The Difference In Capital Letters

Training

  I soon get used to the life down here, I like the darkness a lot and love travelling by shadow (shadow travelling). This whole world seems so similar to the Percy Jackson world I know, but at the same time it's different. The only monsters here are inside of us. Keoki teaches me the way of farming down here. I'm a fast learner and I get assigned the task of caring for the Darrorsows. I mostly spend my time with Agripin by my side as I care for the wounded, I often lose myself in my work and I feel very loved here. I'm soon known throughout the realm as the 'Darrorsow girl', not many of my kin have the same skill with them and I'm the only one they actually like. They're fine with Keoki and can get along with him, but they don't really like him - his work is with the Wolvarks. Wolvarks are the shadow equivalent of wolves but they have wings. I get along well with them too, but there aren't any others who work with the Darrorsows so I've been landed here.

  When I have time off, I usually go and help Keoki until he's finished his rounds. It gives us more time together and it means that as we work, he can teach me more about the history of this place and other things I need to know. Once we finish, I go with him to the training arena and I practice my use of weaponry. Keoki explains that it's important to know how to fight with both my powers and weapons. I've not yet started learning how to throw the mind-bolts and other things that need no weapon, Keoki tells me that I'm not ready yet.

  I'm sitting with Keoki one day, eating lunch and keeping an eye on the grazing Darrorsows when I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder and a pressing weight on my mind. I only know one person who can manipulate my mind and so I turn with caution to face my father. I meet his cold black eyes and drop my gaze away from the biting cold that emits from them. His face is very pale and his spiky black hair seems to be like darkness itself, a crown of shadow sits atop his head and a black cloak makes him become as dark as the shadow around him. I slowly follow, I know Keoki won't come too, he'll have to take care of the Darrorsows.

  My father leads me to the great throne room, where we first met. My first impressions of him weren't brilliant and he did nothing now to mend that. He told me to just do what I could, he told me to try and break into his mind. I threw all my strength into the attack but he just sat on his throne with a blank stony face without any hint of success on my part. I began to feel so drained. I threw anything I knew and tried to throw things I didn't know into the attack but all I was succeeding in doing was sapping my strength.

  After two hours of my trying (and failing) to enter his mind, I collapse on the floor. I make no effort to stand as he strides over, I can feel the anger in his low and commanding voice as he laughs at my pathetic efforts. The fact that he is laughing at me makes me extremely sad, but the sadness turns to hatred and as he turns his back on me with an air of disgust, I throw all the effort I have left into trying to mentally punch him.

  I must have succeeded because he goes sprawling across the floor, and turns to face me with a look colder than the south wind. I feel invisible hands scratching at my arms and reaching for my throat. I've found some energy from the exhilaration of succeeding and I craft another weapon. This time, I wrap the darkness around me and form a trident from the shadows. As the trident becomes solid I throw it with as much force as I can muster at my father's head. As his body goes flying into a wall I forge a sword and walk with an inward cackle boiling in my blood and I hold the sword to his throat. My burning eyes are returned with a steely gaze and I finally throw a mind-bolt at his mind. My victory is cut short as a sudden force repels me, the last thing I remember is the cold of the dark floor as blood streams over my hair-plastered face. Everything goes black, and as I slip into unconsciousness I hear a dangerous whispering voice:

'You will never beat me, and you will pay dearly for your actions girl.'