These past three weeks have been rather chaotic. All of the board members that attended the demonstration; have flooded my office with paperwork. Questions about the design. What Elusium is. Or how it works.

  I haven't been able to give them the answers they desired.

  There has been meetings everyday. The Chairman and I are going to meet with the City Council now. I've brought my shield and spear; The Chairman says its our bargaining chip.

  "Now; we should be in and out as long as all goes well." clasping his hands together. "I have been wanting to expand the academy for a while."

  He looks to the ceiling and exhales "Ahh, this is going to be wonderful!" The Chairman, still excited about Elusium - maybe even more so than myself.

  We arrive at the Council Hall and The Chairman walks right in- throwing the wooden doors open like he owns the place.

  "Hello everyone." he says as he struts into the hall. "We'll make this quick." stopping in the middle of the room where the Council table lies.

  "I want to purchase the entire eastern district." everyone in the room shared the same expression.

  Disbelief.

  One of the council members shouted "Preposterous! You waltz in here; and demand we sell you the entire district? Pfft."

  "Calm Bruel. I'm sure the chairman has an excellent reason for his request." The council member gestures toward The Chairman

  "So; Speak." he nodded

  "I'd like to purchase the eastern district for a multitude of reasons that will benefit both; the Academy as well as the city."

  What could he possibly need the entire eastern district for?

  "First the city. The entire district will act as an emergency shelter for all; with additional residential buildings." Everyone's faces soften a bit.

  "On the Academy's side of things. We'd like to construct a new training ground and a market square strictly ran by the Academy."

  That doesn't sound too bad.

  "Finally, dormitories." The council member that spoke to Bruel earlier looks to me, than back to The Chairman.

  "Exactly how would this benefit the city? Outside of the emergency shelter, of course." saying as she leans over and rest her head in her hands.

  The Chairman smirks "Well Elessa I am glad you asked. First; the academy will fund Eighty Percent of the project." The entire council sat back in their seats.

  "Second; the city will receive Seventy Percent of the income from residential buildings. We'll also pay regular property tax on the rest of the district."

  They all begin to murmur.

  "Finally; we ask that the city only impose a Five Percent sales tax on our market." He finishes.

  "Why would we agree; to something like that?" Bruel speaks.

  Elessa nods her head. "Agreed. Why would we approve of something such as that?" The Chairman throws his arms out in my direction.

  "Because of this man." All of the council members eyes dart toward me.

  "And who is this man" Elessa ask as she stares at me.

  "I'm Nephra Peranze. Vice Director at the Academy Ma'am." I can feel the sweat form on my face.

  She looks back to The Chairman "So? Why is he going to make this arrangement benefit the city?"

  "Before we begin. May I ask that only The Lead Three be present? This is of the up-most-importance."

  They all looked at one another. "Is that really necessary?" A Council Member in the back asks.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Yes." The Chairman spoke with conviction. The three who sat at the center of the table all agreed. That same moment, the rest of the council members rose and exited the room. When the doors shut behind them; The Chairman's less- intimidating tone returned.

  "He discovered Magic!"

  "It's Elu-"

  "Like in the children books?" Elessa says as she burst out in laughter.

  "Why are you wasting our time!" Another shouts as he slams his hand on the table.

  "Now lets relax Tulic. That is why I had him accompany me today." Gesturing me to the center of the room.

  They're now all glaring as I walk. Sweat dripping, heart in my stomach. Thinking about what I should show them.

  I've only been experimenting with water and air; for the most part.

  I look over to The Chairman, who points up with a big grin on his face.

  He wants me to use the same thing I showed to the board members. "There's nothing here." looking around only chairs and small objects. Nothing that would impress them. They'd probably think it was, some magic-trick.

  "There's you." Saying as he leans on the column, arms crossed. Eyes roaming toward the ceiling.

  I take a deep breath to exhale all the tension.

  I have been practicing this with smaller objects and my control of it also has gotten stronger.

  "Okay." I nodded and then turned toward the Council.

  I close my eyes; pulling my shield to my chest and pointing the spear upward.

