Chapter 7

Helga got up and retrieved her arrows. She then headed home, at a slow pace of course. She had no intention of seeing any more flesh today. Sirens are the slowest among tera when it comes to regenerating. However, her wing was taking longer than usual to heal. Normally flames heal faster than this. She stopped closed her eyes and began the meditation breathing Lilith taught her when she awoke a few years ago. Focusing on her wing to speed up the process. After it was healed her wings disappeared back into her body. She then hurried home. As she got home she stopped by her grandparent's cabin and made sure they didn't need anything before returning home.

As she walked in she smelled something delicious cooking. Having nothing, but bread in her cabin she wondered where he got it. Surely it wasn't from their pens, because she checked them before coming in.

"What are you making?" Helga asked.

"On the way back I found a deer-like creature. I was hungry so I took it down. I'm getting the hang of taking my claws out. Thank you for letting me stay here. The hut Lilith left me is nice, but I just wanna be close to them. Only for a few more days then I promise to leave." Sven replied.

"It's okay I understand, no reason to thank me. It's called a reindeer by the way idiot." Helga said before laughing at him

Sven had never heard her laugh before. She seems a lot more friendly now that they sparred. He thought she was gonna be mad about him burning her wing. He isn't sure how hard it is for the others to heal.

"I've never seen a deer that big, or with antlers like that! This whole place seems off. Where are we anyway?" Sven asked.

"Oh, I thought Lilith told you. Well, she isn't very talkative so I'm not surprised. This is Greenland, but since we're on the subject where are you from?" Responded Helga.

"I was living in a small farming community in England. " Sven said quickly.

Helga could tell he was avoiding the subject. It was clearly still a sensitive matter.

"If you ever wanna talk about what happened you can. I lost people I cared about to with my awakening if Lilith didn't show up it would've been worse. Anyway about the training earlier. I never meant to take it that far. If I'm being honest I didn't expect you to get out of that. You could've died because of me. I just got angry being hurt by someone younger than me. I've trained very hard ever since I was I kid to become a strong shieldmaiden, and never lost to anyone my age at my old home. My temper still needs a lot of work. That's no excuse though." Helga said sincerely.

They went on to eat together, and talk for a while before Sven took a quick nap. She mentioned having to teach him something important later tonight so to be sure to rest a little. Sven woke up and he noticed it was dark outside. It was two hours later, and Sven didn't see Helga anywhere. He went out looking for her outside, but couldn't see her anywhere. Noticing the footsteps in the snow heading towards the trail he assumed she was waiting at the training ground from yesterday. He hurried along worried he might upset her again since he was late. She's a lot easier to be around when she's happy. Finally, he caught up with her.

"Hey, so what are we doing out here so late? You said something about teaching me tonight." Sven asked eager to become stronger.

"You need to meditate under the full moon tonight, it helps the first time trying this. Once you learn how to do this it will be easier to focus your healing. Earlier today you could've beat me easily if you knew how to focus your breathing, and mind to heal only your legs. You could've stopped me on my first song with your level of healing. It will also start you down the path of magic if you wish to take it. The chant you heard me do earlier was only a grade 2 spell. Master mages are capable of casting level 4 spells and below simply by keeping eye contact with the target. I doubt you're interested if your able to pull that fireball off again. Even if you don't wish to cast spells it's still worth cultivating to at least grade 2 to be able to carve runes of your own." She explained carefully hoping to not overwhelm him.

"Let's do it just show me how," Sven replied

Helga reached out her hand and a yellow glow was on the tip of two of her fingers. She reached out touching Sven on his forehead. He could feel a warm sensation as energy pours into him. She then sat down on the ground crossing her legs and patted the ground implying for Sven to sit. He quickly sat down in front of her. Helga giggled watching him fumble to try, and copy the way she was sitting.

"Now close your eyes, and begin taking a slow deep breath in through your nose then hold it. Feel the moonlight on your skin, hear the sound of the trees rustling. When you can no longer hold the breath exhale. Repeat this process, and let your mind go blank. With time you will learn to zone into a state of tranquility. When you learn to do this you can feel air moving through your lungs, and the blood flowing through your veins. Master this to help control your heart rate to activate your powers easier. You may sometimes even hear the voice of your last ancestor call out to you. Some help to guide you in the use of your powers, but others try to corrupt you to the will they once had when they were alive. It's even possible to be taken over by them. So be sure to take anything you hear with caution." Helga said before she went quiet to focus on her own cultivation.