((I started cracking up when I saw that XD))

That was it, Leaf couldn't hold it, the images stopped moving and the book closed by itself, Leaf barely getting his hand out of the way before it did. Merlin's voice seemed to almost disappear once again. Leaf shook her hand. "My name's Leaf, and I don't know what I am." He said, tiredly. He sat down on the ground with his legs crossed. He was tired, but he needed to stay awake until he found a place to stay.

Phyn's eybrows went up, "Your name is Leaf? Why?" She figured that if Merlin really was talking about his days at summer camp she really could do without that. Besides since Syra's shadow returned Phyn hadn't seen her anywhere around. "Where's my friend Syra...?" She looked all over for her. "Have you seen her, Leaf?"

"I don't know why my name's Leaf. I never really thought of that..." He looked around the crowd from his ant's eye view perspective. "I don't know what she looks like, so not really" He said, scratching his head.

((I know it's short, but that's all I really can put.))

Syrine slipped back beside Phyn and the new boy. "sorry, my shadow tried getting away again." She whispered. "Thats my magic, shadow manipulation. I can detach my shadow, and if I'm stronger than another person, I can manipulate their shadow, but since they cannot detach, they become manipulated as well." She looked at the boy. "hullo, I'm Syrine, Syra for short" She winked. "whats your name? and what did I miss?"

Leaf stared at her for a second. She looks just like the shadow...He thought. He snapped out of his trance, shaking his head. "Er...I'm Leaf. Merlin's still blabbering on about something..." He stood up, feeling a little better. "Your friend was looking for you." He turned to fin. "Found her." He said, smiling like a little child.

Syrine giggled. "Pleasure to meet you Leaf, so your the boy my shadow was going on about. I'm sorry if she startled you, she doesn't like to stay where I am, when theres adventuring to do." She drapped her arm around Phyn's shoulders "I just want to find my room and sleep already, or find food... Can't he show us the other houses and then show us the kitchen?"

(I'm gonna wait for chell to say somethin.)

(me too... I'm so bored that I would probably move Phyn to the front of the group and have her hear more weird summer camp stories or something...)

(Ok SOMETHING! lol sorry I am working double shifts and can't get on as much that is why I have been looking for others to be teachers so it want matter. I have no idea what is going on but I am reading the post now and will reply tonight. I am sorry for the inconvenience. *Bows* -.- )

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Chell stared at Thomas as she lesson to him. "You never asked me anything you only assumed and I never lied about being who I wasn't. You just never asked and I wasn't trying to hurt you. So go tell your concealer you did your big speech. It still doesn't change a thing you still chose your path and I mine. If you want to know I waited a year for you. But I guess that is Sam's fault to isn't it. The truth is I wanted several years but after ten I figured out that you really where just a waste of my time and a lost dream that was time to give up on. You know that is a lie I was never not the girl you fell in love with. I was the same me but how would you know you just left, and never open the book before your read the cover. The same problem I tried to teach you then. And I have learned since then that love is a lie. A beautiful lie and the one that hurts the most when the truth is reveled in it. I spent years trying to figure out why you just left and didn't even say bye what had I done. But Sam said that you thought I was a bad person on the inside and out and it looks like she was right Thomas. You where my worst mistake because you where the only student I couldn't teach how to look pass the outside of things and see the real magic within. I hoped if I became your friend I could teach you what you wouldn't let me teach you as your teacher instead I ended up in love with you and lonely with a broken heart, still unable to teach you about real magic. But that is fine I have learned that love is only for stories and humans and some people can't be taught no matter how much you want to teach them. It is fine be a peace now. Merlin was wrong again about you. I know he hoped we would talk and find peace and happiness again. But the only happiness is only in stories and in this place. Our story has ended and you chose that girl and I chose to teach and help Merlin. I have learned the darkest arts all thanks to you. So thank you for removing my heart many years ago because now I have nothing stopping me from reaching my true potential in the dark arts. But what a price I payed for it." She said as she looked at the ground then stud as she looked at the time. "Come it is getting time for the students to come in and eat. You should stay the week with her and be here for her for the first week. Merlin has already left them we needed to go and gather them then take them to he main hall for their supper. You can have you old room back or there are plenty in Merlin's house. Merlin is doing his normal student act. Though this time is is going to be in my house I can't wait to put him in pain." She said as she open the door and walked out of the room headed for where the children are.

