FSE

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Time seems to fly by as I sit in the middle of the clearing in the forest. The only sounds I hear are my breathing and the animals around me. I let my mind wonder as I did when inspecting the power of the materializing talisman. The world opens up to my mind as I float free of my body. It takes some time to calm my mind, but no sooner had I drifted off into a complacent sleep than I had reached an inner part of my brain.

I hear a cricket somewhere in a bush to my left. Closing in, I find the insect and observe from my ethereal like state. The feeling is weird. It seemed the moment I closed my eyes, the whole world spun past me without me noticing. I continue to observe quietly from my mind, feeling like I am a beast whose eyes follow their prey from close by, I zoom over the cricket, taking in the exquisite detail.

The wind flows by me as time rushes on. Day turns into night, and night into dawn. The small sliver of power that remains, the trickle of power that is the reason for my draconic eyesight, follows me in my meditative state.

After I have flown over the cricket, memorizing its color, its design, its structure, I turn away and try to expand my consciousness to hear everything around me yet nothing at all. It is definitely harder than it seems. Every sound is caught by my enhanced hearing, drawing me in to discover the secret world of the forest.

I did not hear Quin Shun leave, but I do hear him arrive. With my floating consciousness, I fly through the bushes behind me and to the sound of the rustling. Once past the obstruction, I see Quin Shun casually making his way through the brush towards me. Somehow knowing I might have overstayed my welcome, I sink back to my physical body and start to wake up.

"Seems like you have entered quite the state of peace young Protector." Quin Shun says to my unmoving body.

While he moves forward, I desperately try to regain my consciousness into the waking world. As I move back into my body, I begin to feel weary, tired, and cold. My eyelids droop lower as I slowly start to regain my senses.

"Seems like you still need some more detailed instructions, yes?" Quin Shun says while walking up behind me.

I continue to struggle to wake up as Quin Shun rests the tip of his flaming staff onto my right shoulder. With a small push of energy and a gasp of air, my eyes fly open as Quin Shun helps return me from my meditative state. My breath comes in heavy gasps while Quin Shun walks around to face me and any trace of my power vanishes as my senses return to normal.

"Q-Qu-Quin S-Sh-Shun? How l-lo-long was I out?" I ask as the cold begins to settle in yet again.

"You have been here the whole night. It is now dawn, the beginning of a new day." Quin Shun replies while I continue to shake uncontrollably once again.

"H-ho-how did I me-medi-meditate for s-so long?" I ask while shivering.

"Time can move quickly when you are ignorant of it. You are still new at this, but you also need the training and guidance to improve. So, I want you to warm yourself up without my help this time." Quin Shun responds dutifully.

"Warm mys-myself u-up? What happens if I get it wr-wrong?" I ask as I pull my gray robe around me as tight as I can and then rub each of my arms in jerky motions.

"Creating fire is the easiest thing. You did that when opening the cans to your food in a different way. Now all you got to do is heat the particles within your body as if doing it with the air, the same way a heater does." Quin Shun answers.

"O...k. I w-wi-will try." I mutter as I rub my hands together vainly to get warm. Even though it is May, the nights can still be a tad cold. Not good for me since I have stayed out in the open for two nights.

I take a deep breath and let it out, placing my hands unsteadily on my knees. Closing my eyes, I reach deep within my mind for that familiar feeling of my energy. The same white flash appears but vanishes in a blink of an eye. I soon reach the well of energy hidden deep within me. I gently touch it and it ripples with restrained power. I can vaguely see it in my mind; it looks like a huge spherical reservoir of water floating in a vast space of nothing.

I grasp a small thread of energy leaking from the surface and pull it towards the forefront of my mind. It only gives a brief struggle, tightening up from being used nonstop throughout the night. I relinquish my hold a little on it until it loosens up, and then pull forward again. The power rushes all over my body and I have to react fast before it can cause any damage to me.

Thankfully, it obediently comes back within my grasp, ready to be wielded however I see fit. Breathing slowly while shivering from the cold at the same time, I slowly expand my power so it encompasses my whole body. My senses however, do not change or enhance as I have other plans for it.

