“Lady Natasha, if you continue staring at him he may vent his annoyance on you. Please do not create more trouble than is already afoot.” Bael whispered quietly to the beautiful crimson haired Natasha who was staring intently at Lucifer's still figure.
“Cousin, you are the cause for most of our trouble. Shut up and just do your duty before I tell that Lucifer about your abduction of his bond.” Natasha replied with ice coating her words. She still continued to stare deeply at Lucifer.
She could feel something radiating from the dark golden scales of Lucifer. His black tunic and trousers russelled gently as Mana spiralled around him in a torrent of mystical synergy. Her disfigured left eye pulsed unnaturally as eerie dark red light incandescently glowed, as she resumed her single-minded staring of Lucifer. Natasha possessed an amazing ability inherent to her clan. The ability to see the flow of Mana, a truly envious capability of her prestigious pedigree.
Through her left eye’s vision she witnessed the intrinsic flow of black, gold and yellow coursing throughout the arterial pathways of Lucifer's body. Her sight included the mysterious and abstract synchronization of the Mana and Elements inside of Lucifer. Amazement and wanderlust aroused her entire being as the mesmerizing scene of Lucifer's meditation. She barely noticed the difference between Lucifer's meditation and the meditation of her family that she witnessed growing up.
Lucifer though was entirely immune to Natasha's piercing gaze. He focused internally with absolute singular and undivided attention. Losing himself in the enthrallment of his meditation, he felt the subtle pull and push of the Elements as they reacted with his Mana. Thinking back to the explanation of Luna in regards to the Elements, a thought sprung forth in his mind.
Why were the Elements attracted to him or as Luna said why would Gaies have blessed him with the such an abundant connection to Light and Dark?
Was it because of his ancestry?
Was it because of his hybridization?
Did the mixing of Heaven's Nephilim Warriors and the bloodline of the Dragon of Night, truly create such an unworldly connection to the Elements?
Lucifer pondered over these thoughts and ideas throughout his entire meditation. He missed the battle between the blonde Kasendrea and the redheaded Evra, despite the explosive and anxiety filled tension of the fight. Both the two girls showed their astonishing abilities as warriors of the Red Squire and Red Apprentice ranks respectively. Kasendrea as a human Light Element Red Squire showed her plethora of blinding fast attacks and golden aura surrounding her displayed the amazingly adept magical skills. Evra as a dwarven Fire Element Red Apprentice let the entire audience bear witness to her blistering intense flames as the fire swept across the grounds of the coliseum.
Lucifer missed the entire struggle the two girls experienced. He only let himself be immersed in the almost euphoric pleasure his meditation brought him. The feeling of the Mana and Elements twinning throughout his arteries and veins gave him an intrinsically mesmerizing sensation that he had never felt before. Luna's advice truly allowed for him to experience a newfound level of comfort and joy. As his Mana Core swelled with Dark and Light Element and Yellow Mana, the match between Kasendrea and Evra came to a halt.
“Victor, Evra Brotlar!” The draconian referee announced. Of course the referee was Jas, with his immense strength as a Blue General could deal with anything that happened in the matches.
Natasha Devol VS Cinder Oak
Bael Offal VS Trent Cal
Lucifer Khan VS Argan Sigmar
Kasendrea Yulhan VS Evra Brotlar
“The Semi-Final pairings will include the victors of the last round. Natasha Devol shall face Trent Cal! Lucifer Khan will battle Evra Brotlar for the second pairing! The fights will take place tomorrow at noon! Please return to your lodgings so that you are prepared for tomorrow.” And like that the long and arduous day of fighting ended for the young hopeful students of the Elemental Academy.
As the crowd roared in cheers, betting tables began to open for the result of the next day's matches. Would the ravishing Natasha Devol continue to dominate her foes or would Trent Cal display his might and upset the Crimson Diva. Could the Fire Princess of Muselpine defeat the Royal Holy Draconian Lucifer?
