With an astonishing speed Lucifer weaved through the forest. Cycling between boost his legs as the pushed off the ground he reached an astonishing speed. After a short hour he had arrived at the cabin’s clearing. Stopping amongst the shade of a giant oak tree, Lucifer looked at his old home. A surge of emotions rang through him as he saw Eric practice with his naginata beside the cabin.
Thrust, pivot, slash, lunging thrust, sweep, horizontal staff block, single handed back sweep, single hand thrust, raising thrust, downward slash. A myriad of different moves, stances and attacks flowed out in an unpredictable fashion as man and weapon danced. Eric completely lost himself in a trance as he focused on facing his invisible opponent(s). Lucifer felt something stinging his eyes as he gazed at the man that had raised him like a son for an entire year and the home they shared.
Rubbing his eyes Lucifer’s hand came away wet. Looking down he saw water droplets on his hand. Shaking his head and trying to rid himself of the water flowing from his eyes, Lucifer turned away from his old home. Facing the forest’s shadowed interior that sunlight barely broke through the canopy of, Lucifer heaved a giant sigh. Sniffing and whimpering at it’s new friend’s pain the pup in Lucifer’s shirt snuggled up closer to him, trying to ease his suffering. As Lucifer was about to begin entering the forest again for the last time, he heard a shout.
“Welcome home brat.” Eric called with a knowing grin on his face. He and the others had a running bet on if the young boy would return. He himself had bet 50 gold coins on the boy returning within a week. Sauntering slowly over to Lucifer, Eric hoisted his long weapon upon his shoulders.
“I thought you would die without someone to bring you food every day. Had to check to see if you died yet.” Lucifer said without turning around to face Eric. He didn’t want Eric seeing his eyes leaking water. He thought it was from some sickness that would eventually kill him with severe pain to his eyeballs. The boy was crying for the first time in his life. He had no idea what was happening to him.
“Ah. So that’s why you are here. Well, I can hunt somewhat well, nothing like you however. But it’s enough. I was even thinking of heading back to the city tomorrow.” Eric laughed jovially.
Though that laughter was all it took to push Lucifer over the edge. He clutched the small pup that was curled up in his chest and fell to his knees, crying as hard as a young 7 year old kid could manage. Tears streamed from his different coloured eyes as sobs echoed from his parched throat. Snot ran from his nostrils as he let out his emotions.
Eric quietly stood behind the boy who was feeling emotions truly for the first time in his life. The boy was feeling sadness, anger, despair, loneliness. Things that most experience as they age slowly in a loving home. Not in a single year of learning about how live in society and about people. Eric took slow and measured steps towards the form of Lucifer. Reaching the boy’s body he knelt and gave the crying child a big loving embrace.
Enveloped in the loving embrace of Eric, Lucifer began to feel an incredibly warm feeling swell in his tightened chest. It was a strangely comforting feeling. He truly felt for the first time Eric’s love for him. Even if he did not understand it as of yet. His heart knew of Eric’s love. When Lucifer finally came to comprehend these new emotions, he would recognize Eric’s love.
“Welcome home my boy, I missed you.” Eric whispered into Lucifer’s ear in between the boy’s sobs. And as if Eric’s words broke something deep inside, Lucifer began to cry even harder. Turning his body so he could return Eric’s loving embrace. Totally ignoring the little black pup in his bosom. As the two reunited and embraced each other, Yue and Jasmine, stood at the cabin door, giving the two males their space.
After a good half hour of sobbing Lucifer finally got up after realising he and Eric were squishing his little companion. As the pup got released by the two emotional males it leapt out of lucifer’s shirt and began to pant for breath. Giggling at the little pup’s actions Lucifer carefully picked up the pup. Eric on the other hand eyed the little black furball with a sharp eye, before Lucifer could notice he immediately stopped.
The man and boy began to walk towards the cabin as Yue and Jasmine began cooking lunch. Without saying anything the group of four ate a big lunch. At the end of the meal Yue spoke up.
“So Lucifer, have you decided to learn what we have to teach? Without the previous attitude and rudeness you gave before.”
“I am sorry for my rudeness Jasmine and Eric. But please explain to me what you meant before about not trusting anyone.” Lucifer humbly acknowledge his wrong doings.
