Chapter 2 - A New Friend

“Oh … right … uh … Xavier, this is Paul.” Paul and Xavier shook hands.

A New Friend

As the group of three people approached the town where the talent show was, Paul asked, "So what are you going to do in the talent show Syl?”

The three had sat in silence for the last half of the ride. Other than the horse hooves and the wagon wheels there had been no noise, so the sudden noise made both Silvia and Zach jump.

“Probably sing.” Silvia replied when she recovered. “It’s the only thing that I’m good at.”

"Well I think you could invent a “magical water bucket” that is always full of water no matter how much is dumped out.” Paul said. He had meant it as a joke, but Silvia took him seriously.

"I think I will -- along with singing -- do you have a bucket?” She asked

“Um… I guess. I was going to use it to carry something home, but you can use it. You could also sell it for like 25 dollars. Or at least have that as the starting bid.”

“Hm… that’s a good idea, I think I will.” By now they had come into the town and started looking around for clues as to where the talent show was. They saw the majority of the people drifting towards what looked like the church. Paul turned toward the church and slowed the horses down.

The town was a place of luxury and un-necessities. It looked as though everyone found a hundred bars of gold in their basement and started squandering it on silk blankets that were for nothing but hanging out windows.

When they arrived at the church, they climbed out of the wagon, and Paul tied the horses to a short but fat pole outside of the building. They all marched into the church, and back behind the stage. The church looked like it was the storehouse of the luxuries that were strewn throughout the town. The chairs were gold lined with elaborate designs. Mostly swirls and dots … but designs.

Behind the stage however was almost like an abandoned basement full of costumes and bibles. In the far corner of the room there was a small group of people practicing their parts in the show.

“Hello, is this where the talent show is?” Silvia asked.

“Yeah, it is,” replied a boy who was about Zach’s height, but had fluffy, and extremely curly hair. When he turned to face them, Paul saw that he had purplish grey eyes. “Oh, hi Silvia, fancy seeing you here.”

“Xavier! What are you doing here?” Silvia exclaimed “Wait a minute … you knew we were here … uh … the moment we stepped into the building … didn’t you? “

“Actually, I knew you were here when Paul started hooking up the horses.” Xavier said with a smile.

“Oh … right … uh … Xzavier, this is Paul.” Paul and Xavier shook hands. “and … uh … this is … uh … um … Zachariah … but um ... he likes being called Zach.”

“Are you alright Syl?” Paul asked, “You seem … nervous.”

“Nervous? Me? No, I’m fine.” Said Silvia. She really was nervous. She felt weird around the power of mind. It made her skin crawl.

“I take it you know that he has the power of mind.” Paul said quietly.

“Yes. Let’s get practicing for our performances.” Silvia said starting to fill her bucket with water.

“How did you know that I have mind? And why can’t I read your mind?” Xavier asked.

“Because I have amber, and when we shook hands, I got your power.” Paul said,” As soon as I got the power, I used it to block out any other mind readers… yes, you can too.” Xavier suddenly looked like he was focusing really hard.

When he relaxed, he asked, “How did you know that that would work?”

“I read a lot when I was a kid. Somehow, I found a book on mythical powers that included mind readers.” Xavier nodded and started practicing for his ‘magical mind reading performance.’ “Sylvia, is it ok if Zach and I go out to get some good seats?”

“Yeah, that’s fine with me … um Xavier … can you not read my mind? It makes me nervous and extremely self-conscious to have someone in my head.”

“Sure, Syl I’ll stay out. See ya, boys, cheer for me on stage.” Xavier said as Paul and Zach left the room. When they were in their seats, Paul looked like he was thinking really hard.

Suddenly he spoke.

“Do you know who Xavier works for?”

“No, why?” Zach replied

“It’s just that, I heard one of his thoughts before he blocked me off. “

“What did he think?”

“‘I wonder what my boss will think when I tell him that I’ve found three elementals wandering…’ and that’s when he blocked me off.”

“Weird. I think we should ask Silvia.”

“I agree. But lets just let it go for now. just be on your guard.” The curtains parted and the talent show began. .

“Yea it is.” Replied a boy who was about Zach’s height, but had fluffy, and extremely curly hair. When he turned to face them, Paul saw that he had purplish grey eyes. “Oh, hi Silvia, fancy seeing you here.”

“Xavier! What are you doing here?” Silvia exclaimed “Wait a minute, you knew we were here the moment we stepped into the building, didn’t you? “

“Actually, I knew you were here when Paul started hooking up the horses.” Xavier said with a smile.

“Oh … right … uh … Xzavier, this is Paul.” Paul and Xavier shook hands. “and … uh … this is … uh … Zachariah … but um ... he likes being called Zach.”

“Are you alright Syl?” Paul asked, “You seem … nervous.”

“Nervous? Me? No, I’m fine.” Said Silvia. She really was nervous. She felt weird around the power of mind.

“I take it you know that he has the power of mind.” Paul said quietly.

“Yes. Let’s get practicing for our performances.” Silvia said starting to fill her bucket with water.

“How did you know that I have mind? And why can’t I read your mind?” Xavier asked.

“Because I have amber, and when we shook hand, I got your power.” Paul said,” As soon as I got the power, I used it to block out any other mind readers… yes, you can too.” Xavier suddenly looked like he was focusing really hard.

When he relaxed, he asked, “How did you know that that would work?”

“I read a lot when I was a kid. Somehow, I found a book on mythical powers that included mind readers.” Xavier nodded and started practicing for his ‘magical mind reading performance.’ “Sylvia, is it ok if Zach and I go out to get some good seats?”

“yea that’s fine with me … um Xavier … can you not read my mind? It makes me nervous and extremely self-conscious to have someone in my head.”

“Sure, Syl I’ll stay out. See ya, boys, cheer for me on stage.” Xavier said as Paul and Zach left the room. When they were in their seats, Paul looked like he was thinking really hard. Suddenly he spoke.

“Do you know who Xavier works for?”

“No, why?” Zach replied

“It’s just that, I heard one of his thoughts before he blocked me off. “

“What did he think?”

“‘I wonder what my boss will think when I tell him that I’ve found three elementals wandering…’ and that’s when he blocked me off.”

“Weird, I think we should ask Silvia.”

“I agree. But lets just let it go for now, just be on your guard.” The curtains parted and the talent show started.