Abel Hayes and the dark phoenix

My mind felt like it would explode from the inrush of information though, I though that some part of me must have known this was true, all this time.

'Then were do I fit into all this? What exactly am I of not human? What are you, Acacius'

Acacius smiled. He shifted his weight as if he were going to get up from the couch, but I knew he couldn't. He couldnt walk without the support of his cane.

'Well the good news is,' he began. 'That is the exact reason you were brought here: To discover who you are.

And we will, but for now I should place you in your quarters. You will find that you will be just like everybody else in this place.

And here you will true lifelong companions; I can promise you that. Besides, the spirit shows here are nothing like you have ever seen.'

And then he rise without his cain; smoothly and without difficulty.

But something elese happened as he rose, something terrifying. His brown eyes, once bright with the wisdom of a thousand sunsets, began to dim and turn a cold, eerie shade of ice blue.

His limbs thickened with fur as white as pure snow, and his laughs of exhilaration became what sounded like growls.

He was of course still wearing his plad jacket and glasses, they had magically expanded to fit him.

Except, he was now a yeti. My teacher was agiant yeti.

As you can imagine, my jaw completely dropped : a freaking Yeti of all things.

But on the skin of his face was still the familiar coffe brown mug of my art and history teacher.

'Finally. 'I'd taken up a mortal form so long, my fur had started falling out. Now, come, Abel. Let me introduce you to your new fsmily.'

Funny, it didnt take much time for me to get used to my teacher being a Yeti, he was just as fun as he had been as 'Mr Kamau' when he gave me a tour of the place, though I did flinch whenever he reached put to pat me on the back.

I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but you try staying still when a nine foot tall abominable snowman reaches for you.

After all I'd seen grapes in a wine press before, and I had a feeling I'd handle the same if Acacius wasn't too careful with me.

He took me a full circle around the floating island we were currently on, the one in the center.

It was much larger than the others, more than ten times, in fact.

At the base of the island were three glowing totems spread equal distances from each other. I couldn't really see them clearly from where I was, but I couldve sworn that one of them looked like a chicken man!?

'What are those?' I asked Acacius.

He looked where I was pointing, and his expression became solemn. 'Honorary totems of the prime celestials....and the evil they once fought.'

'What do they honour? I asked.

'Sacrifice,' he said with finality. 'The honour a great sacrifice.'

I still had questions i wanted to ask, but I thought for a moment there, he sounded really sad and so I didn't ask.

'Lets continue,' Acacius said, trying to sound excited. 'This place has a lot to offer.'

Acacius took me throught the fields of barley and wheay, where men and women with a antlers; sprites, I geussed, were carefully harvesting the grain.

Then we passes by the animal farms, where sprites tended to almost every kind of farm animal.

Acacius told me that their world was self sustained. Food was grown and cattle were bred here.

The rivers never ran fry and their food never stopped growing.

The metals and minerals required to build were all dug up from the ground and would replenish themselves magically over time.

He told me that powerful wards were set to keep demonic creatures out, not that any of them would want dare to come over with Marmoo staying here.

He said that the bitter old drawf was a nightmare that even the demons feared: most of them were kept awake in the dead of night at the mere thought of him.

I watched one of the wind sprites feeding a lamb. It reacted so well to his touch, like he was the safest presence in the world.

I didnt know why, but I was immediately reminded of me and Vere.

He had been my first and only fried. The friend of the freak no one wanted to talk to.

I wondered if the farm animals would also react that way to Vere's touch. They probably would, no one was kinder than him.

I wondered what would happen when Marmoo woke up, I pictured Vere being lectured harshly by him and a bunch of pudgy old men, and I felt really bad.

If it hadn't ditched him on the train ride home maybe things would have been easier for him, for all of us. Maybe...maybe my mom would still be alive.

'This isnt his fault.' I said. 'I mean… he tried his best to protect me, but I didnt make it easy for him.'

Acacius didnt say anything. He turned to look into the distance even thought there was nother ther. 'Vere has large aspirations, Abel. Aspirations that he has been unwise to pursue, and to fulfill them must first demonstrate great courage and resourcefulness by succeeding as a

gaurdian, finding a special youth and escorting him safely to this land.'

'Then he succeeded, Im right here arent I!'

'I agree,'Acacius said. 'But his success was not perfect, and I cannot decide what happens to him. That is left to Marmoo and the Spirit lords.

And you have to keep in my mind that Vere was not able to keep you safe from the demons.

You nearly perished, after all, and your mother is gone.'

The spirit lords might not see this as evidence of his resourcefulness'

I was upset. Vere meant a lot to me, and I didn't want to hear that he was being forced to give up on his dreams because of something I did.

'Is it really over for him?'

Acacius didnt meet my gaze. 'Im afraid the council of spirit lords do not give second chances.

The council was wary of the monstrous world after the first incident, five

years ago. They doubted whether wind spirits would be enough to bring back true bloods.

Vere went to great lengths to convince them that he would be successful, but he is still so young…'

'How old is he?'

'Oh, a hundered and seventy.'

'What! I knew they must have delayed him a grade but this is crazy!'

'Sprites have a very long life expectancy, and so they do not mature at the same rate.

Despite his age he is only as mature as someone of your age. Mentally at least.'

'That's depressing.'

Acacius laughed. 'At any rate, Vere is far too young and hasn't awakened his abilities yet.

I advised him to wait, but he was too anxious to pursue his dream.

But perhaps now he can pursue a career he is more suuted for. Lounge singing for example, he did always have a nice voice…'

It was obvious I had more to say on the subject, so Acacius just pulled me along. 'Let's continue, if you dont mind?'

But then something occured to me, a dangerous idea.

'Acacius,' I asked. 'If all the abcient legends you taught me are true…'

'Yes, child? 'Then the myths about briging back the dead, are they also true?'

Acacius's expression morphed into a fearfull one and he growled almost instinctively.

'You tresspass into dangerous territory boy.'

I recoiled and he caught himself, as if realizing that he had frightened me.

'Im sorry Abel, but you ask a very damgerous question. You would be wise to forget… You must accept what has happened.'

'But it is possible?' I asked.

'Yes Abel. It's dangerous, unnatural, and often exacts a heavy toll, but not impossible.' He admitted with difficulty.

I had a feeling he wouldnt say anything else, so I didnt ask again.

As we comtinued the tour I was surprised by just how vast the impenetrable forest of the mountain Isle was.

It took up most of the isles space, with trees so tall and robust, youd think they'd been there since the cretaceous.

Chiron said, 'These woods are where you will sharpen skill, a variety of creatures, some predatory, and some gentle, await you if you wish to explore them. You must just be prepared to fight for your life.'

'No one has actually died in there before right?' I asked.

Acacius gave me a weird smile, but he didn't answer. 'The war games will begin tomorrow. I suppose I will have to get you a standard set of weapons.'

I didn't ask because I was very afraid of the answer he might have given, so I kept my mouth shut as we continued the rest of the tour.

We saw what Acacius called the celestial forge, the pyromane stables, the amory, the battle amphitheatre where teens were fighting like gladiators in front of cheering crowds, and the Naiad lakes(We'll talk about those later.)

'Isnt that dangerous?' I asked as we passed by the amphitheatre.

'Not at all,' he explained. 'Strict rules against killing on purpose.

'And what happens if they break those rules.' I asked.

'Oh, they lose wifi privileges for a while' Acacius answered blandly like it was a non issue. He was too busy watching the pyromane (flaming lion) races.