Hail White

Chapter 7

I get back to my room and decide to clean it when I’m done, I walk out to the gardens and start a walk along the shore, the air is thick with the sweet scent of pine, moss, and fresh water, and the gentle lapping of the lake’s waves is the only sound to be heard, save for the occasional call of an owl or the rustle of leaves in the wind. I find Talión tending to a small garden with vegetables to eat, I approach him and ask, “How is this secure?” As I point around to all the open space.

“You see, all those runes around the castle give protection and anyone that doesn’t know where to find us will not see the castle, you need to be either an elf or a whitch and know what spell to look for. In other words, its concealed from the world.” Talión said

“Im sorry I was always kept from learning about other supernaturals I only know the basics, I don’t even know where we are.” I apologize

He looks at me in disbelief “so you are telling me you know nothing about our realm?”

I shake my head no in shyness.

“Tomorrow after breakfast we start history clases, looks like we can't wait a month we start right away, might as well do something meanwhile you gain some strength” and looks away and goes to his task at hand.

I walk back in and I’m feeling useless so I go find a broom and a duster and get to work on the castle rooms that look like they have been used. Time flies by so fast and its almost dinner time so I hurry to the kitchen to make a stew and my fabulous apple pie.

They eat while they make small talk, looks like they got a job, but the letter is so vague they can't accept it it got nothing to let them know were to start. They told me the basic thing they needed to know, now is about someone’s beloved, this happens to vampires, but the only thing he knows is he saw her on The Evil Queens land, she had black short hair, but nothing else, he couldn’t even tell what she was, or what she looked like, he didn’t got a close look. So, nothing to do there they said, he would have to let destiny bring her to him again. They said it was terrible to see your destined one and then lose them, that “Florian” as he signed the letter most be going crazy.

We say our good nights and head to the rooms, this quiet haven not only home to the seven elves, each with their own role in the small community, and all are drawn to the peace and natural beauty the castle. They have lived here for generations, untouched by time, preserving their ancient way of life and living in harmony with the world around them. And I prepera for a new day

I get up early and get breakfast done, this time I do not need to ask them to wash their hands after training, every time I see them, I don’t know how I will make it like them. Even Erindor comes in clean even thought I know he doesn’t like me that much. When they are done, they go to their usual chores but tell me to meet them in 1 hour in the meeting room, wich I know were it is, I came along it yesterday and gave it a good clean, without moving the papers too much since I know they are important ones, sometimes they work on 3 or 4 cases at the same time and once they got the right information they move into the job.

I’m done and head into the meeting room the room’s interior is warm and inviting, a sharp contrast to the cool, crisp air outside. The room is lit by a fire that crackles merrily in a stone hearth. The flickering flames dance across the polished wood floors and cast long, soft shadows on the stone walls. The elven craftwork is evident in every corner – delicate tapestries hang on the walls, depicting scenes of ancient forests and long-lost battles. A few elegant chairs, carved from ancient oak, surround a large wooden table where the elves gather. In the far wall of the room there’s a set of bookcases full of old and rather new books, on one of the walls there’s a map that shows a bunch of regions and it’s got little flags over different areas.

Each elf in the team has their own space, yet they remain close-knit as a family. Elenion, sits at the table, focused on reading an ancient book written in a language only the elves truly understand.

The other elves are scattered throughout the room, engaged in various tasks and going through paper work.

“Just intime” one of them said and looks up from were the paper work he has reading. “So first lesson learning our realms map, with its kingdoms” and points at it.

