Training little Sombra on how to use the location spell had been, as he would say, 'fun'.
While I was indeed entertained at his training, I wouldn't state that he has progressed all that far, as it took him about a week to find his soul mark, which I guess is understandable for mortals who just discovered their potential. Due to the training, he even discovered what he calls a Cutie Mark, a mark that "magically" appears on their butts or their "flanks". It was a crystal crown that had a pristine sheen, in case any of the souls that were listening to my thoughts were wondering.
Sombra told me that a pony receives this mark after performing a certain action and it describes that whatever the mark means is their destined path or something along those lines. I didn't really listen to the explanation considering it means little to me and I would receive one, not that would want to. As if I care about having a permanent tattoo on my lower posterior that I will never allow anyone to see.
On the other note, my wounds also healed up (not including the patch holes that surround my body and face) and so did my dress, strangely enough. I had moved Sombra from looking for his soul mark to how to use it.
"Okay, now that you have found your mark you need to first draw blood in order to apply its effects," I say as I give something sharp rock to cut his hand with.
"Are you sure that part is really necessary?" He says as he looks at the rock with a little fear, but accepts it anyway.
"You do not have sharp teeth to bite your thumb, dear," I stated as I give him a nice pat on the head. "And yes, it is necessary, for the souls' power is in the blood. But only the soul's body can draw its power from the blood, so that means no drinking others blood for more power. It simply won't work."
"That sucks," Sombra whines and made a sound that sounded like a horse (ha). He looked at the rock with such a disappointed expression. "I wanted to do awesome blood magic."
Blood magic? Why in my kingdom would he want to learn something like that? Come to think of it where did he learn of such magic?
I lightly tap him on the head. "No Blood magic, Sombra. It will destroy your soul, and when you die you will not be able to see me again." I have him look me in the eyes. I can see his fear of losing me rising as I stare at him "Where did you even learn of its existence?"
"It was in a book that I read back at Trottingham." I can see tears start to form in his eyes.
I gently wipe away a tear to let him know I'm not that upset at him. "What was the book called Sombra?"
"It was called the truth about myths, legends, and magic." I give him a small hug to help calm him down.
"Stay here while I go get you some food okay?" Upon receiving a nod from him I head into the woods to find some berries and mull over whether or not to continue teaching Sombra this spell and the answers he gave me. I have little doubt he is telling the truth but the book's title sticks with me.
That’s when I was reminded of an idea, or rather, more of a mythical moment that inspired into an idea. They were called Kirins, something I think I’ve heard of before, the name does ring a bell.
However, if the ponies that I’ve overheard tell me correctly, they are reclusive and hidden, myths. All myths hold some sorts of truth; no matter how small or how irrelevant the information they hold within it. They have originated from somewhere mystical and they have to come from something majestic and proud.
What did they say?
--Flashback--
“I told ya!” The stallion swore, ”When I was down in the lower woods, I saw one of them kirin folk! A majestic lookin’ thing, that’s what it was! But it were silent, wouldn’t answer any of my calls!”
“Oh, yer full of it, I tell you what!” The other stallion waved off his co-worker, "Kirins ain't real! We’ve been down there in the lower woods hundreds of times, and nothin’ was there! Not even a single horn or broken tooth to show fer it."
--end of flashback--
I need magic enchantments to help with the armor, maybe these Kirins creatures have what I need.
I search around to get a clearer understanding of my surroundings and I can tell that this is technically the lower woods. They are far from any town, and down mostly, closer to the murky terrains of an unlikely explored domain. Once I establish what direction I need to go with my small collection of berries and mushrooms I start heading back to Sombra with his food.
Once I return I find myself staring at Sombra, who is Levi-playing a stick with his magic. At least he has better control of his levitation magic.
“Sombra, come along, we are going to find something after you eat,” I stated in a smooth and calm yet slightly commanding tone.
He looked up at me with a grin and walked over, dropping the stick behind, ”Okay.” He eats the food fairly quickly and we are soon on the road again. The unexplored territory does seem to be filled with life but for some reason, they stay away. Not that I'm complaining, it just means less for me to worry about.
"Where are we going, Mother?" I hear the young colt ask.
"We are looking for an enchanter Sombra." I take a glance over my shoulder to look at him. "You know this."
"I know but wouldn't it make more sense to find one in a town?"
"Yes it would but I wish to investigate something that I overheard a while ago."
"Why tho?" Sombra continues with the questions.
Taking a second to exhale some air from my lungs I say. "To see if what I'm looking for is worth the effort."
