Chapter Three, Part One

"Absolutely not! I forbid it!", spoke the Dean in a flaming rage. Zen had now intended to go after Christine. However, there was just one obstacle in his way. "I've never heard of anything so preposterous! She is gone! We're done with her. She did not pass the test! Did we not agree to those terms?"

Zen remained calm and immobile. "She did pass the test. Your "terms" intended me to kill her, and she survived."

"She DID NOT kill the beast!", retaliated Dean.

"I summoned that beast. Whether or not she killed it is irrelevant. It was a game of survival and she survived."

The Dean stood silently for a second, then walked over to the window. Picking up a slender gray jug, he began to water his plant.

"What's this about Zen? You've never so openly defied me before."

"The Legacy...", spoke Zen softly. "I believe...she is The Legacy..."

The Dean continued to water his plant. "YOU are The Legacy Zen. I'll be perfectly honest. The Legacy is the one who has the will and competence to keep our planet safe from its future. To guide and protect The Prodigy on her journey. Can you honestly tell me that this girl has more skill to carry out this task than you?"

"I believe so."

"And what do you judge this "belief" on?"

"A feeling..."

"Damn it Zen," the Dean continued to water, much more than the plant needed. The water reached the top of the pot. Zen could sense the Dean was agitated. "What would you have me do? Let you give up your whole career over this because that's what you'd be doing! Giving up everything we've worked for!"

"Everything YOU'VE worked for." Zen corrected.

"Dammit! I bought you in here when you were a nothing! I gave you a chance when others were waiting in line! And now you turn on me. I gave you a purpose!"

"A purpose as a tool. An instrument of destruction for your own fancy. Are you telling me YOU can operate the transporters? You need me MUCH more than I need you. Don't make a mistake you'll live to regret."

"That's enough!", the water began to flow over the top of the flower pot and started to spill everywhere. Dean did not notice. "You are the Legacy. Discussion over."

"Christine is the..."

"YOU ARE THE LEGACY!!!!!" Julius Dean swirled around and threw the watering jug across the room. It shattered on the far wall just above Zen's head. He didn't even flinch.

Dean went back to his chair and slumped down in it. After a moment to gain his composure he spoke softly, "The Prodigy...has been found."

"What?"

"That's right. She has contacted me. She is awake. The daughter of Althena is awake."

"LaMae has risen?"

"Yes. You see? Hate me all you want, but The Legacy has begun, and your destiny was already in motion before you walked into this office. You have no choice."

Dean held up a small keypad. "This will lead you to her Zen. Just connect this to the transporter. All your work Zen, has been leading up unto this very day. You can not sit idly by and let the Blue Star be destroyed. Evaporated... I know you too well."

Zen took the keypad out of The Dean's hand. Dean grinned in approval. After a moment staring at the keypad, Zen looked the Dean straight in the eyes. "You DID give me a purpose. But...you don't own me. I control my own destiny. I will go to meet The Prodigy...only AFTER I go get Christine." Zen turned around and started out the door.

Dean stood up. "ZEN! If you do this, if you explicitly disobey me, I will grant you Exclusion! You hear?!! You will never be allowed back in these gates!!!"

"Do what you will." Zen left the office behind and the only man he ever truly "knew."

Zen met Bat in the hallway. Zen motioned a soft nod as if to say the obstacle has been overcome and it was time to go.

When they were all packed, Zen and Bat stopped outside the iron gates of the Magic Academy of Vane. Zen looked back over his shoulder towards the tower he once resided in. A cage it may have been, but he almost hesitated leaving it all behind. Change is a painful experience, but even more so for Zen because he was only following his instincts concerning Christine.

"He was using you, Zen." remarked Bat seeing his master in doubt. "You know he was. He didn't really care about what you wanted."

"Perhaps...but he left me alone. Maybe that's the best type of guardian...Let's go."

They left the gates and headed towards the forest where the transporter lie waiting.

Christine had walked through the doors of her homestead late the previous night. Her expectation was confirmed. Her mother, a shy-subservient woman only turned her head while Christine's father leaned into a tirade.

"What are YOU doing back here?"

"You were right father...I wasn't good enough to stay at The Academy...I've...I've come home..." Christine smiled a little to ease the tension, but quickly dropped it when her father looked irritated.

