A few days had passed and Eija now trained alone. Other than the occasional cawing of a crow or other woodland creatures scurrying about, all was silent. The forest had become his sanctuary, and every morning before the sun was up, he made his way back to the Shylar trees. Once he cut down a tree without the aid of witchbane, he was to tell Lord Gremmelt so he could watch him do it for himself.

The boy sat in front of the trees and pondered about cutting them down. His mind filled with excuses the moment he considered it.

One by one, he tackled each excuse and broke it with reason. If the bark looked too thick, he welcomed the additional challenge. If another tree looked more appealing, he accepted that they both had to be cut down. There wouldn’t be a single reason that would stop him from making the attempt.

This is the one. Eija stepped up to a Shylar tree and lifted his blade, taking in a deep breath as he did. Here goes nothing.

“You must be Eija,” said an unfamiliar woman’s voice. Shocked by the new and sudden voice, Eija stumbled as he swung, landing on his knee.

“That’s me.” Eija tried to cover up his embarrassment by laughing. He stood up and quickly dusted the dirt from his leg. “Who are you?” Eija said as he looked up at the face that approached. Her hair was silvery blonde and hung to the sides of her pale face and down to her collar bones. She had an eyepatch over her left eye and curiosity shone through her right. She’s beautiful.

“My name is Naja,” she replied.

“Ohh, haha. Eija and Naja, those rhyme,” Eija said. A sudden and horrible rush of awkwardness fell over him like a thick, wool blanket. It smothered him and made him feel as if he was being crushed to death.

“They do, don’t they,” Naja replied with a smile. She looked over at the Shylar trees and noticed one had several cuts in it. “Haven't had much luck cutting through one?”

“Not really,” Eija replied. “When I use witchbane I can at least strike it, but driving it the whole way through is another story.” Eija pulled out his sword and half frowned. “Tamaro has kindly sharpened it for me and everything, but still, I just can’t seem to be able to get it the whole way through. I’m just not strong enough.”

“You don’t need a lot of strength to cut a Shylar tree. It's more technique than power. Watch closely.” Naja scanned the trees, spotting one she favored. As she stepped towards it and pulled her shortsword from its scabbard, she focused her gaze solely on the tree. With a quick breath, and a slash, she cut through the bark as if it were paper.

“See? I didn’t even need to use both hands.”

What!? “You cut through it like it was nothing!” Eija shook his head in disbelief.

“Of course, everyone in The Order can. Shylar tree enchantments are weak compared to a witch. Being able to withstand one is the minimum requirement to begin training.” Naja walked into the center of the trees until she was in a small circle of four, all within striking distance.

“I never had trouble with cutting these, so I can’t offer much advice on how to get better. But Witch Hunter Benard once told me he struggled with cutting the Shylar tree, and how he overcame it was like this.”

Naja took in a deep breath, and then in a single, fluid motion, swung her blade and spun in a circle, cutting through all four trees one by one. As they fell to the ground at her feet, she sheathed her blade and brushed her hair from her eyes.

“The trees will all affect you at once if they feel threatened, but once you learn to withstand that, fending off one should be easy,” said Naja.

“You're amazing…” Eija said quietly. If she can do that… then I should be able to at least cut through one. She can’t be that much older than me, so she must have learned to do this in the past year or so. “How long have you been with The Order?”

“Five years,” Naja replied. She gently placed her hand on the tree Eija had failed to cut through.

Five years! “Why did you join the Order?”

“I first came to The Order as a child.” Her gaze crashed to the dirt. “My father had been enchanted by a witch. He was convinced that he had to kill my mother and take me deep into the woods. As to what he was going to do or why…I can’t be sure, but Lord Gremmelt cut him down before we reached where he was taking me.” She stared blankly for a few moments before returning her gaze to Eija. “I’ve been with The Order ever since.”

“That’s terrible,” Eija replied. So we're the same in a way. I wonder just how many Witch Hunters have a similar story. “Does everyone in The Order start out as a kid?”

