25 Changes

Will and the others returned after getting Jake a wardrobe to put in one of the empty rooms. Seeing his reaction when he saw the mansion was enough to put a smile on Will's face. He had almost instantly warmed up to Jake, besides his shortcomings in life, he seemed like an interesting person to have around. Having been on the streets, Jake had to have at least a little bit of fighting experience in order to protect what was his so Will decided to put it to the test within a few days.

Having settled Jake into his new room, Will went to find Michael in order to update him on what had happened. He was slightly prepared for anything that might happen. Should his uncle disagree with his actions, he would use his money in which Michael gave him to set up a rent payment per month. He would not accept that Jake wouldn't be able to stay, should it come to that.

Searching the manor, Will found Michael in the garden room. As soon as he entered, he was in awe. It seemed as though he fit a small lawn within the mansion. It was nothing but grass and trees everywhere, as if summer time only existed within that particular part of the building while outside was nothing but a winter wonder land.

Michael was sitting on a bench drinking tea when Will found him. A decent sized tree was giving him shade from the artificial sun in which kept everything green. "William you've finally returned." Michael said with a smile almost as bright as the room was. "Tell me how your day off went." Patting on the bench next to him, he invited Will to take a seat.

Will started with telling him how much shopping Bianca had put him through. Showing his clearly evident distaste for the task Michael couldn't help but laugh. Will then told him about meeting Jake.

"What exactly did you feel when you saw him?" Michael asked, curious as to why his nephew was so captivated by one homeless person. It seemed as though he was waiting for an answer that he already knew.

"When I saw him, I felt like it was my obligation to help him." Will said honestly. "When the men came to us and shoved their knives in his face, I couldn't exactly allow it to happen." Will had a look of mixed feelings. "I put the men in their place and asked Jake to join us here and help with my training," fidgeting with his hands, he waited to see if Michael was going to say anything. After a moment of silence, Will took another breath. "I saw strength in him," He said as he looked at Michael. "I saw that he would be someone I would want on my side later." With that, he waited for his uncle's response.

"You sound more like your father than you know," Michael said after a long drawn out sigh. "Before you and your mother left, he was also looking for people with strong values in order to change the kingdom." Michael looked at Will with a look of complex emotions. "You are going to be a very important person very soon William, you need to be the one to pick out your supporters." Michael smiled as he saw Will's face brighten ever so slightly. "Your friend can stay as long as you wish him to, I feel like you need a change in sparring partners anyway." He said as he got up. "You might want to integrate Bianca into the training as well, I feel like she would benefit as well." Will was instantly confused as he thought of his uncles parting words.

Why would he spar with Bianca? It wasn't a sexist thing, but he didn't think she had any fighting experience whatsoever. Though sooner or later she would need to be able to defend herself, so it wouldn't be too bad of an idea to get her started. Pulling out his phone, he sent a flame into it and thought of Bianca. Within moments, a picture of her in the dining room with Jake showed up.

"Bianca, take Jake outside by the pond, I'll be there in just a moment." With that, he let the picture dim before he put the phone back in his pocket. As soon as he sent the message, he went to the gym in which she showed him before they left to go shopping and grabbed three wooden swords.

Will arrived outside first, so he had a moment to think about what he was going to tell them. He knew that sooner or later, they would be put in the same position as Maya, where the cloaks would have them surrounded. If they didn't know how to protect themselves, they were as good as dead. He could only be in so many places at once, and he was just starting to get the hang of his own power. Ensuring that they could take care of themselves would allow him to focus on the fight in front of him instead of at all sides.

Bianca and Jake appeared from the entrance to the manor. Will could tell just by the look on Jake's face that he was worried. He didn't know why he was summoned to the outside of the manor and he was thinking the worst. Will would have to apologize to him later for the misunderstanding. Within moments, both of them were in front of him, obviously confused as to why he had swords in the snow next to him.

"First thing I would like to say," Will started his explanation with a smile. He turned to Jake first. "You have been allowed to stay, just as I said you were." He had to smile when he saw the look of relief on Jake's face. Will understood that what he had given the man was something no one could truly expect. "Secondly," Will continued, his smile vanishing, replaced by a look of seriousness. "Both of you are going to start training alongside me." He saw Bianca's face light up as he continued his instructions. "Michael and myself understand the situation that we are in, unfortunately with both of you here you have also been added into the equation." Will said as he looked at the two of whom he had been entrusted with. "I would not be at peace unless I know you two will be able to handle yourselves in situations that call for action. Of course you have a choice in the matter, as soon as you feel this life is too hard, you can leave." Looking at the two, he couldn't help but remember when he was in the same position, asking Michael to make him stronger.

"I told you I was in," Bianca was the first to speak up. "No matter how dangerous, I won't leave your side." She gave him a serious look as she picked up one of the training swords that were sitting on the ground. Will smiled at her, he knew her resolve to stay with him. One of the things he had always respected about her was her sense of justice, she didn't even question why Jake got in the car to come back with them, nor did she complain about the money they spent on him.

Jake had a complex look on his face, he looked deep in thought. "Can you teach me to fight like you did?" He asked as he looked at Will. "I want to gain the same strength I saw as you saved me from the streets." Will smiled at him, he didn't know if he could extend the exact power, but he could turn him into a force to be reckoned with. Will nodded to him and Jake turned serious. "After everything you have done for me, I don't think I could say no if I tried." He said as he searched for the right words to say. "I owe you my life Will, wherever you go I go." In that instant, his resolve was set and he picked up the other sword.

