In a blur of light, Xeros seemed to have been transported to another world. This world being bright and beautiful. A large meadow being all around with flowers of just about every color. Each being vibrant in their own way. The male looking a bit confused but also in bliss. Being completely relaxed as he was simply.. floating there. His hand lightly grazing along the flowers before he looked up more. The silhouette of a person being there in the mists of the blinding lights. Him just looking even more confused as he thought he knew them. But, his mind didn't allow him to remember. All of a sudden, darkness started to flood in through the background of the silhouette. The males eyes widening as he started to back up. Then just completely turning to run away from it all. Though, it was impossible, the darkness was just too fast. While the darkness was flowing through the skies and just barely beneath the flowers, all the vibrance seemed to die out. Becoming wilted and nothing more but a deadened shade of grey-brown.

The males eyes widening at the sight as he shook his head. The silhouette coming towards him as its frail, dark hand outstretched at him. A dark, fiery aura around its fingertips as Xeros swore he's seen this silhouette somewhere before.

"Wake up..... wake up....."

A voice spoke as his eyes widened more in terror. 'The hell?' He thought before quickly inhaling. Everything going back into light as his eyes shot open. Quickly sitting up as he didn't realize he was sweating. "Xeros!" Lotus shouted as she suddenly slapped him again on the cheek.

"Ow! What was that for!?"

"You we're talking in your sleep, weirdo.." She said and crossed her arms.

"I'm not weird. And I doubt I was." He said grumpily as he crossed his arms. "You we're too!"

"Then what was I talking about?"

"Something about a girl and death. Hard to tell when you're muttering..."

"Can't you read minds or something?"

"Yea but that doesn't mean I can read dreams! Geez.." She said and crossed her arms right back.

"Alright alright... you've made your point..." He said before rubbing his eyes. 'This is such a pain.... what time is it....?'

"Still dark out. Now cmon! We've gotta go..."

"Go...? Where.....?"

"You forgot already? You're dumber than I thought..." Lotus said and wanted to smack her face or smack his again. Maybe it'll knock some sense into this knucklehead.

"We're going out to see if you can use magic, remember?"

"Ohh! Oh.... yeah now I remember..."

"Then what're we waiting for silly? Let's go!"

'Way too hyper...' Xeros thought before sighing. Getting up and quickly running after the girl who had dashed out of the area. Him blinking and gazing around before he looked up. Groaning as he did. 'It's still late...'

"I know! It'll take a bit to get there. So we'd better start hurrying..!"

"But I just woke up!"

"So? I think you'll manage~. Unless I need to give you another wake up slap."

"No no. Definitely none of that..!"

"Alright then, start moving then!"

'She's already being a harsh teacher.' He thought before quietly yawning. Seeing Lotus had already started off again. Him letting out a small groan as he ran after her.

The two soon ended up in a small, open area. There wasn't much around it aside from the vast amount of trees, most having a variety of colors to their leaves. Some even having newly bloomed flowers of different shapes and sizes. Soft blades of grass being all throughout the already flourishing area.

"Woah... this place really has some beauties.."

"You haven't seen half of them!" Lotus said as she skipped into the area. Grinning as she crossed her arms. "Alright! Let's get started!" She said and looked over at Xeros. The male taking everything in as he looked down at her, nodding. "Alright.. let's..!"

"First things first on learning magic, ya gotta concentrate everything on what you're doing. Even the slightest sound can disrupt you. So, you've gotta learn to tune it all out." She said and glanced at him. Uncrossing her arms as she let out a small breath. Raising her hand midway into the air as she closed her eyes for a moment. Everything being silent before a rumbling noise shot through their ears. The earth crumbling in a circular sort of way, cracks forming along and around it. The grounds shaking all around as Xeros was about thrown off balance.Then, some decent sized stones in a light grey color shot out of the ground. The stones looking clean, as if it had never been underground in the first place or touched by any mortal or beast. The ground having stopped shaking by now. "And that's how it's done." She said proudly and crossed her arms.

While Xeros just looked lost. "Uhh... I still don't completely get it..."

"What don't you get? All you have to do is focus your energy on using your magic."

"That's way harder than it sounds. What if I don't have magic?"

"Oh nonsense! Even if you feel like you don't, there'll always be some type of power deep inside. You just have to unlock it."

"How?"

