Chapter 13: Arriving at Mt. Ordonia (I).
Francisca's POV
The teleportation spell dad casted out for us was quick, the moment we entered the void we found ourselves in a completely different place.
The wind in my hair, the smell of the forest and the stone pavement our feet stood on I observed it all.
"Whoa…" I couldn't help but admire the scenery of the mountains.
They were full of trees, possibly thick with low leveled monsters under and the mountain paths were guarded by bald monks that had different tattoos all over their bodies.
They welcomed us with a nod and nothing more.
We arrived at the Ordonia temple.
The monk guards didn't pay us no mind, Mom and Dad scooched over to us holding my shoulder. "Okay Francisca, Glenn won't be able to go with you and Aubrey is going back with Mila."
A few days after the birthday party, packing our necessities were the only things that were left for us to do before coming here.
"Your little surprise will be later, you'll have someone accompanying you later in your training." (Mom) pats my head and I nodded in understanding but- I expected something else, like a weapon?
I hid the disappointed look on my face. I thought she was going to give me a gift. Nonetheless I would be happy to have another person training with us and asked who would be accompanying us later.
"Who is it, Mom?"
"Oh you'll know when you see her, now we'll be back in a few. I'll visit occasionally so no need to worry!" (Dad) pats my head next and I pout. This family and secrets, they never tire of it.
John was behind me, he was listening intently and told my dad that he would do his best to help me train.
"Goodluck you two, the head monk Xiao Lu will help you train for now." (Mom) presses her lips to my forehead before giving me a bag, she winks putting the leather sling in my hand leaving the temple with dad.
Maybe when I get home I'll train with Mom just like she promised but something must've happened that she needed to leave me here.
"Hngh…" I tried lifting up the bag Mom left me.
I was only able to lift it a little. I struggled to lift it up because of its weight.
What is in this bag?!
It's... so... heavy.
"Here let me carry that for you." (John) offered to help, seeing me look a little distressed he grabs the bag and slings it over his shoulder.
"Thank you." I gave him a smile as a thank you for his help.
"You're welcome." (John) smiled back, looking a little flustered.
We were about to head inside the temple and try finding the head monk that will help us train.
"Hahaha! I'm not going to be left behind big sis! That's why I begged Aunt Gabby to bring me here!"
That voice sounded familiar.
"Is that you-"
I turned around and saw my other cousin Kathryn Cassandra Neve. KC for short.
"I didn't think I'd see you here KC. How have you been?" I told her and she came running towards me enveloping me in a hug.
She's one of my distant cousins from my mother, just like Aubrey she's very clingy.
KC holds my arm and swings it happily. "I missed you! I don't want to let go! I want to be with big sis forever!"
"Ah… forever is a bit…long." I mutter, my shoulders slumping down while she still hands on my arm.
"Who is she?" John said with a scary look. Slowly moving his hand into the handle of his sword.
She's a little girl?
How can you see her as a threat?
I quickly held down his hand that was on the hilt of his sword before shaking my head. "No, no it's fine she's my cousin put your sword away."
He follows my order and sighs a breath of relief.
"Don't tell her about the accident though I don't want her to worry." I whisper to him and Aubrey pouts, noticing that I was whispering to John not giving her the attention she wanted.
"So that's your new body guard? Hmph challenge me guard!" (Kc)
There she goes again.
She challenges whoever it is that is close to me but I don't know why?
"I know I might not look like it but I'm a strong mage just like big sis. I can use the water and ice element so prepare yourself." (Kc) puffs up her chest trying to look intimidating but really she's almost the same age as me.
I smack her forehead with my middle finger gently and chuckled. "We're here to train, not fight one another.
"Ow… I'm sorry big sis." She made a sad face I couldn't resist while holding that certain part of her forehead.
"D-Don't worry I'm not that mad." I pat her head gently as KC nuzzles into it, making me a bit guilty of flicking her forehead like that.
"But still isn't it strange why would Mrs. Neve send us here after all that happened." (John) asks and I raise both of my eyebrows at him and nudged his sides to let that slip.
"After all that happened? " (Kc) is now curious to know.
"I mean after meeting John... Right?! " I gave a glare at John who nodded quickly trying to pick up the pace.
"Yes, miss is completely right!" (John)
I think it has something to do with the night Mom trained with me. I wanted to advance and master my skill along with extending my knowledge towards magic. I want to learn to love it.
If there will be another time that the people I love or me in general would be in danger I would be prepared to protect them.
Mom really wanted to help me with my dream.
…
"Oh? Is this what the Snow Clan students have brought us? Quite young for you to be training."
A man came walking in front of us three. Wearing monk clothes, we could see a part of his bare chest and bald head.
He bowed towards the three of us looking so welcoming.
"Welcome to the Ordonia temple. Are you from the Neve family?"
Could he be the head monk mom was talking about?
"Yes we are." I tell him and he gives me a warm smile.
