Ever since uncle Harlin showed me the proper sword basic, my training progressed really well. A few weeks later, I was able to practice with my mother already. She was strong, really strong, and didn't play around either. Although her attacks lacked any proper stances, holds or techniques, she was able to disturb me or deflect my sword. Although she never tried to harm me, everytime her sword stopped on my neck or other part of the body, she would point it out. Saying stuff like, "You just died", or "Focus on what you are doing". I didn't really complain to her, but that didn't stop my thought. 'It's not my lack of focus mom, it's your strength…'.
"By the way, soon I will be leaving for a while. Since I won't be around, you will stay with Ulon", mom announced to me out of nowhere. "Huh? Can't I go with you then?", I asked. "No. I will be gone for a few good months, and someone has to take care of you. Ulon and Atols in overall will be happy to have you there, they like you. As for your training, there are Atols who will be able to help you out as well. Besides, Apium is really nice and quiet. You will enjoy your stay there", she explained. We've been to Apium a few times over those few years, mostly because it was close. "Alright, I guess…", I replied. "Hmm? I thought you would be more interested. Maybe you don't want me to leave?", she asked.
"Yea, you wish! Anyway, where are you going?", I asked. "A few places, Sedon is one of them. There will be loads of travelling, otherwise I would take you with me", she replied. "I'm fine staying at uncle Ulon's place. Tara will be there too, so I won't be bored… Whatever, are we going to continue, or not?", I asked and immediately attacked. Mother blocked my attacks, and even mocked me a bit. 'I will wipe that smile off your face one day', I thought.
After my sword practice, I had to do my other exercises. Over the years, the weight I carried during those exercises increased. From a simple few kilograms at the start, to over fifty at that stage. Mother made sure I didn't have it easy as the time passed. Instead of running around the house, I had to do squat jumps. Or using my hands instead of legs to "walk" around. I was getting stronger no doubt but on the other hand, I found something worrying. My figure was a bit... not that ladylike. Mother was well rounded in certain areas. I had muscles showing around my body, and it wasn't as well rounded as mother's. My suspicion was that cutting my hair short and wearing boy's clothing, would make me appear more like a boy than girl.
I tried raising that point with my mother, but ultimately got too embarrassed. I couldn't force myself to ask about those things, and instead blamed it all on training. '... I still think I'm pretty. After all, even Suly is not that well rounded and she doesn't seem to care... Ah whatever! I should focus on something else', I thought. A few days passed before mother had to leave. Uncle Ulon and a few other Atols came by to collect me. I packed a few books, some essentials for Rune and Formation drawing, as well as some snacks and change of clothes. I took my sword with me too, after all Atols would help me practice. Before we left though, mother had a private talk with uncle Ulon. I assumed she wanted to make sure I wouldn't slack, or do anything silly during my stay in Apium.
After the talk with my uncle, she hugged me and asked, "Will you miss mommy?". "I'm no longer nine, mom…", I replied embarrassed. She kissed my forehead and patted my head. "Don't slack off too much, alright? When my job is finished, I will pick you up from Apium. Mommy loves you", she added. "I love you too mom... Can we go already?", I replied. "Off you go then, and behave yourself. Don't create trouble for others!", she exclaimed while I ran off towards my uncle and others. We would travel on Tauruses, but that wasn't an issue anymore. I learned how to travel on them, and could do it without a special chair or any other aid.
The journey was uneventful. We only made one stop to eat something, and rest a little. We arrived at Apium late in the afternoon. Uncle asked me whether we should rest, or do something else. "I'm a bit tired from the journey, so how about we rest for today? Besides, all I did every day was training, exercising and whatnot. Any rest is welcomed at that stage", I replied. "Your mother told me to make sure you wouldn't slack, but a few days won't matter that much, right?", uncle said with a wink. I smiled and nodded. Uncle gave me the same room as always, the one with a comfortable bed. Something I didn't have back at home. He also told me to visit his room, in case I required anything. "I'm fine for now. I will just kick back and read a book or something. We will see each other tomorrow, right?", I said. "Of course. In that case, I wish you good night", he replied and left.
I relaxed for the rest of the day with a light romance book in hand. Although most of my books were about Formations, I had some other books that were gifted to me by others. There were a few romance tales, a few historical tales and even one or two action packed adventures. I liked those the most, but the other books were fine with me too. 'I wonder if uncle has some non farming books, it would be great to read something new', I thought. The books in my possession were already getting boring, since I read them a few times already. Getting my hands on something new would be really great. I checked the bookshelves and to my surprise, there were a few books not related to farming. 'Great, I can read something new', I thought and grabbed the first one.