“You're forgiven little one. But please listen to us until you finish all of our lessons. That way you can choose the best option possible. Alright?” Eric said with a calm and gently smile. He understood a bit of Lucifer’s pain. To be raised by someone and then finally told not to trust them and that they could possibly enslave him. It was a lot to take in. Especially for a young 7 year old.
“Alright if that's what you think is best Eric. I will patiently wait till the end of my lessons. I don't have much choice either. Haha” Lucifer bitterly laughed after complying with Eric’s compromise.
This little agreement lead to an entire 10 months of magical theory, spell formation, and Element studies. Arriving at the current day mid autumn. Right now Lucifer was in a heated, magical sparring with Jasmine.
Blasts of icy cold magic shot through the air. As a lithe shadow dodged and evaded the freezing shards of ice. Slowly the battle ended as a panting figure became visible amidst the dust clouds and ice spikes that littered the barren field.
The figure stood about 5’9” and had very peculiar features. Only dressed in a pair shorts and bare chested the figure was extremely well sculpted. Rippling muscles that screamed in primal savagery. Glistening dark golden scales encompassed the humanoid figure’s feet, calves, hands and forearms. Equipped with sharp talon like claws the humanoid seemed incredibly beastial. Scales shining like black gold greaves and gauntlets in the afternoon sun. A dark brown tanned skin was all that was human like about the humanoid. On its back were short wings that had a 3’6” wingspan. Though the wings were short, they seemed impressively strong they did not have the strength to let the humanoid fly. The wings were dark gold leathery wings a shade lighter than the matching scale like armour adorning his limbs. The strangest thing about the being was it's long 4 foot length tail. The tail clad in sharp jagged Razor like scales became like a weaponized whip of destruction. Capable of shredding anything that touched it. This figure was the draconic Nephilim, Lucifer Aeroic Khan.
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“So, you see the difference now?” Jasmine's voice sounded out from the training field.
“Yeah I got it. [Ice Spikes] only allows a barrage within a 5 metre frontal cone shaped area. While your opponent fends off that spell, you can cast the more versatile [Ice Mine] to catch them off guard.” Lucifer’s tad premature voice responded as he got up from the ground. His body showing off it's own natural beastial beauty. Rolling his shoulders Lucifer began thinking of different ways to fight with his own magics.
“Good. Now give me 3 ways to improve that strategy.” Jasmine grinned at how well Lucifer answered.
Articulate, composed and an incredible fighter. Lucifer was growing into being the perfect man. He was as tall as others an entire decade older than him. But that couldn't be helped as draconians were known to have grown as tall as 8 feet tall. Nephilims growing to 9 feet at their prime. Though some races grew to a similar height; like the bear beastmen and orcs, Lucifer was a monster even among them. His body screamed Beast. Dragon scales encasing his forearms, hands, calves, feet and tail. Wings and tails were traits only high born draconians possess. Though feathered wings showed off his pureblood Nephilim descent quite strongly.
“If I was a Magus I would try to focus my [Ice Spikes] spell into a straight path. Then fire it at different angles, to concentrate fire and boost the damage created.” Lucifer quickly explained after thinking for a short moment. He then continued. “I would also see if I could use [Ice Mine] in concert with [Ice Spikes]. That way I would only have to do a single casting to launch both spells. The third way I can think of is to become a close quarters Magus. Using [Ice Spikes] at close range so your opponent has to dodge or take the hit. Then you can force them into any [Ice Mines] you have cast.” Lucifer stated with absolute confidence.
He was always partial and after seeing the Eric used magic he always questioned why Magus did not use spells at close range. Certain high level spells need their target to be close or immobilized for it to work. If a Magus got close enough to his target he could unleash a devastating spell at point blank range. Amplifying the damage output of the spell.
With this theory Lucifer began to experiment with his own magic. Lucifer was most likely a Light variation or a Lunar Element Spellblade. He had yet to get a Elemental Stone to test his Element. Neither Lucifer nor Jasmine who taught him magic could understand why Lucifer could not use external magic after almost a whole year of having a Mana Core. He could innately use any body strengthening with his Mana. But letting the Mana flow outside of his body was always met with failure.
