The Hidden Realm

Chapter 31 – SHAPESHIFTING

THE most awaited time of Eleand’s shapeshifting training arrived. Enkille was very persistent about this matter that she even kept it a secret to the high priestess until now. He didn’t know what her goals were for helping him. But he didn’t question her since this would work to his advantage.

Shapeshifting was never easy. For Eleand, it was more complicated than the Vatranum. Besides, he was hesitant to try and get a favorable result. What if he could not manage to transform back to his original form?

But every question in his mind regarding this transformation magic was answered in the book in his hands. The cousins were very patient in teaching him even they didn’t have the gift of shapeshifting.

“Why do I need to do this?” He complained one time while they were on their favorite spot of the training ground. The plants there were thriving again, unlike the last time he accidentally burned them.

“It’s an additional power. Just think of the possibility of flying.” Rade persuaded him to try harder. “You’re lucky because you’re gifted. You can learn different magic, while we, scholars, only possessed the knowledge.”

Althy dived into the conversation. “Did you know that when faeries and humans interacted, humans would trade anything for them to learn the shapeshifting? Most of them wanted to shift into a faerie form.”

Eleand remained silent. He assumed they might know his true identity, but he would not confirm it unless they said so.

“I see.” He silently swallowed.

Somehow, he enumerated in his mind the positive things when he learned shapeshifting, especially in terms of healing. He believed that because of his faerie blood, he was not just an ordinary mortal. He was special. If this was the case, he was also sure that even Elida possessed the same blood. Elida might have had found a way to survive on her own.

“Enough with history. Are you ready to test your shifting ability? We are excited to see your secondary form.” Althy was cheerful as always.

The cousins looked at each other as if they were sharing thoughts communication.

Eleand readied himself. He had been studying this. Now was the time to test his knowledge.

They momentarily paused when Enkille emerged in front of them. She wore a light blue hooded robe accented with silver and gold.

“Did you shift?” she asked upon arrival.

“Not yet. I’m going to try now. Although I’m scared to see the possibility of my second form,” he hardly sighed. His heart beat fast.

“I will guide you, now start,” Enkille commanded.

Eleand nodded. He removed his upper clothing before he started chanting the ancient language of shapeshifting. Then he made a hand seal, and a medium-sized red magic circle materialized above his head, then it traveled down to his feet. He didn’t stop the chants until sweats covered his body.

After he muttered the last phrase of the spell, his whole body trembled. He lost his balance, and he knelt in the icy ground. His head seemed to break apart, and some invisible force harshly pulled his ears.

Eleand screamed in pain. Especially that his back was slowly tearing apart as if his bones were going out.

“You can do it, come on!” Enkille cheered.

He hardly closed his eyes and concentrated wholeheartedly. He could not afford even the slightest mistake.

Eleand panted when the pain faded, his body still trembling. He witnessed the shock in his companion’s face the moment he opened his eyes.

“D-Did I shift?” he asked. His question was answered when he sensed a heavy thing connected in his back.

He had grown wings!

His three companions looked puzzled while looking at his wings. After a moment, they laugh out loud. He could not understand why they almost cried laughing.

“Why? What’s wrong?” he nervously asked.

“Nice wings, Eleand.” Rade gave him a thumbs up, trying not to laugh.

Enkille clicked his fingers, and an ice mirror materialized in front of him.

“Look at yourself!” Enkille said, holding his grin. Her face was red, trying to suppress her laughter.

 “Whoa!” he gawked, looking at his reflection. His eyes were curved and pointed, just like a normal faerie. But something was very wrong! His eyes turned emerald green, and his hair grew longer down his hips. His wings were far beyond his expectations.

“And what the f**k is this?” he stared in disbelief as he watched his wings. He cursed many times that he couldn’t count. Because his wings were similar to a dragonfly, and it was glittering pink! And it brightly shined like a group of fireflies.

“Your wings are cute. A bit awkward on your body built, though.” Althy teased, and he laughed hard. He walked closer and pinched his newly grown wings. But he immediately distanced himself because his wings were so sensitive.

“Damn it! How can I go back to my normal form?” he panicked. He could not stay in this form for long. His wings could not withstand the weight of his body if ever he wanted to fly. It was way too small for him.

Eleand wanted to complain that his wings seemed feminine for some reason. He was expecting like Ahldrin’s wings, black like a raven and strong. But he was wrong. Maybe shapeshifting was not suited for him.

“Think positive. At least you shifted. Congratulations!” Enkille tapped his shoulder.

“No, I will never try the shapeshifting ever!” he clenched his fist. His dragonfly wings were tiny for his built. It simply appeared as a nuisance if he could not use it to fly.

His companion laughed again.

He closed his eyes and concentrated on going back to his original form. But he just got tired, and he could not make it.

“You look good anyway.” Enkille consoled him.

“s**t! What am I? A tooth faerie?” he said in sarcasm and gritted his teeth.

Rade went serious. “Don’t force yourself to transform back. This is your first time, and your body is exhausted. Let yourself rest for a while to recover the amount of mana you’ve lost in the process.”

Eleand looked at him in horror. “Are you trying to say that I’ll stay in this form while waiting for my body to recharge? No freaking way!”

“You don’t have a choice. We can go hunting for a while. You need to distract yourself from this mess.” Althy said.

“All right, you can go hunting. Just be careful. You know the dangers around here. I need to run errands.” Enkille said and immediately vanished.

Eleand decided to join the cousins even he despised the idea of going on a hunt in his funny form.

Maybe he was too overconfident of his growing power that he thought everything would come easy.

Now he concluded that shapeshifting was not his cup of tea.