Training
#3 of Ever Changing
I was outside for most of the night staring at the stars like I always did. But this time I was also using that healing magic to look at my body like I had looked at Vaon. It was interesting to see how my body works all the veins, bones, organs, the cells, and some how I knew what they all did.
I took a close look at my muscles. It was fascinating how they worked, contracting and expanding. I knew it was dangerous but I started to change my body. I made my muscles stronger by making them denser yet keeping the same mass, I also changed the material of my bones making them stronger yet lighter, I added sheaths to my dagger spikes and claws so that I wouldn't accidentally damage something, and then I changed my body in such a way so that it didn't need food but instead fed of the energies that I can sense around me.
I slowly withdraw my magic from the alteration but kept a hold on the magic so that it was on hand at all times. I don't know why I kept it on hand but I did. When I finish the modifications I hear a screech in the distance.
I quickly jerked my head in that direction. Since I could see nothing but trees in that direction I got up and started to run in that direction but kept a careful eye on my surroundings.
I after ten minutes of running I come upon a small clearing. In the clearing were three men all of them tigers surrounding a small beautiful gryphon. It has metallic blue eyes that reflected the light cast by the tigers' torches. I slowly entered the clearing carefully scenting the air to see if there were others I couldn't see.
As I approach I first notice its dark red beak is attached to a beautiful blue feathered head. Its blue head led down to black bird's feet and about half-way down its body the feathers changed to a maroon colored fur.
"See I told you it wasn't going to be hard" the tiger on the left states sounding extremely smug. Which makes me growl. All of them turn around at that.
"Well what do we have hear? Looks like we got our selves an extra catch, how much do you think we could sell him for" the middle tiger asked with a condescending tone.
"I don't know but it's gotta be worth it" the right tiger said. I quickly unsheathe my claws and dagger spikes because I knew that what they would put me back in a cage and there was no way I was going to let that happen.
I dashed towards the middle tiger, glad for the modifications I had made, and dove beneath his legs and quickly spun jamming my elbow spike into his side. I quickly ripped it out and as he hit his knees I spun so that my other spike rammed into his neck.
Before either of his companions could react I ran to the left tiger and bit into the back of his leg and severed the tendons, crumpling him. I quickly clawed his throat out. I ran to the last jumped and twirled cutting his throat cleanly with my elbow spike.
I landed and stood there, not even panting, and observed the carnage. I also took note that though my hands and spikes were bloody my garments were not. I quickly wiped of my hands and sheathed my spikes.
I looked towards the gryphon and started to approach. When it did nothing but stare at me I sat by it. Then with great care I lifted my hand up, making sure it was in the creatures view, and reached to its head. It eyed me the whole time waiting to see what I would do. I tentatively touched the side of its feathered head.
I sent my magic into it to see what kind of damage had been done. Its right back leg had a long cut up its length, the left wing had a similar cut, and its left fore leg was broken. My magic also told me that it was a female. I started to mend the damage that had been done be the hunters.
When I was finished I look at the gryphon and said "You're all healed now, you can go." I then turned around and started to head back to the Hall.
It didn't take me long to notice that the gryphon was following me, I decided to let her follow to see what would happen. When I came to the temple the beautiful beast had not stopped following me.
I turn around to face her and ask "What is it that you want?"
She cocked her head to the side but then she said "I owe you a debt and I like you for some reason." I was completely startled that she understood me. Then to my even greater surprise she asks "how is it that you can speak my language?"
"I can speak your language" I ask incredulous. "Don't answer that I will just ask Luna how that is possible. Are you going to follow me no matter what?" The gryphon nods. "Then follow me closely or you may get lost."
I entered the temple and went down into the under ground section. I went three doors down and turned right into the medic wing, and then quickly went to the sixth door on the right.
"Luna, I have some questions for you" I said as I entered the room. I looked around for a second before Luna came out from behind a white curtain.
"What do you..." she stopped and stared for a second then continued slowly "need?"
"I was wondering how it's possible that I can understand her" I ask pointing to the gryphon behind me.
"My name is Shandra" the gryphon grumbled.
"Sorry Shandra" I apologized.
"Well my guess would be that you had a latent ability to understand languages. The ability couldn't manifest itself until you realized what the magic was" Luna attempted an explanation. "Also what happened to your spikes?"
"While I was staring at the stars I made some adjustments to my body" I said unsheathing my spikes. "Are you at all tired, Luna" I inquired.
"No, actually, I'm wide awake, why?"
"I was hoping to get a little more training in before sunrise and Shade comes looking for me" I said.
"Oh well we do have a couple of hours until then so, why not? Sit here" she said motioning towards one of the beds. I went over to it and hopped up on it, with Shandra jumping up behind me and curling around me so that her head lay next to my dangling legs; she was just small enough to fit. Luna seemed surprised by this but I didn't give it another thought.
