manda . r a i

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"Ready to move on Sandra?" Kevin asked when he felt Sandra was ready. He already knew what she was going to say, but he had to ask anyways.
"
"Yeah, what am I supposed to do now?" Sandra asked, she couldn't wait.

"Now you move on to the squares you see on the wall. Turn them a different color," Kevin commanded.

Sandra focused her power on the walls, she willed them to turn black, her favorite color. She felt the inky blackness surround her, and she projected it onto the walls. "Great," she heard Kevin approve. "Keep on going." Sandra felt her power over the lines and squares increase as she changed the squares different colors, and then changed the colors of both the lines and squares together. Guided by Kevin, her confidence in herself grew. I can do it! I can do whatever I want with the colors!
Kevin studied Sandra's face as she concentrated on turning the squares and lines different colors. He could tell she would be successful, her face showed no signs of hard labor, in fact it seemed relaxed. Her forehead wasn't furrowed, her lips unpursed. She even had a small smile on her face. The only indication of any effort was the way her eyelids fluttered, and the small beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead. Her fingers moved as if in rhythm with a song playing in her mind. Seeing the ease with which Sandra changed the colors, he knew that she was ready to move onto harder things.

"Sandra, I believe that is enough for today, you can do more tomorrow. Let us go visit Zanderia, shall we?" Kevin suggested.

"Sure!" Sandra couldn't wait to see Zanderia again, she hadn't seen her for the longest time. "How are we going to get there?"

"Let's go," Kevin held out his hand, and Sandra took it. Kevin raised his left hand toward the ceiling, and a portal opened before them. Kevin led Sandra into the misty purple haze.

The mist engulfed Sandra with a light coolness as she stepped into it. A faint smell of lavender reached her nose, and she felt herself moving forward slowly like before. This time however, the feeling of pressure against her ears didn't happen. Sandra gently floated ahead, sensing a feeling of peace. The bright light at the end of the haze surprised her like before, but now that she knew how it would feel, she wasn't afraid of it. Slowly they passed through the white light; Sandra gasped at the quick stab of pain, but it was soon over.

They were standing in front of a large country house. It's tidy beige trimmings, and bright white paint with a sprawling wide front porch reminded Sandra of perfect houses out of a storybook. A porch swing swung mindlessly back and forth, pots of flowers and plants stood near the door and in the corners. Lush green grass occupied the front lawn, and tiny daisies dotted the borders. Sandra drew in her breath at the picturesque scene, she had never seen a house look so pretty and neat. She almost expected chestnut horses to come trotting by, carrying happy little girls on their backs.

"Shall we go in?" Kevin cocked his head at her and offered his elbow. Sandra took it and together they walked toward the door. Kevin knocked on the door three times, and they stood back to wait. A creaking voice called from inside, "I'm coming! Hold on!" Footsteps slowly approached the door.

The door opened a crack, and a wrinkled eye peeked out. "Oh, Kevin, 'tis you!" The woman seemed relieved as she opened the door farther. "Come in! Come in!" She waved Kevin and Sandra inside.

"Who is she?" Sandra whispered to Kevin. The woman was hunched over, her thin white hair pulled back in a pathetic bun. Wrinkles outlined her face, and her clothes hung off of her thin frame. She looked nothing like Zanderia's acquaintances. She busied herself with watering flowers near a window.

"Just wait," Kevin whispered back, "you'll see." He turned around to face the woman and cleared his throat. "Ah, er, Olivia, forgetting something?"

The elderly woman glanced up from the flowers and cackled, somewhat embarrassed. She tilted her head back toward the ceiling, and lifted her arms up. A bright white light swirled around her, starting at her feet and then working up, to her head. It stayed there for a minute, hovering around the old lady. However, when the light disappeared, a completely new person was standing where the old hag had been standing just before. Sandra couldn't believe her eyes. The woman had changed, now she stood tall, with bright, softly curled auburn hair flowing down to her waist. A wreathe of flowers and berries perched on top of her head. She wore a long flowing pale green dress with a high waist, and sweeping sleeves reaching halfway to the floor. Her gentle hazel eyes met Sandra's as she turned around completely to face them. Sandra had never seen anyone so beautiful. A soft smile played at the corner of her lips as she saw Sandra's surprise. Then she spoke.
"Hello Sandra, my name is Olivia. I am the Keeper of Nature, do you recall?" Her smile brightened up the whole room. "Shall we go meet Zanderia now?" Sandra nodded and followed Olivia down a long hallway.

Olivia's soft slippers shuffled across the floor as she led Kevin and Sandra toward the back of the house. Smells of coffee and chocolate chip cookies drifted out of an arched doorway. Sandra's mouth watered as they approached the source. She couldn't wait for a bite of those chocolate chip cookies. "Here, help yourselves," Olivia led them into the room, which turned out to be a large kitchen and dining room.

The kitchen was large and airy, sunlight streamed in through the windows, bathing everything in a bright light. Marble-topped counters lined the walls. Platters of soft browned cookies crowded the counters. A coffee maker bubbled in one corner, it's delicious aroma filling the air. Small tendrils of smoke drifted out of a stainless steel oven. To Sandra's right, all other ten Keepers sat around a round table, laughing gaily, sipping their coffee, and munching on their cookies. They all were primly dressed, like old English ladies at tea time.

"Sandra! Welcome! How are you?" Zanderia stood up from the table and glided over to Sandra with a flurry of skirts. Zanderia gave Sandra a quick hug and ushered her over to the table. Zanderia waved her hands over the table and two chairs appeared. Kevin and Sandra plopped down in them and was immediately offered platefuls of cookies and cups of coffee. They took them graciously.
"Mmm.. these are delicious!" Sandra exclaimed, her mouth full of cookie crumbs. She licked her fingers and reached out for more. After gobbling the cookies down, Sandra leaned back with a small sigh. "I don't think I've eaten so much cookies before!" She rubbed her stomach, "Wow, I am so full! Thanks again!"
Zanderia smiled at Sandra. "So, ready to start now?"

Sandra looked up, "Start what?" She didn't feel like doing anything after eating so much.

"Why, your training of course!" Zanderia snapped her fingers and instantly all the dishes and cups were gone. They were left with just the table. The room around them had disappeared. It was replaced with darkness.

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