"Okay" Feeling like He is done talking I go back to giving my full attention to looking for the kirin. "What are we looking for Mother?"
"Kirin, Boy." My tone is harsh and cold that should only be reserved for father figures but it gets my point across. Sombra is silent for a few hours after my response. I see a small creek up ahead which reminds me that Sombra is alive and needs a lot of maintenance. "Its been a while since you had something to drink yes?" I ask.
"I am very thirsty." He replies, his voice was croaking a bit.
"Do you see something to drink?" I nodded as I gestured my right hand towards the creek. He gains a large smile forms on his face as runs to the water. But before his mouth can actually reach the water, I grabbed him by the nape on his neck.
Is that what the back of the neck is called? Nape? It doesn't seem right but is scruff any better?
"Mom?"
Then again it could be called something completely random like skin fold or the pinchy area.
"Mother?"
No, no that can't be it but now that I think about it nape is definitely the right word. It's just a weird sounding word. Then again.
"LORELEY!!" Sombra screams breaking me out of my train of thought.
"Yes, Sombra?" I inquired as I found it quite rude for my thoughts to be interrupted in such a manner.
"Why did you stop me from getting some water?" I had to blink a couple of times before remembering what was going on before my thoughts even boarded the train. "Can you also let go this hurts?"
I remove my grip on him and he rubs his neck a little "I need to purify the water from parasites and diseases." Sombra gives me a confused look. "Dirty water will kill you if you drink them right now." I simplified my explanation. Sombra simply nervously gulps as I go over to the creek and I stick my hand in it. Next, I use a little magic to absorb the tiny souls from the microorganisms rendering them harmless. But I accidentally take some fish and crayfish souls as well. After a quick apology to those poor unfortunate souls, I look over to Sombra and say. "You can drink now Sombra," He wastes little time in drinking his fill. "Better?"
"Very much. Thank you, Loreley." That is quite the unique quirk of his mixing between calling me mom, mother, my name, and the occasional mommy. But that is just apart of him I suppose.
Once he puts some water in a container we get moving following the creek downstream. Nothing really interesting happens during this part of the journey, as most of the "dangerous" creatures seem to stay at a fair distance away from us or at least, from me since I do see them eye up Sombra from time to time.
===========================================Time Skip=================================================
We travel for what I would have to guess about a month of nothing notable all while I continued helping Sombra with that spell until he managed to get it down. but it seems to take a lot out of him. A couple of times during that month some of the elderly animals came to me and I released their souls allowing them to rest.
"Are you sure you can't teach me that soul release spell Mother?" Sombra asks for the umpteenth time. I would be lying if I said that it wasn't irritating me and the dead don't lie, we may keep secrets but we don't lie.
"The living can not learn my most magic Sombra they need to experience death and abandoned the flesh just to get started on the basics." I begin the explanation again. "My magic rots the flesh, the mind and everything but the soul so the only way to learn it is by being a soul in the first place. So unless you are willing to die to learn my magic it will not happen Sombra any time during your life span."
"Well, that is very interesting." A new voice cuts in. Turning around I see a blue-scaled pony with what looks like a white lions mane I say nothing as it approaches us. "I never thought I would meet one so well versed in the dark arts and be so intact as it were, and that's not even mentioning your reluctance to even spread the corruption." As it was speaking it was eyeing me more then Sombra which I felt some relief flow through me about that fact.
"Are you a Kirin yes?" I asked calmly as Sombra grabbed a hold of my hand.
"Yes I am and the name is Winterbreeze, your highness." Winterbreeze does a bow as they say this. or at least as close a bow as a quadruped can anyway. "So what brings you to the Kirins neck of the woods?"
"I'm looking for an enchanter for a lot of armor," I state as Winterbreeze stops bowing "I am going, to be honest, I plan on going to war with the immortals of I believe is Equestria is the name of the country."
"How interesting," Winterbreeze ponders "And should you win what would happen to the sun and moon they control?"
"They will select a family to move them for generations as I imagine as they probably wouldn't want me to continuously go after whoever they pick," I reply The Kirin seems to pounder my answer for a while as no one says anything for a moment.
"I will enchant your armor just take me to it," Winterbreeze says with a smile on their face. "The closest town is a new village recently built called Ponyville I believe."
"Awesome I can't wait to sleep in an actual bed," Sombra exclaims as the three of us head to the nearest town from what I was informed was just a week away.
Perfect and then when everything is ready those disgusting immortals won't know what hit them. I think to myself as a smile appears on my face.