[centre][h2]To Become a Druid[/h2][/centre] [centre][h3]Part 2: The Early Years[/h3][/centre] [hr] Volv Eaoir hadn’t exaggerated - their lessons had started the very next day. To begin with, the eight initiates had been divided into four groups of two and been subsequently given to four different mentors: Gion and Chass had been given to Cer Bron, a gruff-looking man with a scar over his blind left eye; Tolk and Fina had been given to Cer Cayn, the Night Elven druid who had gathered the nelfling apprentices; Logo and Iro had been given to Cer Voin, a giddy Night elven woman with bright tattoos all over her body and a blindfold over her eyes; and Pia and Call had been given to Cer Tess, who seemed rather satisfied with the arrangement. The first lessons focused almost entirely on intercultural exchange - the humans would learn of Night Elven culture, and the nelflings would study human culture. Additionally, they would spend the first four years of their education learning each others’ languages fluently. To begin with, though, the mentors functioned as translators. The first day, the children and nelflings learned to greet each other properly. As such, the nelflings were given ample amounts of moss to put in their ears so they could practice their voiced speaking, while the humans were given exercises and tongue twisters to be performed while whispering. From dawn until midday, all the children who had human mentors did was practice their pronunciation; the nelflings who had human mentors had joined them, many-layered blindfolds around their eyes to make the experience less unpleasant. For the children under the guidance of a Night Elf, they sat blindly in the night practicing alongside their nightkin peers until midnight. When the apprentices had each practiced until midday or midnight, the time came to learn the respective greetings. Pia stared intently at Call, whose sweaty brow and flat mouth indicated obvious discomfort with the time of day (or the fact that it was day at all). Even through the thick blindfold, Pia could see pained, quivering eyelids trying to block out the powerful midday sun. Cer Tess offered his shoulder a supportive pat. [abbr=”Go ahead and try. Present yourself to Pia.”]“Shoch’ak’. Pia-hsa ta-cha-k’ok’,”[/abbr] she whispered calmly to him. Pia frowned with confusion while Call looked down at his knees in embarrassment. “‘Eh… ‘Elloh,” he squeaked. Pia couldn’t help but snicker and Call grit his teeth shamefully. Cer Tess shot Pia a strict glare and the girl piped down. She then squeezed Call’s shoulder again, softer this time. [abbr=”Try again.”]“Ee-ok’ shoch’ak’.”[/abbr] Call tried again. “‘Eh… ‘Elloh. Ma-ee na-eem--” “Name,” Cer Tess corrected. “Nee--... Nah-eem…” “Name - neh, neh.” Call’s frown hardened even through the cloth. “Nah, nah.” Cer Tess sighed. [abbr=”You’re saying it wrong. It’s not ‘nah’. It’s ‘neh’.”]“Hso pok’-see-toch. ‘Nah’ ak’-loch. ‘Neh’ loch.”[/abbr] Call snarled and hammered at the ground, causing Pia to flinch. [abbr=”It’s hard!”]“Tseet’ loch!”[/abbr] he whispered sharply. Cer Tess nodded understandingly. [abbr=”Oh, yeah, it’s hard. But you have to learn it. You’re to become a druid, after all.”]“Tseet’ loch’ee-oh. Seek’ k’ee-ar’fach’ee-oh. Hso tro-eet’ paa’loch’ee-oh,”[/abbr] she said with a small smile. Call looked away [abbr=”I don’t want to be a druid…”]“Hsee tro-eet’ paa’loch ak’kolch…”[/abbr] Cer Tess sighed again. [abbr=”You rest for a bit.”]“Hso rak’ kaam’ak’.”[/abbr] She then looked at Pia. “You give it a go.” Pia snapped into focus again. “Wh-wha?” “I said, give it a go.” Pia frowned. “B-but he hasn’t finished yet!” “He said he’s tired and needs a break. Maybe he’ll feel more at ease if he hears that his companion has been practicing as diligently as he has.” “He probably just wants to hear me fail like he did…” “That can also help him feel more at ease,” said Cer Tess with a snicker. Pia’s cheeks flushed and she offered Call a quick look. She could tell he was staring back. She drew a nervous breath and sighed. [abbr=”Gih… Geed naught.”]“Ch-... Chao’shee--!”