As Thomas followed after her, he said, "Let me explain some things. Sam told me that because you were really my teacher that you were too old for me. I think she was trying to keep us apart because she sees magic as a terrible and disgracfull thing. She always has. Mom and dad were proud that we had the gift. They always were. They were so proud that they didn't even care that I was carrying a 'Skipped Element'. They were Fire and Earth. They didn't care that their son was a Water Mage in training.

"But Sam hated magic. If I'm right and she was doing it to keep us apart, it was because she didn't want anymore, 'disgrace to the family name'."

He paused to catch his breath. Then he remembered Phyn was the reason that they were on this subject. Which in turn reminded him of his theory of what was really happening. "In fact," He started. "I think that she was the one that actually even killed Katrynia Grace, Josef, and Tanya. I think she even framed Phyn. That is the extent that she hates magic. That she would frame her own daughter for arson.

"So what that I may have had a problem judging books by there covers, but I have always loved you because of who you are inside. I really didn't care when I found out that you weren't a girl my age. I was surprised. But I didn't really care. I love you. In fact the only reason I married Kat was because she reminded me of you. Do you want to know why I don't have Tanya or Josef registered? Do you?" Tears stared to pour down his cheeks just as they entered the courtyard leading to the Houses.

Phyn's stomach growled again. Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she asked, "When are we going to have some food..." She turned to Syra, "Do you think you could send your shadow to go find us something edible...?" She asked as her stomach gave a loud roar, saying that it wanted immediate attention.

Syrine gave Phyn a smile. "I wish, I'm starving too. But no, my control over her isn't all that strong... She can retrieve things but only when she wishes... also she needs to know her way around... She can only travel where she's been before..."

Phyn sighed. This was going to be one heck of a night. Suddenly a soft breeze ruffled her dress. It felt good and brought some life back to her, until she smelled the smoke on the breeze. "There's a fire!" She yelled, just as Merlin started to talk about frying toads and eels for a lesson he had back when he was a lad.


((I was very bored... :drool: So I decided to have some fun with some stuff...:eager: ))

"What the?" Leaf opened his book. If there was one thing in the world that leaf didn't like, it was fire. "Atmos" He stated, mustering up enough energy, and a large gust of wind blew through the crowd, extinguishing the flames.

Chell turned as she rose a brow not use to seeing gentlemen crying. She gently whipped away his tears as she looked at him very concerned. "You should have asked me instead of leaving. Are they not gifted?" She said as she stud there knowing that the children would be hungry by now but knowing in what was left of her heart for Thomas he was in pain. The part of her that loved him was dead for the most part thought the teacher part wouldn't let her leave him there in pain.



Lance just stared at the strange group of kids he would be stuck with for the duration of his stay at the school. He walked right by them as closed his eyes. "Come on the food is this way I think or it smells this way." He said as he followed the smell of food coming from the main hall. He walked to the door and open it waiting for the others hoping they would join. He knew he was a little out of place among the other students but wouldn't they all like to know why he thought as he smiled to himself.

((ah.. you do know that fire is fed by air right...? I would say water would be a better bet. Then again I was trying to make an opening for Thomas to show Phyn his powers... *blushes with embarrasment* Sorry for not explaining... :headdesk: ))

Syrine looked at the boy walking past, and a smile curved her lips. I may have friend issues, but I'm still a girl, and he's cute! "Ah, Phyn, Thomas, I'm following this guy." She gave warning, before jogging a little to catch up to him. Walking behind him, she opened her mouth to introduce herself, then shut it, before any sound came out. Instead she pulled her shadow close so that it didn't embarrass her, to no avail. Shadow disconnected herself, and slipped along the walls, just beside her, but slowly memorizing the surroundings as Syrine walked past them. Shadow hated being stuck anywhere, so the more Shadow saw, the more Shadow could wander. "Shadow, reattach!" She muttered under her breath, forcing it to return to her feet.

Originally Posted by PhoenixNeko

((ah.. you do know that fire is fed by air right...? I would say water would be a better bet. Then again I was trying to make an opening for Thomas to show Phyn his powers... *blushes with embarrasment* Sorry for not explaining... :headdesk: ))

((Yes, I know fire is fed by air, but if you get a big enough gust it will extinguish it. Like blowing out a candle doesn't make it bigger, it goes out.))

((sorry... I wasn't thinking... :oops: Thanks for reminding me. :) ))

Phyn saw Uncle Thomas. He was crying to Lady Chell. Then she heard Syra say she was going after someone. "Leaf. Lets follow Syra. I think she's found someone who's found the food!" She grinned and grabbed his hand pulling him after.

