“So how much is it to make: a breastplate, pauldrons and cuisses?” Eric inquired of a elderly man. The elder had a gaunt figure as if all the life was sucked from him, a thick over coat only accentuated the bony figure of the human man. The man was wizened much like an old village elder with a long beard. But the cold dead eyes set deep in the man’s wrinkled face erased all thoughts of a friendly elder. The old man Eric spoke to was the Alchemist Fasra. An Alchemist of medium standing, with an Alchemic Rank of 4.
Alchemist were all involved with the Trade. And as such standards of skill were set so that way items produced by Alchemists were priced at reasonable amounts. A sub par Alchemist could charge a King’s ransom for a low class product but how could you possibly threaten the very one that made your weapon and armour? If one Alchemist was treated badly the whole lot of them would call in various favours to bring down righteous justice down on the abuser. So the Trade stepped in to protect Alchemists from their would be ‘abusers’ and warriors from receiving shoddy workmanship. The Trade established the Alchemist Standards to show an Alchemist’s skill and ability level. Ranked in accordance with the rank of Beast materials they could work with the Alchemist Standards are set from rank 1-10.
“You already carry weapons at least of the 5 rank, why do you need me to make low grade armour? This hardly is a Beast most would hunt for materials. It would be nothing for someone of your strength to kill something better for yourselves. So tell me who is this armour for.” The dead eyed man replied with a sharp and grating voice. It was as if the man was an undead acting as if it was still alive. The old man’s voice sounded like nails grinding on rock.
“It is for our student if you must know. He finally managed to kill the Beast, so why not let him wear his trophy?” Snapped an irritated Jasmine. They had spent hours travelling to this town so that they could get Lucifer’s armour and weapon made. But the Alchemist was a total ass. He made them wait for hours for no reason, save that he was busy. When the duo entered the room they saw an empty room with only a skeleton like geezer sitting in front of a giant cauldron. Jasmine was anxious to see Lucifer’s shocked face upon receiving the armour and glaive they planned to give him.
“Rudeness will get you nothing knife ear whore. Learn from your human better, patience and polite manner about him.”
“You old geezer if it wasn’t for little Luc I wouldn’t even come to a hasbin Alchemist like you! I would have gone to the Trade outpost in the next city for a skilled Alchemist.” Jasmine yelled as her temper flared at being called knife ear. A very derogatory term for elves. Frost soon covered the room and encroached Eric and the Alchemist Fasra, but soon a very powerful surge of Mana surged from Eric. The Mana blast protected Fasra and himself from the biting cold of Jasmine’s Ice magic.
“Jasmine! Stand down!” Eric bellowed with a seething fury. His own subordinate lost control of her emotions and almost attacked their only chance at getting Lucifer his armour and weapon. If they brought a Trade Alchemist to create Lucifer’s armour they would have no end of issues crop up. So only Fasra was feasible to create the boy’s soon to be gift.
“Alchemist Fasra, I apologize for my subordinate’s rudeness and I humbly ask if it is possible to continue our business? If a higher cost for the equipment as reparation is needed please say.” Eric had to bite down his own pride as a warrior and request Fasra to make the gear at a higher than normal price. This way the Alchemist could not say that he was being cheated or bullied to anyone. Though this really damage the group’s finances since they mostly survived off of bringing Lucifer and Luna’s spoils to sell for gold. The gold they made this way would be used to buy anything Lucifer needed that they could not get themselves.
“Well boy your words certainly shock me. Why is someone as skilled in diplomacy and the ways of a Spellblade out in these parts?” Questioned the Alchemist as a hint of life flashed briefly across his eyes.
“We are following our student as he is informed and experienced in the world. The boy is our pride and joy of the unit. We are on military leave to take care of him. If you require to see him in person to make the gear I would only recommend that if you are willing to risk your own life. That is all I can say respected Alchemist Fasra.”
“Why are you even telling him all of that? Can’t we just beat him and force him to come with us?”
