Fight of the mind

-Now, are you ready little miss ? Asked Léol with a better mood than earlier.

-Yes.

-It will be fun, i promise. Added Aesta while sitting on the bed.

All three of them were each on a bed that they had layed on the ground of the room, it seems that they planned on sleeping for the lessons they were about to give to the little princess.

-Okay, but what do we do now ?

-Now, we drink this. Responded Léol.

He took a vial out of his satchel, a blue liquid was inside and it was glowing a bit. Belda seemed unsure about all of a sudden.

-Are you sure it's good ? Won't it poison us ?

-Trust me, it's completely fine. No worries. Reassured the professor.

-It's not the first time that we do this. Don't fear a thing, as long as we are with you, nothing will happen to you.

-Okay. You're right.

Léol drank a bit of the blue liquid then handed it to Belda, she took it, still doubting the product but after a quick glance to Aesta and Léol, that were being confident, she drank a bit and made grimace. It was not tasty. Finally, Aesta drank a bit too and the three of them were now ready.

 -Now, we lay down on the bed and we will soon all fall asleep. Said Aesta.

-It should take us from a few seconds to five minutes. It will happens very abruptly and at the same time for the three of us. Okay Belda ?

-Okay, i understand. But you will stay with me right ?

-Yes. We will awake with you on the other side. Answered Léol.

-The other side ?

-It is the world that join magic, our realm and the spiritual realm. It is a complex dimension but you will learn about it when you grow up.

-It's always when i will be a adult.

-Stop complaining and close your eyes now. Replied Léol.

Aesta was amused by their interaction, still with her eyes closed she said.

-We should do this more often.

-Maybe, it will depend on the outcome of this lesson.

-Yes sir ! Replied the lady before going silent.

They did not know when or how but they fell asleep. Belda opened her eyes to see a bunch of flowers all around her. She sat up and after a few seconds to emerged from the slumber, she realised that she was in field of flowers. It seemed without end and to extend into the limitless horizon.

-Welcome to the Garden, Belda. The place where all things converge in this world. Said Léol, proud.

-Wow, it's beautiful.

She stood up and continue.

-Is it all magic ?

-Yes. Everything that you see here is related to magic one way or another. Right now you are in a place that Aesta and I built for us. It is a mental structure link to our mind, heart and soul. Some add the spirit too but it depend on how you view it.

-Let's not confuse her, this enough already. Said Aesta to Léol.

-You're right.

-Can...can i do magic here ?

-Yes. You should try. Encouraged Léol. You can create your own domain here.

-Okay. how do i do it ?

-Just imagine a place. It can be anything.

She reflected on it, searching in her mind the perfect scenery to generate. Then her face lit up.

-I know !

She closed her eyes and starting imagining her own world. The whole place started to change its shape, from a field of flowers to a domain where the ground was made of diamond, the sky was dark but the moon was close and full, the stars were shining like flames. They were in a world where the cosmos meet the diamond lake. All around them there was only cosmic celestial bodies. It was beautiful.

-Wow. That's beautiful Belda. Said impressed Aesta.

-You have quite the imagination. Added Léol, proud.

-Thank you. Replied the little girl.

-Why did you choose to make this place ? Asked Léol.

-I remembered that one time when we were camping at the lake. The moon was huge and the sky was so pretty ! So i wanted to see that again.

Léol smiled, for some reason he liked the fact that this memory was what had driven her to create this space.

-It really marked your mind. Remarked Léol.

-Yes.

-Good emotions and joyful sentiment are the best source of motivation to use magic. Always use your magic with a heart fill with good intentions.

-I will, Aesta.

-Good.

-Then should we proceed with the rest of the lesson ? Proposed Léol.

-Yes, we can. Answered the lady.

In the physical world, Sarika and Osmadrey were both walking the corridors of the castle.

-Where are they ? Asked Osmadrey.

-Oh, i think Léol is giving some lessons to Belda and for Aesta i don't know. Replied Sarika.

-We should go see them, maybe we can annoy a bit and help our dear Belda.

