Chapter 6: Teacher And Master

  I wandered down the hall hesitantly, not sure if I was in the right place. Hodge had given me clear directions that morning, my second morning at the Manor, but I felt like I had taken a wrong turn somewhere down the line. I walked for another minute, and then the carved door I had been looking for finally came into view. According to Hodge, the person I was supposed to meet had carved the door himself. The thought of meeting a fellow artist reassured me. And he wasn't just a mediocre artist, either. The pattern of fish, seashells, and rolling waves carved into the wood was complex and well done. I knew I was about to meet a master of the craft.

  I raised a fist, paused, and then gently knocked on the door. There was no response. I noticed that the door hadn't been closed all the way, and, fearing reproval or punishment, yet somehow fearless at the same time, slipped into the room.

  The room I entered was small, but in a comfortable and cozy way. It was a bedroom, based on the four-poster bed set against the far wall, which was made completely of glass. The walls were painted a pale blue, and a thick rug covered most of the floor. A large fountain filled one corner of the room. Sunlight came through the large windows and bounced off of the water, throwing bits of light onto the ceiling and walls. I felt myself drawn to the fountain like a moth is drawn to light. It was mesmerizing to watch the fountain's water cascading down endlessly. I lost myself in its beauty, the soft chattering of the little stream almost lulling me to sleep.

  "Funny that you chose the fountain," a voice said, startling me. I whirled around and saw an older man, maybe in his forties or fifties, sitting in a chair tucked into a dark corner of the room with his head tilted in interest. I meant to apologize for entering his room without permission, but what actually came out of my mouth was much different. "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "I would expect a Fire Elemental to barge in, then jump on my bed or peer out the windows, pressing his nose against the glass and fogging it up with his breath while he was at it. But you... you looked into the fountain. Why is that?"

  I was very confused by what he was getting at and not sure how to respond. Some people, when they ask a question, say that there's no wrong answer. That's a lie. There is always a right answer. If not factually, then it's the answer they want you to say, or the answer they're expecting. I knew that there was a right answer to this question; I just didn't know what it was. "I found the fountain beautiful," I said, considering honesty my best move at the moment. "The water moves very gracefully, and it caught my attention."

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  "Hmm." The old man reached over and grabbed a small box from the table next to him. He held the box out to me, and I recognized it as the box that held the Fire Amulet. "I believe this belongs to you."

  As if in a trance, I stepped forward and took the box. I flipped up the lid, and the Amulet shone up at me. It was just as awe-inspiring as I remembered it to be. Its inner glow flickered at me like a cheerful little wave. My hand drifted toward the Amulet, but I quickly drew it back. The Amulet still didn't feel like mine - not truly. There was still time for someone to figure out that I wasn't actually the Fire Elemental. The dark red outfit the tailors had made for me, the one I was wearing right now, lent me a hint of strength and confidence, but not enough to brashly grab the Amulet.

  The old man gave me a nod. "Go on, put it on. This Amulet belongs to you now."

  Reluctantly, I grabbed the Amulet - no, my Amulet - and slipped it over my head. Its chain was long enough for me to easily put it on, but then it magically tightened so that the copper flame hung right below my collarbone. I could feel the metal warm against my skin. I had the distinct feeling of sitting by a cozy fire with a mug of hot cocoa, a drink that was rarely seen in my house. The feeling lent me comfort, and my heart beat a little slower, my thoughts settling into a slower rhythm. Then heat surged through my veins, my blood burning like flames. The heat brought strength and power, but also a hint of fear.

  Finally, the storm of emotions passed, and I was myself once more. I was slightly unsettled by the Amulet and the mystery of its potential, but I knew I would be up to the challenge. A door had opened within me, and I had gained access to a fire once hidden deep within my soul. I knew how to be stubborn when I needed to be, but the fire added determination and a bit of recklessness to the mix.

  "How does it feel?" the old man asked, a small, knowing smile on his face.

  "It feels amazing," I said, "But you have yet to tell me your name."

  The old man's eyes narrowed, though whether in thought or suspicion, I could not discern. "I am called Neifion. I am to be your teacher."