Meeting an Elder

Shane looked at Luna in confusion.

''Obviously, you'll still be on the martial arts team. I'll just train you a bit more, in order to survive here, you need to be stronger than your peers. Although you can't be as strong as a descendant, you'll be considerably stronger than the average human. Strong enough to not get killed easily.''

Yuri chuckled; ''You know he cannot win against a defendant, no matter how much he trains. '' All the cock and bull story was a ruse to get Shane to spend some alone time with her, so she could have her way with him.

Luna, although strong, was lazy. She barely attended her own training, not to talk of coaching someone else.

Luna gazed daggers at Yuri;

''Mind your business. He does not have to win against a descendant in order to prove his strength. So Shane, what do you say?''

''Thanks, I appreciate it. ''

Luna broke into a grin; ''Good, we'll meet by the lake at 8.''

After dinner, Shane went back to his room and told the others what Luna had suggested;

''Luna is up to no good. She just wants to get with you and after she's had enough of you, she won't train you anymore. She has a history of doing this to newcomers. You shouldn't go.''

Tatiana tried to discourage Shane;

''Well, she's pretty, though. Who wouldn't want to sleep with her?''

''So, you like her? '' Tatiana asked, a frown forming on her head.

''I don't. I mean, if it gets to it, it's not a totally bad idea.''

Tatiana rolled her eyes; ''Not only will she get with you, but she'll also be the first to tell everyone she's slept with you. She's bad news. So don't go. They're better girls in the Academy that you will like.''

''Like you.'' Sky cut in and Tatiana glared at him;

''Sky!'' He laughed as she furiously threw a pillow at him, but he was quick enough to catch it before it could hit him on his face. Her face flushed as she turned to Shane;

''I'm totally not interested in you. Don't listen to Sky. What I'm saying is, you really don't want to get with Luna. You know what? Why don't we ask Nyx to train you? She's a better tutor and you're sure she's going to take things seriously. You can, in return, do some tasks for her.''

''I doubt Nyx would agree. Shane, I can train you, you know. You just have to fill my pot and dress my bed every morning. ''

''Sky is just as much a joke as Luna. Nyx is the best bet, and we can never know until we ask.''

''For real, Tatiana. You think I'm a joke?'' Sky asked, feigning a sad expression;

''Yes, you don't take things seriously. Everyone knows. Now, let's go check if she's in her room, and ask her right away before Luna comes looking for you. I'm sure she's already made a bet with her friends that she would get with you this night. ''

''It's not a totally bad idea though,'' Shane said, stroking the bridge of his nose. ''Shane!'' Tatiana shouted, and Sky and Finn burst out laughing.

They went to Nyx's room and, fortunately; she was in.

''Nyx. Shane has a favor to ask of you. '' Tatiana said when Nyx opened the door. She glanced at both of them curiously before letting them in.

''What is the problem?''

She inquired, sitting on her bed. Tatiana nudged Shane to talk, and he cleared his throat;

''I wanted to plead with you to train me whenever you have some spare time. I know I don't have any skills, but I'll try my best to learn.''

''Nyx, please! Kai has already threatened to deal with him earlier today. ''

Nyx smiled. ''It's not like he can win against Kai even if I train him. He has no powers, and Kai is a third flame rank. ''

''I know, but it'll make a difference. At least he can defend himself. ''

Nyx was quiet for a second, staring at the both of them, wondering who needed the training more; Shane or Tatiana, who looked like she was about to cry.

''Fine. 9 pm every night. Meet me here. ''

Shane's eyes lit up at her words. ''Thank you. Thank you so much, Nyx!''

''Now leave and tell Sky not to forget to fill my pot tomorrow morning. ''

''Okay; thank you, Nyx,'' Tatiana said, and they left her room.

''Nyx is kind, but she likes to put on a mean demeanor,'' Tatiana said as they left the room.

''Yeah, she is.''

''She's one of a kind. Although she came into the Academy with Kai, she climbed up the ranks quickly. She's hard-working and focused, and most times she volunteers to go fight monsters, so the more monsters she killed, the more her mana increased.''

''How will you know when you climb up the rank? Does the council elect? Or the elders? ''

Tatiana chuckled; ''Of course not. It's not in our hands. With our powers, we can see how much mana one has, and that's how the elders determine rank. Humans have no mana at all. ''

''Oh, I see. ''

Shane wanted to say another word, but he stopped when he saw the dwarf from earlier walking toward them. When he reached them, he looked at Shane;

''Follow me. '' He said and turned around without another word.

Shane looked at Tatiana in confusion, then he followed the Dwarf. They walked a long distance back to the Elder's manor.

Shane wondered why the dwarf wanted to see him, but he did not ask. When they got to the manor, they did not go in through the way he went in earlier that morning. The dwarf led him through a side gate, and to another house in the manor. They walked a while before they stopped in front of a house, and they walked inside.

The house was softly lighted with a few candles, and a few maids walked by, not saying anything to them.

''Sit. '' the dwarf told him as he pointed at a chair and Shane sat down, wondering why he was being brought there.

The dwarf went away and, after a few minutes, returned with a man in his eighties. As the man walked into the room, he raised his hand and all the torches in the room lit up with blue flame. That was when Shane saw the beauty of the room he was in.

The walls were gilded with pure gold and the statues were carved from rare stones. Shane looked at the man who had walked in. The man's entire pupil was white and his head was completely bald. His beards were long and white and on the right side of his chin was a little scar. His sigil was unique from the others he had seen, others had black markings, his was red.

Shane did not need anyone to tell him that this was an Elder. Even his presence breathed immense power, that Shane did not know when he stood up from where he sat.