Shadowsworn

Chapter Twelve - Beginnings

Michel masked his own grief, looking upon the delicate face kneeling before him. He could see then, more than anything, the power and strength buried in her being. She was something else entirely. Otherworldly he thought.

"Come, come child. There will no bowing to me yet," he smiled as she rose, "We have much to discuss. Let's get the pair of you washed and fed."

Maxi ran a hand through his locks, now beginning to curl dangerously close to his shoulders, "Yea, I could use a good soak. And a hefty trim. My hair has never been longer than an inch in my life."

This statement elicited a chuckle from both Aria and Michel. She gave him a mock scowl, "But Max, I think it looks very appealing as it is."

"Really? Suppose I could keep it," he replied, with a little too much haste.

She burst out laughing, "I was only kidding."

"Thank god for that," he mumbled, adding, "Not that your opinion matters that much."

Michel grinned at the exchange, noting the secreted undertone. Ah to be young again.

"Keegan!" The pair jumped in surprise at his sudden bellow.

A man appeared in the blink of an eye, bowing, "Yes sir?"

"Allocate two rooms for Aria and Maxi here, preferably adjacent. Show them the location of the washrooms. After they are presentable, bring them to my personal quarters. Have a meal set out," he paused, turning to eye them, "Make it a reasonably hearty one. They look like they are on the verge of cannibalism."

Before either of them could protest his last words, Keegan was bowing again, "Yes sir, right away. I shall inform Greta then."

"Excellent. Dismissed."

They almost had to run after Keegan's rapidly departing form. The man was on a mission.

~

All she wanted to do, was to crawl into the cosy looking bed and never wake up. Although simple, it was a luxury her body had forgotten.

Such like the baths, a female communal washroom. The temple walls, plain stone, unaltered. Pillars dotted around strategically, bearing intricate carvings, that peaked Aria's curiosity. Beautiful yet simple tiles were lain beneath bare feet throughout. With grand tubs, with room for 4 comfortably, carved into the stone ground itself. Pipes jotted out the inner corners of these, letting the natural hot springs pour forth.

She had submerged herself in ecstasy, only to shriek once she had surfaced. The state of the water had made her feel ashamed and embarrassed, to see the Supreme in such a state. Worse yet she thought, Maxi. Aria had hurriedly drained the tub and began fresh.

After numerous scrubbings that left her feeling a little red and raw, Aria now sat upon the crisp linen bed in her new room, combing the leftover knots from her hair. A sharp knock on the door interrupted her task.

She wandered warily over, and asked, "Who is it?"

The muffled response sent a spark of irritation through her.

"Your knight my dearest damsel."

She yanked the door open, a smart retort on the tip of her tongue, only to pause with her mouth open.

"Now, that is the exact response I was hoping for. Guess I am presentable then, " he stated without shame and utter smugness.

Scrubbed of the dirt and grime, his stubble shaven and hair trimmed back to a much shorter length, he was certainly a very appealing view. Stop staring like a fool and call the cocky bastard out!

"Nope. Just seeing the real you sent me into a horrible shock. You should cover up more often," she quipped.

"Fine. Be like that. No more shadow slave for you," he huffed. "That Keegan guy is waiting for us. Let's go eat some proper food, that you haven't ruined in one way or the other." Maxi gave her his most charming smile, "But if you ever want to come knocking doll, I'm just across the hall." He nodded his head behind him, signalling to a wooden door identical to her own with a wide grin on his face.

She clipped the back of his head as he retreated, then followed on, through the mind boggling halls.

~

"So what of your gifts Maxi? Anything of interest?"

Maxi halted his ravenous stuffing of the hot mull stew and swallowed his mouthful, "Four sir. Fire, air, metal and shadow."

"Ah most excellent. A great mix for a potential assassin. Long as you can excel at defensive techniques without any healing ability that is. Though we have those who specialise in healing. We partner them with those who require the skill the most," Michel ripped a lump of the freshly baked bread, passing it to Aria, "And yourself?"

She pursed her lips for a moment, before remembering Nona had given him her trust. She mumbled too quick and quietly for him to hear, "Eight sir."

"Speak clearly Aria. I am not here to hurt you," a stern tone lining his words.

Maxi snorted in amusement, "She doesn't want to admit the truth because it scares her. Especially that purple one."

A flash of confusion, "Purple what?"

"Purple elemental sphere she has buried in that soul of hers, not counting the other seven," Maxi explained, "Anyone going to finish that stew? It keeps calling to me."

Michel nodded his head to him, distracted, "Aria? You have eight elementals? You have all of them?"

Aria had her head hung down, pushing the potatoes around her plate, unsure of herself.

"I can control earth. Maxi tried to show me how to release the others. We didn't have much time though. I managed to use air twice, that is all. But I saw eight spheres locked down there." All she could do was be honest, like her grandmother had told her, "It's why Nona sent me here. She knew they would come for me."

Michel pursed his lips thoughtfully, trying to bypass the young girls barriers, failing miserably.

"Who taught you to shield?"

"Shield? What's that?"

"It's a barrier beneath the skin. It hides the mind, protects the soul. Almost anyone with an element can do it, with arduous practice."

"First I ever heard of it."

Despite not being able to break through and skim her outer thoughts, he believed her, "A natural then. Rare indeed. Though I can detect power seeping out, minuscule bursts. But once you have released and learnt control, that will be easily contained."

"So, we are officially apprentices of Umbra?"

"My two new best students," he smirked between the pair. "Do not be fooled though. This is no walk in the fields. You shall have to swear an oath in full view of everyone. It's not a life for the faint hearted. Death will become a second nature. Our training methods alone are enough to break most. Torture, cruelty, isolation. All meant to destroy you. Only the strong can survive, only the best can succeed. And failure to graduate results in death. No one most know our secrets."

Aria stared in stunned silence at the real Supreme assassin sitting before her, and trembled just the slightest.

"As long as I'm fed I am up for anything. Anyone going to finish that bread?" Without waiting for a reply, Maxi lent forward and swiped it up, continuing to feast on the abundance laid before them.

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