"Alright then, the first part of your training is to do two hours of sword thrusts." Will said with a smile. All of it seemed nostalgic as he saw the two of them take their positions. He had to instruct them in the proper way of handling the sword just as Michael did, but in ten minutes they were hard at work.

Will watched them for the full two hours, neither of them faltered in their training, neither of them so much as complained. Will called time as soon as his phone reached two hours. The both of them were covered in a light coat of sweat as they turned to him for the next exercise. Will picked up the other training sword as he looked at the two. "I want both of you to come at me, we will not move forward until you can land one strike." Taking up his familiar stance, he beckoned them forward.

They came with no hesitation, committed to landing a strike to move on in their training. At first their strikes were sloppy and he was able to land about ten points per minute between the each of them. Though as they started to get used to their weapon, he had to be doubly on defensive. Within a half hour, he had to switch to using his aura to fend them off. Both Bianca and Jake had taken a team effort to gain their point. While Bianca went for his left, Jake would take the right. Many points in time, Will had to use his aura in order to jump out of the way of a dual attack.

It was towards the end of their sparring session that Will had started to notice something different. He was watching Bianca attack when he noticed a slight red hue surrounding her. He thought it was his imagination until he saw her sword take on the same color. She had become faster, to the point that he had to use the same barrage that Michael did against him so many times. Switching to his other hand, Will deflected Jakes advance when he noticed the same occurrence within his new friend. Jake had taken a darker aura, as black as the obsidian gate that brought Will to Crystallia at first.

Will was pushed to his limits as black and red were attacking him on all sides. He had no idea what was going on. How could they possibly gain an aura? 'I thought that was just a thing in Crystallia.' Will thought to himself as he blocked another attempt by Jake. In a split second from then, Will could feel a wooden sword at the back of his neck. He turned to see Bianca holding the blade, her expression was ferocious. "Point." She muttered before she started to fall to the ground. Will caught her before she hit the snow.

All Will could do is sit on the ground while she was unconscious on his lap. Jake had taken a seat on the fountain, waiting for his other sparring partner to come to. He had a worried look on his face as he watched the rise and fall of her breathing, as if making sure she was still alive. It only took three minutes for her to come to. Opening her eyes, she stared up at Will. "Did we do good?" She asked, hoping for at least a little praise from her instructor.

Will furrowed his brows, he had no idea what to make of this turn of events. He needed to get to Michael as soon as he could to ask him how this could happen. Will sat Bianca up, still using a hand for support as she steadied herself. "You two have done way better than I could have possibly imagined." He smiled to the two of them, he couldn't feel any happier at the turn of events if he had been given a million dollars, though he already had been given much more than that. Will chuckled at the thought.

"I want you both to do something for me." He said as he got both of their attention. "Sit cross legged for a moment." Both of them did as they were told, sitting on the snowy ground waiting to see what was next. "I want you two to picture something for me," He said as he paced the ground near them. "Close your eyes picture heat, picture a sunny day or anything in which you would apply the word 'heat' to and hold onto that feeling." Will stopped in front of them as he watched their expressions. Bianca was the first to notice it, Jake followed only moments after. Both of their faces were riddled in confusion.

"What you both have noticed is something I call a second skin, or aura," Will started his explanation of his flame. "Imagine it circulating in your body, as your blood does in your veins." Will watched them intently as they took the first step in learning how to master their new abilities. "If you get that part down, imagine it circulating into the palm of your hand in the shape of a flame." As he watched, Bianca had presented a pure ruby red candle flame within the palm of her hand, while Jake had presented a pure black one. Within a few seconds, both of them put down their hands and looked completely exhausted.

"Will, was that magic?" Bianca asked as she looked at Will with a completely dumbfounded expression. "How in the world is it even possible that I can do that?" She was both shocked and excited at the same time. Will had to stop her from trying to repeat the same action. Jake had the same dumbfounded expression his training partner had. First he had been invited to live in a mansion with all the food he could eat, and now he was learning magic? If the welts on his body weren't throbbing he would have thought all of it was a dream.

"For now, go back to your rooms and meditate for an hour, before that make sure you get plenty of food." Will was in a hurry to get to Michael to ask about this change in events. "Your aura will strengthen again in one hour, you will feel a surge of strength when it's ready." He continued his instruction. "Think of this aura as you would a muscle, you have to use it in order for it to grow stronger." He watched his apprentices as they absorbed any piece of information that may help them. "With each time you use it, you will be able to use it longer the next."

Will circulated his aura to his own hand. Instead of it being a candle, he created five watermelon sized flames. "With enough practice, you will be able to hold five flames this size for an entire day." Jakes jaw dropped as he saw the amount of power Will had already amassed. It wasn't too surprising to Will though, he had trained his flame every day for at least six months, if he wasn't at this level yet it would mean he was slacking.

Will excused Bianca and Jake after his explanation and dismissed his flame. 'How is this even possible?' He thought to himself. If there was anyone who could tell him, it was his uncle. Will hurried back to the manor in the hopes of some much needed answers. If anything was clear, it was that Will wouldn't have to worry too much anymore about his new partners being able to handle themselves.