Over the rest of the day Selene and I just work together on tasks around her home or browse through the woodworking book that I bought.
Apparently home construction wasn't something she paid any attention to in life. At least that's the impression I got when she occasionally exclaimed, "So that's how they did that."
On the other side, I learn many many things about how people used to do things before they invented electricity. To say that everything takes a fuck load more time would be an understatement.
Cleaning the copper cooking plate, you either do it with cold water, dirt and a bundle of long grass for scrubbing, and lots and lots of time. Or you gather enough wood to build a fire, get the fire going while you draw water and wait for it to get hot enough to be useful. Then you do the same thing with hot water, only it takes a bit less time, but not so much less than it took you to build the fire in the first place. Oh, and when you're ready to cook, you need to heat up the plate and then carefully rinse it off one last time before you use an old piece of cloth to wipe it clean. No wonder they didn't used to do this very often.
Oh, and cloth. My finger tips were bleeding after a couple of hours of pealing and rolling plant fibers to make the thread needed for weaving. When I complained, Selene said that she did the same when her first mother made her sit there doing the same thing. When I asked why she didn't just use magic, Selene's answer was simple, but led to more questions.
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"First, if you know how to do something, then using magic makes it easier and better. Second, and most importantly, it keeps me busy."
I frown, "I think you mentioned knowledge before, about healing I think. I sort of understand needing to know about the human body, but what about making this?"
Selene looks at me while her hands continue to strip the fibers of the plant, "Taylor, if you know how to do something, then magic can be used to take the place of tools, and the final product will be as non-magical as any other thing. But if you don't know how to do it, you will need to put magic into the product in order to stop it from failing. Then you will need to keep putting magic into it as the previous magic dissipates into the air. If you don't then the flaws in the construction will start to come out faster. Clothes will wear out quicker, houses fall down, swords twist and buckle. Healing is a weird aspect of magic, because I could teach you a spell that will allow you to heal any injured blessed, as long as the injury is still fresh. But to do the same with someone that isn't blessed with magic, you might be able to heal a small cut or scrape, and maybe a broken bone. But you couldn't do more than that without understanding. That's why we elevated Asclepius, as he was born blessed and devoted his life to understanding bodies and healing them. I'm unsure what happened to him after that, as I left shortly after he was elevated by Apollo."
I frown, "I think this is the first time I've heard you refer to a spell before. What are they?"
Selene sighs, "They are a way of passing on knowledge about magic without understanding. People like Athena and Hectate were able to distill the act of using magic down into a few motions of a focus like your spear along side a few nonsensical words. Originally, they used it as a teaching aid for hard to understand concepts, like the healing spell. But only after their student had already tried to understand, and only needed a slight nudge to take them over the edge. However, when I left, mortals were already starting to take a learning tool and using it to replace learning."
I groan theatrically, "Oh, great, more studying."
Selene chuckles, "Indeed, just remember that knowledge without purpose is almost as bad as purpose without knowledge. And your fingers have stopped moving."
Cheekily, I grab the chocolate bar with my telekinesis and break off a square for each of us as I turn back to stripping fibers off of plant stalks.
As Selene sucks on the chocolate she makes a face, "So sweet, is everything in the mortal world like this?"
I shake my head, "No, but a lot of things are."
"Truly it has become a land of milk and honey."
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After an early night on Earth Bet, the next morning I come downstairs to find dad sitting at the kitchen table with a load of paperwork in front of him. Sat beside him is the box that Victoria gave me, that reminds me, I should text her once I finish training with Selene.
"Morning dad, good night?"
Dad nods, "It was, and we had a general meet up with some of the boys. There'll be four or five guys in the meeting room for the next few weeks. I've also got a key to behind the work counter downstairs, I want you to use that if you're not coming or going with myself or Lacey."
I frown, "Dad, what are you talking about?"
Dad looks up, "Your safety while you're home schooling. If you need to leave the Union building without your powers, one of the guys will be going with you. I'll print out a copy of the letter we sent to the superintendent on Monday, that should allow you to use the library without being bothered. That way we minimize your exposure to the Merchants."