Natasha Devol VS Trent Cal
Lucifer Khan VS Evra Brotlar
“Lucifer head north and outside the city immediately. We must discuss something.” Kain's voice resonated in Lucifer's ear as he began making his way to the lodging provided for himself. Glancing around, he failed to find a trace of the Green Demi-Sage. Asking Luna for her opinion, the two agreed that meeting with Kain was for the best. Casting [Shadow Clad] Lucifer entered into the shadows cast by the setting sun and made his way stealthily through the city. Despite the grand size of Az Citadel, he made his way from the central area to the northern gate in a matter of minutes. All while preventing any from seeing even a trace of his very distinct form.
Finding a sole tree in the empty farmland that surrounded the Citadel, Lucifer choose to lounge on one of the thick branches of the tall oak while he awaited Kain. After almost an hour of waiting the man himself arrived.
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“Boy do you know that Devol girl?” Kain questioned as he leaned against the trunk of the tree. The Demi-Sage wore the same outfit that he had when Lucifer first met him. Yet now the long bident that was Kain's weapon hung loosely in the large hand of the human.
“Mmm.” Grunted the seemingly half awake Lucifer as his body draped across the boughs of the oak. The setting sun cast amber rays of light on him that made his scales sparkle in a majestic lustre.
“How?” Kain continued with mild interest.
“Thief.”
“Oh? What did she steal?”
“Doesn't matter.”
“Fine, but some advice for you. Don't treat her as weaker than Argon. She is by far the strongest of the competition you will face maybe even you will ever face.” Kain sighed with emotion. He truly could not fathom how someone could match Lucifer in terms of power and talent given the boy's heritage. Yet this human girl had and maybe even surpass him.
“Mmm.” Lucifer grunted again apparently not taking Kain's words seriously. But if one noticed carefully, they would see that his entire body was pulsing with tension. Each muscle would expand and contract with each heave of his breathing. Showing the anxiety and seriousness that Lucifer had under his facade of indifference.
“Stay here for the night. If you go into the city I have a feeling you won't be able to relax like this haha.” With those words Kain left Lucifer alone and walked back towards the city.
Lucifer continue to relax in the bowels of the tree. While his body relaxed his mind was working in overdrive trying to find and understand the reasons between him and his body's connections with the Elements. Was it really so simple? Was it simply because of his heritage? Or was the reason deeper, was it more intrinsically tied to something much greater than himself?
Light was yang, Dark was yin. Lucifer himself was neither though. He leaned not to Light neither Dark. But brought both of them into one whole. So while he thought of these difficult ideologies and theories, the sun set and ushered in night to Gaies. Drifting off to sleep with the stars keeping him company, Lucifer peacefully ended his day.
“Brother!”
“What is it Luna?” Lucifer groaned as he landed on the hard ground from his perch in the oak. Luna had startled him awake with a shout in his mind causing him to fall off the tree.
“Hehe Brother today is a big day! You have to avenge me and beat that red bitch!” Luna giggled as she leapt from his shadow and tackled him with licks and playful cuddles.
“Don't think I forgot! After you beat every one of those two-legs, I have a present for you!”
“Fine fine fine haha!” Lucifer laughed with contentment and a smile. While he rubbed Luna's soft fur with his big hands and scratched behind her ears.
“Remember what Kain said though! She isn't weak! She should be stronger than Luna so fight with everything you got!” Pushing herself off of Lucifer, Luna made sure to remind him of the seriousness of the fight today.
“I won't ever use less then 100% of my power again. The sentient races of Gaies are not as weak as I had imagined. Neither am I as strong as I imagined.” Lucifer said with solemn severity as he clenched his hands and gazed towards the distant city.
“Messor today, you will not taste blood. I must fight with my own strength now.” He continued as he leapt up into the tree to where Messor still lay balanced across various branches.
“Brother why do you talk to your weapon as if it is a person?” Luna inquired with suspicion and narrowed eyes.
“Uh-Well, you see this is the weapon that Kain built for me. And he said that I should name her, so I did.” Lucifer stuttered as he tried to explain himself to the cold gaze of Luna.
“Why is named in the ancient tongue? I told you never to treat them like they were real! Fuck do you know what you have done!” Luna roared in absolute livid anger.
