Secrets of the Trees

9 - I Learn Kael's Lineage, And Deliah Makes A Friend

Kael's POV:

Lily just asked me the biggest secret of my life, maybe even of the entire world. I didn't want her to know, I didn't want her to be afraid of who I really was. Think, think Kael, what could I possibly be that she would believe? Ah, got it!

"I am only half Kloftcesni. My mother was a slave to a neighboring country across the sea. She was taken captive, and well, eventually taken advantage of, and thus I came into being. When they found out she was pregnant, they sailed back here and dropped her off on the shore. She never told my grandmother or anyone what place that the scroundrels came from. So I know not what my other half is. And I told you, I am a bastard. I should not be alive." Okay, at least I gave her half-truth.

Lily's POV:

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I didn't mean for it to sound rude. That must be horrible living your life not knowing who you are. It happened to me, but I was ignorant, so it's different." Poor guy... I can't imagine living my life a mystery!

He replied, "Hah, you don't even know the half of it. But nevermind me, you should get rest."

"...Kay."

Several days had gone by rather uneventfully. It was almost a week since I had been pulled into this world, and almost a week of tedious excercises and memorization, not to mention the soreness after a few nights. Though it was hard at first, my daily routines began to feel natural.

Deliah and Kael were great trainers, despite her strength being demolished in half every day. In case you were wondering, the master did eventually heal after two days, meaning the ceremonies were back on as usual. The master's healing did bring down our spirits and hope for his weakening, but we did not give up. 

Today however, is a big day. This is the first time I will be leaving the forest, to get some outside information about the enemy, and also to see what I have been reading about, and hearing about from my mentors. I have read some of the history, from years past, about small things, and even the building of Lilwen palace. Man I can't wait to see it all!

When we had all collected what we'd needed for the trip, something struck me.

"Why are we preparing to walk there exactly? Can't we just open a portal to get there?"

Kael started shaking his head. "You do not get it, if we open a portal near the edge of the forest, someone will find out. Not only is there a slight disturbance in the air, but also you do remember that there are guards everywhere, so it is possible that someone could find it like the last time."

"Oh. Well we wouldn't want that..."

"No indeed."

Deliah chimed in, "Shall we go?"

And so, we went, traveling through the woods in the early hours of the morning. Deliah had come before ceremonies so that we could see what went on. Her brilliant idea, was to have us use our magic to be invisible until it was all over since we could handle that much energy, though she did not. But we would be fine for the time being. 

When what had seemed like days of walking, we got the outskirts of the forest, which is apparently called Acantha Wood from what I read in the books. Did I mention I can now pretty much read and say anything in hsilgne? Right, so, we were at the edge of Acantha Wood, meaning Kael and I had to make ourselves invisible. This time I made sure to say invisibility rather than invincibility. 

At first it was hard trying to follow Deliah through the tuhrewolf patches, especially since I could not see myself nor Kael, but I eventually got used to it. There were so many questions I had for Deliah, but I could not speak, not even communicate telepathically because according to her, my thoughts are like squishing a berry, squirting everywhere, never knowing in what direction.