15

The sun had already set but it looked like nothing had changed. An elf was able to see in the dark as well as in broad daylight. I stood in the clearing my spirit beside me. Aella shone like a moon in the darkness.

“So what are you capable of? I asked

"Of that" she said before launching her attack which had taken the form of a crescent. The concentrated wind hit a tree.

And I waited a minute, two minutes.

"Was it supposed to do anything?" » I asked a little disappointed

"Go by the tree" she said simply

I approached and saw a small mark of the same shape as the attack on the tree, but nothing impressive.

“Touch the tree,” Aella said in an exasperated tone.

I touched the trunk, but no sooner had I touched it than the tree was cut in two and fell violently to the ground. The place of the cut was the exact spot where the attack hit.

" Not bad. " I said

“A spirit relies on the strengths of its summoner. We share our powers with him and he nourishes us with his physical essence. The more physical essence I receive, the stronger my attacks will be. Your reserves are currently miniscule. If you absorb more energy, what we just did will be a simple warm-up. Don't attempt to have another spirit until you are able to absorb more magic. Your core and your web are like a muscle, the more you train to absorb, the more they will grow and be able to absorb and produce a greater amount of essence. »

“Do you have any other kind of powers? I asked

Aella then spun around, faster and faster until all that was left was a tornado that sucked in the dirt and rocks around her. Suddenly the tornado changed direction and the debris was thrown out of it.

It was dangerous, I thought, seeing a stone embedded in the ground, right next to me.

Aella reverted to her original form and looked contrite.

“I can also give you a wind attribute, but it can quickly consume your magic, so use it with care. »

Suddenly I felt light and energetic. I started running. I passed the clearing, zigzagging between the trees, at an unimaginable speed when suddenly I fell to the ground, exhausted.

Aella, who was not far behind me, gave me a disappointed look

" I warned you. This power consumes a lot of magic. Right now you can only run like this for fifteen seconds. »

Was it only fifteen seconds? I thought amazed. I felt like it lasted a lot longer.

I got up, at least I tried to get up, since I felt that my muscles were in agony. The cramps were almost unbearable.

“It is also a side effect of this power. For now, you can only use it once. I would advise you to use it if you need to flee. »

It wasn't a bad idea. If I used this speed during a fight, it would be a handicap for the moment. But if I had no choice…I would have to finish the fight very quickly.

"So, you finally found his name, I see" Endar casually approached us as if he hadn't abandoned me during practice.

I frowned and gave him a disgruntled look.

“Oh, don’t react like that, I never lost sight of you. Your spirit powers are quite impressive. At least they will be when your magic is stronger. »

“I have to learn to absorb more magic, I know that. »

"Well, it's time to take you home." Your mother must be worried, and we don't want her to believe that a certain Duchess has her hands on you. »

I immediately felt guilty. My mother had already warned me to be more vigilant and yet the first thing I did was to enter a forest at night.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Aella was it, it might be time to disappear for a while" he said

"I only obey Taylor and you're not him," Aella said disgruntledly.

“It’s ok Aella you can go, Endar will help me get back to the castle. I say calmly

This seemed to soothe her and she changed into a ball of light again before disappearing into my chest.

I had the strange impression of being more energetic.

Endar looked at me as if he understood my thoughts.

“His very presence consumes magic. The spirit is closely linked to your core. Summoning it takes energy and keeping it in the outside world as well.

So that was why...

Endar picked me up and put me on his back, before taking the road to the castle.

I do not remember when we arrived in front of the doors because I had fallen asleep, lulled by the sound of the wind and soothed by the soothing smells of the forest.

I woke up in my bed with a start the next morning.

When I tried to get out of bed, I winced. My legs were still weak and I shivered with every step that led me to the small living room.

My mother was cleaning the dining table when she saw me approach.

"Why are you up? Lie down on the sofa. " she says

I obeyed her, and a few minutes later she came back with a cup, grimacing.

"Your teacher said you should drink it all, he's expecting you in the afternoon. »

The familiar smell made me nauseous. But under the watchful gaze of my mother, I swallowed the liquid without flinching.

