine just as Lilith looked at Adam, the wickedness in her face evaporating, being transformed into infatuation.

"Okay, my love, but only because you asked," she said before the pair vanished.

"Was that a girl's voice I heard?" asked Mrs. Clementine from behind the door.

"No, mom. I just left the television on. It's this late night romance," he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

With extreme effort, he hoisted up Rosewielder's limp body and placed it upon the bed.

Elliot quickly retrieved the Frog's Skin potion goblet from under his bed and splashed some on Rosewielder's face. To his relief, she made a soft moaning sound, turning her head from him.

"Rosewielder, you have to drink this," he said, gently placing the goblet to her lips and pouring it into her mouth. She swallowed before coughing lightly.

Elliot watched the magic take affect as she disappeared before him.

"Please stay quiet, Fair Elf Princess," he said before sprinting over to his door and opening it.

Mrs. Clementine was standing with her arms crossed, wearing a white sleeping gown and house shoes resembling teddy bears, her eyes suspiciously scanning the room.

"Elliot, honey, what is it you're doing up here that's making such a racket. Your father and I have to go to work in the morning."

"I'm sorry," he said as she walked towards the middle of the room, still searching as if to find someone.

"You said you were watching something on TV but your television isn't even on," she said inquisitively.

"I just turned it off. I decided to stay up later since I don't have school tomorrow," reasoned Elliot.

"Well, please, honey, for our sakes, turn the volume down. Okay?" she said, beginning to walk out of the room before stopping abruptly, her head turned towards his dresser whose top shelf had split in half during the ordeal.

"Honey, what happened to your dresser?" she said, pointing to it.

"I had a bad day at school not to long ago and shut it a little to hard in anger. I'm sorry."

"You need to be more careful, honey," she said before tiredly walking out his bedroom.

"I will, mom. Good night."

"Goodnight, honey."

Elliot closed and locked the door behind, him and made his way over to his bed, still unable to see Rosewielder.

He saw the bed sheets move slightly.

"Rosewielder?" are you awake.

"I hope so," she said sharply.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I hope that seeing Lilith nearly kill you was just a dream and I've simply woken up," she said harshly. "Elliot, tell me that was a dream. Tell me that we weren't just attacked by spirits that you, yourself, summoned."

"I cannot lie to you. What just happened was no dream. I've made a mess...again," said Elliot in shame.

"I want to believe that you're a virtuous person, Elliot," said Rosewielder. "But you are arrogant."

"What if you're wrong? What if I'm just a menace to the world? What if I'm just an evil person who think's he's good?" said Elliot, looking down at his feet.

The covers stirred, footsteps becoming audible, until they stopped, and Elliot felt warm arms close tightly around him. He did not hug Rosewielder, feeling undeserving of her.

"I don't think you're evil, Elliot. "I think that you're arrogant, arrogant for believing that it's your duty to carry this world on your shoulders."

"I should have listened to you," he said, his eyes watering. "You were nearly killed thanks to my lack of judgement."

"Will you listen to me now when I say it's our duty to stop them at all costs?" asked Rosewielder.

"Yes, I will."

"We have work to do, Grandmaster Swordsman."

The Shrine in the Sky

That following day, after Elliot's parents had left for work and Faiga had gone to school, he and Rosewielder carefully studied the morning news channels, reasoning that they might reveal valuable clues as to the whereabouts of Adam and Lilith, but after only seeing continuing reports regarding the now infamous snake monster, they decided to travel to the same apple tree perched on a hill that Rosewielder had taken them to once before, its beauty just as radiant since last time. They hoped it would give them the peace of mind they needed to think clearly about Adam and Lilith's next move.

"Let's go over this again," began Elliot, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his body. "If I was a vampire princess then I'd probably be out sucking someone's blood right about now."

"I agree. Lilith needs blood to sustain herself. However, if that is true then why haven't we heard any reports about people being bitten, or worse, converted," said Rosewielder, closing one eye and holding up an apple, watching the sunlight reflect off the fruit.

"Converted? You're saying that you think she can turn humans into her servants just as her character does in Fantasy Lotus?" asked Elliot, watching Rosewielder.

"I believe so. Although I'm from the otherworld, my healing powers did work on the people of the Masonville Hospital. I'd only assume that the abilities of other spirits would also be affective on humans," said Rosewielder thoughtfully.

"Crap!" said Elliot, quickly sitting up. "It would all be my fault. I brought Lilith and Adam to this world. If she converts other people into vampires, like herself then I would be responsible for all of it."

"You're wrong, Elliot," said Rosewielder.

"What? How so?" he asked curiously.

"There is something that you're not grasping about us, spirits," said Rosewielder.

"And what might that be?"

"You may have summoned us here but we have our own free will. I follow you because I believe in you. It's not because your forcing me to. It's the same with Lilith and Adam. If they perform evil deeds and, I'm sure they will, it's out of their own free will."

"I understand, but it was through me that they came into this world. We, conjurers, are the bridges between the otherworld and this world, remember? This power I have comes coupled with a certain responsibility," said Elliot.

"And it's my responsibility to make sure that you don't mess up," said Rosewielder, planting a kiss on his forehead. "If you fail then I'd fail as well."

"But how, Rosewielder? What if I slip up? What if I do good for weeks and then slip up? How would you stop me from accidentally summoning more spirits? It's only now that I realize that what I have isn't a blessing. It's a curse," said Elliot.

"Am I apart of that curse, Elliot?" asked Rosewielder, her eyes resembling sparkling gems of lavender, seemingly piercing through the windows to his soul.

"No, Rosewielder," he said, grabbing her hand. "You are a blessing. I might not be laying here right now without your help. You've saved me several times so I guess, in some strange way,... I also owe my existence to you," said Elliot.

"I'm glad I didn't chop you to pieces when we first met," said Rosewielder humorously.

"Very funny," he said dryly. "Hey, Rosewielder, something's been bugging me."

"What is it?"

"It was Prince Adam."

"What about him?" asked Rosewielder, her voice suddenly sharp.

"Well, he didn't seem that bad," answered Elliot. "In fact, it was because of him that I think my mother, my family is okay," explained Elliot.

"That's preposterous," said Rosewielder in disbelief. "What leads you to make such a claim."

"He stopped Lilith when she went after my mother. I know Lilith would have attacked her if he hadn't have stopped her."

"Don't you realize that's an Ice Elf that you're talking about?" asked Rosewielder in disgust.

"Are you saying that being an Ice Elf makes him evil?" asked Elliot.

"Of course it does!" answered Rosewielder, unabashedly.

"How so?"

"It just does," said Rosewielder. "He's with Lilith, the woman who nearly killed you."

"And why do you suppose that is?" asked Elliot, breathing deeply, before studying a flock of birds as they journeyed below a vast cloud.

"I don't rightfully know."

"Rosewielder, where would you be if you were not here with me? Who could you relate to?" asked Elliot.

"I'm not sure where I'd be. Not many humans would share my experience of being an Earth Elf. But what does that have to do with that horrible duo?"

"Exactly. What if they're together simply because they have no one else to relate to? I've never seen any other vampires or elves in this world. Neither of them have a family. What bonds them is that they've both been brought into a world which they know very little about," explained Elliot, watching one bird speed up in order to catch up with the flock.

"You're suggesting that being together is better than being alone?" asked Rosewielder.

"Yes, that's why it's occurred to me that it might be extremely dangerous if Adam and Lilith were to go their separate ways," said Elliot worriedly. "I think that being with Adam keeps Lilith in check."

Rosewielder glanced at him curiously before taking a large bite out of an apple.

"Either way, we don't yet have any leads. Darn it. We can't really do anything if we have no idea where they are," said Elliot, pulling out several blades of grass and watching a light breeze blow them out of his hand.

Rosewielder sighed and gazed up into the azure sky, squinting as the envious winds of mother nature blew her hair across her face as if to conceal the divine beauty of the Earth Elf.

"You're correct. My teleportation only works when I know the precise location of whatever I'm looking for," said Rosewielder.

"I figured as much. I am, however, becoming more aware of my conjuring limits so I won't cause my aura to drop dangerously low," explained Elliot.

"We should still be able to do our work as dream saviors," said Rosewielder. "So, are we just going to wait until Adam and Lilith cause trouble? Is that when we'll strike?"

"That seems like our only option right now," said Elliot resistantly. "However, this weekend I've decided that I wish to go to Tibet. We will perform our duties as dream saviors. There is another reason why I want to check that place out."

"What is it?" asked Rosewielder in fascination.

"Before I even knew what conjurers and spirits were someone told me that the first conjurer was from Tibet. Julie said that her grandmother was a conjurer. However, she and I are kind of having a rocky relationship right now."

"You want to meet with other conjurers?" said Rosewielder, her beautiful eyes watching him intently.

"Yes, because I want to know how to stop Adam and Lilith."

"I thought that was my duty," said Rosewielder teasingly.

"We're a team, Rosewielder. I won't let you fight them by yourself," he said, getting to his feet.

"That we are," said Roswielder, taking Elliot's hand and also standing.

The pair utilized the remainder of their time to enjoy the surreal combination of the effects of Eagle's Blood potion and the perfect weather, using their powers to fly so high off the grass that the apple tree appeared as a smidgen of green, taking in the superb quality of the landscape. They watched a small herd of bison as they grazed, holding each other's hands.

"This place is so tranquil. I wish this would last forever said," Rosewielder just as Elliot turned, facing the sky, his hands held relaxedly behind his head.

"That would be nice," said Elliot, closing his eyes.

He felt a soft warm presence contact his lips a few seconds later, and upon opening his eyes, saw Rosewielder kissing him as she glided right above him, her hair fluttering in the breeze. It was serenely surreal, gazing upon the dazzlingly mauve windows of the her soul, as they floated in the boundlessness of the azure sky. Surely, he was in heaven.

"It's good that we enjoy this day. I think we'll have many challenges ahead of us," said Elliot, looking at his watch. "Lets go home."

When that Saturday finally arrived Elliot's parents spent most of their time juggling between addressing phone calls from work and politely correcting the often times unfounded gossip of his father's extended family with many cousins, aunts, and uncles coming up with their own outlandish tales regarding Grandma Wu's remarkable recovery. The Clementine household was quite crowded because Faiga's fellow orchestra members occupied the living and dining rooms as they practiced for an upcoming performance.

Elliot and Rosewielder had spent Friday night as well as the first half of Saturday hectically combing the web for any piece of information they could find about spirits and conjurers, but after many hours, they'd only managed to locate a couple of disputed reports about Tibetan townspeople claiming that they'd seen strange creatures appearing in the sky, and a local legend about a floating shrine which many called the Lost Shrine of Tenzin.

"Do you really think what these people say could be true?" asked Rosewielder.

"There's only one way to find out," said Elliot, taking a sip of of lemon tea. "We should try to find this lost shrine. The reports indicate that it is above Lhasa so we'll go there. I'll have to pay Julie's grandmother a visit if we don't find it. We need answers."

"I concur. I'll admit that I'm intrigued by these reports," said Rosewielder.

"I think we've found all that we'll ever find," said Elliot, shutting down his laptop.

After joining his family and Faiga's friends for lunch around noon, Elliot reasoned that it was time for him and Rosewielder to make their journey to Tibet, eager to find out more information about conjurers and spirits.

"Ew, yuck!" said Rosewielder as she pulled a group of raw tomatoes off a German flatbread.

"Those are good for you. You'll need your strength in case we run into one of those lone conjurers Grandma Wu was talking about," said Elliot, grabbing a sack of jade from beneath his bed and using a thick string to secure it to his back.

"I cannot eat this. It is simply too revolting," said Rosewielder, sitting down the plate.

"Then it's time for us to drink from the goblets," said Elliot, briskly walking beside his bed and reaching for the goblet of Ox Wine potion.

They both drank from all three goblets and watched the other disappear, taking with them their own reflection in the other's eyes.

"I take it that you're ready then. You know exactly where we're headed, right?" asked Elliot.

"Yes, you wish to travel to Lhasa before we attempt to find the Lost Shrine of Tenzin."

He placed his hand on Rosewielder's shoulder.

"I'm ready, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot.

Elliot felt teleportation's affects take hold of him for a short time until he found himself standing on a dirt path, facing what appeared to be a small village, cows grazing nearby an austere house of grayish brick. He spotted an elderly man sitting on a wooden chair, wearing a gray shirt and black pants, eating a small bowl of white rice.

"This is it, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot as he approached the man, unseen.

"Hello, townsperson. We are the dream saviors," said Elliot.

The man dropped his bowl of rice, looking around, worriedly and then spoke frantically in Tibetan. Elliot retrieved a thick stack of jade coins and sat them on the ground, thinking how oddly it must have appeared to the man. The man slowly got up and hobbled over to the jade coins, staring at the treasure as though unsure whether to trust it. He then bent down to retrieve them when several things happened in short succession. Elliot saw a flash of light zoom seemingly out of nowhere just as an odd high pitched chiming sound filled his ears. He then noticed that the jade coins had vanished. The old man backed away fearfully before picking up his rice bowel and limping as fast as he could towards the house.

What's going on? That's never happened before!

"Fair Elf Princess, did you see what just-," he started but she responded before he could finish.

"I did," she said, grabbing hold of his arm. "Your spirit items. They just disappeared into thin air."

"What could have caused it?" asked Elliot, checking his bag and taking out a small jade figurine of Buddha.

He held the figure up, examining it, but, within seconds, it, too, was hit with what looked like a small orb of white light before dematerializing in his hands.

"Grandmaster Swordsman," she began in a terrified voice. "Will I end up vanishing too!"

"No, Fair Elf Princess. Calm down," he said reassuringly. "If whatever or whomever is causing this wanted to make you vanish then I think they would have already."

"That's really comforting," she said sarcastically.

"What I mean to say is that only the spirit items that I was planning on giving to others are vanishing. That could only mean that someone or something around here doesn't want me giving away things from the otherworld," explained Elliot.

"You're suggesting that someone around here knows about the otherworld and spirits?" said Rosewielder questioningly.

"Exactly. And who do you suppose would know such things?" asked Elliot, watching a group of men carrying what looked like barley into a yellowish house.

"A conjurer. Do you believe this could have anything to do with that shrine?" asked Rosewielder.

"It's possible, but it's apparent that someone wants to stop the dream saviors in our tracks," said Elliot, taking hold of Rosewielder's hand.

"What should we do?" asked Rosewielder.

"We're going to search for the Lost Shrine of Tenzin and, if we don't find it, we'll make our little party pooper come to us," said Elliot.

"Well, if you really think this shrine exists then okay," said Rosewielder.

"According to the folklore the shrine is above Lhasa," said Elliot as his feet left the ground. "We need to go as high as we can so we can get a full view of the city."

They continued ascending higher and higher into the atmosphere for about ten minutes, Lhasa becoming smaller and smaller until most of what surrounded them were clusters of large white clouds. After reaching a point were they could survey the whole city they flew horizontally. Elliot turned his head in every direction, attempting to locate any object that remotely looked like a shrine, reminding himself that the magic granted to him from the goblets was merely temporary. They flew around many clouds, circling Lhasa at least three times, looking as far as the snow covered mountains and enormous grasslands which surrounded the city.

"I've yet to see anything so far," said Rosewielder after a while when Elliot was starting to feel a wind chill.

"I don't understand it. Why won't any of the other conjurers show themselves?" asked Elliot in disbelief. "Maybe this was a stupid idea. I'm convinced now. This Lost Shrine of Tenzin probably doesn't even exist."

"Do you want me to take us back home?" asked Rosewielder.

Elliot, however, did not answer as he suddenly heard a sequence of strange noises.

"Rosewielder, do you hear that?" he whispered.

"It sounds like the breathing of some sort of beast," answered Rosewielder. "It's coming from behind us!"

Elliot turned his head and gasped in horror as a massive greenish object was fast outpacing them from behind. He felt his stomach knot itself as he saw an enormous violet reptilian looking head with dark blue eyes open its mouth.

"ROSEWIELDER! DRAGON! BEHIND US!" roared Elliot in terror. "IT CAN SEE US!"

"TELEPORT US! NOW!" roared Elliot as the beast gradually revealed columns of sword-like teeth.

"I can't!" yelled Rosewielder. "Something's disrupting my magic!"

The next moment they both yelled as they gained their visibility, and Elliot screamed in horror as they began rapidly falling, the Eagle's Blood potion no longer working.

"This is it for us!" yelled Elliot as he and Rosewielder held tightly on to one another.

The pair fell right into the mouth of the dragon with Elliot convinced that he would never see daylight again.

So, this is how I'll die? To be devoured by a monster? Well, at least I get to die by her side rather than live, and have my heart die. I guess all dreams must come to an end.

"Elliot, I'm honored to have served by your side," said Rosewielder's voice.

"Rosewielder, you're still alive?" asked Elliot, confused and looking around in pitch blackness. "I'm still alive?"

"Yes, it is not yet time for you or your spirit friend to depart from this world," answered an unfamiliar woman's voice. "The master requests your presence."

The surrounding darkness evaporated, being replaced by an extremely bright atmosphere. They were sitting on a sparkling golden floor, still clutching tightly to one another, and as they stood to their feet he discovered that they were in one of the strangest places he'd ever seen. The brightness was shining through large spaces created by enormous golden pillars that acted as the support system of the massive chamber whereas enormous statues depicting a long haired young Asian adult with his legs folded and his hands crossed in his lap, seemingly in meditation, occupied both ends. Even more bizarre about the statues was that they each possessed an otherworldly bluish light which seemed to hoover steadily in front of each of them.

"It seems that Wisty wasn't too rough with you," said the woman's voice again, causing Elliot and Rosewielder to scan the chamber for its source until Rosewielder pointed towards one of the pillars.

"I see her!" yelled Rosewielder.

Elliot studied the pillar at which she pointed standing nearly fifty feet away from them, and saw a red haired woman surveying them, about half of her body concealed by the pillar, but, as she stepped away, Elliot noticed that she was wearing what appeared to be a white under tunic and a light greenish outer tunic which draped across her chest and brownish sandals, reminding him of an occasion in his AP history class in which they'd studied ancient Rome. She continued walking closer to them when Rosewielder did the imaginable, pulling out her sword.

"Who are you?!" yelled Rosewielder combatively. "Tell us, now!"

"Now, there's no need for that, young lady," she said, still approaching them undauntedly as she placed her hands together, and after only a second or two, an orb of light identical to the one that had destroyed his spirit items earlier had appeared in front of her.

It sped towards Rosewielder who immediately gasped loudly and, within seconds, Elliot realized why as her weapon seemed to dematerialize before their very eyes.

"What have you done?! Why you!" screamed Rosewielder, charging towards the woman.

"Rosewielder, stop!" bellowed Elliot, fearing what might happen next. "I think she's a conjurer!"

At these words Rosewielder halted, panting heavily.

"Elliot, I believe she's the one who sent that dragon after us!" shouted Rosewielder.

"Yes, you are correct," said the woman calmly, suddenly stopping about eight feet from Rosewielder. "And yet, here you stand in the Lost Shrine of Tenzin."

"This is the lost shrine?" said Elliot with incredulity, gazing up at a rotunda shaped ceiling that showcased a magnificent display of what looked like people stylized in attire that went back through the ages, spanning across many cultures. Those who looked remotely human were joined by all manner of creatures which Elliot was certain were from folklore and legends.

"Yes, that's what I said, dream savior. You have been brought to the headquarters of the Mystic Council of Conjurers," said the woman. "My name is Wisteria and I am a council conjurer."

"Then you're exactly who I've been looking for," said Elliot, walking towards Rosewielder and placing his hand on her shoulder. "Calm down."

"Please follow me," said the woman, turning her back on them and steadily walking towards the pillars.

Elliot shrugged his shoulders at Rosewielder before hurriedly running to Wisteria's side. They started descending down a large flight of sparkling golden stairs, the all encompassing light revealing a dirt path at the end of the stairs which led into a forestry area.

"I must admit that this place is...enchanting," said Rosewielder, gazing around as the singing of many birds became audible. "I feel strangely at home here. It's like the energy surrounding us feels... familiar."

"That's because we are surrounded by otherworldly aura," said Wisteria as the group reached the dirt path. "This place is home to many spirits."

"Rosewielder, look up!" screamed Elliot, unable to contain his excitement as he peered into the sky, seeing groups of winged figures in brightly colored clothing gracefully zooming through the air, seemingly playing a game of tag. "What are those!"

"I've never seen such creatures. They don't seem to be from Fantasy Lotus," said Rosewielder, watching with interest as a pair flew into the forest ahead. "What exactly are they, Wisteria?"

"They are spirits like you," answered Wisteria as they came closer to the forest. "However, in this world humans call them fairies."

They, at last, reached the edge of the forest and proceeded forward, and it wasn't long before Elliot realized that this was no ordinary forest as he jumped in shock as a group of miniature bearded men wearing odd clothes, pointed hats, and brown boots came trudging towards them, carrying hammers, shovels, and other working equipment while others walked with wheelbarrows. They looked kindly up at Wisteria, coming within feet of them.

"Good evening, Lady Wisteria," said the foremost of them who was slightly taller than the rest, still only coming up to Elliot's knees.

"Good evening, Normandel," said Wisteria, stopping, her green eyes looking at Rosewielder and Elliot. "Elliot and Rosewielder, I would like you to meet the gnome people."

"Uh, hello," said Elliot nervously, watching their pink cheeks and comparatively larger eyes looking brightly up at them.

"It's nice to meet you," said Rosewielder, looking down at the short group.

"Hello, to you both," said Normandel, beaming up at them. "Pardon me, missy, but you look like an elf. I take it that you're a spirit like us?"

"Yes, I'm an Earth Elf and he's my conjurer," said Rosewielder, glancing smilingly at Elliot. "Who is your conjurer?" asked Rosewielder.

Rosewielder's question had an immediate and potent impact on the group as several gnomes lowered their heads after despondent looks replaced their smiles.

"Oh, missy, the one who brought us to this world, Joan Oakley of the Rhine, died many hundreds of years ago," answered Normandel sadly. "Humans, unfortunately, don't live as long as spirits."

"Yes, it's true that spirits naturally long outlive their human friends," said Wisteria sadly. "However, we must continue. Master Tenzin is awaiting our arrival."

The two groups bid each other farewell before resuming walk in opposite directions, Rosewielder looking worriedly towards Elliot.

So is Rosewielder immortal or something? I don't understand. That giant bug and that snake monster were both spirits and they've been destroyed.

"Wisteria, I have a question," said Elliot just as they came to a fork in the path .

"Ask it," said Wisteria, leading them to the right.

"You said that spirits live longer than humans. Why is that? Do they live forever?" asked Elliot, seeing Rosewielder turn her head towards him in his peripheral vision.

"No, spirits are mortal just as we are unless the conjurer grants them immortality upon summoning them. However, spirits possess stronger auras than humans, even conjurers," began Wisteria as they strolled down a path that cut through a group of extremely large flowers as well as other plants. "Therefore, life doesn't deplete their auras as quickly as it does ours."

"Then my aura will run out long before Rosewielder's does because I'm human and she's a spirit? That's what you're saying?" asked Elliot.

"Naturally, yes."

"Naturally," repeated Elliot, briefly glancing at dozens of cat sized hummingbirds as they perched on an enormous red flower. "You're suggesting that there's some unnatural way that I can prevent that?"

Wisteria turned to look at Elliot, her thin attractive face carefully surveying him as though debating on whether to tell him any more.

"By consuming youth elixirs from the otherworld, a human can substantially increase their lifespan," said Wisteria. For those of us who do this, our burden is heavy. However, it is now time for you to meet the master of this shrine."

They came to a wooden door attached to a structure that was almost entirely engulfed in flora, long vines weaving decoratively around the brick while thick moss carpeted much of the base. They watched as Wisteria retrieved a large copper colored key from her tunic, placed it into a circular keyhole of a rusty doorknob, and turned it until there was a distinct click. Wisteria then pushed the door open, holding it as Rosewielder and Elliot entered into what appeared to be a massive grassy plain in which there stood about a hundred individuals and bizarre beasts he'd never seen before. They were standing in a crowd that was facing something that Elliot could not quite see. Some of the onlookers looked like ordinary people while he was sure that others could not have been from his world. As they approached he noticed a small group of tall extremely fair individuals with pointed ears like Rosewielder's while a group of beings resembling beautiful women with claw like feet and bird wings hovered nearby. As they came closer he discovered that a set of white beasts he'd mistaken for horses actually had horns, perfectly representing the unicorns of fairy tails. Elliot could best describe the scene as a spectacle of beings that normally only existed within Folklore, myths, and legends.

"The otherworldly aura is so strong," said Rosewielder.

"That's due to their being a large number of spirits here," explained Wisteria.

Wisteria started leading them down an opening in the crowd and that's when Elliot saw it. Hovering in front of the crowd was an enormous red dragon which resembled the creatures of Chinese folklore, and sitting on its back was a person dressed in flowing white robes, their long hair floating on the wind. He knew it was the master of the Shrine. They came within five feet of the mouth of the dragon and Elliot gazed, dumbfounded at its magnificence. It's skin was composed of many diamond shaped scales while its nose was a golden color, complimenting its red skin and emerald eyes. Long pale horns sat atop of its head while whip like structures resembling whiskers moved in a rhythmic fashion, reminding Elliot of the dancing of a flame.

"Master Tenzin, I have found the conjurer and spirit who call themselves the dream saviors," said Wisteria before backing away and joining the crowd.

After affectionately petting the dragon behind one of its massive ears, Tenzin levitated off of the beast, coming to a standstill two feet before Rosewielder and Elliot. His gown-like robe concealed his feet. Tenzin looked not a day older than the statues of his likeness he'd seen back in the chamber. He smiled kindly, lowering his head to both Elliot and Rosewielder. Elliot returned the gesture while Rosewielder stared curiously at Tenzin.

"Elliot, why did you come here?" asked Tenzin in a friendly tone, studying him closely.

"I need to learn more about conjurers and spirits. I summoned two spirits that I think could be dangerous to humanity," admitted Elliot. "I gave them passage to this world. I need to learn how to destroy them if I'm forced to."

"Why did you summon these spirits?" asked Tenzin, placing his hands behind his back.

"I believed that they'd help me in my duty as the dream savior to make our world a better place," said Elliot.

"How did you summon them? What methods did you use?" asked Tenzin inquisitively.

"I actually have this ability to conjure things from my dreams," explained Elliot. "I accidentally-," he began, stopping as he watched the horrified expression on Tenzin's face. "Is there something wrong?" asked Elliot, alarmed.

Tenzin looked sadly down at the grass.

"It must have been hard for you to control your powers?" said Tenzin questioningly.

"Yes, at times it is, but I've gotten better," said Elliot.

"In the states, specifically, in California, there were reports of two unexplainable monsters. They were both spirits. The giant insect and the deplorable snake creature with four human heads were both spirits summoned by you? Correct?" asked Tenzin.

"Yes, those were accidents but how do you know that?" asked Elliot surprisedly.

"We wish to serve the world by protecting it from evil spirits and conjurers who abuse their powers, risking contamination of both our world and the otherworld. Therefore we, council members, ensure that we're aware of what's going on in the world by following worldly news that might divulge useful information. Also, whenever you summon anything it takes a small portion of your aura. I know the spirit beside you was summoned by you because I sense some of your aura in her. I'm saddened that you've been inflicted with such a burden, but proud that these evil spirits weren't intentionally summoned by you."

"I don't think Elliot's powers are a burden," said Rosewielder staunchly. "He used them to bring me here. There are many wonderful experiences we've shared together that wouldn't be possible if he didn't have those powers."

"That may be true, however, those experiences are not enough to make up for the havoc that might be unleashed if he unintentionally summons a spirit like Yama did," said Tenzin with resolve. "I wish for you both to come with me."

The Master of the Shrine

Tenzin began levitating off of the grass until he was hovering above the head of the dragon which had not moved.

"Wisteria, tell everyone their duties in our conflict with the Black Knights," said Tenzin as he took seat on the dragon. "You are the leader of the shrine in my absence."

"I understand, my dear," said Wisteria, walking out from in between a group of bluish skinned individuals, turning to face the crowd of onlookers.

The dragon lowered its head so that it was touching the grass.

"This is Fai, my spirit companion," explained Tenzin as he pet the dragon's ears. "Please take seat on Fai."

Elliot and Rosewielder looked cautiously at each other.

"I assure you that he's no danger to those I do not consider my enemies," said Tenzin lightheartedly.

Elliot climbed on board the dragon's neck, feeling the creature's rough skin rub against his clothes while Rosewielder hoisted herself on from the opposite side. They quickly elevated as the beast raised its head off the ground, and Elliot tightened his legs around the creature's long body, determined not to fall off. He felt Rosewielder grab hold of him as the creature surged forward with great speed, the wind slapping coolly against them. They rapidly increased altitude and, when Elliot looked back, he noticed that they'd already traveled a substantial distance as the shrine was now far behind him, seeing a large golden dome structure that he was sure was the outside of the chamber they'd been in when they arrived at the shrine.

"I will now tell you the story of how I became the master of the shrine," said Tenzin as they flew above a large field peppered with Tibetan lambs. "I was born in Southern Tibet in the year 551 BC. As a child I would help my father and mother tend to the livestock and put food on the table."

"550 BC?" said Elliot. "That would make you over a thousand years old."

"Then you've consumed youth elixirs?" said Rosewielder curiously.

"Yes, I do, everyday, in fact," said Tenzin. "The event that led me to do so occurred a little less than a decade after my childhood. I'd met a young woman named Yama from a neighboring village. She was sweet and compassionate. After all these years memories of her seem like nothing more than the vague indulgences of a pleasant dream. However, I do remember that we used to journey through the snake's belly as we discussed the tribulations of day to day living during that era. Life was often short and cruel. I believe that's the place," said Tenzin as they flew over a sublimely aesthetic mountainous region with a small flattened pathway that winded erratically through the surrounding terrain. "Yama had told me stories of how her family struggled merely to feed themselves. This was a reality which many people shared in the few surrounding villages," began Tenzin sadly. "It was a couple weeks after I'd met her, during one of our strolls, that she learned of her powers."

