Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Training, Training, Training! ~~

"Hello, are you ready to learn some of my abilities?"

L wondered if that was some kind of trick question, but she nodded slowly, and Katherine's yellow eyes flickered slightly. She nodded once and walked out of the house without another word. L sighed internally and followed her.

Every day started out in the same way. L had breakfast with Mrs Worcester and sometimes Robbie or Mr Worcester, then she'd go out to the Council cottage to meet her new teacher. They'd walk off to some random location in the forest, and then they'd teach her some easy abilities. Katherine taught her how to see tiny details and great distances just like a Werewolf. She also taught her how to transform a little of her body and explained to L how they could change back to human or go full wolf. But she refused to teach L that much about it because it was 'too much for her'.

L had been right about her lessons being strict, but it was worse than that, she didn't believe L could do much. The knowledge she gave L was textbook stuff, right off of the pages of some long lost book. By the end of their lesson, L was able to create claws to replace her fingernails, and she could see for miles. She had a very brief thought of trying it out with Reptilian sight, but she didn't want to fall over in front of Katherine.

Once she was done with training, it was back to her cottage to spend time with the Worcesters, which was usually the best part of her day. Then, each night, she'd discuss training with Robbie, and he'd help her get through all of the information she had now. He found it hard to keep it all in order, but L managed fine. She knew it was due to what she was and it almost made her smile, until she realised that training started again the next morning and the smile disappeared.

She trained with Kreleth, the Elven Council member, and that was almost as bad as her time with Katherine. He taught her very basic Elf magic and berated her about learning from Bryce. Expressing to her just how dangerous it could have been.

He gave her a quick course on the terrible consequences of when magic goes horribly wrong, then he actually gave her homework. Three tomes on magic, the knowledge behind it, and how to use it correctly. He wanted her to learn everything by the time they met again to train.

L carried the absurdly heavy books back and had to spend an extra hour or two each night on them. She had no idea when Kreleth would be teaching her again, but she hoped it wouldn't be for a long time.

Training with Maeve was a lot more fun. She taught the basics and then showed L how the elements affected her body. She taught her how to channel them, to use them to her advantage and then how to make them flow freely; she was clear on how badly things could go and that L shouldn't try it when Maeve wasn't around.

L felt content with the air swirling around and through her. Her body shifted the way Maeve's did, though not as fluidly. Maeve explained it would take practice to get it so completely, even with her being a Keeper. L was glad to hear that she wasn't meant to be perfect at everything. She and Maeve finished on great terms, and Maeve said she'd stop by to see her later that night.

It turned out to be a good night of laughter and insight into what was happening in the Council. Maeve wouldn't say too much, but she did mention that there was no news on Frallica. Which wasn't good or bad. They just had nothing new to report. L pushed away the hope of news on someone else. She wasn't about to ask Maeve either.

L's training continued, and she found herself getting used to her new routine; it felt like being back at school, only with nicer housemates to go back to at the end of the day.

Tern was very different from the other teachers. He was gruff but not unkind and he taught her the strength of Dwarf skin, as well as how they made things out of rock and metal. He swore that he had to help her make something special one day. He also told her of Dwarf abilities to adapt to any environment. L found these some of the easier abilities to learn- she was good at adapting to new situations.

Tern gave her some extra information about Dwarves, their love of the Earth, and how they were very family oriented. L could tell he was trying to be subtle about it, but he was teaching her knowledge about his kind that as a Keeper, she should already know. Tern actually cracked a smile by the end of their session and said he would be pleased to teach her more next time.

It had been a great training session with Tern the day before, but now L was eager to finish. She had Vadim that day, and then she was allowed this one Saturday off. Apparently, there had still been no news of Demon movements, so she was allowed to rest. L walked into the Council cottage to see Vadim stood waiting for her. He had his staff in hand, and he appeared to be in a good mood.

"Hello, L, how are you today?"

L felt a little surprised by the greeting, not that he was ever nasty to her, but she'd expected him to be serious and businesslike.

She nodded slowly, "I'm alright. Are we going somewhere else to learn whatever you're gonna teach me?"

Vadim smiled, and surprisingly, he shook his head, "No, we are not, we'll be staying here in this cottage for now. We may go outside later, but I predict rain today. Matilda and a number of the other Nature-creatures have told me the forest is in need of a downpour."

L had no idea what he was talking about, but she didn't say anything while she watched him. His grey hair was spiking up so much he looked like he'd been electrocuted. His robes were purple and green now. They showed constellations one second and animal drawings the next. He seemed to be looking at her expectantly when she finally looked back at his face, and she raised her brows.

"Sorry, did you say something?"

"I said, would you like to learn a little more about your heritage?"

L blinked in shock, nodding quickly at him and feeling annoyed that he even needed to ask. He was already walking towards the corridor that led to the meeting hall. L knew the drill by now and followed him down the corridor. He didn't go to the Council meeting hall, however and instead he turned a corner and kept walking. L had never been down this part of the cottage before, and her eyes were roaming everywhere. The cottage didn't look this big from the outside, but the quote 'appearances can be deceiving' crossed her mind.

Vadim walked past one last door and then stopped in front of a bare wall, L's brow furrowed when she stopped beside him. He was muttering something under his breath that L couldn't understand, and she watched him tap his staff on the wall. Her jaw fell open when the wall folded away to reveal a room beyond that was shrouded in darkness.