Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:38:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Brian Legend <princejosh333@aol.com>
Subject: Enchanted Life/chapter 3/information Overload

       A reward to my supporting fans. For the great feedback, I give you
all chapter three.

			      Enchanted Life
		     Chapter 3.  Information Overload


       Ashlynn and Talan shared the same class as me. Which made my first
time in class a lot easier. The only thing I have an issue with is: having
to stay in one classroom all day. Listening to one teacher, and looking at
the same students. It would be hard getting used to sitting in one
classroom again. I haven't did this, since I was in fourth grade.

       Something did register the moment I came to class. Celestial was a
sea of guys. I remember Talan telling me it was an `all guys' school, but I
think it didn't sink in until I sat down.  There were all kinds of guys,
who portrayed a normal appearance. You couldn't tell if any of them had
powers. You wouldn't even expect it, unless they told you.

       Class was in session, and Ashlynn would not stop talking. I found
him to be an excessive talker. That is all Talan and him did, while the
teacher stood at the board. Sometimes they would ask my opinion on certain
matters they disagreed on. They continued to ignore the teacher but tried
to include me on everything they discussed. I couldn't hear what the
teacher was saying sometimes because of them.

       Having these two sitting by me was a major distraction.

       When the teacher finished the lesson. She passed out
worksheets. Ashlynn had to help me understand the wording on these
worksheets. It was harder than I thought. These worksheets seem to require
more than someone listening to the teacher, or reading out of the chapter.

       Ashlynn was able to finish his worksheet in no time. I kept
wondering how did he finish so early, when he hadn't listen to a single
word the teacher said?

       I needed help on battle field strategies. It was a section of the
worksheet that I couldn't get any answers, no matter what I thought
of. Ashlynn moved his desk next to mine and explained to me useful
strategies during battle.

       Never use all your strength in the beginning of the battle, try to
think ahead of your opponent, when you strike try not to miss, and always
protect yourself. There was much more things he explained. Things about:
controlling your ability, knowing when to use your powers. It was so much
to absorb that some information was slipping away.

       This Academy was the real thing! They were actually teaching
students how to battle using their powers.

       I wanted to ask a question. So I thought I would ask Talan since
Ashlynn was already busy helping me with my worksheet. "Why do they teach
students battle skills? It's not like we need them. Aren't we all on the
same team?"

       Talan for once wasn't talking, but concentrating on the answers he
was writing. When he heard me asking him something he answered. "Some years
Celestial Academy holds tournaments. Everything you are learning you will
definitely need during those tournaments."

       I dropped my mouth at his reply. It's day two at Celestial Academy
and I'm still being surprised. As soon as I think I'm getting the hang of
the school there is another curve ball.

       I better absorb every lesson I'm taught. I don't want to look stupid
if I get called to a tournament and I don't know the basics of
fighting. That would be an embarrassment.

       I finished my work. I indulged in a talk with Ashlynn and
Talan. They did talk a lot but they knew when to stop and take care of
their business.

       They both seemed interested in my eyes.  "Why does your eyes glow
like that?...it's like a yellow color." Talan asked in wonder.

       "I've been asking myself that same question." Ashlynn spoke, hoping
to get an answer.  "Are they contacts or something? Because I have never
seen anyone's iris's yellow like that."

       Talan had the strange, pretty, silver eyes. Ashlynn had the
mesmerizing, powder blue eyes. I don't know why either of them would find
my eyes of interest. They both had pairs of unique colored eyes.

       "I get my eye color from my mom. It's my natural eye color, no
contacts." I tell them hoping their interest is somewhat satisfied by my
answer.

       The three of us exchanged endless questions to fill each other
out. These were the type of guys I liked to be around. I had to admit,
Talan and Ashlynn were awesome!

       Lunch time came. Ashlynn instructed me to walk beside him. While we
walked, We were searching for a place to station ourselves.

       That's when Talan decided; today wasn't an eating day for the three
of us. He clearly said `this would be the precise time for you to get
familiar with everyone's tables, faces, names, and powers.

       "This is our table." Ashlynn said while taking a seat. Soon after,
he pulled a nail filer from his shorts.

       Talan sat beside him, as they both began using nail filers on their
nails. When their nail files started moving, their mouths began to rain
information about the guys seated at the tables around ours.

       "Okay, just so you know," Talan swallowed "There are four different
groups in this school. Five if you count us." He blew on his nails for a
minute then started talking again. "See those boys over there?"