[/abbr] she said slowly and loudly as though speaking to someone hard of hearing. Call instantly covered his ears and groaned. Cer Tess took Pia by the shoulder and pulled her in close. “Quieter, Pia - so quiet you can barely hear it yourself.” “I-I’m trying, but--!” “Calm down. Give it another try - and remember: So quiet you can barely hear yourself talk. Also, it’s ‘tsao’hsee’, not ‘chao’shee’.” “I-I know that!” Pia’s frown darkened. “Why do they have to whisper all the time?! It’s so… Stupid!” She hear Call groan again and looked up to see him cover his ears defensively, his brow revealing the irritated glare aimed back at her. [abbr=”She’s so loud!”]“Hsa tsa-ee paaok’ loch!”[/abbr] he whispered sharply at Cer Tess, who hissed back through her teeth. Call instantly backed down. The druid grabbed Pia firmly by the arm. “L-let go!” struggled Pia. “Pia, listen. What Volv Eaoir said yesterday wasn’t a joke, you understand? You are here now, and this is your new life. I know - I know how -awful- this training is in the beginning, but I promise you that you’ll come to like it eventually.” “N-nooo! I wanna go home!” Cer Tess pulled her into a hug, which Pia desperately tried to get out of like some trapped beast. “Stop!” “If you need to take your rage out on someone, take it out on me,” whispered the druid soothingly into her ear. Pia pummeled and bit at one of the arms holding her trapped. Cer Tess whimpered a little, but held on. “You hate it here, I know. You miss your parents, your brother-- agh! You hate Volv Eaoir, you hate Call, you hate me - you hate everything and everyone you’ve seen and met over the past night and day.” Pia’s strikes were growing weak with weariness and the girl unleashed challenging screams and shouts as she pulled and tore at Cer Tess’ now-bleeding arm. Call wrapped his arms over his head to block out all the sound. “But we don’t hate you,” Cer Tess continued. “You’re unique - there’s only one Pia, and none of us would trade you away for anything or anyone. You’re one of us now.” Pia’s sloppy strikes reached their limit and the girl slumped down into Cer Tess’ arms. The druid offered her a small smile and caressed her cheek. “You’re one of us.” “... You don’t even know me…” “Well… It’s not like we won’t have time to get to know one another, right?” Pia looked away with a scoff. She then pushed herself out of the now-weakened grasp and sat down across from Call again. Looking down on the ground again, she mumbled under her breath: “... Ch-chao’shee--...” “Tsao’hsee,” corrected Cer Tess as she pulled strips of cotton off the hem of her robe to wrap around the bleeding bite marks on her arm. Pia scoffed at her and looked back at Call, who was wearing a somewhat pitiful expression. “Ts-how’see…” Pia scowled over her shoulder. Cer Tess sighed, but nodded for her to continue. “... See-... See Pia choh-loch.” Call’s frown hardened and his lips pursed. [abbr=”What did you say?”]“Hso sok toch?”[/abbr] Pia blinked and looked helplessly at Cer Tess. “What’s he saying now?!” “Quieter, Pia. He didn’t quite understand you. Here, do this with your tongue…” The rest of the afternoon was spent reviewing the tongue twister and voice exercises from earlier and trying to perfect the pronunciations. Many more outbreaks of anger took place from both Call and Pia, and by the time the sun was setting, Cer Tess’ arms were full of cuts, bite marks and bruises. Pia had acquired a black eye from her and Call fighting at one point, and she had retaliated by biting a bloody mark into his lower right arm. The knives they were glaring at one another could’ve cut someone at range. Cer Tess had promised them - one proper greeting. One proper greeting, and they could call it a day. Pia had been close - she just couldn’t manage that soft palatalisation. It was Call’s turn now - their battle could potentially be settled any minute. The nelfling opened his mouth: “‘Ello. Ma-ee nah--... Ne’-eem is… Call. Na-ees tee-- too! Meet’ yee-- yu!” The two of them looked at Cer Tess expectantly. The druid scrunched her nose. [abbr=”That was your best attempt so far.”]“Hsok’ hso dar mak’ ro-faal ma-ee loch.”