“Hardly,” Naja smirked. “Most who join are well past their youth. We initiates are the minority. Even now, you are the only one in training.”

“How often do new members join?” Eija asked.

“Seldomly,” she replied. “Since we were legitimized by the King, our numbers have grown considerably, but in the last year we have lost more than we have gained, and the hunts only continue to grow. I’m afraid at this pace...” She looked up into his eyes, asking, “You were with Witch Hunter Benard when he died, correct?”

“Yes, I was there when he took his last breath,” Eija replied.

“I still can’t believe he is gone.” Naja clenched her fists at her side. “He was the best among us.”

“He fought bravely,” Eija mumbled. Casting his eyes down, he replayed how he had tackled him off of his sister during their fight. He’d still be around if it wasn’t for me.

Naja noticed Eija’s dour expression and gently lowered her face so her eye could meet his. Her green eye carried mercy within and swirled butterflies in Eija’s stomach.

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“Don’t let yourself be embittered by it. It is sad to see him gone, but it wasn’t your fault. Had he not been so overconfident...”

“Yeah,” Eija replied with a half smile. “He was amazing the whole way through.”

“He was.” Naja softly smiled.

“So what are you doing out here?” Eija asked.

“Checking up on you,” Naja replied. “Lord Gremmelt is a little busy with the other Lords so he sent me to come and see how you were coming along. He was my master before he was yours, so I feel somewhat responsible for you.”

“Well I appreciate the company,” Eija replied. “Do you want to stay and watch? Maybe you could tell me if I am doing anything wrong.” Eija smiled and his cheeks flushed red. Please stay. Please stay. Please stay.

“I suppose I could watch.” Naja sat down on the ground beside one of the Shylar trees. “Give it your best try.”

Pure joy stretched across the boy's face. “I will,” he told her before setting his sights on the tree he had failed to cut so many times before. I have to cut this tree down. An overwhelming sense of Doubt suddenly befell him and his hands struggled to firmly hold his sword. Damn it! Why is this so much harder with her watching? He glanced back at Naja who sat idly on the ground, patiently waiting to watch his strike.

“Okay!” Eija said for no reason, hoping it would break the tension of him standing there for so long in silence. Okay! He mocked his own voice in his head. Just cut the bloody tree!

He swallowed his spit, took a deep breath, then stepped towards it. Swinging the sword around his shoulders, he twisted his hips and drove the blade through the tree as hard as he could. It stopped halfway and he nearly collapsed to the floor in embarrassment.

“Stupid tree…” Eija said beneath his breath. A fire welled up in his eyes and just as he was about to throw the sword down and kick the tree, a hand softly found his shoulder.

“I think I see the problem,” she said. “Get back in position.”

Eija quickly and haphazardly returned to the stance Lord Gremmelt had taught him, but now Naja was right behind him, wrapping her arms around his own like a shadow. Her breath was at his neck, her chest pressed to his back. He held his breath, and a fire began to rise below his belt.

“Here,” she said as she slowly moved their bodies together through the motion. “Right here”—she stopped them as they began to twist at the hip—“you’re aiming at the tree, but what you need to do is aim past it. Of course you struggle to cut through it, you're not really trying to. You're just swinging the sword as hard as you can into it.”

Eija hardly heard a word she said. He was too enamored by the touch of her body and the scent of lilacs that clung to her skin. She let go and he was able to catch the breath he had been holding ever since she wrapped around him.

“Could you repeat that,” he sheepishly replied as he tried to hide his reddening cheeks.

“You need to aim through the tree, not at it,” she answered. She returned to her seat and motioned with her hand for him to continue.

“I’ll give it a try,” he told her. Squaring himself up against the tree, he returned to the starting stance. Okay Eija, this time don’t be a dumbass. Just cut the stupid tree, look over at Naja, and thank her for the help. He glanced at Naja and she gave him a reassuring nod.

Taking a breath, he stepped, swung his blade around, twisted his hips, and finally saw his blade cut through. The tree toppled over to the ground, and Eija stood there reveling in his accomplishment.

