I was to meet Crowose in the Dining Hall at eight a.m. She told me that she was going to take me to meet the advanced engineering team so that they could begin the construction of my TurboWind. I did as instructed and by just after eight, we arrived in the main engineering lab. There were many tables and tools around the room. The advanced engineering team was made up of six people, all wearing safety goggles and other gear, ages forty to sixty. There were two women and four men waiting when we arrived with friendly smiles upon their faces. They held rulers, tape measures, clipboards, and such.

    "Good morning," Crowose greeted.

    "Same to you!" replied one of the women cheerfully. Then, without another word, they began to measure my arms, neck, torso, and such. It was as if they had directions printed inside their minds. I smiled weakly at Crowose, who nodded and smiled in reply.

    One of the men stood back, next to Crowose. He was the one with the clipboard. "You said sky blue, correct?" he asked.

    "Correct," answered Crowose.

    The man nodded and scribbled frantically on his clipboard.

    Suddenly, the team took three steps back from me and reported their results to the man with the clipboard, who recorded them in pen. One man grabbed a large rock and approached me. "Hold this," he said.

    "Okay . . ." I said, very confused. I took the rock from him. I lurched forward; this was one heavy rock!

    "Too heavy," commented the clipboard man, "Try the one two sizes down."

    One of the women grabbed a smaller rock from the counter and handed it to me. I was able to hold it fairly easily.

    "Shouldn't I be able to fly with my TurboWind?" I asked, "So shouldn't it weigh close to nothing?"

    "Oh, right, right. How could we have forgotten?" mumbled the engineers. One of them took the rock back. "Well, we have what we need then," she said, "Your TurboWind will be ready in a week. Have a great rest of your day!"

    I was a little confused. Crowose led me into the hallway. "Aren't they supposed to be the smartest people in the order?" I questioned.

    "I do wonder that too, sometimes," Crowose sighed, "But their work is fabulous. We just have to accept their odd ways." Then she left me in the middle of the deserted hallway without another word.

    I headed to the Training Dome, where I found it empty. It was so strange how it glowed and how the roof wasn't flat, but rounded. I wondered what was above it. Maybe nothing. Maybe something of extreme importance. I approached the equipment racks and grabbed a spear. I spun it around my fingers, deep in thought. This place was so mysterious. Riddles and clues scattered everywhere, along with magic and very suspicious behaviors and characters. Something that should be normal and ordinary wasn't. What type of world was this? I was starting to miss my simple, boring, bland prison cell in the M.S.P.

    The day dragged on with me watching T.V. and pondering the meaning of the witch's riddles. Wondering why the advanced engineering team seemed so out of this world. Why Andy and Dr. Gwen had been sneaking around in the dark. Then there was a knock on the dorm door.

    I grudgingly stood up and opened it. Before I did, though, I looked through the peephole to see Andy tapping his foot in impatience, eyeing his watch. I reluctantly opened the door.

"What do you want?" I snapped. I didn't completely trust him and I wasn't in the mood for any nonsense.

    Andy took the blow without a comment. He put his hand next to the door, crossed his ankles, and leaned on his arm that held him up from the wall. He put his other hand on his hip and twinkled his teeth at me.

    I rolled my eyes and began to slam the door shut but Andy hurriedly took a step forward to block me from doing so. "Wait!" he said, "Would you like to eat lunch with me?"

    "Whatever," I said and shoved past him. Andy scurried to keep up with my fast pace.

    I had already sat down in the Dining Hall when Andy walked through the double doors. We were served our food and ate in complete silence. I hoped that Andy felt awkward.

    Not too long after, I threw away my trash. "Thanks for your time," I muttered to Andy.

    He sighed. "Anytime," he said and I left. I guess we weren't getting off like he wanted. Well, I couldn't care less about his idiotic boy feelings.

    The next few days flew by faster than I could say "TurboWind", a blur of training, food, and faces. Taylor was out, doing whatever, and I was in our dorm, attempting to read yet again, when someone knocked. "It better not be Andy," I muttered. I had hoped I scared him away the last time we had been alone. The past few training sessions had been a little awkward and Taylor had been stuck in the middle, not understanding a thing.

    It was Crowose who knocked. "Oh, hello!" I greeted, quickly throwing my wet hair in a stubby ponytail; I had just gotten back from the locker rooms.

