Deep in the heart of Faeamar, where the Elemental Empire ruled, in the capital city of Starlight, in the dawn light a young Fae male of around fourteen summers was wearing the dirty, ripped and smelly clothes of a street rat as he scampered along the roofs of the vast metropolis. The young male leaped to a building a metre across from him with the help of magic, his followers gaining on him shouting for him to stop. Laughing, the teen dropped down into the streets using a tree to break his fall and launched himself forwards into the masses of Fae, Elves, Dwarves and others he could not identify at a glance. The young males fangs glinted in the suns light, his eyes flashing electric violet through his short spiky obsidian hair as he searched for an escape route. Finding one, he dodged a horse drawn carriage as he raced into a deserted alley the carriage driver yelling. He sprinted down the alley turning a corner colliding into a mountain of a Fae male. The male was huge with thick muscles; it was hard to gauge his age, as fae became immortal once they had reached their twenty-first summers. Some gave up their immortality to be with a mortal like his uncle Bartholomew did.

'Got ya now you little runt!' the male muttered breathlessly, as Lucifer's followers caught up with him. There were four of them, all males, entering the alley. They were thugs, all part of the city Guards who worked for his grandfather, Emperor Jolkov Starfire descendent of the God Faenn. 'Lucifer Samael ShadowFire, you must return to the palace immediately - it is not safe out here. You know you mustn't run off. You are Crown Prince heir to the Elemental Empire.' Captain Korax growled his elven green eyes sparkling, as he frog-marched the Prince back to the palace. 'You will need to burn those clothes and take a long bath, we shall not have you smelling up your Half-brothers birthday. it's his twelfth summers, a big day for Prince Aedion ShadowFire. The day he has come of age ready for the armies training camps. The only reason you haven't gone is because your mother forbid it, instead arranging tutors, teachers and trainers to come to the palace to teach you there.'

On the long journey back to the palace, Lucifer noticed that the dwarven blacksmiths were hard at work. He wondered if his friend Odin Hawthorn, son of Master Blacksmith Theron Hawthorn, the greatest blacksmith in the Empire, was helping out in the forges. He first met Odin when Lucifer's mother, Aelin Starfire, took him to pick out his weapons for coming of age. He'd chosen twin hunting knives, bow and arrows, plus some throwing knives. His father, the Ancient Nyx lord of the night, gifted him with a Magical Sword that only he could wield; it could disappear and appear at his command and was able to cut through anything. Able to harness the elements and kill immortals and Gods, so his father claimed. He named the blade Light-Weaver. He was also gifted Indestructible Greaves that could shield him from corporeal and non-corporeal attacks. They were also able to produce blades from the end of his wrist for stealthy kills. Lucifer smiled at the memories; he had not seen or heard from his father in some time. His mother had married High King Abrax ShadowFire when he was two. Abrax was a dark High Elf, a cruel High King not to mention vicious, merciless and vile, just like his half-brother. Lucifer's Grandfather, the Emperor, was ill; he was ageing too quickly and the doctors were perplexed as to what it was. His mother had called in dwarves, elves, warlocks and sorcerers to help, but to no avail. Lucifer hoped he'd be worthy of the throne once he reached maturity. Lucifer's mother named him Lucifer meaning Light-bringer, Samael meaning name of God because she saw a vision of the future.

Lucifer and his guard walked through the gates of the palace, where he found his mother, arms crossed and a scowl on her face. 'Take him to his room and have a bath and a new set of royal robes ready for him,' she growled at an Elven servant. 'You missed your magic studies lesson with me this morning,' Aelin chastened him. His mother was the greatest sorceress in the realms; when she was twenty she went on a vision quest which took her all over the realms, ending up in Nyx where she met his father, who taught her his magics. About the Ancients and how to commune with them.

After his bath, Lucifer changed into his royal robes, attaching his weapons to his person. He left in search of his Elven friend, the Captain of the guards squire, Leif Oakland, trainee captain. Leif was tall, athletic, hazel-eyed and two years older than him, with dark brown coloured hair, like the bark of a tree. Leif wore typical uniform for a squire; brown pants, green armour with two katanas, long and short, at his side, as is tradition for a elven warrior. Leif was in the courtyard practising lunges, blocks and cuts with a wooden sword and shield with other trainees, while Captain Korax barked orders at a gruelling pace. Lucifer had been taught to fight since a very young age, training with warriors, soldiers, assassins and whoever else his mother thought was worth paying to teach him. He also had to learn herbs, plants, alchemy and other things his mother wanted him to know. Now, Lucifer was fairly sure he could kill a grown male with his pinky if he were so inclined. Lucifer headed down into the courtyard and began practising various fighting styles and martial arts; Kung fu, karate, jujitsu, ninjutsu, Ti Chi, judo, krav maga and many others, as well as using parkour against the wooden assailants. Lucifer practised for an hour, then moved onto swords, spears and knives, finishing with archery and meditation for half an hour, before being interrupted by Leif.

