A Mystical Journey

by Jennifer Esposito

  Then Ruth took something else from the velvet bag. It looked like a deflated balloon. She blew on it and it filled with air until it resembled a transparent beach ball.

  “Each person who will be playing the game will take a place around the game sphere.” Ruth held a Myesfera stone to the sphere and they were sucked inside by some unseen force. A hole appeared in the spot where the Myesfera stone entered the sphere. A glowing letter R appeared on the stone. “This is the player’s key stone.” Ruth said pointing to the stone with the glowing R. “The goal of the game is to force the key stone of the other player back out of the hole it came in. They will only go out the hole they came in. It is impossible to force a key stone out of a hole it did not enter the sphere through.” Ruth explained.

  “You can always identify each player’s key stone by the glowing letter on it. Each player will select a second Myesfera stone, usually the one they can control most easily. This Myesfera will act sort like a goalie. We call it the knocker-blocker. Once selected the knocker-blocker cannot be forced back through any hole. It can be used to block your hole to keep your key stone from being pushed out or it can be used to knock another player’s key stone through their hole.” She continued.

  Ruth also explained that a beginner will focus only on using the goalie to block their Myesfera stone from being pushed out and also use their goalie to push another player’s Myesfera out. The better the player gets and the more they learn to split their focus and control both the key stone and the knocker-blocker to battle other players.

  “Before you can play this game you need to learn about the 15 different Myesfera.” Ruth explained. “I need you both to get out your note books.” She instructed. John and Chloe both got out their note books. When Ruth wasn’t looking Chloe rolled her eyes. John knew just what she meant. Here was what looked like a really cool game and the adults had figured out a way to make learning it very boring.

  Ruth picked up a stone. Ruth explained that this little blue stone could focus mystical energies to create water. She went into great detail about the different ways the water could be created and how much.

  In the room above Annie took out a notebook of her own. It was too much for Annie to even think about writing. Annie watched as Chloe and John each filled more than a page with notes about this one little ball. Annie thought about it for a minute. She listened as Ruth made John and Chloe answer questions about the notes they had taken. Then she had an idea. She dug deep down in her backpack and pulled out a new box of crayons. She pulled out the blue crayon, drew a blue circle on the page of her note book. With the same blue crayon, she wrote one word, water. She looked at it. Yep, that should cover it. What else did she really need to know?

  The children learned about two more stones. As Ruth began to finish things up for the day’s lesson Annie quickly shoved everything back in her backpack and headed down the stairs. She needed to get down to the children’s books before they came looking for her. As usual Annie’s great luck got her to the children’s section of the library with time to spare. In fact, she had lots of time to spare. It was nearly a half hour later before Chloe and John finally came down the stairs looking for her.

  As they reached the bottom step John noticed something. It was still light out. The shades were open and a vampire was standing in a sun filled room. He opened his mouth to ask Chloe about it but, then changed his mind. It would probably be better to ask Matthew later when he wasn’t standing in the middle of the public part of the library.

  Annie and Chloe ran off to find a place in the back of the reference section behind some very high bookshelves where they could talk. Annie told Chloe about her first day of school. Chloe looked sad. She told Annie how much she wished her father would let her go to school too.

  “What about the sun?” Annie asked.

  “I’m ok with a little sun. I can usually be out in the sun for about 10 minutes, then I get a bad sun burn. If I’m out in the sun too much longer than that my skin will turn black. It’s very painful and takes days to heal. Sun screen helps though. With sunscreen, I’ve been out in the sun for almost 45 minutes and been ok.”

  Chloe looked down at her feet with a sad expression. “But, Father is afraid if I go outside with the other kids during school I could get stuck in the sun for too long.” Then she whispered in in voice so low Annie didn’t think she was meant to hear it at all. “If Mama were here she would let me go.”

