37 (Special) Training

---- (King Zander) "It's her, isn't it? The one you've been looking for?"

Liana blushed as she nodded. ----

(Queen Adelia) "That's wonderful, dear."

Although her tone said that she knew that that wasn't the whole story, she didn't push it.

*

Their conversation was much lighter for the rest of the meal. After they finished, Lillian and Liana led the King and Queen to the building next to the Great Hall, specially designed for important guests. Robyn and Ruby, along with Liz, had gone back to their assigned house. Kristen had gone back to her own Empire, saying that she'd return in the morning. They hadn't put Liana there since she was alone, and earlier Lillian had offered to move her over to stay with her parents, but Liana rejected the offer, saying that she was comfortable where she was. If she had another reason or not, that's up to you to decide.

(Lillian) "You should rest early. We will talk in the morning."

If it were anyone but Lillian, the King and Queen wouldn't stand someone talking to them like that. But it was Lillian, and they simply nodded before heading into the house. As they entered it, King Zander turned around and asked,

(King Zander) "There's something more, isn't there?"

He got his answer from the look on Lillian's face.

(King Zander) "Don't hurt her."

Lillian smiled and replied softly,

(Lillian) "I would rather myself than her."

Her sentence would have been really confusing to anyone but King Zander, but he simply nodded and entered the house after his Queen.

*

(Liana) "What was that about?"

Liana had been waiting slightly further away from the house as Lillian spoke to King Zander, and was unable to hear their interaction, only being able to tell that they exchanged words. The reason she stayed slightly behind was that she could feel that her father wanted to say something to Lillian but wouldn't if she was around. Why she thought Lillian would tell her is for you to figure out yourself… Lillian simply smiled and said,

(Lillian) "Your father simply wanted to make sure his daughter was safe."

Liana blushed lightly and didn't ask any further questions.

*

(Lillian) "Since it's still early, would you like to do some training before we head to bed?"

Liana thought for a moment, then nodded.

(Liana) "Sure. We can train using our powers again."

They had tried before but decided that it was too risky until they took the proper measures to ensure their safety and that of others around them. Lillian nodded and led the way to the training hall they had designated for their special training.

*

When they got there, Lillian snapped her fingers and four people wearing cloaks appeared in front of them, but with the hoods down. Liana recognized Elena and Rose, but there were two others she didn't: a brown-haired girl and a blond guy.

(Lillian) "These two are Jasmine and James. Jasmine is another of my personal bodyguards. They will be joining Elena and Rose as guards in case anything happens."

Liana guessed that Lillian actually meant in case she loses control but decided not to say anything about it and simply nodded.

(Lillian) "Elena and Jasmine will be inside, James and Rose outside."

Now Liana knew that Lillian was more afraid of herself losing control than anything. From a skill she had, she knew that Elena and Jasmine were the more powerful pair of the four. Still, she didn't say anything and simply walked inside the training hall to wait for Lillian to be done giving instructions to her guards. This also gave her the opportunity to examine the training hall. She had not had a chance to see it since Lillian had changed it to be for their special training.

(Lillian) "Do you like it?"

Liana turned to face Lillian, who had finished with her guards and walked up behind Liana. Liana smiled and replied,

(Liana) "It's nice."

Lillian grinned as she gestured towards the walls.

(Lillian) "I had some of my Elites put spells on the walls, along with my own, so that no matter how hard you hit the walls, it won't break. There is also a silencing spell, but it's an optional setting."

Liana raised an eyebrow. She hadn't been aware that there were such things as spells being optional settings.

(Robyn) "That would be Lillian for you."

Liana spun round to face Robyn, who was bored and decided to drop in to see how their training was going. As for how she knew they were going to train, as it wasn't even planned, that can be blamed on one of her skills.

(Liana) "Um… why are you here?"

Liana glanced at Lillian, who simply shrugged in response.

(Robyn) "I was bored, and Liz and Ruby are too suffocating to be around at the moment."

Liana giggled softly but didn't comment otherwise.

(Liana) "So… what are we going to be doing, exactly?"

