TGS - Chapter 9
Chapter 9: The Training Ground
Although Alyuin's illness had come on with the force of a landslide, her constitution had always been excellent, so her recovery was not as slow as pulling silk from a cocoon. On the third day after her fever broke, she was back to her usual self, able to run and jump as if nothing had happened.
The priestess, worried the young princess might suffer lingering effects from her illness, gave her special permission to rest for a few more days before returning to her lessons.
In her spirit form, Lotus observed her surroundings and discovered that ever since the day the young princess fell ill, the spies assigned to watch her had all but vanished. Only at noon each day would someone make a token appearance, wandering past the gate a couple of times.
This was likely the intention of the Lord of Kadera City. Lotus could almost imagine the man's words:
"I said it before, what threat could a delicate princess possibly pose? Withdraw the surveillance. Stop wasting manpower."
...Thanks to this city lord, Alyuin's plan to skip her lessons for martial arts practice could now be put on the agenda.
On the night of the Day of Water that week, Lotus entered the young princess's dream as promised.
Over the past month, she and the young princess had developed a tacit understanding: once a week, in the name of Nierde, the God of Wisdom, they would conduct an assessment.
Upon entering the dream, the first thing Lotus did was hand out the test paper. Alyuin would give a simple bow and, without another word, immediately begin answering the questions.
This time, however, the young princess seemed to have something on her mind. Instead of immediately putting pen to paper, she stared blankly at Lotus, her expression complex.
Lotus asked in a gentle voice, "Is there something wrong with the questions?"
After inwardly accepting her divine identity, the subtle sense of playing a role when she spoke to mortals vanished. Even without a deliberate affectation, she naturally exuded a divine coolness and detachment, for this was an intrinsic part of her.
But without the deliberate air of inscrutability, Lotus's demeanor seemed somewhat gentler, making her appear more approachable than before.
This made the look in Alyuin's eyes grow even more complex.
But after much thought, she decided it would be improper to ask so readily and could only say vaguely, "No, it's nothing."
After speaking, as if to hide her thoughts, she hastily lowered her head and started on the questions.
When the time was up, the test paper, filled with neat script, returned to Lotus's hand. She scanned it and was satisfied.
Alyuin was like a sponge desperately soaking up knowledge, improving at a nearly terrifying pace. In just one month, her knowledge had already surpassed that of an average junior priest, and she was still far from reaching her plateau.
Knowledge from books, however, was ultimately static. The most useful things could never be recorded on mere paper.
Moreover, Alyuin was destined to walk the path of a ruler, an area where Lotus could not offer guidance. She feared her own way of thinking might lead the young princess astray.
It seemed she would have to find a suitable teacher...
Lotus, having just found a training ground, now had a new task added to her list.
After a brief moment of distraction, Lotus looked at the young princess's expectant face and nodded lightly. "Well done. Even Nierde would marvel at your wisdom."
Alyuin said demurely, "I still have a long way to go. Please rest assured, I will be even more diligent in my studies."
The praised princess was just like a contented kitten being stroked.
Lotus resisted the urge to pat her head and continued, "Tomorrow, follow my guidance, and you will see what you need."
Alyuin blinked. "May I know in advance what your boon is?"
"It is not a boon; you can consider it a gift." Lotus paused and smiled faintly. "It is not a secret that must be kept, but are you sure you want to know now?"
After serious consideration, the young princess replied, "I'd rather not, thank you."
With the next day's arrangements settled, Alyuin returned to her books while Lotus, as usual, sat upon the water's surface and meditated with her eyes closed.
Her previous meditations, however, had been merely for show—little more than resting with her eyes closed. This time, she could genuinely perceive something within the river's flow, as if every drop of water were an extension of her senses, as if she herself were the current.
Immersed in this wondrous, unprecedented connection, Lotus didn't notice Alyuin occasionally glancing up at her.
The young princess, of course, did not believe she had gone unnoticed. How could a goddess be unaware of her surroundings? She could only assume that Lotus had seen her but chose to pay it no mind.
The young princess lowered her head, turned a page, and suddenly found herself looking forward with great anticipation to what surprise might await her upon waking tomorrow.
The goddess said she would come to guide her. Would she come in her true form? Unlikely. And what was it that she needed? She couldn't quite guess.
The next day.
Alyuin finished washing up and sat properly at her desk, awaiting the goddess's guidance.
Lotus, having witnessed the princess's entire preparation, couldn't help but chuckle. After a moment's thought, she transformed into a water bird and appeared outside the window, elegantly preening its feathers with its long beak.
As the Goddess of the Yilu River, she could manifest in human form or as her symbolic animal—for instance, this large water bird called a Blue Heron. Its wingspan was over two meters, its feathers a snowy white, save for the bright cerulean on its head and tail. Its flocks migrated within the Yilu River basin year-round, and the ancient Solancians called them the messengers of Lotus.
Lotus, in her Blue Heron form, let out a short cry to attract the young princess's attention. Then, it turned in a circle and spread its wings, beckoning her to follow.
Alyuin, of course, recognized the messenger of the Goddess of the Yilu River. Her eyes lit up. Deftly avoiding the people nearby, she followed the low-flying heron and easily scaled the temple wall, accomplishing her first escape.
The area behind the temple was not a prosperous part of Kadera City, and there were few people about. The young princess was already prepared for venturing outside; pulling up her hood, she looked no different from any other local child and would not attract any attention.