As my power spreads all over me, it brings along a hazy feeling, like the one I felt in the hospital room. My attention wavers as I think back to what happened, and what Anea could be doing. I do not stay distracted for long as my power starts to expand beyond my body. I quickly grab a firm hold on it and contain it within myself.

With a few more hesitant breathes, I start to make my power vibrate. It takes some time but the result is almost instantaneous. A warm glow begins to radiate out from the center of my frame, slowly spreading throughout my torso, down through my legs and into my arms and head. It sort of feels like the flames that Quin Shun used to warm me up when I was on the forest floor after my tiring flight. With careful concentration, I maintain the steady vibration of my power and increase or decrease it in certain parts of my body if it gets to hot or I start to get cold again. Within minutes, I have successfully warmed myself and maintained a steady hold on my power.

As I open my eyes, Quin Shun has a big smile over his wizened old face. "Well done young Protector. You are sure to be a natural in some aspects of your training. You do seem to be very special after all."

"Tha-Thank you Quin Shun," I reply in gratitude, stuttering from his compliment and not from the cold. "What do I do now?" I ask after a nice long pause had settled over the small clearing.

"Now, we go back to your cabin and prepare for the new day. I suppose you won't be having much trouble continuously heating yourself as you had kept a small sliver of power when you were meditating. Come, you have much more to learn." Quin Shun says appraisingly as he turns away to walk back to my cabin.

"N-Not at all, I don't think?" I respond uncertainly as I uncoil my legs from their crossed position and rise up from the stump. My power steadily keeps a warm vibration all over so I do not get cold, kind of like an electric blanket built into my clothes.

Only seconds after rising, I begin to wobble while sinking lower to the ground. Before I stumble forward, a strong and wrinkled hand grabs my left shoulder and heaves me up. Looking up at Quin Shun, I smile thankfully while he rests his hand on me as I get my footing again. Quin Shun nods his head and waits patiently for me to stretch my feet.

I look down and shake my legs as pins and needles start to prick my calves. Laughing quietly to himself, Quin Shun unexpectedly takes his hand away and I begin to fall again with one leg halfway to the ground. Before I had gone more than a few inches, he hands me a plain, unadorned gray staff. I reach out and cling to the staff as I stop myself from falling a second time. I move my feet forwards to steady my balance and stature.

Looking to my left, I inspect the plain gray staff he gave me. I narrow my eyes and question Quin Shun to better understand what rests in my hand.

"Is this my training staff?" I ask.

"Yes, it is," Quin Shun replies. "Might as well give it to you now so you won't have to rely on me again."

"Do I get a sword too? Maybe a gun of sorts?" I ask.

"No, not yet." Quin Shun responds while chuckling.

"Hmmm." I answer. I guess I am going to have to train to be able to obtain the skill to wield those weapons.

With a smooth motion, I lift the staff up and tilt it until the top is in my other hand, outstretched like a ceremonial sword. The staff is gray, plain and undecorated. The bottom is rounded like a cane and goes straight up till it widens into a small sphere. The material seems to be that of wood, with small grooves running the whole length of the staff.

After I finish inspecting it, I quickly flick the bottom of the staff up while guiding the top part downwards. With quick reflexes, I grab the middle of the staff before it flies too far away to the right, keeping it within my sights the whole time. With a thunk of wood like swinging through empty air, I bring it gently down and widen my eyes at what I just did.

"Did I...just do that?" I say to myself in amazement.

"Amazing," Quin Shun whispers to himself, partly shrouded by shrubbery as he had begun to walk back to the cabin. Upon hearing a sound, he looks back to just see me complete the spectacular movement. "He already has quick reflexes, enhanced senses and is a quick learner. What else can you do?" Shaking his head, Quin Shun calls out to me to get moving. "Come on lad, get moving."

"Did you just see what I did?" I exclaim in excitement. I jog forward with the gray staff by my side to catch up to Quin Shun. "Did you see that? I have been trying to do that every once in a while with my toy swords I have for Halloween, but never seem to get the timing of the catch right."