    Crowose smiled. "Your TurboWind is complete," she explained and gestured for me to follow her. I did, and in a couple of minutes we stood amongst the advanced engineering team, who were jumping in excitement. Crowose had explained to me how this was the first TurboWind that they had made in a few years. One held out a light blue stick with a net at the end. I gently took it from her, cradling it in my hands, spinning it slowly to gaze at the incredible and remarkable detail. Up close, the stick part was not a cylinder, but more like a hexagon with smooth sides and soft corners. On one surface there were the letters LILLIANA EHVIL carved into the wood. "It's . . . it's beautiful," I whispered in delight and wonder.

    Everyone around me wore smiles that stretched from ear to ear. "We are so delighted that you love it!" exclaimed one of the engineers.

    Crowose's eyes smiled at me, and so did her lips, her expression full of pride. I smiled back. "Your parents would have been so proud," she almost whispered.

    After that I was told that Taylor and I would be training with our new weapons but with a different war trainer; Megan. The last time I saw her, things had not gone down well.

    Taylor adored her spear, with the bronze, pointed tip and white handle. It also had her name carved into the side. "Didn't Katie and her friends do such a wonderful job?" she said.

    I nodded. Before I could reply, Taylor continued. "I love your TurboWind! Absolutely flawless!"

    "It should be pretty nifty to use too," I replied. Taylor nodded eagerly, gripping her spear so hard that her knuckles turned white. Then Megan entered the Training Dome where we had been waiting.

    "Good afternoon, girls," she began, "Are you happy with your weapons?"

    "I love mine!" cheered Taylor.

    "I'm pretty excited," I responded.

    Megan gave a slight chuckle. "That's great," she said, "Now, follow me."

    Taylor looked a little confused but I knew what was happening. "Megan trains in the jungle," I whispered.

    "Oh," Taylor whispered back.   

    We followed Megan out of the headquarters and into the raining Pine Jungle. "Like I've told Lilliana before, I train up here, day or night, rain or shine," Megan explained sort of sternly.

    "Shoot," Taylor muttered under her breath. Megan eyed her.

    "So, I was thinking," Megan continued, "Lilliana, you fly around for a bit, gather wind and practice aiming. Try not to get struck by lightning."

    "Solid advice," I said.

    "I will work with Taylor on some different techniques, like stabbing, flipping, and ducking while using her spear to hurt her enemy nonstop," Megan finished.

    "I guess I'll see you guys later," I said. Then I sprang into the air, soaring into the rain. In a few seconds I hovered above the trees. I was soaked, my hair stuck to my face and my clothes clinging to my body. I thought I saw the Rosary Kingdom in the distance, white domes barely visible through the trees. Then I continued my journey upwards, above the dark gray clouds, to the white, fluffy tops of them. Up here there was a shining blue sky, a field of white, and the sun in the distance. My TurboWind blended in with the sky; I guess it really was sky blue.

    I flew around, trying to stay in the general area as not to get lost, and watched the TurboWind's net swell. It was pretty amazing to watch, as I could see nothing visible filling it.

    I hollered and whoo-hooed, feeling free like never before. I did back flips, front flips, somersaults, and more. I wondered when Megan and Taylor would be done and how much wind my TurboWind could hold. Megan should've given me more details. Oh well. Too late now.

    Once I gathered a lot of wind, I flew back into the rain and aimed it at the tallest tree. I wanted to see how much I could make it quiver. With all my might, I brought my TurboWind behind my head, then flung it forward, not letting go. I heard a whoosh and the net deflated. In a few seconds, the tree was vibrating. I smiled in triumph, then I heard it.

    A scream. Coming from the tree.

    I descended onto the tree, worried. Had Megan and Taylor been in the tree? Slowly, I began my climb down. The tree was still slightly shaking.

    As I climbed lower and lower, I noticed gaps in the leaves, where something or someone may have fallen through them. Soon I approached it.

    A human.

    He was all bruised and bloody, maybe from his fall, his clothes in rags and his eyes bloodshot. He rubbed a fresh cut on his arm as he cursed under his breath, then hummed a creepy song. He held a broken TurboWind.

    It had to be Godwin Abington.

