The elder of Nadreen's village had already begun to show Jet the ways of being a Spirit Elementalist. Jet was surprised at the way they used their Element. It was far different than the stories he heard of other Elements, and how he had witnessed Fire Elementalists.

"It's about patience," the elder had told him on the first lesson. "You may know a little bit about sword fighting, but your Element will always be your focus."

"I've never been able to use the Spirits for offensive purposes though," Jet had replied.

"A Spirit Elementalist is a connection between the spirits and the energy they produce in the Plane. You have been using the Spirit for aid, not the energy." The elder showed Jet an example of using the energy. The aura appeared around the elder's hands and he could shape it, bend it to his will by the way he moved his hands. Jet watched enthralled by the old man's movements. With a quick thrust of one hand, the pale green energy shot out into the distant desert. He turned to Jet as to say 'You see?' Jet smiled and gave him a nod.

Nadreen sat watching the foreigner. There was something about him that made her smile. She wondered if it was because he was so exotic, even for being the same Element and race of people. He was special. She blushed when he shot a quick glance and smile at her.

"Focus is also important," the elder stated. Jet turned quickly back to the open desert. He breathed in, letting his Element flare across his arms and hands. He moved his hands slowly. The Element bent and molded with the movements. It became as if the Element was more present in his hands. He looked out and thrust his hand the way the elder did. Instead of firing out as an Element bolt, it simply fluttered away from his hands and faded.

Nadreen chuckled quietly. "Go easy on him elder," she called out.

"It's a learning process," the elder told Jet.

Jet nodded. He knew he would learn how to properly use his Element in the time it took for the Empire to get back. He had to. He was going to need it when the time came. He tried to thrust his Element once more. This time, the Element shot out similar to the elder's, but with less power.

"That's progress!"

Jet spent the next few days trying to perfect the ability to send his Element out as a stream of energy. Nadreen continued to watch him and bring him food and water every few hours. She wanted to make sure he kept his strength up to continue using his Element. He appreciated her care and kindness. He was mostly glad to have a friend on this side of the wall.

At night, he would access the Crystal Plane hoping to see Irina again, but he never did. Jet hoped that she took his message seriously. He had Nadreen watch over him when he entered the Plane to see what had happened when he did.

"You disappeared into thin air. At first our Element sort of clouded your body but then for a split second, I think crystals appeared. Then nothing."

"If that's how it is, I wonder why Irina hasn't been noticed by Coria or Heyvl yet. Surely they would see that she disappears right in front of them," Jet explained.

"Maybe they do, but aren't sure what to make of it. You said the idea didn't exist over the wall?"

Jet shook his head. "As far as I could tell, the idea of Planes was solely the concept where the Element is drawn from."

"Well we have to believe they made it back to the Kingdom and plan on not coming to the desert. I hope we have the full force marching upon the Empire."

Jet nodded to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "I do believe. We just have to convince the Elementalists working on the Emperor's project to believe as well." Nadreen smiled at him. She was soft at the touch. Before he blushed thinking about it, he let go of her quickly.

Jet had no idea what the construction site would hold for them in the weeks to come, but he knew it was going to be awful. The entire northern section of Calbar had been converted to a dig site when they had last passed. The machine was going to be large and probably could be seen from miles.

"Let's get back to your training," Nadreen told him. Jet agreed. The two of them went back out to the training area that Jet had occupied.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

The elder taught everything he could to Jet over the weeks. It was mostly about patience and calmness. Jet had to work on that. He wasn't exactly the most patient. He knew he wasn't going to be calm when he was in Calbar again. The elder taught him the basics. The rest was on Jet to figure out what worked best with his patience and calmness.

Several weeks had passed since Jet contacted Irina. He knew the day had come to leave the desert when the horizon was lined with dark outfits and purple aura. It was late morning when the caged caravans were lining the outside of the village. Jet was expecting to see the general leading them, but instead it was lower ranked officers. They herded the Spirit Elementalists into the cages. He could see that they were using their Element to know which people of the village were Elementalists.

"Do they not realize we are being put in cages?" Jet asked Nadreen.

"We don't have cages here...are they what those bars are?"

Jet nodded. "They're usually a sign of imprisonment."

