Author's note

I will be going on a haitus of indefinite length after posting this chapter. The deadline for application to the nursing programs at all the schools is approaching fast, and I have to dedicate my time to getting in the last of my applications. This haitus may go as long as 2 weeks if I wind up using all the time left before the deadline (due to procrastination which is an unfortunate disease which I have been afflicted with) or only a few days if I manage to really buckle down and get the applications going. Here's hoping for the latter.

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Aerien’s POV

After setting Gaerien down at the side of the training room, I began some light warm-ups. Or rather, experimenting with my body’s strength, specifically in the jumping area. It would seem I am capable of a pretty impressive high-jump, exceeding three times my body height. That’s almost 10 feet. Back on Earth, that would be mind-boggling even for an adult. For a child, that’s just out of this world. It also makes me wonder if I will keep anything like that proportional strength as I age. On the one hand, larger creatures usually have a worse strength to mass ratio due to the square cube law. On the other hand, elves age slowly, and there are also a lot of other strange rules in terms of how things work in this world. I don’t even know if this kind of strength is natural for an elf, or if I am somehow unusual and this is caused by all that cultivation woo-hoo stuff I’m apparently good at.

Well, as impressive as that is, control is more important than strength. So, the more important thing is to be able to jump exactly as high as I want to jump without putting too much force into it. If anything, having that much strength is a bad thing. I perform a series of smaller hops around the room. I begin choosing to jump from the place where the corners of one set of matts meet, to another. It goes horribly. I overshoot my target with the first jump. It’s only by around 6 inches, but that’s still not good. I could have easily landed exactly where I wanted to land in my old adult body, but then that’s because I actually knew my old body. As for my baby body, well, I couldn’t jump very well last week before this crazy little growth spurt.

My next jump, I overcompensated in the other direction and came up short. I was still having trouble getting it right three jumps later when Sagel and the boys came in.

“I’m trying to figure out how to control this body.” I explained. “I haven’t had a proper chance to just feel my own capabilities out like this since my sudden growth.”

They all respectfully stood to the side an watched after that short explanation. Actually, that was a little strange for the boys. Normally they would have been asking if there was something they should be doing for their own training. Just like back in Eirlathion’s house, they would ask me for exercises and do their thing while I did mine. But, instead they were just sitting on the side and watching. That bothered me… no, what I was doing bothered them, and I was aware of that. This made me a little uncomfortable. I had no plans to bring up the subject that was obviously causing them to act the way they were though.

I reached my hand back behind my head and then leaned back into a back-bend until I was in a one-handed bridge position. Next, I kicked off with my feet and balanced into a one-handed hand-stand. That was weird. This should be something that requires far more precise control than just jumping around, but I was able to pull it off perfectly. It seems balance is something I have better control over than feats of pure strength. Well, no point staying like this then. I fold at my waist and gently place my feet on the ground in order to come out of this position and then stand to face the onlookers at the side of the room. I guess I can just ask Sagel.

“Sagel, would you happen to know what the normal strength for an elven child around my physical age equivalent would be? I guess I am around a five year old human, whatever that translates to for an elf.”

He places his hand on his chin, and his gigantic black eyes squint in an odd look of focus. “I am afraid I don’t your highness.” He answers. “However, I am certain we can probably ask some of the individuals asked here to be jurors. They ought to still be around.”

“Hmm… of course.” I turned to walk in a random direction before suddenly stopping in my tracks when I suddenly realized I didn’t even know what I was trying to do exactly. I didn’t want to just do some useless stunt like another cartwheel or something that I knew for certain I could do correctly. That would just be all too obviously me trying to hide the embarrassing expression of frustration I had just performed. So, instead, I just brought my hand to my chin as though deep in thought. “So, what do you all say to a little lesson in my style from Earth?” I asked. “You boys are probably not physically ready for it yet, but you can watch me teaching Sagel. He has enough experience with this world’s martial arts that he could probably work some of it into your training that he does with you as well.”

“Ummm…” Rolwen was glancing back and forth between Levin and Sagel, looking unsure about what his reaction should be. Levin seemed to pick up Rolwen’s silent eye communications, and got a sudden look of determination as he turned to face me.

“What about your mother? Aren’t you going to do something about that?” Levin asked.

There it is, it finally came up. “Not right now.” I said in a very stern tone.

“But… why not!?” Levin asked in a confused and somewhat distressed tone.

