Chapter 8: Trial Training
1401 Words
Mewl eyed Xiathia. She hadn't spoken since her drawn out exclamation.
'Well, what? Do you intend to have us make our own regimen because you have no ideas?'
Mialtros had to admit, the spectacle was a bit odd.
“Do you…want us to find a well or something in those tunnels over there?"
The woman grinned wider. She nodded to Ghirti who reared its head. Stone melted under the heat of Ghirti's flame, turning it into black sludge.
“I'm surprised you haven't figured it out Mewl. Your powers lie in creation. Therefore, the best way to acclimate Mialtros to those powers is via practical demonstration! The first thing I want you two to do is create a well for the
Nulrets living in these caves using your powers."
Mialtros poked the goop. It bubbled and fizzed.
“You want us to make a well out of this? For creatures that ain't even gonna use it?"
Xiathia walked to the easternmost tunnel. Looking over her shoulders at Mialtros, she hefted herself up inside the cave lip, “Part of your responsibilities as the Guardian of Creation is to protect natural law. That means assisting in the protection of endangered species like these Nulrets."
Mialtros heard stories about them growing up.
Scourge of crops and orchards, the little spider-dragons had been hunted nearly to death by coastal farmers. Pa said the living colonies hiked up to mountains so tall no one could get them. Mialtros supposed living in caves would make it pretty darn hard to get water.
She grasped some sludge in her hands. She'd never made a well before, they always got their water from the river, but she had carved mill stones with her Mom.
Wells and mills were about the same shape, so how hard could it be?
“Where uh…would the Nulrets want it?"
Xiathia put her head into the tunnel. There was a distorted conversation. She emerged with a bite mark sunk into her forehead.
“They aren't the kindest conversationalists so I am afraid they will be no help. I guess you can put it in a place where it can catch rainwater. Near a wall should do."
Mialtros started gathering the sludge. The wall nearest them was curled outward. She thought it'd be more likely to catch rain than the ones bowing in or waving about all over the place. Still…
“How're we gonna make this sludge hold together? It ain't hardening up at all."
Mewl sighed, scraping a bit of gunk from the pile into his mouth, shaping it with his tongue.
'We'll be using my powers to morph this goo into the actual stone and mortar we need.'
Powers? He couldn't mean.
“That jelly stuff? How does it make anything? All it does it eat everything."
Mewl spat out a pad of gunk, it was soaked in pink jelly. It slowly turned pinker the longer it sat.
'This 'jelly' is my Godly essence. The substance of creation. It holds all the chemicals and atoms for life. It doesn't “eat", so much as it reverts things to their natural state. It creates and maintains shape by interacting with the energy generated by motion.'
Mialtros looked at her hands.
“So I should do the clapping thing you did?"
Scraping more sludge, Mewl mumbled.
'That would be ever so lovely. I'll focus on getting you the essence you need.'
Picking up the jelly, Mialtros clapped her hands. The stuff smeared, but otherwise stayed lifeless.
“Am I not clapping enough?"
More jelly plopped to the ground. Mewl inspected her hands and frowned.
'How would I know? I've never had performance anxiety. Perhaps you're just a dud as a Guardian.'
Good to see Mewl was working oh so hard on being friendly and helpful. Ah well. Nothing else to do but keep crying!
Rearing her arms back, Mialtros slapped her palms together. After several more attempts, her palms, arms, and back began to ache from the action.
Even so the jelly still did nothing.
Xiathia peered around Ghirti who was lapping at the wound on her forehead.
“Something wrong?"
Mialtros held up her hands.
“I can't seem to make the jelly work properly."
Mewl sauntered around her.
'Not for lack of execution either. She's got enthusiasm, I'll give her that.'
Mialtros squished her palms, “Maybe…I'm just not…trying hard enough…or doing the right motion…"
Xiathia drew her sword from the cave floor.
“Now none of that. You've been through a lot in the past two days. Not to mention, you only just became a Guardian. I certainly had no control over my abilities when I first started. How about we move on to the second portion of the training? Partner control!"
Mewl groaned.
'Arnsal help me. The woman has no mercy.'
Tapping her blade into her palm, reminding Mialtros of the teachers who slapped rulers on chalkboards to be scary, Xiathia hummed.
“For this exercise, we're going to explore the bond between Guardian and God. This bond allows for special transmissions of the soul between the two. We won't go total soul merging today. Merely soul sharing. It will allow you to control your partners body as if it were your own."
Mialtros cuddled Mewl and grinned.
“Teach me."
Breathing in, Xiathia let flames surround her body. Ghirti's head came rest on hers.
Something ethereal and transparent wafted through the flame into Ghirti's body.
The serpent began to speak with Xiathia's voice.
“Gather your mind and keep holding Mewl close. Contact is essential in soul transferring. Concentrate on the nexus of power within you. Once you gather enough energy, think of yourself walking freely outside of your body. You will then touch Mewl with your spirit and think about speaking. You may say anything."
So it was the same as when Mewl had stolen her body. Oh, but back then!
“How will I touch Mewl when I'm outside my body? I couldn't touch myself, Ma, Pa, or Granny. They passed right through me even though I could touch tons of other things."
Ghirti's eyes crinkled as the serpent chuckled.
“Clever question Mialtros. You were able to interact with created things. Human life falls out of your control. There are very distinct lines between creation and life. It is the same with destruction and death. Mewl is a God though. He falls outside the dimensions of reality."
Making herself comfy, Mialtros buried her nose into Mewl's fur. She closed her eyes and began imagining.
Darkness. Warmth. A distant light. To it she walked.
Lightning sparked between them. Mewl yelped and started struggling.
'Mialtros stop! You're putting too much soul out!'
Gasping, Mialtros opened her eyes.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to!"
Turning in her arms, Mewl licked her face.
'It's alright. I'm not hurt. You did exceptionally well for a first timer.'
The cat cut his eyes to Xiathia.
'This just isn't the place or the person to help us train!'
The flames winked out. Xiathia strode forward, frowning at Mewl.
“You were interfering. I felt the power come from you, not Mialtros."
Mewl pointed at the blade.
'I was trying to help her. I was worried you would think I was harming her if nothing happened and come at me with that thing. Mialtros's eagerness caused a reverb that nearly warped us to the dimension of creation! I cannot work under these conditions with you!'
The older woman rubbed her neck.
“I care not if it's from me, but she must learn from someone. Who would you feel more comfortable with Mewl?"
The cat smoothed its fur.
'I can teach her myself in my dimension. Your methods are uninspiring and it's hardly a surprise. You've never done a creative thing in your life.'
Sharing a look with Ghirti, Xiathia crossed her arms.
“Absolutely not. I wouldn't trust you to teach her properly. You're far too controlling. But…hmm...well if the methods and teacher are the issues…"
Turning from them, Xiathia drew her thumb across her sword. Blood welled in the cut. She dipped it into a hole near the innermost tunnel.
The waters within began churning.
“I've the perfect candidate to teach you! Hop on in. We'll be there before you can blink!"
- Writer
