NEW FOUND ABILITIES-E

`Astrid…Astrid…Astrid', she felt someone calling her name gently. She slowly opened her eyelid to see a pair of concerned grey eyes staring back at her.

`Have some water,' He placed a glass on her lips and she swallowed the water in gulps.

`Thirsty?', Astrid nodded.

Astrid drank 3 more cups of water before Enlil helped her to sit with her back against the wall.

`What the fuck was that?' she asked angrily looking between Enlil and pop. `Why didn't you warn me about it prior? That was hell back there. I could taste all that shit in my mouth, my breath, I mean everywhere',

`I know you are angry, but if we had told you earlier your affiliations could be in jeopardy.', Enlil explained with warm eyes.

`So? What are my affiliations?', Astrid asked, crossing her legs and looking at them with interest. 

`It has never happened before to us. I believe it's the first time. You wield the power of wind and the earth!', Grandpa Jones was excited.

`Usually, the matters of the earth will choose a person and the strongest compatible matter will fight to win over. But in your case, two matters were fighting to compete before both they combined force and selected you.'

`And that is good or bad?', she asked to see both smirks at her.

`It means good. You can mould and shape the earth, its content, its shape, its very existence, and the things it nurtures to your will. As for wind, Enlil here is the God of Wind. He will explain', Grandpa Jones took a book and passed it to Astrid.

`If you have observed more recently, movements of wind or gentle breeze calming you it means you are already harnessing your power without you knowing it', Enlil started.

Astrid thought for a moment and recalled back her past activities in a week. Well, no wind came to rescue when I was in trouble! But I managed to monkey jump around trees with ease and there has been less fall from swinging between tree branches.

She nodded her head and asked `What will I be able to do with this power? I mean I can't do fights. All I do is swing around trees..'-

Enlil cut her short and said ` That is where I come in. A matter involving the earth is easier to control, but wind needs physical as well as mental strength. You need to know the movements of controlling and invoking air, movements including the chants and incantations related to it.'

`I will be guiding you to reach your full potential. Then if the need arises, then you can defend yourself. I need to know your schedule so we can start to practice as soon as possible.' Enlil spoke at length with his deep voice.

`You are speaking as if we are going for a war.', Astrid wondered if all this is necessary. No one answered her comment.

`Enlil, I will prepare your bed, and Astrid sleeps early. You can start reading tomorrow'. Grandpa Jones cleared their cutleries and went to his bedroom.

`Well, today is Monday. I am on leave on Mondays. My night school starts from Tuesdays to Thursdays.. 7 pm to 10 pm. And my work at McPhearsons starts from Tuesday until Sunday. 9 am until 5 or 6 pm. Sometimes I do overtime, but it is not required.'

`May I ask you to adjust your timetable because I don't see where I fit in your schedule. Can we have the weekends freed up?'

`I can reschedule my work timings and take the weekend off?'

`That will be good'. Enlil stood up to walk towards pop's room before Astrid tug his sleeve for him to turn around and face her.

His grey eyes were mesmerizing, Astrid gulped visibly and stared at him before composing herself and croaked ` What will we do for training?'

`A lot of stuff, physically like close combat, muscles strengthening, swimming, woodwork and lastly control your newfound powers', He smiled at her and patted her head.

Astrid cleared her kitchen and sat on her bed, taking a book with her. She started reading and learned a lot about the history of wind, air, earth, and water. The different gods assigned to train their students, how long it has been on earth, the types of people chosen for it (she was appalled to read it involves being celibate or virgin) and she blushed. Astrid did not realize she was reading it well past her bedtime until a voice coughed.

`Excited much?', Enlil stood at the doorway and raised his eyebrows.

`I guess. I mean there is so much to learn and I'm getting to know this now', she replied sheepishly. `I wish pop had hinted me earlier',

`I think your grandfather did not want to burden you with these things. Maybe you were not prepared for it. But seeing that your age is just right to learn, he met me', Enlil sat at the corner of her bed and looked around the jars and glasses of herbs and oils.

`You mean he went missing in the pretext of finding you?'

`I am not easily accessible. Your grandfather has wind affinity, so naturally, he called for me.'

`How did he call you? I mean did he fly into the clouds until he knocked on your door?',

Enlil chuckled at her naivety and answered `No. He did a bonfire, chanted some words and voila I am here',

`How long will you be here? Astrid asked before realizing she sounded rude. `Oh shit, I am sorry. I didn't mean to..'

Enlil chuckled and said `It's ok. I get that a lot. Only until you are fully accustomed to your affinities, then I will move to the next person or head home'.

`You have a family?' Astrid was surprised.

`No I have siblings. 2 more brothers'

`No wife or kids?'

`No, never wanted one' he looked at her and grinned.

`Wow, that is…. I mean that's…' she did not know how to complete her sentence without being rude.

`I prefer having a short term or long term companion but children and wife..they can be used against me.'

`But aren't you the Wind God, I mean with a body like that who can win against you?' she cocked her eyebrow at him.

`You are quite straight forward.' Enlil stared at her and wondered if his stay here will be enjoyable.

`Holy shit, I mean I did not mean it.', she facepalms herself. She was embarrassed.

`Gods have weakness too. I don't want to add more to the list', his lips were thinned in a straight line and Astrid sensed she threaded into unwanted territory of Enlil. So she changed the subject completely.

`So who was your last student?' Astrid asked excitedly.

`It was a boy, younger than you. 300 years back. It was okay, nothing exciting.'

`That was so long ago. I mean how do you cope with the changing times and technology?', Astrid was curious.

`We learn and adapt.'

`Why do you talk so little?'

`Well, you are enough for both of us', Enlil looked at her and laughed. Astrid frowned and stuck her tongue out.

`I think we will have good times ahead of us', Enlil continued. Astrid pondered why Enlil was not asleep and asked,

`And you are not asleep? You can sleep on my bed; I can pick the rollover' Astrid offered.

`It's ok. I have been in far worse situations than this. Do you sell these?' Enlil asked gesturing to the colourful jars and bottles.

`Yes. It is quite profitable. I mean I read about it, test it myself then sell them', Astrid spoke.

`You have been using your affinity of the earth without you knowing it. It is not easy to mix and match as you say.' Enlil yawned. `Good night, Astrid'. He patted her head and left.

`Good night, Enlil'. Astrid looked at her clock which motioned to 11.00 pm and she set her alarm before sleeping.