  A slight draft of warm air started to pull to the center of the room. My mind focusing on my goal. "The Academy stairs." I felt both my shield and spear begin to glow, sending warmth throughout my body. The air thickened. The wind gathered around my feet, my body beginning to feel weightless. The wind now encircling me; the sounds of lanterns clanking and papers whistling- drowning out as my focus deepens.

  I feel my feet leave the floor. The image of me soaring to the top floor of the academy- vivid in my mind.

  I feel my self rising and rising.

  My body getting lighter and lighter.

  The wind- now encasing me in its warmth.

  After a few moments I descend. The wind, gently placing me on the ground before dispersing throughout the room.

  I open my eyes.

  "BY-THE-GODS!" Elessa stood from her chair sending it scraping back.

  The Chairman begins clapping. "Ha-ha-ha-ha. Wonderful! Simply amazing!"

  I exhale and look up toward the Council. Their faces the same as everyone else's first time seeing the use of Elusium.

  The Chairman walks back into the center of the room. "Now; lets revisit our previous talk." Head held high. "We want complete governance of the district."

  They're faces twist up, in what looks like disgust.

  "Egregious!" Elessa hisses.

  Bruels face returned to its resting stoic position.

  "The city will never agree to this!" Tulic spouts.

  The Chairman starts pacing. "They have no choice." The Chairman confidence exuding out his pores.

  "And why is that?" Elessa asks. Bruels face still static. The Chairman stops in front of me, and gives me a wink. He turns around and rolls his shoulders.

  "Well; if you don't we'll just have to move the Academy." A silent awe went through everyone including myself.

  "The Academy needs space. As well as its own set of rules. The potential of this is enormous- and if this city won't give the Academy what it needs; we have no choice but to make our leave." Feet slamming together back in the center of the room.

  "Agreed." The voice rumbled. Tulics and Elessas eyes shoot to its origin.

  "We agree." Bruel stood from his seat. "You shall have governance over the district." He looks over at The Chairman, than back to his peers. "What happens hmm? If they decided to take this to another country? We lose not just the academy- and all its current benefits. We also lose whatever this- Magic, may bring." The other two began thinking to themselves.

  "No one can know of this deal." The Chairman spoke.

  "The auda-" Elessa interrupted by Bruel "Agreed."

  "Perfect." The Chairman said "We can handle all the paperwork when you see fit." and began walking out the Hall.

  I stood for a moment in disbelief. I look toward The Chairman then to the council.

  "Thank you." I nodded and followed The Chairman out.

  We're riding back to the academy in the carriage in silence, but The Chairman still has a massive grin on his face.

  "So. Chairman-" "Call me Olyssar. We will be working together a lot in the coming future." leaning forward. "I'm sure it will be the most marvelous."

  "I just wanted more funding. I didn't really think it would be this big of a deal." I thought for a second. "Maybe just not this fast, at least." My mind still trying to wrap around all the different elements of my current life.

  "Well Nephra. Your input shall be as much as you please. Development, classes, or anything else; shall be up to your discretion." Wow. That is unexpected. I for sure thought my workload was going to grow by tenfold. "You can focus on your experiments if you like. We can also hire someone to take on your classes."

  I look out the carriage at the Academy which is now in sight.

  My mother flashing into my mind.

  "Retra, Nephra; come. Look at this." She mixes some liquids together and it creates a small plume of white smoke.

  Covering us head to toe in white residue.

  "Pleh, pleh. Pe-tew. Gross!" Retra stepping away from the table. My mother laughing from her belly.

  Retra and I are both coughing; I step back and trip on the stool that was behind me. Everything grows quiet. For a moment; silence- shattered when Retra explodes in laughter than, Mother and I follow suit.

  Elusium was my mothers goal, but the joy of doing experiments was something she shared with us all. Something I share with my family. Now I can share my experiments of Elusium with the world.

  Share Magic; with the world.

  A1-14-96

  Start Note:

  Note: Search for a stronger catalyst. End Note. There must be something that is more compatible. Next experiment will be focusing on movement on the X and Y axis' while suspended in the air. Progress with air has been steady. Other elements are still in progress.

  End Note.

  -Nephra Peranze