Chapter 6

After a day of lessons, Lindel had Luna outside after dark one evening as the two sat there by an open fire. Luna was confused considering they stayed inside the warm tent since it was so cold outside. The man prepared her some warm cider and made sure the blankets were around her as snugly as possible. "Is there a particular reason we're outside after hours Lindel?" Luna asked and the man pointed saying, "Look at the moon." Luna looked up and it was then she realized there was a lunar eclipse going on. She found herself unable to look away and it passed as quickly as it had come. Though a breeze blew through the area they were in and Luna squeaked as a wall of powder came raining down on them. Lindel laughed and said, "Oh that's cold isn't it Luna!" He saw Luna shake her head and the snow came off Lindel held her close saying, "The night is only begun usually you can see the aurora borealis this time of year." "Aurora borealis?" Luna asked confused.

"The northern lights and they're absolutely stunning this time of year. It'll be a real treat this year that's for sure." Lindel said. Another wind blew through dusting them with more snow powder and Luna cried, "It's so cold!" She didn't care as she crawled right on him and sat up against him saying, "If you're keeping me out here we're going to be a couple of sardines' mister. Now share your body warmth and help me not be so cold."

Lindel just laughed and wrapped his arms around her from behind and his eyes closed as he said, "Oh sacred fire from within please warm this blessed child in my arms." Luna felt a sudden warmth envelope her despite another wind gust raining more snow down on them from above and she gazed at the sky and saw the beautiful aurora borealis as Lindel said it was a beautiful view. Eventually, she had fallen asleep in his lap practically forcing Lindel to carry her to bed when the show of lights was over. Come daybreak Luna didn't get up till nearly afternoon and she came out yawning while saying, "Morning…"

"Morning it's afternoon silly you slept hard," Merituuli said as he was aiding Lindel with the wash. In the wintertime, they couldn't hang their stuff out to dry so Merituuli washed the stuff while Lindel dried it out with magic. Folding the next item Lindel took the next thing that Merituuli handed him and flapped that out too drying it as well. "I'm going to go for a walk." Luna said yanking her hood up and Lindel figured she'd be fine after all the necklaces the two shared still worked strongly he said, "Let's start lunch Merituuli she'll be hungry when she returns."

Luna was walking the paths when she noticed someone else near the edge of the canyon the man in question was looking around like he was lost. Luna kept her guard up and she said, "Hey you." The man jumped and Luna said, "You're in dangerous territory go home." "Wait would you happen to be one of his acquaintances' miss?" The man said as he quickly walked over. Luna backed up not trusting other humans so much as she said, "Stay away." A hand rested on her shoulder and she saw Lindel there behind her. "Don't worry he's someone I know," Lindel said. "Dimitri, what brings you to my home?" Lindel asked with a smile. "Well, I was sent here from the college the way you've been checking out materials led us to suspect you picked up a student is this her?" Dimitri asked with a smile.

"How about you introduce yourself first before becoming nosy about my business Dimitri?" Lindel said looking at him. Dimitri looked a bit embarrassed and he said, "Forgive me miss, my name is Dimitri Newman I'm twenty years old and a student at the college for magic." He held out his hand and Luna didn't take it as she said, "I don't want to go to the college I'm not trying to be rude but I like where I'm learning." "Luna don't worry you're not being sent away. Sorry about her Dimitri she's not so keen on people just like me. Let's head back inside in some cover and get down to the real reason why you're here." Lindel said. "Sure…" Dimitri said and the three head on down once they sat inside as Lindel poured them some tea Dimitri said, "As I said I merely came here to curb the curiosity of the others. You've been checking out more and more advanced books lately what's the little lady's affinity in exactly?" Dimitri asked. "Water and Air but she's been a natural at picking up healing as well. I've seen her work a few miracles even I couldn't do at her age. A few mistakes here or there but she's progressing nicely." Lindel said. "Does she have a wand like you?" Dimitri asked. Luna sighed and pulled it out setting it in front of her.

Dimitri picked it up and said, "Very nice work I see she's got good hands to make something this nice." He smoothed his hands over it and handed it back to Luna who put it aside. "I was due to write to you guys soon but we need to find someone trustworthy enough to take her on a short pilgrimage to obtain a familiar can you put the word into the director back there? I'd love to help her search myself but I am bound by this land sadly." Lindel said. Dimitri smiled saying, "I can sure do that for you but is there any particular location you intend to send her to?" "I was thinking the grasslands of Scotland to be exact. Maybe she can make a possible contract with a cat sith, they're fickle creatures but loyal given the circumstances." Lindel said. "In that case, I'll be glad to escort the miss through that area after all it's my childhood home," Dimitri said and Luna just looked at Lindel.

"It's alright Luna I believe we can trust Dimitri here it'll only be a week you'll need and I'll train you as much as possible to prepare for the trip. If anything it'll be a good experience for you and you're to return here as soon as you make your contract." Lindel said. "If your mentor here prepares you well enough making the contract should be easy. You already have your wand and you have your affinity figured out the rest should be a breeze. I promise to protect you with all my power inside me." Dimitri said puffing his chest out. "Now if only Dimitri had half the talent he claims to have he'd be much stronger than most." Lindel teased and Dimitri flushed.

