Xiander Takes Sam To The Mountains

Sam smiles, and says, “No, problem. I’ll help you with that.”

Xane says in a confused tone, “What? You can? But Xiander says, ‘I have to learn it myself, or I can never control it.”

“Xane, be it Xiander or anyone, practice, and learn, that only you can. As your guide I can teach you,” Sam says with a dominant tone “but, you have to understand, then only can you implement what you learn.”

Xane’s look is crystal clear, whatever Sam is saying, is making no sense to him. So, Sam comes up with an idea.

He goes over to Peter, and tells him to bake a cake in the pot. Hearing Sam, Peter is shocked, and says, “Sam, if cakes could be made in pots, I don’t think so the oven would have been invented.

And, in older days, cakes were baked in ovens made in the earth, (getting a little frustrated) ah, the ground. Then the great oven was invented.”

Making a ‘I’m not giving up’ face, Sam says, “Can you do as I said, and bake a cake in the pot.”

“Sam, I thought awakening the elements was supposed to help you in fighting. But, now I think you should stop. You are losing your mind.” Peter says, trying to convince Sam.

Morris was sitting on a chair reading a book he had protected all the time. Seeing them, he says, “Sam, why don’t you tell him what to do? And, honestly, I also never heard of baking in a pot.”

Sam gets up, and says, “First, go out and bring some sea sand from outside. Half a pot will be enough.”

Though Peter is baffled on hearing Sam, he does as he is told. As Peter comes in with the pot, Sam says, “OK, now you can prepare your batter. Let me know when you are done.”

Coming over, Sam takes the novel out of Morris’s hand, drops lazily on the chair, and begins to read it. Then Peter calls out saying the batter is ready.

Coming over, Sam says, “Now, on the stove, and preheat the sand. Next, put the batter in the baking bowl, not the platter, as it won’t fit.”

Though Peter is doing as Sam is saying, he is also looking at him with a crooked eye.

“Next, cover the baking bowl with foil. And, now carefully place the bowl on the sand in the pot, and cover with the lid. Leave for forty minutes. Let me know.”

Sam went back to reading the novel, as the boys began to wonder what the outcome would be.

After about thirty to thirty-five minutes, the smell of fresh cake being baked was filling the home. Xane began to jump happily, and said, “Wow, my mouth is watering!”

Then as the clock hits forty-five seconds, Sam gets up, and says, “OK, Peter turn the gas off. Remove the lid. Wear the gloves, and remove the bowl, and the foil. Check with a knife. Flip it on to a plate. Rest, you know.”

Peter does as he is told. On checking with the knife, it comes out clean, so Peter flips it onto the plate, and the cake comes out. As Peter cuts a piece out, he is amazed the cake is perfectly cooked, and the smell is amazing.

Going over to Sam with a cake, Peter says, “Since you gave the idea, the first piece is yours.”

Sam takes the plate, and as he takes a bite, he says, “Xane, now what do you say.”

Xane sighs, and says, “Unless I don’t listen, and learn from the heart, I won’t learn. And, even if you believe it won’t work, giving it a try won’t harm you.”

And so, the night falls in!

As the day rises, Xiander gets up and sees Peter is making breakfast. Seeing Xiander is up, Peter says, “Good morning. Xane is bathing. Morris and Vonruil are in the backyard. And, Sam is still sleeping.”

“He’s still sleeping?” Seeing Sam sleeping Xiander was about to say something but Peter says, “He has a slight fever so I thought a little more sleep would be good.” Seeing Xiander is concerned, Peter says, “He’s been like this since we met him. I remember when we were in the camps, we had only one blanket so Sam let me and Morris take it. In the morning he had a fever cause the night was very cold.”

As Xiander comes to the table, he sees a plate is different, “Is that mine?”

Smiling Peter says “Yes, remember your food is planned by him. I’m cooking according to it.”