"Yes, I did see that," Quin Shun replies. "It is because you meditated to calm your body and mind. When you are calm, you can do much more than when you are frustrated. Just like the old folk tale, slow and steady wins the race."

"Aaaah!" I gape in recognition. "I do feel much better than I was before. It is like all my troubles have gone away. It feels like I can take on the entire world. With everything I can do, oooh! There is so much more I can do now." I gasp while jumping up and down excitedly.

I continue to rant on about how much better my life is going to be now that I have powers. Quin Shun and I start to walk back to my cabin as I continue to list all the possible things I could do. He just watches amused as I talk about everything I did when battling against Larry and Garry. The bright morning sun filters through the branches and leaves to rest upon our faces as we travel through the forest. Birds continue to sing merrily among the treetops, gathering food and building nests.

"Oh, I can probably turn invisible too! When I was battling Larry and Garry, I somehow turned invisible the second they took their eyes off of me and turned them onto the police. Wow, imagine what my dad would......say...about...this..." I trail off and slow down as we near the clearing to my log cabin.

My eyes drop down to the ground and I lower my arms from their previously frantic movement of excitement; my right hand carrying my gray staff rests it lightly on the ground. Catching my change in attitude, Quin Shun stops and turns back to me.

Placing a hand empathetically on my left shoulder, he asks me what is wrong, "What is the matter young one? You were happy just a moment ago. Meditation can feel like a quick burst of crystal clear understanding. Maybe now is best if you deal with this problem. What do you feel about your parents being gone?" Quin Shun asks politely.

"I...I don't know. I kind of don't feel anything since I had to deal with my sister running away a year before that. Of course, it does not compare or come close to when you lose a pet," I respond, blinking rapidly to try and stave off the oncoming tears. "It's just that," I pause to suck in a trembling breathe through my nose. "I was having such a wonderful life with my job as a game designer. Then my sister had to leave and then my parents are lost in a car crash while I spend three bloody months in a coma in a hospital in Boston," I spit out the last part as my shoulders start to tremble in the first signs before I cry. "And then I find out I am to become a Protector, with all this world of magic and mystery becoming unraveled as I travel down the path of training and to whatever destiny this world has in store for me." I finish as I tears rapidly begin to flow out from behind my close eyes as I tighten my grip on my staff and clench my left hand into a fist.

Quin Shun looks partially stunned as he listens to my escapade of what I think about what has happened about everything. _Poor kid, he just needs some time to forgive himself for what happened, _Quin Shun thinks while I continue to sob just a short walk from my run down shack. Frowning in deep thought, Quin Shun brings his hand on my shoulder up to my head.

I pause in my sobbing and open my eyes wide as I feel his hand stop upon my yellow bundle of blond wavy hair. Quin Shun raises his hand and pats my head a few times before he stops.

"Do not worry Colby; things will become clear soon enough for what you are suppose to do in this world. We all have a purpose. Mine is to train you. Yours is to listen to me until you realize for yourself what your purpose is. I will help you the best I can, but there are some things you have to deal with on your own. You are a grown man Colby Daniels, start acting your age and face it head on. I know what happened to your parents and sister might be hard on you, but do not give up hope, everything happens with a purpose. Now, let us go to your cabin so I can educate you more on your training, Ok?" Quin Shun says in an inspirational speech.

Still staring with a surprised look at the ground, I raise my head up to look at Quin Shun. His hand moves with my head as I come to gaze upon his old and withered face. I look straight into his eyes with a single river of tears streaming down my face. I finally get to see what color his eyes are. What I find astonishes me.

I have known many people with blue, brown, orange, and a bunch of other normal colored eyes, but Quin Shuns is the strangest yet. Well, maybe not as strange as that robber that tried to choke me; a burning orange purple/black that I will never forget as long as I live. Looking into Quin Shun's eyes, I see teal with flecks of dark green and flame red, the same color of his staff.