"O.k. since you don't need any more training in the medical field, let's start with how to control the flame I taught you how to summon. First summon your flame, good, and then simply think what you want it to do and wave your hand in a similar motion. Being able to motion the way you want the flame to work is a limit on what you can do."
Deciding on a simple gesture I waved and twirled my hand forward. The flame shot forward as if following a line and then spiraled and just before it touched the wall I dispelled the flame.
"Once again you impress me. Though it doesn't really surprise me that you are so adept,
hold on one second" she said getting up.
She left the room for a while. So I asked Shandra "Those men were trying to capture you so they could sell you right?"
"Yes they were. Apparently I'm some what of a rarity. Though I don't know if it is because of my color or because of my species" she replied.
"Well it doesn't matter any more, no one will harm you while I'm around" I stated.
"Thank you" she said nuzzling my leg affectionately.
"How old are you" I asked.
"I'm one summer old."
"Why are you alone?"
"Gryphons are able to take care of themselves after only three months. I am also considered the runt in the family as I am much smaller than I should be."
"How big should you be" I inquired.
"I should be at least four feet tall so about your height and five feet long."
"If you want I think I can fix that."
"You can, that would be fantastic" she said with a barely contained glee.
"Alright" I said turning around "all you have to do is relax, it shouldn't hurt." I set my hands on either side of her head and looked at her entire body to see if there was some ailment that
was the cause of her stunted growth.
No cause seemed to pop out so I began to look at all of her anatomy so that I could make it grow without making her look ridiculous. When I had a more than adequate comprehension, for lack of a better term, of her body I began stimulating her to make the body grow.
I also decided to make her slimmer so that she had the same strength but less mass. By the time I was done Shandra was actually four and a half feet tall and almost six feet long.
"There you're larger and stronger than normal but you're also lighter and slimmer so you should be able to fly easier and carry more" I said explaining what I had done to her. "Also you will grow as a normal gryphon should."
"Thank you I don't know what I can do to ever repay you."
"You need do nothing more than be my friend and companion" I said turning around. when I was back in my previous position Shandra set her head in my lap and curled her tail around my hip and then over my shoulder.
"Then your friend and companion I shall be."
After a little more waiting Luna came back in and hesitated for a second upon seeing Shandra's growth and asks "How did she get so big?"
"She wanted me to make her body larger so that she couldn't be called a runt anymore" I said. "So what is it that you went to get?"
"This book. I want you to read it. It has the basic knowledge of how to set magical traps, locking things, and other such things that are useful."
I took the book looked at the first page and said "I can't read."
She looked at me for a second and then says "I should have known. Oh, well now's as good a time as any to learn." And so I began to learn my letters. It seemed rather easy to remember them; even the words that I started to learn were easy. But when it came to structuring them into a sentence I somehow got lost and confused in the complexity of the sentence.
I had finally understood how to make a sentence when the door opened and Shade walked in. "Ah there you are. What are you doing" he asked.
"I am learning how to read these sentences" I said through a strained voice.
"Having a hard time I see, well you will have to learn that later it's time to get some training in with your blades." That would be when he took note of Shandra. "And who is this."
"Her name is Shandra and I saved her from some people that were going to capture her" I said calmly.
"And how did you do that" he asked and I explained the events leading up to when I went to Luna. "Well there might not be much that we can teach you if you keep displaying talents like this. Well grab your book and we'll see how fast you can learn combat and stealth."
"May Shandra come" I asked after she briefly spoke to me.
"Hhmm, well I see no immediate problem with that, so yes" Shade responded.
After leaving the medical ward we went down one door to the left and went in the right side door. This hall had only one door at the very end. Upon entering we found a huge room full of people in various states of combat.
From dodging swords to swinging hammers everyone was fighting. I looked on absorbing all the information that I could, particularly the ones wielding swords. We made our way over to a group that surprisingly was just standing there.
When we made it to the group, all of them were at least a foot taller than my meager four.
Shade said "This is Necro and Shandra" motioning towards me and the gryphon beside me "he is the newest recruit. I recommend that you don't underestimate him. Necro stand in line between Aceel and Nevera. Shandra since you cannot use a sword properly I ask that you simply observe for now. Now we will be doing some drills repeat my motion on command."
I took my place between them and took in their features as I did. Aceel, on my right and Nevera on my right. She was a very pretty white wolf her eyes were black as if her whole eye was a pupil, though if you looked close enough you could make out the shift of her pupil when it adjusted to a different light.
Nevera was an all black fox, except for her feet which are white, and she has maroon irises. Like me, and unlike anyone else, aside from Shade and Aceel, she had digitigrade legs.
"All right follow my lead" Shade commanded in a bellow pulling out his sword. For the next hour and a half we all went through many strenuous exercises and stances. Everyone but Aceel and myself seemed to be wearing down but then I noticed that her breathing was starting to get deeper and slightly ragged.
"Alright" Shade called "now for some unarmed sparing for the next two hours you will get with a partner and attack them. I will be observing all of you and giving help where it is needed."
