“This is” going to take some preparation,” Aahz said.
“I’d hoped it would.”
He put the map on the floor and had me stand right over it. “See the images there?”
I nodded, staring down at the map I had just created. It was a beautiful thing indeed. “Now, when we start,” Aahz said, “I want you to imagine yourself floating above the energy lines, above the castle if you have to, in the same fashion you use to reach out for the energy lines in a spell.”
“Okay,” I said, still staring down at the map at my feet, “but isn’t there a risk I will just float away?” Standing above the map like this, it almost felt as if I was already floating.
“Good question, apprentice,” Aahz said. “Just put a string on your foot.”
“A what?” I looked up into my mentor’s eyes. I could tell he was concerned with me even trying this. I didn’t know if the concern was for me, or for what would happen if I failed, but at least he was concerned.
“A string, like a kid’s balloon string,” he said. “Imagine one tied from the foot of your real body to the foot of your imaginary body as it floats upward. Then when you want to return, just go back down the string.”
I nodded. That was such a simple image, even I might be able to handle it.
“When you get a good view of all the flowing energy lines over and through the castle,” Aahz said, “just do what you did with this map. Imagine them as you see them; then in one motion imagine them on the paper.”
“Okay,” I said. “I think I can do that.”
“When you’re ready,” Aahz said, stepping back. “Just do it.”