-You know i'm always on board when it comes to bothering our favorite professor.

-Then let's go.

They happily and mischiviously walked in the direction of the room were Léol and the others were but as soon as they entered the next corridor, something unexpected happened. They saw the bodies of many guards on the ground, unconscious or even dead for some.

-What ? What happened ? Asked Sarika as his brother and him were running towards the guards.

-It's magic. I can feel some trace of it. Expressed Osmadrey as they kneeled to get closer to the victims.

-It's recent, less than one or two minutes.

-Who...

Then suddenly, a flash of lucidity struck them, they looked at each other, eyes wide open and uttered with a grave tone.

-Belda.

Their fear seemed to be true, Sashara, Zol and Gal, the two knights Régidal and Diésir had fought a fex days earlier were slowly and silently entering the room where Léol, Aesta and Belda were asleep. Two other knights were following them, One was tall with dark short hair, straight and the other was smaller but larger as was indicating his wide shoulders, he had brown curly hair and a thin beard.

-They are here. Take Belda and let's leave before the castle is alerted. Said Zol.

-We can't take Belda like that. Added Sashara.

-What ? Why ? Asked the tall knight with dark hair.

-Because they are doing a intra-spiritual session. If you take Belda without waking her up, it could potentially lead her spirit to be lost, which means death.

-Then wake her up. Replied the same knight.

-We can't wake her up like that, Sékat. It is a complex process. There is a specific way to wake up someone doing this kind of magic ritual.

-Then do something for fuck sake !

Sashara stared at her companion with cold eyes, he replied with a angered face.

-Ignore him Sashara, if you can do something, please do it. Added Zol.

-I can but i will need two of you.

-I will help you. Said Zol.

-Me too. Replied the smallest of them, the one with brown curly hair.

-Are you sure Ulim ? Asked the Zol with some concern.

-Yes.

He nodded to add to his confidence. The chief of the small group turned to the lady and asked.

-What is the plan ?

-I will connect your spirits to the session to let you enter the "Garden". Once you are in there, you will have two way to wake up Belda. You can kill her or you can push back her spirit with the spell of "Grabel". Both of those method will make her spirit go back into her body, you must be quick because if you take too much time both of the Stars will be able to wake up and i promise you, you do not want that.

-Are they that strong ? Inquiried Zol.

-You should fear them almost as much as we fear Luzalé. Replied Sashara.

-That's a good news, now can we proceed please ! Pressed Sékat.

-Lay down. Ordered the magician.

Both Zol and Ulim did what she asked, a bit unsure but still determined.

-Close your eyes and breath slowly. Adviced the magician.

They did as she was saying, then she put her hand on their forehead and a blue light flame appeared in the palm of her hands and around. She had her eyes close to better focus on her task. The blue flame formed a thread and reach out to the forehead of Aesta, Léol and Belda. It seemed that the Knights were now connected to the Stars and the princess.

-I will send you in the "Garden" now. May Varanita bless you.

An impulse crossed the bodies of both warriors and made them fall asleep instantly. Right at that moment, Osmadrey and Sarika barged into the room, surprising Sékat and Gal. Sashara immediately disappeared into thin air like ashes in the wind.

-This bitch. Uttered Sékat with some form of mockery on his face.

-Focus ! Shouted his companion, Gal.

-What did you do to them ! Asked with anger Osmadrey, sword in hand.

-Nothing, yet. Replied Sékat.

The brothers could clearly see that two Knights were asleep next to heir friends and they understood that whatever it was, it was not a good thing.

The four warriors were ready to fight, no further explainatin needed. Sékat was thrilled when the three others men were stressed about the situation.

-You'll regret this. Said Osmdrey.

-Then come here. Responded Sékat.

Osmadrey was generating ice, it was covering his arms, in the meantime Sarika was generating wood in shape of sharp sticks around his foot, even aroun his arms too and some spikes in the air, on both sides of his head.

Sékat let some particles of light float around his blade and foot while Gal was letting a strange blue sky flame escape his body.

Then, after a few seconds, they rushed towards each others, ready to die.