“Uh-”
“Shut up! You have made it a sentient fucking weapon!”
“Well that doesn't sound too bad.” Lucifer sighed with relief as he heard Luna's words. A sentient weapon didn't sound bad at all, rather it sounded really cool to him.
“Idiot! It is now an immortal fucking existence that will develop an ego and eventually become a cursed weapon! Idiot! Fucking idiot! You remember what cursed weapons are? Yeah? Then tell me as you get to the fucking coliseum.” Exasperated and angered beyond compare, Luna leapt into Lucifer's shadow and continued releasing black fog that seemed to swallow all light it touched. Making Lucifer's entire shadow much darker compared to other shadows.
“Well, cursed weapons are weapons from ancient times that are incredibly powerful but they devour the mind of whoever uses them. It is not common knowledge on how cursed weapons came into existence, but almost every major power contains at least a cursed weapon. They are akin to weapons of mass destruction because of the sheer devastation they cause when used even taking the life of the user.” Lucifer recounted as he flew towards the city with Mana enhancing his wings and aiding his flight.
“You at least know something. But you are missing a lot.” Like a senior educating a junior, Luna answered Lucifer while he entered the airspace of the city.
“Cursed weapons aren't actually cursed. It is the Beast soul inside of the weapon that is too powerful for the weapon to contain that makes it cursed. Right now your warglaive is in the infantile stage of sentience. It won't be at the stage of a true cursed weapon for a while, but when it does. You must destroy it with all your might. The cost for using it at the point is not one you can hope to pay!”
“Whatever. I can't change it now, I need a weapon and Messor is the best one I have ever seen. She is perfect in every way for me and I will not destroy her. We will deal with this once I finish this tournament.” Lucifer scowled as he entered the coliseum, no one hindered nor even attempted to disturb him. After all who would be foolish enough to disturb a royal draconian regardless of what country he was from? This was made even more apparent and reinforced when the rumours of Lucifer's assault on Zanigan made waves in the city. The crowds parted as soon as Lucifer's shadow covered the ground allowing him to land with ease.
Lucifer was by far the most infamous contender in the matches of the day. A royal draconian singlehandedly destroyed almost an entire district with one spell! This was made even more astonishing when coupled with Lucifer's young age shocked the entire country! The Senate of Muselpine was put into a very difficult position because of this. Could they just arrest and execute a top 5 student of the Elemental Academy who also happened to be a royal draconian? So finally the Brotlar family had to make a decision on the situation.
“Evra can you defeat the draconian Lucifer?” An aged and stoic dwarven man asked the kneeling Evra. He stood tall for a dwarf almost standing as tall as a human or elf at 5’6” and had the bulky heft of a heavyweight fighter. A perfectly groomed beard covered the bottom half of his face but his cold piercing gaze showed enough for any to tell his facial expression. His hair was shaved into a mohawk with a ponytail at the back in the style reminiscent of the old viking warriors.
“At my current power that is impossible, your Majesty.” Evra answered with detached yet respectful indifference. The man before her was her father yet he was also the one who forced her through inhuman suffering all to further his own machinations. Love held no place in their relationship. Evra could only respect his power and cunning as a fellow warrior, that was all that was left in her heart for the man who sired her.
“Explain.” King of Muselpine, Paul Brotlar demanded as his powerful aura of a Blue Saint gushed out only to begin suffocating Evra as she tried to resist the unyielding and unbridled power of her father.
“He is a Yellow Squire!” Came the ragged and halting response of Evra as she struggled for air.
“His rank matters not. You will win. Am I understood?” The King stated as he retracted his aura from the sweltering heated room. His overwhelming Fire Element created a sauna out of the solid stone room that served as Evra’s room. No furniture lay in the room for that would only lead it to combust from the heat of his aura. The blankets that lay on the ground however were turned to ash without even the chance to ignite.
“Use [Hellion] if you truly cannot win as it stands now. But failure to achieve victory is absolutely unforgivable!” With those words, Paul Brotlar left his daughter to ruminate and prepare for her guaranteed victory.