Blake thought back on the journey to home base. The trek to Lapis Mountains had not been nearly as physically demanding as Blake had first speculated. While it did take six long days to reach their destination, they had spent a full day and a half just at camp. Ivy had been helping Blake to master his powers, and help hone Erin’s dagger skills. It had been a full day of training. Ivy awoke them at dawn and had handed Erin a couple of books. Ivy had instructed her to read them while she trained with Blake, and at lunch she would train with her to improve her dagger combat skills. The book on top was a history of her dagger. It was to help her understand and learn about her new abilities and how to truly control it. The second was a brief and basic history of Ametsa and it held records of the largest events in the past century. “These are to help you gain some basic knowledge on the history of Itzalezko Altzairua. The second is a simple record of the most important and influential events in the past century. Should you not finish before it is your time to train, I expect you to continue the book on the journey. Understood?” Ivy had asked. “Got it,” Erin had affirmed. “Good. I am going to help show Blake how to fly, at this pace we will not reach the mountains until almost a month from now. When I am done with him I will be training with you,” she continued. Striding away, she called Blake to join her and Erin was left alone at the tents. She looked around for a moment. She was still processing how it was that this was all happening and wanted to take a moment to revel in her surroundings. They had made good ground and had been travelling for two days. On their first day they had reached Mahastien basoa, or the Forest of Vines. The had made camp just slightly within the perimeter of the forest. The next day they had continued deeper into the forest and had stopped just past half way. This was their second day and they would be staying for one more night. “Well, I guess I should start. These aren’t going to read themselves,” Erin muttered to herself. Pulling some pillows and blankets out of the tent, she arranged them into a makeshift chair and began to read.

“Concentrate. Imagine you are flying and we are with you. High above the canopy,” Ivy instructed. Blake shut his eyes and relaxed. Letting his imagination fly him to the corner of the universe and back. When he opened his eyes he was hovering a good two feet off the ground. “So is this it,” he asked, craning his neck upwards. “Because if we are going to be flying above the forest, we might have to go a slight bit higher,” he said, gesturing to the trees towering above him. “No, just continue to will yourself higher and higher you will go,” she encouraged. He suddenly started to move higher, climbing past the birds singing in the tops of the trees and higher still. Soon he was looking around him for miles on end. He abruptly dropped to the ground, stopping an inch away and settling lightly on the ground. “Well, how was that for a beginner?” he asked, grinning. “Proficient. Now you just have to make us fly too,” she progressed. “Lift me into the air and let’s fly back to the camp,” she said. They had walked to a nearby clearing to have space for practice. With a simple thought they both lifted off the ground and sped back with ease.

When Erin looked up she was startled to see Ivy and Blake lowering from the sky. She knew that Ivy would be teaching Blake to fly, but some part of it seemed so unrealistic that she hadn’t really realized what that meant. She had finished her books earlier and had started to clean her dagger with the cloth Ivy had given her on the way to the forest. She now stood and walked over to join them. “Pretty neat trick you got yourself,” Erin stated. “Not nearly as cool as your weapon skills,” he replied. “Are you ready… um, actually. I don’t think you told me your name,” Ivy realized. “It is Erin,” Blake intervened. “Oh, well then, are you ready Erin?” she resumed. “Ready as I will ever be,” replied Erin, trying to contain her excitement and be indifferent. “Good, let’s go,” Ivy beckoned. “I left your history book by the campfire Blake, it should be the one with the history of longbows. I would also like for you to read Erin’s Ametsa history book,” she called over her shoulder, walking away with Erin. “Alright,” Blake yelled back. When they reached the clearing Ivy ripped leaves off of their branches and leaned them at various bases of the trees surrounding them. They varied in size from that of a golf ball to a bowling ball. I want you to start by conjuring multiple blades in your right hand,” Ivy instructed. Erin did as she was told. “Now I want you to make them disappear from your right hand into your left. Should you ever have an arm pinned by an opponent you need to be able to quickly switch. Once you have done that, throw them at the targets to your right,” she continued. Erin quickly did so and in a matter of seconds the bowling ball size leaves to her right were filled with daggers. “Good, do the same thing with the ones in front of you,” Ivy said. She did so. This continued on for many hours and Ivy started to make Erin spin and hit the targets. The assignments continued to get progressively harder and when the sun was low behind the mountains they stopped. Erin was drenched in sweat but was grinning from ear to ear. “Let's go back to camp. We have a big day tomorrow,” Ivy suggested. In silence they started to trudge back to the beckoning campfire.