"You mean she was a conjurer?" asked Rosewielder as they flew over a part of the mountain sprinkled with snow.

"Yes, but she was a conjurer with a unique ability. Can you guess what that ability was?" asked Tenzin.

"She was like me. She could tap into the otherworld through her dreams," said Elliot. "That's what you're saying?"

"You are correct, Elliot. She was what I now call a dream conjurer. I recall the day when she brought me to a hidden area a small ways away from her village, surrounded by grass and bushes, and showed me huge pots of rice, noodles, soups and other foods, things that were considered delicacies back then. Naturally, I was dumbfounded as to how she'd acquired the items and that's when she disclosed to me that she'd retrieved them from her dreams."

"Did you believe her? What did you think?" asked Elliot eagerly.

"I was skeptical of such a claim, but, perhaps, not as skeptical as someone who'd never heard of the concept of the otherworld," explained Tenzin. "Back in those days, there was one particular village elder who my father claimed to have conjured a wooden staff right before his very eyes, apparently out of nowhere. His name was Dawa. I urged Yama to meet with Dawa to see the legitimacy of her claims and, after watching her sleep one night, he described how objects unexplainably materialized in her hands just as she awoke. Dawa believed her power to be a blessing and a curse, realizing that Yama's imagination was filled with the turbulence and emotions of a young woman inexperienced with conjuring. He offered to train her, but ordered her to wear a ring he'd constructed that would disrupt her aura, preventing her from accessing the otherworld while dreaming. She refused."

"She refused? But why? I don't understand. He was trying to help her, was he not?" asked Roswielder.

"I believe that having the power to feed her entire village was too much for her to relinquish," explained Tenzin just as they passed by a group of clouds. "It wasn't long after that when the black dragon came."

"The black dragon?" said Elliot questioningly. "Do you mean she conjured a...dragon?"

"Yes. In fact, it was right here, in this very location, where it happened," said Tenzin as Fai, the dragon, abruptly stopped above a flat barren impression on the mountain littered with rocks. "I'd been gathering berries a good ways away in preparation for a family celebration for my father's birthday when I heard it, a bone chilling sound. It was the roar of the black dragon and, upon looking up, I saw an enormous beast hovering over my village. The next thing I knew, a hellish fire descended upon my home. Everyone I'd cared for died that day, including Yama."

"I'm sorry, Tenzin," said Elliot, staring down at what used to be Tenzin's home. "You're certain that the dragon came from Yama's dreams?

"Yes, Dawa and I tried convincing her to let him teach her how to access the otherworld through meditation and focus but were unsuccessful," explained Tenzin.

"May I ask what happen to the black dragon?" said Rosewielder compassionately.

"It was defeated by my own hand six years later," answered Tenzin. "After seeing the powers of the conjurers I vowed to prevent other catastrophes by becoming a conjurer, myself, and using my abilities to destroy evil spirits and people who intentionally summoned them. I traveled the world in search of people like Dawa and met a foreign mystic conjurer by the name of William Flamel. We discovered that my aura was strong enough for me to become a conjurer. Under his tutelage I developed the skills of meditation, focus, visualization, the requirements necessary for safely tapping into the otherworld. Master Flamel said my aura was powerful, even for a conjurer. This became apparent when I conjured Fai without depleting my natural aura."

"I understand. Larger spirit items require more aura from the conjurer. I learned that the hard way," said Elliot as Fai began moving forward again.

"Yes, you are correct, but it's not just the size of the spirit item or spirit. Spirits and items that possess powerful abilities drain more aura from the conjurer," explained Tenzin. "I discovered that my dragon, Fai, was more powerful than Yama's as we both waged war on the black dragon, eventually defeating it after two days and two nights. Nevertheless, I knew my work was not done. I consumed youth elixirs from the otherworld which increased my lifespan, all the while taming my conjuring abilities through the centuries, until I was able to conjure my own shrine. The Shrine of Tenzin is a sanctuary for spirits in a world that is not yet ready for them."

"Why isn't the world ready for us?" asked Rosewielder irritably. "This world is our home too."

"I agree with you completely," said Tenzin. "However, humans sometimes fear what they can't control. As a spirit, you have powers that humans will never know unless they tap into the magic of the otherworld. Unless you are killed, you will live hundreds, possibly, thousands, of years."

"So, what will happen to me?" asked Rosewielder. "What will happen to us a hundred years from now?"

"Elliot will have to make the Conjurer's choice," answered Tenzin.

Tenzin looked back at Elliot, his tranquil black eyes studying him.

"He must decide whether to consume youth elixirs to continue living by your side or to live a normal human lifespan."

"Don't worry, Rosewielder. We'll figure something out," said Elliot, trying to convince himself.

Tenzin gave him a hopeful look before turning back towards the front.

"Elliot, when did you first learn that you were a dream conjurer?" asked Tenzin as Fai approached a high grassy cliff.

"It was recently. About a month ago I noticed that I could take things out of my dreams."

"You've never been able to tap into the otherworld before that point? Is that correct?" asked Tenzin.

"Yes, before the accident I couldn't conjure anything."

"Accident? What do you mean?" asked Tenzin.

"A car accident left me with a concussion. I was in the hospital for a while," explained Elliot.

"That's quite intriguing," said Tenzin thoughtfully as Fai began descending closer to the cliff, its enormous wings riffling the surrounding grass until eventually landing with unbelievable gentleness for a creature of its size.

Tenzin quickly levitated off of Fai and flew towards the edge of the cliff before landing. Rosewielder and Elliot hopped off the dragon and walked over to Tenzin, looking around at the grassy mountain landscape.

"What is it, Tenzin? You have something on your mind. I know you do," said Rosewielder, studying him.

"Do you think my concussion gave me my conjuring powers?" asked Elliot.

"No, I do not. I believe that you already possessed the potential to be a conjurer. It's possible that the accident may have simply warped your dormant abilities," explained Tenzin, still gazing ahead at the splendid horizon. "Conjurers naturally have stronger auras than non-conjurers. This allows them to access the otherworld. A concussion wouldn't affect the aura you possess but it may have modified your powers."

"To think that I had these powers in me the whole time. It's unbelievable," said Elliot, looking down at his hands.

"Tenzin, before we left, you mentioned something called the Black Knights. Who are they?" asked Rosewielder suddenly.

"They are an alliance of rogue conjurers and spirits that the council has been battling for centuries now. We have reason to believe that they're responsible for the missing status of many people. Despite that, we've been unable to determine the identity of their leader. They are experts at hiding their tracks," explained Tenzin with disgust.

"Maybe that's what we should be doing as dream saviors, Elliot. What if we should be fighting with the council against threats like the Black Knights," said Rosewielder.

"No, your focus should not be on the Black Knights. You both have more important matters at hand. I have a request for you, Elliot," said Tenzin, turning around, giving him an earnest expression.

"What is it?" asked Elliot.

"I knew deep down that this day would come again, the day when I would meet another dream conjurer," said Tenzin, placing his hand in his robe and pulling out something small. "Over a thousand years ago Dawa failed to convince Yama to wear a ring such as the ring I hold in my hand. This led to a disaster. A millennia later, I ask you,Elliot, to wear this ring, preventing you from accessing the otherworld in your dreams. In exchange, the council will teach you our style of conjuring. You'll be able to control what you conjure into our world but it will require from you intense focus, visualization, and meditation. Do you accept my offer?"

Elliot glanced at Rosewielder who was looking at him with the same earnestness that Tenzin wore.

"I"ll admit that being a dream conjurer is rewarding at times. That's how I summoned Rosewielder and Mr. Winslow Jr. but I've summoned my share of evil spirits. It's time for me to clean up my past mistakes. I accept," said Elliot, holding out his hand.

Tenzin walked forward, placing a simple silverfish ring in his hand but, as it touched Elliot's palm, he experienced a peculiar sensation which he could best describe as feeling like the energy in his body was being drawn to the ring.

"It feels strange," said Elliot.

"It could take some time getting used to but you must promise me to wear this ring whenever you're not practicing your conjuring," said Tenzin in a strict voice.

"I will," said Elliot. "But there are two spirits I summoned that are on the run. I thought they would help me in my quest as a dream savior but they turned against me."

"The council will search for them but if you wish to defeat them then it's imperative that you focus on your conjurer training. Fortunately, there is a fellow conjurer, a friend of mine, who resides near you. Her name is Elvira Springs and she lives in the states at a house in California with the address 3870 Wisteria Springs," explained Tenzin.

"That's Julie's house!" said Elliot surprisedly.

"Yes, she has a granddaughter named Julie, if I recall. It seems that you two have already been acquainted."

"How do you know Julie's grandmother?" asked Elliot with interest.

"Elvira is a distant descendant of the woman who has encaged my heart, Adelphia, but you two know her as Wisteria. She and I, both, have taught Elvira everything she knows about conjuring and the otherworld," explained Tenzin.

"How long have you known Wisteria?" asked Rosewielder eagerly.

"I met Adelphia in the year 150 AD. So, I've been blessed with knowing her a very long time," said Tenzin, his expression becoming dreamy eyed as his previous seriousness heavily dissipated.

However, within seconds, his face sharpened once again.

"She'd been a slave woman in Rome for several years after her country was invaded. She faced many hardships, being taken advantage of by those in power. It was often too much for her to bare and, after many fits of extreme rage, she unknowingly accessed the otherworld, conjuring a malicious spirit. Adelphia's conjuring was unintentional and this was reflected by creature's imperfections. It was grotesque, humanoid but beastly, and extremely dangerous. The Roman townspeople called it a golem. This creature killed many people," explained Tenzin.

"That's horrible," said Rosewielder with shock.

"Yes, it was an unfortunate occurrence. Naturally, upon hearing of this creature with inhuman strength, allowing it to destroy entire armies of soldiers, I visited the city and, with great effort, defeated it. However, I decided to remain in the city to determine the creature's conjurer and that's when I found Adelphia. I'd never seen such misery in one person before meeting her and, yet, I was strangely drawn to her. I took her from the place which caused her so much pain and she became the first of many students of mine as well as the one I loved. She vowed to save more lives than the amount of lives the golem had taken. She succeeded but wished to continue her work, preventing other evil spirits from harming this world."

"Then she's consumed youth elixirs as well, hasn't she?" asked Rosewielder. "That's what's allowed you both to stay together for so long."

"Yes, but make no mistake. We consume youth elixirs not for selfish reasons like romancing our hearts. We continue on to fulfill the duties that we each feel obligated to. If one of us dies in a battle with a spirit or a conjurer that is too powerful for us to defeat then the other will live on and continue with the council's work," answered Tenzin with resolve. "It is now time for us to go our separate ways. We will meet again."

"What about my sword? Wisteria destroyed it," said Rosewielder just as Tenzin walked swiftly towards her. "My magic isn't working either."

He held up his arm, touching Rosewielder's forehead with his index and ring fingers, causing a bright white light to appear accompanied by a soft chiming sound. Elliot curiously walked over to them.

"Please think about what your sword looked like and any powers it possessed and I will conjure for you an exact copy," said Tenzin, closing his eyes.

"Okay," said Rosewielder, closing her eyes as well.

Within a few moments, a sword identical to Rosewielder's materialized in Tenzin's hands.

"It is done. Here is your sword," said Tenzin, handing it to Rosewielder just as she opened her eyes.

"Thank you, but what about my powers. How will we get back home?" she asked, examining the weapon before sheathing it. "I can't teleport right now."

"I unblocked your aura, Rosewielder. Wisteria weakened your powers by manipulating your aura because she was unsure if you both were enemies of the council. I trust you and, so, I unblocked it. You should be able to use your teleportation," said Tenzin, finally stepping away.

"Are you ready to go home, Elliot?" asked Rosewielder, turning to him and placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Just about. I still have one question for you. Was it the council that destroyed the objects I had earlier in Lhasa?" he asked.

"Yes, the council is aware of any spirits and spirit devices in the areas close to the shrine. Wisteria was following the rules of the council. Only under rare circumstances is it allowed for conjurers to give spirit items to those who don't know of our world. Spirit items may have powers that can be dangerous in the hands of humans unaware of their true nature. I will send a team to detain any items you've given to non-conjurers," explained Tenzin.

"But I'm certain those items were just regular things. I don't think they had any magical powers or anything," argued Elliot. "The people I gave them to look like they needed them."

"Even if that's true, we cannot risk this world being saturated with spirit items. If governments get possession of them then suspicion might spread. Our world might be exposed. It's simply too risky."

Elliot sighed. "Well, alright, but the people I gave them to won't be happy," he said, turning towards Rosewielder.

"Elvira informed me of a cat spirit that you summoned. We'll allow it to remain in her care but please know the council's rules stipulate that a conjurer can only summon a single spirit companion. You've already summoned many spirits into our world. Elvira will show you the ins and outs of conjuring so that you won't accidentally summon more spirits. Exercise great caution from now on."

"I will. I'm ready, Rosewielder and I thank you, Tenzin," said Elliot, looking hopefully at him. "I'm no longer in the dark about my own powers and my path is clearer."

Tenzin bowed. They both returned the gesture this time.

"Farewell, dreamsaviors."

Rosewielder then used her teleportation to transport them both and, after a short time, Rosewielder and Elliot were standing back in his room. It was 5:13 p.m. He untied the bag of jade from around him before sitting it next to his bed.

"I guess I can't be robin hood anymore," said Elliot, sitting on his bed.

"You heard what Tenzin said. You have to began your conjurer training," said Rosewielder, taking out her sword and placing it under the bed.

She then walked over to Elliot, taking a seat beside him.

"Truthfully, I am shaken by some of the things Tenzin said. I didn't know that I'd live so much longer than humans. I'm not sure I want to either. I mean, what would I do in all that time? Where would I go? Would there come a day when I wake up and my time with you be nothing more than memories, a dream?" asked Rosewielder, her eyes looking at Elliot as though expecting him to have the answer.

"Do you want me to stay with you? I will consume youth elixirs for as long as I have to for you. We could continue being together for a very long time," said Elliot, gently placing his hand on her cheek.

"No, Elliot, I would never support you keeping yourself alive just to satisfy my own desires. If I did then I'd be making a decision just as selfish as when you brought me into this world," she answered, placing her hand upon his, its saintly touch causing a blissful sensation to disperse through his body, momentarily erasing all other concerns. "You need to live a normal life with other humans like your family and friends."

"No, Rosewielder. What I need is you."

Elliot brought his lips to Rosewielder's and the two embraced warmly, peering keenly into each other's eyes, Elliot wishing he could sink into the amethyst oceans before him and remain there forever. He placed his hands softly on the sides of her head, gazing at her.

"You are my spirit partner, my Fair Elf Princess, and I am your conjurer. Some of my aura is inside you. You may come from the otherworld but that which makes you you came from inside my dreams, my soul. I won't let you walk this world alone, without me, because...we are one."

The Mystic Arts

When the weekend finally came to a close, the reports of the other spirits he'd conjured, namely the snake monster and the giant stinkbug, were finally beginning to run out of steam with government officials appearing to remain tight lipped about any evidence they'd found at the scenes. However, on Monday morning upon coming down to breakfast, he learned that something else reared its big ugly head on the morning media.

"Hello, honey," said his mother," busily whipping up a plate of scrambled eggs as he took his seat at the table across from Faiga who was hectically polishing the side of her violin. "Did you enjoy your extended weekend?"

"Hello, mom," said Elliot, grabbing up a glass of milk on the table and lightly sipping from it. "Yes, it was a much needed vacation."

"Hello, big bro," said Faiga before putting her instrument into its case. "Did you see the news about the dream saviors? People are calling them frauds."

Elliot spat out his milk in disgust.

"What?! What do you mean?" he said angrily, turning towards the television screen just as Mr. Clementine came walking into the kitchen dressed impeccably in a black suit and light blue tie.

"Morning, everyone," he said, taking a seat across from Faiga. "Today will be a busy one at work. I have to attend another meeting."

"They sure are making you go to a lot of meetings, dear," said Mrs. Clementine before bringing over a large clear bowl of scrambled eggs and placing it in the middle of the table by a plate of sausages.

"Well, I can't complain. It's my job," said Mr. Clementine proudly.

Mrs. Clementine finally took a seat across from Elliot who was trying to listen to the television over their voices, seeing several people he recognized as people he'd given his spirit items to with apologetic looks on their faces.

"How about we try this, big bro," said Faiga, watching him, picking up the remote, and turning the volume up.

"I have no idea why those gold coins disappeared after selling them to that guy! Beats me!" yelled a frizzy haired bearded man into the mic of an attractive red haired female reporter. "I know I had nothing to do with it! They can try suing me if they want! I did not steal them back!"

"Well, it seems that the bizarre chain of events that started roughly at the beginning of this month are continuing. We have many reports of at least a hundred people who've claimed to have received these treasures from the group calling themselves the dream saviors, saying that the items simply disappeared," said the news reporter, putting the mic up to her mouth.

So,Tenzin wasn't kidding. The council really did confiscate the spirit items that I gave to people. How will I salvage my image? But wait. I can't worry about that right now. I must focus on my conjurer training. Maybe the training will make me a better dream savior. Today, I'll go see Julie's grandmother, Elvira.

Elliot reluctantly turned his head from the television, grabbing a large spoon, and putting eggs on his place.

"What do you think, mom and dad?" asked Faiga once the channel went to a commercial break.

"As long as mother and those people at the Masonville Hospital stay as healthy as their claiming the dream saviors made them, I feel no ill will towards our invisible heroes," said Mr. Clementine before taking a large bite out of a sausage.

"Although the news is upsetting, I agree with your father. I pray that both Ai and the people from the hospital stay well. That is all I ask from the dream saviors," said Mrs. Clementine.

That's right! What about Grandma Wu or the people from the hospital! The council wouldn't reverse Rosewielder's magic! Would they?

"Big bro, are you okay?" asked Faiga suddenly.

Elliot looked up, seeing his sister studying him with concern.

"You've done it again. You've zoned us out."

"I'm fine. I'm just thinking about how strange the situation is. I agree. It would be extremely cruel if the dream saviors reversed their deeds on the sick people they helped cure. I would never forgive them if they did," said Elliot adamantly.

"I hope Grandma Wu stays the way she is too," said Faiga worriedly.

"That's all we can do, Faiga," said Mr. Clementine.

They continued breakfast with Faiga and his parents resuming to study the news while Elliot purposefully tuned it out. Before long it was time for him to go to school. After saying their farewells Elliot grabbed his backpack and followed his father out the door. He waited for him to back his Buick out of the garage as he drove to work before he headed to school. After waiting for nearly a minute for old Ms. Kline to hobble across the neighborhood street with her cane, he took off, letting the window down and turning to the classical music channel, now playing Orff's Carmina Burana: O Fortuna. As he sat there, relishing the music and driving through traffic, he began pondering his choice, the Conjurer's choice, imagining how his life would be if he decided to use youth elixirs. Would he be like Tenzin, living thousands of years? Would he have to see Cody, Abha, and Ezzena...die?

I know that mom and dad won't live forever. I know that most people eventually lose their parents but what about Faiga? Will I have to see her die before me? Will I live to see Faiga's mind degrade like Grandma Wu's did. No, I'm a conjurer. I could let them consume the elixirs I conjure so they could live by Rosewielder's and my side. But Tenzin said we can't expose non-conjurers to our world. Darn it! The more I think about the choice the harder it gets. I was so certain before and now I don't know. I just down't know.

Elliot suddenly heard a loud honking sound from behind just as a red pick-up truck sped by his side, the driver furiously shouting something derogatory out the window, before zooming off. He looked around and realized he was sitting idly at a green light before putting his foot on the gas and continuing to school. Upon entering the building his attention became shared by both his academic studies as well as what his conjurer training would be like. He'd only been traveling for a short while when a familiar voice from behind caused him to look over his shoulder, seeing Cody striding towards him, his expression ecstatic.

"Elliot, how's it going, buddy?" he asked brightly. "I'm glad to see you haven't been abducted by the aliens yet."

"Aliens?" said Elliot confusedly as they turned the corner, approaching their lockers.

"That snake thingy that abducted Mr. Martel and Mrs. Langway. I know it was an alien. I have a theory that it took some of their DNA and that's how it gave itself a human head," said Cody enthusiastically, putting his backpack in his locker.

"You have some crazy theories, Cody," said Elliot. "We'll probably never know what that thing was or where it came from."

He shut his locker door after retrieving the texts he needed and the pair made their way to chemistry class, Cody continuing to assemble increasingly weirder theories about the events at the school until they took their seats in the classroom. After a couple more minutes of half listening to Cody's crazy stories, Elliot decided he'd heard enough, claiming that he wished to look over his notes in quiet and suggesting that Cody do the same. It wasn't long until about half of the class had arrived, but Elliot noticed that their teacher, Ms. Rosenberg, who normally always came in before most of the students, had still not entered. About thirty seconds before the bell rang she entered the classroom, her red hair appearing slightly unkept as she held her head down and there was an immediate lowering in the voices of his peers. Elliot glanced around the room, noticing something odd. Nearly half of the seats were empty.

"Hello, class," Ms. Rosenberg said in a depressed voice, placing a red handbag besides her teacher's desk and removing papers. "I will begin with the lesson in a moment."

The rest of that class proved to be one of the oddest he'd ever experienced in his life as their teacher adopted an unnatural, almost robotic, way of teaching, only seeming to look at the students when someone raised their hand. She then responded with a monotone voice, but, Elliot had the distinct impression she was holding back an emotional outburst. After a lengthy presentation about Boyle's law, Ms. Rosenberg dismissed them five minutes early. Most people expressed their joy, sneaking glances at their mp3 players(which were prohibited during school hours) and yet Ms. Rosenberg didn't seem to notice. Feeling guilty, he purposefully took his time gathering his things, thinking to stay behind and cheer her up.

"See you, buddy," said Cody, before heading towards the door.

"Later, man."

Elliot stood up and cautiously approached his teacher who was looking down at a yellow notebook. Her eyes were still.

"Hello, Ms. Rosenberg, how are you?" asked Elliot nervously.

"Not well at all, I'm afraid."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he began. "The events of last week have been stressing for us all."

She looked up, her brown eyes, surrounded by red.

"You are correct, Elliot. I, myself, have been accused of sorcery by my church and, therefore, suspended. Everywhere I go people whisper stories about seeing my face on that... that thing," cried Ms. Rosenberg. "All I've ever tried to do is teach and help educate young people. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to continue doing that with things the way they are. Nearly half of those previously enrolled in my classes have been pulled out by their parents, and for good reason. Who wants some monster like me anywhere near their kids."

"You're not a monster, Ms. Rosenberg," said Elliot reassuringly. "You are a great teacher and a good person. I know you had nothing to do with that thing."

"Thank you, Elliot. You're one of the few people who believe that. I can only think of what demon is responsible for releasing such a foul creature into this world. It wouldn't surprise me if it was satan, himself."

Elliot hesitated, opening and closing his mouth several times, before finally speaking.

"I have to go, Ms. Rosenberg. I hope things get better," he said.

"Thank you, again, and goodbye."

Elliot soon learned that the same miseries reflected in Ms. Rosenberg had inflicted his AP History teacher, Mr. Bennet. His class, like Ms. Rosenberg's, had a significant portion missing and many students who did attend treated their teacher with suspicious apprehension. Mr. Bennett replaced his usual outgoing demeanor with an overly careful and nervous attitude, looking desperately towards the class as he waited for someone to answer his questions. Julie usually came to his rescue. In fact, the only two who acted completely normal in the entire classroom were himself and Julie who'd oddly taken a seat right beside him, repeatedly shooting dark glances over at him and shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Okay, class. That's it for today. Remember to read the highlighted sections about the Byzantine Empire," he said anxiously moments after the bell rang.

Elliot grabbed his books and took two steps towards Mr. Bennett when he felt a strong pressure enclose around his wrist, holding him back. He looked around and saw Julie grabbing him, her expression exceptionally serious. He looked worriedly towards Mr. Bennett before following Julie out of the classroom.

"Do you see what you've done," she hissed angrily into his ear. "Your reckless conjuring could ruin people's reputations and lose them their jobs, Elliot."

"I'm sorry, Julie," he said.

"That's not enough. You are to come to my house today and you and granny will begin your conjurer training," she explained. "And bring...Rosewielder."

"How do you-," he began before she spoke over him.

"Tenzin told granny everything. She told me to keep an eye on you for now on," said Julie. "Please be there no later than 3:00 and try to stay out of trouble before then."

Julie turned and sped away and, after examining his watch, he ran as fast as he could to his PE class, unwilling to suffer an extra lap due to being tardy. Elliot burst into the gym, panting heavily, and was met with a chaotic scene. Mr. Martel was getting in a heated shouting match with several boys who were folding their arms and shaking their heads resistantly.

"THERE ARE NO MORE MONSTERS IN THIS SCHOOL!" roared Mr. Martel, his veins throbbing on his neck.

"How do you know that? I don't want to end up being eaten by some dumb monster!" yelled Jason, running his hands through his short hair.

"THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN CHECKED MANY TIMES! THERE ARE NO MONSTERS IN HERE!" bellowed Mr. Martel, shaking his finger at Jason.

"I just don't know if I can trust you, man. One of those snake things looked like you," said a tall Latino boy, shrugging and throwing up his hands. "I don't mess with magic and voodoo stuff."

"I DON"T PERFORM MAGIC!!!" roared Mr. Martel, infuriated, his face truly terrifying. "I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS CRAP ALL DAY! I"M SICK OF IT!! IF YOU DON"T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME THEN GET OUT!!

About five boys, including Jason, stormed defiantly off towards the locker rooms to remove their gym clothes while Mr. Martel angrily blew his whistle, signaling for the remainder of the class, a total of about nine people, to perform their laps. The rest of that period went very smoothly as not one person pestered Elliot, him and the remaining students having carte blanche over the gym equipment. When it was over he tiredly changed and headed off to his AP English class.

Upon arrival, he discovered his classmates were rowdier than usual and that's when he remembered the news claiming that Mrs. Langway had retired due to the previous incidents at the school. Elliot calmly opened his AP English textbook, deciding to review his homework. With great difficulty, he tuned out the frantic gossiping of his classmates for several minutes until a sudden deviation in the noise caused him to look up and discover a tall man with short dark hair, walking slowly into the room. He had a neat black goatee and was wearing a black suit and white shirt, decorated with a purplish tie. He turned towards them smilingly, looking around before speaking.

"Hello, students. My name is Mr. Anghelescu. However, feel free to call me Mr. Anghel. I will be your new AP English teacher. I've been informed that you have homework due today. Is that correct?" he asked.

Several people answered simultaneously and the class began handing up their homework. He walked to the front of each row, receiving the stack of papers. Afterwards, Mr. Anghel flipped open his teacher's edition textbook and began going over important literary terms they needed to know for the upcoming midterm exam which was now only two days away. As the class progressed, Elliot found himself entertained, watching Mr. Anghel's enthusiasm as he hastily responded to everyone's questions, creatively comparing art with English.

"Every word has an explicit and exact purpose just as every stroke of the brush brings a painting closer to its perceived completion. The syntax and diction are the parts of your word puzzle. As an artist of words you must master the the rules to paint your perfect puzzle," he answered after someone had questioned him on the importance of the terms.

Although he was still ashamed of causing Mrs. Langway's retirement, Elliot was deeply impressed with his new teacher and, apparently, so were many others as many girls giggled admiringly every time Mr. Anghel made a reference to art. Even several individuals in the back who always slept through Mrs. Langway's lectures were watching Mr. Anghel amusedly as if they were at the movies for free.

"Please read pages 109-118 and answer the questions under the section Your Thoughts?" requested Mr. Anghel after the bell rang.

They were then dismissed. Wasting no time, Elliot hastily traveled to his locker, and after getting his supplies for the following day and squeezing through the crowd of other students, headed out the school's entrance and to his car.

So they want me to bring Rosewielder during my training? I wonder what for? Will they be training her as well?

Elliot hopped in his corvette and began his ride home, his mind wandering uncomfortably to his teachers for some time before he turned on to Riverdale Road.

I can't believe those spirits caused so much trouble for my teachers. I didn't summon them on purpose. People really think Ms. Rosenberg is a witch? That's just crazy. She's a victim, a victim of my mistakes. I must find a way to correct the damage I've done.

Elliot turned into Rhodesia Paradies, carefully decreasing his speed as he approached a petite woman walking a large Golden retriever, before hastily backing into the garage. He quickly got out and went through the side door, seeing Faiga, standing by the counter, eating a pink frosted chocolate cupcake.

"Hey, big bro," she said, setting the cupcake down before hugging him tightly. "You didn't see any monsters in school today, did you?"

"Nope," he said as she released him. "Where'd you get those from?"

"Our orchestra teacher gave them to us as a reward for a good performance. Feel free to try one," said Faiga, picking the cupcake back up.

"I will," he said, removing one of the cupcakes from a crumpled piece of aluminum foil before heading towards the stairs.

He headed upstairs and, upon opening his door, saw Rosewielder standing across the room, looking out the window. He closed the door behind him and Rosewielder turned towards him with a lonely expression.

"Hey, Rosewielder, are you okay?" he asked, bringing the cupcake over to his desk.

"I don't know, Elliot," she said, sitting down at his desk. "For some reason I've become fascinated with watching the people and animals of your neighborhood live their daily lives."

"What's so fascinating about that?" asked Elliot, checking his watch.

"It's difficult to put my finger on it," she said, turning her head towards the window again. "When I look at that bird perched on the branch a feeling of envy courses through me when I see it fly away and return, undaunted of being seen. I'm not making any sense," said Rosewielder, looking back at Elliot and placing her hands on her forehead frustratingly.

"No, I understand what you're feeling," said Elliot, studying her. "You feel caged. Is that it?"

She sighed.

"Yes, I do," said Rosewielder, watching him shamefully. "I know I'm a spirit but I feel so...shackled. The thought of those fairies playing carefree in Tenzin's shrine keeps gnawing at me."

"Would you rather live in the shrine?" asked Elliot slowly.

"No, I would not," answered Rosewielder. "I wish to stay here with you."