It was a romance tale about two Atols, but with some action and fighting. The book described how Kiki fell in love with Amel, but before they could get together, a war broke out and he had to leave. Amel was sent to the battlefield, where he fought many battles. I got so hooked on the book, I forgot myself and read well into the night. Realising how late it was, I decided to continue reading the next day. The bed my uncle provided was really the best, I slept very well that night.
"So Anna, what would you like to do today?", uncle asked during the breakfast. "I don't know yet, what can I do here?", I asked. Uncle thought about it really hard before replying, "Hmm, we can visit the sea. Although the cliffs extend through the whole coast, we are Atols after all. Climbing is what we specialise in, right?". Me and mother lived next to the sea for most of my life, but I never actually got close to it. "That is a good idea. I've seen the sea countless times, but never actually stood next to it. Let us go to the sea then!", I replied. Uncle prepared some stuff for our little trip, as well as invited a few other Atols to accompany us. The cliffside was not that far away from Apium, so we arrived there pretty quickly. "It's quite dangerous for someone inexperienced, therefore I will take you down the cliff. Make sure you hold onto me really tight, we don't need any accident, alright?", uncle explained. With everyone ready, I hopped onto uncle's back and held onto him as tightly as I could. The cliffs were really tall, but uncle and others didn't have any issues climbing down them.
From what I learned later, they did that a few times in the past, hence they had some experience already. "Here we are. Makes a difference once you see it up close, doesn't it?", uncle asked when we arrived. The bottom of the cliff was rocky, but there was a lot of sand too. "Yes, even the wind feels fresh and cool. The sound of waves is also more distinct", I replied with a nod. "If you look around well enough, you might find some shells in the sand. Besides that, you might encounter some small creatures too. If you want to, you can even enter the sea a bit, but make sure to be careful", uncle added.
I made sure to check out everything, especially those shells uncle told me about. I managed to find a few buried in sand, but they looked a bit weird. When uncle said shells, I imagined something else. 'This is the first time I see such a shell… I wonder what creature wears such a shell?', I asked myself. The shells were kind of round or oval in shape, but almost completely flat. I couldn't wrap my head around those shells. Instead of trying to figure it out, I asked my uncle. To my surprise, he didn't know how those creatures were called or even what they looked like. Uncle visited this place a few times in his lifetime, but he only saw the washed up shells. Not once did he encounter one with a creature attached to it. "They must live in the water and once they die, only those shells get washed up. At least that is what I assume", uncle said.
Since uncle didn't know, I had no way of finding out either. Instead of worrying about that, I took my shoes and stockings off to enter the sea. It was a bit cold, but my feet got used to it very quickly. Standing in the sea up to my knees, I felt the waves gently hitting my legs. It was a strange feeling, and somehow put me at ease. The horizon was full of large and small waves slowly making their way towards the shore. 'This is so much different compared to looking at the sea from the top. Mother should come here too, she would like it as well', I thought. While admiring the sights, something suddenly jumped out of the water and then back in. It was long and seemed to have a tail. Moreover, the creature looked slick, like it had scales. I got a bit startled when the creature suddenly jumped out, but uncle was right. There were creatures inside the sea. "Uncle! There is a creature there!", I exclaimed while pointing my hand at the sea. Of course the creature was long gone, but I saw it.
"Yes, I saw too. I don't know how that creature is called either, but it's not that shell creature for sure", uncle replied. I made my way back to the shore, where uncle gave me a piece of cloth to dry my legs. "By the way, didn't you guys say that the North had no drinkable water in the past? There is loads of water here, couldn't you use the sea?". Uncle shook his head, "No, because this water is no good. If you tasted the water, you'd realise how salty it is. Drinking this water will make you sick. Our ancestors found out the hard way, that is how we know now". "If it's undrinkable, then how can those creatures live inside this water?", I asked. "Probably just like Shades use poison as medicine. Hence they live in that water, those creatures must be adapted to it", uncle replied. That was true. There were many races and creatures in the world. Why couldn't there be those that lived in undrinkable water?
I checked around the shore a bit more, but found no creatures at all. Since there was nothing else to do really, we decided to call it quits and return to Apium. Our trip wasn't that long, but it was surely interesting. I discovered new creatures, found some shells buried in the sand and even experienced the sea with my own two legs. Although there wasn't much to do there, I enjoyed our little trip.