Daemerungslied: Regenesis Of Dusk

Chapter 11

In melancholy Castle, Elizabeth walks up to Mortilda.

"How close are you to finding a way to get me back to Amsterdam?" Elizabeth asks.

"Well," Mortilda replies, "you would have been home sooner if I still knew how to open portals."

"You've opened portals before?" Elizabeth asks.

"Yes," Mortilda responds, "but that was long ago, and the scroll containing the spell was destroyed afterward. I had no way of memorising the spell without it either, since it was written in an obscure language that predates the dawn of earthly civilization."

"What language do your people usually use?" Elizabeth asks.

Mortilda responds. "The angels of Mysthaven typically wrote in either Sumerian or Coptic Egyptian, while those borne of the primordial dragons usually wrote in Chinese and spoke Welsh. Eventually they both adopted Latin as a universal language."

"And can you please tell me more about the angels and dragons?" Elizabeth asks out of curiosity.

"Angels and dragons were polar opposites, and yet they managed to create a society where they both co-existed harmoniously, bringing an era of perfect balance between yin and yang. The angels taught the dragons fire magic, and the dragons taught the angels water magic. Everything changed following the arrival of Majin, the demon of pride. Somehow he managed to accumulate an army of brainwashed seraphim. He ordered them to attack Mysthaven. My grandfather Lucifer was fatally wounded fighting off the invasion."

"Is there any way I can gain the ability to use magic?"

"The purest form of magic comes from qi, the energy that flows through all living things. To master magic is something that normally takes years of training, both physically and spiritually. Balance is important. If you want to be able to harness chi, your best shot at it might be to become a martial artist."

"Then can you please train me in martial arts?"

"Well, I believe that the best way to learn martial arts is to be taught by a monk or nun living in a monastery in the mountains."

"Can't you train me right here?"

"In the castle? A castle's purpose is to protect the people who reside within its walls."

"And a monastery is normally regarded as a place of peace, it not?"

"You know what? I can train you in the ancient art of shaolin."

Elizabeth was overjoyed. She had always been fascinated by the martial arts and couldn't wait to begin her training. Mortilda, however, had other ideas. "First, you must understand that this path is not for the faint of heart. It requires discipline, patience, and sacrifice. You must be willing to push your body to its limits and confront your inner demons."

The castle grounds were cleared out, and a makeshift training area was set up. Mortilda began by teaching Elizabeth basic stretches and warm-up exercises. "In order to master the art of shaolin, you must first learn to control your chi," she explained. "Chi flows through meridians, or energy pathways, in the body. By learning to manipulate these pathways, you can harness your inner strength and unlock your full potential."

As the days turned into weeks, Elizabeth found herself struggling to keep up with Mortilda's grueling training regime. Her muscles ached, her joints cracked, and her body was covered in bruises. Despite the pain, she refused to give up. She was determined to master the art of shaolin and use it to find her way back home to Amsterdam.

One day, as they were practicing hand-to-hand combat, Mortilda noticed that Elizabeth was having trouble blocking her attacks. "Your technique is sloppy," she said. "You must learn to focus your chi and channel it through your arms and hands." She taught Elizabeth a series of breathing exercises and meditation techniques designed to help her calm her mind and connect with her chi.