Still looking into Quin Shun's unique eyes, I think back on what he said. It is true that what happened to my sister and parents has deeply troubled me, but if I'm to become a great Protector, then I'm going to need to let go of my past and focus on the future. What my sister does is not up to me, but to her. It is not my fault she left the house so quickly. Then again, going out the window may have been a bad idea since her room is on the second floor, the same as mine. But then again, the missing bed sheets could explain how she escaped safely.

Hesitantly, I slowly nod my head and blink my teary eyes in understanding; if something better is to come out of this then I had better be prepared for it. "Good. Now, let us go back to your cabin so I can teach you the way of the warrior." Quin Shun says compassionately.

With another firm nod of my head, I follow Quin Shun across the grassy clearing to my cabin. As we travel, I raise my weary hands to rub the tears from my eyes. I have not cried in a long time, and it would not be good to start again now.

Once at my cabin, Quin Shun opens the door and waits for me to lead the way in. I continue inside and turn around to wait for Quin Shun. He then follows me in and closes the door right behind him. Eyes still a little wet, I rub the back of my grey training robe sleeves against my eyes. Quin Shun waits until I finish, knowing that patience is a virtue.

When I'm all done, Quin Shun motions to the empty space near my couch. Complying I walk over and sit down, facing Quin Shun just like I did when we were having breakfast a few days before and place my staff beside me.

Taking a deep breath, I finish drying my eyes and look up to Quin Shun with new inspiration and determination. Seeing this new look, Quin Shun launches into a sophisticated explanation of the next few decades and possibly centuries of my training.

"As you may or may not know; there have been some rather disturbing rumors of dinosaurs lurking in Russia." Quin Shun says, beginning on a rather dreary note.

"You don't think I know that already?" I reply a little upset. "Anea, Paul, and I have talked extensively over that subject. Not to mention the car crash I was recently in. But I do not know everything that is happening there, since I have not had a TV to look at for a while as you can see."

"Yes, you've said that before. Why not materialize a TV to see what is happening for yourself?" Quin Shun responds.

"Does this have something to do with my training?" I asked curiously.

"Yes it does. There is someone out there that plans on taking over this planet soon and I'm here to train you so you can stop whoever's doing it." Quin Shun says rather melodramatically.

"Oh...wait, do you mean that robber I fought at the bank? Is she the one who wants to take over the Earth?" I ask.

"There...is a possibility she is the one, though I am not one hundred percent sure." Quin Shun replies in despair.

"How can you not know?" I wonder.

"I can feel another, darker force of energy lurking somewhere in this world. Where, I do not know because it knows I am trying to find it. It is doing a good job of keeping itself hidden, but every once and awhile a small surge of energy surfaces around your robber, but only for brief periods of time, never long enough for me to investigate." Quin Shun responds.

"Ok. What am I going to do for my training now?" I ask, excited yet nervous as to how rigorous it will be.

"Now," Quin Shun replies. "Before I tell you your schedule for the next few years, do you understand the responsibility you will be undertaking when you accept the role of a Protector in training?"

I look at Quin Shun while in deep thought.It has occurred to me many times of what I might be getting myself into when I accept the role of Protector. Still...Maybe it is just like when I took on the role of ambassador between two major gaming companies. I doubt it will be like that, but...So much has happened in the span of a few days. My favorite characters in the many fantasy books I read have always somehow come to terms with becoming a beacon of hope for some mysteries cause unknown to them.

I sigh in deep thought. I know I seem to have gotten over the death of my parents, but it still haunts me every so often. Especially during my two weeks of recovery. I did not show it much, but I wonder what...how my dad would have reacted to me having feelings or even a relationship with a girl, if he was still alive that is.

I know I have always dreamt of becoming a world saving hero and doing many great things. Having supernatural powers, flying, being a master swordsman, gunsman, etc. It all hits you so suddenly like killing someone or doing a taboo act that makes you feel sick to your stomach.

Looking down in my lap, Quin Shun patiently waits while I make a very important decision. What I decide on now will invariably effect all of Earth soon enough. If what that mysterious robber does will affect all of mankind eventually, isn't it like throwing away trash? If everyone just littered, wouldn't it affect everyone in some way?

