“Zen…”

I slowly opened my eyes.

“Zen. There isn’t much time.” I felt the presence of Ivy or was her name E?

“E?” I slowly opened my eyes and saw an emerald room.

“Call me Ivy, Zen. It’s a privilege that I give only to children of the moon.” Ivy was studying me. She held the hidden blade in here hands. “The names of this blade will always be hidden. Kind of ironic that the only difference is the actually name just means hidden.”

“What do you mean?” I felt puzzled. “ How can the blade already be named? Why would I go in this journey if it was already named?”

“Zen this journey is just the beginning. This blade will be named by the time you leave.” Ivy gave a sly smile. “And that little guy with you I wouldn’t name Silvey. He seems more like a Shino.”

“What little guy?” I could feel my head starting to fog. What was Ivy talking about?

It was at that moment that a little creature grew from the ground. It had two small wings on its back but four legs. It stood onto it’s hind legs and it’s shape changed into a more humanoid form. The emerald shine of the room seemed to dim in his light but silvery skin.

“Ah. Zen you are one lucky daemon. That is a rare shifter. As a familiar it’s funny to see someone actually acquire one.” Ivy touched the shifters head. “And to think that this guy here cared so much about you that his heroic deeds have brought him back to you. Shino say hi to Zen.”

“What do you mean by Shino say hi to Zen?” My confusion was growing deeper. “You mean reincarnation is actually possible?”

“It is Zen. By now you should know that. Your current rival has been the enemy to all of us. Joseph doesn’t even change his name.” Ivy stood a bit taller. “Looking into your journey while you saw mine I see that he has just gotten worse. He aches for power so now is the perfect time.”

“That can’t be the same Joseph can it?” I tried to remember the visions from William. I felt the memories overflow from me. “That’s Joseph, but how? Shouldn’t he be dead times three by now?”

“He is a rebirther. Rather the rebirther Zen. He is born at the most crucial time for the moon child. He is always born at different times but is always there protecting him.” I could feel Ivy’s anger growing. “He is the most despicable. He will do anything in his power to destroy us. Difference is that now you have something the rest of us never really had. A family forged by the bond of the forgotten. You are the first of us to actually find someone who cares enough to come back to you.”

“What do you mean? Who has come back to me?” It was then that I felt something in the back of my mind.

I have Zen! I really missed you. Please don’t be sad over my last death cause I have returned for my brother, my family. Shino’s voice rang in my brain.

“Is it really you Shino?” I could hardly believe it.

It is. Just don’t let the others know yet. Just call me Amil. I am reborn and the others will know when I can surprise them and learn to talk. There are many new things I feel like I will be able to do.

“Zen you have been blessed by this forest. It’s magic smiles upon you. I will also bless you with my magic. William gave you the gift for fighting. And The foolish king will give you the power of the pen. But I have something different. The power of magic. One day you will be elven trained. But before then you will need to know your magic so that it can be trained.” Ivy place her hands on my temples. “Someone has already unlocked the main channel. That was irresponsible. It could have possibly killed you.”

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“That was sir Albert. He said one day I would be elven trained also.” The pressure on my head started to grow.

“It was really irresponsible for a non magic user to try and unlock. You were lucky. I bet that’s the same guy who told you the blood moon was in two years. Poor guy was so wrong. I will be putting you next to Zoran when you leave. Tell her to take you to the stone Zen. You will meet back up with your friends soon enough.” Ivy let go of my temples.

“What do you mean by Zoran? Isn’t she training?”

“She was looking for the trail to the stone. I might have helped her a bit but she can only take you for now Zen. She isn’t strong enough yet. Just be happy Shino came back. Sorry I mean Amil now.” Ivy gave Amil a small smile. “Shifters are know to be the readers of the prophets stone. Or the stone of beginnings as it’s now called.”

“The what?” I could hardly believe it. It felt like so long ago when Shino had said we needed to find the prophets stone. “You mean they are the same thing?”

“As Amil here should have just taught you Zen. Names can change.” I felt Amil climb onto my back between my shoulder blades. “He was a crafty one though. To say he wants to be the first ever tamed shifter. Not even I know everything they can do. You have an amazing family Zen. Protect them better than they can ever protect you. Now you have something to truly fight for.”

“I’ve had something to fight for longer than today. I’ve been wanting to protect them all since I first noticed that they are my family.” I reached over my back and felt Amil grab my finger. What happened next surprised me. He turned into a snake and curled up my arm.

“A shifter at the finest. Today you have seen his true form. Who knows if you will ever see it again. They are known to never truly show what they look like.” Ivy stroked Amil’s head.

“So how do I use my magic Ivy? You said that you have unlocked it.” I scratched my temple. What type of magic could I have?

“Good question Zen. We are running out of time so I should show you the basics. Put your hand on your forehead and feel the bubble in your mind.” Ivy started to mumble an incantation under her breath. I couldn’t even make it out.

“I feel the bubble Ivy. What do I do now?” In the back of my head it was like there was a tube leading to a bubble at the base of my skull. I could feel that bubble connected to my heart.

“Push with your mind Zen. Imagine that your finger is puncturing that bubble. Pop it to release your magic.”

I did as Ivy said. For a long moment nothing happened. Then I felt something trickle into my heart and out of my forehead at the same time. A black mist flowed out of me. As it started to thicken gold flecks appeared and started to make a shape. The shape turned into an hour glass with an eye behind it.

“Zen the surprises just keep coming. Your magic deals with time and sight.” Ivy studied the symbol for a bit longer. “You will be able to create. The power to see. The power of not time itself but the time of others. You won’t be able to stop time completely but as you learn, will have a form of control over it. I will use my natural magic to send the elves a sign. They will want you to train. Good thing the deamons have a good standings with the elves to this very day.”

“Ivy is my magic special or something?”

“Far superior to special. It’s rare to have these three magical attributes mixed. My magic deals with animals and travels. Yours mean that you have been granted not only your own magic but the magic of the three powers.” Ivy looked at me hard. “People are lucky if they get even one of these magic’s. As a daemon half breed I saw creation coming. But the power to see is granted by the forgotten. And the power of time has the be stolen at a moment of weakness from the immortal. I don’t even know when you would have seen him. I just glad you’re safe.”

“What do you mean stolen from the immortal? I didn’t even think I had met him.” I could feel the panic already. This is the same person that set out to kill all of the children of the moon.

“None of us know what he looks like now. He is able to change his appearance and presence at set times. But you have met him Zen. I’m just glad he didn’t know who you were when you met.” Ivy’s concern was visible at this point. “We have taken up to much time Zen. The blood moon is less than a fortnight away. You will have a dangerous week to get to the stone. I will send you to Zoran. I will get Elena back to Snell safely.”

“Don’t we have anymore time Ivy? There is still so much I don’t know. I still need you.” I felt tears at having to leave Ivy. There was so much I still wanted to ask and to learn. “Can I at least ask how long I’ve been with you?”

Ivy went to a hole in the wall behind her and beaconed me over. “You will have been gone another year Zen. If you don’t go now this chamber will claim you. Don’t forget to let Zoran know you need to head to the stone now. May the airs of the forgotten guide you Zen.”

I hugged Ivy and started down the hall from the chamber. I had a lot to do until the time came for the battle against Joseph and whoever his master is. The emerald faded away. Covered by blackness. Then I felt myself lifted. And emerald forest surrounded me. But right in front of me was a ledge and on that ledge stood Zoran.