After weeks of attempts at even forming a simple Mana armour over his left hand, Jasmine finally gave up. This phenomenon had caused her a major headache. It also led her to leaving for a month to ‘look for answers.’ In the end, she returned with only an old worn out scroll. The scroll was written in an unknown language that was made up of very complex characters. Only Yue could decipher it after she identified the language as Primal Draconis. The language of the dragons.
The scroll stated many strange facts but the one that stood out was that, only dragons who survive their first decade of life can inherit their Element. This also led to the group understanding a bit of why Mana Cores only form for those around the age of 10 and older. The Beasts the races of Gaies evolved from most likely had similar rules. From the apes that humans grew from to the giants the orcs descended from. Say nothing about the beastmen.
With this new knowledge Jasmine relented on her intense training with Lucifer. Choosing to focus on how he would combat other Magus warriors and theory of magic over practice. Jasmine would cast series of spells at Lucifer and see how he would handle them as well as move forward.
With a right eye that could track movement and a wondrous set of footwork, Lucifer almost always found the holes in any assault she made. Lucifer’s body was truly awe inspiring. A dragon's predatory eye capable of seeing heat signatures and tracking abilities that would shame a hawk. A Nephilim’s eyes that allows them to see intentions. Lucifer had this kind of left eye. No one could mask their intentions from him. Any who had any thoughts of attacking him would be caught before they could even act upon them. Lucifer had both these godly eyes. Combined together his eyes allowed him to see Jasmine's plan of attack as she made it in her mind. While his bloodlines aided him in finding the hole in the attack his own personal experience made it happen.
Lucifer had continued sparring with Eric after every meal. Sparring with such a master of martial arts and being the genius that he is, allowed Lucifer to create his own fighting style. A beastial and unpridictable martial art. Taking swordsmanship precise footwork to the way a tiger uses its mighty claws to rend apart it's prey. Using this ingenious martial art Lucifer once more proved his ability to be an Apex. Beast or warrior.
Jasmine meanwhile was constantly amazed at the insane martial progress and mental ingenuity Lucifer displayed each day.
“Good go do your hunt, we are about to begin your graduation test. You have 1 month to ask me any questions and try out anything you wish before taking the test.” Jasmine told her young student with a slight smile.
Upon receiving the go ahead to hunt Lucifer grinned and took off towards Eric. As he came close to the warrior; that seemed to be sunbathing in the mid autumn sun, a black shadow slammed into him.
Laughing as he fell into the soft grass next to Eric, Lucifer began to wrestle the black shadow. After a minute of playful barks and a good wrestle; that even strained Lucifer’s monster like body, the shadow leapt away. It then proceeded to saunter over to Eric and lay against his flank. Soon the shadow became more defined as the sunlight shone upon it. It was a 3 foot long wolf like Beast. It's fur so black that light seemed to get lost in it. The Beast was only about a foot tall as lay next to Eric. But one could tell that if it stood up it would be at least 2 and a half feet tall.
This pitch black wolf was the little pup that Lucifer befriended. The two had become best of friends over the time they spent together. They hunted together, fought together, fought against each other, even competed with each other. They were true best friends in every sense.
Eric slowly opened his shut eyes and looked at the two trouble makers. His eyes filled with warmth and love. Sighing he heaved himself up and walked over to the young boy.
“Take Luna this time to hunt a 2nd Rank Mid Order Beast. I think you are good enough to take on a Flash Lynx. It's a Wind Element Beast. Real fast, really tough bastard too. Hopefully you are fast enough or else it'll tear you to shreds before you can touch it. I'm warning you it's a tough match even for you.” Eric sternly warned Lucifer as he lifted the boy off the ground.
“Alright should I bring a weapon then? If it's so fast I think a weapon will slow me down.” Lucifer questioned with an earnest expression on his immature face. His facial features just could not match his body's warrior like appearance.
“Smart. Yes most weapons would slow you down. A dagger would help though. How you get a dagger is up to you. I can't give you all the answers my boy.” Eric said with experienced patience. He was immensely proud to see the young boy thinking about which weapons suited each situation. Only true idiots would use a claymore to kill a chicken.