"I'm afraid you've lost me," said Elliot, scratching his head.

"I dislike being cooped up in here alone. It's fine when you're here but during the day it's... abhorrent," answered Rosewielder. "You're not caged in a box by yourself all day when you're at school, are you?"

"Ah, now I get it," said Elliot, smiling. "Video games and television no longer do it for you, do they?"

"No, they do not."

"Rosewielder, why don't you just visit Tenzin's shrine during the day and come back here whenever you're ready," suggested Elliot.

"I could really do that?" asked Rosewielder in disbelief.

"Why not? You're a spirit after all. You should get to know other spirits at the shrine. Just use your teleportation," explained Elliot. "You might even find other elves up there."

"That would be a pleasure. The problem is that I have no idea how to get to the shrine. If you recall, we were both swallowed by that dragon," explained Rosewielder, shrugging. "The next thing we knew, we were in the shrine."

"Yes, but remember what Tenzin said? The council can detect any spirits that are close to the shrine. If you teleport to Lhasa then I'm certain they'd know you were there. Maybe Wisteria will have another dragon gobble you up," laughed Elliot. "Tenzin did say his shrine was a sanctuary for spirits."

"Very funny, Elliot," said Rosewielder, blushing. "You have convinced me to check it out on my own though."

"Very well, but we should get going in a short while," said Elliot, noticing that it was now 2:45.

"They desire my presence as well?" asked Rosewielder, aghast.

"Yes. They may want to train you too."

"Do you wish to use my teleportation or would you rather us ride in that snail-mobile of yours?" she asked before laughing.

"Snail-mobile. That's a good one. You're practicing your sarcasm. I don't think Julie's grandmother wants us there while we're invisible and it would look suspicious if we just appeared out of thin air in Julie's neighborhood. We drive," answered Elliot. "But before we go I have something for you."

Elliot picked up the chocolate cupcake and gave it to Rosewielder who held out her hand, taking it, and examining it.

"This is a sort of pastry? Is that correct?" she asked, bringing it to her nose.

"Yeah, it's for you."

"You mean that it's for us," said Rosewielder, using her hands to break the cupcake in two. "We are half of one whole. Remember?"

She then gave one half to Elliot.

"Thanks," he said, surprised.

Each bit into their half, watching the other, and Elliot felt as though his cheeks had turned just as red as Rosewielder's joyous face. He couldn't help it. Her godly gaze had long unclouded the windows to his soul, rendering them transparent. She was the one person he could hide nothing from.

After their snack they carefully journeyed downstairs, grateful that neither his parents nor Faiga had yet arrived home, and got into Elliot's car. The pair embarked to Julie's house, Elliot allowing Rosewielder to delight in many loud rounds of rock music while he yearned for classical. They were nearing the halfway point when Elliot's ears were unexpectedly soothed by Mozart's Marriage of Figaro Overture.

"Rosewielder? Are you okay? I didn't think you liked this type of music," said Elliot, palming the steering wheel.

"I thought you would."

"Thanks."

Elliot savored the classics for the rest of the drive while Rosewielder looked out the window, possessing the keenest interest in the day to day minutiae of suburbia, studying the other drivers, watching the pedestrians, and pointing at the countless passing buildings. They finally pulled into the driveway in the nick of time. It was 2:58. After ensuring Rosewielder's pointed ears were hidden by her hair, and that she looked relatively normal, they got out and walked to the door. Elliot reached for the door when it opened before he'd made contact. It was not Julie who stood before them but a very old woman with a thin nose, long gray hair, and earrings resembling half moons. She wore a long jet black robe.

"You are here for conjurer training?" she questioned, her eyes jumping from him to Rosewielder.

"Yes," said Elliot.

"Come in," she said shortly.

They stepped inside, Rosewielder creating a ringing sound as the top of her head grazed the metallic half moon and star shaped objects which dangled from the rack by the front door.

"You must be Julie's grandmother, Elvira?" said Elliot just as the woman hastily closed the door.

"Yes," she said. "Please follow me."

Elliot and Rosewielder were led through the front hallway and pass the living room. They approached the same hall he'd traveled through with Julie during his first visit but continued passed it until reaching a doorway that was concealed with black curtains. Elvira pushed open the curtains, beckoning them into a room that smelled of incense and was filled with many white candles strategically placed in such a way that they formed a circle around the jam-packed area. There were several wooden tables weighed down with numerous black books with golden writing as well as oddly shaped metallic devices that Elliot had never seen. Towards the corner of the room, occupying one of four brownish pillows upon a grayish carpet, was Julie. She was sitting with her legs crossed with her hands in her lap in a similar fashion to the statue of Tenzin in the shrine. Her head jerked in their direction as they approached, Elliot noticing Julie's eyes freezing on Rosewielder for a fraction of a second longer before turning away.

"Please sit down," said Elvira, holding her hand out towards the pillows.

Elliot and Rosewielder took two pillows beside each other and in front of Julie while Elvira sat in front of them, facing the group.

"Elliot, I will teach you how to master your conjuring using the mystic arts. Rosewielder, you will learn to enhance your magical powers and protect yourself from evil spirits and conjurers," said Elvira calmly. "Julie, train Rosewielder to fend off vanquishing orbs. Elliot will work with me."

"Vanquishing orbs?" said Elliot questioningly. "What are those?"

"That is not our focus right now. You will learn in due time. Do as I do," said Elvira, crossing her legs and placing her hands on her knees.

Elliot glanced over at Rosewielder and Julie who'd traveled to the corner diagonal from them before copying Elvira's posture.

"Take off your ring. Close your eyes, and clear your mind of your daily concerns."

Elliot grabbed the ring Tenzin had given him and yanked it off before slipping it in his pocket.

He took several deep breaths, and tried his best to follow Elvira's words when he suddenly felt something lightly touch his forehead. He peeked open one eye and saw Elvira with her eyes closed, touching him on his forehead in the same manner Tenzin had done to Rosewielder.

"Elliot, your mind is not clear and your eyes are still open," said Elvira impatiently. "Please follow my instructions."

"Sorry," said Elliot, trying his best to clear his mind.

"Picture a silver key in your mind's eye and allow that image to replace all other thoughts."

"Okay," said Elliot, trying his best to obey.

Elvira was silent for a good two minutes before continuing.

"Now relax your body and feel its aura."

Elliot attempted to relax his muscles. The two remained there for a good seven minutes, Elliot seeking out his aura, until a light tap on his knee made him jump and open his eyes. He stared in shock at a silver key which laid on his knee.

"I did it!" he screamed. "I conjured a spirit item through meditation."

Elliot reached down, swiftly picking up the key, and holding it up to his face.

"That is not a spirit object," said Elvira calmly.

"What?" asked Elliot just as he felt a strange dissolving sensation in his hand.

Elliot gasped as the key dematerialized before his eyes, and within seconds, it had vanished entirely.

"What happened?" he asked, perplexed.

"You created an aura summon. You did not access the otherworldly material you needed to create a spirit object. That would have been the final step. Aura summons are merely condensed pieces of your own aura," she continued. "Let us begin again."

Elliot sighed and the pair commenced, going through all of the previous steps, as Elliot struggled to tune out Rosewielder's and Julie's whispering voices from across the room. With a tremendous effort Elliot reached the third step once again, focusing on his aura and the image of the key.

"Imagine the aura collecting into a single point in the center of your forehead," said Elvira.

Elliot paid attention to his blood as it pumped through his veins, pretending that it was his aura, and visualized it gathering in his forehead. It wasn't until a few moments that Elliot saw an ever-changing luminous substance gradually swell from a single point in his mind's eye. It was as bright as the sun and, yet, he was able to gaze upon its splendor, flowing as though it was both gas and liquid.

"You see part of the otherworld. Now take your image of the key and sculpt it using the spiritual energy you see before you," said Elvira.

Elliot studied the moving light, simply using his mind to sculpt an exact replica of the image in his head, becoming astonished as the otherworld easily yielded to his imagination's intention.

"Now open your eyes and keep your mind focused on the image."

Elliot obeyed, seeing the key floating before him, wondering if it was real. He held out his hand which the key fell upon. It was warm to the touch.

"You have successfully conjured a spirit object, Elliot," said Elvira, removing her fingers from his forehead and opening her eyes. "You've learned quicker than any student I've taught before you. Perhaps it's because your subconscious stored away the feeling of accessing the otherworld while you were conjuring up things in your sleep. It took Julie about four months to summon spirit items instead of aura summons."

"Julie is a conjurer too?!" asked Elliot.

"She's far from being an expert, but yes," said Elvira. "Now, tell me the steps of conjuring a spirit item."

"Right. First, I clear my mind. Second, I visualize the object I want to conjure. Third, I focus my aura into a single point. And lastly, I use the otherworld to sculpt the image in my mind," explained Elliot.

"That's correct. Please hand me the key," said Elvira, holding out her hand.

Elliot proudly studied the totality of his hard work again before giving it to Elvira.

"I want you to conjure three more keys like this one as practice for our next session Wednesday. These objects are small enough that they will not greatly affect your aura," she said, placing the key in her pocket. "Wear your ring when not practicing your conjuring."

Elliot slipped his hand in his pocket and placed the ring on his index finger.

"Your training is done for today," said Elvira, getting to her feet rapidly for a woman of her age and walking over to Julie and Rosewielder.

Elliot followed her, his eyes widening, as he saw Rosewielder with her eyes closed, seemingly in a meditative state. The atmosphere directly around her was warping as her clothes and Julie's blew. Julie had adopted a similar pose as Rosewielder and, floating between her hands was the same glowing orb-like object Wisteria had used to destroy Rosewielder's sword. It continued bouncing back in forth between Julie and Rosewielder until Elvira held up her hand.

"That is enough, Julie."

Elliot saw the ball of light between Julie's hands shrink and then vanish.

"We're done," she said, standing up.

The distortion around Rosewielder abruptly died as she looked up at them before standing to her feet.

"She is a powerful spirit," said Julie to Elvira. "Her resistance to my vanquishing orb was superb."

"Good. Please bring Rosewielder to our next session as well," said Elvira, folding her hands behind her. "I need to rest my back."

Elvira then led them back through the house and towards the front door.

"Same time Wednesday. Don't be late," she said before opening the door for them.

Rosewielder and Elliot bid Julie and Elvira goodbye before heading to his car but they both were startled when Julie followed them down the the faded brick pathway.

"Hello, Julie," said Rosewielder, stopping in front of the corvette. "Is there something you needed, fellow maiden?"

Julie, however, ignored Rosewielder, turning her attention squarely on Elliot.

"Elliot, can we talk for a moment... alone," she said, eyeing Rosewielder.

Elliot glanced at Rosewielder before studying Julie. He pulled out his car keys and unlocked the door, walking over to Rosewielder.

"Rosewielder, do you mind if I talk to Julie for just a sec? It's kind of personal," he said, leading her towards the car.

"Oh. Well, okay," she said, her eyes looking curiously over at Julie before getting in the car.

Elliot walked over to Julie who was standing with her arms crossed, observing the evening sky with a sad expression.

"What was it you wanted to talk about?" he asked, approaching her.

"Elliot, even though I'm still angry with you I've been thinking about your situation. I'm sorry for storming off on you without explaining the reason for my feelings," began Julie, her face turning pink. "I'm going to be blunt. What is your relationship with Rosewielder. Tell me the truth or our friendship ends right here."

"We're more than just friends."

"I suspected as much," said Julie. "You didn't summon her by accident, did you?"

"No."

"Why did you summon her?" asked Julie.

"I wanted a partner to work with me as a dream savior. At first, I thought it'd be nice to have a spirit on my side that would follow me. It was about power. I was curious about the abilities of spirits. However, as time went on I grew closer to her. I discovered that she was just as human as you or I," explained Elliot.

"But she isn't human, Elliot. That's just it. Didn't Tenzin tell you about the Conjurer's choice? Don't you know how long spirits live?"

"We'll figure something out. We will," said Elliot.

"Don't you see the error in your ways? It's like you're playing...God. Will you forsake your time with humans for spirits?"

"No, of course not," answered Elliot.

"What would happen to us if everyone could summon their perfect partner?" asked Julie, clear streams flowing down her face. "What value would life have if we could summon perfect replicas of those we've lost?"

"You're talking about your family, aren't you?" asked Elliot softly.

"It's just that when I'd heard you conjured a spirit in the form of a person it shook my guilty conscience. There hasn't been a day that goes by when I haven't thought about conjuring spirits in the forms of my mother and father and my older brother," said Julie. "However, granny told me something that's kept me from doing it."

Julie looked down at the grass, sniffing her nose as the tears rolled off her cheeks.

"What did she say?" asked Elliot.

"She said that if I conjured replicas of my family then I'd be disgracing their memories because I'd be replacing them just as one does with a common appliance. My family will not be replaced as one replaces a car!"

"I see why she said that. In a dream I met with a relative I've known to be dead. It was my Great Uncle Baum. Well, actually, he was my imagination's recreation of him. He said that even conjurers like us cannot bring back the dead," explained Elliot, staring into Julie's grief-stricken eyes. "I've never felt the need to try because I know that a piece of him still exists inside of me and it can manifest in my dreams."

"Yes, I do dream about the happy times I had with my family. Sometimes when I find myself hugging my mother right after she's read me a bedtime story a feeling of desperation overwhelms me. The feeling comes from the realization that it's just a dream," said Julie, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Then I wake back up into the real world and she's not there."

"Julie, what if we look at this from a different perspective?" asked Elliot.

Julie looked at him curiously.

"What do you mean?"

"You believe that where we are now is the real world but it's the people of this world that go away and don't come back," explained Elliot. "Those that exist in your dreams can always return to you because they exist inside your heart."

Julie looked at Elliot for a long time before her eyes gazed up at the sky, the sunlight still present, but barely. She then stepped towards him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Elliot," said Julie. "I think I'm beginning to understand that. Granny will be expecting me to return soon."

"I know and I'm glad we're on speaking terms again," said Elliot.

"Elliot?" said Julie.

"Yes."

"Before I go I just wanted you to tell me something about Rosewielder," she said, turning her head towards his car.

"What is it?"

"I know this is going to sound bizarre and out of the blue, but why do I keep thinking about video games whenever I see Rosewielder? Is it just me?"

"Oh, well, that's because I designed Rosewielder to look like an Earth Elf," answered Elliot, scratching his head.

"A what?" said Julie.

"An Earth Elf. It's one of the playable avatars from the Fantasy Lotus video game," responded Elliot embarrassedly.

Julie's mouth hung open as she looked from Elliot to Rosewielder who was now watching them from behind the window.

"You designed your spirit to look like a video game character?" she questioned, flabbergasted.

"Um, yeah."

"I'm being nosy, but did she really believe she was who you designed her to be?"

" As a matter-of-fact, yes, she did," answered Elliot.

"Please tell me you told her the truth!" said Julie, placing her hands on her hips.

"Yes, I did! I told her that Fantasy Lotus wasn't real."

"She couldn't have been too happy," said Julie.

"No, she was furious, but that's when I vowed to help her make this world her home."

"That's noble of you. And it was during this time that you two became..."

"Yes, it just sort of happen. I can't explain it."

Julie's eyes darted down to the grass.

"I have to go, Elliot," she said, walking towards the door. "Take care until Wednesday."

"Goodbye, Julie."

Elliot got into the car, turning the engine on, before backing out of the driveway. The classical music channel was still playing, but Rosewielder quickly turned the volume all the way down as they drove out of Wisteria Springs so that it was quiet save for the buzzing engine and passing cars. He saw her turn her head towards him from the corner of his eye, remaining silent for a good two minutes, before looking forward.

"Julie seems nice but I feel that she has much pain in her heart," said Rosewielder. "I had the feeling that I made her uncomfortable."

"I'm the reason for that. It's not your fault. When I summoned you it reminded her of the family she lost," said Elliot, stopping at the intersection.

"I wonder if Julie and I could become friends," said Rosewielder, watching a youth skateboard down the sidewalk.

"Anything's possible."

Duel of the Conjurers

The next few weeks proved eventful for both Elliot and Rosewielder. Elliot had taken the long awaited midterm exams, gratefully getting them out of his hair. He'd also tested out the powers of Tenzin's ring, making sure that nothing from his dreams could come back with him into the real world, the dark thought of Pema's catastrophic black dragon still fresh in his mind. He watched as countless spirit items dissolved in his hands mere moments after he'd pulled them out of his dreams, causing the ring to vibrate with alarming intensity. The absence of anymore snake monsters brought the atmosphere of High Prince High School to one of relative normalcy as the classes of his A day teachers, at least, partially replenished. However, there still existed an apprehensive fascination amongst his peers regarding the teachers whose heads appeared on the snake monster spirit with many proudly proclaiming their school to be run by either aliens or witches. It seemed that the world was torn between their opinions of the dream saviors. Some decided that they were frauds, mentioning Elliot's infamous disappearing spirit treasures, but what had once worried him most of all had been settled as Rosewielder informed him that the council would not reverse her healing magic on Grandma Wu or the people at the hospital.

Elvira's strictness as his teacher was a constant as she made him repeat the conjuring process many times, gradually increasing the size of his items. After he'd mastered conjuring keys and other small objects, he moved onto small vases and bowls, and then to large, albeit mundane, items such as chairs. He was thankful that his hunch about the shrine had been correct, relishing seeing Rosewielder's eyes brighten when she'd returned from the shrine with fantastical tales about the daily lives of the other spirits.

"The fairies are such amazing people," she began, crossing her hands, and looking dreamingly up at the ceiling as they discussed the matter while playing a game of chess at his desk one Saturday morning. "I used the Eagle's Blood potion and we flew around the shrine, playing tag. Oh, how I wish I had wings."

"Did they always live in the shrine with Tenzin?" asked Elliot, moving one of his knights forward.

"No, they said that they'd previously lived in a woodland area until humans began tearing down the trees for development. They were forced to flee their homes," explained Rosewielder, fiddling with a white pawn. "They'd lived there for centuries."

"That's horrible," said Elliot, studying the board. "No wonder why the shrine is so massive."

"Yes, but not all spirits live there. Spirits are free to live everywhere but most find it safer to avoid humans."

"Rosewielder, how are you and Julie getting along? Elvira always pairs you both up whenever we're training."

"The only thing Julie and I discuss is our training and how important it is that I protect myself from vanquishing orbs," said Rosewielder. "Vanquishing orbs can send us, spirits, back to the otherworld. I can't let that happen if we wish to be together."

"You don't have to worry, Rosewielder," said Elliot, taking one of her pawns with his knight. "I won't let any conjurer vanquish you."

"I know you won't, Elliot," she said, picking up her queen piece. "And, likewise, I won't let anything come between us."

She picked up her queen piece and placed it beside his king, knocking a pawn out from between them.

"Checkmate. I win," she said excitedly. "And I think I deserve a prize."

She stood to her feet.

"What sort of prize did you have in mind?" asked Elliot, eyeing her inquisitively.

"I'll show you if you close your eyes," said Rosewielder, smiling mischievously.

"Okay," said Elliot, closing his eyes.

He waited with his eyes closed for a couple quick moments until a brightness shined marvelously through his eyelids. It was fused with a familiar warmth he'd come to associate with her affection, and when he felt her lips grace his own he couldn't stop himself from enfolding her with his arms, feeling the sweet warmth of paradise seep into his soul. They stayed there, embracing and relishing their moment of oneness, for some time before finally releasing one another, knowing that it was nearly time for his conjuring training. Elliot looked at the alarm clock. It was 2:40.

"Are you ready, Rosewielder?" he asked, walking over to his bed and picking up a silver shield that he'd manage to create the day before for his conjuring homework. "Mom and dad are downstairs. I think their listening to Faiga play her violin. Can you take us directly to my car?"

"Here we go," she said, touching his shoulder and performing her teleportation, causing them both to appear in the garage beside Elliot's corvette.

Once they'd fastened their seat belts and the garage door slid open Elliot hit the gas, driving them out of the driveway and onto the neighborhood street, watching warily as youths sped through the road in motor scooters, bicycles and skateboards while several college aged adults loitered aimlessly, seemingly still dumbed down by a heavy night of partying. Rosewielder and Elliot used the bulk of the car ride to eagerly discuss what challenges Elvira had awaiting them because she had claimed that they were both ready for active training in their previous session.

"Perhaps I'll get to use my sword to destroy evildoers. I'd be a warrior again rather than just meditating day after day," said Rosewielder, relaxing her chin on her hand, glancing out the window at a plump boy falling off of his skateboard.

"You're right, Rosewielder. Now that we've had proper training, we'll be better at being dream saviors," said Elliot. "And we can take down Lilith and Adam," he added sharply.

"Yes, those cowards make me so angry! All they've done is hide. I do loathe Adam but I can't wait to get my hands on Lilith," said Rosewielder coldly, clenching her fist. "This world is my home and I will vanquish anyone who harms its people."

"So, you have learned to consider this world your home?" said Elliot thoughtfully.

"Yes, I have. After seeing other spirits who no longer have their human allies I've learned to be thankful that I, at least, have you by my side. Also, I've talked with Wisteria when I visit the shrine. The stories she tells me about her time as a slave made me realize there are those who've experienced far worse than me," explained Rosewielder as they turned onto Wisteria Springs.

"I'm glad that you can call this world your home," said Elliot, lowering his speed as they approached Julie's house.

"Well, I wouldn't even get to experience this place if it wasn't for you. What I'm saying is that, although I don't like your reason for summoning me, I've learned to love just...being," she said, allowing her hair to dance in the breeze coming through the car window.

"That means a lot, coming from you," said Elliot as he rolled into Elvira's driveway.

Elliot opened the car door and retrieved the shield from the back seat before they both approached the door which swung open, Elvira standing before them with a grumpy expression.

"You two are a minute late," said Elvira, standing to the side and letting them in.

"We're sorry," said Rosewielder as Elvira closed the door behind them.

She led them both through the house and into the curtained room where they'd performed all of their previous exercises. Julie was standing beside a wooden table cluttered with books, wearing a black robe identical to Elvira's, seemingly engrossed in a book in her hands. She looked up as they approached, slamming the book closed, before placing it on the table. Elvira's eyes traveled from Elliot to Rosewielder before gazing upon the shield in his hands.

"Please let me examine it," she said, reaching out her hand.

Elliot handed her the shield and Elvira studied it, turning it every which way, bringing it closer to her eyes and then farther away, until after appearing to find nothing wrong with it, handed it back to Elliot.

"Your spirit weapon is very powerful. That is vital because, today, I will show you what you'll be facing if you decide to join the council. You and Rosewielder will duel with Julie, a fellow conjurer."

"Rosewielder, I've been told that you have the ability to teleport. Is that correct?" asked Elvira, placing her arms behind her back.

"Yes, Elvira. I can teleport to anywhere as long as I know where it is," answered Rosewielder.

"Good. Please take us to a location free of non- conjurers. We need a lot of space. Things could get messy," said Elvira.

Rosewielder's eyes turned up as she bit her lips. Then she smiled, staring at them eagerly.

"Okay, I know where to take us to," she said. "Please just take hold of me and I'll get us there."

Elliot and Elvira hastily grabbed onto Rosewielder's shoulders while Julie looked around, her cheeks turning pink, before placing her hand on Rosewielder's back. Rosewielder teleported. Elliot was use to the sensations, himself, but wondered how Elvira and Julie were fairing. It lasted for mere moments until Elliot found that they were standing in a familiar grassy plain that stretched seemingly infinitely on all sides. The only thing missing was the apple tree, and after looking around for a short while, he spotted a tiny object a great ways away upon a small hill.

"This is an excellent location, Rosewielder," said Elvira, gazing around at the sea of green. "Well done."

"Where did you take us?" asked Julie, grabbing a purple hair tie out of her pocket and tying her hair back so that her long bangs no longer obscured her eyes.

"Well," began Rosewielder, her face going pink.

"That matters not," said Elvira. "We are here to train and for nothing else. It's time, Julie."

She turned and began speedily walking away, leaving Elliot and Rosewielder standing there, eyeing each other confusedly. Julie did the same, and soon the pair was standing alone. Elvira continued until she was about thirty feet away, her black robes sticking out like a sore thumb as they blew in the light wind, before facing them. Julie stopped at about twenty feet, before positioning herself towards them. Her eyes were closed. Elliot looked from Elvira to Julie, attempting to figure out what was going on.

"Look, Elliot," said Rosewielder, pointing towards Julie who was taking her hands and placing them together as if she was praying.

Elliot and Rosewielder watched, agog, and, after about five seconds, Rosewielder's hand clasped Elliot's arm as she stood, transfixed, as a very large golden object with a fiery outline gradually materialized before Julie. The scene was reminiscent of an artist painting their canvas as more and more detail became visible, large magnificent wings of vermillion and gold at least fifteen feet across, appearing before their eyes while a long thin neck with a head like a golden eagle commenced belching out flames. At last, the bird's long tail danced like a flame as the creature soared above its conjurer, its attention fixated fiercely upon Elliot and Rosewielder. Julie had conjured a phoenix. Elliot took off his ring and placed it in his pocket.

"Prepare yourself, Elliot!" yelled Julie, lowering her arms, before pointing towards them.

"Rosewielder, it's time!" yelled Elliot, using his free hand to hold up his shield. "Snap out of it and take out your sword!"

The beast emitted an earsplitting screech before soaring towards them at break neck speed just as Rosewielder unsheathed her sword.

"Quick sword of light, give me the power to vanquish this beast!" screamed Rosewielder before she vanished, leaving Elliot standing there as a large flame shot towards him.

Elliot held the shield in front of him as a tremendous forced threw him off his feet, causing him to fall back and tumble on the grass as the shield fell out of his hand and landed four feet away. He immediately closed his eyes and, focused on the image of a stone wall appearing right in front of him, going through all the steps of conjuring a spirit object, and, within moments, a grayish wall had materialized between him and the flames of the phoenix. He felt a small drop in his aura. Only when he could no longer hear the flames of the phoenix did he crawl towards the end of the wall and look from behind. He gasped, seeing Rosewielder struggling to balance on the creature's back, swinging at it with her sword which now had its usual glow. Elliot dashed out from behind the wall, focusing intently on the beast as it flew recklessly, frustrated with not being able to catch Rosewielder.

"First, I clear my mind of all distractions!" said Elliot, watching the phoenix. "What will I visualize? How about a cage? Then I'll feel my own aura as it courses through me," he said, imagining that his blood was his aura.

He conceptualized his aura pooling in his forehead and waited until he saw a bright point in his mind's eye which he knew was the otherworld. "Now, I'll use the otherworld to conjure a cage around this phoenix!" he yelled, imagining a large cage forming around the creature.

He watched as an enormous metallic object materialized around Julie's phoenix. He saw Rosewielder vanish just as the cage's weight caused it and the beast to crash to the ground. The beast screeched ferociously, flailing its tail and wings as it opened its beak, coughing up a hail of fireballs in every direction. Elliot stepped in front of Rosewielder just as a large flame came shooting towards them, bursting as it violently impacted his shield.

"Elliot! Look!" roared Rosewielder as she glared at the cage.

Elliot stood in awe as the beast dematerialized before their eyes, diminishing into nothing save a radiant purplish color which traveled to where Julie was before unbelievingly sinking into her chest. She adopted the same stance she had upon conjuring the gigantic bird. Elliot saw a humanoid shape gradually appear in front of her, hovering as it flapped its bat-like wings. After only a few seconds, the figure flew towards them with otherworldly speed, its arms outstretched as it snarled grotesquely. Rosewielder held up her sword and swung, causing a long thin strand of white light to travel towards their opponent. However, it quickly dodged Rosewielder's attack, coming within forty feet of them. Rosewielder repeated the process, swinging her sword more times in a few seconds than Elliot could ever count, causing a hail of light to cut through the air and earth. The bizarre creature danced in the distance, turning, twisting, and moving its body so that none of the attacks made contact.

"I'm not done yet!" screamed Rosewielder, taking her sword and thrusting its blade into the grass.

Elliot suddenly felt a warm vibrating feeling radiate from around them as the atmosphere within their immediate vicinity appeared to warp similarly to whenever Rosewielder trained herself against vanquishing orbs. A loud smacking sound filled the air as the creature slammed into an invisible barrier between itself and them. It growled angrily with a horned demon-like face and crimson eyes as Rosewielder strained to maintain the forcefield. Upon seeing it close up, Elliot realized it possessed an uncanny resemblance to the stone creatures which decorated the roofs of old fashioned buildings in well-to-do cities. It was a gargoyle in the flesh, using its elongated muscular limbs to hit and kick at Rosewielder's barrier.

Here's my chance.

Elliot pictured a large snake in his mind's eye and, within seconds, he'd summoned a bright green python which coiled itself around the creature's neck. It abruptly stopped its assault, dropping on the grass, struggling to free itself of the serpent that was now constricting itself around its body. After a few moments, the gargoyle dematerialized, leaving no trace accept for a purple light identical to what had came from Julie's bird. It also sped across the grass, before sinking back into Julie while Elliot's snake slithered aimlessly away.

"Rosewielder, you can stop now. I think we've-," began Elliot before an onset of extreme tiredness afflicted him.

He fell to the grass, quickly losing consciousness. When Elliot awoke he discovered himself lying on a grassy hill, looking up at both Julie and Rosewielder. Rosewielder was holding his shield and they both sported guilty expressions.

"Elliot, I'm so sorry," said Julie, bending down an handing him a very small amber cup with a clear liquid in it.

"What is this?" asked Elliot, languidly taking the cup.

"It's mystic tea. It helps replenish your aura to its natural state," explained Julie. "You passed out because your aura dropped too low."

"Why did my," he began before Julie pushed the cup up to his lips.

"Just drink," said Julie.

Elliot opened his mouth, allowing a very bitter liquid to slide down his throat. Its taste was detestable but its affect was vitalizing as he felt his energy rapidly return. He drank until there was none left.

"Will he be okay?" asked Rosewielder, kneeling down.

"Yes, he conjured too many spirit objects. That's what dropped his aura," said Julie.

Elliot heard a faint noise from his left, and he turned his head to see Elvira walking towards him, her hands folded behind her.

