Alex’s eyes widened in surprise as he brought his hands up to protect himself from the attack. Bringing his hands down he glared at Kelile before a golfball sized rock dropped smacking him on the top of the head.

  “You have to hold onto your senses, no matter what is happening around you,” Kelile said.

  Alex rubbed his head, flaring his nostrils in anger, “What the heck, I am barely getting the hang of it!”

  “Yes and under pressure is the best way to learn some things,” Kelile shrugged. “Again.”

  Alex glared at Kelile for a moment longer before closing his eyes. Taking a deep breath and recentering himself, he exhaled and let his senses unfurl around him. He felt when he reached Kelile keeping tabs on his movements as he continued to push out past him. Alex felt when Kelile moved. Felt when he summoned material to himself. He felt when Kelile shifted his weight, but when he put his hands up to stop it he lost his hold on the surroundings again.

  “Better,” Kelile said. Alex opened his eyes in time for another golfball sized rock to fall on his head.

  “Ow,” Alex said, rubbing his head. “I can do this, again.” Kelile smiled at his determination and nodded. Alex took a deep breath and closed his eyes again. Okay, I am a spring slowly uncoiling, he thought to himself. He felt as his senses unfurled around him slowly spreading out. It reached where Kelile stood and he continued to push outwards. Hold it, keep pushing, he thought to himself as he continued his push outward.

  After a few moments he reached his furthest border. Almost fifteen meters, he thought. Then he felt it. The shift in Kelile’s foot. He felt the material he gathered. Hold it, he pushed himself as he felt Kelile’s weight shift slightly. He raised his hands to protect himself from the attack, deflecting the big rock. Then he swung his right arm forward sending the smaller rock flying at Kelile.

  “Hah!” Alex exclaimed, smiling at Kelile.

  “Better,” Kelile smirked, he twitched his finger sending a pebble at Alex hitting him between the eyes.

  “Ow!” Alex frowned, rubbing the spot.

  Kelile laughed, “You have to be ready at all times. Are you still holding on to the area?”

  Alex’s eyes went wide, “I was until that.”

  “Holding onto it while defending an attack and retaliating isn't bad for just starting,” Kelile replied. “I just wanted to push you a little early. I want you to push out around you and hold onto it while doing other things.”

  “Huh?” Alex said, frowning.

  “I want you to maintain it while walking around, drinking water, watching television, and so on. Make it second nature to where you are doing it and not even thinking about it,” Kelile answered.

  “Okay,” Alex closed his eyes as he pushed his senses out around him.

  “I will periodically do something or move something and I want you to tell me when you notice it,” Kelile told him.

  “I can only maintain like fifteen meters out right now I think,” Alex frowned, his eyes still closed as he concentrated to maintain his push.

  “That’s alright. As time goes on and you learn to hold it without thinking you can start pushing it out further,” Kelile replied.

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  “How far do you maintain?” Alex asked him as he stood up.

  “I keep two hundred meters at all times, so you will have to work up to that. I could do four hundred easily if I needed to. Which I am doing currently for our safety,” Kelile said.

  “Humm okay,” Alex started to walk to the house and stopped. “Whoa, that’s trippy.”

  “Ah yes, should have warned you about that,” Kelile laughed, “It can be a little, umm, strange to move when you have your senses out. You will get used to it. Just take your time.”

  “Feeling a squirrel digging in the dirt five meters away while walking is definitely different,” Alex said.

  “Come on, I will make us some dinner. It’s been a long day,” Kelile said, looking up at the darkening sky. Alex nodded furrowing his brows, still concentrating as they headed in. “Don’t worry. I promise it will get easier.”

  As they got into the kitchen Alex sat on a chair in the nook and watched Kelile as he grabbed items out of the fridge and cabinets. “How about some chili?”

  “Sure,” Alex replied, squinting his eyes as he spoke.

  Kelile chuckled, “It’s been a long time since I have had a student. I am honored that it is you.”

  “Did you train a lot of people before?” Alex asked.

  Kelile was quiet for a moment, “So, I was raised and trained to become the next guardian. Part of that duty is to train those who enlist in service to the kingdom. In other words, a lot of people.”

  “So I guess you are qualified to train me,” Alex said with a half grin.

  “Yes, I would agree with that but only to an extent. For basic knowledge and combat I can train you. For your visions, well, you will have to talk to the earth. I don't know how to help you with those. I have a basic knowledge of that gift and only know what I picked up from being around your mother,” Kelile said.

  “Is there no one else that had visions or communicated with the earth in that way?” Alex asked.

  “The gift of gemeente is given to people selected by the earth. So there is no true way to know who may have the gift. When it is discovered, they would have been brought to the king and queen and they would have decided training and assignment from there,” Kelile answered.

  “So this isn't an inherited gift?” Alex asked.

  “Not to my knowledge,” Kelile replied as he mixed the ingredients in a crockpot.

  “What was that?” Alex asked, alarmed.

  “What was what?” Kelile said, eyeing Alex.

  “I felt something. It was different. Like under the ground,” Alex frowned, closing his eyes and tilting his head.

  “Where?” Kelile asked.

  “Twelve meters southwest,” Alex said, pointing in the direction.

  “Very good!” Kelile praised.

  “That was you?” Alex asked.

  “Yes, I hardened some of the ground and released it twice. The fact that you noticed it is amazing. I wasn't sure if you were still holding your kulsoom,” Kelile smiled.

  “I am trying,” Alex answered. “It is actually a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.”

  “Being able to maintain it while we are having this conversation is still an accomplishment. Especially since you are only beginning,” Kelile said. “Come let's watch some television while this cooks for a bit.”

  Alex nodded and stood slowly making his way to the living room. “I think this is the hardest part for me right now. I have played with pushing my kulsoom before but moving and maintaining it is different,” he finished shaking his head.

  Kelile nodded and turned the television on as he sat down. Flipping through the stations he stopped on a new station. “Let’s see what is going on.”

  “I am scared to see,” Alex replied as he sat down also.

  “And we are back with the latest updates on the Port Ingtu sink hole. Rescue efforts have been continuous since the event took place, but the ground continues to give way making it increasingly difficult and dangerous to search for survivors. Though not all has been in vain as hundreds of people have been found. It has been labeled as ‘miracles’ as they were found in what seemed like crafted pockets of earth,” said the announcer.

  Alex’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, “Do you think…” he started

  “That some beweegist saved them?” Kelile finished.

  “Yeah,” said Alex.

  “I would say it definitely seems that way. If they were nearby they might have been able to save them quick enough by doing that,” Kelile said. They both looked at the screen as it was showing numerous people covered in dirt and dust being pulled out of the sink hole.

  “I felt that,” Alex said smugly to Kelile.

  “I did too,” said Kelile jumping to his feet and looking out the window.

  “That wasn't you?” Alex asked, panic making his voice crack.