《Changing Oneself》Chapter 8 - Learnt
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Well… I guess its over?
I tilted my head, my ears followed the gravity and fell down to the left. I watched my surrounding, this place is pretty deserted, there aren’t any people beside us, a whole difference feel from the crowded center of the city. But we aren’t that far from that large building with the strict looking elf, our ruckus should be heard by him now.
I walked towards Sol. His mouth opened, eyes widened staring at me, overall, his stupid expression is back. He didn’t made any other reaction even when I’m in front of him. So I tugged his sleeve slightly, waking him up from his daydream. He jumped a little but I ignored it. I raised my arm and pointed at his house direction. He stared at me, then at my finger, lastly at the direction I pointed out.
He stood still in his place and didn’t made any indication that he was going to move any time soon. Annoyed, I pulled his sleeve forcefully causing him to tumble a little. But he stopped dead on his track and craned his neck to the cat eared kid, his underling has already run away after they saw their defeated boss, leaving him to his fate.
Sol stared at him for a while, his pupil dilated, eyebrow frowned, as if hesitating what he about to do. He sighed. He strode his way toward the person he fight just a moment ago. He crouched and grabbed the cat eared kid arm and put it around his shoulder. He winced a little. He was wounded too after all, but he moved forward with a burden at his back. His destination seems to be the building we came before.
I’m a little surprised. What a soft hearted person. Or should I said naive? Judging by their previous interaction, the cat eared kid must had provoked him. I doubt Sol is the type of person would punch people out of nowhere. But, he helped him instead of leaving him here rot.
I followed right behind him and matched his slow pace. We walked until to the building stone pathway and found someone was waiting for us. The elf was waiting in front of the door, as if he already know we would came here. Sol trod to the elf and spoke to him and the elf took over the cat eared kid in custody. The elf face is frowning, using his free hand, he gave Sol a chop at his head. I can feel that the elf is unsatisfied by him. Sol only gave the elf a wry smile and scratched his head. I stood watching while they exchanged their banter.
Its seems they had know for a long time. They spoke with an old familiarity feel to it. Old friend perhaps. They finished their talk and entered the wooden building with the cat eared kid, leaving both of us alone. Sol with his battered body sighed again and then he looked at me. He said something that I can’t understand and the only thing I could do is tilt my head at him.
He smiled and turned his body, facing the other direction. This time, we can finally go back without any interruption.
I’m standing at the grassland outside of the wooden hut. The hut is surrounded by flowers and small tree. In my palm is a small stone, I raised it up to my eye level. I gripped the stone tightly, a small crack appeared, and getting more bigger as I putting more force to my palm. The stone didn’t last long and destroyed to bits. I let go the bits of stone, it fell down from my palm and landed into the grass and dirt.
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I stared at the destroyed stone. Currently I’m experimenting with my physical prowess. In that fight before, I displayed strength unbefitting those of a small child. Is it because I’m not a human anymore?
My pointy, triangular ears twitched slightly and my fluffy tail flicked. I remembered the various race in that town, there are normal human, some of those people had beast trait like me, and some of them have difference appearance altogether, scaled lizard walking with two legs, short and stout child sized people, and wings instead of human arm sprouted on their shoulder.
The question is, did my strength count as normal here?
I grabbed another stone in the ground. I played it in my hand for a while, before I throw it with all my strength to the nearby tree. My experiment stone hit the small tree, the tree barks cracked inwardly, bits of wood shard threw out into the air. The stone stayed stuck inside the hole it created.
…
Yup, doesn’t look normal at all.
I dropped into the ground, sitting cross legged. Judging by Sol flabbergasted reaction, I doubt normal kids in this world can made a hole in a tree like this. This mean I am abnormal. In this fantasy world, where magic and mythical beings exist, I’m counted as an abnormal among them. I sighed.
“Haa, well, power is welcome here, since this world is dangerous, I should gladly accept this.”
This world is dangerous, that much is true, this power will prove useful. I have a hell lots of problem. But I guess the most important thing is to learn the common language first. I need information, I need to know about this world. But I can’t even talk to the people here.
I raised my head to the sky, my pupil reflect the white cloud floating freely in the vast ocean of blue, and my mind is filled with question and more problem. I need to adapt to this world, and watching the people here, there is something that I want to try a long time ago.
I drop my head down and gazed straight. I raised both my arm gingerly. My heart beating slightly faster. I take a deep breath and exhaled it. Then, like a character in comic and cartoon, I tried to imagine a power dwelling inside of me and expelling that power, forming a flame.
“F..Fire…” I stuttered.
I can feel a tug inside of me. I waited for a while, a gust of wind passed me, otherwise nothing happened. This is stu-
WHOOO
A tiny flame flicker alive in front of my palm. The size of that flame is like those of a candle, small and weak, as if going to disappear any moment. Still, happiness is blooming in my heart. I can do magic!