“This is why you are not in charge knife ear.” Muttered Fasra after hearing Eric’s words. Truth be told Fasra desperately needed the money making an overcharged set would generate. But the words Eric had left him made him apprehensive. If making the set as a generic armour he could only charge the market price even after the extra gold. But making it completely custom for Lucifer would put his life in danger. This put him in a dilemma of profits or safety. Finally the old Alchemist decided.
“ I’ll make the armour but I will only charge you the standard for generic armour. But you will have to pay double for the weapon, whatever it is. I will make it even with my own materials I guarantee it will at least be a fourth rank weapon.”
“That is fine, I have taken down the measurements and specifications for the set.” Eric replied while handing over a scrap of tanned Beast hide that had writing on it.
“A breastplate, pauldrons and light set of cuisses made from the Aqua Fang scales costs 400 gold. But using the fans and teeth of the Fang while making sure it is at least a fourth rank item has a starting cost of 2000 gold coins. Can you pay half now?” Began the Alchemist after some careful thought. The measurements given to him were not extraordinary. A set for someone around 6 foot, a tall youth. If the youth had truly killed the Aqua Fang then he was probably from a general’s or royal family. That would also explain why he couldn’t meet the boy without endangering his life. But getting a minimum of 2400 gold coins had truly blinded the Alchemist with greed. With that kind of money he could be set for a comfortable life of retirement.
“Fine but we want two weapons and both will be done at the fourth rank if you are promising your best.” Jasmine quickly agreed before Eric even had a chance to barter for a better deal. She saw the greed in the Alchemist’s eyes and knew that gaining two top flight rank 4 weapons that were from the same Beast was a stretch. But the old man in front of her had already agreed before he caught on to her quick thinking.
It is known that when a set is made from the same Beast it works better. It is like using pieces of a different puzzle to complete your own. It just doesn’t work. Usually sets from the same Beast; even from low rank Beasts, can go for thousands of gold. So getting two weapons and a set of armour for a base price of only 4400 gold was a godsend after she caused the price to increase.
Readily agreeing without much thought the Alchemist brought out a pen to take note of the two weapon’s choice traits.
But Lucifer had no idea his hard earned gold was being used to purchase a matching set of armour and weapons. Currently he was undergoing a seemingly hellish pain. The black golden beam of light was burning his skin to ashes. Flakes of skin were visibly peeling off of him, his scales burned with the skin underneath of themselves. As if his scales were searing themselves onto his skin as it burned away. Luna howled as Lucifer underwent this unending torture. Minutes had gone by since the beam came down. But Lucifer who was being slowly melted alive showed no reaction. His entire being still, the only moving being his skin as it shrivelled and burned away.
Deep in Lucifer’s subconsciousness, Lucifer arrived at the same black space that he met with his spirits in. This time though there was only a mirror image of himself staring back at him.
“Hey Lucifer.” Spoke the new Lucifer in a voice eerily familiar voice to Lucifer.
“Who are you and why do you look like me?” Lucifer shouted in surprise and shock.
“I am you. Well more like your emotions.” Replied the new Lucifer.
“You can’t be me. I am me, not you!”
“Well then you can call me Luc, if it makes you feel better.”
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“Fine. I can handle that. So Luc, who are you really? Before this place held my spirits and now here you are.” Lucifer questioned Luc with suspicion and apprehension.
“Like I said, I am your emotions. You never dealt with them, so I had to be born to handle them.” Luc replied with vague disinterest towards Lucifer’s now panic filled face.
“Lucifer you promised your ‘spirits’ that you would never forget them right? So how come you never dealt with your emotions?” Luc finally asked with slight interest.
“I never forgot my spirits! I always knew they are inside of me. I just have to wait until I am older. Then I can bring them out of inside me!” Lucifer stated with adamant pride. He made sure he always kept his promises. It was the first lesson Eric had taught after he grew to understand language and society.
“Your spirits are what little Lucifer?” Mocked Luc with a cackling laughter.
“What do you mean Luc?”
“Hahahahahaha you don’t even remember what Jasmine taught you about spirits eh?” Laughter continued to roar from Luc as he fell over holding his stomach.