"If you can stand, please do," she said, her dark eyes surveying him.

Elliot got to his feet along with Rosewielder and Julie.

"Please follow me," Elvira said as Julie took the cup from him and pocketed it.

"I don't understand!" said Elliot in frustration as they quickly reached a large field that he recognized as the site of their battle, seeing the enormous cage he'd conjured sitting about thirty feet from the wall he created for protection from Julie's beast. "I've been training all this time with conjuring. Why am I so limited?"

"Elliot, look keenly at the site of your's and Julie's battle. What is it that you notice?" asked Elvira composedly.

Elliot's eyes scanned the scene but he saw nothing but his own items.

Wait! Where are the things Julie summoned? Did she reabsorb them?

"Elvira, is it possible to reabsorb spirits and spirit items?" he finally asked.

"No."

He studied the field, searching every nook and cranny of his brain, unable to find an answer.

"They were spirit items, weren't they?" he asked casually.

"No, they were not," answered Elvira.

Elliot scratched his head, looking repeatedly at the things he conjured and back at Elvira before asking his next question.

"Were they aura summons?" asked Elliot, at a lost.

"Yes, they were," said Elvira.

"I think I get it now," began Elliot. "Julie was able to summon more things than I was because she was creating aura summons instead of spirit items. That's why they disappeared so quickly."

"Precisely," said Elvira. "Aura summons don't use as much of the conjurer's aura and they can be reabsorbed. You've created aura summons as well."

"You once said that aura summons are just condensed pieces of the conjurer's aura. Is that what allows the conjurer to reabsorb them?"

"Yes, it is, Elliot," responded Elvira. "Whenever you summon something but stop just before you access the otherworld you create an aura summon."

"Granny's right. This exercise was to show you how conjurers usually engage one another. Conjurers might bring their spirits and magical objects to a battle but they rarely summon them in the middle of a match. If they did then what happen to you might happen to them or worse," explained Julie.

"Worse?" said Rosewielder questioningly with a terrified expression. "What do you mean?"

"If a conjurer drains too much of their aura then... they die. It doesn't matter if their using spirits or aura summons. The advantage is that aura summons allow you to reclaim some of your aura," explained Julie, taking out her hair tie. "Spirits and spirit objects have small amounts of the conjurer's aura but remain separate so the aura is lost."

"I understand. I will do better next time. I have to if I want to stand a chance against Adam and Lilith," said Elliot with resolve.

"I'll be by your side, Elliot," said Rosewielder. "We will defeat them."

"Despite losing to Julie you two fought as one on the battlefield. I think if you and Rosewielder continue on this path you will both achieve greatness," said Elvira.

Elvira placed her hands together in the same manner Julie had upon conjuring her aura summons, an orb half the size of a car appearing before her, its brightness rivaling that of the sun's. It zoomed towards Elliot's cage, causing it to vanish, before splitting into two parts with one traveling to the wall he'd conjured, dematerializing it, while the other veered off to the side, landing in the distance. He'd a hunch that it had vanquished the snake he'd conjured. Elvira lowered her hands, turning to Rosewielder.

"That is enough training for today. Rosewielder, please take us back home."

They all grabbed hold of Rosewielder and were teleported back to Julie's house, the familiar smell of incense seeping into Elliot's nose.

"In our next session you will learn how to create a vanquishing orb," said Elvira once they'd returned.

Julie led Elliot and Rosewielder towards the front door, closing it gently behind her as they exited the house.

"You two were truly great, considering how new you are to the mystic arts," said Julie as Elliot and Rosewielder turned to face her.

"Rosewielder, Elliot is lucky to have you as a partner on the battlefield. I saw how you both protected one another as if the other was your own beating heart," said Julie, her eyes glassy.

"Thank you, Julie, but you were mightier than us both. You emerged victorious, after all," said Rosewielder, stepping towards Julie. "You are a maiden not be trifled with."

"Thanks, said Julie, nervously brushing her long bang behind her ear. "It's just that when I first heard of you I was intimidated." Julie looked down at her feet.

"Please tell me why," said Rosewielder. "I would never swing my sword at an innocent."

"No, it's not that. I knew that, being a spirit, you'd possess a level of perfection I could never obtain. You'd have a bond with Elliot that would be difficult, if not impossible, for me to match. You have his aura in you. What person could ever be closer to him than you?" asked Julie. "Me?"

"I assure you that when I first arrived in this world I loathed Elliot. However, as we spent more time with each other, I realized how much we'd grown to care for each other. But I know that bonds as powerful as ours aren't only possible between spirits and their conjurers. There is someone out there for you Julie. I know there is!" said Rosewielder.

Julie looked up at Rosewielder, her eyes watering, as she shook her head.

"You are kind, Rosewielder but I can sense when I have a strong connection to someone. Their aura acts as a magnet would to my own. I felt this bonding towards my family and my granny but it was different. It wasn't as powerful as this force that draws me to Elliot, and even you. It's his aura. I just know that my aura and his have a very powerful connection. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be in this lifetime."

"I'm sorry. Will that prevent us from being comrades, Julie?" asked Rosewielder.

"You bet it will!" said Julie, watching Rosewielder sternly. "We're rivals from now on!"

"What?!" said Rosewielder and Elliot simultaneously.

"You heard me right. The three of us are like magnets. The weakest link will be repelled," said Julie, holding up her head proudly. "You'll be okay with a little competition, right Rosewielder?"

"Well, if you insist! Fine!" said Rosewielder, folding her arms.

"No, you two. This is not how it's suppose to be. Why can't you both be friends?" pleaded Elliot.

"My heart will not be denied. It is like me, after all, mightier than you both," said Julie before turning around. "Our next training is monday afternoon. Don't be late."

"I won't! I'll keep getting stronger until I can beat you, Julie!" yelled Rosewielder, raising her fist.

"You'll need it," said Julie before going in the house and closing the door behind her.

The rest of that day Elliot listened reluctantly as Rosewielder talked of her eagerness to fight Julie, explaining a long list of increasingly brutal tactics she'd use to dispatch with her aura summons. It wasn't until 5:00, when he was readying himself for dinner, that he finally had a break after promising that they'd train alone on Sunday.

"Good evening, honey," said Mrs. Clementine once he'd joined his father and sister at the dinner table which was adorned with several large bowls, consisting of seasoned brown rice, teriyaki noodles, and mixed vegetables.

"Evening, mom," said Elliot, watching his father take small sips from a teacup, studying the science section of the newspaper.

"You know, I still can't figure out how they did it," said Mr. Clementine before folding the paper in half as he uncrossed his legs. "The dream saviors are beyond any science that we know."

"Of course they are, daddy," piped up Faiga. "But it's a shame we haven't heard anything else from them in a long time. I hope they didn't hop in their spaceships and leave our planet."

"Aliens again? What is it with you and Cody and extraterrestrials," said Elliot in disbelief.

"Anything's possible, honey," said Mrs. Clementine, placing a large plate of pork shish kabobs on the table before sitting down.

"Elliot, your sister is performing with her orchestra at the Goodwill stadium on Branch Avenue on Monday," said Mrs. Clementine as she scooped up some rice and poured it on her plate. "It would be nice if you could join us."

"I can't. I'm sorry, Faiga," he said, looking at his sister whose hands were crossed as she beamed at him with puppy dog eyes. "I have work to do."

"Oh, big bro, what could be more important than seeing me perform. It's really important to me that you come."

"I promise you that I'll attend your performance next time you perform. Trust me. I will. I promise," said Elliot, twiddling his chopsticks.

"I'll hold you to it, big bro," said Faiga before putting a thick bundle of noodles in her mouth.

"May we ask what work do you have to do? Don't tell me you'd rather play video games than see your sister's performance," said Mrs. Clementine before sipping from a white teacup.

"No, that's not it. I just have a research project to do for school. It's my fault. I should have started it earlier," said Elliot.

"It'll be okay, Faiga. Your brother is a man on his mission. He's busy, never idle. That's a true virtue, and so is keeping your promise," said his father, giving him a pointed expression.

"You don't have to worry, dad," said Elliot.

They continued their dinner, savoring every last bit of flavor from Mrs. Clementine''s talented cooking, enjoying the soothing affect of green tea upon their sinuses as they payed only minor attention to the evening news which was currently occupied with mundane stories: food recalls, exposed politicians, climate conflict, celebrity lives and a host of other topics. When they'd finished Elliot reassured Faiga that he'd attend her next performance before heading up to his room. He found Rosewielder's eyes glued to the screen as she scoffed at an overly exaggerated evening drama show. After watching her relish his mother's cooking, the pair decided to play a round of Fantasy Lotus together. Though still quite rusty, after about an hour of hysterically engaging other players(mostly with Adam and Lilith avatars) they joyously hugged each other after finally managing to to pull off a kill on a Lilith.

"We did it, Elliot!" screamed Rosewielder.

"Yes, we did."

Deciding they'd better rest themselves for their training session the following day, Elliot and Rosewielder went to sleep earlier than usual.

That Sunday morning Elliot awoke at 8:30 a.m. from a bizarrely nonsensical dream about Rosewielder and Julie, thankful for the powers of Tenzin's ring. The sunshine penetrated warmly through his window as he unzipped his sleeping bag, getting to his feet. He walked over to his bed, seeing Rosewielder still sound asleep, before softly calling her name.

"Rosewielder, its time to begin our training."

She stirred before tossing around, sleepily opening her tired but beauteous eyes. She sat up, flipping her hair out of her face.

"Alright."

The pair went through with their morning routine without fear because his parents and Faiga had already left the house to attend Faiga's orchestra performance. When they were finally ready to go Elliot removed his ring, putting it in his pocket, before turning to Rosewielder.

"Should I take us to the same place were we fought Julie?" she asked.

"Yes, we don't want non-conjurers to see us. That might raise suspicion," answered Elliot, touching her shoulder.

Rosewielder immediately teleported, taking them to what, Elliot was certain, was the same apple tree they'd been to several times before, its beauty seemingly unfaltering as they admired the perfect weather.

"This should be fun!" said Rosewielder. "It'll be the first time that we get to train directly with each other!"

"You're right. I guess I'll focus on creating aura summons so I don't deplete my aura next time we duel with Julie. You can test your attacks against whatever I conjure," suggested Elliot.

"You better prepare yourself, Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder as they began descending down the hill on which the tree stood.

They backed away, placing a good twenty feet of open space between them. Rosewielder whipped out her sword, eyeing Elliot with fierce determination. He commenced with the steps of conjuring.

"Okay. This is it," he said before putting his finger on his chin, pondering on what to summon. "Ah, I know. I have to try this!"

Elliot closed his eyes and cleared his mind before visualizing a white lion he'd seen on the cover of an old movie box. He allowed his aura to flood gracefully into his forehead for a few seconds, only opening his eyes after he saw a tiny light in his mind's eye which he knew was the otherworld. Within a couple seconds, he saw the outline of a four legged creature appear in front of him, its appearance very simplistic, almost cartoon-like.
"Come on," he said to himself, trying to remember the details off the back of the DVD box just as countless strands of snowy-white fur were painted onto the outline, the head becoming more distinct as a cluster of longer hairs formed the mane.

After the process was done Elliot watched his creation adoringly as it turned its head towards him, its electric blue eyes watching him as though wondering what to do. Elliot pointed towards Rosewielder but, within seconds, his mouth had dropped open after the creature seemed to evaporate into nothingness before his eyes, leaving behind a tiny piece of reddish light which flew into his chest.

"Elliot, what happened?" asked Rosewielder, sounding discouraged. "It looked like you had it."

"There must be something I'm not doing right," he said, scratching his head.

Wait. If aura summons are merely condensed pieces of my aura then perhaps the more aura I put into them the longer they'll last. The aura Julie used seemed like much more than what I just reabsorbed. Maybe that's the answer.

"Let's try this again."

Elliot took a deep breath, repeating the steps as exactly as he'd done the first time, until he'd reached the third step, allowing his aura to focus in his forehead. However, this time, he simply kept focusing on collecting his aura until he sensed a strange energy that felt like it had oddly separated from the rest of him. That's when he opened his eyes, and began summoning the lion from his memory, feeling his aura drop slightly. He lowered his hands just as the creature produced a roar, stepping towards Rosewielder. Elliot pointed toward their opponent and the creature charged, moving much quicker than a normal lion, reaching Rosewielder within seconds. She lifted her sword and swung but Elliot's lion caught her weapon in its outstretched mouth, yanking it out of her hand before pouncing at her. Rosewielder, however, teleported, retrieving her sword before vanishing and reappearing above the creature with her sword raised. She swung, but her sword was, again, blocked by the creature's claws this time as it stood on its hind legs. It then swiped its massive paw at Rosewielder, scratching right through the tights which she wore, revealing red wounds.

"That's enough!" yelled Elliot.

He did not expect what occurred next as the lion froze in its tracks, looking back at him, before sitting calmly.

"Elliot! I can handle it!" she yelled with her sword held high. "I can heal myself! These wounds are nothing to me!"

Elliot stood, transfixed, as Rosewielder's injuries quickly healed. She looked towards the lion.

"Are you sure?" he asked reluctantly.

"Bring it on!" roared Rosewielder.

"Okay," he said.

The lion seemed to obey his every intention as it resumed its fight with Rosewielder, the pair, duking it out for close to six minutes. The fight only ended when Rosewielder jumped nearly ten feet into the air and teleported to the ground with her sword in hand and sliced the lion cleanly in half, causing the aura summon to vanish, releasing a golfball sized piece of red light which traveled into Elliot's chest.

"Rosewielder, you were awesome!" said Elliot, approaching her as she panted heavily before sheathing her weapon.

"Thank you, Grandmaster Swordsman. You were great too," she said, stepping towards him tiredly.

"I know what you need, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot, grabbing her arm and wrapping it around his shoulder.

"What is it I need?" she said, still battle weary.

"You need a prize for beating me again," he answered, supporting her, as they both walked uphill towards the apple tree. "But this time I want you to close your eyes."

Rosewielder slouched down against the tree trunk, closing her eyes, wiping her face. Elliot admired the alluring excellence of Rosewielder's porcelain skin, and her shining strands of pink hair adorned by the sunlight as her supernatural beauty surpassed all that surrounded her.

"You can open them now."

Rosewielder opened her eyes and gasped upon seeing the small creature nestled comfortably in Elliot's hands. She scooped up a tiny bird, its soft feathers as majestically white as the lion's. It sang, whizzing its head around, grabbing Rosewielder's fingers with its feet. Elliot kneeled, smiling as he saw her eyes light up.

"Elliot, it's so cute. Did you-," she began, beaming at the creature.

"Yes, it's one of my aura summons. I created it just for you," he said.

Rosewielder stood up, nudging the creature with her fingers before raising her hand, allowing it to fly away.

"Did you not like it?" asked Elliot curiously, watching the bird become smaller and smaller in the distance.

"No, I loved it, Elliot," she answered before kissing his cheek. "I understand that it doesn't have long in this world. I don't wish to cage it. I can watch it enjoy itself with no envy for I no longer feel caged."

"I'm glad you feel that way," said Elliot, sitting down on the grass, watching the horizon as it stretched beyond his sight.

Rosewielder sat down beside him, eyeing him.

"What's on your mind, Elliot?" she asked.

"The future. It seems unclear."

"How so."

"I don't know if I'll do the right thing when the time comes. If we see Adam and Lilith again I want to believe that I'll make the right choice, even if it means...destroying them, but I don't know if I can. Vanquishing monsters and beasts is one thing, but I don't know if I could bring myself to take the life of another person," explained Elliot.

"If they harm others then we'll have no choice," said Rosewielder. "I'm sure this world would be a better place without them."

"But they're still people and I summoned them. I summoned them for my own selfish purposes just as I did with you. They refused to join me so I kill them? Would I not be playing God if I destroyed them simply because they didn't turn out how I wanted them to?" asked Elliot.

"They have their own will," said Rosewielder.

You were right when you suggested that I didn't summon them," said Elliot. "No good will come out of it."

"I agree, but everyone makes mistakes. Only someone truly arrogant would believe otherwise," said Rosewielder.

"You once said that you'd kill Adam if you could but you've never killed another person before, have you?" asked Elliot, looking at Rosewielder, the sunlight reflecting alluringly off of her violet eyes.

"No, but I will if need be."

The Rivalry

The following days came packaged with a sudden upsurge in activity within the Clementine household as Mr. and Mrs. Clementine spent the bulk of their time at home, their ears seemingly glued to the phone. They talked non-stop with Mr. Clementine's relatives about one topic; Grandma Wu was coming to visit. Elliot understood the significance of the occasion because it would be the first time in many years that the rest of the family would see his grandmother in person without the affects of Alzheimer's disease. This happy juncture stood in stark contrast with what most occupied Elliot's mind which was his training sessions with Elvira. The intense rivalry between Rosewielder and Julie combined with his ineptitude at creating vanquishing orbs weighed heavy on his mind. However, deep down, Elliot grappled with the idea that his lack of skill might stem from his unwillingness to learn a technique he knew would give him the power to banish spirits. These thoughts culminated one Wednesday night after he'd just fallen asleep after playing a round of Fantasy Lotus with Rosewielder.

Elliot looked around, seeing himself standing in a forest filled with birch trees, the leaves of numerous colors which decorated the floor a testament to the fall season. The sunlight was weak and their existed a chill in the air. Noticing that Rosewielder was not there, and knowing that there was no way he could have traveled to such a location by himself without memory, he knew he was dreaming.

Awesome, a vivid dream at last. I can still have some fun even if I can't take anything back to the real world.

Elliot focused on the idea of flying, feeling his feet immediately leave the floor, as he soared forward. Soon, he was speeding through the air so fast that the flora around him resembled nothing but a whirling rainbow of color. He continued, covering what seemed like miles in only a short time before descending upon the ground, noticing a stream peppered with enormous rocks. He watched as it flowed peacefully, moving endlessly as it disappeared beyond a large group of thin pale trees. He walked over to one of the boulders and sat down, placing his fist under his chin and his elbow against his knee, reflecting on the challenges ahead.

"So, if we do join the council we'll be facing other conjurers who'll try to vanquish Rosewielder?" he asked aloud. "What if she was vanquished and sent back to the otherworld? I could lose her forever. I'd never forgive myself. I wonder what I should do."

Elliot stood up, glancing towards the sky, before focusing intensely on his Great Uncle Baum.

"When I turn around my Great Uncle Baum will be standing before me," he said aloud.

He took a deep breath before spinning around, finding his Great Uncle Baum standing right there, wearing the same outfit he had since Elliot last dreamed him up.

"Hello, Elliot," said Great Uncle Baum. "Thanks for summoning me here, but I sense that you are in need of guidance."

"Yes, I am. I have a lot on my mind. It's about the spirits I've summoned. I don't know if it's right for Rosewielder to fight by my side. What if she gets hurt or worse? When she was attacked by that lion it terrified me," explained Elliot.

Great Uncle Baum folded his arms, staring upward.

"Deep down, you know the answer."

"I do?" said Elliot.

"Sure. Elliot, do you see Rosewielder as your equal?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then she should be free to make her own choices," said Great Uncle Baum.

"Even if they might lead to her destruction?" asked Elliot.

"Might not your choices lead to your destruction?"

"What?"

"You wish to join the council. You've seen what other conjurers are capable of. Might not you be destroyed?"

"Yes, but...," began Elliot.

"Can anyone stop you from joining the council or fulfilling your duty as a dream savior? Can anyone cage you like a bird?"

"No, they can't."

"Even if being a dream savior means saving the world from the spirits that you, yourself, brought there?" asked Great Uncle Baum.

"I don't know. Mastering the vanquishing orb means I can vanquish Adam and Lilith. Their lives are in my hands but I don't know if I can do that," said Elliot before biting his lip.

"That is because you're viewing yourself as separate from them. You must remember that everything you summon has some of your aura. Your imagination gave those spirits their identities. If you know yourself then you'll make the right choice," said Great Uncle Baum, placing his hands behind his back, smiling at him.

"Know myself?" said Elliot aloud just as the dreamscape became pitch black, signaling the end of the dream.

Moments later, he was laying in his sleeping bag, on his bedroom floor. He looked over at his alarm clock which read 6:10.

"Only five minutes left until time for school," he said grumpily, getting to his feet and stretching.

Elliot readied himself for the day, ensuring that his clothes were free of wrinkles and that his appearance was impeccable, for he knew that Grandma Wu would be arriving today. He glanced worriedly at Rosewielder as she lay nestled in the bed before retrieving his backpack and closing the door behind him. He then made his way down to breakfast. He sat down at the table and scooped up a heap of bacon, watching his father talk frantically on a cordless house phone while Faiga fiddled around with a hot pink mp3 player.

"Hey, honey," said his mom, walking briskly towards the kitchen, her high heel shoes clunking loudly against the hard wood floor as she carried her brown work suitcase. "Good morning, Faiga."

"Hello, mom," said Elliot.

"Morning, mom," said Faiga, looking up from the device.

"I have to be at work a little early today so will you please give your sister a ride to school today, Elliot?" asked Mrs. Clementine, buttoning up a jet black woman's work suit. "I'd really appreciate that, honey."

"Sure," said Elliot, looking at his watch before gulping down a glass of milk. "It's already 6:32. I think we'd better leave soon, Faiga."

They continued dining for another five minutes, Mr. Clementine still talking on the phone with his brother Chen, before deciding to head out.

"Okay, big bro," said Faiga, placing her mp3 player in her pocket, before putting her backpack over her shoulder. "I'm ready."

They headed out the door with their father, their mother already gone on her way to work.

After buckling up and waiting for their dad to pull out of the driveway Elliot and Faiga embarked on their way to South Star Middle school.

During the ride they reminisced about their grandmother, recalling the times when they were younger and Grandma Wu watched after them, entertaining them with witty stories that always had some important life lesson interwoven into them. They discussed some of the authentic Chinese dishes which they reluctantly ate, finding them strange after having grown up in the states.

"Remember that one time grandmother got angry with Uncle Chen for taking us to the theme park when you were suppose to be practicing your violin?" asked Elliot jokingly.

"Yes, I do. Poor Uncle Chen. He's always on grandma's bad side," said Faiga just as Elliot pulled up to a large building surrounded by white pavement woven around a small group of bushes by a flagpole.

"Hey, Faiga, I have a little treat for you. I thought I'd show you a quick magic trick since I missed your performance," said Elliot, watching his sister's eyes look around eagerly as dozens of passerby walked towards the school's front doors. "I designed my own magic trick after watching one of my teachers, Mr. Anghel. He's awesome."

"Sure, big bro," said Faiga, watching his hands.

Elliot showed Faiga his empty hands before balling them into fists in front of him, visualizing a golden coin appearing in his right fist. When he felt a slight tickling sensation he held out his right hand to Faiga, revealing a golden coin, seeing her eyes beam at it.

"How did you do that?!" she gasped.

"I'm a magician," he said, closing his hand again, feeling his aura summon dematerialize.

He then opened his hand which was now empty.

"Wow!" said Faiga, her eyes searching him to find the missing coin.

"Faiga, look," said Elliot, holding out his left hand, revealing a small jade stone in the shape of a rooster.

Faiga grabbed for the rooster, but Elliot quickly shut his hands, and after feeling it dematerialize, opened his hand. It was gone.

"Elliot, you're amazing, big bro!" yelled Faiga. "You must tell me how you did it!"

"Sorry, a magician never reveals his secrets," said Elliot apologetically.

" When did you learn how to do magic tricks?" she asked, stunned.

"Quite recently," he said, checking his watch. "It's time to go though."

"Thanks for the ride, Elliot. I still want you to come to my next performance," she said, opening the door.

"I will," he said as she shut the door.

Elliot drove off to school after tuning the music station to Arnaud's Bugler's Dream, arriving in the parking lot about seven minutes before the morning bell. He hastily sprinted across the school grounds and through the front doors, racing against other late stragglers after retrieving his books.

"Hey, buddy," said Cody just as Elliot arrived with about two minutes to spare.

His expression was downcast.

"Did you hear the news?" asked Cody.

"What news?" asked Elliot, pulling out his chemistry book and flipping to a section on binary compounds.

Cody looked at Elliot as though he thought he was crazy.

"Buddy, Aki Fuki, the creator of Fantasy Lotus, has gone missing!" said Cody. "No one's seen him in the past three days!"

Elliot's heart felt like it had just stopped.

No they wouldn't! Would they?! Did Adam and Lilith do this! But they know Fantasy Lotus isn't real! It doesn't make sense!

"I know it sucks, buddy. Fuki's very picky about the story lines and even secretive with many of his new ideas. He won't allow anyone else to work on it. This could mean the end of the franchise," said Cody, shaking his head while running his hands through his hair.

The bell rang and Ms. Rosenberg walked into the room.

"Morning, class," she said, sounding nearly as upbeat as before the snake monster incident.

She collected their homework before wheeling a television sitting on a tall metallic cart over to the center of the room.

"Today will be light. I know you're recovering from midterms so we'll watch a safety video about the chemistry lab. You may want to take notes," she said before turning on the television.

Elliot bit his finger, his pen in hand but remaining idle, his mind elsewhere.

Why would they kidnap the creator of Fantasy Lotus! Why not kidnap me, instead! I summoned them! Wait, are they still clinging to the world I designed them to know? Either way we must find them! But I have no idea where to look! Darn it!

Elliot continued debating the situation with such intensity that when the bell rang he'd taken no notes and his brain seemed like it physically hurt. He waved goodbye to Cody before traveling to his next class. Like Ms. Rosenberg's, Mr. Bennett's class had regained a significant portion of its students back and their teacher seemed to be slowly recovering. After taking a seat towards the back and getting out his textbook he saw someone sit right next to him. It was Julie.

"Elliot, have you and Rosewielder been training outside of our sessions?" she asked softly, preening her hair.

"Yes, I thought we should ensure we're at our most powerful when we fight Adam and Lilith," said Elliot, lowering his voice so that only she could hear. "Julie, I think the spirits I summoned have kidnapped someone."

Julie's face turned white. She lowered her head towards him.

"Who did they kidnap?" she asked in a whisper.

"The creator of Fantasy Lotus."

"Let me guess. That's the video game you based their designs from," whispered Julie.

Elliot nodded.

"I had a feeling this might happen," said Julie.

"What? Why?" asked Elliot.

"Think about it, Elliot. You summoned spirits with no past. They have no true identity except for one granted to them by the Fantasy Lotus video game. That world may not be real, but it seems you designed them to have that world's knowledge," explained Julie.

"You're saying it's easier for them to cling to a familiar world even if it's imaginary."

"Exactly. They're most likely struggling inside," said Julie, flipping through her notebook. "How would you feel if you were brought into a strange world and realized the place you thought you knew wasn't real?"

The bell rang. Mr. Bennett strolled into the classroom, shutting the door behind him, and placing his briefcase by his teacher's desk.

"Hello class," he said loudly, his previous confidence almost restored after the snake monster incident, as he looked upon many new students who'd recently transferred to his class.

He then gave them their warm-ups before speaking in-depth about several Greek tales, including Homer's Odyssey and Iliad as well as Ovid's Metamorphoses. Elliot found himself only half focused on his studies, ruminating about the whereabouts of Aki Fuki, praying that he'd find Adam and Lilith before the worse could happen. These thoughts occupied his mind throughout the remainder of the school day as he endured the short-tempered Mr. Martel who worked his class so hard it seemed that he was taking out his frustration with those who'd transferred out of his class on everyone that remained.

"Toughen up, you lads! You need to be ready to fight the big bad snake monster!" he yelled humorously while they were in the locker room, changing out of their gym outfits.

He only found himself paying much attention in his English class, appreciating Mr. Anghel, whose distinct zest for teaching them had spread around the school like wildfire, many gossiping of how he was quickly becoming the school's favorite teacher. After a thirty five minute presentation, detailing the importance of a long list of SAT words, Mr. Anghel used the last five minutes to perform magic tricks, making various objects disappear and reappear.

"Here is a tissue. I'm going to make it disappear. Then I'll pull it out of Joanne's ear," he said, waving a tissue in front of them, and pointing to a thin blonde girl in the first row.

He balled the tissue up before placing it in his hand. He then unclosed his hand, showing that it had disappeared.

Many students peaked their heads over those in front of them, attempting to see where it went, Mr. Anghel opening both of his hands, turning around and emptying his pockets. Joanne put her hands next to her ears, trying to find the piece of tissue but her efforts were in vain. Mr. Anghel stepped towards Joanne, enclosing his hand as he placed it near her ear. He opened it again, revealing not one, but a large bundle of tissues. The class screamed cheerfully just as the bell rang and Mr. Anghel bowed. Elliot packed his belongings, watching the classroom rapidly empty, before walking up to his teacher who'd begun marking a set of papers with a blue pen.

"How are you today, Mr. Clementine?" he asked, looking up warmly.

"I'm good, and your'e great. I'm a huge fan of your magic tricks," said Elliot. "I've been practicing my own tricks as well."

"Is that so? How's it working out?" asked Mr. Anghel.

"Rather well, actually. I think I"m just naturally gifted," said Elliot proudly. "Where'd you learn how to do magic?"

"My father was a magician. Perhaps it's in my blood," said Mr. Anghel, twiddling his pen.

"Could be. Do you mind if I show you a quick trick?" asked Elliot.

"Sure," said Mr. Anghel, putting down his pen.

Elliot held out both his hands, showing that they were empty before closing them. He then visualized a quarter materializing in his hand. He opened his hand, revealing a quarter, watching Mr. Anghel's face.

"You've been practicing your conjuring," said Mr. Anghel. "Well done."

Elliot jumped, causing the quarter to fall on Mr. Anghel's desk, before disappearing. He was, again, shocked at Mr. Anghel's expression, seeing him watch the vanishing coin as if it were a common occurrence.

"You know about conjuring?" said Elliot quietly.

Mr. Anghel looked keenly around the room, and out the hall, before responding.

"Yes, I, too, am a conjurer. I've been sent here from the council for the school's protection as it's now a target," explained Mr. Anghel softly.

