Alex quietly watched Eremis’ reaction to receiving the healing book feeling great pleasure and joy upon seeing his pleasure and joy. When Eremis hugged him he hugged Eremis back the best he could then gave him a very warm, very bright smile as he pulled away.
"Thank you again. I'll study the book as often as I can, and send it home to you as quickly as possible. It will be a tremendous aid to me."
“Oh I am glad it will be, Eremis. But please take your time studying it. I’d rather have you keep it for as long as you need it and learn as much as you can from it if not all it has to offer, before it is returned to me. I don’t want you to rush through and try to learn things before you are ready to do so, thinking you need to get it back to me as soon as possible. If you do you could miss learning something very important. We have another book like it at home that we can use until this one comes back to us. Eremis, you have been blessed with special abilities and I’d like very much for you to learn more of your abilities and exactly what all you are capable of doing. To me you have great value and worth. Please don’t let anyone tell you or convince you otherwise.”
He leaned back not expecting Eremis to answer and watched him put the book in his pack then go get Jeremy. Alex then watched Jeremy in turn as he came and sat down beside him commenting that he looked better. “Thank you Jeremy.”
He was a bit too preoccupied with telling Jeremy what he wanted and the small amount of pain that remained to take note of his expressions. While he waited for Jeremy to respond Alex concentrated on breathing and trying to settle his body. When Jeremy responded so more quickly then he thought he would he regarded him intently for a few moments, considering.
One of the people he would’ve asked to help open the portal was old and Alex had no idea how much longer the elf would live. And if she died Alex wasn’t sure if there would be anyone else alive with enough power and experience to help open the portal. Since he couldn’t really tell who would still be alive should Jeremy come seeking him later to open he decided it would be best not to say anything on the matter. From what Jeremy said it sounded like he didn’t mind living on Variance and may never want to return to his own world. Well if that was the case then Alex really had no right to tell him otherwise. He just hoped that if the time should come when Jeremy did decide he wanted to return to his world that there would be enough powerful, experienced and knowldegeable people alive to open the portal.
Alex took a quick assessment of his condition and decided, with Quinn’s support and help, he would be able to give Jeremy his knowledge of archery right now. “Quinn, I’m going to give Jeremy the gift he wants right now. I’ll need your support and help if you will please. And Jeremy I’ll need you to move closer so I’m can hold your head in comfort, without straining.”
He waited for both to come closer to him. Quinn placed his hand on Alexander’s shoulder then Alex carefully and very gently placed his hands on the side’s of Jeremy’s head.
“I’ll need you to remain as still and quiet as you can, Jeremy.”
Alex then looked into Jeremy’s eyes very intently. A moment later his own eyes went out of focus as he carefully eased into Jeremy’s mind and looked it over for a few moments. After familiarizing himself with Jeremy’s mind he began to concentrate on archery. First he concentrated and remembered his first lesson, praciting, his second lesson, practicing and so on. He slowly and very carefully relayed everything he knew about archery to Jeremy’s mind, setting up stopping then starting points as he did so. He didn’t want to overwhelm Jeremy with too much information all at once. He wanted the knowledge to be passed to Jeremy as he became ready for it and was able to comprehend it from having practiced. He drew what energy, strength and magic from Quinn that he needed only when he needed it and no more. The process of relaying the information from Alex’s mind to Jeremy’s with the precautions took several minutes.
Finally finished, Alex slipped out of Jeremy’s mind. He removed his hands from Jeremy’s head and leaned back against the pillows where he sighed softly. He realized he was trembling. He closed his eyes for a few moments then opened them and looked at Jeremy.
“Now remember, Jeremy, my knowledge of archery will only be revealed to you bit by bit as you are ready for and need it. If you practice diligently every day you will learn the art faster than if you only practice it when you feel like it. Jeremy, I’m hoping that once you’ve learned archery, you’ll use it in a good and honorable manner. I’m hoping you will only use it to kill game to eat and in self defense should someone try to attack you. I’m also hoping you will develop into more of a fine, upstanding person than you already are. And that people will trust you. That you choose not to inflict harm or do evil. For to do so will only bring you sorrow, heartache, pain and misery. Thank you for befriending me. I hope to see you again one day. Please take care, Jeremy.”
And with that Alex leaned a little more heavily into the pillows drawing in breathes and exhalin them while watching Jeremy through half closed eyes. Quinn remained at his side continuing to lay his hand one his shoulder prepareing to teleport Alex home when he gave the word to do so.
