After going through the basic rules, we headed to class. As expected Flake - I don't know why he likes to be called that - got a grand welcome by everyone. Then he got seated in the first bench which students had already vacated for him and I as usual sat on my seat at the far left corner of the class right next to the windows.

Throughout our basic ruled session in the parlour, he never smiled once. I know I'm not good in the sarcasm department but I'm sure I'm not that bad. He never once questioned or whined about any stupid rule - as it could have been expected by any teenager.

Not over thinking things, I continued my day. He never crossed my way again. Might be busy with his new followers. As if it matters to me. Though my friends wanted to join that group, I convinced them to stay and stand out from the crowd. I don't want to be the only outcast.

It might have bothered me that he never once showed up but I was too much of a coward to feel anything else.

*************

At first things were dark but then slowly the place lit up. I can't see any source of light. I slowly turned around to take in my surroundings. It looked like I was in a practice arena. But instead of weaponry there were caskets and shelves filled with thick books that looked to be quite ancient.

Treading slowly to the shelves, I touched the spines of the thick, vulnerable books. They seemed to be arranged in some kind of series. Some were dark crimson in colour , some had a purplish hue. Some even looked to be brought straight from hell. They were thousands in number. But there was one thing common in all, they all had something written in golden on their spines that was glowing, though I wasn't familiar with the language.

I took out one from the shelve which looked to hold something about magical plants as it had some odd pink coloured leaves drawn on the front. I tried to open it but it won't budge.

"It won't open unless it finds you deserving enough."

I whirled around and almost dropped the heavy book. There at the entrance of the arena stood my saviour in all it's glory. He was in a silhouette and nothing more than the shadow of his figure was visible. What's with the hiding I don't understand.

"Umm... where am I? "

"In your dream."

"I wasn't asking for you to state the obvious. What is this place?"

"It's called the dueling arena. Here you have to practice for the biggest challenge of your life." He explained.

I turned around once again. Hmm... The dueling arena.

"Challenge? And practice what? I don't understand. "

He entered the strange star shaped region and then my focus turned to the floor. The whole ground was covered in beautiful intricate patterns.

"Your battle with the forces, the havoc eaters. You have to protect yourself from them. And I here, have been appointed with the task to teach you. So pay heed to whatever you learn here. "

I'm certainly going insane. My mind is creating all of this!

"Learn to trust your subconscious mind. And don't ever think of questioning your sanity. You're perfectly fine. "

Oh goodness! He can read my mind.

"No but I can read your expressions. You're easy to read." His face was hidden but I can detect the irritation in his voice.

Keep your face neutral.

He wandered off to one of the caskets.

"It's time to show the extent of your connection with your soul. " He tapped the casket right beside him. It was made of some dark coloured metal.
"Go stand there in that circle, right in the middle."

I followed the direction his finger pointed and stood at the desired place.

He then took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the casket. For a moment everything was still when he opened the lid and the next I knew the patterns in the circle started to glow bright scarlet. I heard a howl and saw that terrific, evil energy coming for me. That same energy that have haunted me for weeks.

I screamed and crouched low to save my dear life. I waited for the impact.

And waited.

Waited.

But nothing happened. I peeked one eye open. There was no energy floating in the air. No. Nothing. Poof!

The circle was still glowing. I dared take a look at my new trainer. He was holding the casket in his right hand and the other was covering the closed lid.

Whoosh! I straightened up and dusted the imaginary dirt from my sweatpants.

"Have faith in your strength and face the difficulty head on. Be ready. "

He reopened the casket.

*********

I breathed heavily. Tiredness had filled me to my bones. We must have been training for an hour and a half non stop.

"Feel your power running inside your nerves. Try to concentrate it at one point. Get a hold over it." He said that for the umpteenth time.

"Don't you think I might just need some rest? "

"Gaining control of your powers doesn't tire you physically, but if you insist so. We need to work on increasing your mental stamina. "

I slumped down right there on the floor. He came and sat next to me on the circle that stopped glowing with just a wave of his hand.

"How did you do it?"

"With some good old practice. "

"Umm... are you ready to answer me now? " I took a good look at him but I still can't see his damn face. This is becoming really frustrating.

"It's not me for whom I am waiting, it's for you." His voice had a firm edge.

"Me? Why do you need to wait for me?"

"Will you believe even a single word that I would say? Do you truly think you could believe this ?" He said while waving his hand around the arena.

He was right. Even if I am a big fan of paranormal, I still live in reality. Could I believe this? No. Not when I don't have any solid proof. All of this might be the result of reading so many novels.

But come to think of it, I do know that what dream I'd be having isn't under my conscious control. And to really have a dream about the same thing for so long isn't normal. I mean really, this isn't any anime series that I would be getting episode after episode. There ought to be something serious about this.

"I can't say but I do think this isn't just a fragment of my imagination. "

I heard him sigh, "There ain't any hurry, at least not yet. The moral thing to do is to wait. You can't really feel your inborn powers, the connection with your soul if you won't trust me entirely. Without your faith, all of this practising would be a waste of precious time. "

He stood up and I followed him.

"Do think of this. Please. We need you. You are our last hope. If it weren't for the good of everything, no one would have had that amount of cruelty to drag you into this. It's time for you to leave. You need some mental rest yourself. And the most important thing - you know better than to mention anything to anyone. "

Well, who wants to be locked up in an asylum?

I barely mumbled an okay and turned around to get out of this place.

"And Riya."

"Huh?"

"Try to trust me. "

Then everything became black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had my damn semester exams.

And tomorrow I will be going for ASISC Zonal Athletics Meet. For triple jump and high jump.

How are you all doing?

And how was this?

See you soon my lovelies.

Goodbye.