"Well, well they sent us children rather than young adults. They want us to polish your skills before the time of your coming of age." He tells me and recalls that mom never said anything like that to me.
Coming of age…
Chapter 14: Arriving at Mt. Ordonia (II).
The Coming of age is where we get our [Status Reveal], after the holy appraisal stone has touched our body and soul we would be able to see our [Status].
The monk puts his fist and open palm together before introducing himself.
"My name is Xiao Lu but you can call me Shifu, another word for your instructor. I was one of your mother's friends and training partners back when she was still… in service." (Xiao Lu)
In service…
The head monk didn't explain any further, turning his back onto us and walking another flight of stairs. Xiao didn't waste any time and motioned for us to follow him inside the temple. "Follow me."
The three of us followed him inside, John continued to carry the bag that was meant for me and Kc placed a hand on her waist looking excited.
"Many monks have trained to give your family the necessary skills to do their required job." (Xiao Lu) leads us into an open space training area where several bald monks have been punching in sync.
They were all yelling in unison and sweating, training under the sun.
"Hah! Hah! Huwah!" They all raised their fists, followed by the fast twisting kick in the air heavily placing it in the ground making a loud stomping noise before they did another quick punch.
"Whoa…" I was impressed by their hand and footwork.
"The Neve clan has always been one of my favorite people to train," (Xiao Lu) smiles before we see another set of monks doing magic.
I could feel a gust of wind enveloping us even in this distance. A girl monk would hold her hands together, and then in a stance she summons the wind to come closer before it raises her whole body in the air but it wasn't for long.
"Humph!" she jumps quickly, landing gracefully in the ground before giving a deep bow, with her fist closed and open palm pressed together she sat back down.
We were all impressed with the magic that the student monk did. I could hear the head monk chuckling, he must've enjoyed my reaction to the student's performance.
"Just like your mother, this place will be able to help you control and nurture your magic." (Xiao Lu) tells me before leading us to another place, he opens the door to a room where all it had was two beds separating each other and a little desk cabinet on each side.
"Here you girls will share a room. " (Xiao Lu) opens the door for us and we come inside, John goes in, placing the heavy bag on the ground and we inspect the room that we'll be staying in for a while.
"Woohoo! Bed! Aw yes!"
Kc was an impatient girl who immediately jumped on one of the beds. She was very ecstatic on seeing it, rolling left and right.
I chuckled seeing the whole simple aesthetic of the room, it wasn't much but it had everything you need. A roof to provide shelter, a bed and blanket to keep you warm in the cold night.
"And gentlemen that way." (Xiao Lu) holds John's shoulder who flinches looking over to me for confirmation if he was allowed to go.
"It's okay John, you can follow his orders." I nodded in confirmation and he followed getting out of the room.
"As long as I know where the ladies are, for I will be on guard." He tells us before we decide to settle in, leaving out things and arranging them to make the room feel a little bit more like home.
Xiao Lu gives a faint knock and an announcement. "After you are all done unpacking, please do meet me in the public dining hall where you'll see the meals we serve in the sacred place."
"Yes, shifu." (Kc) was the first one to respond, giving a salute by the hand raising it over her head.
In turn, Shifu shakes his head correcting her to properly greet the person off by straightening his posture bowing with one of his hands turned into a fist and pressed with an open palm.
"Ohhh…" (Kc) mutters out, quickly rolling out of bed before doing the exact same thing as the head monk who was satisfied with her actions, leaving with a slight wave by the hand my little cousin walks over to me with a smile.
"I did good right?!" she quickly holds me by the arm and I nod, actually feeling proud of her.
"Mm, you did good." I reach out to pat her head and she nuzzles into it.
We unpack everything else, from the clothing, underwear, jackets and sweaters for the winter- a brush- the last one to unpack would be the heavy bag that my mother left me to have.
"Hmm…" I stare at it longer than I should, I don't know what could be inside of it that made it so heavy, even John was holding his breath while carrying it. "A new weapon… or tons of food- or…"
"Why don't you just open it and find out?" (Kc) interrupts me and I turn back to look at her carefree figure, kicking her feet into the air as I shake my head in disagreement.
"I want to guess first what's inside of it. You know the feeling of trying to guess something and you turned out to be right?" I explained while poking the bag with one of my fingers.
Rustle… rustle…
"?"
The bag just moved on its own.
"Hrmp…"
Followed by a familiar whimper.
"Don't tell me…"
I quickly opened the leather bag and I was right-!
That whimper could only belong to Mom's familiar!
"Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!"
…
"Hahaha! Fenrir!" Yelling his name, his tail immediately wagged excitedly jumping out of the leather bag. "Whoa!"
I was quickly slobbered by Fenrir's saliva as he playfully licked the side of my cheeks. "No way! Mom let you out to accompany me?" I hugged him by the neck gently, brushing his soft silver fur.
"Woof!" (Fenrir) barks and nuzzles his nose into mine before his weight completely takes me and I fall down on my back.
"Argh!!! Eww! Welcome to training buddy!"
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