Lillian thought for a moment.

(Lillian) "You're wearing your stealth suit, right?"

Liana nodded. It had become a habit for her to wear it even when she wasn't having training, as she was so used to it, and because of the spells on it she could wear it under her clothes and be able to forget it was there. Though, she wouldn't be able to forget it was there, not with the setting she used.

(Liana's thoughts) 'Oh. That makes so much more sense.'

It had just occurred to Liana that the spells on the stealth suits were optional setting spells. Lillian giggled softly at the look on Liana's face along with her thoughts, making both Robyn and Liana look at her with their eyes wide and mouths slightly agape.

(Lillian) "What?"

(Robyn) "In the seven years or so that I've known you, I've never heard you giggle before. And now you just randomly giggle at something Liana thought of? Wow she really must be a big influence on you."

Robyn wisely did not say what kind of influence it was that she thought Liana was on Lillian. Not that she thought Liana was being a bad influence but saying either would've gotten her onto Lillian's bad side.

(Liana) "Yeah… I know I haven't known you that long, but hearing you giggle like that… it's just— wow."

The rest of her words were sent straight to Lillian's mind, making the taller girl blush. Robyn smirked at the blush on Lillian's face, but didn't say anything about it and instead said,

(Robyn) "I'm just going to sit at one side and watch you guys."

With that, she walked off to a corner of the room and…

(Liana's thoughts) 'Stuck herself to the wall?'

(Liana) "What… is she doing?"

Lillian followed her gaze up to see Robyn make a sort of chair that seemed to just be floating in mid-air near the wall.

(Lillian) "She's… being Robyn."

And with that, she gave Robyn's actions no more thought and simply asked,

(Lillian) "What do you want to start with first?"

Liana shrugged.

(Liana) "I guess we should start with mastering the powers we know we have first, then find out the rest."

Lillian nodded in assent.

(Liana) "Why don't you try to turn into your wolf form, then? You mentioned that you don't have any control over when you turn, and it seems like a good place to start."

Lillian had a wary look on her face but nodded. She knew what she looked like as a wolf and started to imagine herself as the wolf. At first it seemed like nothing was happening, then she felt the same pain she always felt when she was turning, but, weaker. But the pain grew more intense and she was finding it harder and harder to concentrate, even dropping to her knees in front of a very concerned Liana. The pain was so strong that she blacked out, and her last thought was simply that she hoped she didn't hurt Liana.

(Lillian's thoughts) 'I don't remember it ever being this painful, not even the first…'

*

Liana didn't move, not knowing whether it always happened, or even what to do to comfort her. There was also probably the fact that Lillian was growing fur and slowly morphing into a black wolf before her very eyes. When Lillian was a full wolf, Liana knew something was off. When the wolf looked up at her, she knew Lillian wasn't in full control.

(Liana's thoughts) 'If she's not in control, then what, or who is?'

She didn't get her answer as the wolf pounced at her, but Liana was quick on her feet and dodged to the side. Elena and Jasmine, seeing the movement, ran over, but Liana held out a hand and gestured for them to stay where they were. Elena and Jasmine shared a look, both having received the same orders from Lillian. Eventually they decided to obey Liana's order and simply watched, following the wolf's every move, ready to move at a moment's notice.

(Liana) "Lillian, it's me."

Her voice seemed to have triggered something in the wolf, making her ears stand at attention, but she was still in a crouching position, ready to pounce. Liana took a deep breath and tried to use her powers.

(Liana) "Down."

The wolf seemed to respond to it and laid down with her head on her paws. Liana stepped forward and the wolf's eyes changed colour, from an almost glowing red to a striking silver.

(Liana's thoughts) 'Finally.'

*

Suddenly, the pain went away, and Lillian looked up at a very cautious looking Liana.

(Lillian's thoughts) 'Wait… up?'

Lillian stood up from the lying down position she was in. Lillian had never been fully conscious when she was a wolf, and the sensation of being on all fours, along with fur all over her body, was completely new to her. She turned her head to the side and saw her tail behind her. It was wagging rapidly, betraying her happiness to anyone around. Well, anyone who could see her, at least.

