Chapter 98: Growing pains

Chapter 98: Growing pains

“Growth hurts because change isn’t easy, that’s why they call it growing pains.”

Tony Gaskins

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I sidled onto the dock where Father was working on his boat, “Can I have a drop?” I asked Father first, thinking that he was probably the best bet at getting a favourable decision.

“No, go ask your mother.” He avoided taking sole responsibility for the decision. I left him and went to find my mother.

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I wandered into the kitchen where Mother was working, “Can I have a drop?” I asked Mother the guardian of the elixir.

“No, ask your father.” She replied without looking at me.

“I’ve already asked him, he told me to ask you.” I responded

“Maybe later.” She sighed probably exasperated with Father for passing the buck. Leaving her for the moment, I left before she could give me a job to do. But it wouldn’t be long before I was back.

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A short while later, “Can I have one now.” I popped my head into the room and whined. I didn’t exactly expect a different answer but it was difficult to know that the answer to my lack of height was sitting on a shelf just out of reach. Oh, the irony. I mean I could probably climb up to get it. However, that would hardly be a particularly subtle attempt at appropriating it and I would definitely be stopped in the process.

“No, your father and I need to discuss this later.” If in doubt delay while saying you are waiting for someone else’s decision. I grumpily stomped off in search of my sister. Who was suspiciously difficult to find.

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“How about now? Have you discussed it yet?” I wheedled. It was not that I didn’t have other things to do but this one was all I could think about now. An itch I couldn’t scratch. Or a stone in my shoe worrying at my thoughts.

“No, Kai.” Mother exasperated used my real name. “I know you are doing this on purpose.” Unimpressed at my childish behaviour especially when she knew I was putting it on. Yes, a child, a true child might be unable to regulate their behaviour, but they knew that I was far from a regular child and therefore knew I could do better. Even if it felt as if I couldn’t.

“The answer is not tonight. Let’s sleep on it before making any hasty decisions.” She gave her final answer and I knew there would be no chance of changing it before the morrow.

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Moving on from my parents I finally found my sister, “Up for some magic practice?” I asked.

“Yes Kai, I will.” He answered. “Wait here.” He stood picked up a small bottle from a shelf before placing his palm against the stone wall behind him. It opened silently for him and the shadows wrapped around him as he disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel leaving me in his hidden cave of wonders. He could be incredibly scary when he moved silently with purpose hidden in the blackness.

I pottered around the room looking at the different chests and the books within. He had a rather large collection of knives. Probably why he always had so many to throw. Some were long, some were short, some were small enough to hide in the palm of your hand but all of them were terribly sharp.

It was not long before he returned, the elixir in hand.

“How did you get it?” I asked.

“A simple use of misdirectionand substitution. We have an hour before the illusion will wear off and even then it is doubtful if they will notice the switch as the bottles are roughly the same size. Humans notice sudden changes or movements; the illusion fades slowly over time and the lack of movement will hide the difference. Still, it would be good to replace it if you wish to get away with this without challenging your parents’ orders. Although again the consequences might very well be impossible not to notice.” He answered.

“Right bottoms up,” I said lifting the bottle to my lips to find my arm held in my grandfather’s vice-like grip.

“A drop Kai,” he said releasing his grip once I had lowered my hand holding the elixir. “Allow me.” He said taking the elixir off me. “This is incredibly rare stuff but at the same time best to do a drop at a time, tilt your head back and open your mouth.”

I did, somewhat ashamed by my stupidity that I had thought to swallow it whole I waited patiently as he slowly, ever so slowly tipped the bottle over my open mouth spilling a single drop to fall onto my tongue. I swallowed.

The taste while palatable was hardly pleasant a sort of earthy, iron tang to what I assumed bark tasked like. The taste was quickly replaced by a surge of heat. The liquid did not need to reach my stomach to begin its work. I felt the heat spreading from my mouth down my throat to my stomach following the path of the drop. But from there it started to heat up my insides spreading throughout my body until it reached my bones and their it intensified. Continuing to grow in strength until sweat burst out along my brow and I collapsed from the surge in sensations. Deftly my grandfather caught me and laid me down. “Don’t worry Kai, I will watch over you.” He said as I drifted towards unconsciousness my body burning up in the process.

