I knocked on the door to his room loud enough to make certain he heard, but not so loud to incite unwanted attention from those strolling past. Maelorum was now starting to awaken, and I greeted him while I waited for Senick to come open the door.
Sleep well? I asked. I could feel him yawn cutely as he stretched. He nodded mentally.
Very much, so. He started to stand when the door in front of me opened to the poorly groomed head of my student. I frowned in irritation. Either he had made no attempt to look presentable, or he had just woken up. The sluggish man scratched at his stubble apologetically. Before he could explain himself, I brought my hand up to the bridge of my nose in annoyance.
"Make yourself presentable, and meet me on the ground floor next to the stairs." When he hesitated behind the door, I looked up at him from the stones below me and spoke a little sharper, "With haste, Senick."
My words suddenly spurred him into action, forgetting to shut his door as he ran to find suitable clothing. After a moment of hearing him fumble around in the early morning light, I shut the door and walked to where we would be meeting.
What are you planning to do today, Maelorum? I asked, hoping to distract myself from my own growing displeasure at my student's first day. I could almost hear Maelorum's rumbling laughter at my situation through the walls.
Ignant and I are going to be hunting. He clarified. I growled at myself at the information. How could I not know? He had spent the whole morning thinking about it, apparently, as he sent me his memories of how it was being planned. Another question came to my mind.
How long have they been in Ilirea? I asked incredulously. How could I not notice their arrival? My thought repeated. Ignant was relatively large, and it was hardly easy to miss seeing her amber scales contrasting against the light blue sky. I could remember at least 4 occasions in which I saw Glaedr stretch his wings, and I had yet to meet with him since returning.
They arrived yesterday. His understanding at my lack of knowledge about their arrival comforted me. I could hear him take flight from inside of the enormous building I was walking through. With a final thought, I wished him luck in a good hunt. He mirrored my thought, adding.
And you as well, O patient teacher of mortals. His words made me scoff in mild humor. I would need as much patience as I could muster for this particular man. I could only stand in my own swirl of thoughts while I waited for Senick to meet with me.
"How old are you?" I asked, genuinely curious. He smiled at my sudden lack of hostility. After he made it downstairs, I led us to the private gardens; their treasures peacefully displayed. Today was about learning his level of skill, and breaking the ice.
"I had my 23rd birthday a few months ago. What about you? I know elves age differently." He replied. I swallowed my pride and answered honestly.
"I was conceived in the year 7206." My answer made him choke on his tea. As his coughing died down, I took another sip of my own drink; savoring the flavor. Oh, how I missed the taste.
"That's what, 600 and some-odd years ago?" His incredulous expression made me 'hmm' in response as I swallowed the delightful mouthful.
"658." I corrected him softly. I did my best to hide the small smile that graced my lips from my drink. He would be unable to see it from behind my cup.
"Was it different?" He asked, curious. I nodded softly, remembering Laudra asking me very similar questions when she was first bonded with Ignant. Though I was not her teacher for becoming a Shur'tugal, it never stopped her from gravitating toward me. At first, I had been uncomfortable at her persistence, and eventually the awkwardness passed and I tutored her when she needed guidance.
I had an inkling as to why she always tried to impress me, and the possibilities were revolting to say the least. Either she had a crush on me, or she could unconsciously remember me from before her father died. Again, if lust or familiar comfort drew her to me, I felt no reciprocity in it.
Senick paused, gathering his thoughts. Before he could ask his next one, I answered it for him. "No, I cannot die from old age." He nodded, accepting the answer.
He finished the last of his tea and I looked down at my still almost-full cup. I didn't want to leave the tea in my hand to get cold, so I instructed him from where we sat.
"How much experience do you have with the ancient language?" I asked, reading his face. He shrugged.
"I can read most words, though I'm more familiar with the ones involving trades…" Something made his sentence trail off, and I waited for him to continue. "I know a couple of things by ear, but nowhere near the level of skill to converse."
I nodded, dissatisfied. I wasn't looking forward to teaching him my language. Vocabulary, grammar, rules… the thought made me shiver. My next question followed shortly after, "And your skill with magic?" I hoped he would give me the answer I prefered, but as his sudden shyness led on, it was minimal.