  “What?” Annie asked as if she had not really heard what Chloe whispered. Chloe ignored Annie, jumping up from her seat. She reached in her pocket and took out a velvet bag. It looked a lot like the one Ruth had showed Chloe and John during their lesson. Chloe told Annie that it was a Myesfera game. She told Annie she had found it in an old trunk when she was exploring the upper rooms of the library.

  “I thought they were just pretty rounds stones until now. Ruth said she is going to give me and John our own when the lessons are finished. You can have these.” She handed the bag to Annie and then added. “They probably won’t work for you the way they do for me and John.”

  Annie eagerly grabbed the bag. She hugged Chloe. This was perfect. Now she would be able to see and do everything she watched her brother and Chloe doing. Annie thanked Chloe and agreed that they probably wouldn’t work for her. Still, she had told Chloe, it was nice to be able to see them up close. Secretly Annie had a hunch she just might be able to play the game the way it was supposed to be played.

  Chloe and Annie didn’t get much more time to talk. Zindle ran in the room lavishing them both with kisses. Grandma wasn’t too far behind. She gave Chloe a little pat on the head and smiled.

  “I know you girls are having a nice little chat but, we need to get home.” Grandma said in a regretful tone.

  The girls hugged and followed Grandma to the front door where John was already waiting. They left the library and headed home leaving the mystical world behind for an evening of normal homework, supper, and even a few chores before heading to bed. The only problem was that for Annie and John it wasn’t normal. It would never be normal without their mom and dad there to oversee it all.

  They all fell into a routine. For John, the days passed by much more quickly than he had expected they would. John and Larry had become such great friends they were nearly inseparable. Each morning when he got up he could hardly wait to get to school and hang out with his friend. It seemed the only time they weren’t hanging out was during John’s lessons at the library. Lessons were another thing John looked forward to everyday. He was learning so many cool new things about the mystical world sometimes he felt like it all must be a dream.

  It was hard for John to explain exactly why Larry couldn’t join his daily lessons but, he had managed to convince Larry that he wouldn’t like them anyway. Every now and again John would think about his parents. It wasn’t often but he would get a bit sad. When this happened, he would busy himself with his lessons, school work, or have a laugh with Larry.

  Annie on the other hand was not enjoying her new routine nearly as much as John. For her the days seemed to drag on much more slowly. She missed her parents desperately. She did well in school but, she didn’t have very many friends. Her best friend was Chloe and she hardly got to see her. She spent most her time at the library alone, spying on John and Chloe’s lessons. She was delighted on the rare occasions when she was allowed to join them for what Ruth called history lessons. Annie hated that she got very little time to spend with Zindle. She was felt very lonely.

  Despite her gloomy disposition Annie was not in any way jealous of her big brother. She liked being independent. Most of the time the adults didn’t pay too much attention to her and so, she was free to sneak off to do what she liked. Most of the time what she liked most liked was listen in on John and Chloe’s lessons but, she didn’t have to. There were lots of other things she could have done if she wanted.

  It just so happened that one day Annie decided not to listen in on the day’s mystic lesson. She had instea
d found an empty room full of old dusty books she was sure no one else would have any reason to come into. She got out the little velvet bag Chloe had given her. Carefully Annie spilled it contents out on the floor. Fifteen, what had Ruth called them? Myesfera! Carefully she lifted the flat balloon like thing. It felt strange in her hands. Smooth and cool like glass but, still flexible.

  Would it work? She wondered as she held it to her lips and blew. To her delight it grew becoming round and clear. Next, she picked up one of the smooth glittering little balls. She was very nervous. Would she be able to use the Myesfera? Carefully she placed it against the side of the clear ball and it was sucked right inside. It dropped to the bottom. A glowing letter A appeared on the stone. Annie’s hands shook as she focused all her energy and pointed at the ball. The ball began to move. Annie wanted to scream with excitement but, she must keep quiet.

