The Seventh Moon

Taking Into Consideration

For a long time, I longed to be this close to you. But despite the nearness, you're still something I can never quite touch… ~ Florence Joyce

xxxxxx

"Do you have to consider asking 'him' about training Risa, Lady Enlari?" Jehan asked as soon as they assured that Risa fell asleep.

It was late at night and the two of them talked about the training regimen that Risa would have to undergo for her to better control her magic. They both knew that the seal in Risa’s magic was weakening already the moment they realized that she started communicating with the Master Mage's dragons. And there was the tornado that protected her from the Brathos, as well...

"If there is someone who could train Risa in terms of swordsmanship, 'he' is the only one I could think of. If we're as skilled as that person in that field, then I wouldn't have to resort to doing this."

"But... Do you think 'he' would agree to it? I mean, he doesn't even spare time to train the knights."

"That's because he couldn't still see them as worthy to train under him. But if we could explain Risa’s situation to him, then maybe..."

Then again, it looked as if even Lady Enlari was also unsure of her plan with the way her sentence trailed off. Jehan could only stare at his other mentor and then to the door of Risa’s room. He did think that it was right for Risa to finally start training in swordsmanship, just as she wished.

But a part of him couldn't help feeling worried for the woman. She found herself thrown into such a world that she wasn't even familiar with. And yet here she was, suggesting something that she thought would help her with her survival in that world. Then again, does it really have to be related to fighting?

"I'll let the Master Mage talk to 'him' and convince 'him' about our plans for Risa. Maybe I could ask for Prince Elross’s help for that, as well, since he did witness Risa’s ability first hand. Even though he noticed it at such a dire time..." Lady Enlari later said and faced Jehan. "You stay here and start teaching her what she needs to know first before I start training her."

"You mean the basics?"

The lady mage nodded. "Teach her the basics first, especially in terms of controlling the way her magical energy would flow both in and out of her. Once we manage to convince that person to teach Risa in terms of swordsmanship, the rest of her training will follow."

Jehan didn't need to be told twice. He bowed to the lady mage. "Yes, my lady."

xxxxxx

Yes, it had been a rather rough week for Risa. But for some weird reason, she was still able to sleep well. Of course, she couldn't just ignore the fact that she had dreamed of something strange again.

"That place looked like a basement, though. A large basement. And then, seven pillars stood around it, each with figures holding swords."

But the images weren't the only ones she considered strange. There was also a statue of a woman wearing something similar to Chinese hanfu. She didn’t really consider it weird, especially for a world that looked as if it resembled the Medieval and possibly even the Renaissance era of her world. It looked like a marble statue of a long-haired woman wearing hanfu and raising a large and long sword.

Risa recalled that when she approached it, it suddenly glowed, which caught her off guard. And before she knew it, she found herself waking up. But she thought she heard a voice coming from it, though.

'You'll find me here, waiting... Please find me soon. We don't have much time!'

The woman's voice was desperate and yet with a resigned tone, at the same time. At some point, she understood the helplessness she heard in that voice. But why would a statue do that? And it seemed that it knew she was there. Was that even possible?