Students and Moon

Chapter 22

Part 1 - Students

Three boys and a girl, most older than me, stand lined up outside the animal pen. Their facial markings differ. They all look at me. One of the older ones steps forward, his two markings lined straight down from his eyes, and speaks for them:
“Iris, I am Klen. We were all moved from what you showed us yesterday—from what you said. Please, we would like you to train us.”

He has a tough expression like the rest, all young and hopeful. Though, he is taller and bigger than me, making me feel ridiculous as they look at me with such respect.

“Wait. I didn’t really think I would be the one to train you…” I answer them with hesitation.

They look confused.

“Isn’t that what you suggested?” The girl asks me.

“I just thought that we would train together. Also, I think Dima here would be a much better teacher than me,” I tell them and look to Dima.

“Actually, I think you should be the one, Iris,” Dima says.

“Why? You have way better fighting technique than I do,” I tell him.

“Maybe, but, you understand the power better than anyone. Besides, you might be the key for others to be able to use it,” Dima says with a smirk.

I can see that he is enjoying my uncomfortable situation. I look back at the young people in front of me. They are still looking at me with such hope.

“What are your names?” I ask them.

They all answer:
“Ivar.”
“Felix.”
“Sigrid.”

Dima, Stella and I walk into Astrid's and Callum's home at the end of the day. I’ve spent hours answering the curious Avi’s questions about my powers. What does it feel like? Are you really strong? Can you see further? It just kept going… I’m exhausted as I sit down next to the warming hearth. Astrid has prepared dinner for us once again, they have treated us like family ever since we arrived. Stella goes to help Astrid with the cooking and Dima sits down next to me. He chuckles, after looking at me.

“You better keep helping me out, I can’t deal with all of them,” I tell him.

“Sure, but I don’t know if it will help,” he answers me.

“Here you go,” Astrid says as she hands us the filled wooden bowls and pieces of bread.

“Thank you, Astrid, we really appreciate it,” Dima says with a smile as we receive the food.

“Of course, it’s the least I can do. Thank you all for helping around the village, I know it means a lot for the villagers,” she answers and thanks us.

Stella sits down and says:
“You know, Iris has found some students,” she tells Astrid, smirking at me.

Even though she is teasing me, she still looks innocently cute, making me smile.

“Oh, have you now? That’s wonderful! It was just a matter of time after what you did yesterday. You have truly brought a new hope to our village,” she flatters me.

“Please, I haven't done anything yet. Also—after making it into such a big deal, I still don’t know how I will teach them. I barely understand it myself,” I tell them all, dropping my head in discouragement.

Stella peeks under my vision and says:
“Well, how about thinking back to when you first felt the power?”

The memories of the first times aren't pleasant ones; when we were caught as I rescued the siblings, when we desperately saved the Danar woman and children from slavers, and when I almost lost my life to the beast in the jungle. It’s impossible to replicate. But now that I think about it, that wasn't the first time I felt it. The first time, I was practicing with my spear. I still remember the sensation; alone in the jungle with only the trees surrounding me, my only focus was the target in front. My head was clear and the nature around me was so present. Maybe it was hunger, maybe it was loneliness, something triggered my strength.

“I was living in the jungle when I first came to this world. Fighting for my survival, I was desperate to stay alive. It was that desperation that first sparked the power. I don’t know how to push them that far,” I tell them, lost in thought.

“Then, how about taking them out in the mountains with you?” Dima asks me.

“You mean, just me and them?” I ask him.

“That’s a great idea! That way you can figure it out together, just as you did back then,” Stella agrees with Dima.

The thought of being responsible for them all nerves me, but it isn’t a bad idea. Giving them the chance to fend for themselves, getting a sense of that desperation.

Elda and Heins finally walk in, together with Callum and the kids.

“Welcome back, there is soup and bread for you,” Astrid says and smiles.

“Thank you! I’m starving!” Elda says in a tired exhale.

“Where were you guys?” Dima asks them.

“Elda was helping me in the field, she is a real work horse,” Callum says and laughs.

Elda just collapses from the exhaustion next to us.

“I was with the crafter, Patrick introduced us. They have a small forge and an anvil you know. I was discussing with Patrick about finding some ore, he told me there is an old mine west of the village. I might go check it out with him tomorrow,” Heins explains in excitement.

They all get a bowl each and we sit together. After eating, Elda and Heins immediately fall asleep next to the warm fire. It fills me with joy seeing them this comfortable. The most peaceful I’ve felt since coming to this world. A place that could be called home. The people around me feel like family. Dima yawns and stretches his arms into the air.

