A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Chapter 5

Exhausted, I lied down, despite Blithe’s wary eye. I was just so tired and I didn’t care how unlady like it was for me to lie on the floor. I just wanted rest.

After the ball, Blithe was training me to take control of my element so I could summon it without punching or kicking the air. Although I thought it was cool that I wouldn’t have to do that anymore and I was getting better at it, it took a lot of energy out of my system.

“Don’t worry, Elle,” Blithe consoled as I stay lying on the training mat. As my lessons progressed, Blithe stopped calling me Princess, or you majesty and started to call me Elle. I actually preferred it this way and even though it was strange at first, it gave a sense of normality in my life, something that I missed time to time. “It will get better with time. Why don’t we cut this lesson short?” he asked in a soft tone. “I’m sure Arista won’t mind.” He looked at her for conformation and she nodded.

“Not at all,” she assured. “We have covered what we needed for today.”

“Alright,” I sighed and stood up from the floor. We had finished two hours earlier than normal and I was planning on taking the opportunity to take a nap. I could just imagine myself sleeping comfortably, surrounded in those soft sheets.

My dream popped as the door opened. The guard announced my father and Captain Xavior Hamilton as they entered. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, thinking they had come to talk to Blithe. He was second in command, the general of the kingdom’s army after all. Why else would they be here? At first, it seemed like they were, but then their attention turned to me before any one spoke.

“Ellia, you remember Captain Xavior Hamilton,” the king introduced us. Madam Pavoni had drilled customized greetings in my head, saying that it was very important that I didn’t look like a fool in front of others.

I nodded my head with a small smile. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Captain Hamilton,” I greeted back, hoping to get the polite chitchat over so I could leave. “What brings you to the palace?”

I snuck a glance at Blithe and the King. The first, held a small smile, while the second gave the impression that he was enjoying our small conversation much more than he should.

“Business, as usual,” he replied.

Taking this as my cue to dismiss myself, I responded, “Then I will not keep you waiting.” I turned toward my father and Blithe and was about to bid them goodbye when the King spoke.

“Ellia, don’t you still have two hours left with your lesson?” he asked.

I glanced at Blithe and took a deep breath. “Why was he keeping me here? All I want to do is sleep!”

“Not today, father,” I answered. “Blithe is allowing me to finish early.”

His eyebrow lifted before nodded his head. “Alright, but before you go, could you show us how much you’ve improved?” The question wasn’t really a request, but more of a polite command. “I have yet to see your abilities and I would love to finally see them.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

“I hoped this was all they wanted because it was all they’re going to get,” I thought bitterly, a sign that my fatigue was making me crabby.

I walked toward the dummy that I had been practicing on. It had already had one of its arms chopped off from the day before. I had just mastered the technique and even though it took a lot of energy, it didn’t take as much as what we were doing earlier. That technique was much harder to master than the previous two.

I took in a deep breath, fueling my attack, placed my index and middle finger together while raising my hand high. As I exhaled, I brought my arm down in straight line. The air around me morphed into a fierce blade as my arm moved. As soon as the air finished transforming, it quickly rushed toward the dummy and sliced its other arm in half.