'Well, it's good to see that you still put us to shame,' Leif said, shaking his head in mock horror and annoyance. 'I once offered to train you in some of my more interesting fighting styles, but you said you would only make a fool of yourself.' Lucifer chuckled, as Odin wandered into the yard. 'Hey Leif, Lucifer, how is everything? Still showing off!' Odin said laughing. Odin was half an elves height, tall for a dwarf with thick, bushy, coarse hair, a beard forming on his face and covered in muscles from working with his father in the forges and practising with weapons. He wore leather jerkins, pants and had a sword and war hammer at his hip. Lucifer linked arms with his friends and headed to the throne room where his half-brother was to have his party. 'So what's Aedion getting for his coming of age gift?' Lucifer asked Odin. 'You know he can't say Lucifer, it's against dwarven gifting rules to tell before hand,' Leif said amused as they entered the corridor headed for the throne room. Turning down hallways and corridors, they entered the throne room that was packed with royalty, nobles, diplomats and servants. Nearly everyone but Lucifer 's step-father and half-brother bowed with respect. There seemed to be a lot more guards and soldiers than there had been at other parties, Lucifer went to sit beside his mother, who seemed cold and distant. He wondered what had happened. High King Abrax rose from his chair. 'His Royal Highness, the Emperor, has gone to Demean Ogg Taran, the after world where the gods Plagith and Zerksyies will look after the lost,' Abrax declared with the flair of a actor.

'We are here to welcome my son Prince Aedion ShadowFire into adulthood. But, before the celebrations begin, it has come to my attention that the Crown Prince cannot rule in the Emperors stead, for he is a gods-less murderer. He killed his Grandfather. I am placing him under arrest for treason. To which the penalty is death,' Abrax growled as the throne room was thrown into chaos and upheaval. Guards surged forwards to capture Lucifer as he stared in astonishment.

His mother grabbed him by the arm and began muttering the ancient words that Lucifer managed to decipher as ancient Gaelic, tongue of the Druids. Before the guards could grab him, Lucifer and his mother were thrown through space, like teleporting, until they were the other side of the throne room. Lucifer grabbed Leif and Odin, as his mother dragged him out of there.

'I can't believe his nerve to suggest you had something to do with your grandfather, my father's, death. You must leave the city at once. Go past the elven lands in the east to the Demon lands, where your half-sister Hella resides inside the remains of the fallen city of Askinar. Leif knows the way to the elven lands,Hella will teach you to transverse the realms. Go to Nyx, find your father. He will assist you in searching for the Book of Ages. It will help you in the coming fight against Abrax. Reach your father and sister they may help you learn to read it,' Aelin said hastily. As she waved her hands, three bags appeared, as they continued to speed walk out of the palace. 'These bags have been enchanted, everything you will need is in there, money, food, tools, weapons, books of magic and alchemy and other subjects that may save your life. Lucifer, my son, you take after your father in more than looks and personality, but you have his power. You must learn how to wield them. Now, remember what I said. The Book of Ages is a powerful artefact created by Nyx and the other ancients. Go, I will find you if I can. I love you, now hurry.'

Lucifer, Leif and Odin sprinted out of the Palace gates. Seven or eight guards, including Captain Korax, stood in their path, into the city. 'Stand down, you traitorous scum!' the Captain yelled, spitting a glob of spit onto the ground, as he and his men drew their swords, and in one case, a battle axe. Lucifer shook his head, and reached for Light-Weaver. 'Do not make me do this Captain. I may be fourteen summers old, but I am experienced in combat. I do not want to wet my blade with your blood.' Lucifer declared, drawing Light-Weaver. The blade sang as it was released from it's scabbard. The captain and his men stepped forward, as Leif drew his bow and notched an arrow, and Odin his war-hammer.

'So be it,' Lucifer growled, his fangs glinting as he raced forwards with immortal grace and speed. He killed three guards before reaching the Captain. Leif killed two, putting arrows in their chests. Odin killed one, and mortally wounded another, breaking their legs, ribs and skulls.

Lucifer and the captain fought head to head, Captain with experience and brute strength and Lucifer with speed, skill and determination. Lucifer managed to nick several of the Captain's arteries, downing the large fae. 'Onto thy next great journey, most noble warrior may the Ancients grant you paradise,' Lucifer said in the language of the ancient fae, to the dying guard as he plunged Light-Weaver through the Captain's heart. They hurried on into the city, carrying their surprisingly light mystical bags. They headed into the rougher side of the City of Starlight, past the dwarven quarter, and through the gnome, troll neighbourhoods and territories. They found an abandoned warehouse to rest, in the outskirts of the city. They huddled into the warm warehouse. 'So, what do we do now?' Odin asked grimly.

'We head to Gaea Jungle, I have family there. They may help in finding your sister Hella, Lucifer,' Leif told them, hopefully. Lucifer tore off some planks of wood from a wooden crate, putting them in a pile for a fire. He waved his hand, and the wood started to smoke and catch fire. Soon, they had a fire going. 'The Gaea Jungle is some months ride from here, without horses or a boar it could be a year or more,' Odin grumbled tiredly. 'Get some sleep, we have an exhausting few weeks ahead of us,' Lucifer said laying down near the fire, with his bag behind his head.

