"What do you mean I'm not going back?" Will had taken me to a beautiful bedroom, but not at all what I had expected, given what the rest of the palace looked like. The room looked like the night sky-deep blue. The bed was a rich, silky material that was dusted with a few gold stars. There was also matching armchairs and a coffee table adorning the corners and any empty space.

I had given little thought as of yet of how Will and I just disappeared and then reappeared somewhere else.

"Magic-I can teleport both of us using magic."

"You know, I think you really can read minds," I said.

"I can- I just dont like people knowing that I can because then they dont trust me."

"Do you just pop in and out of peoples minds like that?" I asked.

"No, only when I need to, or if I have a really good reason."

"Whats the reason for reading my mind?"

"Well, first of all, I cant read minds, but I can see what youre thinking. But I looked into your mind because I wanted to know what was going through your mind."

"Thats not a very good reason." I guess I could see why people wouldnt trust him, the way hes free to see what people are thinking whenever he wants to.

"I promise that I wont ever look into your mind again...except if I get worried about you, or on holidays, or in August because there arent any holi-"

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. Just look into my mind without permission, okay? I might be thinking private thoughts." I smiled slyly.

"Oh really?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Well if I told you, then it wouldnt be private anymore, now would it?" Just then, three refined and resplendent women entered the room. The first one had hair as black as night, skin as fair as the snow, and was clothed in a long, flowing black gown with silver accents. The second one had hair of gold, skin like a china doll, and was clothed in a dress as blue as the sky with frail gold accents. The third woman had hair of fire, and skin as perfect and smooth as a round stone from the river, or a lake on a fine clear day. She was clothed in a dress the color of emeralds, with gold accents around the square neckline of her dress, on the hem, and on the wrists, which flared at the end. She also wore a small golden circlet atop her fiery head. The raven-haired woman spoke first. "My name is Raine. I am a member of the Elite." Then, the golden-haired woman spoke. "My name is Ryelle. I, too, am a member of the Elite." The last woman stepped forward. "My name is Elwyn. I was the first member of the Elite, when it was formed ages ago to defend our realm from the wrath of the Dark Side. I was there when the Dark Side was created by a single, power-hungry immortal. He wanted more than our realm could offer. He had not the power to create a new realm, and becoming a mortal would not help him become more powerful, so he created his own circle of intimate friends inside our realm. Together, they simply called themselves the Dark Side. Their first plan was much more drastic than anyone had ever expected. Yes, we knew about the Dark Side when it was first started, but we never thought that it would grow to become something so huge and disastrous. Their first plan was to murder the king and queen. Luckily, they did not succeed in their attempts. Otherwise, our realm would not be here today. Or rather, would not be as you see it now. The Dark Side would have long taken over. There have been many attempts since then to assassinate the king and queen, and none had succeeded- up until fifteen years ago, when you were only a year old. There were some immortals living here. They had once been on the Dark Side, but claimed to have changed their ways. One day, the queen, king, and the Elite were having a meeting in the garden, when they were both killed at the exact same time. They werent killed by magic, because death spells leave marks on their victims, so we could have figured out who killed them. No, they werent killed by magic, but by bow and arrow. This confused everyone at the palace, because we were the only ones in the realm who used a bow and arrow, and there wasnt anywhere for anyone to get one. Of course, there was some logic to the plan. The assassinators were the immortals who had claimed to be changed. They had carefully thought out their plan of attack, so nothing could go wrong. Anyway, since they were living in the palace, they could obtain a bow and arrow, and easily shoot the king and queen because they trusted those traitors. Many of us had suspected them of something for a very long time, but dared not say a word because of the trust between the king, queen, and the traitors. We had them thrown out immediately after the new queen, your aunt, took the throne. Your aunt has been ruling ever since. We have seen many dark times, Meryll. We, meaning the queen and the Elite, had planned on summoning you when you were of eighteen years of age, but the times became desperate, and we could not wait any longer. You are the only child of the king and queen, and the only immortal suitable for the position of the queen."

It took my brain a few minutes to process the enormous amount of information it had just received. My mouth didnt seem to be working either. But, soon enough, my mouth and my brain were in fine working order.

"You keep mentioning immortals, and you called me one. Are we really immortal? And if we are, why did my parents die?" I asked.

"Yes, we are immortal, and are able to live forever, unless we are killed," She responded.

"Will I get to learn magic? And how am I supposed to help everyone? I dont know anything about anything here!"

"We'll teach you-or I will. By the way, wheres Venicia?" Said Will.

"She said she would be here. Hmmmm...I wonder where she is," Said the blonde woman called Ryelle.

"She said that she had some business to take care of," Said Raine, the woman with the black hair.

"But this is more important! What could she have to do thats more important than this?" Will said. He was pacing back and forth across the room, running his fingers through his dark hair, his green eyes flashing. I stood off to the side, unsure of what to do. I felt like a complete outsider, intruding upon some meeting whose words were not meant for my ears. Will turned to me. "So, do you want to start learning magic?" He grinned.

"Yeah," I replied. "That might come in handy if I'm expected to save an entire realm," I said, smiling back. Raine, Ryelle and Elwyn left the room, moving just as gracefully as they had entered.

"So, when do I get to learn that teleport thing you do?" I asked.

"Today, if youre that eager to learn it. But first, I want to teach you one of the most useful spells-levitation."

"But dont I need a magic wand?" I asked.

He laughed, "No, we dont use magic wands, just words." I was about to mutter a very profound oh but Will was already speaking again.

"Okay, to cast the spell, just concentrate your gaze to the object you want the spell to affect-in this case, I want you to levitate that pillow, and bring it over here. Here are the words: Bela ed' Templa."

"Bela...what? Could you say it again please?"

"Bela ed' Templa."

"Bela ed' Templa," I repeated. "What language are the spells from?"

"It's a very old language. Few immortals know how to speak it now."

"Do you?" I asked.

"Yes, I can speak it."

"Could you say something for me?" I asked. I had no idea that this realm had a whole other language.

"Lle naa vanima*", He said softly.

"It sounds like a beautiful language. What does that mean?" I asked.

"A! Arwenamin, oio naa elealla alasse! That means, ah! My lady, ever is thy sight a joy! The language was invented long ago, so many words we use today were not included." Will said.

"Wow, could you teach me to speak it? And you never did tell me what that first phrase meant." Will just smiled.

"Here is the spell for teleportation. I dont expect you to succeed immediately, but youll have time to practice later. The words are: Lema ed' Templa. It sounds similar to levitate because the two are in fact similar, if you think about it. Ive got to go, so Ill leave you to practice, okay?"

"Okay, so Ill see you later?"

"Probably," He said as he back out of the room.

I practiced both spells for probably an hour. I was having trouble getting objects to come to me after I levitated them; they just kind of lost enthusiasm halfway there, and dropped like a stone to the floor. Oh well, I thought. I can practice later.

*Means "You're Beautiful."