“You really are a idiot. Spirits are emotions you fucking loser. I am the pride and wrath of your spirits. I am the emotions you ignored. I am all the pride you ignored after getting a little bit of a beating from those three bastards! I am the wrath you ignored when you were beaten and scared. The wrath you feel towards your parents for leaving you alone in the Beast Kingdom. The rage from all of the pain those selfish parents and people made you endure because of who you are!” Luc finally roared with rage towards the unsuspecting Lucifer. While outside the beam of dark gold light and finally abated. Leaving the black charred body of Lucifer in its wake.
“That doesn’t make any sense! I always dealt with my emotions! I know when I was angry and I know when I was shamed. I never have forgotten those times. But you’re wrong, I dealt with my emotions like Eric taught me.” Lucifer timidly answered the terrifying rage of Luc.
“You deserve to die!” Luc screamed as he launched himself towards Lucifer. Claws extended and wings spread, Luc tackled Lucifer in the darkness of his subconsciousness. This instantly snapped Lucifer into his predatory instincts. Flapping his wings forward, Lucifer leapt backwards in retreat. But Lucifer wasn’t the only one with wings. Luc flapped twice more, flinging himself with more velocity at Lucifer. Caught with no choice but to take the hit head on Lucifer chose to twist his body and unleash his spiked tail at Luc.
“You think you are the only one with a tail?” Mocked Luc as he spread his wings to stop instantly while Lucifer’s tail swept the air he would have been had he continued forward. Tucking his right wing, Luc let loose the same strike downwards at Lucifer’s unprotected head. Soon the two draconic nephilims began trading vicious blow as if they were Beasts.
Luna was currently whining as she gently prodded the prone charred body of Lucifer. She felt a soul shaking fear that he might be dead. The breath of life was slowly fading from his body and Luna could do nothing to stop it. Gentle kisses and cries for his awakening were lost to Lucifer who was engaged in life or death combat with his other self. Luna left with nothing else to do, decided to channel her Mana into Lucifer. This was something of a taboo for those of her kind. Her instincts told her of a method to share her power with the one she chose to mate with. A risky method but a method to save her brother nonetheless.
Luna is a member of the most prestigious of the Lupin familia. A Shadow Queen Wolf. The queens of all wolf type Beasts. And as queen Luna needed to have a king. This is what the method her instincts taught her of. The marriage bonding ceremony between Shadow Queen Wolves and their mates. With the vague knowledge of this life altering choice, Luna wholeheartedly transferred her Mana to Lucifer. Luna being a Shadow Queen Wolf meant that she possessed the Dark Element. More importantly the Shadow derivation of the Dark Element. This was incredibly important in regards to Lucifer and how the marriage bonding ceremony would affect him.
Lucifer was born of the Dragon of the Night’s lineage. The True Black Dragon. A dragon that had total control over the Dark Element. While Lucifer had yet to truly awaken to his Element it was almost certain his Element would be the Dark Element. So while this was definitely a good thing for the ceremony Luna had initiated, it was also incredibly dangerous. Because Lucifer was also born of Heaven’s mightiest soldiers, the Nephilims. The ultimate fighter of the Light Element. This is what made Lucifer so unique as a hybrid, and what caused him to be seen as an abomination. He was born from opposing Elemental heritages. Light and Dark. Made worse by the purity of both of those tyrannical bloodlines. Luna was effectively healing Lucifer’s Dark Element side, while poisoning his Light Element one.
Luc and Lucifer though knew nothing of the outside’s happenings. Only savage combat filled both of them. Luc being the embodiment of Pride and Wrath Sins was a brutal foe for Lucifer to face. Facing against himself pushed Lucifer into the most dangerous fight of his entire life. Losing this fight meant becoming an embodiment for his spirits. An effective death for the current Lucifer. It was at the climax of the battle that Lucifer was assaulted by the waves of Luna’s Mana. Making him stronger and weaker at the same time. Utilizing the new found power before it killed him Lucifer let loose a barrage of clawed slashes, tail whips and powerful winged slams. With the Dark Mana empowering and corroding his life Lucifer slowly turned the tide of the battle. Pushing Luc into a precarious state where Lucifer dominated. But eventually the Dark Mana from Luna would reveal it's bitter side effect. It made Lucifer’s body of consciousness fade as his life faded.
