Ch 3 New Life

My feelings would be fine in this new life. I had three maids to help me. The captain gave me warmth. I might seek him out more. But for now, I just wanted to practice with my sticks. He just crouched there and watched me. I don't know what he saw. A child of five? A young noble? A determined fighter? I hope he finds what he's looking for. I just continued to swing. Even as he stood up and walked towards me.

He gently stopped my swinging. I stood there, my sticks in his hands. “Move your feet to shoulder width. Keep your elbows chest high, in front of you. If you’re going to dual wield you need to make sure you can track your opponent at all times, meaning not blocking your own vision.” He was being so gentle with me as his hands moved my body to the correct positions. I set myself into proper position for left forward and right defense. He hummed and adjusted me once more.

I shifted as he instructed me. I would move and he would adjust. I showed him all my stances and every position I had been training in. He corrected every single one to be better and more practical. This is the training I needed. We took our time, and the day was lightning as we continued. Marsha left cand came back with Misha. Holding a basket of something. But I was too focused on the training. There was no telling when I'd have this chance again. I was getting tired though. But I wanted to keep going. I looked at the captain. “Tomorrow?” I asked him, hoping for a positive answer. This was the best training I had gotten.

He thought for a moment. “The day after. Let yourself relax tomorrow. You are young yet and need to rest more. But the day after I will meet you here just after dawn, think you can make it?” he asked with a smile. I nodded enthusiastically. I could wake at dawn. This deserved it. I would rest tomorrow and work on something else.

“Good girl, little miss. Now run along with your maids. I think they have something for you.” He patted my head. It gave me a surge of warmth just like before.

“You as well good captain,” Misha said as she pulled two bread rolls stuffed with something from the basket. The captain grinned and her and took them. “You were here so early so this is our thanks for being kind to the little miss.”

He nodded. “She deserves all the kindness in the world.” Taking a bite of the roll he started walking away. Waving as he went. Misha handed me a much smaller bread roll. I took a bite and discovered it was filled with jam. It was delicious. I had been out here for several hours now, even exerting myself. So, I was fairly hungry. But still this was delicious. I quickly finished it and sighed. Then Misha handed me another roll. Biting into it was a sweet meat this time. Also, tasty but not as good as fruit.

Marsha had left at some point, so I assumed Misha was here for the morning. This was either a second breakfast, a prelude to lunch or lunch itself. I wasn't sure which and didn't know how to ask. So, I kept eating. “Drink?” I asked as politely as I could of Misha. “Of course, little miss. And she pulled a water skin out of the basket. I went to take a sip, but it wasn't water but juice it held. This made me glad. I sipped it slowly. Enjoying the fruitiness of it. I didn't know enough about the fruits of this world to identify it, but it was subtle like bananas were but sweet like berries. I decided I liked it. And kept sipping in-between bites of roll. I finished the roll after a few minutes. And looked to Misha. “More?” I asked her. She smiled and held another. “Last one though.” I nodded to that. Biting in was a different experience. It was cheese. All gooey and melty. It took a bit more chewing from the others. And a bit more juice. It wasn't truly hot, but warm enough to be the consistency of honey. It was so good. I couldn't remember the last time I had melty cheese. This life or last. I took my time and played with it a little, seeing how far I could make a string go. I ended up eating it quickly too. And now I was feeling full after three rolls and the skin of juice.

We had been walking back to my room, as soon as I was in sight I went to sit on the couch. But Misha had other plans. “Not so little miss. You got dirty again playing in the garden! It's time for a bath!” I wanted to argue with her that I had one just last night. But I did feel grimy after practice. And the hot water would feel nice. So, I walked to the wardrobe and tried to open the door.

Misha caught on quickly. “So, you want to pick your outfit first then?” I nodded to her. “Alright let's see what we have here.” she pulled out the horrid poufy things, so I crossed my arms and made a disgusted face. Misha literally pouted at me. I shook my head hard no. She set them on the couch. She pulled out a soft yellow summer dress. It was pretty and not something id where to practice in. But pleasant enough to spend the day in. And no poufs or ruffles on sequins in sight. Just waves in the skirt to make it look like a flower. I can handle that. I gave her a thumbs up. Then I started undressing myself as I walked to the bathroom. Misha hurried after me.

I did not manage to get my dress off alone. There were little buttons on the back I didn't account for. Misha had to undo them. She had the water going and the tub half filled with hotter water than Marsha had last night. I stuck my hand in, then shuddered. I turned the tap for cold water and swirled my hand around a bit. Much better. Still hot but not going to blister me.