"A target?" said Elliot. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Recent events in this school have sparked the interest of individuals from our world," explained Mr. Anghel. "I believe you know what I'm referring to."

"You're talking about the fiasco caused by the spirits I summoned," said Elliot, guiltily.

Mr. Anghel nodded his head.

"Groups of conjurers are always in search of the newly awakened, like you," explained Mr. Anghel. "There aren't that many of us so bands of conjurers recruit however they can."

"So, those of us just discovering our powers are called newly awakened," said Elliot.

"Yes, that's correct," responded Mr. Anghel. "I shall remain here. I'll ensure that dark conjurers don't abduct those with stronger auras. That is how they recruit. Reports of the spirit monster in the school are bound to attract them sooner or later."

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused."

"Don't feel bad. Tenzin informed me that you are a dream conjurer. It's an extremely rare phenomena, but has its repercussions. It was through no fault of your own that the spirit entered this school," said Mr. Anghel. "How is your training going with Elvira?"

"I'm having trouble with the vanquishing orb."

"You'll get it eventually," said Mr. Anghel, glancing at the clock. "Is there anything else troubling you?"

"No," lied Elliot. "Rosewielder and I will continue honing our skills."

"Very well," said Mr. Anghel. "Oh, and Elliot. Please don't bring spirit objects to the school. Their magic could set off the protective alarms which the council has set."

"I won't, Mr. Anghel," said Elliot. "I don't want to cause anymore trouble."

"Thank you. I must attend a meeting. Take care, Elliot."

"Goodbye."

After retrieving his backpack from his locker, Elliot exited the school and journeyed home, still ruminating on what Mr. Anghel had said, enviously watching a group of kids ride their bikes, carefree, over the crosswalk.

The spirits I summon are my responsibilities. I'm a dream savior. I won't drag others into the mess I've made. But I already have, haven't I? What about Aki Fuki? Was his kidnapping their handiwork? Nothing's certain. The council said they were already looking for Adam and Lilith. They would've found them already if they could have. Rosewielder and I will set things right. I have to think like them. I have to get into their mind. That's how I'll find them!

Elliot temporarily banished Adam and Lilith from his mind, backing into the garage with a feeling of overflowing eagerness as he entered through the back door, finding his father talking in a soft voice with a short-statured women with curled shoulder length gray hair, her thinness showing through a dark grayish sweater and a pair of black cotton pants. They turned to Elliot as he approached and his grandmother placed her hands around him, kissing his cheek.

"There's my grandson," said Grandma Wu, studying him up and down. "Have you been eating, Elliot?"

"Of course I have, grandma. Don't I look a little taller since your last visit?"

She stepped closer, measuring herself against him, seeing that she barely passed his shoulders.

"Yes, you do," she said, turning towards his father.

"Where is Adalie and Faiga?" asked his grandmother.

"Ah, Adalie is giving Faiga a ride home after work. She should be here in about an hour," said Mr. Clementine, looking at a clock in the shape of a barn owl on the wall.

"Chao, please excuse us. I wish to catch up with my grandson. It's been so long," said Grandma Wu, eyeing Elliot.

"Sure, mother," said Mr. Clementine, walking over to the dining room table and sipping from a cyan teacup.

Grandma Wu led Elliot pass the living and dining rooms to a glass sliding door. Elliot opened it and they entered into the backyard. It was decorated with groups of well trimmed bushes accompanied by different species of annual flowers. Large koi fish swam in a small pond ornamented with marble statues of angels, beautified by the unyielding sunlight. Grandma Wu turned to Elliot.

"Where is Rosewielder?" she asked.

"She's probably still at the shrine, right now. I thought it'd be nice for her to mingle with other spirits," explained Elliot, grabbing a Gold African marigold, beginning to pluck its peddles.

"Shrine?" said Grandma Wu.

"The Shrine of Tenzin, is a place where spirits can live without fear of exposure to humans."

"Do you love this girl, this spirit, that you summoned here from the otherworld," she asked.

"If love means being unable to imagine my life without her, then yes. Do you find that strange?" asked Elliot, dropping a flower peddle into the pond.

"Why would I?" asked Grandma Wu, watching the peddle land.

"Rosewielder didn't even exist just months ago and, now, I think of her with every passing breath I take," said Elliot. "She shined through the darkness. I believe my pride was the source of this darkness."

"You deserve to be proud, Elliot. You created a goddess and, so, naturally, you fell in love with her," said Grandma Wu, looking towards the trees as the wind blew the leaves. "You're like that man who fell in love with his own sculpture. What was his name?"

"Pygmalion?" said Elliot. "Yes, we were discussing him in my history class. But he didn't create monsters like I have."

"All creatures possess light and darkness, Elliot. "They are two opposing forces that require the other to exist. The idea of Yin and Yang. I think that applies to spirits as well."

"But even if I can stop the spirits I summoned, what will become of our relationship? Spirits live much longer than humans. Grandma Wu, should I conjure elixirs to increase my lifespan so that I can be with Rosewielder?" asked Elliot, dropping a group of peddles into the pond. "Would you do it?"

"Rosewielder did not seem the type to approve of such things," said Grandma Wu.

"You're right, but she shouldn't be alone. If I died I'd feel like I was abandoning her," said Elliot. "I know she'd have memories of the times we had together. I'd be in her heart but, for how long? Would her memory of me fade after four hundred years, five hundred, seven hundred?"

Elliot opened his hand, allowing the wind to blow the flower from it. He watched it plop in the water, creating vibrations.

"There is no way to tell, but that's one advantage of not knowing the future. It offers us hope," said Grandma Wu. "But, I feel that if you're true to yourself then you will find a way to make things work out even if it's not in the way you envisioned."

There was a sudden sliding sound from behind, causing them both to glance back at the house. His parents and Faiga came out through the glass doors, hurriedly walking towards them.

"Hello, Ai," said Mrs. Clementine, hugging Grandma Wu.

"How are you, Adalie," said Grandma Wu, kissing his mother on the cheek. "And there's my granddaughter."

Grandma Wu and Faiga hugged for so long and tightly it looked like they were trying to squeeze the other to death.

After standing around, enjoying the weather, discussing everything under the sun from his mother's wisdom teeth extraction and Grandma Wu's recovery, to his father's increasingly busy work schedule, they spent the rest of that day entertaining Grandma Wu with all the pleasures they could. Faiga and Elliot performed on their instruments for their grandmother while Mrs. Clementine worked feverishly, preparing an immaculate dinner featuring many authentic Chinese cuisines. Elliot savored the time with his family, knowing he would have another round attempting to master the vanquishing orb the following day in Elvira's training session. After thoroughly stuffing himself at dinner, he made his way upstairs and to his room with a huge plate of soba noodles and shrimp fried rice in one hand and a bottle of soda pop under his arm. He opened the door to find Rosewielder with her legs crossed and her eyes closed, seemingly in meditation. She looked strangely out of place against the mundane nature of his room, her skin emanating an angelic light as a warmth which radiated from her body blanketed him.

"Practicing for tomorrow's training?" said Elliot, walking past her and placing the plate and glass on his desk.

"Of course I am. I'm looking forward to dueling with Julie again," said Rosewielder, finally getting up, walking towards her desk.

She placed her hands on her hips, her eyes studying him.

"It seemed that she views you as more than a comrade. Is that true?"

"I don't know. Maybe. The truth is that I've never been as close to anyone as I have to you and Julie accept my family," answered Elliot, shrugging his shoulders. I've had friends but that's about it."

"You mean to say that I'm the first maiden this dear to you?"

"Yes, you are," said Elliot.

Rosewielder sat down at the desk and picked up a pair of chopsticks from the plate, looking down worriedly.

"What's wrong?"

"Elliot, if I'm your first maiden how do you know that we're meant to be?" asked Rosewielder, grabbing up a shrimp and a pea, surveying them. "What if Julie was right?"

"What would make you think that?" asked Elliot.

Rosewielder dropped the shrimp and pea into the bowl before picking up a pair of shrimp.

"When I listened to Julie she seemed so certain that you two were meant for each other. What if humans were made to be together? You two are both from one world, the same world. You could live the rest of your lives happily without you having to make the conjurer's choice. Sometimes I feel that me being a spirit is a burden to you," explained Rosewielder.

"Rosewielder, I thought you knew me better than that," began Elliot, causing her eyes to gaze at him, confused. "I'm a conjurer who's put monsters in my school. We've flown over cities together. We've ridden dragons. If we join the council we'll be facing danger all the time. Our future is uncertain because our lives are anything but normal. We'll both be forced to make hard choices, but that's why I'll listen to Grandma Wu's advice."

"Your grandmother? What did she tell you?" she asked.

Elliot bent down and took hold of Rosewielder's hand, delighting in its soft snugness. Rosewielder placed her other hand atop of his, making him feel like an anointed knight.

"We must have hope for the future even if our path is clouded. I have faith in both my grandmother and my late Great Uncle Baum," he said with resolve. "We may come from opposing worlds but, like yin and yang, we need each other."

"You are truly hypnotic, Elliot. When you speak and look at me in such a manner I find myself irresistibly mesmerized. Your eyes remind me of the sky, and yet they exude a certainty greater than the rising of the sun. How can I not trust in your conviction? I'll put my trust in you."

The pair spent the rest of that night watching a romantic comedy about a woman who'd fallen in love with the ghost of an old cowboy, laughing at the increasingly outrageous storyline, until they both decided they wished to sleep. They then bid each other goodnight.

The following day Elliot readied himself for breakfast with great haste, knowing their grandmother would be joining them. His mother and grandmother had collaborated in meal preparation, providing a skillful equilibrium between German and Chinese dishes.

"You two should open up a restaurant together," said Elliot after his third helping of sausage and rice, watching the clock. It was great. But I better get going."

"Two cooks are better than one," said Grandma Wu.

The family said their goodbyes, leaving Grandma Wu home to reminisce over old family photos and videos. Elliot journeyed to school, wondering how his training session that day would go.

I'm sure Mr. Anghel is right. I'll get the vanquishing orb right. I hope I can learn it in time to stop Adam and Lilith from doing any major damage. If they did kidnap Aki Fuki then it will at least be an option in our arsenal to defeat them.

Elliot arrived at his chemistry class two minutes before the bell, seeing both Abha and Ezzena dashing towards him, their faces as upset as Cody's had been, fearing he'd have to endure a guilt trip regarding Fuki's disappearance for another round.

"If you plan to talk to me about Aki Fuki then please don't," said Elliot as they approached. "I'm already upset about it."

"Oh," said Abha, looking crestfallen. "It's affected you that much, huh?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry, bro. All we can do is hope that he's safe wherever he is," said Ezzena with uncharacteristic seriousness.

"I agree," said Elliot.

The students watched their teacher, Mr. Fujita, perform a set of equations so long that each took up an entire sheet of paper which he'd placed on an overhead projector. For the next thirty five minutes, they helped talk Mr. Fujita through different sets of equations. After requesting them to study the intermediate value theorem for their next class they were dismissed. In his Japanese class Ms. Ivanova presented them a slide show that depicted Japanese Oni masks, requiring them to use kanji to recount their meanings and origins. They were called up from a class list to recite their ideas, being graded on their fluency and accuracy. The bell rang, signaling the end of class with the presentations only being halfway through.

"If you didn't present today then you'll go next class," said Ms. Ivanova, writing on a red clipboard.

They were immediately administered a test in Mr. Stewart's biology class and, having been familiar with all the material, Elliot breezed through the exam with ten minutes to spare. He used his extra time to get a head start on the next chapter's material, and before long, he was hastening towards his music class. Ms. Matthews had them play several rounds of Bach's Cello Suite No. 1, offering them suggestions on how to improve their playing quality from previous attempts.

"Come on. Let's try to stay coordinated," said Ms. Matthews, waving her hands to keep them in sync. "One more time."

Only after about the fifth time was she satisfied enough to move on to a film which recounted the lives of several famous musicians during the Enlightenment era. Once the class had ended, Elliot hurried to his locker for his backpack and A day schedule books before navigating through the halls and exiting the school's front doors. He hopped into his car and began his journey home, instinctually turning up the classical station as he recalled the steps of creating a vanquishing orb.

Alright, first I clear my mind. I have that part down. Then I go straight to feeling my aura. Those are the same as with creating spirit items and aura summons. But I always botch the final step. Elvira says to focus on the energy of the earth and imagined it forming a vacuum. How do I do that? His previous failures plagued his mind all the way home. He grouchily slammed his car door before going through the back door. He kept an eye on the time as he made himself a quick glass of orange juice, reasoning that Rosewielder would arrive home from Tenzin's shrine in another ten minutes.

"You're home, my grandson," said Grandma Wu's voice from behind.

Elliot turned to see his grandmother walking towards him from the living room, dressed in blue pants and a white shirt decorated with roses, carrying a large notebook. It was his family album.

"Hello, Grandma Wu. How are you?" he asked, putting his glass in the dishwasher.

"I'm enjoying looking at pictures of my family. I'm thankful that I remember the good times," she said, pointing at a picture of his mother and father in wedding attire. "It's all thanks to my grandson, the dream savior."

"Thanks. That means a lot to me."

"It's amazing how life slowly changes you. A few months ago, I barely recognized my own sons," said Grandma Wu, her finger on a picture of a toddler Elliot, his mother holding his hands while his father held a baby Faiga in his arms. "That's why you'll always be my saviors, you and Rosewielder. You gave me my humanity back."

Elliot felt himself blush as his grandmother closed the album.

"My favorite photo is this one with Chao and Adalie in the North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany," she said, studying a picture with Elliot's parents, appearing nearly twenty years younger, as they laid under an apple tree in a wonderfully aesthetic grassy plain.

His mother looked pregnant and Faiga was absent.

"Grandma, was that where I was born?" asked Elliot, awed.

"Yes, Adalie had you a couple days after this photo. It's also very close to where your Great Uncle Baum was buried," explained Grandma Wu. "It must have been challenging for Adalie and Chao to be together. They had opposing cultures. The worlds they came from were different but they made it work."

"Different worlds," repeated Elliot. "Just like Rosewielder and I."

"Now that you mention it, I'd have to agree," said Grandma Wu.

"Now, I know where Rosewielder's been taking me for our training sessions with Elvira," said Elliot. "Speaking of my training sessions, I'd better get going."

"Training sessions with Elvira?" said Grandma Wu. "Is this Elvira part of the council?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Elvira and I once liked the same man. His name was Piero. He was a young teacher from Italy and also a conjurer. Ancient history," said his grandmother, suddenly bashful. "Then I met your grandfather, Niu, and knew true love. You'd better get going now. If I can remember one thing about Elvira it's that she is a woman who shouldn't be kept waiting."

Elliot hugged his grandmother before telling her farewell and heading up towards his room. He opened his door and saw Rosewielder, standing up, twirling her sword around adeptly in her right hand while holding Elliot's shield in her other hand.

"Are you ready, Elliot?" she asked eagerly before sheathing her sword and handing him his shield.

"Yes, let's go," he answered.

She teleported them into his car, and after flipping the switch that lifted the garage door, they began their trip to Julie's house. Rosewielder used the bulk of the ride to explain her time at the shrine, detailing a new friendship she'd developed with a group of spirits called the harpies.

"Their leader is the benevolent queen of the harpies, Adonia, and they've helped the council battle dark conjurers and spirits for centuries, fighting trolls, dragons, giants and other spirits that endanger the human world," said Rosewielder, beaming at him. "Tenzin has many noble allies."

"A guy can gather a lot of friends in a thousand-plus years," said Elliot.

He slowed his speed before turning into Elvira's driveway.

"We're here," said Elliot, opening his door.

They walked to the front door, expecting, like always, that it would open before they knocked. Over the course of his training, Elliot had developed the impression that Elvira waited just outside the window to know when they'd arrived. The door opened and Elvira stood there, wearing the same black robes she always had during his training.

"Good evening," she said as they came in. "Follow me."

Elliot and Rosewielder followed her to the same curtained room they always went at the beginning of every training. They arrived, seeing Julie sitting languidly in a wooden chair, tying her hair back. She stood before fiddling with her necklace which was partially obscured by her black robes. Elliot saw a small object stir from behind Julie's legs, and when an orange fury tail with pale stripes rested against her robes that's when he realized...

"Elliot, look!" screamed Rosewielder, pointing towards her, before running over to Julie and grabbing up the small tabby cat hiding behind her. "He's as cute as ever. It's Mr. Winslow Jr.!" said Rosewielder, cradling the cat who began nudging her and purring.

"It looks like he likes it here," said Elliot.

"Elliot, we're going to try a different approach today. You've had no luck creating a vanquishing orb inside our training room. A natural environment might help you become more in tune with the earth's energy," said Elvira, looking expectantly at him. "Rosewielder, please put down the cat and take us to the same place as your last duel with Julie."

"Yes, teacher," said Rosewielder before kissing Mr. Winslow Jr. and placing him on the floor.

Everyone grabbed hold of Rosewielder. Elliot caught a glance of Julie's face which displayed an emotionless expression, her brown eyes focusing nowhere in particular. The usual sensations of teleportation afflicted him before he found himself standing in what he now knew to be the North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, his birthplace. Elvira brushed her hair out of her eyes before looking down at Elliot.

"You and Rosewielder will duel with Julie to facilitate your creation of the vanquishing orb. I suspect you won't create a vanquishing orb unless a situation arises in which you feel you must," said Elvira.

She turned to Julie and nodded. Julie returned the gesture. Just like with their last duel, Elvira traveled a good ways away, ensuring she was a safe distance from the battle. Julie distanced herself from Elliot and Rosewielder. Elliot pulled out his shield, preparing his mind for the duel while Rosewielder unsheathed her sword before assuming a battle stance, its blade imitating the sun's beauty. Elliot's eyes staid intently upon Julie and, when he saw her assume her praying posture he knew she was about to create an aura summon. However, Rosewielder had different arrangements, Elliot watching her vanish as she reappeared beside Julie with her sword raised. An abundance of swift events encompassed the coming moments. He saw Rosewielder be knocked through the air at least ten feet away by an enormous hand that had appeared right in front of Julie before it vanished. Seconds later, a grayish heart shaped structure materialized around Julie, encasing her completely. He saw Rosewielder quickly get to her feet, but, in that short span of time, a humanoid being appeared, hovering before her with beauteous ivory wings and spectacular golden locks of flaxen hair which draped magnificently over its shoulders. Its perfectly sculpted physique was a delicate mixture of milky white with a smidgen of pink which adorned its childlike face. Only a lone piece of under garment had the audacity to cover the lower half of the winged god of love as it clenched its hands around a handsome bow and arrow which shimmered like gold. An aura summon shaped like Cupid stood before them. Cupid looked down upon Rosewielder who stood firm, her sword valiantly raised, undaunted, and it was like seeing two divinities sizing each other up. Cupid tilted his bow towards Rosewielder, a golden arrow tipped with a red heart materializing in his hand, and fired his weapon. The arrow zoomed towards Rosewielder like a lightning bolt, but exploded into glittering pieces of light upon reaching her.

"Quick Sword of Light, grant me the power to vanquish my enemy!" yelled Rosewielder as her sword radiated with an intense luminescence .

She thrusted her weapon, cutting through the air with beams of light that stretched across the battlefield towards Cupid who vanished from sight in a poof of smoke.

Elliot instinctively whipped around and saw Cupid floating mere feet from him, his wings flapping slowly, and his bow and arrow ready. Cupid released an arrow towards Elliot but it was immediately knocked away. Elliot had prepared. He looked proudly at his creation which stood before him. Separating Cupid and Elliot was an individual attired in long blue robes fastened by a silky white belt on which a Japanese saya was placed. A greenish grotesque face with a large nose and reddish horns poking out of its head turned to look at Elliot with intense golden eyes and white pupils, revealing a perfect replica of one of the Japanese Oni masks he'd studied in his Japanese class.

"I will protect you, my conjurer, until I am again one with you," said Elliot's aura summon, turning to face Cupid with a coruscate katana.

He then leapt into the air, swinging profusely towards Julie's aura summon who, again, went poof. Elliot and the oni scanned the battlefield with their eyes, and they both jumped when something appeared five feet to the side of them. It was Rosewielder. She looked at the oni standing next to Elliot with alarm, raising her sword, before charging.

"Rosewielder, he's on our side!" roared Elliot, causing Rosewielder to stop within seconds of the oni who'd also raised his sword.

"Rosewielder, meet Ai," said Elliot. "He's my aura summon, our friend."

"Ai?" said the oni. That's my name, is it?" he said, rubbing one of his horns.

"Please forgive me, Ai," said Rosewielder. "I am honored to meet you. I am Elliot's spirit friend. He summoned me too."

"He did a good job," said Ai, stepping towards Rosewielder.

He extended his hand towards Rosewielder who placed hers in his. In a bizarre site, Ai kissed her hand.

"You're so sweet, Ai," said Rosewielder, blushing.

"The pleasure is all mine," said Ai, releasing her hand.

"Ahem. We're in the middle of a duel, you guys," said Elliot, his eyes scanning the plain, until he spotted Julie.

The heart-shaped structure that had protected her was gone.

"There's Julie," said Elliot, pointing in her direction just as a poof of smoke appeared in front of her, revealing Cupid. "You both are warriors. Do you think you could attack as a team?"

"Yes, Elliot," said Rosewielder, grabbing hold of Ai's shoulder. "The three of us can defeat Julie."

"Excellent," said Elliot, placing his hand on Rosewielder's arm. "Please teleport us."

Rosewielder obeyed, and the next second, the group was standing mere feet from Julie and Cupid. Ai and Rosewielder both lunged towards Cupid, unrevealing of the impending disaster. Cupid had vanished again, this time appearing behind Ai, and shot his arrow towards the oni, hitting his target. Ai shook his head rapidly, looking confusedly towards Julie before slowly walking over to her in a zombie-like fashion. He then bowed. Ai turned to face Elliot while Rosewielder continued chasing Cupid. Elliot gasped as he stared into heart filled eyes of Ai, his shrewd face, glaring at him aggressively.

"I love Julie! She is my new master!" roared Ai in a crazed manner, focusing his katana, not on Elliot but, on Rosewielder and Cupid who were locked in a vicious fray, both of whom appearing to have slowed down substantially as Cupid was no longer flying, but hopping across the grass, shooting his arrows at Rosewielder as she tiredly slashed them away with her sword.

Ai ran towards Rosewielder and Cupid just as Elliot heard Julie's voice.

"This is it, Elliot. Both of our aura summons will soon vanish, but can you master that vanquishing orb to stop Cupid's spell. Can you do it for Rosewielder?" asked Julie in a monotone voice, her voice unreadable.

Elliot closed his eyes, allowing the warm summer's breeze to sweep his hair across his face, before taking a deep breath. He cleared his mind, detaching himself from the fray occurring mere feet from him. He searched for his aura, feeling it condense in his forehead, continuing to focus on the breeze. He tried his hardest to sense both the grass and earth beneath his feet and all the living creatures which inhabited the earth, allowing the sunlight to saturate his skin. Elliot endeavored his best to perceive all that surrounded him before placing his hands in front of his chest and visualizing a vacuum. For those next few moments, every iota of his being focused on transforming the earth's energy around him into a vanquishing orb. Elliot wasn't aware of how long the process took, but remained calm as a white orb of light began spiraling between his hands. He glanced over at Rosewielder who was barely holding her own against both Ai and Cupid. With but a thought, the orb zoomed out from Elliot's hands and shot towards Cupid, sinking into his porcelain skin and causing the aura summon to dematerialize. He saw the piece of Julie's aura return to its master. Ai abruptly stopped fighting with Rosewielder who continued to thrust her sword at him, unaware of Ai's change of heart.

"Rosewielder!" yelled Elliot, running towards them. "It's over!"

Her head snapped towards him. She was breathing heavily, but sheathed her sword. She stood there, the wind playing with her hair. The sun couldn't stop staring at Rosewielder as she remained inexplicably brighter than all that surrounded her. Elliot couldn't blame the sun. Angels mesmerize all.

"Well done, Elliot," said Julie, walking towards him. "You learned the vanquishing orb. You'll master it as you progress through your training."

Julie's voice was deceptively lighthearted, her face still blank. However, she looked up as Rosewielder walked towards her with an angry expression.

"Julie, I expected better of you than such underhanded tactics," she said as Ai and Elliot approached. "You turned our comrade into a brainless puppet. That was heartless."

"I'm sorry," said Julie.

"It's no big deal, Rosewielder," said Ai affably, sheathing his katana. "In a minute or two, I'll vanish, anyway."

"Yes, it is a big deal, Ai," said Rosewielder, watching him tenderly. "It was wrong of her to take away your free will."

"Rosewielder, it's okay. He's fine now," said Elliot just as Elvira came walking quickly towards them.

"You've moved past this hurdle, but you have much room for improvement. Once your aura summon is reabsorbed back into you, we'll leave," said Elvira, watching Elliot. "We'll continue with vanquishing orbs for your next training."

Elvira turned from them, raising her head, as she looked into the distance, apparently admiring the landscape, while Julie sat down on the grass, picking up a yellow flower and began to pluck off its pedals.

Ai turned to Elliot, his golden eyes watching him eagerly.

"I can feel it coming. I will soon merge with you, my conjurer."

"It was nice meeting you, Ai," said Rosewielder, grabbing Ai's hand.

Elliot grabbed hold of Ai's other hand, and the three formed a circle.

"This isn't really goodbye. I'm not kicking the bucket or anything," laughed Ai. "I'm just going home."

Ai started to dematerialized. Elliot felt his hand, quickly evaporate until there was nothing left save a small piece of red light that he knew was his own aura. The light sunk into his chest, and Elliot felt his aura raise.

"Elvira, it's done. I reabsorbed my aur...," he started. "I reabsorbed Ai."

Rosewielder teleported them back to Elvira's house.

Julie's Heart

The passing weeks unfolded in a delicate balance between Elliot's home life, academia, and the boundless world cloaked from most, the world of the conjurers. He'd surprised himself with the progress he made with the vanquishing orb, managing to vanquish many of Julie's increasingly strange aura summons that were often associated in some way or another with love and romance. The rivalry between Julie and Rosewielder had not subsided, much to Elliot's dismay. It seemed that the pair were growing farther apart and Elliot's guilt about Aki Fuki(who was still missing) combined with Julie's distress convinced him to jump into high gear. He painstakingly completed all his homework and studying as quickly as he could so that Rosewielder and he could spend their weekends studying the Fantasy Lotus website, game pamphlets, and any information that might help them predict the whereabouts of Adam and Lilith. Rosewielder had questioned Tenzin and other council members about the pair but was told that the council's resources had been spread thin due to skirmishes with the Black Knights. One Saturday morning Elliot and Rosewielder were sifting through internet news stories in search of anything that would help them in their quest when an intriguing idea crossed his mind.

"Rosewielder, maybe it's time for us to pay Aki Fuki's home a visit. Who knows. We could find some clues there," said Elliot, reading one of many articles about Fuki's disappearance.

"What else can we do?" she asked before biting into a turkey and cheese sandwich, looking up from a Fantasy Lotus game magazine. "He resides in the Osaka prefecture in the capital city of Osaka."

"That's correct. His house is on Shigino street. We can't be seen though. We'll be drinking the Frog's Skin potion again," said Elliot. "We'll," he began before the ringing of the phone drowned out his voice. "Who could it be now. It's probably another one of mom's clients. Just give me a sec."

Elliot shot up from his computer chair and walked over to his bedside, glancing down at a white cordless phone atop a small wooden table cluttered with small notebooks and old pens and pencils. The screen read Stevens. It was from Elvira's house so he picked it up.

"Hello?" he said.

"Hi, Elliot," said Julie's voice. "How are you?"

"I'm great. How about yourself?" asked Elliot, surprised, looking over at Rosewielder who was still flipping through the magazine.

"I'm doing much better than previously," said Julie.

"Julie, I'm sorry about what's been going on during our training... Between you and Rosewielder."

"It's okay. We're rivals. Anyway, granny says that Wisteria wants to assess our skills as conjurers. She's very impressed with what Rosewielder's been showing her on her trips to the shrine," said Julie.

"That's awesome. When do we go?" asked Elliot.

"She wants us to be there by 4:00 on Thursday," said Julie. "There's also something else. It's something personal that I need to discuss with you. I've thought about what you said about how a piece of my family will always exist inside of me. I want to talk to you about these recent dreams I've been having. Can you meet me later today? I want you to be there when... when it happens."

"When it happens?" asked Elliot, pressing the phone closer to his ear. "Julie, what are you talking about?"

"It's something that I'd rather not tell you over the phone," said Julie, her tone noticeably softer.

Elliot looked back over at Rosewielder again whose attention was still on the magazine.

"Okay, Julie. I'll be there. What time?" asked Elliot.

"Elliot, thank you so much. Please come to my house at 6:00 p.m. I have to go right now, but thanks again."

"No problem. Julie, take care," said Elliot.

"Same back at you."

Elliot heard Julie hang up, and he did as well. He walked past Rosewielder, sitting back down in front of his laptop.

"What did Julie want?" asked Rosewielder, closing the magazine and putting it on the bed.

"How'd you know it was Julie?" gasped Elliot.

"We elves have acute hearing," explained Rosewielder.

Elliot gave himself a facepalm.

"One of the most basics traits of the elves in Fantasy Lotus, duh," he said. "Julie wanted me to visit her later today."

"Why?" asked Rosewielder, turning towards him with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance in her face.

"I think it's about her family."

"Oh...I see. Well, then you need to be there for her," said Rosewielder concernedly.

"I will."

He turned off his laptop and got to his feet.

"I'm ready. As the dream saviors, we'll travel to Aki's house to see if we can dig up any information about his disappearance," said Elliot, walking over to his bed and retrieving from under it two corked glass bottles.

One was filled with a clear liquid. This was the Frog's Skin potion that would render them invisible. The other bottle contained a white substance, the Eagle's Blood potion, so that they could fly. Elliot had poured the remnants of the Fantasy Lotus potions into the bottles for safe keeping until he conjured more.

"We're off to another adventure, are we, Grandmaster Swordsman?" asked Rosewielder, folding her arms.