[/abbr] Call drew a hopeful breath as Cer Tess wagged her head pensively from side to side. [abbr=”That’s good enough. You can go rest.”]“Cho-faal’ee-oh. Hso kaam rach’ak’.”[/abbr] Victoriously, Call threw his hands into the air, got up and ran to the hut they had been sleeping in the night before. Pia looked at Cer Tess as though she had stabbed her in the back. “You let him go for -that-?!” “He’s been trying hard all day. You have too. He showed me his best, and it was good enough for his first day. Therefore I let him go to bed. If you do the same, I will let you go, too.” Pia frowned, but managed not to let her anger and frustration surface for a change. She whispered quietly to herself to warm up before opening her mouth properly to say, [abbr=”G’ood nice…”]“Ts’ao’see…”[/abbr] she opened and studied Cer Tess’ expression, who motioned for her to continue. [abbr=”Nigh name iz… Pia.”]“... See Pia choh--... chohl’loch.”[/abbr] She felt that familiar sting in the nose whenever the tear canals activate. She had failed again. Call had skipped off without issue and she had failed again. Cer Tess sighed. “... We’ll continue tomorrow. Go get yourself some sleep.” Pia blinked. “B-but that was worse than before!” Cer Tess shrugged. “It may have been, but I doubt it’ll improve by you getting frustrated while battling those falling eyelids.” She got to her feel and eyed the darkened sky. “We’ll be starting early tomorrow, too. Get yourself some sleep.” “B-but…!” However, Cer Tess walked away, leaving Pia alone on the plateau. The Nelven groups were beginning to prepare for their lessons. With a defeated bend in the neck, Pia retreated into her, Cer Tess’ and Call’s hut to sleep. [hr] The weeks passed quickly this way, and while the constant exposure to the same faces over and over didn’t exactly lessen the brewing tensions between the apprentices, they eventually got so used to one another that they couldn’t even be angry at one another anymore. After the first week, all the groups would switch from day to night and night to day. This switched back and forth every week, and the apprentices felt it only served to tire them out even more. The weeks turned to months, and months turned to years. Their respective foreign vocabularies grew ever richer as their mentors introduced stories of the gods and sacred lore into their daily routine. The students learned the story of creation, how Or and Kii created the sun and moon; how Por created the ground and Laa, the sea; Chann, the woods and Ros, the sky; Finn, the mind, and Ma’k’, the heart. They learned of the cultures and customs of one another - humans learned to whisper properly and politely to their nelfling peers, and the nelflings learned to sing and talk using their voices. The children were schooled intensely in different kinds of flowers, their scents and textures, as well as medical and olfactory applications; the nelflings were taught about colours and how to paint, exploring the spheres of visual art. In their free time, Cer Tess took Pia and Call to study birds and animals in their habitat to learn more about nature’s balance. “An’, an’ t’at? Vat iss t’at?” Call squeaked giddily and pointed at an enormous owl resting atop a tall tree. Pia, meanwhile, was dozing off on Cer Tess’ shoulder. The mentor grinned from ear to ear. “That’s an owlix, Call,” she whispered back. “They are the children of Kii. Every new moon, they are born, and for a whole month until the moon is reborn, at which point they die and, too, are reborn.” Call narrowed his white eyes. “Onlee a mons? Why sso sho’t?” Cer Tess shrugged. “One of life’s great mysteries, I suppose.” Call narrowed his eyes. “Sho’d not troo-et noch?” he whispered. Cer Tess snickered. “It’s pronounced ‘druid’ and ‘know’, Call, and no, I don’t think we should. It’s important as druids to understand that the world, the way the gods made it, it’s not for us to understand in its entirety. We need only understand our godsgiven mission and carry it out to the best of our ability.” Call remained unconvinced. [abbr=”That’s boring…”]”Ch’ot loch…”[/abbr] Cer Tess sighed. “Call, today we speak [abbr=Literally ‘dayspeak’.][i]k’ee-cho-ag[/i][/abbr], not [abbr=’Nightspeak’][i]tsao-cho-ag[/i][/abbr]...” Call clicked his tongue through a frown. [abbr=”It’s night. We should speak nightspeak.”]”Tsao loch. Hsii tsao-cho-ag see-tach’ee-oh.”