Looking at Sam sleeping, Xiander says “He’s one hell of a guy. Worries about everyone, but doesn’t take care of himself. (Suddenly feeling cold) Peter, the fireplace is empty.”

“Yes, brother doesn’t have the time. And for the past few days the weather was good. I’ll go up the mountains with Morris today and…”

“It’s OK.” Xiander says “Me and Sam will bring the woods. He needs a little warm training.”

Though Peter didn’t understand what he meant by saying warm training, he didn’t want to say anything either.

As Sam gets up and says “Good morning. Peter, why didn’t you wake me up.”

“Well, actually your forehead was a bit warm, so I thought a little rest would be good. Oh, I saved some hot water for you. Take a bath. You might feel better.”

As Xane comes out he wishes Sam a good morning, and comes over to the table.

Soon all the boys gather at the table.

Looking at the plates, Xane says “OK, me and Xiander are going to have food planned by Sam. But, why does mine not look tasty?”

Peter is trying to hide his smile, and says, “Oh, ah, Sam said you need lots of green, so I made broccoli stew for you. Xiander needs more zinc, his skin is not good, so creamy steak and spinach for Xiander, and Black Forest Breakfast Bowls for the rest of us!”

Sam takes a piece of bread, and gives it to Xane, and says, ”Eat the stew with the bread, it will be tasty. On Sunday, Peter will make you pancakes for breakfast, OK?”

Xane’s face beams with happiness, as he quickly begins to eat his broccoli stew.

As they finish eating Xiander says, “Sam, if you are ready we can go to the mountains and get some wood. Xane, you practice the steps Sam taught you, OK.”

Nodding a yes, Xane says, “OK.”

As Xiander and Sam are walking up the mountain, Sam asks, “Why didn’t you bring Xane along?”

“Sam, I saw you training Xane yesterday. I have to say if he had met you before, he would have leveled up by now. For some reason, he tends to listen to you and understand you much better than our master.” Xiander says as they are walking up the mountain.

“Is that a good thing, I mean if he levels up…” Sam asks in a confused tone.

Xiander takes a sigh, and says, “Sam, in a sense, he is my twin. So, he should be the same as me. But, he’s way back, and that’s why he is not taken seriously back home. Apart from me, Vonruil, and Sky, he doesn’t talk to anyone.”

Hearing an unknown name, Sam says, “Who’s Sky?”

Xiander changes the topic, as he doesn’t know if Vonruil wants the boys to know about Sky or not. So, seeing a river, he says, “There’s a river over there, take this bottle and bring some water.”

As Sam comes back with the water, Xiander tells him to drink while he cuts down some trees. Then he summons, and absorbs his Mars stone, he chops some trees down. As the last one falls, Xiander also falls on his knees.

Sam quickly runs over, and says, “Is this why you told me to sit and drink water, so later I can carry you back home.” In an angry tone, “And, didn’t I tell you no strenuous work, what are you doing?”

Xiander gets up, and tells Sam not to worry. Then he removes some seeds from his pocket, and tells Sam to plant them in the place of the fallen trees.

Sam does as he is told, and then pours some water on the seeds. Looking at Xiander, Sam says he was a little sad seeing the trees fall, but now there will be new ones.

Smiling, Xiander says, “Sam, we are angels, we can never harm the universe’s nature.”

Sam goes to the river to bring some more water, but Xiander calls him back. Xiander quickly runs over and takes hold of Sam’s hand, and slowly a light flows from his hand into Sam’s.

“Do you feel better now?” Xiander asks in a concerned tone.

A little breathless, Sam says “Yes, but…”

“Don’t worry, I knew it before. That’s why I brought you out here.” Xiander says, still holding his hand, “You worry about everyone, but don’t bother about yourself.”

Realizing he was going to faint, Sam says, “Actually, as a doctor, I should have known, but it’s OK, I’ll begin my medicine again.”

“Medicine? What medicine?” Xiander asks, concerned.

