Guidance

"That tickles." Trisphyra giggled.

"Hold still, little one. We're almost done."

Liluth, one of the members of the Elder council, was inspecting the child's back. They'd been in the council hall for over an hour, drilling Trisphyra with questions about what had happened that day. Unfortunately, the attention span of a five year old is slim and no concrete answers were given. She was more interested in what Liluth was doing. Ishan was pulling his beard, looking at the child expectantly. When Yvonus had told him that she'd sensed something in the magical woods of Elandorr, his hope arose. Ever since Trisphyra had arrived, all mages and guards had reported back that they sensed the forest growing more active. Creatures they hadn't seen for decades suddenly appeared once again, good and bad. He'd only been waiting for Trisphyra to respond to it herself, and this could be it.

"There's something there, Master." Liluth confirmed, "But I can't quite reach it."

"Maybe it was only a shallow spark?" Aaliyah wondered, twirling the staff in her hand, "Maybe it's too early."

"It wasn't a shallow spark!" Yvonus who'd stood idle by, joined the conversation, "She woke up Aldertrunk, for goodness sake. Master Ibarin, there has to be something you can do."

The old man shook his head, "It is one thing guiding the magical core of a living being, but awakening it is an entirely different matter."

"I saw Guprix Lombard talk to her before I arrived. Maybe he has an idea?"

Liluth scoffed, "Now he shows an interest all of sudden?"

Ishan's eyes softened, "You saw Guprix?"

"Probably up to no good, as usual." She continued but stayed silent when she saw the way Ishan was looking at her.

Yvonus cleared his throat, "He might know something we've overlooked. He's an expert on Luna'Celesia, after all. I don't think it's a coincidence that he came to her."

"Lombard is an excellent teacher but I have to express my concern on what he wants with the girl." Aaliyah pointed out, "Has he let go of his previous failures, or is this an attempt to get what he didn't achieve all those years ago?"

"Are you questioning Guprix's loyalty?" Ishan asked, clearly hurt by her statement.

"His absence five years ago certainly has me wondering, Master."

"I like Mr. Lombard." Trisphyra dared to say, "He was nice and he looks like me."

There was silence. The principal looked at his colleagues, "Perhaps we owe him the benefit of the doubt this time."

Aaliyah and Liluth didn't answer, but Yvonus nodded, "I'll go get him."

"Did Mr. Lombard do something bad?" The child asked.

The red headed woman smiled, "I'm afraid it's a bit complicated, my sweet. He'll have to explain that to you later, if he wants."

A few minutes passed before Yvonus opened the door, allowing the elven teacher to enter. He was greeted with a stern look from everyone in the council and couldn't help but smirk ever so slightly.

"Master." He bowed to Ishan and proceeded to look at the two ladies, "Aaliyah. Liluth. Didn't think I'd ever receive another invitation to this hall again."

He smiled at Trisphyra, who was looking at him with joy.

"You were with Trisphyra when the awakening occurred?" Aaliyah asked.

The smile faded from his face, "Just after. She was talking to Aldertrunk in the field behind the old lounge at the Merge."

Liluth was the next one to speak, "And did you sense anything from her?"

"Not at first, but upon closer look I tracked the mana within her and it has begun to flow, if only ever so slightly."

"Strange, I barely sense anything." She muttered in defeat.

"Hehe." Gurpix grinned, "There's a reason for that."

He looked at Trisphyra and pulled something out from his pocket, "Catch."

With a careful toss, the child was able to grab the object. She inspected it. A small rock with a bluish hue. As she held it in her hand she suddenly felt a rush of energy within her. The rock burst into a bright light and she dropped it accidently. The council member watched as the child herself began to glow and the ground beneath started to rumble. Cracks formed in the stone walls and the wind raced, blasting the windows open. Trisphyra let out a scream as she got scared by everything that happened. Yvonus rushed to her side and took her in his arms.

"What in the eleven hells is happening?" Liluth yelled.

Guprix simply smiled at her as he tried to keep his balance.

"Quilda!" Ishan stomped his staff in the ground and the earth settled. Everything stopped shaking till eventually everything looked the same, except for the glowing elf in Yvonus embrace.

"It's alright, Tris. You're safe." He spoke softly. The light from the child began to fade as she calmed down. Her eyes opened and she looked to the elders.

"What did you do?" Liluth asked.

Guprix picked up the rock from the floor and held it up for everyone to see, "This is a moonstone, from the goddess herself."

"Where did you find that?"

