sent…” she motioned toward Falcon and Aya. “My father’s village and its people are safe. However, there is another urgent matter that he was hoping you could help with.”
Zoen’s features changed to those of curiosity. “Yes?”
“It’s my element. Volcseck wishes to take my emblem to complete his collection.”
Zoen rubbed his white, bushy goatee. “K’ran and I discussed this at length many times. Such a thing has never been done. I fear that doing so could bring forth catastrophic results.”
“Like what?” asked Falcon slowly.
“I suspect that Volcseck will be able to create an attack that will end life in Va’siel as we know it.”
The girls gasped.
“But why?” asked Falcon.
“I can’t say. Only he holds the answer to that question.”
Faith stood before Zoen. “Then I hope that you are the answer my dad wished for. My father can no longer suppress my powers, but perhaps you could.”
“I can try, but holy is a strange element. It won’t be as easy to block its energy.” He extended his hand to her. “Come closer, please.”
Faith took a few slow steps forward. She got on her knees and closed her eyes.
The grandmaster reached out with shaky hands. His right hand rested on Faith’s forehead.
“What is he doing?” asked Falcon.
Aya lifted her shoulders. “Just watch. You’ll see.”
“Do re mi sa lu ke tore,” chanted the grandmaster. A small ghostly creature forced itself out of Zoen’s head. It had the head of a squirrel, but the body of a slug.
Falcon stumbled back, unable to believe his eyes. “What is that?”
“It’s a mental memory,” said Aya knowingly. “Seriously, Falcon, you should read more books.”
“Books? I rarely waste time with those. They take away from my training.”
“Books give knowledge.” Aya pointed at the squirrel-like creature that had made its way down from the grandmaster’s head. Since it had no legs, it slithered across his arm. “Those hide your energy. They come in very handy in stealth missions where the enemy has energy readers.”
Falcon bobbed his head, finally understanding. “So they suck your energy.”
“No. The one’s that suck your energy are the memory leeches. You wouldn’t want to use a leech on yourself because it would only drain you before a mission.”
Maybe I should read more books. He gritted his teeth with anxiety as the ghostly creature struggled into Faith’s head. It squealed loudly as it jerked his small body back and forth. A second later, it broke through. His head was the first to disappear, and then its whole body was gone.
Zoen opened her eyes. “It is done.”
“Is that it?” asked Falcon as the grandmaster removed his hand from Faith’s forehead. “That was creepy enough, but is that all that it takes to keep Volcseck from sensing her?”
“Yes, that’s it.” The grandmaster gazed at the holy wielder. “Faith’s abilities are exceptionally strong. It proved somewhat difficult, but her holy energy readings are now fully hidden.”
Difficult? Falcon mused. He just placed his hand on her head for a few seconds. If that’s difficult for him, what does he consider easy?
“ Thanks, Grandmaster Zoen,” said Faith. “I appreciate your kindness.”
“There is no need for titles, dear. Falcon and Aya are Rohad mercenaries at the academy. They are obliged to refer to me formally. You, on the other hand, are not confined by those obligations. All my friends simply refer to me as Zoen.”
Faith cheeks turned a bright red. “Okay. Thank you, Zoen, sir.”
Falcon and Aya eyed each other. In all their years at Rohad, they had never heard Zoen allow refer to Zoen without his entire title.
“Don’t thank me just yet, Faith. This energy blockade won’t last forever. It will wear out in time.”
“How much time?” asked Aya.
Grandmaster Zoen scratched his overly wrinkled cheeks. “That’s difficult to assess. I’ve never dealt with holy energy before, and I can sense