'Wake up, you lazy humans!'

Ines groaned in frustration. It was too early to face reality, too early to leave her soft pillow. She opened her eyes and glared at the source of the noise. Inerma was leaning against the doorway with a big smile on her face, like she had ticked her annoying Ines off her to-do list of the day.

'You two, pack your things. You are leaving,' she announced to them.

'Where are we going?' she asked the elf, but she had already gone outside.

Ines glanced at Matthew who was still lying on his bed, his eyes staring at the ceiling in dismay. His beard had grown significantly during the last days, which made him look more manly and rugged, and Ines found herself staring at him in a daze. Matthew caught her indiscreet gaze, and Ines quickly averted her eyes, raising from the bed and getting ready for the day.

The previous night she had gone to sleep with a sense of change inside her. Without meaning to, she had begun to lean on him, to need him near, and it terrified her. Those feelings were unknown to her; she was walking on uncharted territory, but she had no other way but moving forward, because her love for him she could not defy.

While she was fastening her belt, she heard Matthew's bed creak as he got up. She turned around and saw him lazily dress up. Before he caught her staring at him again, she walked out the building. The sun was rising between the dark clouds, bright amidst the blue, bidding the stars to rest. The old elf was waiting for them at the square, pacing back and forth in impatience, and Ines headed towards him.

'I was assigned to teach you our ways,' he said once he noticed her. 'Your training begins today. Let's go.'

Ines frowned. She wasn't expecting such a fast development. She didn't even know what kind of powers she possessed. She stood there looking at him in confusion, until Matthew came beside her and pulled her with him to follow the elf.

'A bit sudden, huh?' he commented.

'Yeah. I'm a bit worried.' Ines sighed. Things were going much more quickly than she would have preferred, and she wasn't sure if she could keep up. 

Matthew must have seen her worried expression, because he patted her shoulder in comfort and said. 'Don't worry. You just need to take one step at a time, and I'll be there to meet you.'

'Thank you,' she gave him a weak smile.

They crossed the tall bridge, the sound of the waterfall muffling their footsteps on the stones, and entered the lush vegetation outside the city. Ines guessed they couldn't train back in the city, since they would attract the others' attention, so a more remote place would be more suitable. In winter's icy kingdom the trees spun all around them, creating a dazzling mixture of green and brown. The old elf led them to a clearing in the woods, where they would have plenty of space to train freely. 

Matthew sat down, his back rating on a trunk of a pine tree and looked at them in anticipation. 'Come on. Amuse me,' he ordered jokingly, and the elf rolled his eyes.

He stood in front of Ines, his expression dulled. 'Today I will be testing you to see your level of skills. Lesson number one; defense.'

The old man's eyes turned white, and she automatically knew what was coming after. She took a defensive stance and readied herself for the fight. Thumping paws were heard approaching from her left. Soon enough two wild wolves appeared through the trees. Their thick grey coat was short over their bodies, and longer at their necks, their eyes matching the elf's. The wolves bared their fangs at her and charged. 

Ines gripped her sword. Fear filled her body with adrenaline, and her instincts took control of her mind; she moved like she had learned that choreographed dance of destruction by heart. There in the opening there was no beauty in their fighting. Claws and metal clashed fiercely, shouting and growling echoed in the forest.

Both sides attacked the other with ferocity, but were careful not to injure each other, only to inflict mild wounds. Ines tried to outsmart the old elf, realizing that it was the only way for her to win, since she was smaller than the animals that were too agile and strong. All she was doing was dodge their blows and run away from their jaws. She had to implement a strategy.

'Peter! Behind you!' Matthew's yell brought her back to reality.

Before she could react and defend herself, she felt a hand grab her leg and tackle her to the ground. She looked up and saw the elf glaring down at her.

'You may need two hands to fight,' he barked at her, 'but only one to stab them in the back. Never turn your back on your enemy!'

Ines got up, her jaw clenched in annoyance. She was losing her calm, but she chose to bite her tongue and continue her training. She would have to learn to endure his loftiness; it wasn't something she hadn't experienced before. As she fixed her armour she noticed the wolves were gone and it was just the three of them again.

'You will be facing me,' the old elf explained.

They circled each other, their eyes observing their opponent. Ines wasn't going to fail again. She gave him one last glare and charged. She tested the old man, tried to understand his fighting style, but she couldn't find a pattern in his movements. His slim body glided effortlessly away from her strikes without even getting tired. It seemed he predicted her attacks and was always one step ahead.