Her father's eyes narrowed and his lips tightened. "And so now you just expect to walk into this house again after defying my wishes?!!" Christine's mother said nothing, but continued to look at the floor.

"No, Father." Christine genuflected upon her knees as though she were praying to an angry god. "I've come to beg forgiveness and ask to live here once more."

"You are a burden, do you know that? You constantly find ways to make your mother's life miserable!"

"Yes sir." Christine spoke to the floor.

"Am I not good enough to be looked at? Look at me when you talk young lady!"

Christine looked up. "Yes, sir..."

"Yes, sir WHAT?!" He was going to make her say it. Like a master who teaches his dog, Christine's father would make her remember her mistake.

"Yes sir...I am a burden. I know. I'm sorry." Tears started rolling down Christine's cheeks.

"Oh for Althena's sakes! Are you crying? What have YOU to cry about? I'M the one who has to put up with this nonsense! Stop it! Stop your damn crying right now!" Father stomped the floor.

Christine wiped her eyes and did her best to hold back the pain that swelled inside her with each breath.

"I don't believe this." continued Christine's father. "I constantly work overtime to support this family and then I have to spend it on this...this...ACADEMY, only to have you come back because you're the failure I always knew you were!" Christine's mother remained motionless. "Waste MY money, and YOU'RE the one crying!"

Christine's mother finally spoke very very softly, "She has no place to go dear. Can we not let her stay? She is our daughter and she could be of help to you in the shop..." Christine's mother was very careful to avoid any eye-contact with Father.

Father stroked his chin and thought and finally said, "Well, you're right I suppose. I could use an extra hand at the shop." He addressed Christine. "I suppose you can stay..."

"Thank you Father."

"Now get upstairs and go to bed! You can unpack tomorrow. I don't want you waking us up. This house was quiet before you came back and I expect it to stay that way!"

"Yes Father. Good night." Christine grabbed her bags and hurried upstairs. She came to the door of her familiar room and stepped inside.
The room was just as she had left it. Empty, except for a desk, a bed, and very plain walls. The only distinguishing feature of this room was a large shelf-like stand which held many crystal figurines upon flat disks. Before she went to the Academy, crystal design through spell use was her favorite hobby. Each statue glistened quietly acknowledging her return. The drawers of her desk contained many of her favorite books, and while she couldn't sleep, she didn't feel like reading. Instead, she set down her bags and grabbed her blue blanket off the bed. She nestled herself in a corner by the window and wrapped the blanket around her.

As she stared out the window she looked at the stars glittering in the sky like a silk bag of overturned diamonds and wished she were somewhere else. And yet where else was she to go? At home at least she had been safe. She could forget The Academy and start again. Maybe working in the shop would not be so bad. She thought about this for many minutes, content and miserable at the same time. She finally dozed off.

The next morning Christine came downstairs to find Mother working in the kitchen. "Your father is working today." Christine was relieved. "He told me to tell you he'll have lots for you to do at the shop in the next few days. Please do your best to please him Christine. He only wants you to find your place. He cares, truly."

"Yes, Mother."

"Get something to eat. And then I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"The garden outside..." Christine perked up. She had almost forgotten the plants she had to leave behind and hoped they were still as beautiful. "The garden needs to be tended. I tried to keep it nice for you, but you are more adept at gardening than I. The plants...they seem to respect you more... perhaps..." she said with a soft smile.

"I'm sure you did a fine job Mother. I'll tend to it immediately."

After breakfast Christine changed her clothes and headed outside to the small garden. The flowers almost seemed to brighten just by the sight of her, long lacking true care. "Hello my friends." she said. "Has Mother been taking care of you?" Even though it lacked the size of Dean's garden, it was beautiful in a compact sort of way. Christine knew each flower intricately and proceeded to check each one.

Christine had brought Blue outside with her. He meeped playfully among the flowers, but was careful not to damage anything.
Suddenly, while Christine was pruning with her scissors, a familiar voice crept up behind her, "Christine..."

Christine swirled around and Zen stood before her. A nightmare of memories flashed before her. She sat there for many moments, her mouth ajar. She had not expected to see him again, nor had she cared to. She closed her mouth and turned around and continued to trim the stems of her flowers.
Blue gave out a light growl and jumped up at Zen, biting at his fingers.

*Click to view.*

"I see you've trained him well. Wasn't this one of Bap's little pets?"

"What do you want Zen?"

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