Devon spent the next few weeks training to control his ability. This mostly consisted of meditation; lots and lots of meditation. All the while Lavernias poured through his books for answers. It wasn't was hard for Devon to just sit for most of each day at first. But he found within himself a resolved he hadn't known was there. He wanted to return home one day. But more than that, he wanted not to explode into flames every time he lost his cool. He really, REALLY didn't like burning alive.

Gradually the meditation became easier for him, and he was able to relax and truly use it to his advantage. He found himself ignoring the hours of the day, delving deeper and deeper within his soul. One day, while he was doing this, he found that he could separate his consciousness within his own mind. He also discovered that it was easier to visualize things there. His mind became a physical place to him. He knew it was only his crazy good imagination, mixed with the extreme relaxation he cultivated over weeks of meditation. But it was still marvelous to him.

He likened this feeling to lucid dreaming, which he had only ever done a few times throughout his life. He had full control of his mind layer, that's what he called it, and quickly developed it into calming yet intimidating fortress of pure obsidian rock. Ok, that's awesome, he thought to himself. He never knew that simple meditation would unlock the key to controlling one's own mind like this. It truly felt exhilarating.

Devon knew that, of course, all of this was only in his mind. Still, that didn't deter from the realistic feeling everything had. Within his mind layer, Devon was able to focus and concentrate like he never had before. This opened up a whole knew way of thinking for him. It was astounding. Devon walked the halls he had created for himself, feeling the smooth, blackish/purple rock that made up the enormous walls surrounding his safe space. At least, he thought this was his safe space.

Suddenly, the walls grew warm. Odd, Devon thought. They quickly heated up and began to glow a bright yellow/orange light. The heat became so intense that Devon was forced to back away. He stumbled back, shielding his eyes from the light and the heat. The walls to his fortress quickly began to melts, turning into a black sludge and his safe space fell. Devon began to panic. What the hell was going on?! Wasn't this his space?! Was he freaking out again? No, no way. That couldn't happen without him realizing it. Then what the hell was going on?!

Devon began to run through the deteriorating halls of his once peaceful palace. Fear now gripped him with such a ferocity that he almost passed out. This was supposed to be his SAFE SPACE! He panicked and the heat began to overtake him. Then the walls burst into flames just as they fully liquified. A river of lava now rushed toward Devon, pushing him to run even faster. He was getting winded. That didn't make sense. How could he get winded in his own mind? He didn't have the ability to think about this now, however. He just ran.

The lava rushed faster and faster, creating a tidal wave behind him. Devon began to hyperventilate as he ran. This wasn't good, he was falling apart. His MIND was falling apart! He felt a burning in his chest, so I tense that it threatened to knock him unconscious. He strained against the pressure, slowing as he did so. He could run and hold this back. He couldn't... he couldn't... he couldn't...

Just then, the wave of lava crashed onto Devon's back, engulfing him in intense heat and searing pain. Devon instinctively opened his mouth, trying to scream. But as soon as he did the lava rushed into him, filling his body. It rushed into his stomach, throughout his organs and clogging his veins. It, wasn't like the feeling before, when he first burst into flames. It wasn't a coursing power, giving itself to him. It was a dominating power, taking over him, filling him up. Devon s eyes rolled back as his insides expanded and began to burn. His body was breaking down, being destroyed. He felt an agony like nothing before, many times worse than his first encounter with the flame. This was it. This was the end. As Devons consciousness began to fade, he heard a voice.

"You. Are. Mine." It said, in a domineering female voice. Just as Devon's eyes began to close... he awoke with a start, eyes wide and mouth agape.

He stared off down the hill he was sitting on. Lavernias' house wasn't far behind him, and the smallest area around him was burnt. He looked around, trying to gather his thoughts. What the hell just happened. He struggled to remember the details of his nightmare. Of course that's what it was. He had accidently fallen asleep while meditating. It wasn't the first time this had happened, or so he thought. He couldn't quite remember much at the moment. His mind felt... clouded.

Just then Lavernias came running up behind him waving a book in the air.

"Devon! I think I may have found something!" He said, but then quickly stopped. In his haste, he had forgotten that Devon was meditating. He walked around to Devon's front, and looking down at him, saw the look on his face.

"Are you alright my boy?" He asked worriedly.

"I'm... I'm fine." Devon replied. "What, what did you wanna say?"

Lavernias paused for a moment, looking at Devon with concern. He noticed the small black ring around where Devon sat.

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"Did something happen?"

Devon slowly stood up, then spoke in a slightly perturbed tone.

"I said I'm fine. What did you want to say?"

Lavernias was still concerned that something had happened. But if Devon didn't want to tell him, then he figured it was best not to pry.

"I found a passage in this text. It briefly mentions a summoning ritual. From the context I've deduced that it is referring to human summoning. And not just a teleportation ritual. Although that would be almost as exciting. Oh my could you imagine..." Lavernias trailed off as he looked at Devon, who had an uncharacteristically hard look on his face.

