Ereollynda C2.4

After hearing Ereollynda and Nelius would be staying for a while, Axel offered to let them stay in her old storage space.

Just a simple, but spacious room, with a shed attached.

“The snow will last for days. You need somewhere other than the inn if you’re staying anyway,” Axel would say. She led the way through town, up a small hill, and on the corner, a small structure sat. The mage shuffled through the keys on her ring and unlocked the door. The room sat empty with just a few old baskets against the wall. The shed too remained untouched.

“I used to keep much of my stock here, and work on potions. There’s still a working fireplace,” little else could be said about the space. But Ereollynda could hardly contain her emotion. A room of her own is something she never experienced. She dropped to the ground, bowing before Axel.

“You have been so kind to me. I couldn’t possibly repay you…” She said, still feeling undeserving of all the recent favor she received. 

“Oh come now, there is no need for all that!” Axel gently grabbed the girl and pulled her back upright. 

“Besides, you’re my apprentice too! And like I said, you can’t continue to stay at the inn.” They already discussed how Ereollynda could aid the healer and learn from her as well. Lynne suggested it, claiming her knowledge on heilangs far inferior to Axel.

“Anything you need, please just let me know,” this time Ereollynda simply bowed her head. Axel smiled and patted the girl’s cheek.

“Let’s get you settled first.” In addition to the living space, a simple bed, table, and chairs were brought in. The fireplace was started, and the space began to warm. Fresh hay and a spare trough now occupied the shed. Nelius gladly moved from the inn into his own space. The light snow from yesterday began to intensify. Ereollynda used what little money she saved for stock on simple food before the town became buried. She stayed tucked away like the rest of the townsfolk. Fireplaces burned and the people could do little else but watch the snow pile up. When the flakes finally began to slow, Ereollynda emerged to a wall of cold white. With Nelius’ help, they began to make their path to the main road. The pair joined others in the hard work of digging the town out. After a few days, Olvia returned to a snowy normalcy. 

Shortly after the storm, Ereollynda met Lynne in the nearby field around where they walked previously. Nelius wandered away to play in the snow, running

Sketches of Nelius. I'm having the best results basing his anatomy on a lion

through large piles and hitting it off low tree branches.

“It’s good to see him healthy,” Lynne said. They laughed at the heilang’s playful attitude.

“Axel says we can train by the week’s end,” Ereollynda responded. She eagerly awaited having the ability to ride Nelius.

“In the meantime, let’s test your power,” Lynne unsheathed the sword often strapped to her back. Ereollynda hesitated. She pulled the smaller blade from her waist.

“The size of your blade is not what’s going to matter,” the swordswoman said, beginning her lesson. 

“Now. Relax. Concentrate. Lock in to the energy flowing within you, and release it,” Lynne instructed. She walked a short distance, putting a few yards between them. Ereollynda did as she said, starting to focus on the power lurking within her. She spent most of her life suppressing this intensity, to the point it sat dormant in the back of her mind. However, right now, she reached for this power, and grasped it. Her eyes sharpened. The grip on her knife became more assured. At lighting speed, Ereollynda clashed with Lynne, blowing snow back in all directions. Nelius snapped his focus back to his master. She attacked with short strikes, meant to slowly wear an opponent down.

She is quick, but obviously untrained, Lynne thought as she blocked the blows consistently. At her level, she could read the flow of Ereollynda’s black energy, and predict her movements altogether. The swordswoman targeted an opening and forced the girl back. Without a moment of indecision, Lynne went on the attack, forcing Ereollynda to block with the smaller trinket knife. The energy felt similar, but somehow changed; It felt immense, yet refined. She couldn’t make out anything more. All her concentration went to fending off Lynne’s heavier, precise strikes. The energy continued to flow, trying to compromise for her inexperience. Ereollynda could feel it taking over.

I can’t… control…  Like before, her consciousness faded, eyes glazing over yellow. The swordsman felt her burst in energy, still chaotic and untamed. Out of the corner of her eye, Nelius whined and shook his head with aggravation. Lynne had no time to pay attention. Ereollynda, overcome by her black energy, continued her assault. 

It’s like a defense mechanism, Lynne thought as she observed the changes. She continued to spar, watching the girl closely. All the snow had been shaken from the nearby trees, and grass started to show from all the disputed ground. Even with rampant energy, Ereollynda couldn’t land a scratch on the swordswoman. All blocks and dodges were flawless.

It seems she could go on quite awhile like this, Lynne couldn’t sense any drop in output after a good time of fighting. While she still had questions, and wondered how long they could fight, the strain this had on Ereollynda remained unknown.

“That’s enough for today,” the swordswoman moved with incredible speed. In an instant she stood behind Ereollynda. Focusing her own energy, she placed her palm on the girl’s back. Her shock of contrastive energy disrupted the unconscious state. Before Ereollynda could fall, Nelius was there, catching her with his shoulder and sinking to the ground with her. 

“She’ll be fine, Nelius, dear. She’s just asleep now,” Lynne reassured his concerned whines. 

“Come. Help me bring her back home.” Together, with Ereollynda on Nelius’ back, they made their way into town.