[/abbr] Cer Tess closed her eyes. “One day, my son, you will encounter humans who need you aid in the middle of the night. By that time, you must’ve moved on from thoughts like that that only seek to divide daykin and nightkin.” [abbr=”But I’m not wrong, am I? Dayspeak is for the day and nightspeak is for the night. They are literally as different as night and day. How can you expect me to leave my heritage behind so easily?”]”Hsee seek’ pok’ loch k’ho’? K’ee-cho-ag k’ee-ta loch; tsao-cho-ag tsao-ta loch. Ar hsok’ ro k’ee tsao hsach loch. Hso hsee chee toll-fach ak’sal, ro’sok?”[/abbr] Cer Tess shook her head. “We are your family now, Call.” She scooped up Pia into her arms and pulled Call in for a hug, though he seemed reluctant. [abbr=”We are all your family.”]”Hsii tok’ hsamsa loch.”[/abbr] Call growled angrily, but didn’t fight it. [hr] The second, third and fourth year were dedicated to fully understanding one another. The children were tasked to make scented oils and perfumes from plants and growths they could forage in the forest, and were schooled heavily in what they dubbed “whisperspeak”. They were taught to carve nelven wood glyphs and understand them with their palms. They were taught how to navigate the world in the dark of the night and the deep caves and caverns around [i]Godlach’s[/i] area, as well as the importance of both oral and bodily hygiene. They had also been practicing gestures and sounds for a while, and Pia and Call sat facing one another one day. Call was wearing his sweat-yellowed linen blindfold. Pia was nervous - she had been practicing her gestures for the last four weeks; today, she had to show her skill. They weren’t overseen by Cer Tess this time - she was busy evaluating Gion and Chass across the plateau. No, instead Cer Voyn kept a close eye on them, her bright tattoos beaming just as much as her smile. The mentor clapped her hands and glanced at the two of them through her blindfolds. [abbr=”Alright, you two. Are we ready?]”Tah, ar-hsoe. T’ompi k’ho?”[/abbr] [abbr=”I’m, how to say, nervous.]”Hsee, jah, k’o-tii loch.”[/abbr] Pia replied. Call nodded in agreement. Cer Voyn giggled. [abbr=”Oh, so was I when I was your age, believe me! It’s not much to worry about, though - just try your best and if it’s not enough then, well…”]”Ah, hsee hso chee k’at pak’ loch-ee’oh! Ak’k’o-tii, llo - shoch’ak ro-faal, ak’cho-faal, ah…”[/abbr] She offered a sympathetic shrug. [abbr=”Let’s not worry about that. Okay, Pia - you’ll start us off. You and Call are having a conversation and he says something you don’t like. How do you respond?”]”Ak’k’o-tii-ak’! Pia, hso shan tso’ak’. Hso Call hsiak’ see-tach, Call-hsa hso ak’aa-ee chee hsok’ see-toch-ee-oh. Fak’hsia ro’sok?”[/abbr] Pia sighed in relief. This one was easy. She opened one half mouth and clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth twice. To her panic, though, both Cer Voyn and Call shook their heads. [abbr=”Not right. That’s how you would respond if you approve. Try again.”]”Pok’-see-tach. Hsok’ ro aa-ee ar fak’hsia-ee-oh. Ee-ok’ shock’ak’.”[/abbr] Pia calmed her breathing and pursed her lips, placing her tongue behind her lower front teeth and clicking it against the roof of her mouth. Cer Voyn smiled.[abbr=”That’s right. It makes sense when you think about it - pursed lips: boo; wry smile: woo! Right?”]”Loch! Hsoa hsok’ hsil ar cha-ee-ee-oh - choo rrap: ppo; srrah lak’: wah! Loch k’ho?”[/abbr] [abbr=”R-right,”]”L-loch.”[/abbr] Pia responded politely, readying herself for the next question. Cer Voyn noted her silence and continued: [abbr=”Alright, next case: Call is your friend and you’re greeting him without speaking. How do you go about that?”]”Tah, jann hsa-ee: Call hso ppan loch, hso oo-tach chee cha-k’ok’. Ro’sok’?”[/abbr] Pia narrowed her eyes. Trick question. [abbr=”Is he older or younger than me?”]Hsa pi hsee t’a sha-oo?”