The Chronicles of the Black Crystal. Vol: 1: Andrew River
Chapter 16: Becoming Skylar

" You have to adhere to every direction I will give to you, are you ready.”

“I am.”

" Knowing that your power is already inside you, I cannot teach it to you again. But I can remind you. We must extract them. By doing so, I will return all your memories to you, and the proper age you are meant to be.”

" What do you want me to do?”

" Breathe, and relax; let me do my work. No doubt this may be painful. Are you ready?”

“I endured Dylan; I am sure I can handle this.”

" Very well, on the count of three. One. Two. Three.”

The capability of the crystal was indeed powerful. I dropped it onto the ground, making a loud thud. Nevertheless, our connection never hindered. The crystal pulsated throughout my past. It revealed everything to me, including, my powers. I saw why I left the mansion; it was the only way not to get Jim Hensworth involve with anything. Indeed, I did take the crystal, the crystal and I were one, we could not be separated even if we tried. When the crystal was in the presence of Dylan, many years before I came into the plot, it saw his weakness. Unfortunately, it had no time to snatch it. Through the power that the crystal occupies, I stole Dylan’s weakness. Therefore Dylan was searching for the Crystal in the wood, to retrieve what had become lost. Several nights ago, he tried once more. To shield myself from Dylan I changed myself back into a young boy. However, the spell went wrong, I do not know how, and I forgot everything.

After an unexplainable long time, I got everything back that belonged to me. It felt like I had found a long lost relative after many decades of searching, and finally reaping the rewards. There was a pain that this experience produced. However, not a terrible pain, but an alleviated pain.

“Wake from your slumber, Andrew. It is all over.”, said the crystal.

I laid on my side, on my mattress. The breath of life came back to me. I had different clothes on, not childlike clothes. I was wearing a white cotton long sleeve shirt. My hands had black gloves, which were covering the front and palms of my hands. My fingers were still exposed. Covering my chest was a pure silk embedded vest, which was the color black. My collar was up, exposing a Regency Brummel ascot tie, of pure white. And making the outfit complete was a flowing black, hooded cape. I went to the window to see my reflection; I was around the age of twenty. I looked exactly like Sky-lar. I didn’t even recognize myself at first.

“Look at me!” I even said this in a deeper tone. Not a child like tone. Defiantly not a voice of a fifteen-year-old.

" The powers that you possess can have that effect on you. That is how my skills work. This is exactly how you looked when we first started your education in this art. How much do you remember?”

“I remember everything.” A small house placed in the hustle and bustle of the main road of a village. With traders in the market, a few blocks down. The green pasture that I used to run in, every day. A beautiful, humble woman had been watching me persistently. A woman who had a tender and kind heart. A woman who was destined to be a great mother. And indeed, she was. She wasn’t anybody’s mother, but mine. Every day I was lucky to have had her. It was us against the world. But, when I just became a man, before I could have made a name for myself she got sick. Nobody could heal her. I didn’t want any healers that had a magical ability to help. Because I grew up with the same magical craft every day. Through destruction and hate. I didn’t want to ask one of them to heal her. I would have done it myself. But I could not. And I lost her. After her death, I went on my own, trying to understand if my stubbornness killed her. One day I met David, he brought me in. I learned about the Crystal. And I had a purpose in life that my mother would have been proud of me fulfilling.

“Superb. Now let us begin.”

I reclaimed my powers. Which includes the power over the elements, telepathy, the power of control, and the darkness. And how to control it, or when it was necessary to use it. Happiness overjoyed my being. I was the person who I was meant to be. No more confusion, only peace.

“What should I do about Dylan?” I asked.

" Well, that is a tricky subject. The quest needs completion very soon. The abilities that you used to possess has become restored to you. But your outfit is not yet complete, your missing....”

" My staff.” I interrupted. ” I know where it is, in the room full of relics. Everything that we need to destroy Dylan is in there.”

" Yes, this is correct. You must go to the room, bring me with you. From this point forward we cannot be separated, we are one once again. ”

" I understand, Master.”

I got my things all sorted out. I pried up the floor that hid my book and put it in the satchel. As well as the Crystal and some food that Ms. Doris left by my bedside into the satchel, and wrapped the satchel around my shoulder. Before I opened my door, I peered back into my room. Knowing that this will be the last time I will see it. This little room was my haven through unknowing amnesia. This room had seen pain and saw myself become who I am. It is room for a child, not a man. I did not need its comfort’s anymore.

“Thank you, for everything," I spoke to my chamber with respect.

I raised my hood making a small breeze and opened the wooden door silently. I went through the threshold. It was quite comfortable concealing myself; praise goes to my found powers. I knew exactly everyone’s location in the mansion. Ms. Doris was cleaning the stairway, and Jim Hensworth was in the dining hall pondering about me. Not knowing what had happened in his mansion. While I was heading toward my destination some maids, which were scattered abroad the mansion, were in my way. I had to make them hear a phantom noise, as a consequence, they had to check it out. Out of their curiosity. If that did not have any effect on them, I controlled their limbs to walk away. I noticed the emotion that I felt when I did this un-ruling craft. I did not like having the ability to control other beings. No man should have that power.

My journey was almost complete; I turned the bend of a passageway. Down the hallway was the door, that I desperately searched. No one, of course, had followed me. I made sure of that. I scurried down to the door. Remembering that this was the place where everything had begun of replaceing my true self. Even if I did not know it at the time. I twisted the doorknob and preceded in the room. Closing the door quietly behind me. The reclusive room was just how I remembered it was last. The only article that was missing was the satchel that I now carried.

“This room must feel like home to you Master. Knowing how long you waited for me to return.” I said to the Black Crystal.

“This room only brings the memories of loneliness, and deafening silence. Let us get what we need, and exit this room as quick as we can. We do not need the hold up of anything.” Replied my Master.

“As you wish.”

I knew where everything was, to rebuild my beloved staff. The wooden rod, in the far corner, the little basket to hold a precious blue diamond. Which I can enable my power to go through. Finally, I found my jewel stowed away in one of the dusty old boxes. Now, I just had to put it all together. I place the basket and the rod into place, wielding it with a fire that I commanded. And putting the blue diamond in the basket, which fitted like a glove. The blue diamond dispersed a bright hue. Everything was back where it belonged.

" Welcome back, my beloved staff.”

" You named it once.”

“Defender!” The staff beamed as I exclaimed its name.

“We need everything we have; it is time to go now, Andrew. ”

" I cannot see Dylan, where is his lair located at, Master?”

" It is shrouded in darkness; only a few can see it. He is at the center of the Ageless Forest. ”

“Andrew...?” Jim Hensworth had called my name back in my chambers. He opened my door, to replace I was nowhere in the chamber.

“It is time to go," I said.

“Yes, it is. We must be off.”