Merlin - The Great Gifter

When everyone went to sleep, Ema went to M. and asked:

-You think about the same as me?

- You saw Green Silver. You know what it means.

-Absorber. From all places in the world she appeared here. Now you can confirm that she has talent but should you train her?

- Do not try to manipulate me, Emy. I saw you looking at her.

The reddened Ema replied with enraged:

- And what? Maybe I like her but, but ...

- You know that time is running out. I have a maximum of 8 years, maybe less. Even if it shortens this time by half, I will risk it anyway.

- Stupid moron. Emy hugged Maxwell.

- I will not miss you.

- You will be the only thing I will miss.

Liliana woke up full of strength. She gathered quickly. And she left the cottage. There was an old couple waiting outside.

- Lil we have to talk. Come with us.

All three approached the canyon wall.

-When I told you about the gifts, I did not mention that I own it myself.

Before I show my Gift, you must learn to fight. We can not keep walking and watch over you.

Emy picked up two sticks, one dumped Lily.

- Attack me.

Boom. Without hesitation Lily quickly hit the top. The stick collided with the stick. However, the counterattack came very quickly and after a while the girl lay on the ground massaging her t.h.i.g.h.

- Well. You attacked immediately, impressive. Most people are surprised at such situations. And now on the other side. Why did you use a stick?

Liliana was dumbfounded.

- What do you mean? You told me to attack.

- Exactly. Attack. I did not say that with a stick.

- In that case, how?

- You could throw me a stone, use sand to blind me, simulate stumbling and stab me, fight is not equal, never was and will not be.

You fight to kill and I will teach you this.

This is how the training under Ema's tutelage began. Fight in melee, stick, knife, wooden sword, steal and camouflage techniques, assassination.

That's how every morning of Liliana looked, then mining Green Silver, lunch, mining again, and evening classes with Mr. M.

Evenings quickly became a favorite part of Liliana's day. Mr. M rarely spoke, but he did not beat her like Ema's grandmother, he just watched with disapproval. Liliana quickly learned that the scolding look is much worse than everything Emy did with her. The old man taught her to read and write, and when she mastered these two activities, real anguish began. Mr. M. knew almost everything and at all costs he wanted to tell Lily. History, mathematics, poetics, politics, trade, alchemy. Hundreds of thousands of information were whirling in Liliana's mind. After half a year, she could not concentrate, and the two old men looked at her anxiously. Then she imagined that she was in a huge octagonal room and all her memory was on its walls. Liliana began to watch closely and noticed something strange. Each wall was different, at first glance they were all identical, but subtle differences could be noticed. She went to one of the walls and touched her.

Ache. Huge, piercing pain. Blood flowed from her nose and eye sockets almost immediately.

-Hahaha I can not stand it! She hurt herself in her own mind.Hahaha!

-Who's there?

- There's no one else here. You are only you. Or rather, only I. We were always just us.

From the wall Liliana touched, a figure came out. Long hair, cascading down her slender arms, the posture of a young girl at the age of thirteen. A face showing signs that her owner will turn into a beauty in a few years. Liliana, looking at her, felt dirty and ugly.

- You're really comical. You feel diminished by looking at yourself.

- Who you are? Where am I?

-Where are we? A very good question. Anywhere? Somewhere? For years, scholars have been considering the answer to this question. If you look into your mind, are you still in your mind or somewhere else?

I call it the Octagon or Prison.

- Prison?

- And how else will you name the place where they keep you against your will? You can not go out, you can not enter. You're just staring at these empty walls.

- I came in here.

The girl looked at Liliane with murderous eyes.

- I do not even know how to express my admiration for your stupidity. Have you ever seen a prison without a supervisor? And today is the Big Day. Our supervisor visited us.

-Supervisor? Us? Who you are?

-Ah, I have not introduced myself yet. We are called Liliana Nilrem. It's nice to meet us. A smile of horror blossomed on the girl's lips.