Sighing, I just close my eyes and try to think on what the best course of action would be to do. Even without deciding, I know that my life could possibly be extended several times over. Thinking back to the hospital room and the many choices I have made since then, I raise my head and open my eyes with fresh determination and a raging fire. _I will, save earth. I will, find Lira again. I will, do whatever it takes to become the strongest Protector I can, _I think to myself as a sworn oath of valor.

"Yes...I am ready to take on the responsibilities of a Protector." I reply in a monotone. My voice shakes as I speak with steel determination and will. Quin Shun smiles empathetically, knowing this decision will affect my life and any choices I make from now on.

And my life will never be the same again. I cannot turn away now. My mind is made up. Every thought, every action I make will be towards protecting Earth.

"Wise decision young Protector," Quin Shun says. "I have seen what you are so far capable of. I have watched you from afar, observing how you react to different situations. Your ability of flight is unusual for one. Being able to fly is usually reserved for the Defenders, as they need to travel great distances quickly."

"Why is it unnatural for me?" I ask curiously.

"Not unnatural, unusual. Every once in a while there comes along a particular Protector with a...unique or special destiny and place in the world. They grow up to do great things. As you said before, 'With great power comes great responsibility.' From the weakest, the Protectors who use natural agility and combat prowess to save the day." Quin Shun says.

"Like Captain America, Daredevil, Hawkeye, Batman, Spiderman, and Iron Man." I whisper. Quin Shun doesn't hear me, but continues on.

"To the strong, the Protectors who have supernatural abilities and can bend the Earth to their will, creating monumental spectacles that will be remembered throughout time." Quin Shun rants on.

"Like Green Lantern and Eragon." I whisper again. Quin Shun chuckles as I list some more heroes from books and T.V. shows I have seen and read.

"To the Strongest, the Protectors that can move mountains, create tidal waves, control the weather and shape continents." Quin Shun finishes.

"Like Aang, Superman and Thor."

"Like I said before young Protector, unusual." Quin Shun states vaguely.

He does not say anything else for awhile while I contemplate what he said. The weakest, ones who use natural strength and endurance, to the strongest like Aang and...

"Superman and Thor are unusual...Right?" I ask hesitantly.

"Precisely young Protector. What they can do is what you can potentially train up to become. Balance power with morality, and a good warrior you will become." Quin Shun says wisely.

"So much to think about." I respond while lowering my head.

"The path is only going to get harder from here Colby," Quin Shun responds while smiling at me. "I will guide you as much as I can. As I said before, the majority of the journey is up to you. What you make of yourself and what others think of you will go a long way to what happens from here on out."

"Then were does my path of training lead now Quin Shun." I ask in curiosity, raising my head once again.

Chuckling slightly, Quin Shun replies. "Every morning, you will meditate, early in the morning since we have a lot to do. No pain no gain, as your kind sometimes says."

"Wait, my kind? You aren't human?" I ask nervously, slightly taken aback that Quin Shun could be some alien from another world.

"Not entirely, but I think that is better said for later. But if you insist, anyone can become one of us. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, fairies, dragons, unicorns, Pegasus, Griffins, Hippogriffs, Phoenixes, the list goes on. So long as they are on the side of good, it is possible. Believe in yourself, for what you think you can do, the possibilities are endless." Quin Shun says mystically.

"All...of...them?" I ask haltingly.

"Yes." Quin Shun answers.

"What next." I continue, slightly unfazed and partly relieved. Dragons! I might get to meet a dragon! Although I know they do not exist on earth, I might be able to meet one! I think to myself excitedly as Quin Shun continues my training schedule.

"Next, after your meditation, I will come back to see if you have over stayed your welcome." Quin Shun says with a hint of remembrance.

"Eeerr...I will try to avoid that next time." I answer stutteringly.

"Yes, I know you will. After, I will put you through some basic combat training. Practice with you staff and further use of your powers will only enhance them, make them stronger. Our power is like a tissue, the more we exercise them, the stronger they grow." Quin Shun says, unknowingly quoting something Oromis said to Eragon while he was training in Ellesméra.

