Seeing Red

Chapter Three

 

Chapter 3

           

        “Yes! Yes that is good!” Dyr’aila sang happily, clapping her hands and laughing. I found that the Elves here were almost always laughing, much unlike the elven folk that lived back home. I had heard Zevvran laugh a few times, but not nearly as much as the other elves. I wondered why he wasn’t as cheery? These thoughts dragged me to the conclusion that perhaps Zevvran should laugh more. I snapped from my distracting thoughts and continued on. I threw a red ball of fire at the ground, making a circle around  Dyr'aila. Still smiling, she waved a hand at it and it disappeared.

        “Now, I want you to do that as a wolf,” she said. I smiled; I was eager for the challenge and shifted into my brownish-reddish wolf form. I had learned this years ago when a strange man turned into a parrot before my eyes at the tavern. I bugged him until he taught me. I have been part wolf ever since. I pulled my ears back and howled a wordless string of magic. The red fire appeared around her again in seconds, its red flames dancing under the sun.

         “Perfect! Let’s see you as a elf now please!” I shifted back to my Elven form, feeling quite cocky at my success.

        “What’s next?”

        “Now we learn how to control the forest. We are one with the world, us Elves are. Concentrate on the world around you, and use that tree to pick me up. I struggled to do as she asked and finally succeeded on my third try “Good Layana, not so gentle with your enemies now, okay? Turn the grass into razors, please.”

I did as she asked and found this exercise much more difficult than the last. There was just so much grass! How did one know the trees from it?  There was an equal amount everywhere. I proved it doable, though, on the eighth try

“Good, good!” She said, “Now you can control nature, your body, and the elements. Tell me what else should you learn?” She smiled patiently at me.

        “Umm… spirit?” I asked warily, Dyr’aila often asked trick questions and I could be at times, slow of wit.

        “Precisely! Spirit is the hardest thing to control, however. It can take years of practice for even the most gifted magic users. That being said, I think you can do it! Concentrate on the world around you!” As I strained to comply she continued to encourage me and instruct me.

“Good, okay! Now look for the green light. Do you see it? Yes? Good, that light is me. Okay? Now concentrate on sending me a word, any word. No not like that. Simply push it into… yes you have it! Good! The world was Zevvran? Interesting choice…” she smiled slyly at me. I flushed and avoided her eyes

        “I- I didn’t mean to send you that!” I said, embarrassed beyond measure, “I meant to send you Royal Poison!” She laughed merrily at my confession. 

         “Somehow, I have the feeling Zevvran was involved in your learning’s of the forest. No matter! You did it! On your first try, this is something to be proud of! Off you go, tell your Zevvran of your adventures today!” She grinned, dismissing me. I smiled back at her, still blushing.

         “Fen’da clar mae Dyr’aila.”

        “And you as well, Layana” she replied softly, “and you as well.”

            As I walked back to camp I committed the day's lessons to memory. We had been in camp a week, and my lessons were the second most important thing there. The first most important thing was Zevvran. We have decided to learn more of each other before we become… serious. It suited me well, I enjoyed hearing his tales, and of his adventures. He in turn, enjoyed mine. I walked into camp and immediately saw Zevvran. He was standing in front of my tent looking very angry.