"Yes, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot, handing the Frog's Skin potion to Rosewielder.

They uncorked the glass bottles and sipped from them before exchanging them and repeating. Elliot placed the potions back under his bed, ensuring they were well hidden. The swordsman and the princess watched the other vanish before their eyes. For Elliot, it was akin to going legally blind, the vividness and familiarity of everything else paling in comparison to the breathtaking godsend from the otherworld which stood right in front of him.

"Shall I, Grandmaster Swordsman?"

"Let's do this, Fair Elf Princess."

Rosewielder and Elliot held on to one another as they were transported to a rather narrow road on which nearly ten tallish houses stood. They were numerously colored with all of them having a balcony with railing on which clothes were hung out to dry. A light blue house had two older Japanese men leaning over the rail as they talked and smoked cigarettes. Their structure suggested that those in the region had little space, causing the developers to build up instead of out. Elliot and Rosewielder were still clutching each other's hand as they approached a metallic railing overhanging what appeared to be a drainage system.

"So, which of these fortresses are Aki's?" asked Rosewielder as several cars sped down the street after allowing a short woman in business attire to cross to the other side.

"Aki would be quite wealthy as the creator of Fantasy Lotus. His disappearance would cause the local police to search the house. There's probably something the authorities left behind that would tell us which one is his. I say we search for an expensive house with some sign of previous police presence," suggested Elliot. "We know it's on Shigino street."

"Sounds like a plan," said Rosewielder as they released each other's hands.

The pair continued down the street, being sure to stay well away from other passerby, their numbers increasing as the day progressed. Most of the houses looked as mundane as the next, often having families visibly congregating outside as young children frolicked around while older youth strolled down the street, boys wearing dark dress suits and striped ties. The girls wore short checkered skirts, long black socks, and dark blue long sleeved shirts with golden buttons beneath red ties. For roughly ten minutes, Rosewielder and Elliot studied the houses on Shigino street, finding nothing of interest.

"Maybe we should wait until the Frog's Skin potion wears off and you can simply ask someone," suggested Rosewielder.

"That may be our best bet," said Elliot, watching a large green luxury vehicle cruise down the street and stop in front of an austere white house nearly fifteen feet from them.

An elderly Japanese man wearing a dark purple sweater and black dress pants slowly slid out of the car, supporting himself with a wooden cane. He used his other hand to carry a bundle of flowers. After struggling to close the car door, he reached towards his glasses, straightening them, before hobbling towards the house. It took him nearly a minute to reach his destination, but when he came to the door, he did not go inside. Rather, he placed the bundle of flowers on the doormat just outside the door. He bowed several times before turning around and heading back towards the car.

"Grandmaster Swordsman, do you think that could be the one where looking for?" asked Rosewielder's voice as he felt a gentle nudge.

"There's only one way to find out. Let's check it out."

They waited several minutes until the man had gotten back into his car and driven away before walking towards the house. Elliot placed his hand on Rosewielder's shoulder.

"Please teleport us inside, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot.

"As you wish."

The next moment they were standing in a small, exceptionally clean room. Lying in the middle on a hardwood floor was white titami mat with brown edges on which a red pillow sat. A small fraction of sunlight penetrated through white blinds and curtains on the left side of the room and there was a short wooden table on which wooden statues of yellow swans stood beside a small mirror. There was also a large decorative lamp whose base was fashioned like a beautiful geisha.

"This language is foreign to me," said Rosewielder's voice.

"Fair Elf Princess, where are you?" asked Elliot.

He heard footsteps before an invisible hand grabbed hold of his arm, tugging him towards a different room that was mostly empty accept for countless Fantasy Lotus posters taped to the walls. A bluish futon sat in front of a pair of sliding doors.

"You see," said Rosewielder, pulling one of the pictures off the walls. "I don't understand it."

Elliot took the poster. It depicted a berserker with coarse features, his huge chin and bushy beard looking cartoonish under large glaring green eyes.

"Luckily, I know Japanese. However, this is of no value to us. We need actual notes. We could fine this online," said Elliot, disappointedly.

He walked over to the futon and sat down, placing his fist under his chin and crossing his legs, lost in deep thought. There was a sudden indentation on the other end of the futon.

Cody said that Aki was secretive with his work. If you don't want anyone to know what your working on, where would you put your notes? Wait! Could it be?!

"Any ideas?" asked Rosewielder.

Elliot stood up.

"Yes, Rosewielder, would you please stand up," said Elliot.

He saw the indentation on the blanket go away. Elliot placed his hands in between the mattress and the comforter, searching frantically until his hand hit something quite hard. He grabbed hold and pulled it out from the futon. It was a black binder. It was heavy and thick.

"Is that what we've been looking for?" asked Rosewielder.

"I'll know in a second," said Elliot, opening the binder and seeing handwritten notes in Japanese.

Using, his less than stellar grasp of the Japanese language, he read through the first paragraph and his heart jumped as he realized what it was.

The notes described inspiration for the characters, locations, and items in the world of Fantasy Lotus.

"Yes, Rosewielder. This is exactly what we've been looking for," said Elliot just as the affects of the Frog's Skin potion subsided, leaving them visible again.

"You have a sharp mind, Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder before bending forward and planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you. I'm ready to go back home," said Elliot.

After returning home Elliot managed to translate the first eight pages, only quitting when his mother came knocking on his door, inviting him to join the rest of the family for lunch. Lunch was a joyous occasion. The Clementines enjoyed an elaborate cuisine featuring several German dishes such as pan fried cakes called kartoffelpuffers and saurbraten, a type of pot roast. They were readily consumed alongside Chinese dumplings filled with chicken and vegetables as well as Cho Mein noodles. Grandma Wu and his mother complemented each other almost obsessively about their cooking skills until his father said it was ready for him to drive Grandma Wu back to the Los Angeles International Airport after checking his watch.

"Please come visit us again, Ai," said Mrs. Clementine, planting a kiss on his grandmother's cheek.

"You come visit me," said Grandma Wu, hugging his mother before turning to Faiga.

She ran her small thin hands through Faiga's brown hair.

"You keep practicing with your violin, dear. I expect greatness from you," said Grandma Wu.

"I will, grandma."

She turned to Elliot, her face wrinkling even more as she smiled widely. She also ran her hands through Elliot's hair which was now several inches past his shoulders.

"And you," she said, raising her head inches from his ears. "Continue being a hero, dream savior, or ,should I say, Grandmaster Swordsman," whispered his grandmother while tightly hugging him.

"I will."

They said their final goodbyes to Grandma Wu before Mr. Clementine left with his mother out the door and to the airport. Elliot and Faiga helped their mother clean the table, taking up the dirty dishes, cups, and utensils, and storing the leftovers for the next fifteen minutes until Mrs. Clementine went to her home office to deal with her clients for her law firm.

"I have to help Jill with this report or she's going to flunk it," said Faiga, fiddling with her pearl earrings. "See you, big bro."

"Later."

Elliot picked his mp3 player off the kitchen table, turning it from the black screen and looking at the time. It was 5:40 p.m. He placed his hands in his pocket, making sure he had his keys, before walking to the front door. He rushed to his corvette and, after slamming the door, began his journey to Julie's house, wondering what Julie had meant.

It happens? What is it? What's going to happen? She also mentioned something about dreams. Do they have something to do with me? Is that why she wants me to come to her house? It doesn't matter. I'll help her as best I can. I owe it to her.

Elliot drove into Elvira's driveway at 5:56, seeing Julie leaning on one of the black railings beside the steps. She was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt depicting a horoscope chart. On her feet she wore brown footbed sandals. He got out and Julie began walking towards him as he shut the door. He saw that she still fashioned the golden necklace around her neck.

"Thanks for coming, Elliot," said Julie. "Please come inside."

"No problem," he said as she led him into the house. "You said that you had strange dreams," began Elliot as he followed Julie into the living room.

He immediately recognized a change in the room since his last visit. The chair that had always occupied the left corner was in the middle of the room, directly facing the couch.

"Yes, have a seat," said Julie, pointing to the grayish couch which still looked as dusty as ever.

Elliot sat down, avoiding bumping into the finely polished wooden table mere feet from him. Julie sat on the other side, positioning her body towards him.

"Elliot, I know this will sound strange but there's this dream that I keep having. It's very vivid and it always ends the same way every time," began Julie, placing her hands in her lap.

"I believe dreams are important. Please continue," said Elliot, watching Julie's thin lips form a smile as her eyes looked dreamily up.

"Well, there's this boy in my dream who appears in front of me. He holds out his hand as if to save me from all my pain. He always appears from a distance like some unobtainable treasure I'm unworthy for. I couldn't make out his features, but, just standing in his presence causes this indescribable feeling of completion to flood my soul. The happiness conquers the pain. It's the way that you make me feel," said Julie. "I think its my imagination's recreation of you, Elliot."

Julie was crying, and yet, smiling. Her tears of joy seemed to glisten like the sun's reflection upon water, and with them came a certain something that he couldn't put his finger on that was divine. Her joy was like a diamond amongst rocks, serene, unyielding, and heavenly. Elliot stayed quiet, at a lost for words, his clever skill at throwing his wit at every situation, failing him. He felt his face turn red. He was blushing so hard that it hurt.

"I know that it's just a dream, but I will cherish the way the thought, the concept of you, makes me feel. I wanted you to know that," said Julie, staring unblinkingly at him, beaming proudly as sparkling streams flowed down her face.

"Julie, I-," he began. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," said Julie, getting to her feet. "Just being here with me when it happens is enough."

Julie stood up, turning her head towards the right corner of the room, past the television, and to a large picture that hung alone on the wall.

"I want to test out your theory that a piece of my family will always remain in my heart," said Julie. "There's something I wish to show you."

Elliot stood up. Julie led Elliot across the room to a portrait bordered by a golden picture frame decorated with the relief sculptures of horses and charioteers. The portrait depicted four people posing on the grass on a sunny day under a large tree. Standing, was an attractive brunette woman with long curls, dark eyes and tanned skin, wearing a white shirt and black pants. Her left hand was placed on the shoulder of a handsome dark haired boy with striking green eyes and a pageboy haircut. He wore a pair of sleeper hoops on his left ear and was dressed in a blue short sleeved shirt and kaki pants. He was relaxing in a white picnic chair. A younger Julie sat in a chair next to the boy, attired in red pants and a white sleeveless shirt. Standing behind her, with his right hand on her shoulder, was a tall man with short dark hair. He was lightly bearded, possessing the same green eyes as the boy. He was wearing a plain white shirt and brown pants. They were all smiling.

"This is my family," said Julie, her eyes still watery. "I see them all the time in my dreams. The time has come for me to see them again in this world. Well, I'll see the memory of them that exists inside my heart."

"Julie," began Elliot, studying the portrait. "What exactly are you going to do? You're not going to summon spirit replicas of them, are you?"

"No, she will not," said a voice who Elliot recognized as Elvira's.

Elliot turned towards the hallway leading out of the living room and saw Elvira ambling in their direction, wearing her usual black robes.

"I would never do that, Elliot. However, I can create aura summons of them," answered Julie as Elvira stopped before them.

"I believe you are ready to meet the them that is in you," said Elvira, placing her hand on her granddaughter's cheek.

"I get it now. It's like what I do with my Great Uncle Baum. Even though he's dead, I can talk to my memory of him whenever I need to inside my dreams. You're saying that conjurers like us can do that in the real world."

"Correct. Aura summons are merely reabsorbed by their conjurers when their time is up just as a dream is reabsorbed into the dreamer when they awaken," explained Elvira. "Julie, it is time."

He followed Elvira and Julie back towards the couch. Elvira sat down while Julie remained standing in front of the chair, putting her hands in front of her, assuming the stance she always used while conjuring.

"Julie, it will be easier on your aura if you summon one at a time," explained Elvira, her voice serious.

"I will take your advice, granny," said Julie. "Elliot, it was what you told me that gave me the strength to do this. Thank you."

Elliot, stood eagerly still, his eyes intently watching Julie. Several moments later, a boy rapidly materialized in front of her, wearing the same clothes Julie's brother had worn in the portrait. Julie lowered her hands, and the aura summon of Julie's brother looked curiously around the room before turning his attention back to Julie. Elliot walked closer, seeing Julie's brother's eyes watch Julie and him amusedly.

"It's been a long time, Julie," said the boy, grinning.

"I know, Skyler. It's been two years since I saw you in person," said Julie, walking over to her brother and embracing him.

Skyler hugged his sister warmly. They hugged for a good twenty seconds before finally releasing each other. He wiped the tears from Julie's face with his thumb.

"So, is this guy your boyfriend?" he asked, folding his arms. "He looks kind of scrawny. Is he treating you right? I won't have to beat him up, will I?"

"No, he's a friend of mine, but he's the one that made me understand that you, mom, and dad will always be in my heart," explained Julie.

"Is that so," said Skyler before looking towards Elvira. "Granny, you seem as grumpy as usual."

He walked over to his grandmother.

Elvira stood, appearing like she was trying to hold back tears. She ran her hands through Skyler's stylish hair. Skyler placed his hand atop his grandmother's, and the pair hugged.

"You are the spitting image of my grandson," said Elvira, her voice trembling.

"Yes, but I know that I am not really him. I am Julie's aura summon," said Skyler as they released. "I don't have much time."

Skyler walked over to the chair, sitting down.

"I know it's been hard for you without us, little sis," said Skyler, placing his arms on his legs. "But your spirit is strong just like mother's. You will make it through the tough times."

"I love just hearing your voice again, big bro," said Julie. "Being able to touch you again is like a healing experience."

"I'm sure it is."

"Matt and Zack really miss you too. They say the band hasn't been the same without you," said Julie, beaming at Skyler.

"You were in a band?" asked Elliot.

"Yes, I was the vocals. I remember my bandmates. We had plans to be successful, singing our ways into the hearts of our fangirls. The accident happened the day before an important performance. Mom, dad, and I were on our way to pick up Julie from school when-," he said. "Wait, what am I talking about. I'm Julie's aura summon, not her real brother."

Skyler placed his hands on his forehead as if he had a migraine.

Julie rushed over to Skyler, placing her arms around him.

"The memories of my brother in my heart are real, and that's where you were born. You are real," said Julie.

"Thank you, Julie. I think my time is up. I will now return to being one with you," said Skyler.

Skyler rapidly dematerialized just as Ai had, and soon, Julie was left with her arms cupped around thin air. She stood up, wiping the tears from her face and took her conjuring pose. In the coming moments, a grown man appeared before them. It was Julie's father.

"Julie, my daughter," he said, walking towards Julie and warmly embracing her before kissing her on her forehead.

"Hello, daddy," said Julie, her voice suddenly childlike. "I've missed you."

"Yes, I know, Julie. I've felt your longing for your family from within your heart. It pains me that I am limited to such a short time with you. I love you so much, my child," cried the man.

"Hello, Scott," said Elvira, strolling over to them. "You're just as handsome as ever. It's no wonder why my daughter married you."

"Elvira," said the man, nodding his head, before holding out his hand which Elvira shook. "I know a woman as versed as you in the mystic arts knows that I'm just an aura summon. However, my love for Julie is real."

"I know it is."

Julie took hold of Scott's hand, turning to Elliot.

"Elliot helped me bring you out of my heart," said Julie.

"I thank you, young man," said Scott, holding out his hand. "You must be a skillful conjurer."

"I'm still fairly new to conjuring, but the pleasure's mine," said Elliot, shaking Scott's hand.

"Daddy?" said Julie. "Uncle Bob never told you that he broke your train set when you were boys. It wasn't scruffy, the dog. He was so sad that my father died not knowing the truth."

"I forgive him and I'm sure that your true father would too, Julie," said Scott. "Your father is also in your uncle's heart as well."

"Yeah, I know he would," said Julie, leaning her head on Scott.

"How is school going, Julie?" asked Scott.

"It's been hard focusing since the accident, but I've still made straight A's every semester," said Julie.

"That's my girl. Soar like a bird, being all that you can be. Don't let any of life's problems shackle you," said Scott, placing his hand on Julie's head. Whenever you are feeling down use your inner strength to rise again like a phoenix."

"I love it when you say that."

"I'll continue saying it from within. I sense that my time here is nearing and end," said Scott as Julie continued clutching his hand.

Scott, like Skyler, vanished into nothing save a purple light which disappeared into Julie's chest. Julie abruptly touched her necklace, fiddling with the heart shaped jewel, before preparing herself to summon again. She took a deep breath and, in a few seconds, a woman had materialized before them, the aura summon of Julie's mother. Elliot watched her radiant eyes look from Elvira, to Julie, to Elliot.

"Mother, how are you?" she asked unemotionally, glancing at Elvira. "Julie's chosen the path of the conjurer."

"Yes, Eve," said Elvira simply.

She turned to Julie, her face becoming warm, as she placed her hand on her shoulder.

"My daughter, although I don't approve of you summoning me here, I understand why you did it. I don't blame you," said Eve, cuddling Julie. "You've chosen a difficult path, my child. Will you join the council?"

"Yes, mom. I want to use my powers to protect the world," said Julie. "And so does Elliot."

Eve whipped her head towards Elliot, still embracing Julie.

"You are a conjurer as well?" she asked, surveying him intently.

"That's correct. I, too, wish to join the council," said Elliot. "It would be impossible without Julie's and Elvira's help."

"I'm sorry to hear that my mother is leading you down a violent path of darkness and heartache," said Eve, turning from him and picking up Julie's necklace. "You are Julie's friend?"

"Yes, I am. However, I don't think the path of a conjurer has to be one of darkness. Not as long as you focus on the light that illuminates your path. Not if you focus on your goal," explained Elliot.

Eve turned from Julie and walked up to Elliot with the necklace still in her hand. Her expression was unconquerable, her umber eyes gazing at him through her long curled hair.

"Is that so?" she asked, stopping in front of him and holding the necklace out as if to place it on him.

"That's what I believe," said Elliot, feeling equally as unconquerable

"Then allow me to place this around your neck," said Eve.

Elliot lowered his head, letting Eve place the necklace on him. She fastened it around him and, after a few seconds, he noticed a brightness which shined handsomely from the stone. Eve opened her mouth, clearly astonished.

"You are the one! You're the one for Julie!" she gasped. "You're the one that she should give her heart to! You are her light!"

Elliot watched as a heavenly smile filled Eve's face. She was watching Elliot with such joy that it was as if she was seeing an angel. She then vanished. He was left feeling dumbfounded. Julie walked over to Elliot, her face still moist from tears, and held out her hand. He handed her the necklace.

"You see, Elliot. My mother said to only give my heart necklace to the one who gives me their heart."

The Return

Elliot's experience at Elvira's house had shaken him to his core. The conjuring sessions became increasingly awkward because he was unable to fathom how powerful Julie's feelings for him were. At times, he found himself questioning whether Eve had been right. His stress levels were high because the complicated relationship between Julie, Rosewielder, and himself was compounded by his school work, his teachers resolute in their decisions to increase the student's workloads after the midterm results revealed many of his peers to be slackers. He had very little time to decipher Aki's Fantasy Lotus notes. He was also bothered by the fact that he'd somehow managed to misplace his address book, perhaps accidentally throwing it in with his text books in his haste to attend school. Rosewielder's spirits, however, never seemed higher. She had learned several new skills in their training sessions, nearly matching any creation that Julie could conjure, often times destroying them in mere minutes. She no longer seemed as entranced by Elliot's history books, which she'd previously used to better her knowledge of the world, because her visits to the shrine had given her access to Wisteria, Tenzin, and spirits whose long lifespans had transformed them into living relics. On a certain occasion, Elliot had burned himself with hot tea, spilling it in surprise, after Rosewielder teleported into his room, attired in ancient woman's garments given to her by Wisteria.

"Oops, I'm sorry," said Rosewielder, standing there, wearing a long flowing white toga fastened by a hazel belt.

Her feet were embellished with nut-brown gladiator sandals which revealed toes so flawless it appeared like they'd never endured the hardships of walking, much less, the life of a warrior. A Grecian headband composed of many golden leaves fit snuggly over her rose-colored hair.

"I'm okay. It's nothing," said Elliot, shaking his hand in agony as it turned red.

"No, you're not. Don't lie to me," said Rosewielder, walking towards him and taking his hand. "Just be still. I will heal you."

He felt a soothing sensation flow into his hand from her finger tips. It was accompanied by a bright light. In only a few seconds, his injury had healed.

"Thanks, Rosewielder," said Elliot, picking up the hot water carafe.

"Just making sure that my Grandmaster Swordsman is in the best of health," said Rosewielder, her eyes sparkling like amethyst gems. "You need to be when we go to see Wisteria," she said, punching him playfully in the arm which surprisingly didn't hurt all that much. "Wow, you don't seem as scrawny as when we first met."

"You're right," said Elliot, balling his fist and making small, but perceivable, muscle. "My arms no longer look like sticks."

After completing a mountain of homework, Elliot spent the rest of that Tuesday night deciphering as much of Aki's Fantasy Lotus notes as he could while Rosewielder practiced her meditation for their training with Elvira. His efforts were not in vain for the deeper he dug, the more he realized how nearly all of the nations and locations in Fantasy Lotus were inspired by real life places. His resolve heightened as he reached a section, detailing the inspiration for the Ice Elves. Apparently, Aki was inspired by the frozen mountains of Norway when he created the fictional land of Frostland.

Where in Norway! Come on! If Adam's and Lilith's homelands don't exist in the real world then they might have gone to the real life locations that were most similar. That's what I would do if I was brought to a foreign world. Why else would they kidnap the creator of Fantasy Lotus? Yes, they needed information that only he could give them.

"Elliot, it's 12:00 in the morning," said Rosewielder's voice.

He turned, seeing her standing beside him, wearing pink pajamas with blue polka dots. He was so involved in his work he hadn't noticed her approach.

"I think you should rest now," she said.

"Yeah, you're right," yawned Elliot. "I have practice exams in all of my classes tomorrow. Now, I know how my dad must feel."

He got to his feet, and after going in the bathroom to change into a pair of plain light blue pajamas, collapsed atop his sleeping bag.

When the alarm clock sounded on Wednesday morning, Elliot sluggishly sat up, yearning to stay in bed, but knew his mother would soon be calling him down for breakfast. He heard a sound of clanking metal from behind and gasped in utter surprise, seeing Rosewielder already awake, fastening a brown corset around her waist, her sword already secured in a silver scabbard. She was wearing a uniform he'd never seen before, and he couldn't keep himself from blushing, noticing a pair of jet black boots fixed tightly around her well toned legs. She also wore an elegant black dress which wrapped tightly around her bosom.

"Um, Rosewielder, are you going somewhere?" he asked, brushing his hair out of his face.

"Yes, I'm going to the shrine to train with Adonia, queen of the harpies," said Rosewielder. "I've been using my time at the shrine to make myself a stronger warrior as well. If I ever cross paths with Lilith again, she won't best me."

"Good job, Fair Elf Princess. I should be doing the same but it's time for me to get through six hours of practice tests," said Elliot, walking towards his door. "Guess I'll see you later."

"Farewell, Elliot," she said before vanishing.

That day at breakfast, Elliot learned that the time to keep his promise to his younger sister was soon approaching.

"Big bro, my orchestra is performing again at the Goodwill Stadium on Friday. Remember your promise?" asked Faiga, her brown eyes beaming at him as she used a knife and fork to slice an egg.

"I'll be there, Faiga. You can trust me to keep my word."

"That's my son," said Mr. Clementine, flipping through the newspaper. "A young man of integrity."

"I think you'll really enjoy it, honey," said his mother, reaching for a white spatula. "You like classical music," she said, scooping up three small brownish sausages.

They spent the next ten minutes savoring his mother's cooking, Elliot struggling to make more space in his jam-packed brain, trying to focus on the abundance of material for his practice exams which ranged across all of his class subjects, rather than on Aki's notes and his turbulent relationship with Julie. When breakfast came to a close, he was so stuffed his pants felt tighter, and after saying goodbye to Faiga and his parents, he was off to school.

The school day started off oddly enough, his ears free from the usual flooding of fantastical stories about extraterrestrials and the latest Fantasy Lotus updates. Cody was absent during his first period which gave Elliot more time to focus on his study notes. Ms. Rosenberg had given the class a practice test packet consisting of five pages of material filled with so many equations that even Elliot's head began to spin by the time he reached what felt like his one-hundredth problem when the bell rang. Ms. Rosenberg's gray eyes, magnified by her glasses, looked up at the class pointedly.

"I hope that everyone studied," said Ms. Rosenberg, using a small black calculator to figure out the percentages of people's grades.

Elliot walked briskly through the halls and down a flight of stairs before arriving at his history class.

Mr. Bennett's class wasn't much different. However, the intensity brought forth from the quiet work environment was added to Elliot's anxiety caused by the nervous glances that Julie and he kept shooting at one another. It was hard to concentrate, his emotions disordering his thoughts, smashing them around like a tornado. After starting the same question for the third time he heard Mr. Bennet's voice.

"Five minutes left, everybody," said his teacher, looking up at a black circular clock hanging on the wall above the chalkboard.

Elliot hurriedly began answering a set of questions about Troy before moving on to the last section about Ancient Egypt. He managed to complete the final question just in the nick of time.

"Okay, everyone, that's it. Time's up," said Mr. Bennett mere seconds before the bell rang.

The students handed in their papers, and Elliot and Julie awkwardly exited the class.

"Hey, Julie. How is everything going?" he asked, securing his textbooks against his waist.

"I'm doing great, Elliot," she said joyfully, shaking her bangs out of her face. "How are you and Rosewielder?"

"Uh, good, I guess," answered Elliot, thrown off guard by her question. "Julie, are you sure you're okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" she said, laughing unconvincingly. "It's okay, Elliot. I realized that we will always be just friends. Well, I should be getting to my next class. Goodbye."

"Bye, Julie."

Elliot trudged on to his PE class. When he arrived it was like he'd entered into the fourth level of the underworld and Mr. Martel was the beast. The boys were forced to run about ten laps around the gym before they resistantly followed Mr. Martel into the weight room. Although Elliot had gained some muscle due to wielding his shield in his training with Elvira, he was no athlete, and struggled to meet the expectations of his gym teacher.

"Mr. Clementine, have you been practicing at all outside of school?" asked Mr. Martel, folding his thick arms, and shaking his head as Elliot struggled to lift a thirty-five pound dumbbell. "

Oh, can it! If only I had the Ox Wine! But Mr. Anghel said not to use spirit items in the school. Darn it! This stinks!

Elliot fell to his knees, placing the dumbbells on the black mat beneath him.

"I'll mark you down for nine reps with each arm. That last one was questionable though," said Mr. Martel, holding a wooden clipboard and scribbling on a sheet of papers with a black marker.

"Who's next?!" roared Mr. Martel as Elliot sluggishly made his way to a long wooden bench where a lengthy row of other boys sat.

He continued panting heavily, his lungs burning, as he watched Mr. Martel yell at a lanky brown haired boy who failed to lift a twenty pound dumbbell off the floor. They remained in the domain of their gym teacher for another twenty minutes until, at last, the bell, their savior, rescued them from Mr. Martel's underworld.

He exited the weight room and headed off to Mr. Anghel's class. When he arrived he saw his teacher there, looking through a large dark blue notebook.

"Good evening, Mr. Anghel," said Elliot as he entered.

"Good evening, Elliot," responded Mr. Anghel, looking up from the notebook. "The school board is really pushing you all. I had a fun little exercise planned, but I don't think we'll have the time today."

"Yes, I know. I'm just trying to balance school and other responsibilities," said Elliot, taking a seat in the second row in front of a thin Asian girl whose dark eyes were quickly dashing back and forth as she studied her textbook.

"I'm sure those other responsibilities are just as important," said Mr. Anghel, getting up from his seat, walking over to his desk, and opening a drawer.

Elliot prepared himself as his teacher retrieved a thick stack of stapled papers. They waited as the room gradually filled, students walking in with sour looks on their faces, seemingly just as fed up with the school's educational crackdown as he was. After the bell sounded, they were administered the practice test.

"I don't want to load you all down with more work, but I have to. It's out of my hands, guys," said Mr. Anghel. "You have the entire period to finish."

Elliot retrieved a green mechanical pencil from his pocket, and began his final practice test. He easily sped through a section requiring him to match terms with their definitions within a couple minutes before moving on to identifying the proper usage of verbs and adverbs in the next section. The room was quiet save for the scribbling of dozens of utensils, and the occasional coughing and sniffing of people affected by the spring's elevation in pollen. Elliot wrestled to keep his mind focused, but when Mr. Anghel informed them that the test was over, he'd finished a good eight minutes prior.

"I promise that next class will be more fun," said Mr. Anghel apologetically as the students left the classroom.

After retrieving his books for his B day classes, he darted through the hallways, dodging the other students. He nearly collided with a leather jacket cladded boy skateboarding down the school sidewalk under the intense sunlight before walking to his corvette and embarking on his way home. Elliot fixed his mp3 to an outlet on his car music panel, turning to Strauss Sr's Radetzky March, endeavoring to drown out his vexatious thoughts. He rolled down the window, allowing the wind to play with his hair as he navigated homeward. He parked his car in the garage nearly fifteen minutes later, ready to rush through his homework so that he could continue translating Aki's Fantasy Lotus notes.

Elliot scoffed down a small helping of microwavable ramen noodles before running up the stairs towards his room with his backpack. He retrieved his Calculus book and a black graphing calculator, beginning to work on a particularly complex problem. He lost track of time, working his way through the problems as he punched in numbers, stopping every so often to erase his mistakes. He'd just stopped to crack his neck when he got the distinct impression he was being watched. He looked behind him, seeing a certain someone watching him nonchalantly. He brought his hands to his face, rubbing his eyes profusely, thinking he might be hallucinating, but when he looked again, Prince Adam was still standing there. His features were so nobly sculpted and flawlessly refined that they would make Narcissus insecure. His electric blue eyes watched him with a slight frown. Coming to his senses, Elliot remained still, well aware of the magnificent sword handle which gleamed from within the scabbard on Adam's back, first clearing his mind, and focusing on a spot right behind Prince Adam. Seconds later, Ai, his aura summon, had appeared right behind Adam.