"I, er, I can see into peoples' minds; read their thoughts." He admitted. As if an idea occurred to him, I felt his mind extend to tentatively touch mine. I immediately put my guard up, and he recoiled in surprise at my response. My teeth clenched at the action, my words dangerously low.
"Do not do that again. Invading another's mind is rude and reflects poorly on your honor. Only communicate that way with your closest friends and trusted companions with their permission." I chastised. His eyes were filled with apology, as though he had been caught commiting a damning offense. I took a deep breath, retraining myself. When I calmed down, I looked over to the garden next to us. He would need to learn that lesson anyway, and it would do him well to learn it early. "You've likely wondered why my kin do not eat meat." My change of subject was met with his silent nod.
"They don't like using animals to sustain themselves." He said, remembering a past experience. I nodded once curtly.
"It is time you understand why." I said, pointing to the bushes. He looked at me in confusion. "Go sit and still your mind. Let your thoughts focus on your surroundings. The rest will present itself afterword." I explained. His hand set his cup down as he rose to go sit the short distance away. He looked at the exposed ground and sat with his legs crossed as he faced the bush.
I closed my eyes, proud to accomplish some semblance of quiet in today's lesson. As if my thought challenged him, his voice broke the silence.
"How will I know when I'm finished?" He asked. I opened one eye at him in slight annoyance. He had turned his upper body to look back at me. I closed my eye and answered.
"When you can tell me why the elves do not partake in the consumption of living creatures." I stated matter-of-factly. I heard him resume his previous position, and we spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon in our lesson. I heard his stomach growl as he fought to finish his lesson. I had kept my eyes closed, though I could sense him trying to hard to please me. It didn't take me to reach out with my own mind to feel him tensed in frustration. A few minutes later, I told him to come back to me.
"It is time to eat and stretch your muscles." I said, standing. My own legs were grateful for the movement. It surprised me when he shook his head in small defiance.
"I still don't know why elves don't eat meat." He countered. I walked over to him and my voice came out harsher than I had intended.
"Perhaps, but you still need to eat in order to sustain yourself." I argued. He opened his eyes and squinted at the unforgiving light of the sun. He huffed and followed me to the dining hall.
Elves and humans bustled about, a line extending before us as an obstacle to receive food. I stopped at the end with Senick behind me. I turned around to face him, catching his fascination at the amount of people. My arms folded defensively, as I attempted to ignore the people behind me.
"You don't like people, do you?" He observed. I clenched my teeth and remained silent. He took that as my answer, and I opened my mouth to deny it.
"I merely dislike the chaos of the midday meal." I countered. He gave me a sympathetic smile. Senick looked behind me at something, but I forced myself to look back at the gardens outside. He pointed behind me, to my right, trying to get my attention. After a moment of refusal, I gave in and followed his gaze.
"I think she wants you to go to her." His suggestion reiterated itself as I caught Laudra and Taylyn each carrying plates. I would have scowled if I had the heart. They were obviously bringing us food. My eyes were on Taylyn's friendly gaze, and she tilted her head for us to follow. Without hesitation, my legs moved to the command and I heard Senick jog to catch up at my sudden movement.
When we finally found a peaceful area, I could feel myself visibly relax. I gave Taylyn a small look of appreciation, and she replied back with a happy smile at my gratitude. Taylyn handed me the plate she had made for me, and I eyed it, suddenly hungry. She knew me too well. Laudra gave her extra one to Senick, realizing why she had been given the revolting meat and potatoes.
He grabbed it with a quiet 'thank you' and we all sat down at the most secluded table available. No one ate as the two humans sized each other up awkwardly. Laudra spoke first.
"Kvetha, Radi, and…?" She greeted, not knowing who had tagged along with us. I introduced him as politely as I could in front of Taylyn.
"This is Senick, I'm instructing him in magic." I managed. Laudra seemed pleasantly surprised at the notion.
"Oh, well, I hope you enjoy your studies under Radi, Senick. He's a tough nut to crack, but he'll come around." She said as she extended her hand in a physical offer. He nodded in acknowledgement and shook her hand with a somewhat shy smile of his own. She continued, "We met in Ceunon, at the feast."