       I looked in the direction he pointed his nail filer. Looking for the
guys he was talking about. I think he knew, I didn't know where he was
pointing because he kept adding more details.

       "Over there, wearing the chains on their pants" I was trying to look
past people to see.  "They are wearing all black, from head to toe... With
the stern faces. You see them?"

       Right when he asked. I saw them. They were a little too weird for my
taste.

       "Those are the Goths!" Talan said, before he examined his
hands. Looking to see if his nails needed more work.

       "Yeah," Ashlynn said picking up where Talan left off. "and they all
have this power that gives them the ability to manipulate dark forces and
shadows." A streak of worry crossed my face, and I guess Ashlynn saw
it. "No need to get worried. There are only three strong people in each
group."

       "No need to worry?" I said challenging his suggestion. Dark forces
and shadows? That sounded intimidating. Who would want to challenge someone
with that ability?

       "Trust me, when I say there is no need to worry." Ashlynn stopped
filing his nails to say.  "Only the top three in each group can sometimes
be threats. You just have to know your battle skills, when it comes to
them... other than the top three, the rest of them are amateurs."

       The conversation switched to Talan. "The only three you need to
worry about in the goth group is: James, the one with the spikey black
hair," I immediately saw James. His weird spikes made him noticeable among
the rest. "Then there is Damian. Sitting there with the iron spiked neck
choker." When I located Damien, I was surprised anyone could wear such a
dangerous item without cutting their throat open. "and Mason. You can't
miss him. He's wearing the black lipstick." Talan said sounding excited and
bored.

       He sound like he was happy to be talking, because that was his
favorite thing to do, but he seemed bored because he was talking about guys
he already knew. Guys he saw everyday.

       Ashlynn chimed in as soon as Talan was done. "Look at that table of
boys across from them."

       He waited for me to find them. Which wasn't hard since they were a
small ways away from the goths.

       Ashlynn knew that I found them. "Yeah, them! Those are the jocks."
He added while grinding his nails with his nail filer. "They have a mixture
of powers at their table. I don't know why." He made a confused face.

       The soft scratching of Talan's emery board stopped for a second to
let him say something. "I don't know why either." He shrugged, "but I did
hear the principal say something about `sticking students there when their
powers didn't fit the other groups."

       Ashlynn looked at him as if he was saying `I never knew that.' But
he never spoke about it. He kept it to his self and talked about the top
three jocks.

       "The only three jocks you need to worry about is: Brady. Who is the
crinkly blond muscular guy. He can create illusions. John should be easy to
spot. He only wears blue. He wouldn't be caught dead without it. I think
John's need to wear blue has something to do with his ability to control
water. Hydrokinetic is another name for it."

       Ashlynn's pink lips were moving. I bet he had a battery somewhere in
them. It was the only way anyone's lips could move so fast.

       Talan sniffed as if that was Ashlynn's cue to let him take the third
person. "Lastly, there's Cameron. a.k.a. Mr. Lightening. Cameron is known
for controlling electricity. The proper term for that is
electrokinesis. Those are the top three in the jock group. They might be
buff but it doesn't slow them down in battle."

       My mind was processing the information the best way it could. This
was like an information overload. I was trying to remember the names they
were telling me but I was having trouble. With time, the names and faces
should match up correctly.

       Ashlynn hadn't stopped shaping his nails, "Anyway." He said flicking
his bleached hair out of his face. "Those are the emos." His powdery eyes
moved to another table. "They might look like Goths, but there's a big
difference between the two groups. An easy way to distinguish Goths from
emos is: Emos wear black with varieties of other colors, Where Goths only
wear black all day long."

       "They have the oddest colored hair streaks I have ever seen." Talan
interrupted, laughing to himself. "But I did hear that their streaks had
some odd association with their powers."

       When Talan finished talking. Ashlynn went back to introducing. "The
top guys over on the emos side are: T.J. he is to the left. The really
skinny one with the black hair and green streaks in it... you see him?" I
nodded, letting him know I identified who T.J. was. "Don't be fooled by his
size, he is geokinetic."

       My eyes squinted wondering what the word meant. "Does that mean he
has a disease or something?"

       "No." Ashlynn laughed, "It means he can control anything that is
rock, sand or mud.  Anything that's of the earth."

       "Whoa-"

       "That isn't the half of it." Talan told me, his silverish iris's
growing wider. "See that other guy with the shaggy black hair and all the
piercings?"

       "I think..." I didn't see this guy with the piercing until one of
the other emos moved their head. "Yeah, I see him now."