“Well, I’m going to sleep too. Goodnight,” he says as he lies down on the hide.

“Goodnight,” I respond.

Stella is helping Astrid and Callum with the last dishes before they climb up to the loft. Eventually, she sits down across from me at the hearth with everyone sleeping around us.

She looks into the fire with her head resting on her hand. The light reflects in her eyes.

“You're not going to sleep?” I ask her.

“Not yet,” she says, still looking into the fire, fiddling with the furry carpet with her toes.

I swallow, trying not to stare too much, and say quietly:
“Then. Do you maybe… want to go for a walk?”

She turns her eyes to me, her lips lift, and she answers:
“I would love to.”

Part 2 - Moon

She walks in front of me on the pebble village road. Her white hair swings back and forth with her hands behind her back. Our footsteps crunch with each step. I hadn’t said anything yet, she hasn’t either. We walk in silence through the quiet village. With everything so silent, it feels normal not to speak, like you would otherwise disturb the peace of this mountain valley. As we come to the small stream, where we sat down the other day, the wind breezes through and sways the crops. The moon is wide and bright above the mountain peaks, lighting up the fields. The many stars fill the sky.

She sits down in the grass. Turning her head to me, she pats the ground next to her, telling me to come join her. I’m afraid that she would hear my loud heartbeat as it pounds in my chest as I sit down. We both look at the view, taking in its beauty. I wonder what kind of expression she is making, I want to see. Sneakily, I try to catch a glimpse, but as I do, she also looks at me. Her green eyes stare straight into mine.

She opens her rosy lips.

“Why do you think we have different eye colors?” she asks me.

It takes a second for me to register her question, before I clear my throat and try to act normal.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s just pure chance,” I say.

“After hearing that you Avi are descended from the Mir, I kept thinking about; what if the Avi prince was born with the only difference being those purple eyes,” she says, looking back into the fields.

It’s once again quiet. We are right next to each other. I notice that she brushes her arms as a wind gust passes by.

“Are you cold?” I ask her.

“A little,” she answers.

I take off my hide jacket and try to put it around her shoulders.

“No, it’s fine,” she says.

“Take it,” I smile at her and insist.

“Thank you,” she says as I put it over her.

Her ears turn a little red as she brushes her hair behind them.

“I’m glad that the eyes were purple,” I tell her.

“Why?” she asks, with a giggle.

“Because you called them beautiful,” I say and look at the glowing moon, thinking back to when I first saw her.

I feel something warm wrap around my hand in the grass. Her soft fingers go across the rough skin. I look at her, she is not looking back. Her cheeks are red and her gaze is faced forward.

My heart stops, I instinctively move closer to her.

“We should head back,” she says, slowly letting go of my hand and turning around with her red ears.

“Mm, we should,” I say.

The next day, Klen, Ivar. Felix, Leo and Sigrid all stand before me. I have told them that we are heading on a small trip into the mountains. I warned them that it will be tough, we will not be bringing any food or water. Just my blade at my hip and our own strength. Still, none of them backed down, they all told me that they were ready to go any time.

“This is the last chance to back out. I will not go easy on you—honestly, I don’t know how to. I have never taught anyone before, all I can do is to show you the hardships that I went through,” I tell them, feeling like I'm rambling.

Felix steps up with his slender build and short hair, he has two markings along his cheekbones and one down his forehead.

“We know that it won’t be easy. All I want… is to protect this village,” he says.

I know that they have been through a lot already, like most Avi have. It is unfair to say that their hardships were any easier than mine. Hopefully, they can use it.

“Don’t take too long,” Heins says as they all meet us to say goodbye at the village edge.

“Yeah, otherwise Callum will work me to death,” Elda says.

I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re right, I’ll try my best,” I tell them.

“We will be back in no time, this time only stronger,” Klen says with encouraging confidence.

“I hope so. We need you all here to protect the others. Keep that in mind,” Dima says, really putting pressure on them.

They gulp and nod. I think they feel lucky not to have the cynical Dima as their teacher.

Stella stands with them all but hasn’t said anything yet. She is being oddly quiet. I really hope she doesn’t feel awkward from yesterday…

“Good luck!” Dima says as they all walk off.

“See you soon!” I smile and wave back with the others.

We head towards the mountain. I keep peeking back to Stella. Eventually I see her stop and turn around towards me. I stop too, the others as well.

“Sorry, I’ll catch up,” I tell them, before I walk back to her.

“What is it?” I ask her, standing in front of her.

She is looking down on her shoes. Suddenly she reaches out her hand, pinching my jacket.

“Don’t be gone too long,” she tells me, looking up at me.

“I won’t,” I tell her with a smile.