"At the temple of Ithilunar." He turned to Aaliyah, "See? My expedition wasn't such a failure after all."

She glared back at him, "And what exactly did you want to prove with all this?"

Guprix tossed the rock up in the air and caught it again, "Trisphyra's magical essence reacts to objects from her mother, not too surprising."

"So, we can expect this to happen whenever-"

"No, no. Of course not. She'll have to be introduced in small amounts until she learns to control it. At least, that's what I believe."

"This is very risky, Master." Liluth turned to Ishan, "How do we know this won't happen out in the yard or in the classroom?"

The old principal scratched his beard, "I agree. Trisphyra's powers are unpredictable, even this early in its stage. Further supervision is required and perhaps-" He turned to Guprix, "A personal teacher needs to be installed."

Lombard stayed silent. He tried to hide the fact that he was excited about the idea. Finally something of importance that he'd get to do.

Suddenly the doors swung open, "Where is she?!" A familiar voice echoed through the hall. Matilda ran into the middle of the room, "I know you took her! What happened? Where is she?" She froze when she laid her eyes on Guprix, "You."

"Hello, Lady Matilda."

"Oh, don't lady me."

"Matilda!" Trisphyra yelled from within Yvonus' arms, "I'm here."

The gnome's eyes grew wide. The little girl was smiling but she was pale and clearly exhausted.

"Oh, my darling! What have they done to you?!" She grabbed both cheeks and inspected the elf closely, not minding the giant council member cradling her.

"I think I did magic." Trisphyra whispered.

"Clearly too much of it! You're cold as ice, child!" Matilda pointed to Ishan, "You said you'd wait until she was ready!"

"She very clearly is, Lady Matilda." Guprix implied.

"I know you, Lombard. Don't you dare rip her apart like some-"

"The fact is-" Ishan interrupted, "I've decided to make Master Lombard Trisphyra's new teacher."

"Master?" Guprix sounded surprised.

Ishan nodded, "He's proven very knowledgeable. Given his history with the moon goddess herself, I could think of no one better. Does anyone disagree?"

Matilda was about to object but stopped herself. She turned to Trisphyra who was looking at her with big eyes. The child was not quite sure what was going on, that much was clear. Matilda knew she had to do this right. She grabbed Trisphyras hand, "Come now, child. We need to get you a bath and warm you up."

Tris climbed out of Yvonus' arms. The gnome led her through the room and everyone was watching.

"You settle what you need to do." She ordered, "I'll take care of her." And with one last look at Guprix, she said, "Be gentle with her, old friend. She needs kindness more than anything else."

They left the hall as Aaliyah turned to Ishan, "Are you sure about this, Master?"

He sighed, "I am not sure about anything when it comes to that girl."

"I won't fail, Master." Guprix answered, "Not this time. I promise you."

Yvonus walked up to him, "If you break her, I swear I'll-"

"Poudstride!" Isha stopped him, "I believe Wrismov is expecting you in the Wastes. You better get going."

The tall man grumbled in annoyance before he conjured up a portal and disappeared. Guprix let out a sigh of relief. Both Liluth and Aaliyah went out the door, leaving only Ishan and his pupil on their own.

"You could have handled that a bit better, do you not think so?" Asked the old principal. The elf snorted, "You said you always like my direct approach to things."

"You are dealing with a child this time, and not just any child, remember?"

"How could I ever forget."

"Guprix." He placed his hand on the elf's shoulder, "Do not let your own failures guide your intentions with this girl."

He scoffed and pushed away the hand, "I'll see to it that she never makes the same mistakes I did."

"I never blamed you for what happened to Zoraya."

"You're the only one who sees it that way, Master. Had I only been more observant, if I had guided her more sternly perhaps things wouldn't have turned out the way they did. The empress would've been alive… along with her empire."

Ishan shook his head and raised his staff to mend the cracks in the walls, "I've seen many kingdoms rise and fall during my lifetime, old friend. There's never just a single reason to blame for its downfall."

"Yet it feels that way."

Guprix thought back on his time of servitude for the Empress. The last to have led all of Emteria under a unified banner. The last time this world had known peace, over a century ago. Arathorn had sent him to oversee her rule. He was so efficient that Zoraya even took him in as an advisor and with time he almost became a father figure to her. Her sudden demise came as a shock to everyone and the empire quickly fell apart afterwards. Guprix had been blamed by the council despite the fact that he'd expressed concern surrounding the Empress' new husband at previous times, but with time he too began to only blame himself. He wouldn't make the same mistake with Trisphyra. He'd see to it that she grew into the powerful demigod Arathorn wanted her to be. That way he'd show them all what he was truly capable of.