“Xiander, I don’t know about you angels, but we humans can suffer from heat anxiety. When I was kept in the dungeon, it was like living in an inferno. That made me suffer from heat anxiety. Thankfully, being a doctor myself, I managed to cure myself, the boys helped me alot. I don’t know why today it almost triggered again.”

Taking a sigh, Xiander says, “Sam, we are almost like humans. So, I guess I can understand. But, you should take care of yourself. Though I can’t treat you, I can help your inner energy become stronger.

Peter said you have the tendency to catch cold sooner, and you had a fever today, so it’s time to train.”

Then Xiander says, “OK, let’s begin. First, close your eyes and focus into the darkness that you can see.”

Sam does as he’s told and focuses into the darkness that he sees on closing his eyes.

Seeing Sam standing with his eyes closed, Xiander says “Now, I want you to see straight into the darkness and feel the heat. It’s getting warmer.

(Sam begins to sweat) Now, slowly you will feel like a flame is burning within you. Keep calm (Xiander takes hold of Sam’s hands and holds them tightly).

The heat may be too hot, but stay calm. I’m with you. Now you will see the flame. It’s blazing red, now what do you see?”

“The flame it’s turning orange…(Xiander says to go on)...now it’s yellow….(Xiander asks how he feels) At first it was hot but now it’s warm, nice.”

“Now, slowly open your eyes. (Sam does as told) Now slowly focus on your hand and try to focus on the heat in your body, then on your hand again. (Soon Sam’s hand is on flame) Stay calm, control it, look at my hand (Sam sees how Xiander is able to make the flame go around and make it come and disappear at will. So, he also tries to do like that and soon manages to control the flame.)

Then Xiander slowly lets go of Sam and says “There, now you can control the heat. And now that the heat has awakened, this will help maintain your body’s energy as well.”

Looking at his hands Sam says “Thanks.”

Then Xiander picks up the logs, and says, “Ok, let’s go back. It was cold back home, and the logs were finished.”

Though he was speaking to himself, and says, “I wonder if Xane practiced or not.”

Hearing Xiander, Sam says, “Xiander, you told him to practice, so obviously he’ll…”

“He’ll be fooling around. Since I didn’t give him a specific time. He knows if I don’t give him a time, that means I’ll be late. So, he’ll be fooling around.” Xiander says in a frank tone.

As they came home Xane was really playing tug-of-war with Morris’s shirt. Morris was busy cleaning the window as Xane was tugging at the end of his shirt, and was saying, “Xane, I told you after I’m done with the cleaning, we’ll play but please I have only two shirts. If you keep tugging like this, I’ll have only one.”

Still holding the end of Morris’s shirt, Xane says, “No problem, you can take from Vonruil, you both look the same size.”

“Xane, if you stop tugging I won’t have to worry about that.” Morris says in an irritated tone.

“If you stop cleaning and play with me, I won’t have to tug like this…”Xane says, trying to state his point.

Cutting Xane’s sentence midway Xiander says “Is that how you practice what Sam taught you…”

“Hey, why did you come back so soon? You didn’t give me any time…”

Xiander cuts Xane’s sentence midway, and says, “Not giving time doesn’t mean I have to stay out long. We have sufficient wood so we came back.”

“Morris I was practicing right? I just got tired now and asked you to play with me. Oh Sam, Morris has only two shirts, let’s go and buy him more…”

“And, who’s gonna train?” Xiander asks Xane in a curious tone.

“Me, me of course when we come back…” Xane says in a firm tone.

“Xane, at first when I saw you yesterday I felt you were underrated by Xiander but now I think…” Morris was going to say, the reason Xane is behind in his level, is because he doesn’t take his training seriously.

“No, stop. One Xiander is enough. I don’t need you to become another Xiander. (still tugging at Morris’s shirt) Morris, while I practice you can do the cleaning but as soon as my practice is over, we play.”

Smiling Morris says “Yeah sure.”

Then Xiander takes the logs and places a few in the fireplace. “Sam, come over and sit. You’ll feel better.”