Chapter 9
Eli walked through the halls, down the stairs, and put the front doors. His mind racing will thoughts of his parents and his own future.
He was so lost in thought he didn't notice how far he had walked until he heard voices coming from inside a small gardening shed on the outskirts of the clearing.
"Have you located the item I asked for?" A familiar deep voice came from the shack.
"I have, but it won't be easy to obtain." Responded a younger sounding male.
"We won't have much time left until our enemies uncover its location as well. How long will it take you to break through?"
"With my power? Only another month or so." The young voice answered confidently
"See you it you do not fail. If we succeed the entire magical world will be under our command." The deep voice warned
Eli didn't like the sound of that, he crouched down and leaned against the wall of the shed, holding his ear against the wood, his curiosity outweighing his fear.
"What about the other one? They have it already! Isn't that still a threat to our plans?" The younger voice asked
"So long as you accomplish you accomplish your mission they will have no means to wield it. Now I have spent enough time away from my duties. Only call me out here for urgent matters, we will meet again at the bell tower after you have acquired what we need. Only use your magic to summon me then." Eli heard the now familiar sound of a portal opening and closing.
"I guess I better get to work." The younger voice seemed to say to himself before Eli heard the shed door open and saw a shadow walk out of the shed and back towards the school.
By now the sun was setting and Eli couldn't make out any details except that the slim young man was wearing an Atlas Academy uniform.
Eli waited a few minutes before getting up and walking back towards the school. This added even more information for Eli to juggle, though the conversation had been to vague to know what or who they were talking about. One thing was certain, they weren't planning anything good.
Eli was walking past the lake when he heard a splash and a friendly voice call out to him.
"Hey Eli!" Carmine waved from a large boulder on the lakeshore, his golden tail shimmering with water droplets.
"Oh, hey Carmine." Eli greeted half-heartedly.
"You look like you've got a lot on your mind. Want to talk?" Carmine said as he patted the empty space next to him.
Eli sat down on the boulder but said nothing. His mind to full to put any thoughts into words.
Carmine noticed the stressed look and seemed to get an idea.
"Why don't you come eat dinner with me and my friends!" Carmine suggested
"Sure, but where are they?" Eli looked around at the empty shores and still water.
"At the bottom of the lake obviously." Carmine giggled, "that's where we live well we attend school after-all."
"Then I don't think I can eat dinner with you since I don't breath underwater." Eli stated confused.
"Oh come on! Surely a powerful genie such as yourself can manage such an easy spell." The merman teased.
"Just think about breathing normally as you jump in, you can even keep your clothes dry if you concentrate." and before Eli could even respond, Carmine grabbed his hand and yanked.
As Eli fell towards the water he didn't have time to think about holding his breath, he only had a time for a quick thought on not wanting to get soaked, but when he hit the water and sank beneath the surface, he was surprised.
Instead of an icy cold shock, he felt a warm presence surrounding him. He opened his eyes to find the golden light of his magic forming a bubble around him, his only pocket of air spurt spider by water and passing schools of fish.
"Nice one!" Carmine cheered as he swam next to his bubble.
Eli noticed Carmine didn't open his mouth when he talked, as if communicating though thought.
"Follow me!" Carmine gestured downward and Eli's bubble seemed to easily follow as they sank down into the murky depths of the lake.