I rotated my body and tried to feel next to me, searching for my youngest. I quickly opened my eyes and moved my arm into the empty space. A sigh let out. I'm away from home. My children are safe.
I stood on the railings to peek in the bed above me. Empty. The room only had me and its belongings. I wonder when he woke up. Sitting across the door, I whistled and the chair moved toward the door, while the books flew off the desk. I stumbled from the bed and picked up the books.
Glancing at the bed, I went back and laid there. I'm okay. I stared up and let out a deep breath of air. Whistling again. The books shuffled to the floor and stacked on top of each other. Perfect. It's as simple as breathing. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be great. All you got to do is calm your body. Being here is displaying my lowliness because I'm not confident. I am not in my environment, and I'm stressing over that. I'm not around my family, and I'm realizing how insignificant I really am. That's okay. I'm okay. Breathe.
Theo walked in, falling over the desk chair.
I quickly sat up and defended myself, "Sorry uncle. I didn't know you were coming."
"Good morning." Theo moved back the seat.
"You too."
He grabbed his arm and grunted, "Sapphire, follow me."
I rubbed my eyes and annoyedly spoke, "Where we going?"
"It is time for you to start showing some effort." He let go of his arm and lowered his gaze.
I squinted, "effort?"
He moved toward the desk and grabbed his overcoat. Simultaneously pointing at me, he pointed out, "you are on one of the finest warships there is. Therefore, there are many interactive grounds to practice."
I sighed, "you mean training?"
"of course, to train. Wake up, get dressed, and move along. I will meet you on the third level below this floor. Chamber XXIV"
Before I could say a word, he grabbed his weapon leaning on the bed and walked out.
I dumped my rucksack onto the floor, searching for Silver. Ending up not finding it fast enough and having to whistled to slide all other items to the wall.
I headed down the stairwell and stopped when I noticed the sign saying training corridor. I need to start reading all the signs, so I know my way around. At the beginning of the corridor, all even rooms were on the left side, and all odd rooms were on the right side. Simple, enough. I strictly faced the left side of the hall and reached the end. XXIV was not there. I quickly turned around and walked back to the beginning. XXIV was not there. I repeated this step, multiple times.
XXIII. XXV. These were the last two chambers at the end of the hall. I twirled around, looking at them both, and running fingers through my hair with agitation. What did uncle tell me? Didn't he say IV. Doesn't that mean it would be right here?
Someone's hand poked my shoulder, "excuse me, but are you lost miss. This is the training floor. I turned around and felt the heat from a flicker of fire in the hands of a mask being.
Shrugging away from him, "No. I'm not lost at all. But, thank you."
She removed her mask and smiled, "Sapphire. I heard about you from my master. One of the best elementalists in her class and your rejection to the guild." She paused for my reply, but I did not give her one. Continuing, "Don't worry. I think it's rather brave to reject your kind like that, or perhaps simply reckless. You ask the gods for their powers and many of us, good ones, still become overwhelmed. The guild is there to help maintain sanity."
I smiled and ignored her propaganda, "so why do you wear a mask if you were simply going to remove it?"
She learned against the wall, "you can never be too careful." After a moment of silence, she continued speaking, "I thought you were someone from the union."
I glanced at her ears and felt mine, "I'm not sure you understand what an elf is. Being as you are one, I thought you would. To me, I always felt that my ears and even my facial features were dead giveaways. Do you?"
Her face flushed with pink.
I added, "Are you expecting us to house any members of the Union? I don't think you need to worry about our allies."
She straightened out and put her mask back on. Moving closer to me, she whispered, "Do not be fooled youngin. Do not underestimate the Union. House? Do not make me laugh. I am expecting them to infiltrate us one way or another. It's what they have always done. I don't trust them, and neither should the Myriads.
I fixed my laces and clearly smirked, "do not be rude to our new allies."
She scoffed, "I understand that you are a youngin, but blind trust will only have you hurting yourself."
Rolling my eyes, I glanced at the chambers numbers again. "Actually."
She stood taller and her eyes lit up, "yes. Is there something you need about the Order?"
I squished my lips together, and chuckled, "Not at all. But, I am looking for something. Knight Theo directed me towards chamber XXIV. Can you help me with that?"
Slightly coughing, she questioned, "which chamber did you say?"
A priest came by with the training time sheet. Before speaking up, he covered her body to block her words. He smiled at me, "Yes, I can go ahead and direct you that way." He glanced at the other elementalist who was digging her nails into her arm. "One floor down, and it is the only door at the end of the corridor."
I sighed, "perfect, thank you so much you too."