Luna actually laughed as she looked genuinely concerned seconds later saying, "Are you sure he's good enough to protect me and help?" Lindel laughed waving her off saying, "Yes of course I was only teasing him because he can be a show off at times." "That's not very kind of you Lindel, but you don't need to worry about me, Luna. If it comes down to it I can protect us both. Anyway, now that I bent your ear a little I think I'll report back. Got anything for me to tell Adolf?" Dimitri asked. "Tell him I said to not overdo it. He might not be good at magic but that doesn't mean running yourself into an early grave." Lindel said.

"Yes of course very well I shall pass the message," Dimitri said as he stood up pulling something out of his jacket. Luna yelped and fell back onto Lindel's lap as Dimitri warped out thanks to that strange device and was gone. Sitting up Luna said, "What an odd duck… I don't feel as frightened by him as I did before but if it helps me with my training I'll go with him for that week this coming spring." Lindel smiled and said, "He was another person I met on my time traveling the countryside many years ago. He's goofy in his own way that's for sure. And it looks like the college took interest in you but I'm not letting them have you." Luna blushed and realized she was practically sitting on Lindel she tumbled forward trying to get off quickly and rammed her elbow into the stone fire pit. "Ow dammit, that hurts!" Lune cried curling up in pain.

Lindel sighed and pulled her up before giving her arm a feel and healing it up with his magic. "I swear that clumsiness is going to do some chaos in the near future. Anyway back to our lessons." Lindel said and Luna's face lit up like the sun. They went outside and he had her practice healing some of the injuries the dragons had gotten from playing around too rough with each other. Come evening Luna had kicked Lindel from the tent making Merituuli laugh. The woman had done so that she could change into her sleep clothes. "Why does it matter if he's in here I'm a boy too Luna." Merituuli pointed out as he laughed. "Yeah well, humans are different Merituuli you wouldn't understand not being one. But men can't control themselves around women if they see them unclothed and I'm not about to have any funny business." Luna said as she finished buttoning up her shirt.

"Guess I'll tell him it's safe to come back i-!" Merituuli but the tent flap opened and Lindel had come back in saying, "No need I didn't go far the weather is below freezing I've brought more kindle for our fire." Lindel said dropping it into the box nearby. He then tossed a couple of pieces into the fire pit and Luna said, "You were eavesdropping weren't you? Look I'm not about to apologize for feeling uncomfortable changing around you." Lindel shook his head and said, "You have every right to your privacy Luna it's fine. There's no need to apologize but I really wish you didn't think so rudely of me. I've lived a long life and staring at women is the last thing on my mind. You're my student and as such I give you space when you need it."

Luna didn't know what to say and she wondered if this was his way of saying they'd be nothing more than master and student. Laying down she snuffed her lantern out and closed her eyes as her heart was crumbling. But she ended up falling asleep and Merituuli said in a soft voice, "That was harsh Lindel… how could you say that. You have that necklace you probably got hit by the hidden emotions she had just now. I mean can't you see how she feels about you?" "Merituuli… I'm not that oblivious I've noticed it for a while. But I don't think she realizes what she's doing she's young and she's got a lifetime of living ahead of her centuries even and I don't want her to seal her fate and remain rooted like I am. She needs to spread her wings and fly after her training concludes. She doesn't need me in that manner…" Lindel said.

"You're a horrible liar… You say that's what you want but is it really what she wants or you truly want for that matter." Merituuli said as he yawned softly. He then lay down next to Luna and closed his eyes falling asleep. Sitting there in silence Lindel just watched Luna sleep and he knew his familiar was right but he was too stubborn to admit it. The man sighed adding a bit more wood to the fire before sleeping as well. Breakfast was very silent and awkward and Luna showed more interest in her book as she picked at her meal. Lindel said, "Luna your food is going to get cold." The woman snap the book shut after glancing at the page number and she ate her meal shoving the rest down before she stood up and said, "I'll be outside for a bit." She left the tent and Merituuli just stared at Lindel the man stood up deciding to handle this now.

Going out he saw Luna crystalizing some water and making it form various elegant shapes as she did so. "Luna please tell me what's on your mind your emotions are all over the place. I want to help now what's going on." Lindel said placing a hand on her shoulder. She slapped his hand right off her shoulder saying, "Don't touch me!" Lindel had not expected her to lash out and he said, "Luna I d-!" "I don't want to hear any excuse you have I'm not dumb okay? I heard your conversation last night with Merituuli and you know nothing of how I feel! If you had you wouldn't have said such heartless words to me before I went to bed last night! You knew this whole time and you just ignored it!" Luna cried.

"I trusted you thinking you were different we shared a common dislike for cities and people and thought humans were just cruel. But apparently, I was wrong for thinking you were different you're just as horrible as any other human being I've come across!" Luna said tears running down her face. She then slumped down her wand falling from her hand crying in her hands. "I'm sorry…" Lindel said softly. "No, you're not you're just plain outright cruel!" Luna choked out. She suddenly started coughing as she clutched her chest and struggled to catch her breath when her lungs started burning.

Lindel got down realizing something wasn't right her lungs sounded clouded and he picked her up as she coughed and struggled hitting him. "L-Let go!" She wheezed and Lindel held her close though and whispered, "Oh blessed winds please lull this child to sleep." Luna went still as she tried to resist and he carried her back to the tent. Her breathing was still in wheezes and the man lay her down and went to grab some specific medicine. Coming back he ended up burning the specialized medicine. As Luna lay there asleep breathing it in her wheezing stopped and she seemed to be sleeping at ease. Lindel left the tent after that and let her rest in privacy.