Chapter 15: Student

Hey guys, so I am (once again) having technical difficulties.  Sorry about that.  If you see something weird and out of the norm, just ignore it.  Anyways, chapter 15.
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                                                                       CHAPTER 15
    Grace stared.  The person who stared back at her looked nothing like anyone she had expected.  This wizard was as far from Eldor as he could be.  Eldor was of average build, wearing normal everyday clothes—with the exception of a cloak.  Eltobe, on the other hand, was tall, skinny, and wore dark greens, browns, and blacks with a cloak made of what seemed to be ivy woven together, yet waved in the wind in fluid motions not unlike cloth.  She also noticed, with a start, that he had moss growing on the side of his dirty face, like half of a beard.
    “Eldor!!  Hello!!  So nice of you to drop by!!  And with guests, I see.  You must come in!!”  Eltobe opened the door wider.
    “Sorry brother, but this is a strange situation and I cannot visit,” Eldor replied.  He explained everything to Eltobe, who nodded every five seconds. 
    “Well then!  I’ll be off.  Talk to me every once and a while, Grace.  Eltobe will show you how.  Good bye!!”  Eldor walked off and disapeared behind a tree.
    “There he goes,” sighed Eltobe.  “He really should visit me more often.  Well.  Now to the issue at hand.”  He clapped his hands.  “Come in!  You must be hungry.  I’ve got some tea in the pot and moss sandwiches on the table.”  He walked into the cabin.
    Grace looked at Aunna.  “Go on,” she said.  “Follow him.”  Grace went inside.
    The inside of the cabin was much like the outside.  It had one room, with a table, a bed, and a fireplace.  Everything seemed to have a forest theme.  The blanket on the bed apeared to be made of the same ivy material as Eltobe’s cloak, while the table was an enormous stump, with logs standing up around it as chairs. 
    Eltobe was at the fire, whistling as he took a large kettle off of a hook.  “Tea, anyone?”
    “I’ll take some,” said Russell.  “Me too,” said Aunna.  “I guess I’ll have some too,” Grace laughed.
    “Please, sit,” beckoned Eltobe as he poured the tea.  Grace and her friends sat on the logs.  After he had given each their tea, Eltobe sat too.
    “Okay,” he said to Grace, “the first thing we’re going to do in your training is see how powerful you are, and what your talents are.”  He grinned toothily at her and said no more.
    Grace looked at him unc.  She took a sip of her tea.  Eltobe still grinned at her.  “Uh, sir?  You were saying?” she asked.  Eltobe blinked.  “Oh!!  Yes!!!  The test.  Well, we’ll get to that later.”  He pulled out a notebook and a pencil from his cloak.  “Okay, so I know you’re the princess, but who are you guys?”  He gestured to Russell and Aunna.  They introduced themselves, while he took notes. 
    When they had finished both their tea and their talking, Eltobe said, “Thank you, that is very helpful.  Now, while you have been talking, I’ve been taking notes not on your backgrounds, but on your halos.”  He tapped his pencil on the side of his face.  “I have discovered a very useful herb that allows me to see talents, magic ability, and some important events in your futures.  The tea I made contained this herb.  While you drank, a glow appeared around you.  I can see this glow, but you can't.  Now, let me tell you what I have found.”
    Grace, Russell, and Aunna looked at each other.  Grace felt strange.  Russell made a face.  Aunna covered her mouth to keep from giggling.  Eltobe ignored them and continued talking.
    “You three are essential to the overthrowing of Gryzo.  If just one of you were not on this quest, the kingdom will never be restored to its rightful owners.  Russell, someone has put a spell on you.  It is a very strong spell, put on you when you were young.  This spell allows you to see the true form of any creature, whether here or on Earth.  That’s why you saw glimpses of Grace’s true form in Montana.  Oh yes, and by the way, Grace, you have a concealment spell put on you.  Very nice, useful, too.  Like Russell here, it was placed on you when you were a baby.  Using a very large ammount of magic, too......but that can be investigated later.”  Eltobe tore off the first page in his notebook and put it in the middle of the table.
    “Now.  I’ll tell each of you what I know, starting with Russell.  Russell, you have little magic in you, but your magic is not needed.  There is something else.....but that’s where the ring gets fuzzy.  Let’s see....there is something about a handle, the kind on drawers....you will eventually gain the extremely rare talent among Gorgons to turn people into stone at will....”  Russell cheered.  “Yes!!!  That’s amazing!!  My dad can't even do that!!”
    Eltobe glared at Russell.  “As I was saying.  That’s about it for you.
    “Aunna.  You will be able to grow within the next few weeks.”  Aunna squealed in delight.  “I will be able to show you how.  I know a bit about fairies, you know.  Some other things are around you.....a door, small, in an enchanted stone wall.  Russell has the same picture around him, and Grace has it faintly.  There’s also a male fairy—not a romance, mind you, but an older one.  Perhaps an uncle?  Your father?  Anyway, he will help you in a time of need.
    “Grace, you have the most images around you.  Too many to explain on an empty stomach.

    “And that’s about it.  Now, would anyone like some cake?  I always find that cake goes well with enchanted tea.”
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Remember Eltobe, from The Journey into the Unknown?  Yup, same crazy old wizard.
~~Zoë Wingfeather

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