[/abbr] Cer Voyn smirked. [abbr=”Very good. Older.”]”Ro-faal. T’a loch.”[/abbr] Pia rose to her feet, then stopped. She still didn’t have all the pieces. [abbr=”How well do I know him?”]”Hsee hsa ro-faal-ro-pok’ rak’shii?”[/abbr] Cer Voyn shrugged. [abbr=”You’re friends. Let’s saaay… Good friends.”]”Ppan loch. Jaaaah… Cheen-ppan loch!”[/abbr] Pia clicked her tongue sideways and walked around Call’s back, laying a flat palm on the lower end of his back muscles. Call swallowed - it was evident he was a little uncomfortable. Cer Voyn patted his shoulder. [abbr=”It’s just a test, my son. You’ll have time to form this sort of bond.”]La-shoch loch-ee-oh, tofi-hsee. Hso hsok’ cheen-aff oo-akk-la chamkii-loch.”[/abbr] Pia, meanwhile, sat back down opposite of Call and Cer Voyn clapped her hands together softly. [abbr=”Very good, Pia! Alright, next case - you don’t have to actually show this one, but if you were Call’s mother or superior, where would you be allowed to touch him as a result of your position?”]”Ro-faal, Pia! Tah, jann hsa-ee - hso cha-ee tso ak’toll-fach, seek’ Call chee mah hoh rafach loch, hsa chee ka’rak’ nak’ee choom rachon?”[/abbr] Pia furrowed her brow. [abbr=”H-his feet?”]”Hs-hsa chee ppal?”[/abbr] [abbr=”Correct! Why?”]”An! Ro’hak’?”[/abbr] [abbr=”B-because the feet are the roots to the earth, and you owe your place in the world to your parents and your masters! As such, only they may touch them.”]”Ppal shaa-chon chee tt’an loch, shaa-chon chee aa-che-an mah-pah rafach tok’ hsam-kach.”[/abbr] Pia replied determined. Cer Voyn smiled. [abbr=”Oh, so very good! Well done, my daughter! Alright, final question. Let’s see if Call can handle this one.”]”Ah, pang ro-faal! Pang saaf, fanfi-hsee! Tah, oo-an hoh-ee! Call hsok’ barr-parr-ee-oh k’ho?”[/abbr] She giggled and Call gulped. Pia nodded firmly. [abbr=”Okay… Where would you touch Call if the two of you were… Lovers?”]”Tah… Hso Call tok’ aa-ee-mak’ loch, ka’rak’ nak’ee choom rachon?”[/abbr] With that, Call rose up, his face a dark shade of plum, visible even underneath the old blindfold. He sniffed sheepishly and looked off to the side shyly as he spoke, [abbr=”C-cer Voyn, do we, do we have to?”]”Voyn-kar, hsii, hsii fach k’ho?”[/abbr] Cer Voyn put her hand on her cheek and giggled. [abbr=”Why, of course you do! It’s for training, after all.”]”Lo, fach-ee-oh! Troo-et chee shaak’ loch!”[/abbr] Call looked in the direction of Pia, who looked to be underestimating the gravity of the gesture that was about to be undertaken. Reluctantly, he sat back down on his knees, collecting his feet underneath his bottom and hanging his head. [abbr=”Just do it…”]”Choom’ak’...”[/abbr] Pia frowned, but shrugged, crawled over and put her palm on Call’s belly. The nelfling whimpered in discomfort for the duration of the gesture, which he felt lasted ten times longer than necessary, and kept an elevated breath even after Pia had retreated. Cer Voyn clapped her hands again. [abbr=”Very good! Why did you touch him there?”]”Ro-faal! Ro’hak’ hsa nak’on choom, nah?”[/abbr] [abbr=”Nightkin believe the belly is the heart of the soul, where one’s feelings are concentrated and the red ink of Ma’k’ is formed.”]”Tsao-mak’ totsi ma’kra’ loch ar hsiich, nak’on kanchoo-aa Ma’k’ chee hong moh tok’ paa’loch. [/abbr] Pia replied, feeling almost shocked that the gesture took that much out of her partner. [abbr=”Very good, very good! That’s a pass, my daughter! Well done!]”Ro-faal, ro-faal! Chang-k’ong loch, fanfi-hsee! Pang ro-faal!”[/abbr] Cer Voyn shot a glance over at Call. [abbr=”Let’s take a break. Afterwards, it’s Call’s turn.”]”Hsii kaam’ak. Hoh Call chee jann loch.”