  Her excitement was short lived. What was that? Footsteps approaching the door? She couldn’t let anyone find her with the Myesfera. Quickly she grabbed the ball and began to shake it. How did you get these things out? Why hadn’t she watched the lessons just a little longer? Then she would have seen how Ruth put it away. There were voices right outside the door now. Annie pushed the sides of the ball. Suddenly it deflated looking once again like a deflated balloon. Annie didn’t have time to worry about getting the Myesfera stone out. Then it happened, in her moment of fear and panic all the balls flew up from the floor and back into the velvet bag. The flattened sphere also was ripped from her hand and it too returned to the bag. Annie’s jaw dropped.

  She did not however, have time to ponder what had happened. The door knob rattled as someone turned it. Annie ran behind a tall bookcase and hid the velvet bag between some books. Crouched low against the floor she heard the old door creak slightly as it opened.

  Two people entered the room. The first Annie did not know. It was a tall man with tanned skin, no… his skin was purple. Well, purplish anyway. It did not look normal. He had a ring of grey hair around his bald head that reminded Annie of a Christmas wreath. The second person Annie knew right away. It was Ruth. Annie’s heart skipped a beat. If Ruth was in here then the lesson might already be over. John and Chloe might be looking for her, or worse, one of the grownups might be looking for her. There was nothing she could do. She was stuck.

  “How are things in going in China since I left?” Ruth asked the man. The man began answering Ruth’s question by taking about the food and where he was staying. Then she heard something that caught her interest. The man told Ruth that he thought he had found it. Found what? Annie wondered. She turned her head to hear better.

  “Only the Conduit can retrieve it. Are you sure it is the boy?” the man said to Ruth.

  “Yes. With his help, we sent his parents to the other world. That would not have been possible without all of the Coterie being present unless it was him.” Ruth said very simply.

  The man let out what seemed to be a sigh of relief. His whole body seemed to relax. “And, how long until he will be ready? The more quickly we can get it the safer we will all be and the sooner the boy’s parents can be returned.” He looked at Ruth for an answer.

  Ruth dropped her head slightly. “I am afraid he will need several more months of training at the very least Hector.” She looked up at the man for his response. Annie was even more interested when she heard the man’s name. This was the Hector Mohtep had mentioned the night they had met the Coterie.

  Hector had straightened himself again. “Well, I supposed some progress is better than none at all. This time a year ago we feared we had not found the conduit and that he might still be vulnerable to the black hearts. At least now we have him where we can keep him safe. I admit I have grown tired of China but, my searching is over. Now I only have to guard it and make sure the black hearts believe it is still lost until our John is ready to retrieve it.”

  Ruth gave Hector a reassuring pat on the shoulder and the two left the room.

  Chapter 13

  In the main room, as they had come to call it, John and Chloe had a welcome change in teacher. They liked Ruth but, she could be strict and a little boring at times. Today their teacher was someone new. Her name was Evelyn. She was a tiny little lady with very short straight hair and rosy red cheeks. She had a lot of energy and made them laugh. Today their lesson was the final lesson on Myesfera. Evelyn gave John and Chloe each their own set. John’s was in red velvet bag. The bag she handed to Chloe was purple velvet. Both children dove quickly into the bags to look at their gems.

  “These are from Ruth. She wanted to see you get them but, she had to attend to other business today.” Evelyn explained. “Now let all see if you can really play this game.”

  “Every set comes with a camplat but, we only need one.” She said holding up the flatted balloon looking thing. “Who wants to set it up?”

  Chloe raised her hand. She took her own camplat from her bag. Her hands trembled a little. John thought she must be nervous. Chloe put it to her lips and blew. The camplat grew bigger. In less than a minute it had turned into a large clear round globe in Chloe’s hand. Chloe set the camplat on the table in front of her. John and Chloe looked at each other.

  “Go ahead.” Evelyn encouraged.

