Winterfall

I flicked on the magical lights in my bedroom and stretched underneath the covers. My head spun as if I had just been smacked with information that could benefit or hurt us.

I almost didn't believe what I was told. It was something I needed to be made aware of prior. I knew a mentor trained him, and that mentor was kept to himself. I just had no idea it went as far as a successor to a damn deity.

Does that mean a successor is training me? Better yet, I am being taught by the next Dragon King. That's got to come with some powerful benefits. It does. Get ready for training, and you will find out. I'm already here.

I sighed and slipped on a pair of sweatpants and one of his black shirts. To which I heard him sigh. Yeah. I won't stop having the servants take a shirt or two from his wardrobe.

Flicking the lights back off, I locked the door to my room, only to run into Marcel. I grunted as my body smacked into his. He looked down at me with a curious smile, "Where do you think you are going?"

"Early morning jog." I stepped back and began stretching my muscles while waiting for Marcel to leave.

"Is that so?"

"Is it hard to believe that I want to go on a run?"

"Considering how much sweets you consume.."

I rolled my eyes. "Please. Just because I have a sweet tooth doesn't mean I don't mind a bit of exercise."

"Sure. I have a question, Princess."

"Make it quick, Marcel. I want to get going on my run."

"I have felt some minor disturbances recently. Any idea what could cause those?"

"Minor disturbances?"

I had yet to learn what he was talking about. There were some things: Theo's Lair or his markings of becoming a Dragon King. The only one he might have been made aware of would have been the Layer and its effects on the kingdom. Crimson may have filled him in on the Dragon King, but even then, I doubt she knows that.

"First, I have felt your power use. I have been noting it as I felt it a few times before the Summer Crest festival. Then it stopped. Then I felt it again yesterday."

He looked at me curiously. I knew he felt my magic before. Has he been monitoring it this whole time? Interesting. We may have problems.

I felt him pull into my vision through the bond. I wondered what was keeping you.

"I have been practicing a bit of spell work. I have gone this far without knowing I had the magic to have it; no thanks to you." I reminded him.

"Perhaps I should not have attacked you then. The magic I feel has been intense."

His facial expression was unchanged. He had a straight smile with a slight curve to his lip. I dared look at his eyes, but I was afraid of his mind manipulation. His posture relaxed as he leaned against the wall. His arms crossed. And his scent was overpowering. Not looking at him directly in the eyes made it difficult to get a complete reading of him, but based on posture alone, he seemed irritated.

"I thank you for that attack. I thought I was going to be mundane, one without magic. Not that there's anything wrong with that."

"You, thank me for attacking you?"

He was confused and amused as I watched his body posture shift slightly. His lips curled a bit more. Yeah, he was amused by that testament.

"You heard me. Can I go now?"

I was getting impatient. I was hoping my attempt at distracting him from the primary purpose of the conversation would work. I wanted him to refrain from press further, as I had no idea how to avoid those topics.

He let out a deep sigh, and I could tell by his body language that he was contemplating something. "I'm curious. Do you know why the temperature dropped?"

And there it was. "Nope. Could be a druid or cleric using spells that control the weather." That was an excellent spot-on lie. Clerics generally have a spell that is high level and can exchange the environment. They can make it cooler or warmer, depending on their references.

His posture shifted slightly. I wonder if he genuinely bought it. I spoke it relatively fast but calmly: "Alright. And that doesn't alarm you that the temperatures dropped twenty-plus degrees over a week?"

I thought about it briefly. "Nope. The clerics tend to get together with the druids to make up a plan for the weather. I don't see a problem with it if they deem it necessary. As long as it doesn't get too far out of hand."

He shifted his weight to his right leg. His breathing seemed normal, so perhaps he bought my lie, as his body posture did not reveal his concern with what I was saying.

"I suppose that makes sense."

I wanted to sigh in relief, but I stopped myself. If I sighed in relief, he would know that something was up. "Can I go now?"

He nodded as I quickly moved past him out of the castle. I stretched just outside the large castle gate and paced myself, running briefly before going to the training area. I had a slight suspicion that he may have had me followed.

Quick on your feet with that lie. Though we both know he was just fishing for answers.

Theo's voice almost distracted my run, but I dared not stop. His voice sounded amused.

Whatever the case, perhaps that got him off our backs.

Should I be considered that you were able to lie that well?

It was a joke, but there was a bit of truth to it. I had been getting better at lying since Marcel came into the picture. But there was one thing and one thing I knew for sure: I would never lie to Theo. Hell, I couldn't even if I tried.

Honestly, I am impressed that I could think that quickly on my feet. However, it does concern me that he has been monitoring my power use.

I could sense his concern through the bond. We will have to resort to dreams for magic purposes.

I thought about it briefly. I almost wanted to refuse, but I knew he was right. That will at least keep us from getting caught. I am almost in the training area.

I knew he could sense I was close, as the bond acted as a location detector—kind of like using a spell to locate creatures, but with a much more comprehensive range.

I'll see you in five.

I could sense his movement through the bond as he stretched his muscles. Something he had been doing the whole time I had been running. Thankfully, I'd be well stretched by the time I got there.

You'll need that stretch, as I will be kicking your ass.

He laughed. We will see about that, won't we, Maria?