I turned back around, and Misha was staring at me. Then she forcefully set the yellow dress over the counter and helped me into the tub. The tub had sides almost as tall as I was, so until I was much older, I would need help getting in and out. Sitting in the water was great. Misha let me play about for a bit and lay back. Were I to stand it would be just under my knees. But sitting down its just over my waist. Which means I can lay flat out and not quite be submerged. Misha won't let me dunk my head under though.

She kept her hand under my head when I laid down. Makes sense I suppose. I am a five-year-old. So, I rolled over and got on my hands and knees. And shook like a dog. My silver hair was just below my ears, so it went wild. Usually it just hangs loose, but wet? It looks like a mop. I grinned at Misha. But then she grinned back. I suddenly felt a prickle of fear.

She was holding a bucket. Of cold water no doubt. I backed as far away as I could. It didn't save me. I was drenched and so cold now. My bath was cold now. I glared at her piteously. She smirked at me, and we got one with the actual washing. She washed my hair quickly and ran a cloth over the rest of me. Then had me stand and drenched me again, but this bucket of water was warm, so I forgave her. After one final rinse she plucked me from the tub and dried me off.

Then she helped me into the yellow dress. She let me get into it on my own, then showed me where I would need help. In this case there were small clasps on the back. That I might be able to reach as I grow but couldn't now.

After dressing we went back to my bedroom. I wondered what I was supposed to do now? Captain said to rest, but what did he mean?

Misha pulled me onto the couch. “Sister said she started your teachings, so let's continue there, alright? This is the history of the Alterty kingdom as we know it today. Do you remember where she left off last night?” not a clue. I didn't even know it was the actual history and not a fairy tale. I shook my head at her.

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“All right, let's start again from the beginning. It started with a dragon. The god of dragons was displeased on how the dragons were hoarding all knowledge. He sent them to be teachers to the lesser races. But they kept their hoards to themselves. Rarely even speaking with each other.

So, one day the dragon god sent a quest, through the System to a young man. To go forth and speak to a dragon. This young man had never heard of the System before and thought he was crazy. So, he looked to his clan's wise man for guidance. And the wise man said it must come from the gods. Because when the young man came to the wise man. The wise man also got a quest. It was to help the young man in his quest. This sent a spur of quests through the clan. To any who could help the young man. They would be rewarded if only the young man would succeed. Many turned away from the young man. Not believing him capable even with their help. But the wiseman did believe. So, he gathered what he could and made a statement. Any who have the quest, and who decide to help. I will help you now. This cause many to take back their words to help the young man.

This wasn't a small clan. They had over ten families together. They were all preparing the young man for his journey. For it would be a long harsh one. For they were a clan of the plains. And all the dragons lived in the broken skies ridge. A terrible mountain line where the sky is the only thing you can see at any one time. Other clans heard of what was happening and wanted to know more about these quests. So, they sent their young men to join the young man on his journey. For there is comradery together and they would have a better chance of success.

Or so it was thought. The young man shared his quest with the others. They would journey together. These young men of the plains. It would be a long harsh road. But they would go to the dragons. As spoken to by the god of dragons.”

I was paying rapt attention. This was so different from anything I had known. Misha was a decent storyteller too. The system wasn't always here, the dragons, had it? Or did they make it? The dragon god gave it to us?

I looked at Misha a moment. Confused about something. “Less race?”

She frowned at me. Then brightened. “Oh yes. The lesser races are what dragons call mortals. Man, fey and kin. Water, sky and earth. Man is represents water, as out bodies are mostly made of water, did you know? We can't survive without it. We live on the edge of water. But never in water as it could easily kill us.”

“Fey are the sky, they are ethereal. They whisper with the wind and float through the days. Supposedly they aren't as mortal as man but they are immortal like dragons, so I couldn't tell you. You would know a fey by their wings. They look like man but are usually slim and have fey wings. Some are like butterflies, some moths, some dragonflies. I've heard those are the most common types.”

“Then there are kin. The beast kin of the earth. Sometimes they are called halfbreed but that is a very nasty term for them understand?” I nodded to that. “Some are shaped like man, with animal features. Some are shaped like beasts with features of man. This is because man and kin and fey can all breed with each other. There is nothing preventing you from loving another mortal. The degree of kin is just their lineage showing.”

I nodded. That was interesting. We can have babies with fey and kin? So, if I wanted a werewolf boyfriend, I could have one. That was sorta cool actually. I never had a boyfriend, but ears and a tail? The fluffy.

I shook my head. To stop daydreaming. I was five years old. Romance was for the future. I looked at Misha. Who had a secret smile on her face. I just blushed.