"Well, ah, yes I suppose we can save that for another time. But as I was saying, I believe this is referring to a ritual once used to summon people from other worlds. It doesn't go into much detail, but it's one of the best leads I've been able to find."

"So what does that mean for us?" Devon asked.

"Well, it means that we now have another place to look for answers." Lavernias said.

"Oh yeah? Where's that?"

"Yes, well, that's where things get a little complicated." Lavernias said, rubbing his neck.

"Complicated? Lavernias this whole situation is complicated. My whole existence is complicated! Nothing is simple right now!" Devon was beginning to shout, and smoke began to rise from his chest.

Lavernias looked on in worry, and maybe a little fear.

"Devon, please, you need to calm down."

"Calm down!?" Devon yelled. "I've been calm my whole life! I think right now I have the most reason out of anyone on this stupid...!" He stopped himself, and closed his eyes. He rubbed his face with both of his hands, and sighed into them.

"I'm sorry Lavernias." He said, taking his head out of his hands. "I know you're really trying to help me. I'm just getting so angry. I don't know what's happening to me. I know I'm in a pretty crazy situation, but this anger I'm feeling, it doesn't seem natural."

"No need to apologize my boy." Lavernias said with a slight smile. "It's a wonder you've been able to handle all this so well thus far. Some agitation is to be expected I'm sure."

"Agitation, yeah" Devon said. "Ok, so what do we need to do? Lay it on me."

Lavernias opened the book he carried and showed Devon the first page.

"Do you see the name of the author written there?" He asked.

Devon leaned down and squinted at the small handwriting.

"Uhhh, yeah. I can't really read it though."

It was definitely not written in English. He quickly skimmed a few of the other words to confirm this. "Yeah this writing is different then back home. I can't read any of this."

Lavernias smacked his forehead with his palm.

"Of course! I should have realized that sooner. Well we'll have to teach you to read and write some other time. Maybe we'll have time soon. But the name written here is Sephus Relani. He is a very powerful mage and quite well known. In fact, he used to be the mentor to my mentor. Or, well, to my former mentor."

"Former mentor?" Devon asked. "Did you graduate or something? How does that mean work with magic?"

Lavernias looked a bit sheepish.

"We don't have the time to go into all of the details I'm afraid." He said, avoiding eye contact. "The only thing you need to know right now, is that things didn't end on the best of terms with my former mentor. His name is Arinn Vogál, and currently he is the court mage to the king of Freyondel."

Devon just stared at Lavernias'.

"The... king? As in... the ruler of this whole kingdom we are currently in?"

"The very same." Lavernias said. "Arinn also currently has two pupils under his tutelage. I'll tell you about them later, I studied with them back when I was too a pupil of Arinn's. But, the issue is that things didn't end well. They didn't exactly end poorly... but, well, things are a bit awkward between us right now."

Devon watched in amusement as Lavernias struggled to speak about this.

He cut in before Lavernias floundered too much.

"So things are awkward between you two, but I'm guessing we need to go talk to him. Is that it?" Devon asked.

"Yes, precisely. He may have the answers we seek, but he may not be willing to cooperate with us. I'm not entirely sure. He was a pretty surely man when last I knew him."

"And when exactly was that?" Devon asked.

"Ohhh, I'd say about fifteen years ago, give or take a year or two." Lavernias said.

"Ok, that's kind of a long time." Devon said.

"Oh not at all. In fact, Arinn is currently..." Lavernias trailed off in thought. "Oh, well I suppose he'd be at least one hundred and eighty-two years old. Though I may be a decade or so off."

Devon just laughed.

"Figures. Wizards WOULD be that old. So, do you think he might actually help us at all?"

"It's possible. Though I wouldn't consider it likely. Still, I believe it might be worth a try." Lavernias said.

"Alright then. I guess that's our first clue at least. Might as well go for it." Devon said, now with a newfound strength to his resolve. He'd been doing nothing but meditating for weeks now. He was ready to do some actual work finally.

"Yes, I agree." Lavernias said. "But we'll need to prepare first. It's a five day trip to the capital city on foot."Devon's resolve crumbled. That sounded absolutely awful to him. "Ahhh dammit!" He said. "We have no choice. Let's do it. I'm ready to get some movement finally." "Excellent! We'll spend the next few days preparing you a little more for the journey, but we also need to make sure you can keep your flames under control. It wouldn't do to have you setting fire to the market place. But it does seem like you've developed much more control over the past few weeks. So I believe you should be ok to travel in a few days. Then we'll set off for Tamél."

Hell yeah, Devon thought. That didn't sound too bad. Although he hoped the shoes Lavernias gave him would hold up ok. He knew this wouldn't be a fun trip. But Devon was excited to maybe get some real answers. The experience that he had while meditating still worried him though. He knew it was only a dream, but it felt so real. He'd have to find a way to shake this feeling off. A feeling of impending doom, and also of powerlessness.