"Adam, why are you here?" asked Elliot slowly.

"It pains me to admit this, but I need your help," he said, seemingly unaware of Ai standing behind him.

"First, thing's first. Tell me were Aki Fuki is. He's the creator of Fantasy Lotus. You and Lilith kidnapped him, didn't you?"

Adam shut his eyes, and Elliot gaped in awe at the series of events that happened next. Adam vanished, appearing behind AI, and grabbing his katana which was quickly engulfed by ice. Ai dropped his weapon in disbelief. It shattered as it hit the floor but soon he, too, was encased in a blue ice which shimmered with the same likeness as Adam's eyes. The frozen Ai fell over, crashing to the floor and breaking into countless shimmering crystals. Elliot saw the piece of his aura return to him, knowing his aura summon had been destroyed.

"Don't bark orders at me, conjurer," said Adam cooly. "I have not kidnapped anyone."

"If you didn't then where is the creator of Fantasy Lotus?!" asked Elliot.

"He's probably with Lilith," said Adam calmly. "I'm looking for Lilith. I think we can find him if we find Lilith."

"You and Lilith aren't together anymore?" asked Elliot confusedly. "What happen?"

"She saw-," began Adam when the telephone sounded. "What dastardly noise is that?"

"It's a phone. We use them to talk to people in different places in this world," said Elliot, standing to his feet. "I have to get it. It may be important."

Elliot raced over to his phone, looking down at the caller ID which read Singh.

That's odd. It's from Abha's house.

He retrieved the phone, placing it next to his ear.

"Hello," said Elliot, watching Adam look at him as though he was growing a horn out of his head.

"Hello, this is Abha's mother. Is Elliot or his parents there?" began a woman in an Indian accent.

"Yes, this is Elliot. What happen to Abha? Is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"We haven't seen her since last night," cried Abha's mother. "We were hoping you knew where she might be?"

What?! Wait! Cody didn't show up to school today either?! Is there a connection? What's going on?

"Hello, are you still there? Do you know where Abha is?" asked Abha's mother. "Hello?!"

"No, Mrs. Singh. I don't know where Abha is, but I promise to help you look for her," said Elliot, his hands shaking.

"Thank you," she said.

Elliot heard Mrs. Singh cry hysterically before hanging up the phone. He hung up and sat on his bed, putting his head in his hands. Adam walked slowly over to Elliot, studying him.

"Is this Abha your friend?" he asked.

"Yes."

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about," said Adam, reaching in his coffee-colored pants and pulling out a shiny, brightly colored paper. "When Lilith and I were still traveling together we found this in a book shop we went to. When she saw it she went ballistic and disappeared."

He handed it to Elliot who immediately recognized it as an exclusive sneak peak at upcoming story lines for Fantasy Lotus. He ignored the pictures of new avatars and magical items. His eyes went straight to a paragraph detailing a romance between Lilith and Adam. It read:

In a twisting turn of events young Prince Adam, impassioned by the Crimson Vampires's attack on a helpless Earth Elf youth, valiantly takes up his sword and slays the tyrant who gave the order, Vampire King Vlad, vulnerable father of Vampire Princess Lilith. Desperate to avenge her deceased father, the vampire princess sends her forces to snuff out the life of her once beloved Adam but is unsuccessful. After narrowly escaping the clutches of the vampire knights, Prince Adam rallies an alliance, uniting Earth, Ice, Wind, and Fire elves to descend upon Narusaltara, the vampire domain, his romance with princess Lilith like a pedal blown away by the winds of time.

"I was right," began Elliot, flipping the paper over. "Lilith is clinging to the world of Fantasy Lotus. Otherwise, this wouldn't have upset her so much. The chances that she's behind Aki Fuki's disappearance has skyrocketed."

"I agree with you," said Adam, lowering his eyes. "The look on her face when she'd read this was...chilling even for an Ice Elf like myself."

Elliot folded the paper, placing it in his jean's pocket for safekeeping before standing up and facing Adam.

"I know we both got off on the wrong foot. Do you think we can settle our differences? Will you join me and Rosewielder as a dreamsavior? Will you help us find Lilith and my friends?" asked Elliot, holding out his hand.

Adam's beautiful blue eyes stared up as he thought. He rested his right elbow on his left arm which was crossed against his chest. He looked down at Elliot's outstretched hand, studying it for a while, before finally taking it. His hand was very cold to the touch, so much so, that it was highly uncomfortable for Elliot.

"Our endeavors align right now. We must find Lilith," he finally said before yanking Elliot towards him, staring into his eyes. "I am not one of your spirit puppets like Rosewielder is. I will not be one of your dreamsaviors. I am Prince Adam, the valiant Ice Elf."

"Rosewielder is not my spirit puppet!" yelled Elliot firmly. "She is my partner who happens to be a spirit."

A faint noise sounded from across the room, causing both Adam and Elliot to whip their heads towards the window. Elliot saw Rosewielder standing by his work desk, appearing like she'd just been smacked, a look of pure incredulity on her face. She brought both her hands to her eyes, rubbing them as if to ensure she wasn't seeing things. Elliot imagined how this must look to her as he stood, shaking hands with what she believed to be her mortal enemy. Her eyes turned dark violet before she unsheathed her sword, watching them both with a murderous expression.

"Elliot, have you...betrayed me?!" she screamed, shaking as she raised her sword. "What are you doing with an Ice Elf? Speak now!"

"He wants to help us. He gave me information about Lilith. We should give him a chance, Rosewielder," said Elliot, releasing Adam's hand.

"Then he is deceiving you!" roared Rosewielder, narrowing her eyes. "Stand aside while I dispatch with this scumbag!"

"No, Rosewielder! I wasn't lying when I said that I believed he saved my family that night when we were attacked. He stopped Lilith when you were unconscious. That's why I'm giving him a chance. If not for Adam my family could have been killed," said Elliot. "Please trust me, Fair Elf Princess."

"I think you're about to mess up again, Elliot!" yelled Rosewielder. "You said you would listen to my advice! Well, I advise you not to befriend that Ice Elf!"

"I can't turn away anyone who's helped my family."

Rosewielder remained still and silent, and Elliot could almost hear her brain working as her eyes dashed back and forth between them. She then sheathed her sword, still seething with rage.

"If this Ice Elf is the death of me then so be it. But if you are lost to me by his hand I swear I'll run him through with my sword before plunging it into my own heart," said Rosewielder, folding her arms and walking over to Adam so that her face was mere inches from his.

"I have my eyes on you and my hands on my weapon. If you try anything I will destroy you," said Rosewielder.

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance...Earth Elf," said Adam, cooly rubbing his golden hair.

"Can you both try not to kill each other while I finish translating Aki's notes," said Elliot as he walked back over to his desk.

"Tell her that, not me," said Adam before traveling towards the window and watching a bluejay feed its young in a small nest perched just outside the window.

Elliot continued his work, busily checking the Japanese kanji alphabet for unfamiliar characters as he plunged deeper into Aki Fuki's world which furthered his appreciation for the creator's genius with every passing section. He'd discovered that the landscape for the Earth nation was inspired by the grassy plains in the western parts of the United States while the concepts of the Fire Elves were based heavily off of Ancient Egyptians. However, he still hadn't quite seen what he was looking for until reaching a section which talked of Romania. He knew it had to be the final section, noticing that the stack of notes left to be translated was thin. His eyes darted back and forth while his mechanical pencil danced across the page, feeling that he was nearing the reward for his hard work until ,at last, he found it.

So, the Forest of the Forsaken, the home of the Crimson Vampires, is based off of the Vampir Forest in Romania. People say that it's haunted too. That makes sense. What better place to hide as a vampire spirit than in a location known for its ghost stories? That's where I believe Lilith is, but if I'm wrong then it'll mean that all of this would have been for nothing. No, I can't think like that! I refuse to fail! I must believe in myself! No more waiting. We go there tonight!

Elliot stood from his chair, hearing scurrying from downstairs.

"Okay, you two. I figured out Lilith's most likely location. I think she's in Romania, in the Vampir Forest. I have a hunch that my friends are there as well, along with Mr. Fuki," explained Elliot, organizing the papers and putting them in his drawer.

"Don't tell me she's responsible for more kidnappings?" asked Rosewielder in disgust.

"Yes, I believe so," said Elliot.

"Well, I'm not surprised she was with Adam. Only someone like him can like a monster like her."

Adam closed his eyes for several seconds, placing his hands around a large round object in his pocket, before responding placidly.

"We should go there as soon as possible," he said, shooting to his feet, tightening the golden lacing holding his shirt closed. "If we wait she'll most definitely turn your friends into her followers."

"He's right and that's why we have to settle this right now. Fighting vampire zombies in a video game is hard enough, but I'm not looking forward to doing this in real life," said Elliot.

"Yes, she can transform any humans she bites into her vampire puppets. It's her unique ability as the vampire princess," explained Adam. "Elves are immune to the affects of the bites. That's how I've kept her from feeding on anyone else."

He pulled down his collar, touching a spot on his neck.

"I was getting tired of healing myself."

"You mean you let her feed on you?" asked Elliot, flabbergasted.

"If I hadn't she would have done it to humans."

"That's noble of you," said Elliot.

"That's disgusting," said Rosewielder, watching Adam as though he was a giant stinkbug.

"You're right, Adam," said Elliot, walking towards the door. "We need to go as quickly as possible. I'll be right back."

Elliot brought up a world map on his laptop, allowing Rosewielder to study it, so that she'd know were to teleport them to. He then traveled downstairs and saw his mother and Faiga already filling the marble kitchen counter with wooden and plastic spatulas and large spoons while shining pots of varying sizes sat neatly in rows.

"Hello, honey," said Mrs. Clementine, pouring the entirety of a small bag of rice into a pot of boiling water.

"Hello, big bro," said Faiga. "You haven't forgotten about my performance, have you?" asked Faiga, fastening a pink cooking apron with a smiley face on it around her waist.

"No, I haven't. Um, mom, I think I'll miss dinner tonight. You see, I need to drive to my friend's house to work on a chemistry project. I'll be there kind of late," said Elliot, watching his mother starting to chop up two large onions.

"I don't like the idea of you being out late, Elliot. But if it's for school then I suppose you can go. Make sure to be home no later than eight o'clock."

"Thanks, mom," said Elliot.

He gulped down a large glass of grape juice before heading back up to his room. When he arrived Rosewielder had her legs crossed, grumpily flipping through what looked like an old story book whose binding was falling apart. Adam's attention was fixated out the window, apparently fascinated by a large dump truck which routinely strolled down their street around 4:30 everyday. He walked over to his bed, retrieving the the Fantasy Lotus potions.

"Rosewielder, Adam, this could help us in our battle against Lilith," he said, holding up the glass bottles.

"What are those?" asked Adam curiously, finally turning his attention from the window.

"They're Fantasy Lotus potions that give you awesome abilities," said Elliot. "I conjured them."

"No, thanks," said Rosewielder and Adam simultaneously

Both of their faces flushed pink.

"Using crutches against any foe does not befit my caliber as a warrior," said Adam, snapping his head away disapprovingly.

"If I meet with Lilith tonight I will fight honorably and on equal ground! That's what I've been training to do!" said Rosewielder with an earnest expression.

"You, elves, are so noble. You see, you two have something in common," said Elliot before gulping down the last of the Ox Wine.

"We're nothing alike! How could you even suggest such nonsense!" yelled Rosewielder, standing up, giving Adam a sour look.

Elliot emptied the Eagle's Blood into his mouth but did not drink the Frog's Skin. He wanted Lilith to see him if they were to meet again. Elliot then cleared his mind, remembering a new potion he'd seen while studying the Fantasy Lotus magazine and soon, after mere moments, a glass filled with a red substance resembling tomato soup appeared in his hand. He sipped from it, noting the sweet taste that saturated his taste buds which he couldn't quite put his finger on. Nevertheless, Elliot drank until the glass was empty. He'd learned from his sessions with Elvira to be prudent whenever creating spirit items with magical abilities as they quickly drained the conjurer's aura. Elliot hoped to use this particular ability instead of the vanquishing orb if worse came to worst. He reached under his bed, grabbing his shield. It was still in perfect condition, its untarnished surface, brilliantly reflecting the sunlight that penetrated the window. It had not a single scratch on it despite him having used it many times in his duels with Julie.

"Fair Elf Princess, it's time. I-," began Elliot before the phone rudely interrupted him. "Who could it be now?"

Annoyed, he dashed over to the phone, glaring at the caller ID, before recognizing it was Julie's number. He retrieved it.

"Hello?" he said.

"Elliot, have you seen the news? Three amber alerts have been posted for students who attend our high school. That girl, Abha, is missing. She was the one who I... She was the one I told to give you my note. The picture of that boy she's always with is on the news too. Ezzena is his name," explained Julie. "Does this have anything to do with you?"

"It might," said Elliot. "I think a vampire that I summoned may be responsible."

"Elliot, you need to come to my house, right away," said Julie gravely.

"No offense, but we just don't have the time," said Elliot, watching Adam begin to pace restlessly, crunching the broken pieces of ice that littered his floor. "I think I know where they are, the one who I believe abducted them. We are about to go there now and put an end to all of this, one way or another."

"Elliot, please let me help you. I can't stand just sitting here. I plan to join the council too so I need to experience real battles. This will be like our first mission together," pleaded Julie.

"What about Elvira? Is she okay with this?" asked Elliot.

"Granny's gone to one of her bingo nights. Also, I doubt your parents would be okay if they knew what you were up to either, would they?" asked Julie.

"Point taken. We'll be there quickly. Be ready," said Elliot.

"I will," said Julie. "Goodbye."

"See you soon," he said before hanging up the phone.

"Should I take us to the car?" asked Rosewielder, fixing a silver hair clipping in her hair so that it sat comfortably behind her long ears.

"No, there isn't enough time. Teleport us directly into Julie's house," answered Elliot. "Elvira's not home. Take us to the room where we first began our training."

"Okay, I will. Please take hold of me," said Rosewielder.

Elliot placed his hand on Rosewielder's soft shoulder, looking at Adam as he watched Rosewielder apprehensively.

"Can you ascertain that the Earth Elf won't lop off my arm if she feels my cold touch?" asked Adam, edging closer to them.

"Not to worry, Elliot. I won't attack him. But if the Ice Elf so much as touches his weapon I'll teleport us above a volcano and drop him right in," said Rosewielder with a grimace.

Elliot sighed, growing impatient.

"Please just take hold of Rosewielder," he said.

Adam slowly put his hand upon Rosewielder's other shoulder. She closed her eyes uncomfortably before they teleported. After the usual onset of peculiar sensations, the trio appeared in Elvira's training room, the aroma of incense tunneling through Elliot's nostrils, but, the next moment, all three of them were screaming in agony, Elliot feeling like his aura was being excruciatingly ripped right from his body. He heard Adam and Rosewielder collapse behind him and, soon, he'd fallen as well.

"Earth Elf! Wh- Where did you take us to?" gasped Adam weakly, grabbing his sword.

"I don't know what's going on," said Rosewielder softly, crawling towards a table stacked with books.

"Elliot! Rosewielder!" screamed Julie's voice from across the room.

Elliot just managed to lift his head, seeing Julie raising up the black curtains which led into the room, a terrified look on her face. She immediately flew towards them in her black robes, holding her hands together.

"These are not intruders! They are allies of the conjurer that controls this layer! Let them pass!" screamed Julie.

There was a clear wave that seemed to warp the room as it enclosed upon them in a circular motion and then... it was over. Elliot felt his aura return to normal, no longer in pain. Julie helped him to his feet.

"What were you all thinking?! You never enter a conjurer's home without their permission!" said Julie. "You were caught in granny's magical barrier."

"I take it that's the type of barrier they have up there at the school now?" asked Elliot, still breathing heavily.

"Yes, Mr. Anghel is an experienced conjurer," said Julie. "In fact, it's recommended that all conjurers place barriers around their layers to prevent unwanted entry from dark conjurers and spirits that may harm them."

"You could have warned us, Julie," said Rosewielder, leaning on a table.

"Who are you?" asked Julie, ignoring Rosewielder as her eyes fell upon Adam.

She turned from Elliot and began walking around Adam as if he was an art sculpture at the museum, her eyes, unblinking.

"I am Adam, the noble prince of the Ice Elves," he said, dropping his sword back in its scabbard.

"You're a spirit and, yet, some of your aura is like Elliot's. Elliot is he-?" she began to ask.

"Yes, he was conjured by me," answered Elliot. "He's helping us now."

"His eyes. They're," began Julie before Rosewielder interrupted.

"Cold like the blood that runs through his wicked veins?" she said questioningly.

"Gorgeous," said Julie, staring at Adam as though hypnotized.

"Right, well, we best get going," said Elliot, causing Julie to shake her head, releasing herself from her trance.

"Where arte we headed to?" she asked, concealing her necklace under her robes.

"The spirit we're looking for is a vampire. We're headed to the Vampir forest in Romania. That's where I think she is," explained Elliot hurriedly. "We need to leave now."

"Okay, I understand," she said.

"Fair Elf Princess, please take us to our destination," said Elliot, taking hold of her.

"As you wish, Grandmaster Swordsman."

Adam and Julie grabbed hold, and the group vanished from Elvira's house.

The Savior of the Forsaken

They appeared in a wilderness dimly lit by a full moon which was just visible in the distance through a thick fog, saturating the forest. They were surrounded on all sides by patches of knee high grass. Towering over them were thin crooked trees with very sparse leaves that shot up from the ground like claws. The forest floor, which was quite uneven, was composed of not just muddy earth, but also of huge tree roots that spread aimlessly, winding up and down many large hills and cavities. There was a coldness in the wind which greeted them with a howl. Elliot took a deep breath, feeling an unsettling chill crawl up his spine.

"This is it, guys," said Elliot. "Let's find Lilith."

"This is a lot of area to cover. We'd have a greater chance of finding her if we split up," said Adam, stepping over a large root. I'll go with Julie and Elliot can take the crabby Earth Elf."

"How dare you suggest splitting us up!" said Rosewielder before turning to Julie, grabbing her shoulders. "Julie, I know we've been intense rivals these last few weeks but you shouldn't go alone with him. I think he will betray us."

"Then you don't know Adam," said Julie, her face partially obscured by the dimness. "I can't explain it, but there's something inside of me that says to trust him as much as I would you or Elliot. I will go with him."

"I trust him too. He's right. We should split up if we want to find Lilith," said Elliot. "Let's quit wasting time."

"Okay, I'll mark this location," said Julie, taking her conjuring pose. "If either of our groups isn't back here in a couple hours then... the other group should search for them."

A long thin object materialized before Julie. It shimmered with the likeness of gold. It looked to be a mixture between a sword and a staff with the bottom half acting as a blade while the top half had a very large handle encrusted with a baseball-sized stone which emitted an extremely bright purple luminesce. Julie thrusted it into the ground and it illuminated them all.

"This is where we'll meet. Good luck," said Julie, walking over to Adam.

"Same to you," said Elliot, turning to Rosewielder, the light now exposing her worried face. "Let's go, Fair Elf Princess."

"Yes, Grandmaster Swordsman."

The pairs parted ways and Elliot and Rosewielder descended through the Vampir forest, hurrying as swiftly as they could over the thick undergrowth which seemed to grab hold of their legs the more they traveled. Elliot kept his eyes focused, searching for any movement amongst the trees and shrubs, his ears keenly listening for any strange sounds. However, as time went by, he started to understand the rumors behind the forest's supposed haunting as more and more bizarre and unidentifiable noises teased both his and Rosewielder's ears.

"What was that?" asked Rosewielder for what felt like the tenth time as they climbed over a fallen tree, blocking their path.

"I don't know, but I don't see anything," said Elliot, his pant leg getting momentarily stuck on the tree bark. "Let's just keep moving."

They trudged through a particularly dense spot of weeds before coming to a large indentation ahead. It looked to be a large creek, the border which was composed of large rocks, dropped steeply.

"Grandmaster Swordsman, should I teleport us to the other side?" she asked, studying the rocks.

"No. I know teleportation saps your magic," said Elliot. "Rosewielder take hold of me."

"What?" said Rosewielder, clearly at a lost.

"We can fly over it, using my Eagle's Blood," he said. "I'll carry you across."

She walked up to him, placing her arms around his chest. Still holding onto his shield, Elliot carefully grabbed hold of her, the warmth of her body overpowering the relentless chill of the forest. They ascended from the ground, beginning to fly across the river. It was oddly picturesque how the moon's light resembled a path as it reflected sublimely down upon the creek's surface but when compared to their togetherness, which was like a shooting star, the moon's beauty was rendered unexceptional. That's when an epiphany hit Elliot as he carried the girl from his dreams across the water.

Am I going about this search the wrong way? Should I really look through every nook and cranny of the forest? No, that will eat up our time. Great Uncle Baum said to know myself. If I was a vampire and could never be in the sunlight then I'd go for the next best source of light...the moonlight.

"Rosewielder, we'll be flying from now on," said Elliot just as they passed the creek bank. "I think I know how to find Lilith if she's here."

"You do? How will you find her?"

"I'll put my faith in the moon. I'll let its light guide me."

"I see. Its light is like the hope we have for our future," said Rosewielder joyfully. "We may not know what tomorrow will bring but our hope shines through the darkness."

"Exactly, Rosewielder," said Elliot, looking down between the trees for any movement.

They continued flying above the forest, Elliot loosing track of time. He abruptly lowered his speed, seeing a large cliff edge on which the moonlight shined, seemingly signaling the end of the forest. Feeling his heart sink slightly, he began descending, feeling the cold wind slap him repeatedly across the face as his feet finally touched the rocky ground. He released Rosewielder, her face just as enchanting in the moonlight as in the sun. They looked around. The flora wasn't as dense. There was only scant grass, hardly any surrounding trees, and no sign of Lilith.

"We still haven't found her," said Rosewielder after they'd both looked thoroughly around for any signs that anyone had been there. "Elliot, is it possible that you simply made a mistake?"

Elliot remained silent.

No, it's not possible!

It's okay. No one is perfect," said Rosewielder, turning towards him and placing her hand on his face.

He felt underserving of its warmth.

It's not okay! What about Mrs. Singh?! What about the parents of my friends?! They're children could be gone because of me!

"Elliot, talk to me," said Rosewielder. "I can take us back to Julie's marker. We can wait there until they return, and we can look elsewhere."

He remained silent, walking to the edge of the cliff, allowing the wind to molest his long dark hair. Rosewielder came over to his side, her head turned towards him. He didn't know what made him do it, perhaps a slither of intuition, but he suddenly looked down. His eyes widened, and he could almost feel his own pupils dilate as he barely made out a small object stirring below.

"Rosewielder, I feel it. There's something that feels familiar down there. It's like a small piece of my aura is calling out to me," said Elliot. "I know Lilith is there."

"That's right! Julie said any spirit that you summon from the otherworld has some of your aura. Let's do this, Grandmaster Swordsman!" said Rosewielder dutifully.

"Yes, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot just as Rosewielder embraced him.

He held her in his arms and they began their descent down the cliff, the moonlight still guiding them. As they approached, Elliot noticed that the closer they got, the more he could make out the object, and when he slowed his descent, he saw a beautiful snow-white girl watching them as she stood wearing a black cloak, illuminated in the moonlight, her doll-like face no longer concealed beneath a hood. It was Lilith. She was smiling. Elliot let go of Rosewielder and the pair faced the vampire. Rosewielder whipped out her sword.

"We've found you, at last, monster!" screamed Rosewielder.

"Rosewielder, please I want to talk to her, first!" said Elliot, holding his hand out in front of her.

"What do you wish to discuss, dream savior?" asked Lilith matter-of-factly.

"Aki Fuki. Ring any bells? Where is he?" asked Elliot.

A confused expression spread across Lilith's flawless face. However, it only existed for a short time before being replaced by a grimace.

"Interesting. How did you know that was my handiwork?" she asked, folding her arms.

"I know more about you than you think, Lilith," said Elliot.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her grimace vanishing instantly as her pale bluish eyes watched him sharply.

"Kidnapping the creator of the world that gave you your identity was predictable. Especially, after you lost your one true friend."

"What are you-," she began but Elliot was ready.

"Adam told me what happened when you learned about Aki's script. You know what I'm talking about. In the newest Fantasy Lotus storyline you and Adam break up and become mortal enemies. The elves from the different nations align against the vampires."

"What! I don't believe it!" yelled Rosewielder, lowering her sword slightly.

"THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN! THAT WAS NOT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSE TO GO!!" roared Lilith.

Lilith was clenching her teeth so hard that blood was pouring from her gums.

"Is that why you kidnapped Aki Fuki? You didn't like the way his story went?" asked Elliot.

"THAT OLD BASTARD IS UNFIT TO MESS WITH MINE AND ADAM'S ROMANCE!!"

"Lilith, don't enslave yourself to Fantasy Lotus's script. You're a spirit summoned by me, a conjurer. I based your design off a video game character, but don't let the Fantasy Lotus script cage you. Be free," said Elliot.

Lilith laughed maniacally.

"You think I don't know that?!" yelled Lilith, stepping forward. "I know my reason for being! I am the savior of the forsaken!"

"What?!" said Rosewielder and Elliot in unison.

"Soon, this world will be engulfed by vampires like me! They were eager to join me!"

"Who are you talking about?!" yelled Elliot.

Lilith noiselessly placed her hand in her pocket, removing a small spiral notebook, its cover decorated with Fantasy Lotus characters, and Elliot gasped. It was his address book.

"Where did you get that from?!"

"I swiped it from your room. It was lying on the floor and I just picked it up. I do know where you live, after all. I just waited until you and Rosewielder were gone," said Lilith, opening the book. "Its cover sparked my interest but, as I looked through it, I came across the names of your allies and the fortresses they resided in. Naturally, I decided to pay a visit to your fellow conjurers."

"So, you are the one that kidnapped Elliot's comrades?! Is there no end to your madness, Lilith?!" spat Rosewielder.

"The people whose names are listed in that book aren't conjurers. They're just normal humans, fellow gamers," said Elliot.

"Yes, I quickly realized that, and used it to my advantage. You should have seen his face when he saw me. What was his name? Oh, it was Cody," laughed Lilith. "I told him if he joined me I would take him to Fantasy Lotus. Imagine how easily I convinced him, looking just like the character from the game which he prattled obsessively on about."

"That's enough!" roared Rosewielder as she pounced towards Lilith, swinging her sword.

A loud clanking sound filled the air, revealing Rosewielder and Lilith locked together in mortal combat. Neither of which budged at all. Rosewielder's sword seemed to be caught in between many knife sized claws which sprouted from Lilith's fingertips.

Elliot raised his hand and, the next moment, a golfball-sized fireball floated above his palm.

So, I''ll to have to use the Dragon's Breath potion after all. Very well.

He threw up his arm and chucked the fireball towards Lilith, who gasped, as it made contact. She fell backwards slightly, her robes smoking, before stopping in mid-fall, and hovering upright. With great speed, she lunged towards Elliot, grabbing his shield. He tried holding on as tightly as he could but it was snatched from his clutches and thrown away with great force, disappearing into the night. Rosewielder stepped forward, swinging her sword which Lilith dodged. She bared her fangs while her eyes dashed back and forth between Elliot and Rosewielder.

"Grandmaster Swordsman, go and find your friends! I can handle Lilith!" screamed Rosewielder, lunging towards Lilith.

"No, Rosewielder! We'll have a better chance if we fight her as a team!" yelled Elliot, preparing another fireball.

"Lilith is mine! I will not lose against her this time! I'll never lie to you, Grandmaster Swordsman! Please trust me!" yelled Rosewielder firmly as she dodged Lilith's claws. "Your friends need you!"

"Are you sure?"

"Believe in me."

"Okay, I will, Fair Elf Princess," said Elliot, his eyes starting to water, before he flew from the ground and towards the trees.

He looked down below, trying to locate his shield but only saw Rosewielder and Lilith swinging ferociously at one another, teleporting around the cliff as they exchanged blow after blow in a deadly dance. He continued following the moon's light, praying that it would lead him in the right direction. His teeth chattered as the night got colder, the wind still howling unwelcomely.

I'm coming for you, guys. I'll bring you all back. I have no right to call myself a dream savior if I can't even save my friends, let alone joining the council.

Elliot tried keeping his thoughts on the mission at hand, but his worry gnawed at him like a saw upon his leg, excruciatingly. His eyes moved so swiftly, attempting to pinpoint anything other than the dizzying array of grotesque trees beneath him, that it was akin to the fatigue he received from staring at his laptop screen for too long. He changed his altitude every so often which granted him either a wider view of the landscape or a more detailed one. After what felt like, at least, twenty minutes of tediously combing through the forest, a sudden onset of queasiness gripped him. It was accompanied with the thought that his journey was a fruitless one.

Think, darn it! Where would Lilith hide the people she kidnapped? Wait, Lilith said she offered Cody the chance to join her. He must be here, and I'm betting the others are here with him, but where? Why would she face us, alone? She should have known Rosewielder and I would come together. Did she already turn them into vampires?! What about Julie and Adam?!

Elliot ceased flying, stopping above a particularly tall tree as the moonlight blanketed him. He took a deep breath, clearing his mind, and began searching for something familiar. He allowed his aura to sift through the forest, seeking out a former piece of itself. He turned his head, gazing at an area of relatively few trees about fifty feet away, knowing that Adam and Julie were there. Elliot flew as fast as the Eagle's Blood would allow him to, hoping that his worst fears had not been realized. As he reached the area where he felt his own aura, he looked down, noticing a bright light illuminating all the surrounding trees and grass within about forty feet. In the middle of the light stood two people standing back to back as several figures continually lunged at them, crashing into an enormous blue wall which separated them. Elliot flew down to the ground, and once he was within ten feet, Julie screamed his name.

"Elliot, we found your friends! But they've been transformed! They're Lilith's servants!"

Elliot landed in front of Julie, a fireball burning in his hand.

"Where is the Earth Elf?!" yelled Adam. "My magic is running low!"

"She's fighting Lilith!" yelled Elliot just as he saw something zip towards him from above.