“We are here” he points to a green forest spot surrounded by a gray forest “your kingdom is here” he points north of the gray forest and rear the ocean and it’s a rather small kindom compared to all of the different colors around the map

Talión points to the kingdom right next to mine, the one that surrounds it, “do you know what this is?” He asks

I nod “that is the Vampire Kingdom”

“Very good” he said “this king is not a nice one he doesn’t like other super naturals and kills who ever traspases his kingdom, that is one of the reasons your kingdom is isolated from everyone else”

“All this gray around us is a part of our forest that was drained of its life a lot of centuries ago, its been regenerating but not at the rate we would want it to be, this red Kingdom east to us is the werewolf Kingdom, the prince is cursed and the only way to break the curse it to find his mate, no luck on that yet.” He points to the next kingdom one really up north none of its borders are near the elven territory “this is the Werecat Kingdom and the one South is the Witches territory, then the one south of us is the Kitsune territory, they are peaceful people and don’t mess with anyone” then he points to the ocean “all of this surrounding our realm is mermaid territory”

“And how do you travel from one kingdom to another without entering?” I ask

“You see” Aeloria interrupted “a few centuries ago when our territory was drained of magic, all the kingdoms signed an agreement where we have 30 feet between each border for free passage, so we do not interfere with each other, and it has saved a lot of lives”

“Oh” I try to save as much information as possible in my brain it will come in handy latter on.

“But also, each kingdom has its own strengths and weaknesses, like ours” he finishes

When we look at the time is already late, and I still have to cook for dinner, so I excuse myself and let them to work and I go cook.

They took me into their town to get some clothes, but they didn’t allow me to get dresses, instead they asked for clothing just like theirs, black leather pants and soft shirts that are a little big for now but in a month, it should fit just fine. And some boots, I didn’t get the weapons carrier jet, we don’t know with what I will feel comfortable, I’m guessing some knifes, or the bow, but who knows.

Each day is the same for the next month, I go take my history lessons and then leave them to their investigations, they left a few days ago, they had a heads up on a case they had been working on over 15 years, their elven princess was kidn*pped and nothing has been found, all leads turn to dead ends, they came back yesterday and nothing, they get frustrated every time this happens. They say its as every time they are close, the tower just banishes again.

Tomorrow is my first training session and I’m hoping everything goes smoothly. I get up get dressed in the pants and shirt, all black in color, I was starting to leave my hair grow but it just gets in the way and its so hot down here, that I decided to cut it short pixie style, I think I look bad ass in it.

Hurry up to the kitchen to make breakfast and after we are done eating, they tell me I’m expected in half an hour in the training course.

I start to move through the training course with a mix of determination and energy, just as I had seen them do. My boots thud softly against the wooden posts as I leap from one to the next, suddenly my foot slips and I fall to the ground, my hands sting at the impact but nothing is broken yet.

“arms out for balance!” I hear Galathil shout “again!”

I climb again at the start and jump the wooden posts, my breaths steady but quick. Sweat beads on my brow, make it difficult to see, but my eyes stay sharp, focused—my vision improved dramatically as I gained weight, now I could see the lightest of dust specks in the air.

My shirt is now mud-streaked and damp with effort, but I don’t slow. I ducks under the thorn-laced lattice, crawling low with quick motions, barely wincing as a branch grazes my shoulder. Injuries that used to take several hours to heal now heal in a matter of minutes, they say I should be healing quicker now but they don’t know why this process has not accelerated by now. I scramble up the rope wall, muscles straining, jaw clenched in focus, suddenly my hands give away and I fall like 6 feet into the mud again,

“Start over!” I hear Galathil shout at me reluctantly I stand up and start over,

This time I manage to climb the rope, and pause only a heartbeat at the top before dropping into the gravel trench and sprinting on.

At the target range, I stop, draw an arrow, and let it fly. Thunk. On the tree next of the target . Another. Thunk. Just off-the target. She frowns for a breath, then shakes it off and presses forward.

In the sparring ring, my movements are more raw than refined—quick, instinctive, a little wild—

“there’s real skill there, sheer willpower”. Elenion tell me as he spars with me, this is the first time I’ve hold a short sword so I guess its not that bad. We spar a few more minutes, he shows me how to block first, “you need to learn to defend before you can attack.” He tells me.

My final sprint up the hill is driven not just by strength, but pride. I reach the top, chest rising and falling, a spark of triumph lighting my face.

“Not that bad” Grumpy Erindor said, and that’s a compliment coming from him “even thought it took you half a day to complete the obstacle curse.”