"What is the Academy?" I asked Amara.

"I'll tell you later. Right now, I am starving" she said.

It was almost dark again. I had spent close to 20 hours in the rift.

She flew me back to my house, and I started cooking some steaks. There is nothing better (in my mind) than good Iowa beef. Amara asked where my shower was, and was taking a shower before she ate.

"I should have some clothes for you" I told her. "Check the bottem drawer in my clothes dresser".

I went back to cooking the steak, and my hands caught my attention.

It looked like my hads had been completely encased in a dull silver. I went to the second bathroom in my house, and looked in the mirror.

All of my skin was that same dull silver color. I had no hair on my arms or chest, but the hair on my head had apparently stayed. After a closer look I saw that it wasn't individual hairs, but it was in the shape of my hairstyle. My skin was incredibly smooth, with almost no blemishes visible to me.

I looked different, more muscular or something. My jaw was also squarer than before, and I looked taller. I looked extremely handsome, and I wasn't completely sure why.

Suddenly, I realized it. My ability Amorphous Body stood out as the culprit. I had unconsciously changed my body to my idea of peak physical form. I liked my new rugged look, it suited me.

I went back to examine my body, and got caught on my eyes. My irises used to be a dark, almost royal blue, but now they were an electric blue. Even the veins in my eyes were a light blue, making my eyes look like it had flakes of ice in them.

I checked my veins in other places, and the same thing had happened. I couldn't see it very well through my skin, but my veins appeared to have a glowing blue substance in them. What was even wierder, was that I could feel the energy pulsing through my veins if I focused on them.

Other than that, it just looked like I had painted myself silver.

I hustled back to the steaks, not wanting to ruin them. They were almost done, and I was almost salivating. Even if I didn't need food, who couldn't I eat? I loved the feeling of a juicy steak in my mouth.

Just then, the bathroom door opened and Amara stepped out. She was only wearing a sportsbra and some boy shorts, and she looked great.

"I made food" I said, only partially captivated by her.

"Oh thank god" she said. "I am starving. They barely gave us any food as prisoners".

I got her a plate, and she dug in.

"Are you alone out here?" she asked.

"My mother left me with my father when I was six, and he brought me out here. He did the best he could, but he died in a equipment failure 2 years ago. Now, I live alone and pay all the bills by myself" I said.

"I'm sorry" said Amara through a mouthful of steak.

"How old are you now?" she asked.

"I'm 17" I said.

"No way. So am I" she gushed.

"Well, what is your story?" I asked.

"My mother and father were both Hellfire demons, and they ruled the kingdom of Demonfyre. They both died in the attack, sadly. But they were good parents, and raised me well. They had little knowledge of magic, though, so I am hoping to get into the Academy"

"You have got to explain what the Academy is" I told her.

"I will, I will" she shushed me. "Later".

We finished our meal in peace, and I took her plate. While I was doing the dishes she was staring out th window.

"It is really beautiful out there" she said in a starstruck tone.

I agreed with her, but something seemed wrong. There were so many stars it looked like some were touching. Then I remembered, we weren't in Kansas anymore. We were in this apparent Motherverse.

I laid in bed, and Amara snuggled up next to me. I was exhausted, but I didn't go to sleep yet.

"Now, explain what the hell the Academy is" I demaded.