I stood there while everyone paired off. The last people to be open were me and this mean looking leopard. He looked like a normal leopard except for the fact that sticking out of each shoulder was a golden yellow spike.
After a bit of staring he approached me and asked in a hissing voice "So you're my next victim?"
"Be careful with your words, they may come back to bite you" I said.
After the minor verbal battle we lowered ourselves closer to the ground, with my hand settling on the ground to support part my weight and the other palm next to my head facing my opponent.
His stance was completely different. He had his knees bent at ninety degree angles, with one fist over his knee, knuckles up, and the other tucked up to his chest. The way he held himself told me that he was going to wait for me to attack.
Raising my hand from the ground, and tucking it to my side, I slowly stalked around him drawing closer and thinking of what I should do. When I had made a full circle, I rushed forward balled my fist and struck for his mid section.
When I was close enough the leopard attempted to grab my wrist but just before he could get a grip I twirled to the right making him go by me and exposing his back to several quick
jabs that sent him to the ground.
He got right back up and quickly turned to face me. Instead of getting into a stance he charged towards me. When the leopard was close enough he lashed out with his right paw, which I deftly grabbed. I then quickly turned and, using his momentum, tossed him over my shoulder.
And for the next hour and a half I tossed and struck him, without him hitting me even once. Though to his credit he never once backed down or just laid there. We had also attracted the attention of most of the recruits. I knew that because Shade had to keep yelling at them to get back to training.
At the end of the sparring time Shade yelled "all right you lot time for your break you get ten minutes. Necro come here."
I swiftly made my way to him. Once I reached him he said "That was a pretty impressive display. Though it's not surprising considering the way you saved Shandra. After this break I will be testing Shandra and then you and her will be doing a practice mission. Now go and talk with the recruits."
I picked my way through the recruits over to Aceel, for I was at least familiar with her presence. When I made it to her she was talking to two others quietly, but I heard my name before they noticed that I was approaching and hushed each other.
I stood there for a while not knowing what to say. My dilemma was solved when the leopard I trounced in the sparring match approached me from behind and said "I'm gonna make you pay for humiliating me."
I turned around to see him, a lion, and a jackal standing there ready to beat me up. "That would be a very unwise move. For not only am I stronger than any of you I am also more agile."
"Yeah, but this time you're outnumbered" piped up the jackal.
"Yes, but you are clearly out matched" I replied unsheathing my dagger spikes. And before anything else could happen Shandra was beside me head lowered, beak snapping at them, and tail lashing about, ready to fight.
I was about to dash forward and cut the leopard's leg off when I heard someone yell "What the fuck is going on over there."
I looked around to identify the person interrupting our little altercation. It was a jaguar. He looked normal except for the two foot long horns sticking out of his head and then sweeping back, they were very similar to mine.
When he was closer the leopard replied "Nothing sir."
The man looked at me and asked "Is this true?"
"No, after the leopard said ‘I'm gonna make you pay for humiliating me' and a few more words I was going to cut his leg off give the other two a warning and if they didn't accept it I was going to incapacitate them" I replied calmly still ready to fight should I need to.
The jaguar looked thoughtful for a moment then said "You three" pointing behind me "is what he said true."
Aceel stepped forward and said "I can vouch that the leopard started this."
That seemed to be all the jaguar wanted to hear for he then turned to the offending trio and said "You three come with me" in a rather dark tone.
I turned around sheathing my dagger spikes and said "Thank you for standing up for me. May I join your conversation?"
"No problem, he needs to be taught a lesson any way. And of course you can join our conversation. By the way what is your species I've not seen any one like you, your quite handsome."
"My father was dragon as my scales attest to and my mother, though I'm not entirely sure, is a corsac fox. And thank you for the compliment, I've not received one from any but Shade and Luna, and never for the way I look. You're very pretty yourself."
"That's an interesting mix" she said through a light blush. "I'm just a wolf though most think otherwise due to my eyes. I was banished with my mother. And after she died I was picked up by the Brotherhood while I was scrounging outside a mansion. How were you found and exactly how old are you?"
"I am about twelve years old and will be thirteen in three months. As to you first question I was sitting in my room, which doubled as my prison, when Shade opened my door and offered me freedom."
They all looked dumbfounded at my response. And Aceel asked "You're only twelve? That makes you the youngest recruit yet. Oh I didn't introduce you. These are my friends. The all red wolf on my left is Dusk; don't worry if he doesn't talk to you he's just shy." When she said all red she meant it, even his eyes were red. "The black cougar on my right is Noite, it means night."
"My name, as you already know, is Necro, it's nice to meet you."
"All right breaks over" Shade yelled as soon as our introductions were over. We all hurried back into our positions in line. "Aceel, Necro, Nevera I want you three in a group over there. Everyone else in groups of four, from here on out you will be taught by Alenia."
After he finished speaking to the group he came over to where he told us to go and said "You three have already proven yourselves to have a knack for this so we are going to go to a different training room along with Shandra."