CHAPTER 5
"With that it's time for your magic test." Evandalyn stated. She led them from her room and into a glass ball at the top of the spire. There was a bed in the middle of the chamber. "Lauren, go lay down on the bed please."
"There's a lot of sleeping and resting in this tower."
"Yes. Your power grows when your mind is at rest. I mean you have so much you can do inside that brain of yours. Your magic is stored within you. To truly test it, your self-consciousness must be in control. You will remember everything, and this will give your conscious mind a goal to achieve."
Lauren laid down and got comfortable. Edmon and Demeatral stepped out of the glass chamber. They would be outside the door standing guard. They would be ready to help Lauren when she what's done with her test. They knew that she would be weak and have no idea how to move. Evandalyn stepped out next, leaving Lauren totally alone for the first time since she started this journey.
Suddenly, Lauren was surrounded by all forms of imaginary creatures. She didn't recognize them all, but she knew most of them. It felt like they were talking about her. When she tried to conversate with them she did not think they heard her. She decided to wait until they chose to speak to her. And she looked around the room, she saw a bookshelf. She walked over to see what books were on the shelf. The closer she got to it she realized that a thousand books that she had read, even the kindle books, were the books on the shelf. She wondered if she should choose one to reread while she waited. Then she saw a second bookshelf. It contains books that she had never seen before, and she thought maybe she should choose a new book instead. The creatures still watched her but did not acknowledge her. So, she walked over to the new bookshelf and chose the first book on the very top row to the left. She took the book not even looking at the title or cover to the bed and got comfortable ready to read.
"Why did you choose that book?" A voice in the room asked.
Lauren didn't know which voice asked her, but she figured it would be polite to answer. After all, this was a test. "It's just the way I read books. If I am presented with a new shelf of books and I have not read any of them before, I always start with the first book on the top shelf to the left and work my way down. I would probably end up reading all of the books so there's no need for me to pick through them." After nothing else was said, Lauren read the title of the book. "Of Heaven and Home". It was an interesting enough title and Lauren began to read the book. She was introduced to the creatures of the sky. She was taught about the different levels in the heavens and each level's inhabitants. Angels, Cherubs, Pegasus, Alicorns, Dragons, Fairies, and all the flying creatures of fantasy were mentioned. The book told of a war that was fought in heaven where some of the Angels were cast out and forced to live in the earthly realm. The book told of the sadness of God and his desire to share his world with sentient beings, so he created humans. He created a world that was perfect only to have it tainted by humans. The heavenly creatures watched as God became even sadder. The heavenly beings try to make God happy by having children. The young gods and goddesses ran around and brought him a little joy in playing and being children. But God still missed and was upset about his angels and the creations he lost in the war. He was very upset about the humans he lost in the taint. The book goes on to say that the heavenly beings are the saviors of the earthly realm. If it wasn't for the creation of the gods and goddesses, the Earth realm would have failed. They are responsible for empowering the good creatures, the positive preachers, and the joy-bringing creatures that were on Earth.
When Lauren finished the book, she went back to see who the author of the book was. The book was written by the angel Gabriel. And now she could see where the bias came in. Of course, a heavenly being would write positively about heavenly beings.
Lauren didn't understand how this was a magic test. All she was doing was sitting around reading a book or books actually because she was going to go and get the next book to read. As she reached for the next book, the voice spoke up, "This time when you choose, pick the spine that catches your attention." Lauren stopped in her reach and took a minute to look at the spines of the books. She pulled out a book with a gold and iridescent sheen. The title said, "Discerning Beings". She noted the book in her mind and slid it back onto the shelf. Next, she pulled a green and yellow spine. The title said, "Natural Flow". This book really caught her attention, and she took it completely down from the shelf.
She carried the book to the bed and started to read. "Why did you choose that book?" The voice asked.
"I liked the plants on the cover and the title was catchy," Lauren replied.
"Thank you for your cooperation, my lady. The voice stated. "You may take the book with you if you wish.
"In my mind library?"
"Yes." The voice replied. "Just put it on the shelf with your 1000 books."
Lauren walked over to the shelf and slid the book on the shelf. She also saw the book "Of Heaven and Home" already on the shelf. The book slid in place at the end of the bottom row, just like Lauren stated she organized her books.
"The rest of the unread books here will also be made available in your mental library."
Lauren woke up and felt very refreshed. "How was that a test? I just chose books and read." Evandalyn asked.
"The results of the test will be presented by the Keeper." The voice replied.
Lauren got up and left the room. When she stepped out of the door, she expected to see Edmon and Demeatral but instead, the sky was on fire and creatures of all types were fighting battles. Suddenly, everything stopped, and all eyes were focused on her. Lauren didn't know if she should run or fight. Until she saw Edmon in trouble fighting an Ogre across the garden and Demeatral fighting a Dark Harpy on top of one of the spires. She didn't know how she could help, but she was determined to try.
Edmon and the ogre faced off on the wooden platform. Edmon had a short sword, shooting lightning from his hands, while the ogre swung a huge mallet. Lauren jumped into the air and with one thought teleported over to his side. She touched the ogre and sent him somewhere. She had no idea where. She grabbed Edmon and pictured them helping Demeatral as she fought the Dark Harpy. They materialized next to her at the top of the spire. Lauren pointed to the point of the spire. It broke off and speared the Dark Harpy in the chest killing it. While Edmon and Demeatral defended Lauren, she closed her eyes and gathered all of the allies in her mind and surrounded them with protective power. She then pushed all the other beings away from the palace, the village around the palace, and to another kingdom she saw in her mind. She then created a protective dome over the entire kingdom.
Once she completed the dome, she fainted away. Lauren woke up again not sure where she was and how everything was in the village. She was greeted by Evandalyn, Edmon, and Demeatral in the testing room. "Hello, my dear," Evandalyn said in a sweet comforting tone. "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine. What happened during the battle? Is everyone ok? Did the dome hold?" Lauren asked anxiously.
"Everything is fine. There was no battle. It was a part of your test." Evandalyn explained. Lauren looked puzzled. "The test was to check three things about you. When you picked the book off the shelf, it told us how you organize your life and pick tasks that must be done. When you were asked to choose the spine of the book that caught your eye, we were searching for what truly interests you. The battle you created in your mind, showed your potential. You have great potential. You also showed your loyalty to those you are developing friendships with. You are going to make a beautiful and powerful keeper. I wonder where you sent all those creatures you banished from this kingdom. It was wonderful to watch you figure out who was on your side and who was not." Evandalyn continued to gush praise on her.
Lauren didn't know what to say. It made her nervous to know what she had the potential to do, but not how to do it. She hoped she would be able to live up to the expectations of her dreams. Evandalyn sensed Lauren's trepidation and took her in a hug. "Don't worry you have time to master your skills and to become the person you dream of becoming. You created that image. The elders and teachers love the future you that you want to become and will work hard to help you become her." That calmed Lauren's racing mind a bit. She decided to take things one day at a time.
Evandalyn led the way out of the testing room, Edmon and Demeatral supported Lauren as they headed out. They were greeted by all the teachers and a select group of students. Lauren recognized several of them because they were in most of her classes. "I told you that your introduction to the other creatures would be done in a deliberate manner. We need to know how you will react to the magic of each creature. These are the students that you will get to know the best, mostly because they are your classmates and my hand-picked choices to become your personal guard and support. Well, since your test is over and you seem to be okay, I figured we should celebrate." Lauren was happily stunned.
Edmon and Demeatral walked with her as she was introduced to her new social circle. Thankfully, she wasn't expected to remember everyone's names, but she enjoyed getting to know each person. They socialized the rest of the night.