As soon as Kyle had gotten home for the summer, he had tried to find time to get himself to Inverness to seek guidance and try to find a center on what the next step was for him. Kyle had been battling the idea of leaving Hogwarts and living with the council for the next two years for some time now and it was time to make steps towards that decision. He had spent time in personal meditation, had talked with a friend and expressed his struggle to her, and still, nothing was giving him any clarity in his decision making process. Now he was about to head to the one place he knew that someone would be able to help him find some guidance, the Grey Council, the home of the elemental order. Whether he liked it or not, talking to some of these at the order would likely show him exactly where the faults in his plan lay, whether they be in returning to school or in trying to live apart from the rest of the magical community at large and practicing his elemental magic there for two years instead. He had sent a letter to one of his friends elemental instructors, as his own was indisposed at the moment, and she had agreed to meet him and discuss what it was that was bothering him. He hadn't been specific when he wrote the letter, but he had alluded to the topic of his problems. Finally, after a visit from Linnet and some time helping his grandparents at the reservation in Corwen, Kyle said goodbye to his parents again and made his way north to the council at Inverness.
The young elemental dressed warmly as he always did when he went into Scotland. If there was one thing that could make Kyle more uncomfortable than anything else in the world, it was the cold. Due in part to a dislike for cold but also because his powers were connected to the earth and the ice served as a counter to his direct elemental life force, the boy did his best to avoid situations in which he spent much time in the cold. Kyle was sure that he must look strange climbing into a cab bundled up like that, especially in August, but he didn't want to take any chances on his trip. It was a long day of travel but the boy knew that in the end, he would end up in Inverness, which could be quite chilly this time of year. After a few minutes ride to the train station, the boy paid the man and made his way to his train bound for Cardiff.
Kyle made his way from the Cardiff train station to a shop in the wizarding quarter. He knew that from there he would be able to travel the majority of the way by means of the floo network before having to either walk the remainder or brave his fear of flying and take a broom the rest of the way. Walking into the shop, the boy asked the owner for permission to use his fire for travel, after receiving it, he made his way to the open grate. Asking the elderly owner of the shop to lite it for him was somewhat embarassing, but Kyle had gotten used to relying on others for anything remotely magical. Thanking the man, he left a few copper coins on the shelf, next to where the green floo powder was located. Taking a generous handful, he began the process of travel. Stepping into the fire in Cardiff, he closed his eyes, said clearly, "Inverness Scotland" and began to feel the familiar spinning sensation that came with the floo network.
When the spinning ceased, Kyle open his eyes and found himself in a wizarding bar, not too far from the entrance to the council. Dusting himself off, Kyle stepped out of the fire grate and made for the door to begin the last leg of his journey. An hour or so later, the boy finished his trip and entered the elemental sanctuary. It felt right to be there again. He knew the place well as he had spent much of each of his summers here since learning that he was an elemental. Taking the most direct route to the shrine of Madin, Kyle walked slowly, reminding himself of the beauty of this place. He thought that he would find Iuliana at the shrine, but when he arrived it was vacant. Entering the shrine, Kyle decided it would be beneficial to meditate while waiting for her to arrive. Closing his eyes, he began to reach out with his mind into the earth around him. It took a few moments to find himself there, but when he did, the time began to pass without much notice. After what seemed like only a few minutes but was more likely close to an hour, he felt another presence. Kyle began to come out of his meditation and see who it was that was joining him, perhaps it was Iuliana.