"Dad," I whine, "I have powers, I'm not defenseless."
Dad nods, "I know that, which is why I want you to teleport into the room behind the work counter when you come to the office. The door and windows are all armored with ½ inch thick steel, because some of the workers got dangerously violent during the downturn of the 90's."
"I know that dad, but I'm not helpless."
"I know you're not Taylor, but you're not invulnerable. A bullet to the head will still kill you, and you can still be abducted."
"But dad…"
"No buts Taylor. I know this is going to be hard on you, but it's necessary. Now, did you find your bag last night?"
I close my eyes for a few seconds and focus on the meditation I've been practicing since shortly after the locker. Once I've calmed down a bit, I say, "I did, and the only thing missing was my bus pass."
Dad nods, "I thought they'd just taken your money, I replaced it out of petty cash." He puts his hand on the box, "That brings us to this. What is this Taylor?"
"A gift from a friend."
"And does this friend have a name?"
I nod, "Victoria."
"I know this is cheap for a mobile phone, but it's still an expensive gift. I want you to be careful around this Victoria."
I shake my head, "It's nothing like that. I met her in the coffee shop at lunch time, and we got talking. I ended up taking her to the hospital, and she gave me the phone once we got her home."
"Taylor, that's always the way it starts. They're always friendly, and there's something you can help them with as a good person. Then they give you a gift to say thank you. You meet up again and again, and you help them out a few times, and they give you another gift in thanks. Eventually, they start asking you to do favors, or meet a few other friends."
I shake my head, "Dad, it's not like that. She really did need help, and we were looking up how to fix what was wrong with her when we found out the way she was going about it could kill her."
"So she knows where you live too…"
I shake my head vehemently, "I teleported us into the house, and we left the same way."
"Still, I want you to be careful around her Taylor, as where Skidmark's sniffing around, the 88 are likely to be…"
I turn towards the stairs, "Dad! She's not 88. I'm going to train with Selene."
"Taylor, you can't know that!"
Just before I use the moon picture, I shout down the stairs, "She's Glory Girl dad!"
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When I arrive I am still seething at dad, does he really think I don't know about gang recruitment tactics. I mean it's Winslow survival 101, under 'how not to get involved in gang violence'.
As Selene sees my face she creates her spear out of thin air and walks over to me, "I see you have not brought your spear today."
I sigh in frustration, "I know, it's just dad's treating me like I'm defenseless again."
Selene smiles, "Taylor, remember that for your father it has been but a matter of hours since your encounter with The Merchants. During that time you have spent a day making a new friend, and then you spent another day with me."
"I know, it's just…"
Selene creates a staff like mine before tossing it at me, "Then we will start with working on your spear. Once you have exhausted your anger, we can talk about what has you so frustrated."
I don't have time to respond, as Selene jabs the point of her spear right at my face, and I'm forced to duck to one side as I bring the top of my staff round the other way to knock the shaft of her spear further off course. As her spear passes by my head I bring the other end of my staff up to attack the telegraphed weak point in her defense. Then she brings the butt of her spear up at the same time she ducks down so that the end of her spear cuts down towards my legs, forcing me to step backwards.
"Good, you know the basics, now let your magic guide your steps like we did while hunting!"
Again, I don't have time to respond before she's pushing her attack again, and again. As the sun sinks towards the horizon, on and on we go in a constant battle to get the end of our spear or staff into a position where we can get a clean stab at our opponent. At some point during our practice I stop having time to think, and just start to react. Just like during the punishing run during the hunt, suddenly my magic starts helping me to move, and I'm no longer occasionally stumbling over my feet, or catching an unexpected dip or raise in the grass. My own attacks also become surer and faster. Selene's only response is to increase the pace until I can't think again.
As the sun touches the horizon, Selene pulls a move she's never shown me before, and suddenly I have the blade of her spear resting against the side of my neck.
As I raise my staff and plant the butt in acknowledgment of her win she steps back and both weapons disappear.
"Well done. You should be able to beat most experienced mortals. Though you will still lose against an expert or master of the spear. Also remember that the spear is a hunting weapon, while warriors will face you with a shield and weapon. Now tell me, why were you so angry when you arrived?"