The Blue Heron stayed a short distance ahead, and Alyuin had no trouble keeping pace. Yet, the farther she ran, the more puzzled she grew.
What kind of gift required her to run so far?
The Blue Heron finally landed by a patch of silvergrass on the opposite bank of the river, tilting its head as it waited for her.
Alyuin looked at the Blue Heron, then at the White Yilu River of unknown depth, and coughed softly. "Um, I can't swim."
Lotus: "..."
She had considered every possibility, but she had never accounted for this one limitation: the young princess couldn't swim!
Seeming to perceive a human-like shock in the Blue Heron's round blue eyes, the young princess said awkwardly, "I never thought it would be useful before. I'll learn."
But for now, she still couldn't cross.
Lotus paced on the spot for a moment, then suddenly spread her wings and flew to the young princess. Turning her back, she let out a soft cry.
Alyuin hesitantly wrapped her arms around the Blue Heron's neck.
An ordinary Blue Heron, despite its size, was still just a water bird and could not fly while carrying a human child. But a Blue Heron formed by a goddess could bear a heavy load and made the trip with ease.
Following the Blue Heron's lead, Alyuin arrived at the deserted wilderness Lotus had discovered a few days prior—or, more accurately, a basin nestled between mountains.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and a sheer cliff on the fourth, the only way in or out was the cave opening behind them. It was quiet and secure. Just as its discoverer had thought, the young princess's first thought was the same: This will be a natural training ground.
"This is Lotus's... gift?"
She murmured to herself, her heart aching with a complex emotion.
Had she noticed her disappointment at being unable to practice martial arts and archery, or was it out of a need to train her?
Whatever Goddess Lotus's purpose was, the young princess felt that it no longer mattered.
The young princess took a deep breath and said earnestly to the Blue Heron standing quietly to the side, "Thank you. You are Lotus's messenger. Please convey my gratitude to her—"
She paused, as if carefully choosing her words, but in the end, she simply said, "Thank you. I like this gift very much."
Message received, Lotus thought. She spread her broad wings once more and soared toward the azure sky, higher than the cliffs, as if flying to the distant Kingdom of the Gods beyond the clouds.
Of course, she didn't actually do that.
The moment the Blue Heron was out of the young princess's sight, it dissolved into its human-shaped spirit form and leisurely floated to a weapon shop in Kadera City. After estimating Alyuin's current strength, she bought a relatively suitable set of practice bow, arrows, and a target.
Well, "bought" was a generous term. In truth, she waited in the shop until she overheard the price of the archery set, left the corresponding amount of coins in the storeroom, then transformed back into a Blue Heron and made off with the equipment on her back.
...The coins had been taken from Alyuin's hidden stash that very morning.
What a destitute goddess!
Alyuin was still stretching freely on the grass when she happened to look up and see the Blue Heron flying back.
That made sense. If the Blue Heron had flown straight back to Lotus, she, being unable to swim, would have been trapped here.
Even so, the young princess still held onto a sliver of hope. Perhaps the Blue Heron had brought back a message from the goddess?
Lotus unloaded the equipment in front of the young princess.
"Is this also a gift from the goddess?"
The Blue Heron paused slightly, then shook its head firmly.
"Then did she lend it to me?"
The Blue Heron shook its head again.
The young princess was bewildered: "..."
But she didn't dwell on it. Since the bow and arrows had been brought to her, they were clearly for her to use. Whether they were a gift or a loan could be figured out later.
Unlike the custom-made longbow she had at the royal palace, this bow was of a suitable weight, but its ordinary craftsmanship made it feel slightly clumsy.
Alyuin was not disappointed by this. She cherishedly stroked the body of the bow, nocked an arrow, drew the string, and aimed at the distant target.
The first arrow struck near the bullseye.
Alyuin slowly exhaled, adjusted her form, and released the second arrow. This time, it hit the bullseye without question.
"I can still find my form." A confident smile appeared on the young princess's face, only to fade just as quickly.
She tightened her grip on the bow, feeling the rough surface in her palm. The brief, brilliant smile transformed into an even more brilliant light of determination, etched into her eyes.
Back in her room that night, Alyuin found her thoughts returning to the meaning of the Blue Heron's head-shaking. While puzzling over it, she habitually took stock of her small treasury.
In this remote city of Kadera, aside from the goddess who had thus far proven quite reliable, only money could guarantee her security.
As she counted, the young princess suddenly realized the amount was wrong. Some coins were missing.
But if it had been stolen, it seemed unlikely they would take so little. After all, stored with these coins were valuable gold ornaments and some gold coins.
The puzzled young princess suddenly glanced at the bow leaning against the wall.
And just like that, the mystery was solved.
The spirit form of Lotus silently averted her gaze.
From that day forward, Lotus in her Blue Heron form became the young princess's personal river ferry, as well as her steadfast audience during martial arts and archery practice.
Until the vacation approved by the priestess ended, Alyuin had no choice but to pick up her books again and head to the schoolroom for her daily lessons.
However, this routine of keeping up appearances wouldn't last long. Once the Lord of Kadera City had forgotten about her, the young princess could openly ask the priestess for permission to skip her lessons for martial arts practice.
When the scribes saw the young princess, whose grades were far ahead of everyone else, appear in the schoolroom, they all showed approving smiles.
They could never have imagined that in the not-too-distant future, Alyuin would become the textbook example of a truant.
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