Chapter 5: Baby steps

Luz´s Room was softly lighted by the blue light of the moon that now was at the perfect angle to be seen through the small window. The only sound in the room was the little breathing done by baby Luz. Lara could occasionally hear the footstep of the guards patrolling the area, but they weren't very loud, or rather Lara told them to be quiet when they walked in front of Luz´s room. The human was sleeping soundly like this was the first night of peace since she had arrived at the isles… maybe that was truth. The room felt more like one since the guards finished bringing the essentials.

There is still a lot missing, but I think across the week the room should be finished.

Lara should be sleeping to be alert the next day… But even with this perfect mood for sleeping Lara couldn't bring herself to sleep that night, and it had nothing to do with the caring of Luz (she was K.O for sure). No, Lara had to be frank with herself, she was so excited about the job that she hadn't thought about the details… the big details.

Luz was a human and Lara didn't know a thing about humans, what do they eat? (the guards of the castle told Lara that they fed luz with a mush of vegetables and meat, but this was baby food, Lara needed to know more about what could Luz eat) They even had a bile sac?... how much a human growth? The stress was killing her.

Even if she managed to pull that stunt in front of the Emperor (and all of what she said in there was true) she didn't have a clue about humans and she was sure lord Belos would fire her if he found out about this… or maybe worse.

Humans weren't a totally unheard thing in the boiling isles, they were like a mythical creature, everybody knew about their existence, but no one had ever seen one, supposedly there were some books about humans back in the day, but they were lost due to the lack of care by the witches of that age.

Lara huddled in the cradle of the baby looking at Luz… she tried to remember everything that she had heard about the humans and tried to compare it with the sleeping baby (without waking her of course)

Ok… let's see… round ears.

She gently pushed some of the hair that obstructed the right ear of Luz.

That checks out.

Of course, this wasn't of any help, there were demons with literally no visible ears and they could hear just fine. She needed to think about something useful, although starting with a win boosted Lara's mood a little.

Come on Acton remember something useful… a rumor… a scary story… something!

Luz made a tiny yawn, Lara quickly but carefully backed away to not awake the baby. In that moment she noticed something, Luz had teeth's, but she couldn't see any fang.

Then a switch clicked inside Lara´s mind.

Almost all creatures change their teeth, so I maybe can assume the human has her baby teeth's still… but even if that would be truth there is no way any of those would ever be a full-grown fang, almost every demon and which had fangs even when they were babies so…

Lara used all her mental capacity to formulate something with these newfound knowledge…

According to witch anatomy, the fangs are an ancestral trace of our primal beings… they fight a lot and use their mouth to bite their enemies, even with the use of magic witches still sometimes use their fangs to hurt their rivals so that was supposedly the reason they resisted to disappear… if the humans don't have any big fangs that would mean…

Lara stood away from Luz, instead she walked towards the small window and reflected on this for a lot of time, she needed to make a good hypothesis. After an hour or so she finally had something, then she began to talk to herself

"The humans don't have fangs because at a social level they are more evolved than us, they live in peace… or they don't have any natural predator in their world… no, that was unlikely. But maybe they don't need their fangs because they mastered some other way of fight or defend themselves."

The biggest rumor about humans was that they couldn't do magic… what could be more powerful than magic?... It certainly wasn't something physical about their bodies. While playing with luz Lara could tell the baby was very delicate, the skin of Luz was very soft and even a sharp piece of paper could do serious harm to her.

"Wait… when Lord Belos proclaimed the rule of no wild magic some witches and demons had to be removed of their magic power… even then some of them tried to fight back with handmade weapons like swords or maces… if they were leaved like that for a couple hundred years, they would probably came with something more useful"

The hypothesis began to came clear in Lara's mind. The humans didn't need their fangs anymore because they find methods more suitable for fight than they mere bodies, also they probably don't have magic capabilities because if they had… they would need to invent something to fight in the first place so they would still have their fangs.

"I'm sure I'm making a fallacy in some place of that hypothesis, but this would have to do for now."

She get to her bead and started to wrote her train of though in her personal notebook (given by the emperor to register important information about Luz, after all this was about research).

After being done with the writing she thought that she needed some sleep. Babies generally awake several times across the night. Lara was accustomed to short sleep periods, but she needed some rest to be prepared for tomorrow. The emperor would be no doubt a strict… fath…. Uh… what was Luz to the emperor… just a research subject?

