Ansel woke up the next day well rested. He peeked out his window while he was dressing and saw that the clouds had blown away. The skies were clear, and the sun was rising, promising a bright sunny day. He would need to go downstairs and send a note to Delis House to inform Hector, the leader of the Ring of Nine, that he had returned with Max. He hoped the Ring would be able to meet by tomorrow. Ansel walked down to the main parlor to use the writing desk found inside. He walked in to find Griffa sitting on the sofa by the fire, drinking tea and reading a message of her own.

“Good morning, Griffa,” said Ansel going over to the desk. “Catching up on your correspondence?”

“Yes, there were just a few notes here from the time I was gone,” replied Griffa skimming over her letter. She laughed loudly and folded up her message.

Ansel looked at her with a questioning look.

“Talon wants to come visit for the Fall festival. He says it’s to see me, but I imagine the Valley council wants him to come meet Max,” she said looking up at Ansel.

Ansel fought the urge to roll his eyes. Talon Wendell was not one of Ansel’s favorite men in the kingdom. He was loud and seem to think everything as a joke. He always flirted constantly with Griffa. Ansel knew there was probably a history between them, but he tried not to think about it.

“What will you tell him?” asked Ansel.

“I’ll tell him to come. I’ll invite him to stay here at the manor for a few nights. He will want to spend some time with Max to report back to the council.”

Ansel almost audibly groaned, but instead he nodded at Griffa.

“Who are you going to write?” asked Griffa putting her letter away and picking up her cup of tea.

“Hector Delis, I need to let him know I am back with Max.”

“So soon? Maybe you should give the boy a couple days to rest.”

“No, I told Hector I would write as soon as I returned,” Ansel replied, taking out a piece of paper and a quill. “I also plan to start Max’s training today. I hope you have time to help?”

“You plan to start training today? Ansel, give the boy a day to get his bearings. He has been drug from the only home he has ever known and brought to a strange place he has never heard of. He needs time to adjust.”

Ansel felt they were building towards another one of their arguments.

“I won’t train the boy all day. He will have time this afternoon, but he must start reclaiming his magical ability. It will go more smoothly if you will help,” he said, trying to reestablish the peace.

“Fine, training this morning, but after lunch we let Max decide what he wants to do,” said Griffa going back to her note.

Ansel wrote his letter and addressed it. He called for Jonthon and asked him to see that it was sent as soon as possible. Max then came into the room looking a little sheepish.

“Oh, here you are. I’ve been looking for at least 15 minutes. Your house is really big, Griffa.”

“Max, I’m sorry, I should have thought to have someone show you where we would be. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, very. My bed is really comfortable and very big. I’ve never seen anything like all of this,” said Max spinning around slowly, looking at the room.

“It’s the old family home. As I mentioned last night, it was built when the town was established, after the followers of the Ancients took over Aurumist. It took a while for the magical folk to organize safely, but when they did, they created two villages Abscon and the Valley. They were established as safe havens, places where all magical folk could live in peace and safety. My family was one of the first homes in Abscon.”

“It’s beautiful and really interesting,” said Max. “I don’t even know what half this stuff is.”

He was looking at the mantle and all the different contraptions that rested there.

“I can give you a tour later if you would like. We can even go walk around the village this afternoon.”

“I would like that,” said Max with a smile.

“This morning I would like to start some training with you. It won’t be too strenuous, not today, but we need to get you started,” said Ansel coming over closer to Max and Griffa.

“Can I have breakfast first?” asked Max, rubbing his stomach.

“Of course, you can,” said Griffa. “Come on, let's all go to the dining room.

Ansel let them go ahead, watching Griffa escort Max. He thought she looked really lovely this morning in her light blue dress and her hair hanging loose down her back. He had thought a lot about Griffa since their conversation the other night. He knew he would need to clear his head for this morning. He needed to concentrate on helping Max. He hoped a good breakfast would be a good start.