I sigh as we start walking back to the camp, "I don't know."
Selene smiles at me, "Then tell me what occurred between you and your father before you left."
Once I've finished talking, Selene nods, "This is the first time that you have been confronted by the necessities of mortal guards. Tell me, have there been times in the past when your father has more friends around than normal. Or maybe you have gone to visit his friends more often than normal."
As I think back, it's easy to think of multiple times in the past when dad's friends have been suddenly had a lot of free time, or I spent more time with Emma than normal.
Something must have shown on my face, as Selene nods, "You are starting to see now. This is likely not the first time he has protected you like this, merely the first time he has spoken about it. As Taylor Hebert, you can now choose whether to accept it with grace and prove to your father that you are more mature than he believes you to be. Or you can rail against it, and see your freedoms in the mortal world curtailed far more than you would like. Of course, I have also named you as my apprentice, and as Berenike you represent me and will earn glory and recognition enough that none will ever seek to move against you as Taylor Hebert. But, first you must have raiments befitting my apprentice. To that end I charge you with returning to your own camp to find a new haft for your spear. Do not look for the first one that seems straight, instead seek out the one that will help you strike true. Now, go and do not return to either the mortal world, or to here until you have found it."
With a grumbling sigh I climb the canyon to the world that has my camp, and then teleport the rest of the way there.
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When I arrive, it's pitch black. I don't just mean moonless night black. But heavy cloud cover on a moonless night in the middle of nowhere pitch black. For the first time in quite a while, I use my ignition power, only it comes so easily that I end up staring at the tiny flame that appeared in front of my palm.
When I spot the moss covered in the flickering light, use my ignition power on the overgrown prepared fire. As I do, the tiny flame seems to leap from my hand to bury itself in the heart of the campfire. A few seconds later there's a gout of steam, and suddenly the rotting wood bursts into smoky flames. All around me I can sort of feel the local animals disappearing with their own form of teleportation.
Ah well, no food for tonight. Well, as long as I've got some light I should cut a large branch off of one of the near by trees and break it down so that the fire will last till dawn. Then I can clear some ground and grab some moss to make a bed.
Once I've prepared my bed, I curse the fact that I stormed out of the house, as I don't have a note book handy to act as a diary.
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In the end it takes me 4 days to find a suitable staff, around half a day's walk away from my camp. Once more it is a straight sapling that I just happen to stumble across. That's not including the side trip to the grassland that's connected to our home; to drop off a litter of half starved kittens and the carcass of a rabbit thing. I mean, Selene didn't say I couldn't go back to this world, just the mortal world, which is Earth Bet.
When I return to Selene's camp she looks at me with a smile and sparkling eyes, "You returned to the mortal world, did you not."
I shake my head, "No, I took some kittens back to the grasslands that I can get to from our home, not to Earth Bet."
Selene nods, "A fair distinction. Remember this in future, lest you find yourself caught in an unfavorable promise. While your word may be binding, only your word is binding. Come, I have finished your raiments."
As I climb the incline up to Selene's cave, I find myself grinning in anticipation.
Several hours later my grin has turned into a grimace as I have had to dress and undress over and over again.
The linen chiton she's made me is a stunning deep blue with silver stars woven into the fabric. Along each of the four edges of the rectangle of cloth is a pattern of spiral squares woven in silver thread. The top two corners are held in place with bronze clips that have to be placed firmly, and in the right place. For my waist there is a braided leather belt, that holds the free edges of the chiton closed so that I don't flash everyone. Then my hair has to be braided correctly, and I had to repeat that so many times I could do it with my power and my eyes closed. Over my hair is a diaphanous linen veil that starts out as a golden yellow at the top and becomes a deep red around my waist.
When she first put it on me, Selene said, "As your culture has no taboos about a woman showing her face in public, I think we will let it cover your hair rather than your face."
Then she jammed the circlet on my head to hold the veil in place.