I picked up my utensil and stared at my food, wanting to eat alone. Taylyn interrupted my thoughts by striking a conversation with me.
"Radi, how is Maelorum today?" She asked. Laudra began to eat, and Senick glanced down at his plate, feeling out of place. I watched him for a moment before answering.
"He is hunting with Ignant at the moment. Were you wanting to speak with him?" I asked back. She made a look of disgust.
"No, not today. His breath is horrendous after hunting." She said, glancing at Senick's plate as if his food reminded her of her reason for avoiding Maelorum today. I immediately made the connection, wanting to bring today's lesson with Senick full-circle.
"Senick spent the morning asking himself why you do not eat meat." Senick's eyes shot up from his meal to me at my mention of him. He hadn't touched his food, I noticed, he was just moving it around with a look of disgust. It was clear he had passed today's lesson, judging by the pained look in his eyes. Taylyn's eyes bored into my head while I kept my smirk hidden.
"You couldn't tell him? Instead you force him to find out himself?" Her anger surprised me, and I felt Laudra's eyes flicker from me, to Taylyn, and then again to Senick awkwardly. I lifted an eyebrow in deliberation at her tone. It was protective, yet accusatory.
"Yes, he would have figured it out eventually. Better to learn the lesson early than to stumble upon it later." I defended myself. She sent me daggers from across the table and I looked back at her, unwavering in my position. To my surprise, she grabbed his plate and switched it with mine. My sternness was replaced by my own glare.
"If you will not give him the respect, I will." She said stiffly. I narrowed my eyes at her in defiance. If she was so wise, she should be teaching him instead of me. I spoke before thinking.
"Which one of us is the Shur'tugal? I would not do something if he could not learn from it." I barked back sharply. She scoffed in disbelief, offended, and stood; taking her meal with her. Part of me felt bad for making her angry, knowing I should not have said those words... Actually, all of me turned guilty at the harsh retort. The two humans I sat next to avoided looking at me, sensing my impending wrath and likely not wanting to provoke it.
One look back down at my food, and I cursed under my breath, "Faen den.*" I growled, leaving my plate to chase after Taylyn. I easily caught up with her as she stomped to her quarters.
"Taylyn-" I started, but she cut me off before I could finish. I wasn't expecting her to turn around, and I certainly wasn't expecting her to throw her plate of salad at my chest in unbridled rage. The wooden platter stung my chest from the force, but her face of unshed tears tears hurt infinitely more. The sound of the wood hitting the stone flooring echoed throughout the hall.
"Do not speak." she spat dangerously. I felt my heart drop at the spell. Even if I tried, I could not bring myself to respond. My mouth closed against my will, and she quickly ended the spell; seeing that I got her message clearly. She continued, "How dare you say that? Insult me publicly like that? I understand you are unhappy with your situation, but you know better than to deflect your bitterness at me."
I stood there frozen, despite my physical ability to move. She huffed and turned to walk to her room. After my shock wore off, I let out a long sigh as I picked up wasted food.
On my way back to Senick, he was finishing the last of the salad Taylyn traded to him. I grabbed my abandoned food, and sat down calmly. Laudra and Senick returned to ignoring me. With a forceful apology, I spoke to both of them.
"I hope you can excuse my poor attitude earlier, it was disrespectful of me." I said quietly. Laudra took it in stride, giving me a small smile in acceptance. When I looked over at Senick, he seemed to take longer to consider my apology.
I stop myself from saying anything else I would regret, I stacked my and Taylyn's uneaten food together and stood again. I decided Senick had enough to think about for the day.
"I am sure you would like much-needed break from today's events. Take the rest of the day to yourself; explore the city, relax." I said, walking away. After a couple of steps, I looked back to Senick's delight at the newfound freedom I gave him, "And Senick?"
He looked back to me, worried he did something wrong. I attempted to sound lighthearted in my mood, "Do not make me wait for you to be presentable again tomorrow." He nodded seriously. I walked away, mentally grumbling about how I would need to brave the dining hall to return the uneaten food.
AN: *Faen den would be my attempt at trying to make a curse word/phrase in the Ancient Language, lol. I was going for a "Damn it" sort of thing with that one.