Thomas shook his head. "No. Not anymore." Tears poured heavily down his face. "Tanya and Josef are dead. They died in an "accident" seventeen years ago. Kat was driving the car. I told you she reminded me of you. She loved to use her brain." He gave a sad smile. "I had a family vacation planned. It was my turn to leave the clues. She had the kids. She was pulling out of Sam's drive. She called me to tell me she was leaving." As he spoke his smile slowly faded. "She had just droped the kids' dog Rufus off at Sam's. As she was pulling out she told me that Sam was pregnant. I said that I just hoped the child wasn't like ours." She looked seriously into Chell's eyes. "Kat had figured out that the twin's had the gift." Then he looked back to the ground, continuing the horrible tale of his family's murder. "She said that for the child's sake she hoped so too. Just then, there was an explosion. That was the last I heard. She never showed up. I was taken in to the station when I got home. They wanted to charge me with murder. Luckily for me I had several witnesses, and that I could prove I'm a Water Mage. They knew that fire magic had to have done it. There was no bomb, or other explosives on what was left of the car. And it had started from the gas tank." He fell to the ground. "For seventeen years I had to do without even my seriget of you. And my two beautiful children. They both had the gift of water too."

Leaf shrugged his shoulders and ran after her, closing his book. What is she talking about?...He thought. ((don't have much to say.))

Phyn grumbled a little when her stomach growled. She glanced back to see if Leaf had heard it. When she saw the confusion on his face she explained again. "Syra said that she was going to follow some guy. When he walked past he said something about food. And I do kinda smell some food now that we're following them. I'm hungry and you look like you havent ate anything in weeks. So come on." She grinned her best, 'Just trust me' grins and lead the way.

Leaf ran after her. What does she mean I haven't eaten for weaks. The doctor just says I have high metabolism... he thought.

As they followed the two ahead, Phyn's stomach made another growl. She slowed to a walk. "So what kind of magic do you do again?" She figured that if it was a long walk to the food, she might as well be polite.

'"I don't really know." leaf said. "I haven't really thought about it that much." He pulled out his book. "I just put my magic in here and the book doesnthe rest."

Lance walked into the door as he took a seat at one of the long tables as the food was brought out by the servants. He fixed him a pate of ribs, steak, hotdog, and fruits and a glass of water. He then looked to the girl who had been behind him and notice her shadow. He laughed as he looked to his shadow and let it go. He watched his shadow move to the girls and wave at it then made fun of it and stick out its tong at it as it disappeared running about the hall. He knew his shadow was rather mischievous but it only wanted to play with the new shadow. He waved at the new girl as he smiled at her warmly.

Chell just stud there as she looked about her wandering what to do. She would get Merlin back for this. She was not good with handling such issues or adults. She was better with children. She hated having a heart sometime and times like these made her wish she had went to the dark side of magic and became a dark mage. At lest then she wouldn't have to let people cry on her. He hung her head as she bent down and gently patted his back and rubbed it as she held him like a child. This was Merlins department not hers. "Go a head and cry Thomas let it out." She said in a soothing voice as she looked at him with concern in her voice and eyes. "You know you always have a home here Thomas and if what you say is true then it will be good for you to stay here and keep a eye on Phyn. To ensure that she is safe. I promise that you have mine and Merlins word that nothing will happen to her or you without a fight. She always hatted her gift and poor Merlin worried about her soul night and day. He warned us all she would be one of the ones to turn to the dark side of magic if we didn't watch her. I should have killed her when I had the chance in the duel that day in the class in my student form. But I didn't think you would like a girl that killed your sister. I always thought she didn't like me because I beat her at every duel. Not my fault she was closed minded about everything to do with magic. I still can't understand why killing and hurting you would help her gain her goal. Why wouldn't she just take the pledge to the darker ones and let them take her power if she hated it that much? Come no Thomas lets get you refreshed. You have traveled fare and have many burdens to bare. I will help you with them now. Now forget your worries for one night and enjoy the night with your dear niece. If I could teach her mother I can teach her." Chell said as she gave him a faint smile.

Syrine smiled, when his shadow also detached. Her shadow jumped excitedly, but waited until Syra let it go. "have fun" she whispered. Shadow raced around the boys shadow. Shadow poked at it, curiously, never seeing another one that left it's owner. She sat down at the table. "mmm, this smells wonderful!" She clapped her hands together, before filling her plate with ribs and steak. "I've, I've never met someone else that knew Shadow Magic. I'm Syrine, Syra for short. Whats your name?" she asked the boy.