I looked at the book in her hands again. I wanted to know more. But I was kinda sleepy. I looked at the window, it was afternoon somehow. I didn't think we had been reading that long. I looked up at Misha. “Martha?” I asked. “She will be here in a little while. Why don't we do something fun for now.?” was Misha’s response. I just nodded

Misha pulled out a basket of yarn from somewhere. Maybe under the couch. She held two wooden sticks in her hand, they were each roughly a foot long. With stoppers on the ends. I had no idea where she was going with this. “I think I will teach you to knit! It helps with dexterity and teaches patience! Besides it will give you something to focus on while I read to you.” she cheered happily. I tried to smile. I guess craft work would be, ok?

It did not go ok. She chose a thin light pink yarn. The sticks were about as thick as my fingers were. She showed me how to ‘cast on’. Then made me do it 50 times. Then I had to learn how to make a stitch. My hands were clumsy. Like I never had tried to do anything with these small hands before. No drawing or writing or anything. Making minuet movements to move a thread of yarn was proving difficult for me. But I stuck with it. Until I had my first row down. Which was somehow not 50 stitches. It was 53. Misha didn't say anything. Just simply made me switch sticks between my hands and had me do it again. After showing me how to decrease the number of stitches. So, I tried again. Stitch after stitch. There should be 50 in each row. But it varied each time. Sometimes as little as 41, some as high as 59. But she showed me how to fix it and start the next row anew. I didn't realize I was learning to count all over again. But this time doing it in my new language.

This could have all been a test for me and I would never have realized. We spent the afternoon like that. Me knitting and her correcting my mistakes. My hands would grow sore, but I kept on going. I was determined to learn this. Eventually it got to the point where I couldn't move my hands with sharp stabs of pain. So, I had to stop.

My little pink sheet was over two feet long though. That was saying something since I had only been working on it for an afternoon. You could see how it was uneven the edges barely matching up. A wavy line on the sides. But I was proud of it. It was not quite a foot wide but still it was mine. Not a clue what I'd do with it but still. It was something I had made, with help, but I put in the effort to make it myself. I never had the chance to do that in my last life.

I looked at Misha. Who had set aside her own work to help me with mine. She was smiling and clapping for me. It gave me a warm chest. To know someone else was proud of me. It made me so happy. Like I was on top of the world.

That was about when Martha came striding in. With what was likely dinner, on a cart. “You two seem to be having fun!” she exclaimed to us. As she set about placing the little plates on my kiddie table. Misha picked me up and sat me down on my chair at my table. Putting my knitting aside.

“So much, look at what little miss did today!” She held up my pink sheet. Martha hummed for a moment, and she went over it.

“It's good for a first try. We'll keep it as a reminder of what can happen. For now, dinner. Your good for the night sister mine.” Marta stated calmly. Misha nodded and started packing up her things. She waved bye to me. I suppose I'll see her tomorrow and can continue.

“Now then little miss. Time for dinner. We have a smaller selection to see what you truly like and not what you simply hunger for, alright?” I nodded to her, as she showed me the plates. I would point at one and nod or shake my head. But she had me try a bite of each anyway.

There were less than 20 plates this time and there were only a few bites on each. But those were adult sized bites. Which are like three times as big a bite for me. So, she knew I wouldn't be able to eat all this. I asked for more from the fruits and meats and less from the bread. She set some of the fruited sweets off to the side for me as I always showed those as my favorite. She did insist I eat more vegetables, which I didn't truly have a problem with. They were well cooked and tasted fine. So, I ate my fill, as was given to me. Then Martha gave me a smaller portion of the fruited sweets. So, I ate a little bit more. It was delicious.

“Alright little miss, I think we just need to wash your hands and face tonight since you had a bath after playing outside. Alright?” I nodded to Martha. If I was going to be practicing every day, that would be the best time for a bath.

She brought me a warm wet towel and proceeded to wipe my hands, arms, and face down. I wasn't truly dirty, but the warmth felt nice. She redressed me in a nightgown and proceeded to read to me. Tonight, it wasn't the empire's history or the system starting, but a story about a young fey girl learning of the system given skills and learning how to use them. It was a cute story as she learned the what-to-dos and what-not-to-dos. Very much a parental book. It did give me some ideas though. Like if I could fly how fast I could go. It showed that they knew about the speed of sound at least. Which is something interesting. That there were fey who could fly that fast. Maybe kin too. I would have to ask tomorrow. For now, it was late and time to sleep. How did I get so tired all of a sudden?

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