Chapter 14. Start the Training!

Someone knocked on my door.
Instantly, my eyes flung open. I stumbled out of bed, crawling hurriedly to my dress. With a horrid look on my face, I stripped my hair, and brushing harshly, braided it into two rough plats. Then I quickly splashed some water into my still-asleep face and sprinted to the doorknob. "What's the problem?" I said through the half-opened the door.
To my greatest surprise I found Fire staring at me. "A-a-a-h..." I said stupidly, while tilting my head and looking at him. I had utterly forgotten that I wasn't at Kneethdark! Now Fire looked at me as if I really was an idiot. "Sorry," I apologized to him. "Old habits die hard."
He must have understood what I meant, because he shifted his attention elsewhere. Water emerged into the hallway next, yawning and rubbing his blue eyes. "Good morning," he said with a sleepy smile. "Nice weather for the first day."
Both of them wore their old, sweat-soaked dirty clothing. Uncontrollably, my face reflected the disgust I felt to those garments. Couldn't they have at least washed them? I took a few steps back, trying to keep both men out of my sight.
Fire repeated the knock on Wind's door. Silence.
"He's not there," Water suddenly said.
"Not there? How can...?" I stopped abruptly, because I remembered how we explored the mansion yesterday. Oh no! I can't believe he got lost!
"You know something?" Fire glared at me.
"Well, yes." I realized Water stared oddly at me. "Last night, we browsed the mansion together. He asked me to leave him near that pianoforte. He said he'll find his way back on his own but he must have gotten lost."
"Did you say a pianoforte?" Water looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Yeah! He suddenly froze when he saw it. And then he asked me to leave."
Water frowned, deep in thought.
"You know where he is?" Fire asked impatiently.
"I can show you where he was when I left."
We entered the main room, where I found Neko crouching near a wall, studying the paintings thoughtfully. He didn't notice us coming, so he must have been really concentrating! "Fresh," he muttered underneath his own breath, smearing the paint across his fingertips. Then he noticed us and stood up, saying a cheerful greeting across the distance. I became aware that Water still had that odd look on his face, now sharing it equally across Neko and me. I started to feel slightly uncomfortable under his unnaturally blue eyes.
Neko wore some nice, sturdy clothing and black, shiny boots. Just one look over him made me lighten and smile. He was so tidy! But on the other hand, his entire body was still stiff and sore from yesterday's match with Fire.
"Did you..." Neko began uncertainly, "no, you couldn't possibly-but I'll ask anyway. You didn't paint the walls last night, right?"
There was an awkward silence before everyone shook their heads.
Neko sighed and smacked his head. "This has happened once before but-but-" Suddenly he clenched his fists. "I'll find out who it really is," he thought to himself.
We walked up the curved stairs to the second floor, with Neko leading the way. I felt embarrassed that Wind and I wondered in his house without permission, and if Neko was angry, he didn't show it. We turned the corner I was sitting against the previous night, to find the shiny black pianoforte, lid closed, sitting lonesome against the gray wall of stone. The stool was placed neatly underneath the pianoforte, and the room would have looked untouched, if only Wind's arm didn't give his presence away.
He lay asleep in one of the armchairs, head to the side and both arms out. A slight frown was printed across his beautiful face. He must have not enjoyed his dreams.
When we woke him up, I felt a sudden stinging pain in my fingers. My entire hands ached! What in the world was he doing to screw his own hands that much? I got angry beyond reason. He crossed the line this time! Without thinking, I slapped him with my glowing hand. "What do you think you're doing?!" I screamed in his face, "Sacrificing your health like that! Have you lost your reason?!" I was about to slap him again, when Fire grabbed both of my hands.
"Enough!" He shook me roughly. I wanted to break free but he was stronger. "Explain," he said when I stopped struggling.
"Just look at his hands!" I answered tearfully, "Look what he did to his hands!"
Everyone looked curiously at Wind's hands as he sat properly in the armchair. It may not have looked that obvious on the surface, but on the inside his hands were shattered, strained, hurting. He couldn't even hold a spoon in this condition!
"You! Stupid! So stupid!" I said when Fire let me heal Wind's hands. "Was it worth it?"
"Yes," I was shocked at the calm answer. "It was worth it." He closed his eyes and sighed, then a sad smile slowly formed on his face. "Thank you," he whispered to me. "I am sorry for the inconveniences," he said to the others.
"Oh my God! Did you just do magic?!" Neko almost screamed, grabbing me painfully strong by the shoulders. "I can't believe I saw it with my own eyes! Can you teach me? Please? Please? Please? Please?" He shook me slightly, but I didn't even notice because I was still recovering.
