Heyyyyo here’s chapter 5 :D (UPDATED WITH FULL CHAPTER) just click the flag for my little author’s note in the bottom right lol) Last: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/964743561/ Next https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/983987524/ Chapter below! My alarm screeches, I glance at the display. The bright LED lights blind me as I peek through my sleep mask, 7:02 it reads, I hit the snooze button with more than enough force. I dream vividly during that fifteen minute snooze, I’m surrounded by darkness and it's hard to breathe. I choke on the thick air and can’t move then that creature I’d seen earlier appears. Its eyes glow a bright yellow and its fur coat lets off a luminous teal glow. It growls and pounces on me and pain overwhelms me. Heat rushes up my torso and on my arms and a sharp pain hits me across the chest. I’m kicking and screaming, tears rolling down my cheeks. The creature doesn’t stop, the anguish never seems to stop. I bolt awake shaking, I raise a hand to my face to find it damp. I slowly get out of bed, the dream still racing through my mind. I look in the mirror and braid my dirty blonde hair. I throw a sweatshirt and some jean shorts on before I depart my room, eager to start the day. My grandparents don’t wake up until around nine, so I start my morning chores. I’m scrubbing the pan I used to make my eggs when I hear a knock at the door. I shuffle over and swing the door open to see Finn. Next to him stands a boy maybe a year older than Finn leaning against the column on the porch. “Hey,” Finn says, “I know I said I was coming Monday but I thought I would introduce your defender today.” “Defender?” I'm curious about the situation. “Every new student who isn't an element born at Everlore gets assigned a defender. Their job is to make sure that you don’t get killed when you're walking through magical areas or anywhere unsafe and to protect you from threats. They stay in this position until whoever they’re protecting passes their final physical test and proves they can handle themselves out in the world.” “Okay,” I say questionably, “what’s an element born?” “They are born knowing they possess magic and have been training since they were young. They know how to use their magic and most of them know basic fighting techniques.” “Alright,” I continue, “do you guys want to come in for a minute?” I gesture for them to come in and open the door wider. We enter the living room Finn and the other guy sit on the couch, I sit in front of them on a chair. Finn speaks up, “This is Greyson,” he says, "he will help you around tomorrow.” Inside, I can finally get a look at this boy, his hair is a dark brown and his eyes are a stormy gray. He studies me and looks away, I find myself staring at his ears. Finn must have noticed, “Oh, yeah,” he adds, “I forgot to tell you he’s an elf.” I peer at his ears, they are pointed at the ends, but not as noticeable as I would have imagined they would be. “Well don’t make it sound like such a bad thing,” Greyson mumbles as he stands up from the couch and gestures for me to follow him. I give Finn a concerning look as he stands up too. “C’mon,” Finn says, slightly nudging me, a smirk crawling upon his lips, this is the fun part.” “What do you mean?” I ask, longing to know what awaits. Greyson looks at Finn, shrugs and continues to walk. “What do you mean?” I ask again. Neither of them reply and we walk through the forest where that creature had attacked me the day prior. I shiver. We make our way through the dense forest as I blindly follow them past Everlore and into what looks like an airplane hanger. We enter through the side and I gape at the interior. Imagine a hybrid between a gym and a weapon training facility, that's what it looked like. Punching bags, weights, targets to practice shooting and things I can’t even name were present. “Can you please tell me what’s going on,” I ask once more, slightly irritated. “Feisty, aren’t you?” Greyson mumbles. “You haven’t seen anything,” I reply slyly, he finally makes eye contact with me for more than a second, smirks, then looks down.
More below “Okay,” Finn says, speaking up, “we’re going to have a bit of a training session.” “That was a lot nicer than I would’ve framed it,” Greyson interjects, “I basically have to see how hopeless you would be in fighting off an enemy so I know how much I need to save your rear.” “And no magic,” Finn adds, “not that you would know how to control or use it by now.” Greyson smirks, then walks over to the shooting range, “Grab a bow,” he says, “do your best to hit the bullseye, or at least the target.” A small smirk creeps upon his face as I grab a bow, string the arrow and aim; I hit the target about 4 rings below the bullseye. “Not bad,” he says, “now hit the target,” he says leaning in close to whisper. It takes 7 tries to finally hit the bullseye, and I barely do. “Ever used a sword or dagger before?” Greyson asks. “No,” I reply. ”Perfect,” he says sarcastically, “this should be fun then.” He teaches me how to hold the sword and the proper swinging techniques then lets me have at it on the dummy. I feel his presence behind me, his eyes scanning me, looking at my every move. He approaches me from behind, “May I?” he asks, his hand hovering close to my arm holding the sword. I nod. My breath hitches as he uses his hand to guide my arm in a swing, his face hovering close to mine, heat rushes to my cheeks. He lets go, “There’s definitely potential,” he tells me, “you just need practice.” I look at Finn, he’s not watching me but watching Greyson’s every move, every motion. His eyes eventually find mine as he tilts his head and smiles, “Last drill darling,” he says before following Greyson over to a large mat. “Any combat skill?” Greyson asks. “None,” I say, crossing my arms. The lighting here is much better, I finally study Greyson closely. His piercing gray eyes and tall, muscular build face me as he runs his hand through his deep brown hair, his ears pointed just enough to tell that he really is an elf. “Alright,” he says, “I’ll go easy on you since it's your first time but I’m going to come at you. This is hand-to-hand combat, nothing more. Your goal is for me to not be successful in pinning you down cause if I did in real life you’d probably be dead,” he says with a smile. “Ready?” I nod, I’m not ready, when have I ever been ready, this is all too new, too foreign. Suddenly I’m dodging blows left and right retreating as Greyson approaches nearer and nearer. I dodge a punch but Greyson knocks my legs out from behind and I fall on my back. Greyson leans over me, “Well, at least you’re fast,” he says helping me up, “but you’d still be dead,” he finishes smiling more.