The circlet, the circlet is a beautiful piece of metal work, with a silver crescent moon sat over my forehead, with the points rising above my head like horns. To either side of the moon is a pair of bronze wings that sweep around my head to hide the beaten bronze ring that sits on my head.
The sandles are both the simplest and most frustrating part of my outfit. Simple as it's just a plain leather pad with laces. Frustrating, because it's a pain to lace up without the whole thing falling apart half way through.
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Towards the end of the next day, after I have finally managed to dress myself properly without help from Selene all day. Selene leads me over to the fire pit where the sapling I found is currently planted in the ground.
As I get closer I gasp as I realize that while I have been trying to get my clothes right, she has stripped and polished the wood of the staff until the deep brown of the wood seems to gleam in the light of the setting sun. Starting around six inches below the top of the staff, the whole thing has been engraved with what looks like Greek writing, until at the bottom it meets a bronze shoe.
As we stand there the sun dips below the horizon and a feeling of a massive amount of pressure seems to wash out from Selene as she starts to glow with moonlight.
As I struggle to stand against the pressure, Selene gently says, "Let go of your magic Berenike, and stand as my apprentice."
I grit my teeth and reach inside me to release the iron control that the trio tempered and traveling through the dream has honed to a razors edge. In my minds eye I can see my inner world blooming with life and color as I let it run completely free for the first time since that moment in the bank. But still I can only stand unbowed under the pressure that Selene's magic is exerting on the world around us.
Selene takes the staff from the ground, and from the folds of her chiton she draws a bronze spear head with a broad leaf blade. Smoothly she places the two parts together, before jamming them together with a jerking motion.
As she holds the spear out towards me, balanced on both her palms, she says, "Berenike, take your spear with your off hand and slice your hand on the blade. Then take hold of the spear and push your magic into the spear to make it yours, and yours alone."
I take the spear as she said, and then I hesitate. Can I do this, is this really what I want? I look down at the blade of the spear in the fading sunlight, and the light of the moon, of Selene. There I see a picture of two women sat together stripping fibers from plant stems. On the other side I can see the same two women hunting a beast with two heads. As I look back up, Selene is just watching me with a smile and seemingly endless patience.
Almost as if fate timed it, I come to my decision at the same time the last of the suns light disappears beneath the horizon, leaving only the glittering stars of the milky way and Selene herself to witness me touching the blade to my palm.
I don't even need to draw the blade across my skin it's so sharp in my hands. As I pull it away a crimson drop of blood rolls down the edge of the blade as my palm immediately begins to bleed profusely. Swallowing hard, I clamp my hand around the wooden haft of the spear and force myself to focus my magic, my power, onto the spear, to make it mine.
I don't know how long it takes, but eventually I succeed and I can feel that it is my spear in a way that defies explanation. As I do, my blood seems to seep into every engraving along the spear leaving them almost glowing with a ruby red color.
With a look of wonder, I tear my gaze away from the spear and look at Selene, "Thank you, I don't think I'm worthy of the name, or this gift, but thank you. I promise I'll live up to your expectations."
As Selene's magic withdraws, she smiles and walks around the fire pit to pull me into a hug, "You already are, you already are." Leaning back slightly, she heals the cut on my hand, "Now, I do not think you are ready for the blade on your spear yet, as it is made from celestial bronze. When I last walked the mortal world, there were no mortal metals it could not cut through. At the very least it will never break and remain forever sharp. But this is why we practice, and will keep practicing until you can kill only when you choose to. However it will not do for my apprentice to walk the mortal world without her symbol. At least you won't accidentally kill yourself anymore."
I flicker slightly as the pull of the canyon suddenly starts affecting me again, and I reflexively pull my magic back to keep me solidly in this world. "Hey, I wasn't that bad."
Selene laughs, "The number of times you've hit yourself in the leg or head, I would have to say you were."
I sulk as we both kneel down beside the fire pit, and I help her light the fire ready to cook a late dinner. Just before I shuffle around the pit to lay a log, Selene says, "If you get grass stains on your chiton, you're cleaning it by hand, without magic."
With a grimace I stand up slightly and hold the fabric up as I shuffle around the fire pit.