"Neko, let the poor girl sit down," Water said half-smiling. "She's a little tired from the healing magics she performed."
Neko nodded and seated me in an armchair. My head felt dizzy and my body was lump and spent. On the other hand, I was happy. It was kind of enjoyable to use my magic, especially knowing that I have helped someone.
Everyone has gathered near my chair, expressing their worries in their own ways. Fire, on the other hand, stayed back and smacked his forehead from frustration. I just realized I was taking away the precious time from his training!
I forcefully got up and said I felt much better, even though I was still a little unstable. Water eyed me with concern, as if he knew I wasn't honest. He walked close to me the entire time, buried deep in thought.
"Earth, do you feel anything other than being tired?" He asked when we were falling slightly behind.
"Um, no." I replied. "Not really."
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Like a log, Sir!" I laughed. "I can't remember a thing!"
Suddenly he frowned even more, and I couldn't hold back my worry. "Are you alright? You seem to think a lot this morning." I looked openly in his eyes.
"Oh, I'm fine." He smiled at me. "I just have a lot on my mind." He brushed a stray of hair from his face.
It was still before down when we finally stepped outside. The Sun seemed to struggle to wake up, and I offered a small prayer to help it overcome the Darkness. As if that was all that was needed, the Sun miraculously cast its first trembling rays onto my pale face through the clouds, and only then did it lit everything else with its pulsing energy of light.
This was unreal! The Sun really did light only my face for a minute! I felt deep gratitude to the divine, and gave my greatest thanks for the blessing I just received. Deep inside myself I promised to do my best, so that the Gods can be proud of me.
First, Fire ordered us to line up in the order of height. That wasn't very hard: I was definitely the shortest.
"The only way you can earn my respect is by showing your skills. I will accept no other way.
From now on, you'll call me Sir," he glanced strictly over us. "Understood?"
Everyone said "Yes Sir!" except me; I only nodded.
"No magic. No slacking. No districting others. You're here to get stronger, not relax. Did I make myself clear?" Fire surely sounded deadly serious! I realized I was trembling! I must still be weak from healing Wind's hands, I thought, desperately.
Then we did some simple stretches. It was all right: I had no difficulties. Then came thirty push-ups and thirty sit-ups. I fell behind on the push-ups, but otherwise I did them properly, I think, because Fire had corrected Wind's position, but not mine. My hands felt a little heavy afterwards. On the other hand, I found the sit-ups extremely difficult. I did them in time but with a strong pain in my stomach muscles as a trade-off. Then we were ordered to run a lap around the Noble's property. That should be easy, I thought happily.
Right before we were to start the run, Fire pulled a hand-sized round black pocket watch from one of his pockets. I was stunned! I thought he had nothing from his previous travels. He opened the watch and a few papers fell down.
Water helped Fire to catch the scattered papers up, against Fire's protests.
"You sure keep your documents safe," Water commented half-smiling, "I can't believe it! You even have your car license!" He stared at a piece of glittering paper, amused.
Fire snatched the papers from Water's hands and shoved them back into his pocket. "Don't touch my things," he snapped. "Where're your papers?"
"I'm afraid they're all washed away," Water scratched behind his neck.
Fire gave him a cold look before returning back to his watch.
"Umm, Sir? What's a ‘car license'?" I've never heard of such things.
"Nothing you need to know. On your mark. Go!"
I had no time to think, so I just ran. I caught a glimpse of Fire's watch and got curious. That was definitely not a normal watch. I decided to ask about it later.
So, I was in the lead, yay! It was a joy to run! I loved it! Occasionally I glanced back to make sure no one caught up. And Fire's timing? Who cares about that!
When I was getting close to the archery range, I felt a strange power attracting me. I realized I was near the spot I heard that horrible voice from. Suddenly I slowed down and froze. The pull was too strong to resist. Part of me got scared and wanted to run away, but the other, much bigger part pulled me closer to the clearing. It felt nice and welcoming, and soon my fear got forgotten. There was no sound, only that powerful attraction to the spot I wished to avoid. Without much thought I pulled the rings of the hidden door, revealing a passageway below.
I stepped down into the darkness. It felt warm, like I was welcomed. I looked for a torch, and spotted one on a wall a bit further down the stairs. I made a few silent steps towards that torch. I had almost reached it when suddenly that very force turned against me, choking me in invisible tight knots. It was so strong and so quick that I didn't even have any time to resist, and I fell down, unconscious.

 
I woke up from someone slapping me gently on my cheek. It was no one other than Fire. His stern expression has changed to concern. "Are you alright?" I realized he was holding me in his lap!