(Liana) "Lillian, is that you?"

Lillian barked, then realised she couldn't talk in her wolf form, but Liana seemed to understand all the same. A smile spread across Liana's lips, and she braced herself for impact as Lillian pounced at her. Elena and Jasmine's eyes widened, but they realised that it was Lillian, and she was simply playing around, not trying to harm Liana and relaxed, moving back into their original positions next to the door.

Liana giggled as the wolf licked all over her face.

(Liana) "Lillian, stop!"

Lillian huffed into Liana's face, embracing the wolf's nature, but being able to fully control it. She got off of Liana and allowed her to sit up before lying down next to Liana and laying her head on her lap. Liana gently stroked Lillian's furry head, remembering the time when she and Liz had gone to find Lillian.

Lillian simply closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Liana's hands stroking her fur, especially when she moved to scratch behind her ears. Liana, on the other hand, was simply enjoying the feel of Lillian's fur on her fingers. When she moved her hand to behind Lillian's ears, she heard and felt the wolf rumble once again.

(Lillian, through mind-link to Liana) "Thank you. I'm certain I couldn't have gotten full control if you weren't here."

She had had no idea what had happened when she blacked out, but guessed, noting the way Elena and Jasmine were standing, and the way they reacted when she pounced on Liana. Liana smiled and replied,

(Liana) "I disagree. It would probably have taken longer, but you would still have managed to get it under control."

She thought for a moment, then said,

(Liana) "Also, my powers seem to work on you, at least in wolf form."

Lillian wasn't surprised by this fact. The original Wolf Empress was a master of all beasts and able to change into any beast form at will, which the original Fire Queen was a master of all magic. On the other hand, Lillian was able to change into any beast at will, but not fully able to control it, while also being a master of all magic. Liana was a master of all beasts, along with having really powerful magic, second only to Lillian herself.

Lillian suspected that she'd only be able to fully control her beast forms, wolf and others, if Liana was there. Which led to a problem. If her suspicion was correct, it meant that apart from Liana, Lillian wouldn't be able to control herself.

(Lillian's thoughts) 'I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.'

Not wanting to overthink it, Lillian pushed it to the back of her mind and concentrated on the feel of Liana's hand on her head, playing with her fur. Lillian growled softly when Liana's hand left her head, not even realising she was doing it.

(Liana) "Don't growl at me. We have to continue training. Just because you can turn into a wolf doesn't mean you've mastered it."

Lillian's wolf ears pressed against her head as she knew Liana was right.

(Liana) "I know, I enjoyed it too. Maybe we can do that another time, when we're not supposed to be training."

Lillian growled but imagined herself as a human, and surprisingly, succeeded almost instantly. She turned back to a human with no other complications, and thankfully, no extra pain.

(Lillian) "It hurt so much. I hope it doesn't hurt that much every time I have to shift, or else I'd rather just stay─"

She cut off her words, remembering something that made her face turn red. Liana chuckled, not even needing to use the bond to be able to guess what she was thinking of.

(Liana) "I guess it's my turn, then?"

Lillian nodded and thought for a moment.

(Lillian) "Well, we know you can control birds and well, me, when I'm in my wolf form, but that time with the birds was because you were panicking. Do you think you can do it again?"

After a moment, she added,

(Lillian) "And… just one, please."

Liana laughed and nodded. Closing her eyes to concentrate, Liana contacted the closest bird she could detect. Which just so happened to be an Eagle.

The bird of prey flew in through an open window at the top of the training hall and landed gently on Liana's outstretched arm.

(Lillian) "Why is it that when you have to do it, there's no difficulty at all, but when I do it, it takes so much effort?"

Her words made it seem like she was complaining, but Liana recognized it as Lillian trying to make a joke, saying it playfully.

(Liana) "Well, you did get more power than I did from the original two Queens. And we both know that the more power we have, the harder it is to control."

Lillian blushed at the smile on Liana's face. Liana stroked the bird for a few moments, then released it back out.