“If I act right now, I am definitely going to wind up doing something I regret.” I answer. “It’s something you learn with age. I am in absolutely no condition to make a rational decision right now…” I could feel myself starting to become tense. I placed my hands together and took a deep breath, trying to dispel some of the emotional tension I was feeling. It was not enough though. As soon as I even tried to think about the next words I was going to say, my knees started to feel weak.

I sat down on the floor. My back was still turned to them. “I…” I started talking, but my thoughts froze. Actually, I knew I wasn’t ready to start speaking yet, but I just wanted to make a sound of some sort to let them know I planned to continue so that Levin wouldn’t ask some stupid childish question. I took another breath. “I talked with Dryad right before I came back.” I said, my voice in a childishly low ‘upset’ voice that would be almost cute if the subject matter weren’t so heavy “I had already heard a little bit about them before that, but… now that I’ve met them, and after everything I’ve heard about them, they are not an opponent that you want to approach recklessly.”

There, I said it all. With my thoughts out in the open, I could try and start processing these emotions that were weighing me down and try to get a handle on them. I couldn’t see what any of them were doing back there since I was facing away. I noticed the mist in my eyes was too much for my lacrimal glands to clear yet again, meaning that with no place to go it began to spill out of my eye and run down my cheek.

Thinking about the clinically precise things that were happening seemed to calm me a little, and I lifted my sleeve to dry my face. Wait, random thought. Where is my body’s moisture even coming from? Not only have I not needed food in this new life, the amount of water I have drank is little if any as well.

Another puzzle. I did not have the answer right now, but I could feel my mind which wanted to escape from the crule reality at the moment becoming quite eager over pursuing this little mystery.

“How ‘bout zis?” I heard Rolwen’s voice. “How about… we do like we used to? You or Sagel give us some exercizes, and then you and Gaerien do something, and it will be just like that?”

Yeah. Just like old times, or rather the usual routine we had fallen into around a month ago now. Or rather, I don’t even know how time is tracked in this world. Do they have the concept of a calandar at all?

“Sure, I’d like that.” I commented, standing and turning toward them.

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Taminarda’s POV

Taminarda was almost ready to throw this bundle of papers at the wall. All of this law nonsense was not the craftsman’s job at all. Here he thought they just wanted strong people who could resist the arcane energy, but NO! It turns out they really wanted judges, the role that magi play when a dispute comes up. And this gobbledygook was several times more complicated than the considerations he has EVER heard about magi having to consider too.

Ok, so, what did that grey-elf princess say again? She DID say they were just supposed to be using their own judgement, right? She made it sound like it wasn’t quite as important for them in their roles as… what did she call them? “Jurors” to know the law as well as the judge had to. It was one of those Elf magi who had the bright idea of having them all pour over this nonsense and know it as well as she had to. Yeah, that’s definitely admirable, but he’s seriously had about enough!

There was some point where the place started shaking. Taminarda only let out an irritated groan at all of that, it was just a distraction from this stupid and annoying work. Seriously, if he thought he could get away with it, he’d try to strangle that elf who suggested they do this.

Alright, how about taking a different approach? Just read off the head portions of each section, just to see what it’s about. See if it actually applies to him or not, and then make a judgement from there whether or not to read deeper into it. Over half this stuff seems to be pertaining to strange little things about what is and is not a proper way to charge a person, stuff for the prosecutor to worry about. He decided he should only be worrying about what is and is not a proper argument for the prosecution and defense to make.

Ahhh!!! This is tough even with that!!! Why do those justice committee people have to make things so complicated!? Taminarda let out a groan and tossed the packet of papers down on the table and began pacing the room. He suddenly felt the energy of the green word and then the sound of groaning wood as the wall opened. He turned to see the great fairy lord assigned to watch over them entering the room he had been assigned.

“Ahh!” Taminarda groaned, letting his frustration out early so he could center his mind. “Is there something I can do for you Lord Castien?” He hastily put on as polite a tone as he could despite the obvious frustration still leaking through.

“Please.” the great fairy responded, gently holding up a hand to him. “My rank may be above yours, but I have been assigned to serve your needs. You are her highness’ guests after all, and it is my pride as a member of the civics committee to serve the needs of the nation in such a manner.” He gave a rather formal half-bow toward Taminarda. “That said though, what I have come to say is that we will no longer be requiring your service as a juror.”

