Today has been interesting. I'm enjoying learning about plants more than I thought I would. After lunch, we started learning about crystals.

Grandma Miriam starts talking about clear quartz. Not long after she starts her lesson on labradorite, a shift in energy catches my attention. I look over to my left to see if Tally felt it too, but she has her head resting on the table.

Gently, I touch her arm. "Tally, are ya okay?"

She smiles "Sure. Everything's fine."

However, she looks pale and weak.

My eyes narrow at her, but I know enough to let it go—for now. "If ya say so."

I go back to concentrating on what Grandma Miriam is saying, but I'm still worried about Tally. She's not looking so good. A short time later, Grandma Miriam heads in Tally's direction.

"Are you okay, Tallulah?"

"Just a headache," she says a little too quickly for just being a headache. What is she hiding?

"Are you sure you're okay?" Grandma Miriam asks again.

"Maybe I need a glass of water. I've been working a little more than I should on doing air magic, and it must be getting to me." 

She's not been working any harder on her air magic than Tanner and I. What is up with her? Why won't she tell anybody what's wrong? Did something happen at home?

Grandma Miriam looks suspiciously at her, but continues with the lessons on the remaining crystals she has. I try to concentrate as much as I can, but something just isn't right.

After an early dinner, Estel moves on to teaching us about spellcasting.

"The most important thing about spellcasting is your intent. In Zoidrys, we seek only to do good, so our intentions during spellcasting are to do no harm. When you are setting up to recite a spell say what your intent is out loud. Practice and know your spell words. Sometimes unexpected results happen if you do not say your words correctly. I can give some examples later. Pick a location where you feel comfortable and relatively undisturbed while reciting your spell."

"Is that really practical?" I ask. "I mean, if we're in the midst of battle, it isn't realla peaceful or undisturbed—for that matter."

"That's a good question. Once you advance your skills at spellcasting, you can create a space within your mind that is similar to a 'special place.' For example, back on the Avic Islands, I have a spot near a clearing that is like my hideout, if you want to call it that. I've blessed the spot and have done other things to make it special for me. You will learn to create a space like that in your mind. During battle, it will be difficult, but not impossible, to go to this spot in your mind to conjure needed spells. My best advice is to have objects with you that you have previously put a spell on that you carry with you into a fight."

"Like what, exactly?" I ask.

Estel puts her hands on her hips and sighs. "So full of questions tonight, mi loba."

I shrug at her comment, and this gains a smile.

"Okay. An example might be a charm you put a spell on for protection. If you carry it into battle, it might not keep you from getting injured, but it might help keep you alive."

"Might? What's the point then?" Comes the muffled question from Tally, looking weak and ashen when she tries to raise her head.

"Remember, everything in life needs balance. So, it might be the Universes will for someone to cross over. The Universe strives for balance, and it works hard to keep it that way."

"Isn't there ever an imbalance?" Carleigh asks. 

What a smart question.

"Yes, there can be, and the Universe will scramble to try and correct that imbalance."

Estel walks over to the table next to us and picks up a container and brings it over.

"Back to spellcasting. Salt, especially sea salt, is a very important ingredient for spellcasting. Sea salt helps to cleanse, purify, absorb negative energy and banish evil. Also keep in mind some of the plants you learned earlier, they can help you during spellcasting. Certain herbs are used for specific reasons in the healing arts, and this can be translated over into spellcasting. For example, peppermint can be used in a spell to increase psychic powers and divination."

After this, Estel goes on to talk about other vital elements that can be used during spellcasting, like candles, crystals and ribbons. I'd like to ask more questions, but I don't think my mind will absorb anymore or my hand will stop cramping from all of the notes I've been taking.

"I believe that's all we need to cover tonight. I'll skip teaching you any specific spells until our next lessons. Have a good night and get plenty of rest." She pauses and a wide grin spreads across her face. "Because you'll need it tomorrow." 

 Now, I'm worried.

I turn to my left to talk to Tally, but I'm greeted by an empty seat. I look to the staircase, but only see the back of her as she disappears into the next level.

I get up to find Grandma Miriam, and she's sitting in the porch swing, staring out into the night. I open the door to go outside to talk to her.

I don't even get my first words out. "You're worried about Tallulah?"

"How'd ya know?" I ask as Grandma Miriam stops the swing and pats the seat next to her. 

 I sit down and then she continues.

"I'm concerned too, but you seem to be developing a bond with her and a special connection. That's good for Protectors, but it can also cause one grief, if the other one is hurting physically or emotionally."

"Are ya serious?"

"Love, do I sound so?"

"Ya, I was just hopin' you might have some sort of answers."

"Not anything specific. I have some idea what might be going on with her, but I'm not positive."

"Care ta share?"

"Some people are affected more by crystals than others. You Protectors are going to be discovering your abilities as time goes on. How slowly or quickly someone starts feeling the effect of coming into their powers depends on the ability that's coming to the surface. For whatever reason, being around the crystals today affected Tally more than others."

