After classes and dinner, Raven started teaching Minx the new kicks she learned the previous week. She had been practicing them enough in class that she felt she had the hang of it and was ready to teach it. She introduced them individually, the crescent kick, axe kick and another kick she couldn't remember the name of.
The schedule had returned to the new normal of not pushing so hard on the market so Minx could learn about things she wanted to do.
On Wednesday she wore a different outfit for her spar with Raten. This was like a black bikini with garters that had chains on them as well as on the bikini top. Raten bit his finger and looked away.
In his head, he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was the Little One. Raten didn't realize he had come out of his corner.
[Sil said with his innocent smile brightening his face]: Let me sit there.
[Vorden said in a panic]: She doesn't know you yet!
[Sil said still smiling brightly]: But she knows I'm in here.
[Vorden replied with fear-filled eyes]: It's not safe for her. What will happen if HE finds out?
[Sil's innocent expression didn't change but his eyes grew firm]: It's simple. We make sure he doesn't find out. I'm taking the seat.
She noticed the energy change, and held her breath. The Little One as Raten called him turned around.
Minx looked at him like she was staring at an angel. "You… you're so … beautiful…" She whispered.
Sil took a few steps toward her, his innocent smile consuming his features, "Are we friends?" He noticed he felt calmer the closer he was to her.
She blinked a few times, trying to bring herself under control. "I … I don't know? We've only just met, right? How about we talk and get to know each other? I would love to be friends with you."
His smile grew brighter, "I'd like that. I'm Sil."
"Hi Sil, it's nice to meet you." She returned his smile.
"May I ask how I got the honor to meet you?" she asked bashfully, almost breathless.
"You're beautiful…" he looked her in the eyes. He softly caressed her face then trailed his hand down her arm. "You're strong. I heard you tell your story to Raten and Vorden."
She nodded. "Vorden told me it made you unhappy."
His face turned angry, "I'm tired of bullies. I'll kill anyone who hurts you!"
[Vorden in his head], "That will scare her away. Calm down!"
"What's your ability?" Normally Sil would retreat when he had big feelings, but curiosity and her calming nature captivated him. "Your ability is strange."
"What do you know about my ability?"
"You have a lot of MC but I can't understand what to do with it. I hear voices."
She nodded, "you hear the trees talking to you. If you speak to them back, they may divulge some of their secrets."
"Will they tell me about you?" Sil's age was clear, but he was still really cute. She felt an unexplainable but very strong pull toward him.
"This tree will not. It's loyal to me. Others might but I will answer any question you ask of me. I will never lie to you."
"I know this is your sparring time, but could we go to your room and talk like Vorden and Raten did?"
She nodded and the branches once again placed them in the room.
"I'm sorry, there are no seats in here. I didn't think of that when I formed the tree, so the room is what it is. I have an idea for the next tree house I create. This one, however, has been a very dear friend." She giggled and stroked the walls softly then turned back to look at Sil. She sat on her bed with her back against the wall. "I know it probably seems strange to you."
Sil sat facing her with his hand on her leg. "I'm glad you're not wearing those other boots. You are so beautiful. Do you have any flaws?"
Minx laughed, "Plenty!"
"To answer your question, I have developed the skill to see the aura of people. I can see you in your head because the body contains three distinct auras. It is your aura specifically that captivates me." Her voice dropped a little at the end but not so low he couldn't hear.
"Also, I can see how you have been traumatized in the past just as I have. I'm not asking you to talk to me about it right now. We just met. But I was hoping if we could learn to trust each other, maybe we can help each other through it. Become strong together."
He leaned in and put a finger on her lips fear evident in his eyes. "Let's talk about something else..." He childlike-innocent eyes gazed into her eyes. "You are different, like me. You make my heart race. I feel …strange when I look at you."
She smiled brightly, "I have trouble breathing looking at you. You're so…perfect."
"What is this feeling? Raten and Vorden are yelling at me," Sil said, "I don't understand."
Inside his head, Raten and Vorden both slapped their own foreheads, terror in their eyes, screaming at Sil to stop.
"What we are feeling," Minx gulped, "is the attraction of people who want to …. Do what adults do." She closed her eyes and breathed slowly. "We need to get to know one another before anything like that happens. Vorden also informed me there are dangers from your family and I have danger here. For now, we should talk about what interests us."
"Do you like superheroes? I was hoping grandfather would be one…" his face grew dark. He thought about going back into the back of his head, but he was spellbound.
Minx smiled as light danced in her eyes, "not everyone can be a superhero but looking at your energy, I think you already are."
"You don't think I'm psychotic like him?"
Minx chuckled, "I think a sapling cannot grow in the shadow of a diseased tree. If it grows too close to one, it also becomes diseased. I think I'm blessed that you're here. I also think you need to observe as much as you can, and maybe even talk as much as you can. Establish some nice, deep, and healthy roots."
Sil nodded, "you really like trees. I'm glad they've been there for you."
"Are they taking good care of you? The others?"
She nodded, unable to speak.
"I want you to know you are mine. I don't want others to see you like this. I don't want others touching you." His tone was childish, pouty.
"I want the same from you. If I see another woman touch you, she won't survive the encounter." She said possessively, not knowing what was coming over her.
"With my grandfather, I don't know that I have a future," his voice barely audible, fear dripping from every word, yet, somehow, he was able to voice the words in this moment, with this girl.
Minx nodded, "I understand. I didn't think I would have one either. My time here, though, has made me wonder if it is possible that I may have one. I want it to be happy."
Sil held her close to him, "I want you to have nothing but happy. I will do everything I can to make sure you have that."
She looked him in the eyes. "If we are to keep us a secret, we can only meet in this room. You will need to keep letting Vorden run the show," she giggled, "What do you think I should do with my future?"
"You are more than just a farmer and a cook. Do something grand. Something that uses your ability."
"Part of me thinks I should start my own family, but I don't know that I have the confidence."
"The Botan family? I like it. You have already proven you can do what you set your mind to do. Even if you have to be a traveler for a time, you can do it."
"Will you be going back to your family after we graduate?"
"I will have to. If I don't, he will come for me and people will die. He will find you. He's strong. Really strong. We are all afraid of him. He can hold 5 abilities." He covered his mouth as though he said something he should not have.
"I won't tell anyone. YOU are a secret, of course the things you say will be as well."
She proceeded to listen as he told her his story. How there are two extra people in his head not personalities, how he was raised, and what his life was like back home. She held him and listened to every detail shared. While caressing his cheek, she decided to look at her watch and realized they needed to head back.
As she changed back into her uniform, "I really had fun tonight. I do have to say, though, that I do still need the training. Maybe I can train with Raten then have time with you after? As long as Quinn doesn't need you, that is."
Sil looked at her, "You are very important to me, too, you know."
She giggled excitedly, "You are very important to me, too but Quinn is important. If ever you need my help to help him, I need you to let me know."
Sil smiled, "It would be great if we were all one team."
She grinned, "Time to go."
In his ear, "Thank you for telling your story and it did not defile this sacred place. It blessed it. Trees help heal."
She left first and they both made it to their rooms before curfew. By 5 minutes.