“Hah! I suppose someone higher up must have gotten some sense in their head I’m simply not cut out for this then?” Taminarda responded, pacing the room more quickly as he had taken Lord Castien’s words to heart already. “Perhaps an entire group of magi ought to have been requested from the outset, although it would pose quite the burden for the travelers. I take it you’ve found a magi to replace me then? I do hope it was someone from one of the villages.”

“You can rest assured there is no need for a replacement.” Lord Castien responded. “The circumstances are somewhat complicated, but the defendant was pardoned by her majesty. As such, there will no longer be a trial. I have already informed the others.”

“Ah, I see. So you saved me for last.” Taminarda responded with a slight grumble as he complained in his mind about how Lord Castien could have likely saved him at least a little mental energy if he had been consulted first instead.

“Indeed.” The great fairy lord responded. “That is because I had a matter I wished to discuss with you. I have heard that gnomes such as yourself are said to be somewhat skilled with elven children, is this correct?”

Taminarda felt a little like scoffing at this remark. Instead of making such a rude expression toward a fey noble though, he settled for a light sigh. “That is only because the younger elves mistake us for children like them. It’s actually somewhat irritating.”

“I see…” The great fairy made a difficult expression. “Well, the thing is, her majesty expressed some concern about the princess’ emotional state following the incident that lead to the pardon in question. She felt that one of you twelve would be ideal. I was given the task of using my judgement to select who in particular I would extend this offer to though, I believed that perhaps you might be ideal for the role.”

“I see. Do I have any say in this?” Taminarda responded.

“Well, a willing participant would be ideal, but there are considerations beyond a gnome’s ability to get along well with elven children that made me ask you. The more important consideration is, well… for reasons I will only tell you if you accept, there is a strong chance that the princess may actually become upset if it is an elf who is requested as her companion.” The great fairy lord explained. Well, that was sure an interesting, if not somewhat ominous statement. Her highness, the new princess, had seemed like a fairly balanced person when she appeared before them. It was so much to the point he may even have accepted her if she had turned out to be a vile deep gnome instead of just an unfortunate grey elf.

But still, this really sounded like a raw deal for a master craftsman like him to be caught up in. If he had the option, he might have one of his apprentices fill the role. That seemed unlikely under these circumstances though.

Wait! There WAS one thing! “Hmm… Didn’t her highness say that she was originally from the same world as all those recently born great fairies? Perhaps one of them would be better for the job?”

“Well, you will have to take that up with someone above me if you wish to propose such a thing.” The great fairy said. “I am afraid though that I have been asked to select someone from the twelve of you. It would simply be unacceptable for me to fail to present someone. I am certain that if you would allow me to present you, the chance to do so may arrive far sooner for you than it would for me.”

So that’s how things are. And he says the princess would probably be upset with an elf? If that’s the case, why didn’t whoever's in charge of all this just request Taminarda directly!? After all, he WAS the only one in this group of 12 who was something other than an elf.

“Ahhh! So, what is the reason she would be upset with an elf anyway?” Taminarda demanded in a tone somewhat improper for addressing a noble.

“So, are you accepting?”

“I didn’t say that.” Taminarda responded.

“Well then, I am afraid it is related to the incident I mentioned. Suffice it to say, it is in regards to recent emotional wounds. That is about all I can tell without divulging national level secrets.” The man informed him with a regal air. Meanwhile, Taminarda placed his hand on his chin to consider this information.

“I see.” He mumbled. “Well, I suppose I was one of the less useful members to the travelers. Can I name some conditions on this?”

“So long as they are reasonable.” The fairy noble said.

“Well then, the first is that this only lasts until the people and my apprentices get here to the new capital.” Taminarda said.

“Yes, that is certainly reasonable enough.”

“The second is that the other eleven are at least given the option to return to the caravan. They serve a rather important role in assisting them all.”

“Hmm…” The great fairy responded with a troubled expression. “I am afraid I cannot agree to that one on my own. It would involve promising the participation of a dragon after all.”

“Well, that’s my condition. You can pass on the word to someone who CAN give an answer.” Taminarda replied stubbornly.

“Very well. I shall pass on the word. As there are national secrets involved, I shall only inform you of what has occurred with her highness after any who would leave have already gone.” The fey noble said with a somewhat deeper bow than the one he gave before as he left.

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