"If I didn't know you needed the practice, I wouldn't let you out. But we don't know what the future holds. »

I wanted to tell her, that everything would be fine, but I was not so naive. I gave the cup to my mother, but a minute later she came back with another filled one.

She smiles before telling me

“He prepared a whole jug for you. »

Why did I feel like this was her way of punishing me for coming home late?

The nauseous hours passed and soon my legs had regained their usual vigor.

I saw Endar on his porch, knife in hand. When I approached, I realized that he was making an arrow.

“Now that you have your spirit, we will move on to combat and weapon mastery. Come, I prepared something for you. he said before entering his house.

I shivered again seeing the monster's head hanging on the wall.

"Was he hard to kill?" I asked

Endar stares blankly at the head.

"He had a quick death, he didn't have the same kindness for my wife and my daughter."

I looked at him speechless.

"Here" he said

In his hands was a longbow and a quiver full of arrows.

“It took me a while to make a bow in your size. I hope it will serve you well. »

I now looked at the object in wonder. He made me a bow...

"Don't stand there looking at it, it's not a decoration. Take it "

I quickly grabbed the bow and placed the quiver to my shoulder.

" Thank you." I whispered but he was already out.

I looked back at the monster hanging on the wall and sighed.

I caught sight of him in the garden which I had glimpsed the first time I had passed by the house. It was empty, the weeds had been cut, but there was not a single plant. Instead I found three straw targets.

“It was my wife who had the green thumb” he says by way of explanation

“Stand in front of the target, feet parallel to the direction of your shot. Put your arrow on the string, raise the bow and pull the string up to your chin, aim and shoot.” he said

I awkwardly followed his instructions but when it was time to pull the rope. She remained motionless.

Endar looked at me, for a moment, then at the rope, before looking at me again.

"Change of plan, practice pulling that rope before you even think about hitting the target." he said

I spent the next few days alternating between pulling the rope and absorbing energy. When I was able to pull the string, he allowed me to use the bow. It goes without saying that my first shots were nothing short of glorious. But the elves really had a talent for shooting and after a week I was hitting the middle of the target, one out of three times.

It was at the end of a day's practice that I noticed something that surprised me.

" What are you doing here ? I say to my mother and my father

"I asked them not to tell you until you were ready." said Endar

" What's going on ? I asked

“We decided that the less time you spend in the castle, the less risk you could incur.” said my mother

"No…mother, I can't leave you alone with the Duchess." I insisted

But she handed a backpack to me.

"It's for the best Taylor. Practice and come back when you're stronger. she said with tears in her eyes

"Did I do something?" I say, my obvious fear of being abandoned again, even though I knew deep down that was not the case.

My mother put the bag on the floor and rushed over to hug me.

" Of course not. You are for your father and me, the most precious thing in the world. None of us want you to go. But it is necessary. Be brave my son and come back strong. she said before pulling away. She handed me the bag again and I put it on.

My father then approached me. I was surprised to see him so serious.

“Your teacher will take you to the horned forest. The influence of the spirit of the earth will be less and less present as you move away. I hope you won't need it often. he said before handing me a scabbard. Beware of forest monsters, son. They have no pity. »

I took the sword and hung it on my back. It was heavy and too big, but I knew it would grow with me.

Then I took my father in my arms, to his great astonishment because I had never been very affectionate with him.

"Are you ready?" asked Endar who was now also carrying a bag.

I nodded silently.

I looked at my mother and my father with affection. I had never dreamed of one day having such a loving family. But I had found in them the balm that had relieved the many wounds I had received in my previous life. In my mother's smile, I saw the love she had for me, in my father's eyes, the pride he had in having me as a son. I then turned and began to follow my teacher, advancing towards the dangerous woods of the forest of the elves. I did not know what would await me but I knew that I was walking towards a new adventure.

I turned my head one last time and cried out.

“I will come back stronger, mom, dad, I swear to you!” and as I walked away from them I felt Aela vibrate within me.

It was just the beginning.