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I'm really fine. Thank you." Instantly I stood up and leaned against a wall. My head hurt a lot. I placed my hands there and used the healing magic on myself. It felt a lot better afterwards.
Then I noticed we were still underground, in the hidden passageway I discovered. The torches laminated the entire stairway, but after that, there was still darkness.
"Where are we?" I asked Fire. He stood up and motioned me to come down.
"One of the Noble's storage rooms," he answered. "It was about time you got here."
Suddenly the door opened and Water jumped in, breathing very hard from running. "I won't let you-"
"She came here on her own," Fire snapped. "It's too late now." He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the stairs.
"She's not ready!" Water yelled from above.
"I believe she is!" Fire's grip was so strong that my hand creaked.
"I'll stop you if I must!"
"Just try," Fire's voice was so grave that I got scared. I looked at Water. He seemed so pale and desperate. He stood up, about to do something drastic. I could hear his fast breathing. But then he gripped his head and sat down, as if defeated by some unknown force.
Suddenly Fire stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "Lift your magic," he ordered. As an example he showed me his hands, which glowed bright red.
I ‘lifted' my magic, so that I felt everyone's wounds. There wasn't anything coming from Fire or Water, yet I felt a lot of pain. It came from the center of the room, from a creature; I could tell.
"Keep your magic lifted, or you'll faint again." Fire warned. He pulled me closer to the creature. I didn't need the torches to see what it was. It was lying on its side, its majestic black scales reflecting the soft torchlight. Its four clawed paws and a long black tail lay to one side, with one wing resting on top of them. The other black wing, however, was bend under a painfully twisted angle, with a large wound covering the entire joint. There was also a strange abnormality throughout the creature's body, yet I couldn't tell exactly what it was.
"A dragon!" It couldn't possibly be true! "I can't believe it!" I turned to Fire for a moment, before looking back at the dragon. It was absolutely unbelievable! Its body was as big as my height! A diamond shaped red jewel was in the middle of its forehead. It lay asleep, barely breathing.
"Think you can heal it?" Fire asked, kind of hopeful.
Heal a dragon? How did my life come to this? "I don't know. I'm not sure." I didn't know if I could heal that strange abnormality throughout the dragon's body.
"Is there anything else besides the wing?"
"Yes," I paused, "I can't explain it. It's like something's wrong with the dragon itself."
"Water," Fire's voice was ice cold. "Send me whatever she's seeing."
Water sighed and did as he was told. I didn't get what Fire meant, but I'll think about it later. Now Fire stood with his eyes closed, before replying, "Blood. That is almost certainly the blood."
Suddenly the dragon stirred. Fire walked close to it, whispering it to move off the broken wing. I was surprised to hear him, Fire, saying such warm, comforting words. The dragon shifted onto its clawed paws, letting its wings spread freely on the floor. "Let me see the Earth child," the dragon said in that horrifying voice. I froze. It was almost too much to bear.
The dragon had attempted to lift its head, but Fire stopped it. "You're too weak," he said, "Save your strength."
Yet the dragon lifted its head. "Earth child, come. Let me have a look at you."
Fire frowned, and a second later motioned me to come forward. Better do what she says, he thought annoyed.
I was trembling; I thought my legs will give up under me any second. I gathered my courage-and stepped forth to the mystical creature. Its palm-sized eyes glowed vibrant red, matching the large jewel in its forehead. For some reason, as I stood before it, it felt like some sort of judgment was being made.
I could barely hold my fear, yet I kept looking directly in its eyes. I could feel its hot breath on my little, fragile face.
"I am done." It said abruptly and laid its head back onto the floor.
Then Fire motioned me to the broken wing. "Let's heal the wing first," he said and pushed the bones back into their proper position. A low moan came from the dragon, and I quickly placed my hands on the wound, healing it. Yet, my power wasn't enough. I was struggling. I must be still tired from healing Wind and myself earlier. The green light from my hands got thinner and thinner and I would have certainly lost consciousness if Fire didn't grab onto my hand.
"Use my magic," he said firmly, and suddenly my green light has turned red. I looked at him, puzzled; yet I felt stronger than before. I believed that I could do it! Straining my concentration, I continued to heal. I realized that healing dragons was totally different from healing people. It required a lot more stamina and concentration that I have ever originally thought. I could feel the sweat run down on the sides of my face, and even Fire was struggling to keep going. He clenched my hand even tighter, making me grit my teeth from the pain. Finally, the wound began closing up, giving me the determination to finish the job. With all my last effort, I shoved the remaining red magic into the wound, feeling it close up entirely. I caught a glimpse of new, shiny black scales before my mind went blank, and I collapsed in a dead faint.