  John took out one of his Myesfera. It was a red garnet. Ruth had taught them it was called flammalbus. This one was his favorite. It could be used to create blasts of heated air for beginners. Before the mystical world had been separated many mystics could create flames with this gem but, now very few could summon enough echoes to do it. John was sure he would be able to. Maybe not at first but, with practice. After all he was supposed to be the conduit, wasn’t he?

  Chloe took out a blackish silver stone. It was made of Hematite but, it’s mystical name was duplitari. When used properly this stone could be used to create duplicate or mirror images. As the stone moved around inside the sphere so would its duplicates, making it hard for an opponent to know which was the real stone. This made it great for both offense and defense. Ruth had taught them that most beginners can only create one extra image and if you look closely enough you would be able to see that the duplicate was slightly translucent. The duplicate also must stay very close to the original or it will fade. Although, the movement of the stones during a game makes it even harder to see. Some very powerful mystics in the old times could use the stone to create duplicates they could move a great distance from the original and be semi-solid.

  Chloe and John stood on opposite side of the sphere. They each held their marble like gems against the sphere. Instantly they were absorbed inside leaving a slight dimple at their entrance. Both lay at the bottom of the sphere. Chloe’s now had a glowing letter C and John’s a glowing letter J.

  John frowned. This was not what he expected. The balls were supposed to float or move around or something, he thought. He looked at Chloe. By the expression on her face he could tell she must be thinking the same thing.

  “These will be your key stones. Now, please select your knocker-blockers.” Evelyn instructed. “These will be your goalies take a good look at them. Place them inside the camplat. Now please place all the rest of your stones into the sphere too.” Evelyn pointed at their respective velvet bags and then back at the sphere. John and Chloe both followed directions.

  Now there was a mess of thirty gem marbles on the bottom of the sphere, two of each kind. How could they tell which ones belonged to who? John wondered. Chloe apparently had been wondering the same thing. Her hand was already raised high in the air to ask a question.

  “Yes, Chloe?” Evelyn said with a little smirk on her face.

  “How are we going to be able to tell our stones apart? The only ones that are marked are the key stones.” she asked Evelyn with a confused look upon her face.

  “You will not be able to and this part of the fun of the game.” Evelyn exclaimed clapping her hands. “There is one things that will help you to figure it out. Only the last person to touch a stone can control it.” Evely
n looked at Chloe and John. Both had expressions of confusion on their faces.

  “It is very simple. If you try to change control to another stone and find that you can’t, then it must not belong to you. Like most games it will make a whole lot more sense once you begin playing it.”

  John looked at the clear plastic looking sphere with the round marble looking stones piled in the bottom. It didn’t look very fun just sitting there like that. During their lessons, the stones had been moving. He had kind of expected that when he put his stones in they would move on their own or at least float.

  Evelyn continued her instruction. “As you both are new to this and new to the mystical arts you will need to place a hand on the sphere to get things started. Once you are more experienced you can play by simply standing next to the sphere.”

  John and Chloe eagerly placed their hands on the sphere. Within seconds all thirty stones were floating in the middle of the sphere. Chloe gasped, pulling her hand away from the sphere. Fifteen of the thirty stones dropped to the bottom. Chloe’s cheeks flashed with just a hint of pink. John almost laughed. He didn’t know Vampires could blush.

  Evelyn placed Chloe’s hand back on the sphere “Now, say the name of your knocker-blocker. Say it forcefully and try to focus your concentration in one direction.” Evelyn instructed.

  Of course, John and Chloe had heard all this before from Ruth during lessons but, neither of them seemed to remember it very well. John started first. “Flammalbus!” He shouted. This time it was John that jumped at the sound of his own voice. He had not intended to yell so loudly.

  John’s red stone seemed to change color a bit. The red color became brighter. The stones to the left of his seemed to move away slightly. Evelyn smiled clapping her hand once again. Not to be outdone Chloe quickly yelled “Duplitari!” The edges of Chloe’s stone became fuzzy and it appeared more oblong in shape than it had before.