    "Hello?" I said, somewhat scared of the man. He looked ill and insane.

    Godwin jumped, then set his eyes on me, his face frozen in terror. He saw my TurboWind. "You're the one who made me fall!" he exclaimed.

    "I'm sorry," I said.

    As Godwin prepared to jump down from the tree, I put my hand out, blocking his way. "Wait!" I begged, "I want to help you. I never meant for you to fall."

    Godwin, still breathing heavily, relaxed a tad bit. "I can fly, just like you," I whispered.

    Godwin's eyes widened in excitement. "Yes, yes!" he cheered, "You can take me to Crowose and Megan!"

    "Sure," I said. Then, extremely slowly, I guided Godwin down the so god dang tall tree while he cradled his splintered TurboWind, which was painted black. But now the paint was severely chipped and many natural colors of tan and brown began to show through. He must've been fighting hard for it to break. We found Taylor and Megan looking for me. Let me just say it now, there were mixed reactions when they noticed my new friend.

    "You found him!" Taylor exclaimed, sounding like she couldn't wrap her brain around the concept. Godwin hid his face and shuffled his feet, humming his creepy song.

    Megan didn't say anything, but her eyes said it all. Love, sadness, understanding, passion, shock, friendship. She took Godwin's hand in both of her own, lifting his chin to look deep into his eyes. Godwin smiled and mumbled, "Megan."

    "You're back, you're okay, and you're alive," whispered Megan as if she couldn't believe it. Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks, leaving clean paths of tan as they went.

    Godwin broke their eye contact. His eyes became unfocused as he tapped his foot, cocked his head, and mumbled as he gazed into another dimension.

    Megan led us back into the headquarters in silence, never once letting go of Godwin, leaving me and Taylor to trail behind. We walked through the crowds of shocked people, down to the witch's chamber, where Madame Lee, her reflection, and Crowose were discussing urgently. Crowose was the only one who seemed surprised. Taylor looked confused when she saw the reflection.

    "We were just talking about you four," began Madame Lee.

    Crowose choked on her words. "H-how . . . what – that's not – it can't be –" she stammered.

    Godwin still mumbled to himself about seeing weird things and encountering wild beasts. He tapped his foot and held on tight to his split TurboWind as Megan tried to free it from his grip. She was very unsuccessful.

    Madame Lee approached the long lost soldier and raised her wand. She mumbled a few words and before our eyes, Godwin was cleaned and healed. His eyes snapped back to reality. He gazed around the room, at all of us, in shock. "I'm back!" he exclaimed, "I'm healed!" He ran at Crowose and gave her a suffocating hug as he continued to jump in excitement. Then he ran back to Megan and kissed her on the cheek. He skipped Madame Lee, and surprisingly hugged me and Taylor in turn. He mumbled something to me like, "You're back!" Then he ran back to Crowose, giving her another hug.

    "Oo-k-aay, God-wiin," she said while he jumped, squeezing her tightly, "I'll take you and Megan to my office. We will discuss a few things there." Godwin, who stopped jumping though he was still attached to Crowose, nodded and together with Megan they slowly climbed the stairs. My sister and I were now left alone with the witch.

    Madame Lee cleared her throat. "Taylor, I would like to speak with Lilliana," she said, "Alone."

    "Oh, okay," replied Taylor, her voice slightly shaking. "I'll just leave, I guess." She gave me one long, last sly glance before leaving, shutting the brass door softly and yet it still made a loud click.

    Now I focused my gaze on Madame Lee. "So, why do you want to talk to me?" I asked cautiously.

    "Have you not unraveled the two riddles I gave you?" questioned the witch, "Along with different events that have been happening around us, right in front of your nose?"

    I shook my head, frightened. I began to inch backwards; I didn't like the tone of Madame Lee's voice.

    Madame Lee sighed in annoyance, probably struggling not to breath fire upon me. "He's like a curse, he's like a drug; you get addicted to his love. Now try to figure that one out. LEAVE!" she bellowed.

    Not thinking twice, I burst out of her chamber, running into the door (which really hurt), then up the stairs. I did not stop until I got to my dorm. I waited outside until I calmed down so that Taylor wouldn't be worried. When I did enter, she was inside. When she asked, I told her that Madame Lee had wanted to congratulate me on finding Godwin.