“I did it!” He jumped in the air and lifted his sword high. “I actually did it. Wow,” he said as he turned to Naja. “Thanks, I owe you.”

“Consider this one free,” Naja replied. She sprung to her feet. “We should go tell Lord Gremmelt. He’ll be happy to hear you can start your training.”

“Wait,” Eija replied. “I’m not ready yet, I still have to do it without witchbane before I get him. That is what he told me.”

“I see,” Naja replied. She sat back down against a tree. “Well, there is no sense in you cutting anymore down now. Come.” She patted the ground next to her. “Sit and rest, you look weary.”

His heart wanted to explode in his chest, but he shut it up and was able to make his way to her without saying or doing anything he regretted. Eija sat down, resting his back against the tree. Their shoulders almost touched, and he wasn’t sure what to do with his hands, so he folded them in his lap and nervously played with his fingers.

“So…” Eija had no idea what to say, but as his eyes made their way from her chest to her face, his curiosity piqued. “What happened to your eye?”

Naja lifted her hand to the eyepatch and touched it gently. “This is a reminder,” she told him. “My last hunt didn’t go exactly as we had planned. We only thought we would be dealing with werewolves.” She took in a deep breath and her expression turned serious.

“A witch was watching every move we made. Despite the signs…” She stared off blankly into the woods and continued, “I didn’t notice them until it was too late, and this was one of the consequences.” Her fists clenched at her side and she ground her teeth.

“Did the Witch get away?” Eija asked.

“She did,” Naja replied as she turned to him. “I was lucky no one lost their lives, but I should have known she was there.” A red tinge rose on her ivory cheeks and she furrowed her brow. “I felt her presence at the shop. It was familiar, I just couldn’t place it until now. Fate brought me to the one who cursed my father, but I was too naive to notice. Now she lives another day, and I am stuck here at Witchbane Keep, left to nurse my wounds.”

Eija closely watched her mouth as she spoke, struggling to listen to anything she was actually saying. He was enamored by the subtlety of which her tongue moved and the way she pursed her lips in her laments. Noticing her silent face calmly looking at him, he scrambled and blurted out, “The Witch was the same one who cursed your father?”

“I believe so. I never actually saw the Witch when I was a girl, and as for on the hunt, I only briefly spoke to her as she hid herself amongst the townsfolk. But still, something was off and I just couldn’t place it.” Naja bitterly shook her head. “It was a mistake I won’t make again.”

Eija thought of his own mistakes. I should have taken better care of Aleya. I knew what father was doing, I just… “Do you think you’ll get the chance to find her again?”

“Who knows?” She stretched her arms high and looked up at the canopy of leaves overhead. “Only Lords are allowed to go out on their own. We Witch Hunters can only leave in a group, unless, of course, we are granted permission from the Commander.”

“Wait, so like, I can’t leave and go look for my sister?” Eija asked.

“Definitely not while you are still an Initiate. Maybe after you’ve earned your brand you can speak to Commander Derrick about it.” She held her finger to him. “Though, you should seek counsel from Lord Gremmelt before you ever speak to the Commander. There is a chain of command, and if you over step it, some in The Order aren’t going to like it.”

“Okay, okay.” He held his hands up. “I won’t rush to see the Commander. But I have to find my sister. No matter what.” Eija took a resolute breath. “I will save her.” His brown eyes welled up and he quickly brought up his hand to hide his tears.

“I hope you do.” Naja placed her hand on his thigh. “But do not lose yourself in your pursuit.” She blankly stared ahead into the wood. “Too many Witch Hunters are willing to thrust themselves into the sword just so they can make a strike.”

She shook her somber tone with a slight shake of her head and a deep breath. “For now”—Naja nestled down further into the tree and placed her hands behind her head—“let's just enjoy the breeze.”

Eija blushed. “I can’t think of anything better,” he replied.

The two sat in silence as the gentle breeze brushed their faces and ruffled the leaves. The sun broke through the trees and splashed its warmth on their bodies. Drifting in the haze of the afternoon, each of them found comfort in the serenity of the day.