       "That is Adrian. Oh boy! That guy has this deep sonic scream that
can burst boulders into microscopic pieces. The noise is so deep it can
turn a brick into dust." After hearing that, I didn't know if the goths
were worse or were these guys worse. "I know, scary right?" Talan went back
to filing, he seem like he couldn't wait to introduce Adrian.

       "The third strongest emo is: the boy with the red streaks." Ashlynn
pointed his trimmed nail at the guy. When I saw who he was pointing at. An
immediate snap of recognition hit me.

       I know that dude!

       He continued, not knowing I already knew the guy he was talking
about. "That is Chance...the flame! The fire! He can produce flames from
his hands. He can even produce fire from his eyes. He is a weird one
because heat doesn't affect him at all."

       Talan might be right when he said the emos powers might be oddly
associated with their hair streaks. Take chance for example. Blood red
streaks, and he can control fire. T.J. with the green streaks he can
control earth.

       It could be true.

       I watched Chance interacting with his emo friends. They were
laughing dryly about something. It didn't look too funny. But they all
seemed bored and decided to laugh. There was something far more strange
about him than anyone else. I still wanted to know why he came by my dorm?

       "I don't know where he gets his olive skin color from. It's always
been a mystery. I want to know what race he is so bad." continued
Ashlynn. When he finished he switched his nail filer to his other hand. To
file his other nails.

       I eyed each table. Trying to keep up with the motor mouths sitting
at my table. I gave myself a review of everything they told me, and
everyone they mentioned.

       There is: Jocks, Emos, Goths and... oh yeah! Us sorcerers. I made a
list in my head so that I could remember these people better.

       Jocks: Brady(illusions), John(water), Cameron(lightening)

       Emos: T.J.(earth), Adrian(screamer), and Chance(fire)

       Goths: James(dark force), Damien(dark force), Mason(dark force)

       I think I'm getting the hang of the groups now, but something was
wrong. When I counted the groups I only kept coming out with four. There is
supposed to be five, right?

       "Oh, let's not neglect the preps." Ashlynn sang, I knew something
wasn't adding up. "The preps have mental powers. Their powers are centered
around the mind."

       Okay here is another group I have to add to the gigantic
list. Preps, power deal with the mind. Got it! Now all I need is names.

       I think Talan was doing names for the Prep group, because Ashlynn
gave him a killer glare. It was like Talan forgot his part on stage. "Oh,
oh, oh, right!" Talan said after realizing the look on Ashlynn's face. "The
top three preps are: Kyle, he's the one with the blue American eagle polo
with the collar popped. The only thing about Kyle he is telekinetic. Not
much else to say about him." Talan moved on, as if Kyle was one of the
least interesting of the top three.

       "The dark brown haired dude, his name is Reese. Who is a complete
mind bender. He can toy with your mind...you will have to see it to believe
it. His power isn't something I can just explain." When he finished with
Reese, he was blowing bits of left over dust from his pinky.

       I don't think his pinky nail was filed into the same shape as the
rest of his fingers. So he got back to it, as he mentioned the last
prep. "Finally there's Aaronn. The boy who is impossible to miss. His hair
is sleet white, and his eyes are a nice violet color. Aaronn happens to be
the only teenager I know with white hair." Talan said almost in shock.

       When I saw his hair, it was white and soft looking. just like Talan
said. I had to be honest, It added a mature edge to his features. He made
white hair look neat for youngsters.

       Talan was still talking, "He wears the best sophisticated attire
everywhere he goes. He is very proper, prim, and organized. One of the
smartest people you will ever know. I must let you in on a little secret."
Talan move closer to me with his hands cupping his mouth, in an attempt to
whisper.

       I leaned closer to his cupped mouth and tilted my left ear to his
lips. "Most of the other guys from the other groups are scared of Aaronn-

       "Why?" I said out in the open.

       Talan's eye brows wrinkled at my loud question. His silver eyes were
frowning at my ear.  "Shhhh." he said shushing me. "They are scared of him
because of his ability...he can see visions."

       Wow!

       The boys here could be dangerous competition, if I'm ever put up
against them. They seem like their powers give them more to offer on a
battle field. In a lot of ways their powers seem greater than
mine. Especially, since they have been coming to Celestial for years
learning how to sharpen their powers to a fine point.

       I'm still striving to be the best sorcerer. These guys are half way
to their goal. From the things Ashlynn and Talan told me, I can't say which
group gives me the most goose bumps.