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I watched my young Lord Silversea slip into fitful slumber the elixir clearly working quickly to speed his growth. As always, I was conflicted. Grateful as I was to him for releasing and relaxing my oaths and bonds, I felt less certain than ever as to the best course of action. My strained relationship with my adopted daughter his mother was finally healing after I had felt compelled to push him to his limits as an infant which were far beyond the abilities of normal babies. How much would this damage it? Would my interference even be obvious? Kai was clearly capable of building a tunnel up to the elixir it was only a matter of time till he took it anyway. This way at least he had someone to watch over him while it happened. Seeing that he had settled somewhat I left the room to return the elixir before it was missed. I mean how noticeable would it be anyway? Maybe no one would even notice, a man could hope.

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Last night had been painful. Not exceptionally so but certainly not pleasant. Sort of like growing pains and starvation all rolled into one. My body felt as if all my joints had been stretched apart. My muscles were torn and torn again before rebuilding that little bit longer. I was in a serious amount of pain. I also no longer fit my box bed with my feet sticking out below the end of my blankets. Grandfather had clearly collected it to place me in it. Trembling I pulled back the blankets to look at my longer legs, it was not a lot maybe only an inch but to me, it felt like a mile. Sitting up I was able to reach the floor with my feet as I stood up facing forwards no longer having to roll onto my stomach and slide off the bed. A small step to start the day rather than a giant leap of faith that I would fall onto my feet! I stretched seeing how high I could now reach.

My height was immediately obvious to me but I doubted if it would be immediately obvious to anyone else provided they did not start measuring me. Something this world or at least my family did not seem to do on the doorways. The only noticeable difference would be in how my clothes fit and while I was still far from as proficient as my mother at making clothes, I could easily add half an inch to each leg and half an inch to my waistline hiding my increase in size at least for the moment. If I outgrew my top that would be a little harder to manage but Mother had been making me practice patch my trousers anyway so had already provided all the materials, I needed.

“Ah, your awake?” I turned sharply to see who had spoken only to see Grandfather sitting behind me. “I told your parents that we were working on some night training exercises when they asked where you were and that I would be keeping an eye on you.” He explained.

I foolishly had not thought that it would take more than a moment or take so much out of me. I was famished. “Do you have any food?” I demanded.

“Yes, plenty of fish, fruit and vegetables. That looked like it took a lot out of you. Here.” He offered me a platter piled high with our produce and some of our most recent catch from the mana reef. I quickly tucked in and my ravenous appetite soon devoured the plate while it also left me still aching for more.

“A highly effective elixir. The elves make potent potions. Also, you will need to practice a little to get used to your slightly longer reach otherwise you will find yourself tripping over yourself. I would not recommend adding more than an inch a month or you might find your body struggling to handle the need for nutrients. But that would be something to ask Lady Acacia about the best ratio of time to elixir. Even at only a drop each month you will put on a foot and a half over the next year at that rate and double your size over two. You will no longer be the little ankle biter we know and love.”

I smiled, “I’ll soon be taller than you old man.”

“You’ve got a little way to go before then and I will still be able to put you on your ass in more ways than one so don’t expect to win anytime soon.” He failed to dampen my enthusiasm over the speed at which I could now grow up. I might not be a martial expert yet, but I would be learning magic soon and that was sure you give me a couple of ways to trip up my infuriatingly proficient grandfather.

“What exactly do you do while we are sewing, sailing and selling stuff?” I asked intrigued and hopeful that he would elaborate a little more on the matter seeing as he was in a cheerful mood over my growth.

“This and that, but mainly keep the vermin down on the island. I’ll show you when you are a little taller and able to keep up with Aleera.”

“What vermin?” I asked confused. “Rats?” I could hardly imagine him as a rat catcher and had never noticed enough of them around town for them to have been a problem.

“The Church might lead us in the Light of the Lodestar but that doesn’t stop pests pushing their way out of the Lodestone every now and then. I make sure that if they ever do, they are soon put back into the ground.”

“What pests?” I asked curiously but it seemed that he had exhausted his quota of words for the day.

“When you are taller Kai, when you are taller. Come on you will miss your father sailing if you don’t head out now.”

He opened the passageway for me and I sped out on my slightly longer legs nearly tripping over them before I got into a new rhythm of running.

Ding! Running Level 51!

Wow! I had finally progressed one of my Tier 1 skills past their first Meridian. Also, surprisingly it was running as opposed to meditation, time sense or swimming which had all been stuck at level 50 for far longer. Maybe I could level up my swimming at the reef today as well. If adjusting my body to running on slightly longer legs had been enough for that skill perhaps it would also work for swimming. Excited I sped up. I had to catch up to my father before he left if I hoped to achieve that today.

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