"Is Guprix going to be my new teacher?" Trisphyra asked as she was sitting in the bath. Matilda was searching through the cupboards for something to add to the water, "It would seem so. You won't be sitting in the daycare class any longer."

"Does that mean I won't see you anymore?"

"Oh, you will. Just not as often, I suppose."

Trisphyra looked down in the water, a bit sad. The gnome walked to the edge of the tub and poured bathing oil in the water. She smiled and rubbed the child's cheek, "Don't worry. You're going to have your hands full. Guprix is going to teach you a lot."

"Is he a good teacher?"

"Many say so. Him and I were in the same grade some time ago. He was always very snarky and liked to show off, but he was good. Very good."

"I think you're a good teacher too, Matilda." She said with a smile.

"You're too kind. Magic is something I cannot teach you, however." She chuckled and began to wash Trisphyra's long hair.

"Mr. Lombard said the rock he gave me came from my mother. Will my mother help me?"

"In her own way. The bond between a mother and her child is a strong one. You'll come to see you have many things in common with her and the more you reconnect, the stronger your magic will become."

"Really?"

"Oh, I know so, sweetheart."

She finished up the bath and dressed the child for bed. The moonlight lit up the room the way it did ever since Trisphyra moved in there. Matilda caressed her cheek, "It's going to be an exciting new adventure for you."

"I'm going to miss you, Matilda."

"We'll see each other again soon. You'll see. Now sleep well, little moon."

She waited for the gnome to exit her room and even a little while after. Once it was quiet, she sat up in her bed and reached for a drawer just beside it. Inside was an object she cherished very much even though she knew very little about it. She only knew it came from her mother.

Trisphyra looked at the necklace with new eyes. The white crystal glowed faintly. She'd never put it on because she was afraid she might lose it, but now she thought back on the energy she'd felt when she touched the stone. Matilda had said this necklace was a gift from her mother, so maybe it could do the same thing?

She grabbed the silver chain and walked up to the mirror in the corner of her room. The reflection of herself looked back at her. She wondered how much she looked like her mother. Did she have the same skin tone as her? Was her hair just as soft and long?

The crystal dangled in her hand, reflecting the moonlight from outside. She closed her eyes and held her breath as she put it on, expecting something to happen. As she placed it around her neck, everything was still. She looked at herself in the mirror again, the necklace was quite big for her yet. Trisphyra was a bit confused at first but then she remembered and turned to look out the window.

"I guess you were the one they were talking about and not…" She sighed and looked at the crystal. There were no portraits of any of her family members to be found in her room. She'd always wondered what they were like. The gem in her hand suddenly went dark as a large shadow covered the entire window. She looked up and saw a pair of large golden eyes gazing down on her. The creature exhaled and fogged up the outside of the window. For some reason, Trisphyra wasn't scared. Instead, she walked up to the glass with her mouth wide open. She'd never seen such a large creature before.

"It was you. I saw it." Carefully, she opened the window. Its giant scaly head couldn't fit through it but it allowed Trisphyra to feel that warm gust of wind again, created from the dragon's breath. Upon closer look, she could clearly see its silver skin, covered in moss and plants. She understood now why she hadn't seen it in the forest earlier.

"Are… Are you Ildria?"

The giant dragon bellowed in response before it took off into the sky and disappeared. She giggled out of excitement and clapped her hands. The door to her room opened, "Uh, my Lady? You should be in bed." A guard with Arathorn's classic, silver plated helmet peeked inside.

"A dragon! I saw a dragon!" She exclaimed. The man entered, looking around as if he expected to see the creature inside the room, "There are no dragons in Arathorn."

"But I saw one! It was huuuge and it had silver scales! Just there!" She pointed to the window. The guard simply laughed and picked her up, "You must have been dreaming, my Lady."

He tucked her back into her bed and left the room. Trisphyra crossed her arms in frustration, "I wasn't dreaming. It was there."

She looked at the crystal hanging around her neck. It had started to glow again as the moonlight reached it. Trisphyra held it against her chest, "Please come see me soon, mother. I wanna tell you about the dragon."

Grasping the gem in her hand, the child soon dozed off, but before her eyes closed completely, she felt the sensation of someone caressing her forehead. A warm, soft hand that somehow felt familiar.

Only a mumble escaped her lips before the exhaustion took hold of her, "Mother…"