All the disclaimers and restrictions from my last stories remain in effect.
After a nice dinner of some of the best Mexican food I have ever had, I follow Erik as he leads me to my room, and what I hope, is a sweet, dreamless sleep.
He waves his hand, and the door in front of us opens silently at our approach to reveal a master suite with a large living room, flat panel tv, and a king sized bed. A wave of exhaustion envelops me as I gaze longingly at the comfort of a good nights sleep, and as I somewhat stumble over to the bed, I am stopped short by Erik's voice.
"I know I promised you a rest before we start your training," he begins, "But I fear you must learn one lesson before you sleep; for all of our protection, of course," he finishes as he smiles warmly.
"Ok ... What is it?"
"Well, you see, Charles will do all in his power to invade and attack my family to capture you again, and as I wish to keep my friends safe, we need to make sure he is unable to discern where you are ... For all our sakes."
"How can I do that?" I ask, "I have no idea how to control my powers."
"My dear boy, it will be easier than falling asleep," Erik replies with a smile, "You just need to learn how to shield your mind, and I have just the mutant to help. I will be here the whole time to keep you safe."
When he is done saying this, an extremely tall, yet seemingly very young, girl enters the room and stands next to Erik.
"Ryan, I want you to meet Ezmerelda. She is one of my very talented friends who is looking forward to helping you master your powers, isn't that right, my child?"
Ezmerelda smiles shyly and says, "Oh of course! I'm always willing to help you, papa!"
Erik pats her head affectionately before turning back to me, "Ryan, I ask your forgiveness if this exercise puts you in any duress, but I insist we complete this now; do you accept my apology?"
A bit unnerved, I answer, "Well, I'm not looking forward to it, but if it will help me learn to control what's going on inside me, I trust you."
"Thank you, Ryan, I hope I will act in a way that will verify your trust. Now, Ez, we will begin. Ryan, Ez will try to reach into your mind and read your thoughts. What you must do is stop her. Is that clear?"
"Crystal!" I reply, "I have just no idea HOW to do that!"
"Picture yourself building a wall around a castle ... with that castle being your mind. Close your eyes and try it now! Dig deep within and focus on it!"
I nod, close my eyes and imagine what Erik is describing. Not only have I erected this structure in my mind, strangely, the mental picture I'm building appears bright and ... well ... REAL! It's as if I'm actually creating this reality.
"Have you built this wall?" Erik asks.
"You could say so."
"Very well, I am going to ask Ez to get through it; that is invade your mind. You might see this as a force attacking the wall you built, so you must do all you can to deter her."
"What, like pour vats of burning oil on her?" I joke.
"If that's how you can mentally defend yourself, than by all means try it! This is only a first test, Ryan, and about a subject you have no understanding of. We are not here to judge you; just do your best. Are you ready?"
The glow on the wall I constructed burns even brigter, and I reply tenatively, "Yes."
"Focus, Ryan ... Go ahead, Ez," Erik murmurs.
The castle and the surrounding wall I have built is front in center in my mind as Erik says this, when suddenly I feel a blow to my defenses. Looking around in my mind, I can see what seems to be a battering ram pulling back from the wall -- which is chipped and dented, but not too damaged -- and readying itself for another strike.
I focus my attention on the damage, to repair it, as the ram slams back in with a greater force, and causing great chunks to shatter to the ground.
A blast of pain hits me, and I feel my body slump to the ground in the real world.
"Do I stop?" I hear Ez's worried voice ask.
"No," replies Erik, very far away, "Keep going."
I try valiantly to rebuild my defenses when the assualt hits me again. My wall crumbles even further and almost falls apart completely.
"NO!" I think, "This will NOT break me!"
As the battering ram swings back for a final strike, I feel a power flow forward and rebuild my defenses.
The ram hits again, shudders back and breaks apart as the force it carries turns against it and rips it apart.
"AHHHHH!" yells Ez, in pain.
"That's enough!" shouts Erik, "Ryan, let her go!"
I open my eyes to see Ez writhing on the floor in pain.
"Oh my god!" I yell, "Im so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!"
At the sound of my voice, Ez stops moving, and moans in phantom pain.
Erik stoops down and comforts her before looking at me and saying, "You have passed with flying colors. It has been a long day and night. I believe you are comfortably shielded from anyone entering your mind. I bid you good night, and we shall continue your training tomorrow."
"Will she be ok?"
"I think all will be well," Erik says as he nimbly scoops Ez into his arms, "She, as well as you, need some rest. Goodnight, Ryan."
Erik turns and walks off with Ez, and the door to my room closes all by itself.
The events of the day suddenly overwhelm me, and I stumble sleepily to bed, strip down, and slip beneath the covers.
The last thought that crosses my mind before sleep takes me is:
<GOOD, IT IS NEARLY TIME ...>
Feedback at ender2155@gmail.com
For the record, Ezmerelda is another of my inventions and not from the comics.