[/abbr] While the children had been learning anything and everything regarding the Night Elves, the nelflings had been heavily schooled in the ways of daykin. They had been taught to use their voices to produce clearer and more distinct sounds, and were given lessons in painting with colours, singing and understanding stories presented with petroglyphs without touching them. They had also been trained to use their blindfolds as less of a blocking device and more of a light dampener, even though many complained that this was immensely painful on the eyes in the beginning. Most importantly, perhaps, were the hand gestures they had been taught. The break neared its end and Call and Pia once again sat down opposite of one another, Cer Voyn overseeing the two of them with a smile as bright as the sun. “Okay, I think we’ll switch to [i]k’ee-cho-ag[/i] this time. Would you be alright with that, Call?” Call frowned, his hands halfway covering his ears. “Y-yeah…” “Wonderful!” Cer Voyn cheered. “Did you bring your moss?” Call sighed and pulled some moss out of the arm of his robe, stuffing a handful into each ear. Pia nodded at him and he nodded back. “Okay, Call, here’s your task. Pia has yelled something to you over a distance and you want to confirm that you heard her. How do you show this?” Call frowned and looked down at his hands. Gingerly, he raised them above his head and presented two erect thumbs. Pia nodded, and as did Cer Voyn. “Very good! What else can this gesture symbolise?” “Approval! Uhm… Cheerfulness? Support!” Cer Voyn nodded. “Yes, all of those. Anything else?” Call blinked behind his blindfold. Anything else? What else was there to show? He hesitated. “... Yes?” Cer Voyn made a lopsided smirk. “Yes, there is.” She copied his gesture. “Sometimes, this may simply mean ‘upwards’.” Call made the kind of frown one makes when fresh fruit tastes unripe. Cer Voyn continued, “Particularly when humans build, the master builder will use this gesture to show that the workers should lift something higher. Likewise,” she inverted the gesture. “This can mean both ‘down’ and ‘bad’, ‘no’, ‘sadness’.” Call groaned and Cer Voyn giggled. “Come now, that was only the first question. You did well, and there’re stlll three more.” [abbr=”You can do this.”]”Hso kan’pah-ee-oh,”[/abbr] whispered Pia with a weak smile. Call didn’t return much beyond a quiet scoff. “Next task - demonstrate applause.” Call flinched instinctively. “Do I have to?” Cer Voyn nodded. “Indeed. Applause is a very important part of daykin cultures! If you feel like it’s uncomfortable, just put more moss in your ears.” “I mean, it’s not just-...” He looked back at Pia, who still kept her small smile. The nelfling took a deep breath, sighed and breathed in again. He then started clapping his hands loudly, shouting, “WOO! WOO-HOO! Yes! Amazing! Bravo, bravo! Huzzaaah!” He didn’t look to be enjoying it one bit, but at least the sound was genuine. Cer Voyn joined in with a gleeful chuckle, and Pia couldn’t help but clap along, too. Call grimaced and eventually gave up, his sore hands clapping down on his kneecaps. Cer Voyn kept up hers for an additional few seconds. “Very good, my son! Very good! Just… Next time, try to look like you’re enjoying it, too, alright? Nightkin might not see your face for its details, but the daywalkers will see your entire history on it.” She whooped one final time and then continued, “Okay, next task…” She turned to Pia and said, “Pia, your hair’s stupid.” Pia turned and made a face. “Huh?” Cer Voyn pointed at her while facing Call and said, “What expression is that?” Through his own blindfold, Call observed. “A frown.” Cer Voyn nodded. “How can you tell?” “Furrowed brow, slight downwards nod as she pulled her head back. Mouth’s straight.” Pia rolled her eyes and sighed. Cer Voyn pointed again. “Now what?” “She’s pouting.” “How can you tell?” “Cheek’s propped up on her fist. Lips are loose or neutral. Brow’s still furrowed or flexed in some manner.” [i]“Yeah, yeah, keep staring - I’m just Pia with the stupid hair, la-dee-da…”[/i] “Very good, my son! Now--” She poked Pia in the side and the girl squealed. “Ow!” she whimpered and stroked the sore spot. “What was that for?” “Call, how is she feeling?” Call shifted to her in surprise. “Well, hurt, obviously!” “How can you tell?” “She just said--” “Visually, my son.” Call swallowed. “W-well, she’s… She’s frowning, showing that something’s upsetting her--” “Does a frown always show that someone’s upset?” “W-well, not always, but often! It’s usually some kind of