He barely had anytime to react, his eyes widening as he saw Abha, her once pleasant face now distorted with pale blue eyes like Lilith's, her mouth wide open as she brandished long fangs. However, just before she reached him, Ai appeared between them, standing with the same resolve as the great wall of China, ready to protect his conjurer. He used his katana to block a vicious swipe delivered by the vampire with her dangerous claws before pushing her back. Abha got to her feet and she was immediately joined by Cody, his brown hair hanging sloppily across his face, creating a devil-may-care look.

"Abha! Cody! Lilith is using you! You have to fight it!" screamed Elliot. "Don't let her take away your free will! I'm your friend, Elliot!"

The vampire pair gave him confused looks before lunging towards Elliot and Ai.

"Don't hurt them! They're being controlled!"

"Yes, my conjurer!" said Ai as he kicked Cody in the chest with such force that he landed ten feet away.

Abha grabbed at Elliot who took her by the arm and threw her off, causing her to roll several times across the grass.

"Let's do this!" said Elliot, clearing his mind and focusing on Abha, who was getting to her feet.

When she ran towards him, she was immediately surrounded by a a metallic cage. Abha roared angrily, wrapping her hands around the bars as she tried to free herself just as Cody and Ai fought with each other mere feet away. He looked back, seeing Adam struggling with Ezzena who was holding an unrooted tree in his arms, swinging it at him wildly, Adam's wall of ice laying in pieces. Moments later, Elliot was lifted off his feet and thrown bodily into a tree. He slouched on the ground, seeing his cage had been torn apart. Ai was struggling to subdue Abha while Cody was grinning, walking towards him with his teeth bared. His friend snarled as he raced towards him but, Elliot maintained his focus, quickly conjuring a wall between them. He then swung behind the tree, racking his brain for an answer. He tried thinking as quickly as possible, aware of the danger that awaited him, before his lightbulb suddenly switched on.

I sure hope Aki Fuki is a fan of classic vampire stories! This has to work!

He saw Cody demolish the wall with several thunderous blows. Elliot jumped out from behind the tree and, the next moment, a second cage had materialized, this time surrounding Cody. However, Cody's pale blue eyes looked fearfully at the cage constructed of pure silver which now enclosed him, not daring to attempt to break free.

"Elliot, SAVE ADAM!" shrieked Julie's voice from behind him.

He spun around, seeing Adam laying on the ground, his sword several feet away, as Ezzena stood over him, holding a massive boulder. Elliot immediately plunged deeper into his aura supply, conjuring an even larger cage which materialized around both Ezzena and the rock he wielded. The vampire abruptly dropped the rock, backing away from the edges of the cage. Julie ran over to Adam, helping him to his feet. Elliot whipped his head over to Abha and Ai, knowing that Ai's time was almost up. He quickly repeated the conjuring process, using it on Abha, and felt his aura drop severely, just as Ai vanished. Ai's aura remerged with his own, but he could still feel a sharp drop in his energy. Julie supported Adam, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, as the battered and bloodied pair slowly walked over to Elliot.

"You said that you found Lilith?" asked Adam, breathing heavily.

"Yes, I did. But where is Aki Fuki?" asked Elliot.

Julie shook her head, her nose bleeding slightly.

"We don't know. We didn't see him. This group just attacked us out of nowhere," explained Julie.

"Adam, can you teleport? Do you have enough magic left?" asked Elliot.

"I can manage a single trip but I have to know where I'm going," explained Adam, wiping his bloodied lip.

"Julie, how is your aura?" asked Elliot.

"It would be dangerous for me to summon anything else. My aura is too low," she said, looking down defeatedly.

"Adam, if I tell you how the place looks could you teleport us to it?" asked Elliot.

"I'll try," said Adam, closing his eyes.

Elliot placed his hand on Adam's shoulder.

"What about them?" asked Julie, looking over at Ezzena.

"We know where they are now. We'll come back for them but I have to see if Rosewielder is alright. I have a bad feeling about where Aki Fuki might be."

"Do you think this was a diversion?" asked Julie, terrified.

"I don't know, Julie," said Elliot, reluctant to answer truthfully. "Okay, Adam, the place we're going is on the edge of this forest. It's overlooked by a cliff and it has hardly any trees. Also, the moonlight shines right through it," explained Elliot, praying his information would suffice.

They waited, listening to the horrific shrieks of the caged vampires and their own labored breathing, Elliot's heart feeling like it would jump out of his chest and search for Rosewielder, itself. He struggled to maintain his patience for nearly two minutes until Adam quickly opened his eyes with a shocked look on his face.

"I see them! There's three of them! We must go there!" he yelled.

"Take us there!" bellowed Elliot with raw emotion.

Elliot was so worried for the Fair Elf Princess that the teleportation process could not go quickly enough; it felt like an eternity. All he could think about was Rosewielder. He knew such thoughts were selfish but he didn't care. Every corner of his mind was jam-packed with images of her beaming eyes, her bright smile and the warmth he felt in her presence. When it was finally complete, he appeared before a scene that seemed to play out in slow motion. It was like he was watching a play, specifically designed to tear his heart out of his chest so that it could be fed to piranhas.

Rosewielder was standing over Lilith who was laying on the grass with her hands protectively raised. Her sword was raised, her features radiating divinely, seeming to conquer the dreariness of the forest, and mere inches behind her was a short-statured man in business attire with dark hair and eyes and glasses, moving towards the Fair Elf Princess with huge claws. He looked to be of Asian descent. Elliot began the conjuring process but stopped as five sword like claws pierced their way into the back of the Fair Elf Princess. She looked down at the razor sharp claws that had impaled her, a mistake, for the next moment, Lilith dug her claws into the Fair Elf Princess from the other side. The Fair Elf Princess turned her head towards Elliot who was too haunted to move, convinced he was dreaming. Had the universe really grown tired of its magnificence being downsized by this glorious godsend from the otherworld? She smiled before dropping her sword and collapsing with her hand held out to her Grandmaster Swordsman.

"It..can't...be," muttered Elliot, streams pouring down his face as he saw the one he loved, who was habitually filled with great vitality, lifeless and still.

Lilith got to her feet and stood beside the man, her vampire puppet. She was smiling, seeming to admire her work. The Grandmaster Swordsman began walking towards the pair, undaunted, zombie-like, as if no force on heaven or earth could halt his march of pure rage. The man snarled, baring his teeth, before jumping towards the Grandmaster Swordsman, but was instantly trapped in a silver cage, causing Lilith to jump away. The next moment an enormous vanquishing orb had appeared between the Grandmaster Swordsman's hands, illuminating the whole area in which they stood, an ear-numbing chiming echoing loudly through the night like an outside manifestation of his heart's turmoil.

"Elliot, stop it! You'll kill yourself. You don't have enough aura left for an attack that large!" yelled Julie's voice from behind.

"You think I care!" roared Elliot.

The Grandmaster Swordsman ignored her warning, glaring at the vampire whose face exhibited, for the first time,...fear. However, as he stood there, enslaved by his own wrath, he was haunted by the face reflected in the vampire's eyes. It was his own but it was distorted, resembling a dark angel void of anything accept hatred.

No, this isn't right. I'm letting my anger control me. I'm being just like Lilith. I must know myself... This is not me.

The vanquishing orb quickly vanished, leaving only the moon's light. Lilith ran towards him and he was knocked to the ground, the wind pushed out of his lungs. Lilith stood with her leg placed firmly on his chest.

"I thought you had me for a second but you were to weak to follow through. You humans are pathetic without your precious conjuring. Your friends were lucky that I cured them of their sickness, the sickness that is humanity. That's why you conjurers bring us spirits to this world, right? It's because spirits are superior to humans, especially vampires," spat Lilith.

"You may be stronger than me," coughed Elliot, finding it hard to breath. "But you're not too bright."

"What?! Are you suggesting that I am dimwitted?" asked Lilith, pushing her foot deeper into his chest, baring her fangs.

"What do you think, ugly?" asked Elliot viciously.

"Are you crazy? I'm not-," she began before her head was engulfed in a huge flaming sphere.

Lilith immediately jumped off of Elliot, concealing her face as she dropped to the ground, rolling around uncontrollably. Her shrieks and screams echoed noisily, producing a sound that made the wind's howl sound as innocent as a baby's cry.

"MY EYES! I CAN"T SEE! I"M BLIND!" she screamed like a banshee.

He ran to the side of the Fair Elf Princess who was sprawled on the grass, moving ever so slightly, her brown corset drenched in blood as it fluctuated due to her erratic breathing. Her lilac eyes were glassy, but regained their focus, studying a place just behind him. He looked back and saw a hideous creature crawling towards them on all fours. It was Lilith, her once beautiful features distorted beyond recognition with one eye being welded shut while the other was a mere screen of gray, her nose melted into her face.

"Look out!" roared Adam's voice as he suddenly appeared between them.

Lilith whipped her head around at the sound of Adam's voice.

"Adam, is that you? Won't you let me have some of your blood? It will fix this sorry state-," she began before she was encased in an enormous mountain of ice with only her grotesque head showing.

"No, you are unworthy! I saw what you did to Rosewielder! That was dishonorable! You slither around like a serpent, controlling people! I no longer desire the taste of your venomous lips!" said Adam.

He placed his hand in his pocket and removed a round object. Only when he set it atop the mound of ice by Lilith's head did the moonlight reveal it to be a red apple with a single bite. Julie came limping to his side, looking totally drained. They turned to Elliot, ignoring Lilith's sobs, and they both kneeled beside him.

"You fought valiantly, Earth Elf," said Adam.

"Thank you, Ice Elf. I've misjudged you. Please forgive me," whispered Rosewielder, her breathing growing more faint.

"Rosewielder, I'm sorry for how I've been acting towards you and Elliot. I was jealous of you, of your beauty, and the bond you two shared. You must think I'm a horrible person," said Julie shamefully.

"No, Julie. I can't blame you for your feelings. I, too, would envy any maiden fortunate enough to feel Elliot's heavenly embrace. I forgive you."

Her eyes looked upon Elliot, and with shaking arms, she raised her hand to his face. Elliot placed his hand over hers.

"Thank you for not caging me. Thanks for letting me be free. I enjoyed the time we shared together in this world. I could not keep my promise to defeat Lilith. I lied. Please forgive me, but I want you to know that...I love you," said Rosewielder.

Her eyes closed, her arms went limp, only being held by Elliot's quivering hands.

"Rosewielder, I love you too! I love you! I love you with all my heart!" screamed Elliot as he cradled her in his arms.

"Julie, can't you save her?!" he screamed desperately.

"I'm really sorry, Elliot, but if I use any more my aura I'll probably die," said Julie, shaking her head as tears flowed down her face. "Judging by your aura, you're in the same boat. We need to get help. Adam's magic is too low. We have no way to get out of here," said Julie apologetically.

"I'm not going anywhere! If she dies, I die too. I'm not leaving her! I can't leave her! We are one!"

"I understand how strongly you care for Rosewielder. I was wrong when I said she was your puppet but...Julie's right, Elliot," said Adam, placing his hand on his shoulder.

"I don't care. Nothing else matters right now. It doesn't matter if I die and our bodies rot. It doesn't matter if our bones turn to dust. We just need to be together when it happens," said Elliot, holding Rosewielder's limp head towards his chest. "I would die for her and, I will die for her!"

Elliot released Rosewielder's body which laid motionless on the grass, clearing his mind and feeling the sparse bit of his aura that flowed within him.

"Elliot, what are you doing?!" cried Julie, her face going white.

He ignored her, placing his hands over Rosewielder's wounds, imagining a healing bush from Fantasy Lotus as best he could from his memory. Elliot felt the life be literally sucked out of him as a winding stem of roses coiled around Rosewielder, the petals seemingly reaching into her wounds and remedying them as the blood that soaked her clothes gradually disappeared. He remained still, unable to move, breathe, talk, or even blink. Several moments went by as Adam and Lilith yelled his name. Rosewielder's body stirred slightly before she bolted upright, breathing heavily. She looked at her Grandmaster Swordsman and reached out to him, pulling him towards her. He collapsed in her arms, having been granted the one thing that kept him from death's door.

The Awakening

For and unknown period of time there existed only a cold darkness, disconnected with any movement save for that which resided on the outside. There was nothing, and no awareness. However, the time came for there to be light and warmth which Elliot Clementine would know again. Elliot opened his eyes, seeing himself floating in an abyss of darkness accept for a warm brightness which radiated a long ways ahead of him.

I must be dreaming. This can't be real

His own thoughts seemed to echo loudly throughout the dark abyss.

"This will be the most important dream you've ever had," said Julie's voice.

Elliot turned around and saw Julie, Adam,Ai, Tenzin, Wisteria, Grandma Wu, his Great Uncle Baum, his mother, his father, Faiga, Cody, Abha, Ezzena, and Elvira floating right behind him, their faces wearing the same grave expressions.

"What are you all doing here?" asked Elliot in surprise.

"We exist in your heart, Elliot. My son, you are about to leave this world forever," said Mr. Clementine. "Don't break our hearts."

"What's going on?" asked Elliot, aghast.

"You must follow the light, my conjurer," said Ai, pointing towards the brightness shining in the distance.

"Become one with that which bonds you to the outside world," said Elvira. "You are in the realm between life and death."

"You must hurry!" yelled Tenzin, pointing down at Elliot's legs.

He looked down and screamed, seeing his legs dematerializing before his very eyes.

"Go to the light, now!" they yelled in unison.

Elliot turned around and flew as fast as he could towards the brightness, gleaming in the distance, knowing he would die if he did not reach it before dematerializing into nothing. He looked back, noticing his legs had no feeling, and saw that they were gone. Elliot turned his focus forward, and raced as fast as he could. After approaching within mere meters of the light, he gasped, watching a golden figure comprised of light holding out its hand, an intense warmth radiating from its angelic presence. He felt his chest go numb just as he grabbed its hand, and an intense feeling of relief coursed through him. The being of light held him close, its face so bright that no discernible features could be made out.

"Rosewielder, is that you?" asked Elliot.

"Yes, I am Rosewielder but I am also you. I am all," spoke the being in a divine voice that seemed to be neither male nor female.

The atmosphere instantly vanished. The feeling returned to his legs. He was warm, and no longer surrounded by darkness. He opened his eyes finding himself, surrounded by sunlight with his arms wrapped around something blue and...feathery.

"For the one-hundredth time, I'm not Rosewielder," said a woman's voice. "Geesh, are all the humans so strange when they're ill."

Elliot gasped, releasing the feathered mass at once. He looked down at his hand, noticing he was wearing Tenzin's ring. He gasped again, seeing himself laying snuggly on a kingsized bed embellished with fluffy white blankets and pillows. Even odder, was were it was situated. The bed sat comfortably, surrounded by a large hilly area decorated with trees, flowers, and other natural aesthetics. It wasn't long before he realized where he was because he only saw individuals like the one beside him at Tenzin's shrine. A strange being stood before him and he felt certain that she was a spirit. She had the face of a beautiful woman with delicate features, long blonde hair and neon blue eyes which sat below a magnificent golden diadem encrusted with a shimmering red gemstone. However, a set of brilliant golden wings could be seen slowly stirring from behind. Her upper arms looked human while the lower portion was much less forgiving, being feathered and accompanied by large fierce- looking black claws. Her legs were well toned and connected to a set of enormous bird-like feet, their claws digging into the grass. The harpy was wearing a blue corset and a golden breastplate along with a short black skirt with golden buttons. She stood nearly eight feet tall. She was staring at Elliot with a peculiar expression.

"You have finally awakened, dream savior," she said, folding her arms. "It seems the council's efforts were successful at pulling you back from the brink of death."

"So, I did just almost die," said Elliot, sliding out of the bed.

"Yes, you nearly depleted your aura. That was reckless of you," said the harpy. "I am Agathe, daughter of Adonia of the harpies. Tenzin instructed me to look after you."

"Rosewielder?" began Elliot.

"Is alive," said Agathe. "She is in low spirits, however. She's been weeping for her...Grandmaster Swordsman."

"She's alive?!" asked Elliot in disbelief.

"Yes, you traded a life for a life, your life for hers," answered Agathe, her blue eyes, carefully surveying him.

"What about my friends, the non-conjurers? They got turned into vampires! Please tell me they're alright," begged Elliot.

"The Fairy spirits are currently working to restore them to their natural states,"explained Agathe.

Agathe walked towards Elliot who barely came up to her chest.

"I will take you to your friends," she said, placing her claws softly on his shoulder.

The next moment, a numbness clenched his entire body and he felt a potent onset of disorientation as he lost all sense of direction. He endured the strange sensations for what only felt like seconds until it abruptly stopped. They were standing in the same chamber he and Rosewielder had found themselves in after being swallowed by the dragon. It was much more lively. At least two dozen cat-sized people with butterfly wings zipped skillfully through the air all around them. They were dressed in odd brightly colored clothing and they communicated with each other using fast paced high-pitched voices. Elliot surmised that these were fairies. He looked through the ruckus and saw that a group of them were hovering around several large objects. He walked closer to get a better view and saw several pairs of legs laying atop masses that seemed to be composed entirely of magnificent flowers. His heart skipped a beat upon the realization that it was Cody, Abha, Ezzena, and Mr. Aki Fuki after seeing the top of Cody's head through the group of little people. He bent over, noticing that they all seemed to be asleep.

"I believe the cleansing process is nearly complete," said Agathe's voice from behind, making him jump. "They will have their memories regarding last night's events and their time here with the spirits erased from their mind. They'll be sent home afterwards. Please follow me."

Agathe put her claws on Elliot's back and led him to a group of people standing in front of the giant statue of Tenzin underneath the large peculiar bluish light which seemed to float above them all. They turned towards them as they approached. One person abruptly broke away from the group, dashing towards him, her hair flowing gracefully behind her as her arms opened like the gates of heaven. Elliot ran towards his other half and they were united. The Grandmaster Swordsman and the Fair Elf Princess embraced each other.

"I thought you were dead, Elliot!" Rosewielder cried, her eyes watering. "I thought I'd lost you forever."

"I'm sorry, Rosewielder. I'm here now. You don't have to worry," said Elliot. "I'll never leave you."

"Elliot, I'm so happy you're okay," said Julie's voice as she and Adam ran over to them.

"What you did was noble...Elliot," said Adam as he placed his hands around them.

"Yes, the events of last night were unsettling, and things may have ended worse if our comrade, Mr. Anghel, had not shown up when he did," said Tenzin's, voice.

Elliot looked up, seeing Mr. Anghel and Wisteria standing on either side of Tenzin while Elvira stood with her arms folded, her expression livid, about five feet away.

"Tenzin, it's my fault. It was my idea to search for Lilith. I put all our lives in danger," said Elliot.

He walked from the group, facing Elvira.

"Elvira, I understand if you hate me for getting Julie mixed up in this. Just know that I dragged her into this," explained Elliot.

Elvira remained silent, glaring at the group.

"Don't lie, Elliot!" yelled Julie, walking over to his side. "I begged him to let me join them. I wanted to test myself as a conjurer."

"I will stand by my Grandmaster Swordsman as his spirit partner. I eagerly joined him on his hunt for Lilith," said Rosewielder, folding her arms.

"And I, the Ice Elf, actually felt like I was where I belonged for once," said Adam, standing beside Rosewielder.

Tenzin left Wisteria and Mr. Anghel, walking over to the young group, and observed them as closely as one would a puzzle. His eyes made Elliot feel naked, but he stood firm, nevertheless. They all did.

"Two young humans and two young elves. You all have warrior eyes. Your faces are filled with such fierce determination that it reminds me of a young girl I took under my wing almost seventy years ago, now," said Tenzin.

Tenzin looked up at Elvira who rolled her eyes as a child would, her face embarrassed. It was bizarre hearing Tenzin say this, looking young enough to be Elvira's son.

"Although what you did tonight was dangerous, it was impressive that you all managed to stay alive against the vampire and her minions. It provided the council with a good idea of your skill levels. That is but a taste of our world. As council members vampires are just one of many spirit types you'll come across," explained Tenzin.

He folded his arms, looking up thoughtfully.

"How about I start you all off with light missions? Would you mind running errands for us and gathering information about groups of dark conjurers and spirits? We will progress from that point," said Tenzin.

"Yes!" said Elliot and Rosewielder simultaneously before giggling.

"I am a warrior and I'll do my best to ensure that this world is safe," said Adam firmly. "It is my home now."

"I have to choose my own path even if mother wouldn't approve. That's why I wish to be a council conjurer!" said Julie.

"That's excellent. In the future, please don't hesitate to ask the council for help. Accidents happen. Conjurers make mistakes but that's what we're here for. We want our world to coexist harmoniously with non-conjurers," said Tenzin.

They all nodded.

He then turned to Rosewielder and Adam.

"I know, as spirits, there aren't many who you can relate to. If you shall ever need a place to stay then feel free to make this shrine your home. The shrine is hidden from non-conjurers to protect the spirits that live here, explained Tenzin.

"I appreciate your kindness, Tenzin, but my home is by the side of my Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder, grabbing Elliot's arm. "However, I will come visit."

"I find the shrine fascinating. I didn't know that there were other elves. We really bonded. However, the person I bonded closest with is right here," said Adam, turning to Julie, his glorious eyes fixing on her with the utmost admiration. "When we were in that forest together we protected each other with our lives. I didn't think humans could ever see us spirits as equals but she changed that."

Julie and Adam embraced warmly.

"Tenzin, what about Lilith? What happen to her?" asked Elliot darkly.

A sorrowful expression befell Tenzin's face.

"Oh, yes, the vampire. She is being held in the pits."

"The pits?" said Elliot questioningly.

"It's a enchanted prison uniquely designed to hold dangerous spirits, an unpleasant place. A spirit's stay is based both on their crimes and their behavior while imprisoned," said Tenzin, looking down.

"I see."

"Elliot, it is time that we get you back home. Your family must be worried, but I'm convinced I can persuade them to give you the time you'll need as a council member," said Tenzin, closing his eyes.

"How?" said Elliot, flabbergasted.

Tenzin's white robes were instantly replaced with a black business suit that covered a white shirt with a light blue tie. They appeared with matching black pants and shinning formal shoes.

"Have your parents entertained the thought of you getting a job?" asked Tenzin, looking handsome with his hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Uh, I don't know."

"Well, I guess we'll find out," said Tenzin, smiling.

After watching Julie bicker with her grandmother for several minutes about letting Adam move in with them, Elvira begrudgingly agreed to allowing the Ice Elf to take up residence. She, Julie, and Adam said their farewells to Elliot and Rosewielder before disappearing, being teleported back to Elvira's house by Agathe as only certain members of the council could teleport in and out of the Shrine.

"You haven't told your family about Rosewielder, have you?" asked Tenzin, studying them.

"No, I don't think their ready to know about our world," answered Elliot. "I will tell them when the time is right."

"How has she managed to remain unseen?" asked Tenzin curiously.

"Well, she stays in my room when she's not at the shrine."

"I see, should I take you there?" asked Tenzin.

"Yes, Tenzin," answered Rosewielder. "I'll be waiting for Elliot there. It is where he conjured me, my birthplace."

"I see," he said calmly.

Seconds later, the group was teleported to Elliot's room, the door hanging slightly open.

"I'll be here waiting for you, my swordsman."

"I shall return, my princess."

Tenzin placed his hand on his forehead.

"And now, we will be invisible."

Elliot watched as his and Tenzin's bodies vanished. He felt Tenzin grab hold of his arm before they were teleported again right in front of the Clementine household's front door. Only when a minivan had finished passing down the street did they become visible again.

"Here we are," said Tenzin.

Elliot breathed deeply before ringing door bell, seeing both of his parents cars still in the garage. The door swung open after mere seconds, and Mr. and Mrs. Clementine appeared. Both of their eyes were red as if they hadn't slept in days. They looked down at Elliot, apparently speechless, before screaming joyfully, wrapping their arms around their son.

"Honey, where on earth have you been?!" screamed his mother, her eyes dashing back and forth between him and Tenzin. "You said you'd gone to work on a chemistry project but you were gone for the rest of the day."

"You have worried your mother and I sick, son," said Mr. Clementine, wiping tears from his eyes. "They said that three students at your school went missing. Abha, Ezzena, and Cody's parents have been calling us all night, looking for their children."

"I'm sorry," began Elliot before Tenzin interrupted him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Clementine. I am Tenzin. I am solely responsible for your son's absence. Please forgive me. He was actually helping me perform community service. I'm afraid I lost track of time when he was doing one of my errands," explained Tenzin. "I assure you that it will not happen again."

"Community service?" said Mr. Clementine questioningly. "What kind of community service?"

"Just your basic clean up. Making the world a cleaner, better place for people to live in," explained Tenzin relaxedly.

His father scratched his head.

"Well, at least we know that you are safe and were doing something good. Nevertheless, we don't want you staying out that late," said Mr. Clementine, placing his hand on Elliot's shoulder.

"I understand, dad, and it won't happen again. But I still want to continue my work with Mr. Tenzin. He's offering me a job," said Elliot.

"Honey, you have school. That is what you should be focusing on," said Mrs. Clementine, resting her hand on the doorframe.

"I agree with your mother, Elliot," said Mr. Clementine. "A job is a lot of responsibility."

"I know that. Look, I use to spend my time just sitting around playing video games all day. Well, now I can better the world and the responsibility will make me a better person," pleaded Elliot, staring at his mother and father. "Please give me a chance."

His parents both sighed, turning to each other, exchanging resistant looks, for a good while before his father finally looked at him, smiling.

"Okay, my son. If you can balance school and this job then I will place my trust in you to take care of both of your responsibilities," said Mr. Clementine, looking down at his watch. "But no staying out past midnight. The school day today is nearly over."

"I know, dad. I won't. Thank you. I won't let you down."

And I won't let the world down.

"I am happy to make your acquaintance, though I wish it was under better circumstances," said Tenzin. "Good luck to you all, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at work next week, Elliot."

He bowed.

They gave Tenzin their farewells. His family spent the next half hour questioning him about Tenzin and his new job over dinner. After his third helping of his mother's finely cooked Schnitzel and Lo mien noodles, he explained the array of activities encompassed by community service. Only the news seemed to unglue their eyes from him as a red haired news lady disclosed that the amber alerts for his missing friends had been canceled much to Elliot's relief.

So the council managed to save them, after all. I am thankful. However, I can't stop thinking about what Grandma Wu said about yin and yang. I wonder if Lilith could ever show her good side. Well, that's why I like the future. It gives us hope.

After dinner, Elliot made his way up to his room, opened his door, and was greeted by a warm presence that fell into his arms. It was his spirit partner, his guardian angel, his Fair Elf Princess. Elliot and Rosewielder gazed into each other's soul, seeing their own reflection looking back at them. He held the Fair Elf Princess in his arms, not noticing the sensations of teleportation taking hold of him, the entirety of his mind, his soul, being occupied by a single thought.

"Have you figured out where I've been taking you?" said Rosewielder as they stood, embraced under the apple tree which stood above all that surrounded it, the sun blessing them with its glory.

"Yes, it's where I-," he began, stopping. "It's where we are reborn as one. I love you, Rosewielder, my Fair Elf Princess."

"I love you too, Elliot, my Grandmaster Swordsman," said Rosewielder.

Their hair danced splendidly in the wind. The Grandmaster Swordsman brought his lips to the the doors of paradise and the doors opened.

The swordsman and princess would remember this moment for as long as they lived, seeing it as a ray of light, a beacon of hope, to clear their path through an uncertain future.

Elliot was true to his word. That Friday evening he and his parents entered into a large auditorium filled with people in countless rows of black chairs, fluorescent lighting gleaming upon a set of towering golden curtains on a large stage ahead. A portly woman in a red dress held a microphone to her mouth, announcing the upcoming musical performance.

"I present to you the South Star Middle School junior orchestra," she said excitedly before walking off the stage as the golden curtains were pulled back and the lights dimmed.

A group of about a dozen finely dressed youth were seated, most holding small violins while a few towards the back had clarinets. A short bald man dressed in black walked onto the stage, carrying a small baton. They proceeded to play Prokfiev's Romeo And Juliet: Montagues And Capulets. Mr. and Mrs. Clementine whipped out their cameras like many of the surrounding parents, proudly clicking away, attempting to freeze the joyful moment in time. A sensation of tender warmth seized Elliot as he watched his sister's merry face, knowing her brother was there for her.

Not everyone's siblings are there for them. Like Julie's brother. Nothing can replace the time with my family regardless of what I decide for the Conjurer's choice. I will cherish these memories...forever.

The One for Her

Julie laid amongst a boundless sea of flowers and tall viridescent grasses, her eyes unfocused on the infinite azure ocean above her but peering intently into a set of electric blue eyes belonging to the Ice Elf. Prince Adam was laying beside her with his magnificently sculpted physique and angelic face, giving her his utmost attention. The Ice Elf graced her cheek with his cold fingers, his touch seemingly soothing her emotional wounds.

"Julie, I know I can't replace those who've been lost to you but I will do my best to rid your face of sorrow," said Adam. "Over these last couple of days I've found myself irresistibly drawn to your warm touch, fascinated by the incorruptible strength of your spirit."

"Adam, when I gaze upon your cerulean eyes all my worries seem to vanish. When looking at you, I just know everything will be okay. I never thought I'd fall in love with a spirt," said Julie, playing with Adam's grand golden hair.

"I never imagined I'd fall in love with a human, a conjurer," said Adam, grasping Julie's hand. "I will protect you as fiercely as I would my own heart."

"And I will protect you, my dashing elf prince," said Julie, sitting up. "And together we will protect the world."

Julie removed her heart necklace which began vibrating as soon as it was close to the spirit of perfection sitting serenely beside her. She exhaled deeply before placing the necklace upon Adam. The heart shaped necklace glowed with the light of a thousand phoenixes, an unexplainable wind flowing from it as Adam's flaxen mane danced as if submerged in water. With liquid diamonds falling from her eyes Julie raised her lips to the doorway of nirvana and they opened. Julie and the Ice Elf held on to one another, allowing the other to immerse themselves in the streams of love until they converged...becoming one.