       Being introduced brought on fear and feelings of anxiety. I thought
knowing these guys would help set another mode of familiarity with the
school, but I was wrong. Sometimes I wish I didn't know the things I knew
about them.  Maybe I would have been better off not knowing.

       My head was in a sort of spin. I was trying to keep talking to Talan
as if I wasn't bothered, but I kept skipping to the faces and
names. Wondering what techniques or moves they each could do. Sometimes I
would wonder, which person in particular would be my biggest competition?

       There was too much on my mind. I let the doubt drone out by talking
about other things outside of abilities with Ashlynn and Talan.

       It was amazing how we got along. It was like the three of us have
been friends for years.  I was starting to believe if I stuck with these
two, my chances of survival were better. I decided I would claim them
as... friends.

       They talked to me throughout the day. They talked to me while
walking me to my dorm.  It was like they never let me out of their sight.

       On our way to my dorm, I heard "Hey! Witch boys!" I saw Cameron's
buff arm was swinging in wave like motion. If I remembered correctly he was
the jock that could control lightening. Standing next to him was his other
jock friend John(water) who was staring our way.  Brady(illusions) was with
them not waving. His crinkly blond hair was thinking of other matters.

       Ashlynn's hand went up quickly waving at Cameron. Talan's hand was
slower in response to greet them. I didn't wave at all. I didn't know these
guys, and I viewed them as competition. I wasn't going to let their powers
out match mine.

       When they finished waving we began to walk again. Ashlynn asked me
`why didn't I wave at Cameron?' then, he and Talan took turns telling me
how cool the jocks were.

       On the inside, I didn't care for the jocks. I didn't think Ashlynn
or Talan should be friends with those guys. They weren't in our group. So,
I tried to find a small excuse to get them to see the jocks as competitors
or enemies.

       "Witch boys?" I gave them an agitated frown. "We aren't witches, we
are sorcerers." I corrected. Cameron's witch comment was another reason for
me not waving.

       "It's almost the same thing." Stated Talan, as if he could care less
about what he was called.

       Ashlynn spoke right after, "I know witches and sorcerers are
different, but that's what the boys call us around here. It's just a title
they gave us. They don't know the difference... it's something you have to
get used to." He strode on, blowing the situation off.

       They walked me to my dorm. It was a long day for me. I was loaded
with all kinds of information. My head felt like it was pounding. The only
thing I wanted to do was, take a shower and retreat to the comfort of my
new snug bed.

       Night took its toll. Making the sky a dark blue sparkling sight. I
froze blankly, staring at how captivating it was. While lying in bed unable
to release my eyes from the stars, I listen to the night sounds of crickets
chirping.

       A `Knock! Knock!' Alerted me, and I lost sight of the stars,
bouncing up into a sitting position in bed.

       As the door knob twisted, the door opened far enough to a crack. I
soon saw a head of black hair, with red streaks. Without guessing I knew
who it was.

       I knew him now. Thanks to Ashlynn and Talan, dumping that load of
information on me at lunch. My only question is, what does he want?

       "Hey, Julius." He said nervously. "Is it okay, if I come in this
time?" he began fidgeting with his fingerless gloves.

       Was he trying to be friends? Was he trying to learn what abilities I
could do as a sorcerer? Did he see me as a target or a threat? A million
thoughts were bearing down on me.

       If he knew I saw him as a threat, or one of my competitors, how
would he react?

       Then a good idea hit me.

       I can use friendship as a way of learning more about him. Who knows
what I might find out. I probably will be able to get in good enough to
learn his weakness.

       This will turn out for my better!

       "I guess it's okay for you to come in." I told him, using a sneaky
whisper. He didn't have any idea what I was up to. When he finds out how
malicious I can be, maybe he will scurry off.  As for now, I think I can
have my fun.

       Chance entered the dorm slowly. Easing the door shut trying to make
less sounds as possible. He and I, both knew the risk he was taking coming
in my dorm when he wasn't apart of my group.

       Chance was taking a `chance', but I knew he wouldn't be taking this
chance for no reason. This kid is determined to figure out more about my
power.

       He stood two feet from my bed. Staring strangely and curiously
through his blood streaked hair. His eyes roamed from wall to floor, to
closet, to ceiling. It made me uncomfortable again.
       What is he looking for?

       "Don't get caught in here." I warned him, but he said nothing
back. It was a moment later when he started talking. Each word that came
was slow and uncertain.

       I sat there listening to him,

       I think it's time to play like I'm his friend. It was urgent that I
learned his weakness...and his purpose for knocking on my door.
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