“Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa.” I can hear Jenn down the hall as soon as I open the door. Coming closer, she is wearing some loose clothing that looks comfortable to be lounging around in. Her father and mother are talking to her. She has a hold of her fathers’ arm, prancing back and forth in excitement, trying to get her father to come with her. “Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa.” She keeps repeating in excitement.

As I get closer, I will pass them on my way to the cafeteria, Jenn suddenly stops and looks at me wide-eyed. It is a surreal scene. Jenn, with both hands, has one of her fathers’ arms clasped at the wrist. Doctor Lightbringer's back is mostly towards me, facing his daughter. Lilly is perpendicular to me, facing her family, but giving me the evil eye over her shoulder. And here comes Daylor from the opposite direction with one of the smuggest grins I have ever seen.

Jenn looks at me with all the wonder of a five-year-old child telling me about Santa Claus and says “Grandpa is coming…. I have to get my sword…” And bolts away heading out the door.

Now her father is starting to chase after her. Not even close. It’s like she’s flying on the tips of her toes. “Jenn, JENN!” Her father calling after her.

I’m guessing that her mom could have caught her, but she has currently turned her glare on Daylor who put a hand up to stop her. Last I remember of these two, Daylor was caught google eyeing Jenn and making a run for it. He’s standing up to her gaze now, quite full of himself hardly containing the grin on his face.

“Your father bids you come see him.” Daylor says to Lilly. Lilly visibly deflates, letting out a breath and lowering her gaze. Daylor pauses for a moment, then presses his advantage further. “He asked for you by name.” I pause to watch as the news strengthens Lilly. Her eyes brighten, her bearing strengthening growing proud. There was something there, maybe being forgiven or relieved by her father speaking her name. “I will make the journey.” She says with joy and brightened smile radiating out from her.

Pausing for a moment, Lilly, with a slow blink and a refreshing breath, starts to move forward. As this is happening, I notice Daylor’s smug grin twisting up even further as he glances at me and says to Lilly in a quieter voice as she steps past him. “He is here now.”

I didn’t know an elf could stumble, but Lilly had to catch herself as it looked like one of her legs started to give out as she tripped herself with the other. Taking a moment to recover, I can’t see her face as she has her back is to me and facing Daylor.

“He bids you come now.” He says in that same quieter voice, turning his head to look in the direction that I am guessing he might be.

I think Lilly took a half step back as she turned to look in that same direction. I can’t help myself as I am compelled to look in that same direction. We are looking at a blank wall in the hallway. I am sure that her father is in that direction, but I have to turn and keep going before I make some self-amusing comment about how nice the wall looks today.

Getting some lunch, I’m sitting here thinking that there might be some exciting things starting to happen. Not sure how dangerous it is. The children were moved, but you would think that everyone would have cleared out if it was something really dangerous. If there was a gunman in a mall, I would get out and I think most everyone else would too. But this is more like there is some big event coming that people came to watch with the tear here and the Zealot coming.

After finishing up some light lunch, I look up to an unhappy face standing across the table. “You’re Late.” Jaxx says. Standing with him is another older gentleman in some loose robes that I haven’t met before.

“Sorry about that Jaxx. I appreciate you helping me out. I just got back and with moving over to some new housing it slipped my mind.”

“Over in the ranked section?” he asks.

“Officer Trailbreaker took me over and Bart set me up with a room. They even gave me an honorary Iron Plate.” I pull up the plate partway so they can see it from under my shirt.

“Honorary?” he asks.

“Yeah, they had a bunch of identification stones, but none of them worked. I think they were going to give it to me anyway. Sorry again about missing it. I think I can get there tomorrow if I’m still here. If you have time in mind or now if you like?”

Jaxx looks over at the man next to him, then turns back to me. “Now is good.” Then turns heading back towards the gym.

I clean up my area and quicken my step to catch up, but they are already gone. More people are gathering outside, but there is still plenty of room.

I get to the training facility, the other man is talking to Jaxx and pointing around at the different equipment outside. He stops as I get closer.

Jaxx approaches me. “We should head inside. Not the best time to be doing things like this where people can see you.”

Standing in front of the training dummy Jaxx was using, he hands me a wooden sword. “Show me your intent with the sword.” And steps back, both of them watching.

I look over to the gentleman that I still do not know the name of, and back to Jaxx. “I asked him to come to see.” Jaxx says.

Thinking of the fight with the M-trolls and that little commander bitch to work my anger up a bit, I focus it and try to push it through the sword at the dummy. ‘Smack’.

I look over at the two and seem to get approving looks. Not enthusiastic, more the yes you did your job correctly, get back to work, looks. Jaxx holds out his hand and I give him back the wooden sword.

“Now again with your hand.” Jaxx says. As I move forward to strike, I hear the other man. “Stop. The other hand.” He says.

I was going to use the same hand as I used with the sword. I switch my stance and bring my hands up like a boxer, elbows in. ‘Thud’.

“Kick it.” The man says. I turn back to the dummy. Maybe I should have just tried a straight front kick, but I tried a roundhouse to the dummy's side with my right foot. ‘thud’. It was more in the side of its leg like I was going to kick a soccer ball. At least I didn’t fall.

The two are talking now.

“I see why you had such concerns and hope my friend. This is not ‘The way of the Hand’ and it is not ‘The way of the Sword’. There is no training here. You know that in times past there have even been Battle Mages that could wield weapons in one hand while casting with the other. This is just an anomaly that looks like there are two paths. I heard he came from a dark area far from here. I sense no power, no mana, and even the stones showed nothing. Correct?” Jaxx is looking down and shaking his head in agreement.

“No man can have two masters. No man two paths.” He continues. “Can a man travel the paths inherent to the Dwarf or Elf? Even if I came here and seen a man with power in his hands and showed power with a sword, I would think that it was just a path I had never seen.” The man has his hand on Jaxx's shoulder and talking with him like a close friend.

As they are turning to leave, Jaxx looks back at me. “Thank you for taking the time for me. If you have any questions, let me know.” Then continues out with his friend, leaving me alone with the training dummy. I’m guessing this was the last of my training with him.