disapproval. Furthermore…” He ran his eyes over his partner again. “She’s rubbing the sore spot. Her eyes are glistening more than usual, indicating that she’s about to cry--” “AM NOT!” Both Cer Voyn and Call covered their ears. Pia shrunk together. “Sorry…” Cer Voyn shook her head. “No, no, this is good. People who have been hurt are liable to act out, and whereas nightkin would usually turn to speaking, daykin will often turn to yelling. You have to be ready for that, Call, to make sure your ears don’t start bleeding the second you try to help someone wounded. What else do you see?” “I see… She’s glancing away.” “Why is she doing that, you think?” Call grit his teeth. “I-... Is it embarrassment?” “Yup!” “I’m not embarrassed!” Cer Voyn chuckled. “Okay, that’s enough for now, I think. You both did very well. You both pass!” Call and Pia exchanged looks, mixed joy and relief on both faces. Cer Voyn reached out and squeezed both their shoulders. “You’ve both deserved a break. I think. Get yourselves some grub and enjoy the day. Tomorrow, we’ll practice some more.” Pia and Call both nodded, bowed as low as they could while sitting and chorused. “Thank you. [abbr=”Thank you.”]Tok’ maak.”[/abbr] Then they turned to one of the huts and walked together. “Y’know… Your accent’s almost gone,” Pia noted. Call clicked his tongue approvingly. [abbr=”Yours isn’t that bad anymore, either.”]”Hso ok’ mak ak’ro-moll-ee-oh.”[/abbr] He sighed. [abbr=”Four years already… Where did they go?”]”Ee seeh nan… Nak’ee zok’, nah?”[/abbr] “I don’t know… Although…” She joined in his sigh. “... I wonder how my brother and parents are doing.” Call stopped in his step and gave Pia a sympathetic frown. Pia stopped a few paces ahead, her eyes beginning to glisten. She immediately brought a finger to her right and wiped it thoroughly. “D-don’t look at me like that. I’ve accepted it, okay? I’m here now, and there’s no going back.” Call approached and put took her hand in his own. Pia sniffed. “... It’s weird, really. Among us, this is what boys and girls in love would do.” Call recoiled. [abbr=”You cry together?”]”Hsoa tok’ droch k’ho?”[/abbr] “No, no, no!” She held up their interconnected hands. “This. Handholding.” Immediately, Call disconnected his hand and took a step back. Pia blinked, then giggled. “What, you didn’t know?” Call looked down at his hand in disbelief. [abbr=”I didn’t just… Declare my eternal love to you or something, right?”]”Hsee… Mak ‘hso aa-ee’ ak’toch, nah?”[/abbr] “No-ho, nnno, you didn’t. And even if you did, by the way, I would’ve said no.” He shook his head as though he had just seen flying pigs. [abbr=”Handholding is a gesture of love? But, but how do you greet acquintances and show them you appreciate them?”]”Haho-kam aa-ee chee fal loch k’ho? Seek’, seek’ shan-hsa ta-cha-k’ ar hsa aa-ee shee ro’hak’?”[/abbr] Pia waved and nodded upwards and Call rolled his eyes. [abbr=”Of course…”]”Tah…”[/abbr] “Yeah, it’s hard sometimes…” They had reached their hut. “Well, I’ll stay out for a bit longer. You’re going in to rest your eyes?” [abbr=”Think so… They’ve gotten really sore. Grab me some food if you go to Cer Cayn’s, okay?”]”Loch, nah… Haho t’ong-ee-oh. Ro Cayn-kar chan, ar ka Call-hsee fafe t’al, faal-moll?”[/abbr] “Yeah, sure! See ya tomorrow, Call.” “See ya.” As Call ducked under the flapping pelt “door” of the hut, Pia ventured out across the grassgrown plateau in search of Cer Cayn’s delicious smelling pot of stew which he should be heating up around this time. Soon, the second part of their training would begin, and she was starting to feel eager to learn the practical duties of a druid. [hider=Language Exercise!] Pia and Call’s adventures continue through the first four years of their studies. These are spent just learning everything about nelves and people, especially the language, as well as stories about the gods. The last year finishes with an exam which tests Call’s ability to appeal to and understand humans, and Pia’s ability to appeal to an understand Nelves. It’s pretty simple and they both pass. Read the post for deets about the tests. >:3 [/hider]