The Light orb was barely recognizable as an orb. Lucy bites her lip. Who cares.

Lucy lifts her other palm, releasing a bit of Dark. It sulked out, forming a shaky orb. It was bigger than the Light orb, as Lucy couldn't quite manage to stop it in time and hold the Light orb.

I did it! I learned how to make an orb! Who cares that it took me two weeks to do a stupid simple orb. Lucy sighs. Well, it was 5 weeks, if I count the three weeks before I learned the Light tides. I'm so bad at this magic thing.

Lucy banishes both orbs and lays on her stomach. Lucy opens her sketchbook, sketching the tree she kept dreaming of.

It was bare, stark of leaves. Even it's trunk was smooth, as if someone had peeled it's bark away. It grew on a cliff, overlooking a huge canyon. If not for the color, Lucy would think it was the Grand Canyon. Lucy felt even in her dreams how lonely it was.

Lucy stares at her sketch of the tree, running her hand over the page. I wonder if it's on Earth or here on Gana?

"Little Lucinda" Lucy jumps, Grandmama stood by the entrance. "Come here, it's time for a break," Grandmama says. Lucy stands, stretching as her joints pop.

And how am I supposed to do that? My paints are gone! Lucy gives Grandmama a baleful glance.

Grandmama smiles, stroking Lucy's hair. "Oh, so you don't want to see young Selena?"

Lucy freezes for a moment, then dashes directly to the archway. "Oww!" Lucy says, bouncing back from the ward. "I see that you do," Grandmama says, the ward dissolving. Lucy rubs her nose. d.a.m.nit! That hurt!

On the walk back, Lucy holds Grandmama's hand to restrain herself from hugging the walls full of Primal Essence. It felt so comfy, but she didn't dare allow more magic in her body. It was hard enough to control as it was.

"What do you want to do?" Grandmama asks. Hmmm, I want to finish that portrait for Papa, and I need to practice my Runic or Master Gavin will be unhappy. Still... "Can I learn Shadow dancing?" Lucy asks, meeting Grandmama's eyes.

"No, Lucinda. Your physical foundation is too poor for that. And you haven't comprehended the laws needed to begin." Grandmama says. "Pick something fun to do"

Lucy pouts. Learning to dash through walls would be fun! Oh, well I'm guessing that even if I could begin right now, it would still be a no. They probably don't want a two-year-old with the power to disappear.

"Selena, then I want to paint," Lucy says. Once out of the maze, Lucy gapes at the frost on the ground. What happened to my summer? "Grandmama? Why is it snowing?" Lucy asks. "Isn't it summer?" Lucy asks. I've not been in the maze long enough for autumn to come. Grandmama laughs. "No, little Lucinda, that pa.s.sed while you were in the darkness," Grandmama says. Lucy blinks. "You were in there for a few weeks, while you learned the Dark Tides. And a couple of weeks in the Light Tides." Grandmama explains. to Lucy's scrunched up face.

"Did Mommy give birth yet?" Lucy asks. Grandmama shakes her head. "Not yet. However, your Father is coming tomorrow to take you for a day trip. He has been quite impatient with us" Grandmama says.

Grandmama leads Lucy out to the left, coming to some private villas, and a medium-sized training ground.

Selena, and what's his name. Oh, yeah. Sir Jenz! They were sparring, while a pretty woman sat watching. Grandmama stops near the lady. Lucy blinks, watching their fast fight. "Why is his magic so different?" Lucy asks, noticing that Sir Jenz's magic was smoother, almost denser than even Aunt Ava's. It was closer to Primal energy than Aura.

"It's because he's an elf. Sprites skip straight to the Tier 6 and train up to Mage from there. It's due to their innate magic body, and the difference in the awakenings." Grandmama explains.

Lucy blinks. "What's the difference between a Caster and a Mage?" Lucy asks. Grandmama chuckles. "That's a surprise for when you become a Mage," Grandmama says.

Lucy sighs. "Wait you said that he is an elf? What does that have to do with a sprite?" Lucy asks, wrinkling her brow. Grandmama pats Lucy's hair. "Elf's are Sprites who have a breakthrough to Mage," Grandmama explains. "But they are all of one race, and are Sprites"