"Who knows. Everyone unlocks their magic in different ways. Given it being on accident or during a life threatening situation." She said and shrugged.

"How did you unlock yours then?"

"Eh? Oh, mine was on accident." She said and scratched her head sheepishly. "I went to the river one day and about fell in then poof! I made a rock that caught me and kept me dry." She said and smiled some.

"Huh, I see.." Xeros said as he nodded a bit. Then gazing at the rocks as he started to look way more determined.

"So let's start with you focusing on yourself and your surroundings." She said and looked over at him.

"Right.."

"So just sit down and start meditating. The rest will come soon."

"Okay.. simple enough..." He said and shrugged. Continuing to listen to her as he went and sat down in the middle of the rocks. Crossing his legs and resting his palms against his knees. Closing his eyes as he let out a deep breath.

"You can't hold any aggression while you use magic. Cause if you do.... things won't go well..."

"Why's that?"

"Stay quiet! I'll tell you..." She said and huffed. "So in our world there's a sort of hierarchy system."

"Huh....-"

"I wasn't done! The systems ruled by bad people who are only after power. They're scary..."

"Sounds like it.." He said and lightly opened an eye. "Mhm.... now get back to focusing!" She said and hurled a small rock at him. The rock hitting him on the arm.

"Oww! Yes ma'am!"

Xeros let out a breath and went back to focusing. Everything being serene for the moment as a small breeze blew by. The male staying in his place while Lotus was having her own fun creating a small statue out of rocks and pebbles. Her smiling down at her work as she was quietly humming. Up until the ground started shaking again. Stopping for a moment before it shook once more. Xeros grunting as he shook his head. "Lotus, are you trying to test me!? I can't do is like this!"

"It's not me!" The girl cried out as she had fallen to the ground thanks to the tremors.

Him looking confused as he opened his eyes. Looking around before he got a fear stricken face.

Walking by without a care in the world, was a large, fox-like creature. It being lean and having purely white fur with light blue hues. It having nine, long tails. The tip of each of them looking like they were dipped in black paint. The creature being too tall to see any noticeable features of it. It's claws were digging into the earth, causing large marks to be scratched into it as it continued to walk. Paying no mind to the two small creatures around it as it did. The trees bending as they were snapped in half thanks to its claws and the weight of the being.

"What was that!?" Xeros said, looking absolutely terrified as he was hiding behind a rock. "That's Kyuubinaiu. The leader of this territory."

"Yea but WHAT is it!?"

"A kitsune! Are you that dumb?"

"No! The only creatures I've ever seen were trolls and goblins." He said and shook his head, cowering behind the rock.

"Oh? Wow, your world sounds weird then. We have all sorts of creatures!"

"So you're telling me there's more than that thing wandering around!?"

"Yep! Plenty of creatures rule these lands."

"Wait.. so this world is ruled by monsters and not, like, humans or angels?"

"Yea...??" She said and blinked.

"That sounds weird.."

"Well, it's not like anyones gonna stand up to them, so why would someone try and take over?"

"Huh?"

"These creatures are usually out destroying stuff or killing people who don't obey..."

"They sound rude and cruel."

"That's just the way things are around here.."

"That's just.. completely unfair!"

"It is?"

"Yes! People should be treated equally."

"Huh, you really are weird... no one's tried to fix this place for centuries."

"Really now?" Xeros said and raised a brow. Then thinking before his hand went into a fist. "Then I'll do it!"

"What!? Are you crazy!?" Lotus shouted as she looked shocked. Xeros suddenly looking determined and unafraid.

"Absolutely not!"

"But you just looked like you were terrified! How're you gonna do that, eh? You don't even know your magic!"

"So? I'll figure it out!"

"You're gonna get yourself killed..."

"I am not... cause you're gonna help me."

"Wait, I am? I never agreed to that!"

"Too late! I'm the older one here and I've already decided it!"

' This is why I hate older people...' Lotus thought as she held a poker face. Then sighing as she slumped. "Fine... I'll help... but!" She said and grabbed his ear. "During any training were in. I'm in charge. You listen to me with that, understood?"

"Understood.." Xeros said as his face paled.

"Humph." She said and let go of his ear after dragging him down to her level. "Now that we've settled that. Let's continue our training."

"Right!" 'Still scary...'

"Thank you!"

"Stop getting in my head!"

'Humph... so this kid really thinks he can do it....' a dark voice echoed yet neither of them could hear....