Lara looked to Luz in her cradle and spoke softly.

"Maybe for now you're just that little Luz… but I have the feeling that that will change at some point."

The tasks for the job were simple, and Kikimora explain them in even simpler terms.

Number one report any progress to Herself every week.

Number Two rise Luz as if it were any other witch (keeping in consideration the physical differences of course) this means she must learn how to walk, talk, etc.

Number three Luz must be kept a secret to every person in the isles except the members of the castle (at least for now).

Number four Luz safety is the number one priority, this is the only human specimen we have, and we mustn't lose it.

And finally…

Number five you'll need to find if humans can do magic.

That was a rough summary of the meeting that Lara had with Kikimora in the morning. They also discuss the matter of secrecy. Apparently, Lord Belos decided to not make an oath over the matter, the reason was simple if Lara ever speaks or merely hinted the existence of Luz to someone who wasn't authorized, she will meet a destiny worse than death.

There were no doubts about the emperor keeping his word, so Lara understood the decision also she found something kind of amazing with this method. Not only it served the emperor to infuse terror upon his subjects, but it also was a mean to find true loyalty upon his ranks. Still, with his power he could just make an oath with terrible consequences if broken (maybe he didn't want to be bothered with it?)

"How in the world I'm going to find if you can make magic my dear"

"gah?"

Lara just smiled upon the confused look that Luz gave Lara.

"well maybe we can figure it out latter, for now I must focus on your growth my child."

"Ma Ma" Said luz with a smile on her face.

"Just how adorable can you be?"

Since all of Lara´s Belongings started arriving this morning Lara decided to start with teaching Luz how to walk and other motor functions.

All of Lara´s belongings were dumped in other storage room that was in the opposite side of the castle, it was quite a walk, so Lara needed someone of trust to take care of Luz.

During the briefing of the morning, Kikimora mentioned that she would have a personal guard to her dispose (suited for the job according to her). That guard would be on duty during the day outside her room. Lara wasn't sure whether or not to trust the guard but it was also recommended by Lilith so… maybe she can give it a try.

"Stay right there my dear" said Lara to luz while pointing her fingers at her whit a goofed version of her "serious" face.

Lara walked outside her room and then just outside, there was a guard just as promised.

"Sooo… I'm gonna need you to leave your weapon in the floor and take care of Luz for a few minutes while I'm picking something up."

"Uh oh… Yes! Sure ma´am."

Lara examined the guard from top to botton.

"You're not giving me a fitting for the job vives here uhm… what's your name?"

"Steve, sorry it was just… Lady Lilith gave me explicit orders to guard you and the baby, and I can't do both if you leave without Luz"

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself… but if this is a direct order from Lilith il guess you can carry Luz in your arms and come with me."

Steve looked like he was doing some serious calculus whit his brain. You could almost see steam come out of his mask.

"Yes, technically that wouldn't break the rules…I think."

"Well then, come in and meet the most beautiful baby the world has ever seen. Luz Noceda"

Lara opened the door and saw Luz trying to get out of her cradle

"Oh no, not on my watch" Lara drew a circle and Luz started to float towards Steve

"hehehehe" Luz laughted while drifting in zero gravity towards the guard. Then she quickly noticed the mask of Steve, and she did the same thing that she did with the emperor. She was trying to reach towards the mask.

"mhhh maybe you should take of that mask Steve "Lara move a finger and kept Luz at some distance of Steve.

"Why? I think she likes it, besides its part of the protocol."

"The beak it's kinda sharp. The orders of the Emperor are absolute, and I don't want anything bad to hapend to this adorable baby" she glanced at Luz like saying: ow come on look at her, you wouldn't like her to get hurt, would you?

"Well, if you put it like that…" Steve removed his mask and hood reveling a handsome blonde hair, blue eyes young adult with very sharp traits. "I will leave the mask here if you don't have any problems with that."

"Uh… ah yes no problem… wow you know your voice doesn't suit your face at all."

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

"I'm beginning to wonder if Lilith really recommended you because you have the skills for this, or she just has the hots for you"

Steve pale skin suddenly turn pink… no, red a hot bright almost incandescent red.

"W…What? N…no lady Lilith would never… I…Its because I had a job guarding a family and the kids like me just that… Lady Lara you s… shouldn't say those things, someone may hear you."