I shake my head in Déjà-vu and then return my attention to Quin Shun as he lists what I am going to do each day.

"After basic combat, I will then have you practice your other abilities such as flying and going invisible. You may have other dormant powers inside of you as well that will only surface in times of dire need or in special circumstances. I will try to meet the less dangerous needs, but that won't make it any less hard to gain them, much less master them in time." Quin Shun says.

"What about other skills, will my job in Video Game Design come in handy?" I ask.

"Maybe it will, maybe it won't," Quin Shun states. "But that all depends on you. Will you be calm and collective, making split second decisions or will you be fiery and aggressive, moving forward and doing what needs to be done." Quin Shun explains.

"So fire and nature?" I question cautiously.

"Fire and nature, or earth, make a deadly combo. The ability to be patient; green/earth, combined with the fiery aggression of fire; willpower, both make for a deadly opponent to deal with. It has taken me thousands, even millennium to obtain my current state of being." Quin Shun responds kindly.

"What do you think mine will be?" I ask, wondering what my temperament will be.

"It is...hard to tell. I cannot be one-hundred percent sure, but I can tell it will be something special, unique only to you." Quin Shun replies.

"You said that already, about me being special. I know this is going to be a tough road, but I want to know more about what is happening out there, in the world, if I am to prepare myself for what is to come." I respond.

"It may not be a good idea to go wondering into something you will regret later. Fear can be a terrible motivator when it comes to the fight to survive." Quin Shun exclaims.

"I know but," I say before rising up and turning to face the dusty outline of the missing T.V. screen. "If I am to realize what I am getting myself into, shouldn't I know who or what I am going to be facing later on, once my training is finished?" I ask without looking at Quin Shun.

"Your training won't be complete for a long time Colby, I have told you that. What is happening now has come sooner than I expected. I am training you for the worst case scenario. What you do in the next few years will determine if you are ready or not." Quin Shun replies.

Sighing, I reply. "I know, it's just that,"

"It's just what young Protector." Quin Shun says, interrupting me.

Turning around to face Quin Shun standing up, I look at him in his eyes before replying. "It's just; everything I know is changing so quickly. I know I said I am willing to accept the role and responsibilities of becoming a Protector, but...What about my friends, Anea and Paul? What will happen to them in seven years time if the enemy strikes before I am ready?" I say, slowly raising my voice. Not quite shouting while clenching my left hand and gesturing outside with my right palm outstretched.

Quin Shun calmly sits in front of me, waiting until my breathing slows down a little. Rising up, he picks up his own staff with his right hand and approaches me. His crimson robes swirl around his feet as he nears me. I slowly lower my outstretched hand as my head droops down to the floor, feeling myself unworthy to look at Quin Shun. I hastily form an apology for my outburst.

"I am very sorry Quin Shun, it won't happen ag-" I am silenced as Quin Shun places his fiery, mossy burning staff on my lips to quiet me.

"Hush young Protector, no harm done. I know it can be a trying time to experience while being a Protector. Every job is done with varying amounts of responsibility. Training is meant to show the teachers if their students are worthy of joining our ranks, to truly accept the role of a Protector, Defender, Guardian or Forgotten. It is what there is within us that determines who we are and what we are made out to do," Quin Shun says wisely while pointing his middle and pointer finger to the middle of his chest. "Never doubt yourself Colby, you are here, you were born to do great things. It is not what others might say or think about you, but what you think about yourself, here," Quin Shun continues as he moves his left hand to the middle of my chest to emphasize his point. "Nothing you do will come out greater than when you know you have accomplished something no one else thought possible for you. Think about your hero's Colby,"

Quin Shun says as he almost throws his flaming staff through the air to his right. Instead, it floats, gradually going higher before stopping at a certain point. Quin Shun takes both his hands and places them on my shoulders. I remain surprised his staff did not burn me as he finishes another of his wisdom speeches. "What have they done? What have they been through to get to where they are? Tell me Colby; are you ready to become a Protector?" Quin Shun questions me critically.

