10

I would have liked to say that thanks to my mother's training, I immediately realized what was wrong. After all, she had told me over and over again that I had to be aware of what was going on around me. But that would be a lie. I went to bed very early, but I was surprised when I woke up to be in complete darkness. What caught my attention was that I was no longer in my room. The place where I was was too cramped for that and I was in a fetal position, whereas I was used to sprawling on the bed. I felt myself move. Was I in a carriage? I forced myself not to panic and pricked up my ears. I couldn't hear the sound of hooves on the ground. So I was not a cart that would take me away from the castle in a few hours. It was good news. I then tried to understand why the space was so narrow. When I touched the walls around me.

Someone had kidnapped me and was carrying me in a jute bag. Had the duchess finally decided to get rid of me?

At that moment the images that I had buried in me reappeared. I thought I had forgotten them, I was a cherished child even if it was only by my parents. They never left me wanting for anything. But this almost peaceful life made the memories more violent. I remembered the butcher's voice, the sound of the trunk closing behind me, the realization that everyone who was supposed to care for me had betrayed me, the choking. When I thought I had seen it all I remembered my body at the bottom of the river. My eyes were open and empty, and I had focused on them not to see, not to see my body putrefying, not to see my flesh being devoured. Until they themselves disappear and my body swollen with gas rises to the surface. I didn't know if it was the state of death that had saved me from madness.

But a new feeling arose in me. When Taylor died she felt only fear. But I felt the breeze within me stir and soon the fear turned to rage. How dare they make me relive that. When I felt the bag had been placed on the ground, the energy exploded and disintegrated my textile prison. I heard myself scream and rushed at my kidnapper.

I saw red, I was lost in my rage.

I threw a punch, but only hit the void, a backhand but still my opponent dodged me. Then it was just a set of blurry blows and rage. This dull rage, which leaves you blind to nothing else. Suddenly, a kick threw me to the ground and strong hands prevented me from getting up.

"Kid, kid, it's just me. Come back to you. »

I knew that voice.

Soon the red mist cleared and I recognized the old man who had helped me a few days before.

I looked around me. I was in the clearing behind his house. I slowly calmed down. It was not a plot of the Duchess.

"What's wrong with you? I exclaimed

"You've finally calmed down, I see." he said before letting me get up.

I was still in my pajamas and the sky was barely clearing. But even though it was spring, the cool air made me shiver.

" What do you want ? Why did you kidnap me? And how did you get into the tower? »

“You are my student, so I have to train you well. As for the tower… kid, I'm an elf. We are agile. A tower is nothing compared to the tallest trees in the horned forest or the mountains of the North.”

"Your student…I thought I told you that I would never become your student. Never." before starting to take the direction of the castle.

“Even though my training would allow you to become so strong that no one could capture you, so powerful that one day you would be respected throughout the continent. »

I stopped.

I wanted to believe that what he said was a lot of lies but I remembered the weapons hanging on the walls of his house and the head of the monster.

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I thought back to those last moments of helplessness alone underwater, to the mischievous gazes of the inhabitants of the castle, to the precious smile of my mother and to the incurable idiocy of my father. I looked at my hands. I was only 6 years old, but I wanted these hands to one day destroy those who would stand in my way in this unknown world and protect what is precious to me. So I turned to the elf.

He held out his hand to me, I shook it in mine as the sun had just risen.

“My name is Endar, I will be your teacher and one day Taylor your name will be in the books of Eteryddyn. »

1 hour later I bitterly regretted my decision.

"Knees higher!" »

"A turtle is faster than you!" It's an endurance race, not a walk! »

“You want a break. I see. Your enemy will give you a break? Will you drink tea with him too? Run ! »

“Pay attention to your surroundings. Are you an elf or a man? You didn't notice that stone until it hit you. Open your senses. »

"No it wasn't me, it was the wind. Go, run! »

A demon, Endar was a demon. I was ardently convinced of it. Not only did he make me run non-stop for an hour, but when I started to slow down, he threw stones at me without remorse, claiming that it was a good exercise to develop my senses. He had actually allowed me to develop one in an hour. The sense of paranoia. I was still in pajamas and barefoot. My feet had been cut multiple times on the rocks and I was convinced that the ground was now soaked with my blood. The sweat ran down my eyes and irritated them. My legs seemed like balls that I dragged in vain.

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and saw a stone on the ground. I considered stopping to throw it in his face, but continuing to put one foot in front of the other in what now felt more like a walk to the gallows than an endurance race.

“You can stop! »

I collapsed to the ground immediately. I watched the blue sky and even the clouds slowly scrolling past my eyes had more energy than me at that moment.

" Take. »

I turned to see Endar handing me a canteen. I snatched it from his hands and took a sip before spitting the mixture on the floor.

“What is this horror? I asked after coughing my guts out

“Just a little something to reduce muscle pain. Come on, don't ruin all my work. You'll be bedridden all day if you don't finish this. »

I grimaced and drank the liquid in one gulp.

"Okay, now show me your feet"

" Why ? I asked, frowning.

" Show them to me. »

I sighed and lifted my right foot

He watched them for a moment before resting his hand over my skin. A yellow light enveloped my foot, and it began to scratch me. I felt an itch that kept growing. I tried to move my foot but he grabbed my ankle and pinned it down.

It was unbearable.

When the itch subsided he released my foot. The scratches were gone along with the pain.

"Are you a healer?" I exclaimed, giving him a puzzled look. I had never thought I would have the chance to meet one, they were so rare that each capital monopolized them. How was this possible?

Suddenly the skeletal man straightened his shoulders.

“That teacher knows a lot, kid. Don't worry, I'll teach you. You'll be strong in no time. he said proudly

I nodded, not just because I accepted what he had just said, but because I had just realized something.

I looked at his dire, terrifying appearance and glowing look of pride and sighed inwardly.

An idiot like my father.

I started smiling without realizing it.

He finished treating me and sent me back to the castle.

It wasn't until I was standing outside the doors that I remembered I was in my pajamas and feet.

My elven ears were sore. My mother hadn't stopped screaming since I had returned to the castle in a sorry state which she considered unsightly for a duke's son.

"I found a teacher." I say to interrupt her

I thought about telling her a lie. But if she found my room empty every morning, she would always keep me in sight, and I couldn't do anything.

“Is that where you were? »

" Yes "

“In pajamas? »

I hadn't thought about that, she would never let me continue if she knew he had kidnapped me while I was sleeping.

“It was a test to know if I could fight in all circumstances.” I say holding her gaze.

Don't look away, don't look away, I kept telling myself, or she'll think you're lying.

"Are you sure you can trust him?" »

It had miraculously worked. Mothers were terrifying creatures.

"Yes, he's a bit weird and lives alone in the forest, but he has a good heart. He looks a bit like father. »

" Hold on. Is your teacher the same old man who helped you in the woods? »

“I wanted to see if he would be a good teacher, he seems like someone who takes care of his students. said, thinking back to the water canteen and the care he had provided.

She seemed to think for a moment before answering.

"Well, I allow you to go out to participate in your training. But when you're done, you come back here immediately. Is that clear?" »

I nodded enthusiastically. Finally I could get out of this prison. Those were my thoughts until I remembered what Endar had said to me before sending me back to the castle.

“Rest well, tomorrow you will do more than a warm-up. »