"I did feel some sorta energy shift."

"That's perfect. Don't worry about it. I'm sure it won't be the last time you'll feel a shift in energies. My advice: get used to it as quickly as possible or you might be in for a bumpy ride. Now, head up to bed."

I stand up from the porch swing that Grandma Miriam has stopped for me. I kiss her cheek and head to bed.

No sooner do I close my door, someone knocks.

Estel's black hair peek around my door.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Estel's hands are behind her back, and a hint of a smile graces her lips. "I brought you something."

"Ya didn't have ta get me anything." This woman is too nice to someone like me.

"It might help you," she replies with a sing-songy voice.

She hands me a package wrapped in red and black. She knows me well.

When I open it, a beautiful, black journal with a Monarch butterfly on the front shines at me.

"¡Dios mío!"

She sits down on the bed next to me. "Maybe you could use it to start writing down thoughts. What you write doesn't have to be anything specific. Maybe, when you're ready, you can start writing down your memories about your parents and your feelings."

I continue to look over the journal until Estel puts a hand on mine.

I look up and her chestnut eyes stare at me. "I'm going to brave this question in the hope you will open up to me. Is there anything you used to enjoy doing?"

"I used ta dance." I mumble looking down at the ground.

There's silence, and when I look up at Estel her eyes are wide and her jaw slack.

She bounces on the bed, still in the sitting position. "That's wonderful! What did you take?"

"I started out taking ballet. Ya know the basics, where ballet teaches ya a lot of techniques that can be used for other dancin' styles. I tried tap and liked it. However, I got inta taking modern dance, and I felt like my soul was soarin' evera time I danced."

"What happened?"

"When my parents died, none of my foster parents would spend the money to send me to lessons. I had ta find a place to dance in private. Eventually everathin' else overwhelmed me, and I didn't dance often anamore." I swallow back the tears and emptiness blooming in my chest.

"When I lived on ta streets, sometimes in the cool morning air, I'd find places to dance and again my soul felt like it was soarin'."

"That's wonderful. How come you've never danced here?"

"It's personal," I say looking out the window into the cover of night, wishing I was there. "I've not told anaone until ya. It's like my sanctuary."

"Well, we could try to find a private place for you to dance. Somewhere in the woods. I could ask the Ancient Ones to assist us in making it private. I don't think asking them for this would be a waste of energy."

"A waste of energy?"

"We, the followers of Zoidrys, believe in balance and not using energy that isn't needed. Sometimes we will ask the Ancient Ones for something special, and they can choose to grant our request or give us a sign that they don't want to grant it."

"¡Dios mío! They are powerful."

"They are the gatekeepers and the guardians of not only us, magic users, but also of the Dexameni Energeias."

"How da they become these Ancient Ones?"

"From what we understand and believe, the Divine Couple picks spirits after they have crossed into the next realm to be the Ancient Ones. These spirits are said to be deemed worthy of this honor."

"That seems complex."

"Only as complex as it needs to be. The followers of Zoidrys believe in balance and harmony. The Ancient Ones help the Divine Couple try to achieve this."

"Ya beliefs seem logical."

Estel chuckles. "We'd like to believe we are. Maybe we are and maybe we aren't. Some of the answers won't come until each of us crosses over and is 'enlightened'."

"I like this way of thinking. It seems similar ta thin's EJ teaches us for meditation."

It does have some of the same principles. Maybe you should talk with EJ about Tai Chi lessons. It's a form of martial arts that's practiced for defensive training, health benefits and meditation. The quick explanation is it's practiced to help the life energy within yourself flow smoothly. Bringing the mind and body together helps bring harmony to the inner and outer self."

"That doesn't seem bad," I say, but a yawn escapes me.

"It's not, and some martial arts teach the idea that when a person is coming at you, you fall away from their direction. After you hook a body part, you use their own momentum to carry them over you. It's a fascinating and rather effective fighting technique, if you are in hand to hand combat especially without weapons. But you can get so good with weapons, you can use the principal there too."

I want to talk more, but my eyes are getting heavy.

Estel laughs and pats my leg.

"Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a long day."

Before I can ask what she means, she's out the door. So much for getting inside knowledge.

_______________________

[A/N]:

¡Dios mío! Yes, Dios does mean "God," but Spanish speakers often use it as an expression of amazement or sometimes disgust (if said with a sneer). the exclamations "My God!" or "Oh my God!" in English are sometimes used in the same way as ¡Dios mío! (https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/spanish-exclamations/)

Lobo/a 

Literally means wolf, and usually refers to a person who is sly. (In this case, Estel isn't referring to Mick as sly. She sees characteristics in Mick that remind her of a wolf. She adds "mi" because she sees Mick as a daughter.)

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/spanish-nicknames/