I put down my arm, but the tiny blue flame still floating in the air, undisturbed by anything. I observed it more closely. My first magic. It’s weak but it was the first step. The tiny flame slowly flickered out, disappeared without a trace.
I can summon a fire.. What about other?
I raised my arm again, excited, but before I was going to do my second magic, I heard a voice calling me from behind.
“Hiiro!!”
I turned my head and found Mira standing in the door way, just before stepping into the terrace. She gestured with her hand, telling me to come to her.
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Oh well, I can do it next time.
I jog a little, wandering what she wanted from me. I walked inside and Mira followed behind me, closing the door. She walked toward the only table in this room and I followed her. This small hut only have two rooms functioning as the bedroom, with the main room connecting two of them. Currently we are in the main room, there are a small pantry, and one square table with three chair, one window in the pantry area and one window beside the door. The main room was only eight meter in length and five meter in wide.
I reached the table and found a lots of paper and book on top of it. Mira sat in one of the chair, she gestured me to sit beside her and I oblige. I made my way to one of the chair and stared at her, wondering what is this. She smiled and open one of the books in front of me. I gazed at the content, and found out it’s a picture book, illustration with word scribed beside it. I raised my head to look at her. Using her hand, she gestured to me, I think she wanted to tell me that she will teach me the content of the books.
Is she reading my mind?
I immediately nodded my head fervently. She chuckled a little. Now my immediate problem was solved.
She teach me the basic first, her lesson is easy to understand, as if she is experienced in teaching people, and I too absorbed the knowledge like a dry sponge. Before the lesson ended, I already learned half of the book on the table. She taught me till evening, and the outside is getting dark. She take a look at the windows and stood up. She turned to me and spoke.
“Food?” She asked me which I answered with a nod.
She walked away to the pantry and start preparing for our meals. I followed to help, but chased out by her from the pantry. With nothing to do, I tidied up the table and walk to the bedroom. The door creaked slightly as I opened it. Inside, I could see Sol tending and sharpening his knife. He is sitting on the chair with tools and knifes scattered on the table. A small oil lamp stood in the corner.
I slowly closed the door and stride toward Sol. I peeked from behind his back and look at him doing his work. For a while, he focused on his job and ignored me, only until he finished and sheathed his knife that he noticed me.
“Huh, Hiiro?” He raised his eyebrow and stared at me. Seems a little surprised by my sudden appearance.
“I. Bored.” I spoke to him, my word in pieces.
He slightly widened his eyes, now truly surprised my ability to speak the common language, even it’s a little choppy. Actually, I am surprised too, my learning and comprehending skill is too amazing. I’m good at learning new things, but this speed is more than the past me. Did my brain get an upgrade too?
“Hiiro, @# you :×* speak ?” His voice entered my ears, I can understand a few of his words.
“A little.” I nodded my head at him. And he smiled.
“Great! Good job, Hiiro.” He patted my head again. Why do people like to pat my head that much?
This is troublesome.. oo.. this…feel nice….how dangerous…
I closed my eyes, my ear dropped down, letting him stroke my ears. I admits. He had skills. Right now, I’m completely letting him petting my head, my guards down.
Just as I enjoying this full headed massage, the door opened and Mira walked in. She facing us and smiled. Although her eyes had this strange glint on it.
“Food ready. Come out and eats.” I found out that her smile is more intended to me. She glared at Sol viciously, and the person himself right now is avoiding his sister gaze, stared at the me instead. A bead of sweat rolled from his forehead.
Mira stared for a while, before she walk back and closed the bedroom door. Sol released a relieved sigh.
“She mad. Apologize?” I tilted my head.
“Yeah.. I will apologize #*=, I shouldn’t @$& & ?, fight.” A face full of regret plastered on his face. I patted his head, consoling him.
A wry smile formed in his face. He get up from his chair and together, we walk in tow to the main room, our meals are waiting for us after all. And getting Mira wait for us too long will only put her in bad mood.
After we ate our meals, Sol using this chance, apologized to her sister, which she accepted it begrudgingly. When we came back from our little adventure, Mira truly shocked to find his little brother beaten and battered. He immediately bombarded by healing magic and questioned by her sister. His sister doesn’t seems to like his explanation about his fight with cat eared kid. She sulk and won’t talk to him for the whole afternoon.
Mira seems to be tired, so we decided to end the day. We walk back to our respective room. I choose to slept in Sol room when Mira asked me about it. I think she a little disappointed, but this is for the best.
I bring my picture books to his room. Honestly, I didn’t feel tired at all even with all that fiasco. So I decided to read the books to spend my time until I’m sleepy. Sol is tired like her sister, he did fight with those people after all, he immediately plopped in the bed and slept in a matter of minute.
I sat in the chair with my legs dangling around, various books strew across the table, the oil lamp slightly chase away the darkness in this room, my only companion is the book in my hands. Just like this, I read for the whole night.
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