They kept training for a while, Ines mastering all her skills and strength to win through his counterattacks, while he looked like he was taking pleasure in torturing her. Many times he would use his powers against her, either controlling her body or her mind, which only worked her up more. Ines sensed he was trying to overpower her by clouding her judgment with emotion, so she forced herself to see clearly.

The old elf went on testing her, pushing her off the edge, in order to make her use her powers. The more Ines resisted, the harder he provoked her with his mind control. Their duel seemed to have no end, until the elf decided to do something more drastic. With a single move of his hand, he casted a spell.

'Stop breathing,' he commanded.

Ines' lungs suddenly stopped working. No matter how hard she tried to inhale, her body was not responding at all. She fell on the ground, her eyes wide in panic, her hands scratching her neck to breath in oxygen. She was suffocating and she couldn't do anything to save herself. Fear took over her, as she felt her limbs go slack and black spots filled her vision. She couldn't hear Matthew's shouting anymore, nor see him running towards the old elf.

She shut her eyes and let her fear become her defense against his powers. She immediately felt the familiar energy flowing in her veins, like it was being drawn from something and was then settling inside her to be freed. Ines clenched her fists and unleashed her emotions like a wave that would drown him.

The old elf was hit by her blast, falling on the ground with a grunt, and the spell was broken. Ines took a deep breath, relishing the fresh air of the forest that entered her lungs, and little by little she recovered from her near-death experience.

'Just as I expected,' the old elf shook his head in disappointment, and wearily got up. 'You are untrained, and your emotions prevent you from keeping your powers in check.'

Ines glared at him. Until two days before she didn't even know she had powers, and now he apparently expected her to have mastered them already. She was about to scream at his face for his senseless behaviour, but Matthew beat her to it.

'He could have been injured!' he snarled at the elf, pulling him by the collar. 'Is this your training method? Degrading the inexperienced?'

'I had no choice! He needed to break the restraints that bound her powers.'

'So, you tried to kill him in the process?'

The old man pushed his hands away from him and composed himself. 'Do you think I meant to kill him? I believe I am capable enough to control my powers.'

Ines could see how furious Matthew was. He was standing before the elf, ready to punch him, his nostrils flaring from anger. She gently touched his hand to comfort him, to remind him that she was alright. Matthew's eyes snapped towards her, and he quickly knelt down beside her. He held her face between his hands, his gaze worried, and inspected her for any wounds. Ines' smile probably satisfied him, for he sighed in relief and helped her get up.

'I told you he was fine,' said the old elf. 'You should not meddle in my training techniques.'

Ines held Matthew back before he could really beat him up and spoke. 'You can mind control other people? I thought it was only achieved on animals.'

'I am the only one. It is forbidden amongst the elves.'

'So, you lie to them?'

'It is for the better good.'

Ines raised a brow. She had to admit that was indeed too dangerous for humans. If the elves learned how to mentally control humans, they would be invincible. She was a bit surprised to discover that the elves wished to protect them from that possibility.

'And you were lucky enough to be an exception?' Matthew taunted, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

'I made a mistake in the past and I payed the price. Now I cannot use my powers, only for this time, for your training.'

'The elders gave you permission?' Ines inquired.

'Yes.'

'And how did—'

'No more. We continue your training. Lesson number two; facing your fears.'

'He won't like that at all,' Matthew commented.

'Matthew...'

'Well, you won't,' he countered.

In all fairness, she couldn't think of any fears she might have, so she thought that part of the training would be easier.

'Oh, he will not be the only one,' the old man smiled at Matthew, who wrinkled his brows questioningly. 'You will not be needing your weapon,' he said and took her sword from her. 'Your goal is to find me. You will not know where I am. You will have 30 minutes. Should you fail to make it in time, he will face the consequences,' he explained, pointing at Matthew.

Ines gulped and looked at him in worry. Right then, she realised that maybe she did have a small fear after all, one that had to do with him being in danger. That would explain her instincts to protect him. She glanced at Matthew. She didn't like where the training was heading. His involvement made her fear for the outcome, for the way she would react if he was at risk, and that in the end her true emotions wouldn't be a secret anymore. 

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A/N:  How do you think their training will go? Honestly, I'm really worried about Matthew. I kinda have a soft spot for him. Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave your stars behind! 

Phrase of chapter:  nemo solus satis sapit / no man is wise enough by himself  - Plautus