Breakfast went by quickly. Max seemed to enjoy trying each of the many dishes Maybell had put out for their meal. Ansel stuck to some toast, meat, and a little fruit. Maybell tried to get him to eat more, but he resisted. He did everything in moderation. As soon as the meal was over, he led Max and Griffa out to the back lawn of the house. They went over to the large patch of grass to the right of the stables. Ansel saw that Max couldn’t help but cut his eyes at the stables. He was sure Max would be interested to see inside.

“You will get to see it all in a bit. I’m sure Wallis will be sure to show you all the horses, but for now I need you to focus on training,” said Ansel

Max nodded and seemed to be ready.

“Ok, I want you to have a seat on the ground, Max. Get a feel for the earth,” said Ansel.

Max looked a little perplexed but did as Ansel asked. Griffa took a seat on the ground next to Max spreading out her skirt around her.

“Feel the earth. Run your hands through the grass, touch the dirt underneath,” said Ansel circling around Max and Griffa.

Max did as he instructed, Griffa too put her hands into the earth, gathering some dirt in her hands.

“Magic comes from all around us, Max,” said Griffa, her eyes closed. “Feel the dirt, the breeze, the sun on your face. Magic is in all of it.”

Ansel watched Max close his eyes and breath in deep.

“Magic is also in you. If you look hard enough you can feel it in your blood and in your breath, moving in you,” said Ansel.

“What does it feel like?” asked Max, his eyes still closed.

“Like a heartbeat in tune with your own, a fire in your veins, a breath that wells up within you. Another life living inside you next to your own,” said Griffa, her eyes now open looking at Max. “You can hear it singing to you quietly.”

“I know it sounds strange, but you will know it when you feel it,” said Ansel. “Just sit and be still for a moment.”

They were all three quiet, the only sound being the distant whinny of horses and the gentle breeze shaking a nearby tree. Ansel went and picked up a stick by the tree. He came back over and sat next to Max.

“Max, open your eyes and look at the stick in front of you,” said Ansel.

Max opened his eyes and looked down.

“We are going to work on levitating this stick,” said Ansel. “Like this.”

Ansel raised his hand and the stick raised up off the ground and then gently landed back on the earth.

“What should I do?” asked Max.

“Close your eyes and put your hand over the stick. Envision it floating in the air and concentrate,” answered Griffa.

Max did as he was told, but nothing happened. He peeked after a while and looked at Ansel with a disappointed look on his face.

“It’s ok. It takes a while the first time. Try again, this time really concentrate on your breathing,” said Ansel.

For an hour they stayed in the yard as Max tried to levitate the stick, but nothing was happening. Ansel wasn’t too discouraged. He didn’t expect much. It would take time.

“I’m sorry. I really am trying,” said Max, his hand over the stick.

“It’s okay, Max,” said Griffa. “This will take time. Here let me help you and see if you can feel anything.”

She placed her hand over Max’s and levitated the stick. Max instinctively pulled his hand back, the stick falling to the ground.

“I felt something! It was like a pulse through my hand. It felt warm,” said Max excitedly.

“Yes! That’s it, Max,” said Griffa clapping. “Let’s try it again.”

She again put her hand on Max’s and levitated the stick. This time Max kept his hand under hers as she manipulated the stick to move up and down. Ansel thought this was good progress.

“Ok, Max, now Griffa’s going to move her hand away from yours. Try to keep the stick in the air.” said Ansel watching closely.

Griffa moved her hand away, and Max managed to keep the stick aloft for a few seconds.

He looked up at Ansel, smiling.

“That was good, now let’s do it again.”

They spent the rest of the morning doing this over and over. Max tried a few times on his own and could get the stick to twitch but not fully levitate, but Ansel thought it was a good start. At lunch time, Griffa had to make Max stop by throwing the stick away, because he was intent on continuing.

“You need a break, Max.” said Griffa. “This takes a lot of energy and you are going to wear yourself out. Let’s eat and see about the tour of the house. Maybe even take a stroll around the village.”

They went into the house and had lunch. As they were getting ready for a tour of the house a letter came for Ansel.