Sorry I've been gone so long, but some pretty crazy stuff happened in the past week or so. It all started when after class, Prof. Long handed me an orange sheet of paper.
"Have all of your other teachers sign this."
"What's it for?"
"We are going on a field trip."

At dinner that night the guys were pretty amazed.
"People don't go on one-on-one field trips with professors until at least sophomore year," explained Dvarek, "there must be something very interesting about you."

Three days later Prof. Long and I made our way to Rome, were we took a plane to Minneapolis. We then took a charter plane to Duluth, were we rented a car.
"Where exactly are we going?" I asked.
"The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the BCWA. It is the perfect place to conduct the next phase of your training."

We drove for a few hours until we reached an outfitters. As we approached the rental cabin, a friendly looking elderly man stepped to greet us.
"Good to see you again, Alan."
It took me a minute to realize that Prof. Long's first name was Alan. I hadn't expected something so... Western.

After packing the gear we'd need into an aluminum canoe, we set off onto Poplar Lake. After making our way Lizz and Moose lake, we set up camp in Horseshoe Lake. Once we were settled in, Prof. Long directed me to a small island about 100 yards from shore.
"Swim to that island."
The water was cold, but felt good in the afternoon sun. It didn't take me long to reach the island, but when I arrived Prof. Long was already there.
"Bellerophon, recently certain events were set in motion that directly impact you. Certain prophecies were put into play, ancient rituals have started once again. All of these things concern the Arbiter."
"The what?"
The Arbiter is a flesh mage with absolute authority. He is the final say in a dispute, his word is unbreakable law. Anyone who recognizes him as the Arbiter is bound to his will."
"What about those who don't recognize him?"
"That is where the second part of the Arbiter's power comes in. He is a master of all seven branches of flesh magic. He can defeat anyone who opposes his power."
"And what do0es this have to do with me?"
"When you were young, you were tested to see what manner of flesh mage you were to be. You were aligned with all of the branches. Your current development has proven it. You are to be the next Arbiter."
I was stunned. I had bo idea what any of it meant for me, and I wasn't sure what to do next.
"So I'm a king"
"You are more than a king. You are the law. You are a judge."
"So I'm the judge of flesh mages?"
"Actually, your power will work on all the magical peoples. You will be the judge of everyone."