Evelyn
If there is one thing I hate more than anything in the world it is running. I should probably clarify, I enjoy running at a reasonable time of the day at a steady pace. But running at the crack of dawn full tilt through a forest that is still dark with shadows trying to trip me up is not what I would call an enjoyable experience. Nevertheless here I am, just like every other morning running until my lungs are screaming and I have more scrapes and bruises from tripping than I would care to admit. The mist smells like fresh rain, it's cold this early in the morning, winter is still clutching the land. But the frozen breeze through the trees feels like heaven on my burning cheeks instantly cooling me down, As I run further and further through the forest. I feel like I'm being watched like each dark shadow has eyes devouring every movement I make, waiting for me to stop so it can engulf me in its inky black depths. I know it's just my imagination but I pick up my pace anyway. My father is waiting with a scowl on his face for me twenty feet away near the forest edge. He takes a passive glance at my scrapes and bruises and then the lecture begins.
"Seriously Evelyn, you need to pick up your feet when you run. You lead a trail straight here. Anyone could have followed the debris of broken limps and turfed grass you left. Not to mention all the racket you made. I doubt there is a single animal in the forest that is still resting. Go again, and get it right this time. I don't want to be able to track your path from here. Run as I taught you, avoid the path, keep to the soft underbrush and stay low so you don't hit the branches. Pick up your feet and even out your breathing. Your speed shouldn't affect your stealth if you do it right. Now go I expect you back here in forty minutes."
Grumbling to myself I make my way back into the forest. I start slower than I would like to, but I needed to catch my breath badly. This is going to be much harder the second time when I'm already starting to get the pangs in my side. Running like this is exhausting but I can't afford to give up I need to make it back to my father before Forty minutes is up or I will be doing this all day long. That is not the kind of day I would like to have, not even close. With my focus solely on staying as quiet as I can I begin to pick up my pace. Slowly at first, being careful not to step on the dry twigs. Father taught me what type of path I should follow. Stay away from rocks and heavy brush they make the most noise, dirt or mossy grass is the quietest but not always the most direct path. What it really comes down to is how much time I have to run. From what? I'm not sure, father would never tell me what all my training is for, just that I need to be prepared. I believe it's just so he can take enjoyment in my misery of being up and active at such an ungodly hour. With my thoughts starting to drift my shoe slips into a patch of mud and I'm down. A thick smudge covers half of my leg. Well, that will be irritating to clean off I mumble to myself. Picking myself up I get back to running. At this point, I've been in my head for so long that I haven't been keeping track of how far I've gone and how much time I have left. God, please let me have more time. On that note, I start full out sprinting through the forest until I see that I have about fifty feet left of my normal path. Slowing down I creep along until I only have about thirty feet left. This time I'm being very careful about where I step, making sure I'm as silent as a mouse. I can see my father just up ahead, he has his back to me so sneaking up on him will be easy, well should be, in theory, that is. Just as I'm nearing to scare him he turns towards me with a slight smirk.
"Did you honestly believe you could sneak up on me, you will have to try a lot harder before you can even come close to achieving that. Now, that was much better. If you did that the first time you would already be eating breakfast by now. Bathe, eat something and then meet me in the study we have more to work on today"
"Do you want me to bring you anything to eat? It's still pretty early so I could eat breakfast with you before my next lesson" I ask hoping he will say yes so I have an excuse to procrastinate my lesson a bit longer. Don't get me wrong I much rather practice my Fae magic than run. It's just that my magic hasn't been much of success lately. I turn seventeen in a month, at this age I should be able to accomplish a lot more with my magic than I am. There are two different types of magic users you see, half-Fae and pure-blooded Fae. Half-Fae only control one element with their magic whereas Pure-blooded Fae can control all of them. My Father says I fall into the latter category of the pure-blooded, but I'm not so sure about that. I'm supposed to be able to use all five of the elements and at a much higher skill level than I currently am. I'm lucky if I can get a few water drops to move, and a small flick of a flame not even the size of a match. Worst of all is my air magic, I can't manage even the slightest breeze. Spirit magic is very hard to master and must be done after gaining full control of the other elements. My father has been pushing for me to work on my earth magic for the past few months. Needless to say, it hasn't been going too well either.