Out of all the other times I had to make a choice about whether to continue doing what I am doing or go back home and live a normal life, this moment is the hardest. I always seem to trust Quin Shun, from the moment he spoke to me in the hospital room. It seemed to me like my life suddenly opened up to a million more possibilities than it did when I took on my Gaming job.

Everything Quin Shun says, everything he does, every way he acts just tells me he has went through the same things as I am going through. It has not come across me to run away from this total stranger, to not trust him, but I do. When he mentioned his training, how he went through centuries, millennium! Of training, I can't even begin to fathom about how long Forgotten live for.

After this, there will be no going back, no redo's, no game over's. It is either win or lose. Something evil has infected Earth, and I will do what it takes to vanquish it forever, to ensure global peace.

"I agree." I reply firmly and willingly, staring confidently with eyes of steel. Setting my mind on the path to become the best I can while smiling back at Quin Shun.

"Very good, very good," Quin Shun responds joyously.

"Quin Shun?" I ask tentatively as he snatches his staff out of the air and twirls around to head for the door.

"Yes Colby?" Quin Shun answers, turning back partially.

Blinking tears out of my eyes, I say: "Thank you, for everything, for believing in me." I reply.

"hehehehe. You are very welcome Colby Daniels," Quin Shun says with a festive air, raising his arms and staff into the air while facing me and walking backwards. "Come! We have lots to do! Things to see! Tricks to learn. Powers to earn, and evil to defeat," Quin Shun rants as he continues on to the door. I follow him, picking my staff up along the way, smiling infectiously at him. "By the time I am done with you Colby Daniels," Quin Shun says dramatically, raising and lowering his voice sarcastically. "You will be the hero of the world, the savior of Earth!"

Quin Shun turns around to open the door with me close behind. What greets my eyes is a beautiful day. Perfect weather to relax and fish, or hike, or do whatever one likes to do on days like these.

"You young sir," Quin Shun says, continuing to speak dramatically, "Will benefit from this day, the day a new Protector was born. Let it be known throughout the whole multiverse," Quin Shun shouts in the middle of the grassy clearing, wind tugging at my new robes and flattening the grass as I follow him at a respectful distance. "That Colby Daniels, as of this day, has become my apprentice and novice Protector." Quin Shun rants on. Finally finished, or what seemed like it, he lowers his arms and plants his staff firmly on the lush grass while I come up to his left side and look up at him with my own staff in hand.

"Who are you shouting at Quin Shun?" I chuckle a little as he jumps slightly and looks down to his left to see me staring back at him, his eyebrows rising a few good centimeters as his eyes go wide.

"Why Colby, to the other Guardians of course, using my powers. Now, repeat after me, the oath of the Protectors." Quin Shun says royally.

"Ok." I answer.

_"I hereby accept full responsibility of every consequence to the role of a Protector." _Quin Shun says as he straightens his form. I copy after him, saying what he says word for word.

_"I also accept the laws and restrictions on what I can and cannot do on my time as an apprentice. I will listen to my master and follow what he has to say. I will listen to his words and ponder their meaning. I will always give it my all, straining to become more than I already am. I will uphold the weak, guide the strong and foolhardy. I will become a beacon of light in the time of darkness. I will shine bright so that everyone can follow my light. My purpose is to unite the world to be a better place, to share with others and Protect those who can't. Above all, my role as Protector is to ensure the safety and longevity of my planet, so that it's forever remains strong." _Quin Shun finishes the oath, and shortly after, I do too.

"Now...are there any questions?" Quin Shun asks, looking over at me after we finish.

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can say anything, Quin Shun interrupts. "Good, because this is going to be a long and hard journey Colby Daniels, and I will be by your side every step of the way."

Flabbergasted I did not get to say what I wanted to, I do so now. "Will I ever get to see my friends again? Will I get to see Anea?" I ask curiously.

Chuckling, Quin Shun responds. "Hehehe, in time young one, in time." Quin Shun says while looking back up at the rising sun. The trees sway in the breeze while a calming wind walks across the clearing. The smell of sunshine and the noise of birds surround us as a new day starts. Today was definitely going to be a beautiful day. What could go wrong?