“Using Luna’s power to fight me? How pathetic of a draconic Nephilim. Just die and let me take over this body. I'll make this world tremble and the Gods that pushed us to this state will quake with fear!” Luc roared as Lucifer slowly became illusory.
“I am Lucifer.” Whispered Lucifer before his wings disappeared entirely.
“I am Lucifer.” He repeated a bit louder.
“I am Lucifer. Aeroic. Khan.” Lucifer bellowed as his entire being faded from the black space of his consciousness. Leaving only a smirking Luc.
“Fine. You can be us for a while longer. Don't you dare forget your pride and wrath again or I won't let you off the hook again.” Luc’s voice echoed in the darkness as he too faded into nothingness.
Lucifer awoke to the sound of sizzling meat. But there was something different than the meat he was accustomed to smelling. This meat carried a disgusting scent of burning meat. No sweet spices accompanied the burning meat scent, only the putrid smell of burnt flesh.
Lucifer could smell and hear but his eyes refused to open. His vocal chords not responding to his commands to call for help. Panic set in quickly as Lucifer immediately assumed that he had entered Hell following his loss at the hands of Luc. But as soon as his fears reached their peak, the sound of Luna's whimpers reached his ears. The thought of his ever faithful companion and only friend enduring any hardship brought out Lucifer’s Sin of Wrath. The Rage he felt at the fact he was not protecting the beautiful black wolf pup brought him strength. The strength he gained from this rage was minimal in his current state, but it allowed him to open his eyes and see. Dark clouds blanketed the sky he saw. But no Luna.
Now Lucifer finally understood what Luc meant. He was suppressing his Sins because he was scared to die because of what Eric and the others had instilled in him. He thought of his spirits as a sort of forbidden existence. Not truly understanding that his spirits are a part of him, much like his scales are apart of his skin.
“Lu-na.” A voice that seemed to be from the depths of hell escaped Lucifer’s burnt throat. Luna was truly the only being that existed in his mind at this moment. Luc had claimed that he was using her power and that should have been impossible considering Luna is such a young pup still.
Luna was laying softly next to Lucifer as she desperately tried to gather her strength. Using the bonding ceremony forcibly was akin to signing her life over to Lucifer. But he was her brother he would only care for her. This thought was instantly established after his raspy dried out throat called her name. Dragging her body through the dirt she reached as close to Lucifer as she dared given his terrible condition. A soft kiss came from her, as she let Lucifer know she was next to him. But this last act of love caused her to finish off the last bit of strength she had. Unconsciousness soon took hold of the adorable pup.
As Lucifer felt the soft tongue of Luna brush against his charred skin, relief flooded his person. A wave of contentment that was hard to explain spread out from his Mana Core. Everywhere the wave went his body felt as if new life was flooding through his muscles, tendons, flesh and nerves.
Externally something extraordinary took place. As Lucifer felt life flooding his body, it actually did outside. His burnt body was growing new, fresh tissue. Like a miracle, his body steadily underwent repair. His nervous system was brought back to life first, eliciting the intense pain to finally assault Lucifer’s already weak mind. As the final nerves in his toes were reconnected; the dead burnt skin flaked away as, fresh tissue and muscles built themselves around Lucifer’s prone form. Soon all was done and Lucifer returned to a semi alive state. His body was still undergoing reconstruction but the external details were finally finished.
Lucifer still had his freakish height only now he was more evened out. His wings and tail finally looked as if they fit his body. With a new size of 3 feet, Lucifer’s one wing was almost the size of his previous wingspan. While his spinal cord extended lengthening his tail from the previous 4 feet of length to an astonishing 5’3”. Lucifer's new and improved body had much more muscle and fit his large height with an attractive and primal manner. His new wings now had the strength it took to lift his large mass. His tail, became even more savage looking with scales overlapping to create a serrated edged whip-like, muscle riddled, weaponized body part. All while sharp deadly spikes protruded outwards making his tail an effective barbed whip of malicious destruction. Still the most shocking change was the increase in lustre of his scales. The previous scales of Lucifer's were a dim and dull gold but now his scales held a magnificent gloss of glorified shine.