Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lin smiled brightly and jumped up in great enthusiasm. Another Elf, right here at Mystic Fountain High School! Someone who could really relate to her! Family, even though it was quite a bit removed. This was wonderful!

She couldn't help it. She wrapped her arms around Ambrose's shoulders enthusiastically and jumped up and down lightly. "Oh this is wonderful! You will HAVE to come home with me! You can meet all of our people, learn our customs..."

Her eyes widened then and she pulled back. She also grasped her pendant of spring water and showed it to him. "And you can receive your own pendant of spring water! It will also help you with your shield magic practice!"

In her excitement, though, Lin had forgotten one thing. Genetics. "Wait a moment. If he was your uncle, how is he directly related to you? I mean, how does his Elven blood run in your veins?"

Lin's eyes widened largely, as big as saucers, when she heard what Ambrose had said. "Oh my... Well, Elves sometimes, on rare occasions, do remarry after their soul mate passes on. Usually, the Elf becomes so depressed and forlorn that they soon pass on themselves. An Elf can choose to pass on if they truly desire to. However, maybe since your uncle remarried someone in the family, perhaps it meant that your grandmother had many of the same characteristics as your aunt."

Lin merely waved a hand at her side, as if to dismiss the rest of what she was going to say. She then held one of Ambrose's hands with one of her own. "Oh nevermind! The important thing is that you ARE part Elf! I knew you had to be! I can sense other Elves, and your intelligence and ability to learn so quickly are tell-tale traits of Elves! Oh I cannot believe this! This is wonderful! We will have to schedule a visit to my... OUR home very soon! Would you like that?"

Lin smiled brightly. "Oh wonderful! We will have so much fun!"

Her eyes then widened again. "Oh my! Since you are a male and are focusing on shields, you can work with my father on developing your skills! He would be a great teacher!"

((I asked Neo, and she said it could be Friday in the story. smile ))

Lin started hopping up and down excitedly. "Oh, that is right! Today is Friday! After my independent study class tonight with Professor Akakios, we can visit home right away, if you wish! And you can bring Lia as well, if you wish!"

A fluffy messenger pigeon sailed from behind the school towards Lin, landed ever-so-gently and respectfully on her shoulder. Tied to its leg was a folded piece of old-fashioned parchment paper folded in half, with Lin's name elegantly scrawled on the outside.

The note was from Professor Akakios:
Miss Lin, I'm afraid I must cancel independent study tonight. I know you are looking forward to learning about the Tree of Life, but something has come up that I simply cannot ignore.

Sincerely and apologetically,
Ophiuchus Akakios

Lin was about to respond to Ambrose when a bird came and landed on her shoulder. "Oh! Hello friend. Thank you."

She untied the message and sent the little bird on its way. She unfolded the letter and read the message. She frowned slightly. Yes, she had been excited to learn about the Tree of Life, but this also meant that she, Ambrose and Lia could start their trip early. If you could call it a trip for how they were going to travel. And she was hoping everything was alright for Professor Akakios.

"Well, Ambrose, if your sister can be ready soon, we can leave much sooner. If you wish."

Lin nodded and then seemed to grow somewhat uncomfortable. "Ambrose, you do realize that I would invite Isad... Danni along with us if it wasn't for her choice of magic, correct? We cannot have that anywhere near our home. Our home would not appear to us if it sensed dark magic anywhere near us."

Night passed through a wall behind Danni looking at her oddly. "I swear it's like chasing a racecar with you," He said floating next too her calmly. "So how's your life treating you?" He brushed his dark hair out of his pale eyes, That matched everything else about him.