"Hahahahaha, sorry just a though"

"Guh ge ge ge" Luz who was upside down because of the spell; also laughed as if she understood what just happened, she also had kind of a malicious grind on her face?

"Not you too human" Steve pulled his hoodie and tried to cover up his face.

"Now, now, this is not the time for games, Steve, please pick up Luz and escort us to the storage room in the other side of the castle"

"Yeah sure…" Steve gently opened his arms to catch Luz who was starting to get a little dizzy by floating too much time.

Luz accommodated in Steve arms and proceeded to take a nap resting her head upon his shoulder.

"Big and comfortable shoulders, another plus for you Steve"

"Well for your information I'm very proud of my big shoulders."

"Im sure you are, now come on let's get that walker."

"Luz doesn't know how to walk yet? But she is like… at least 8 months old I would say "

"Yes, she doesn't know yet… I think humans are more fragile and weaker than us so maybe they develop a little slower."

"uh… that's weird, well let's go Lady Acton" Steve opened the door with one hand while he carried the sleeping Luz with the other.

"Just call me Lara Steve."

"Ok luz now you must try to walk towards me" Lara said while gesturing Luz to came to her.

Luz tried to advance with her tiny baby legs but inevitably she fell, however she didn't cry when she fell neither when she fell again… and again, and again and again…

Of course, this was natural you don't feel pain while being under the effect of a protection spell.

Luz laughed every time she fell and contrary to every natural impulse she didn't feel anything

"Come on, now you're doing it on purpose"

Luz looked Lara like saying ¿Maaaaaybe?

"Unfortunately for you I know exactly how to deal with THIS type of kid."

The fact is that was very common for kids learning how to walk to do this kind of thing, after all it was in a kid nature to make a game of everything, so Lara had some tricks under her sleeve.

She picked up a chair and sat in a comfortable position, next she brought up a knit set from a bag on the other side of the room using her magic. Lara quietly started to weave something while Luz just kept falling around her room.

After a while Luz was getting tired of her game so she just drops on her back (with the walker still on) and started to nap.

"I would certainly need to adjust your attitude later… This is a castle, you know? A lady needs to have some level of…" Lara looked how Luz just snored loudly "Etiquette"?

Knock knock knock.

Talking about Etiquette. that was a very polite way to knock on someone's door (just the right amount of force) Lara was almost 90% sure of who was in the other side of the door just by that way of knocking.

"Yes?"

"it's me Lilith, I'm just checking how is everything."

"Sure, come in."

Lilith entered the room but suddenly stopped halfway to Lara.

"S…SORRY"

"What? Sorry why?

"I forgot this was also your room, it is very impolite to just ask to enter someone's room just like that."

"Please lady Lilith, you are my superior here… also I don't really mind"

"You don't? well still…" Then Lilith eyes went to Luz who was still on the floor

"Oh, my Titan is she dead?"

Lara couldn't help but laugh.

"You don't have much experience with kids, don't you?... She is just taking a nap. I was trying to teach our little Luz here how to walk."

Whit a little more relief Lilith was still surprised by the words of Lara.

"She doesn't know how to walk? But she is like… a year old I think."

"I'm afraid not… I think humans learn how to walk later their life cycles; don't worry I have my methods to ensure she learns."

Lilith trusted Lara with this but couldn't help to see that she was knitting.

"Is that the reason you are making an…" on closer inspection she was making some sort of doll? No… it was more like an… "owl plushie?"

"Yes… now don't you look at me like that. It will make sense just watch."

Lara clapped her hands and make the most beautiful and playful smile she could do.

Luz began to wake up but couldn't get herself up, so Lilith helped her.

"Now Luz try to walk towards me" Lara said while making the same gestures as the first time."

Luz makes some kind of smug and was about to start doing the fall thing again but then…

"Look what I have here Luz" Lara moved the plushie around and then closed the distance with Luz a little.

Luz´s eyes glowed with emotion and focused only on the owl-like figure. And just like someone had moved some strings above her she started try walking and not falling this time.

Of course, she fell… but this time there were no laughter. In her face you could see the frustration for the fall but also…

"Determination…" Said Lilith while helping Luz to get up again.

Luz had a focus look on her face… she tried again… one!... two!...

Two steps and she fell again.

Luz was seconds away from crying but then Lara kneels in front of her and handed the plushie to Luz who make the most heartwarming smile that Lilith had ever see.

Lara then turned her face to Lilith…

"Baby steps, you see Lily."