Walking is my nemesis. It is so much easier to swim. These little legs can't flick nearly as fast as my tail used to. And my master refused to carry me on his shoulder. If I had known that yesterday was the only time, I would have made the most of it.
Modesty! Walking is hard enough without having to navigate these robes. I keep tripping on them and falling.
After all the agility and strength I built in my previous levels, don't tell me I'm still weaker than a 3-year-old human?
Long Fei continues to read his book of blank pages. Today's training is to reach him by walking.
I stumble over again on my hands and knees. For Ocean's sake! This is the hundredth time! Unbelievable. I bang my hands on the floor. I kick my legs. I scream. And... no reaction from him. He's far too engrossed in his blank pages to notice.
I refuse to believe that all my training was for nothing. Let's see if my previous training was effective and not a fluke. This reminds me of when I couldn't spit properly, or at all. I take a deep breath. Maybe I'm just trying too hard, like before, and thinking too hard about it. Empty my mind. I lie on my back, arms out like a starfish. Empty... Take a deep breath in and out. I'm back in the ocean realm, eating my air-cooked krill. Life was so simple then. I feel a tug on my hair. Just ignore it. Focus on swimming in the ocean again. Not a care in the world. I feel another tug at my hair.
"Master, I'm trying to concentrate. Can you please not pull my hair?"
"What are you talking about?"
I glance at him, only to realize that I'm floating above him, and my hair is tangled around the edge of the wardrobe.
"Ah, help, help!"
He looks up from his book, and his eyes widen.
With the flick of his wrist, he summons the air to untangle my hair from the edge of the wardrobe and resumes reading.
"Seriously? Aren't you even surprised by how I got here?"
"You're learning how to use your powers in this new form. That's the whole point of this training." He flicks a page over.
That is a valid point. I scratch my chin. Seriously, how did I get here? All I did, was reminisce about life in the ocean. I stopped trying to walk and frustrate myself with no results. He and his cryptic messages. He says I'm learning to use my powers in this new form. A devilish grin spreads across my face. Let's take this learning experience outside.
Well, I am a creature with two elemental powers, water and air. If I can't walk, I'll just swim. The air is my ocean. With renewed confidence, my body starts to move according to my will. My hair no longer obeys the laws of gravity. It waves horizontally alongside my shoulders as though I'm swimming in water. I slowly float as though I'm back in the ocean. I glance back. He still hasn't noticed. I sneak out the door.
He'll probably notice my absence soon, but let's see how far I can get before he catches me. I stay close to the ceiling so no one would notice me. Gliding through the air above servants, I see a maid carrying a tray of delicious food. My mouth starts watering as I hover over her, and my drool drops on her head. She rubs the drool, noticing its viscosity. She looks up, her eyes widening as she lets out a bloodcurdling scream, dropping the tray. The crash of broken plates and clanging tray snaps me out of my trance. I plummet from the ceiling on top of her.
"Ouch! Blasted gravity."
The maid pushes me off, runs away, and screams: "Demon! Demon! Help!"
That fall made my whole body ache. I can't feel my limbs. I might have broken something. A familiar throat clears above me.
Long Fei pops his head over me.
"Having fun there?"
I laugh, but it hurts.
"I can't feel my limbs. Help."
"You're lucky she broke your fall."
"I didn't mean to do it. I just lost control."
"Yes, I saw."
A boisterous laugh echoes down the hallway, and the Crown Prince appears.
"That's the most funniest thing I've seen in ages! How was your trip?"
"Your Highness. I think I broke something."
His eyes widen, and he stares at Long Fei.
"How do you watch her without losing your mind?"
"I read a book."
The Crown Prince shakes his head and then calls for a physician.
Shortly after, an imperial physician comes running down the hallway. He observes me, checks my pulse, and opens my eyelids. Then turns to the Crown Prince in a panic and kneels.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I've never seen such a horrendous affliction before. She's blue all over. I don't know which poison she took. I must research the archives."
Thanks for noticing. That's my natural skin color.
The Crown Prince stifles a laugh, his body trembling, trying to keep a serious face.
"Is anything broken?"
The physician shakes his head.
"Nothing is broken. She's just in shock. She should be able to move on her own soon. It's just... she's blue!"
"Very well, you may leave."
The physician scurries away, muttering to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.
Once the physician is out of sight, His Highness leans on my master and laughs uncontrollably.
"How do you keep a straight face through that?"
"This is our normal day. Do you know how many walls she cracked as a tiny whale in the palace? I'll be surprised if there's a peaceful day."
"Hey! I'm still here, you know!" I shake my tiny fist.
Oh, my body can move again. I was able to get back up. My legs wobbling, tripping over my robe, clinging to His Majesty's robe. Oops! I laugh nervously. He glances down, his eyes softening. Then he picks me up and perches me on his arm, I wrap my arms around his neck, balancing.
"I was going to suggest sending her to school with the other young immortals, but it looks like, based on the reaction of the physician and the maid, the others may not appreciate her presence."
Long Fei scratches his chin.
"Ling Yue, how do you feel about school? They can teach you how to walk and use your limbs properly."
"Will you be there?"
He shakes his head.
"No, you will have other teachers there. I will only drop you off and pick you up. The only thing is, you cannot spit on your teacher here."
The Crown Prince tenses and snaps his head at Long Fei.
"She spits on teachers? Did she try spitting on you? And you let her live?"
"That technique was taught by the Merfolk."
I winced at the memory of my master's reaction when showing the spitting technique to him. Boy, it was a maelstrom. And that was him using one finger. I learned my lesson. I won't pull that stunt here. I doubt this puny form can handle it. Just in case there's a teacher that shares his sentiment.
"I swear by the sea, I will not spit on anyone on purpose."
"Good. Let's see how you go. We'll enroll you in tomorrow."
My master nods at His Highness who hands me over to him.
"I'll arrange for her schooling. Take her to the school tomorrow at dawn sharp."
So, school it is. Whatever gets me out of this puny body faster. I wonder if school is ready for me.