"Alright you lot," a Soul Elementalist officer shouted, "Single file lines into the rides. The bars, as I'm sure you all are aware of, are a strong grade metal found in the Empire. It'll keep you all safe from the creatures that prowl the forests on the way to Calbar."

Jet gave Nadreen a look that he wasn't buying the story the officer told. The Empire was going to continue to lie through their teeth until they got what they wanted. He and Nadreen were next to get in the cramped caravans.

"You will not be able to use your Elements on the inside. It'll attract the beasts. It's for yours and our safety. In you go," the officer said.

The two hopped into the cage. Jet immediately felt as if his Element was sapped. He couldn't feel it at all. Nadreen put her hand on his shoulder. "It'll be okay. We'll get to use it when we need it," she whispered.

Jet gave her a nod and they both found a place to sit. "I just wonder how none of this is suspicious," he whispered to Nadreen.

She shrugged. "We're really simple people. We have a complex Element that has been broken down over the decades away from technology to a tribalistic form." She had learned a lot about the outside culture from Jet over the last couple of weeks. Her opinion on her own people had changed when she realized they were walking into slavery.

"Perhaps. Sadly this is the only way we can hope to stand a chance on the inside. I feel if the Emperor sees the army from the Kingdom, he'll start killing us."

Nadreen swallowed hard at the thought. "Do you think they'll hear you out?"

Jet looked around at his fellow Elementalists. They looked broken already. It was going to be a hard journey, but he knew he could rekindle the spirit inside each of them. "It'll be tough, but we'll start a revolution."

Nadreen smiled. She was happy to see how helpful Jet was to her people. She could see how he saw them. They needed this to get back into the world. Perhaps someday they would be back to their old ways of studying technology, once the Empire was dealt with.

The two sat back and tried to relax. It was going to be a long trip to Calbar.

Heyvl and Irina looked out at all the armed men and women of the Kingdom and Lonava.

"You think we'll save the world?" Irina asked Heyvl. He looked over to her, surprised at the idea of the entire world being saved.

"Yeah, I think we will. And rescue Jet."

"That too," Irina agreed happily.

"You two ready to get moving?" Rujar asked. He was joining the fight. He and the Queen had agreed that Heyvl's and Irina's actions proved them worthy of promotions. They were both leaders in the army now.

Heyvl was glad to see the man who saved his and Jet's life joining them. He nodded to the tall Crystal Elementalist. After telling them of his affliction, they all supported his effort to overcome any trials that the Soul Element threw his way.

"It's going to take some time moving all these people without giving ourselves away to the Empire. We need surprise on our side."

"Won't the Empire have scouts?" Irina asked.

"That's what Coria and her parties are for. They are going to be ahead of the rest of us the entire time. They'll take care of any scout groups. This could become highly complicated if the Emperor has time to put his men together."

"Well let's get this moving then," Heyvl said. He held Jet's sword tightly in his hand. "We're coming to stop you Wrathel," he whispered.

"Everyone has been briefed and equipped. The Queen will remain in the back lines," Rujar explained. "We have sufficient evidence that the Emperor is risking the entire world for power, and if he even succeeded, we'd all be doomed anyways."

Heyvl let out a sigh. The day they march on Calbar couldn't come sooner.

Wrathel had just received word that the last Spirit Elementalist party was approaching. He was happy to hear because it only took them a few days to come back to Calbar. Now he could get the machine built even quicker with that many Elementalists at his disposal.

"You called for me sir?" his general asked.

"Yes," Wrathel said as he turned away from his window. The room smelled of dust. He hadn't been back in his castle for some time. "I want you to be the head commandant over the prisoners. Especially this last batch. I know how rumors spread the longer they had to wait. I want you to deal with any rumors as you hear them."

"Deal with them, my lord?"

"Yes, any means necessary. Killing a few Spirit Elementalists won't be too detrimental to the end game."

"Of course," the general said and bowed.

"Time to deliver a speech, eh?" Wrathel laughed. He had to keep the act for the gullible desert dwellers. The general smiled in return. Wrathel swung his cloak around him. Dust kicked up from the furniture. The Soul Emperor made a quick stride out of his castle. He knew it would be the last time he'd need the castle. Soon, he would be the ruler of the planes.