He soon fell asleep, even with Odin breathing heavily while asleep, like a giant mountain lion. He dreamt of the realms, of a half-sister he's never met, visions of the harrowing journey yet to come. This may lead him into becoming vilified for all eternity. He foresaw a throne of bones, blood and hoards of demons and the vile dead. The coming morning they left the City of Starlight in the distance, heading east with due haste, making sure they weren't followed. Lucifer lead the trio, with Leif a close second giving directions, Odin at the rear, glumly following in the morning heat of the sun. Dwarves are very susceptible to heat stroke and sun burn, so they stayed in the shade of trees and buildings whenever possible. The road out away from Starlight was a long and harrowing journey, through grassy fields, planes and hot humid forests. Although, they happened upon the occasional village, town and fellow travellers, the trio kept to themselves whenever possible.

Lucifer and his troop reached the village on the boarder of the dessert of silent tears after a week of travelling the road. Crossing the dessert on foot could take weeks or months at worst. Lucifer could try shifting into something, but it was a struggle to hold a form for as long as he was still learning. Not to mention, he would have had to have left Leif and Odin behind and that was not going to happen. Searching his bag, he found several thousands of Imperial gold, worth a fortune in small towns. 'I have an idea gents! We'll buy some sturdy horses at the stables!' Lucifer nearly shouted to them, with barely leashed excitement as he ran down the road to the bustling market street, filled with all manner of creatures and people.

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They started looking through stalls and shops, along the way to the stables. On one of the stalls, a goblin stood behind. The goblin was taller than Odin, lithe and athletic looking with greenish grey skin and black eyes with an iris of white. On display were an assortment of eggs of varying sizes and mystical items. In the centre of the stall sat a gold and black gem encrusted egg, the size of an orcs head. Something about it drew Lucifer in, as if it were calling to him. He felt compelled to hold it, reaching forward to do just that, but the goblin smacked his hand away.

'That there costs eight hundred imperial gold, too much for the likes of you!' the goblin snarled, scratching his arse as he spoke. Lucifer reached into his bag to pay the amount, as Leif grabbed his arm. 'You are not going to buy that blasted egg,' he said sharply as Lucifer shook him off. 'I must. I don't know why, but I know that egg belongs to me,' Lucifer replied, giving the greedy goblin the extravagant amount. Lucifer palmed the egg feeling a flicker of warmth and hope from with in it. 'Get lost all of you, you're crowding my stall!' the goblin hissed shooing them away, as Lucifer stared at the egg entranced. He put it in his bag for safety.

'Come on we have horses to buy,' Odin grumbled, stomping down the street, impatient to get some rest. Reaching the stables they bought two fast, large horses and a pony for Odin because of his height. Thanking the stable master, as he accepted their money, he replied as they were leaving the stables, 'it is very welcome to see them go on an adventure, they are good horses and fine horses need naming.' Lucifer named his horse Midnight because of it's colouring, Leif named his Swift-winds and Odin called his Falsetto, due to the ponies habit of passing wind when walking for long periods. The desert was unholy in it's constant unending dry heat. They travelled in the evenings and through the night, and tried to find shelter or shade during the day. It was on the sixth night of traversing the dessert that a pack of coyotes attacked them. They were riding along on the shifting sand in the slight night breeze, as small shapes started descending the rocky mountains.

One of the shapes began to clear, as Lucifer turned on his night vision. Upon seeing the swarming coyotes, he shifted into a large black wolf, and bit and tore out the coyotes throats, clawing at their underbellies. As the shrieking of the coyotes was silenced by them dying at his, or at one of his men's hands, or as the remaining coyotes ran off into the night, hiding amongst the rocks and boulders, they lost the pony in the fight as it had sneaked away. Odin was forced to sit beside Leif. They ate coyote for the next three nights toasting it over a small fire. On the last night they found an abandoned cave, so they started a fire, cooked and ate the last of the coyote. As the flames began to die down Lucifer reached into his bag and grasped the large warm egg. He'd been thinking of it since he first saw it, unsure, why on impulse; he placed the egg in the heat of the fire's embers, where it gradually began to glow.

Odin sat beside Lucifer as Leif slept. 'That is a big shining egg. What's inside it, do you know?' Odin enquired, looking at the egg, then to Lucifer. Lucifer shook his head in reply, as the egg wobbled and cracked. A golden clawed black paw with scales like a reptile broke through the surface. 'Beautiful!' Lucifer and Odin whispered at the same time, as the head of the big lizard escaped it's shell. As the lizard began to crawl it's way out of the eggs remains, Lucifer realised it resembled a salamander, albeit, one with the wings of a bat.

'It's an infant baby drakon, the symbol of your father's power,' Odin whispered to Lucifer, hoping not to startle the reptile. At the back of Lucifer's mind, he could hear the drakon's thoughts and feelings, and knew he could communicate with it. The drakon curled up on the embers of the fire and began to purr. 'We might as well get some sleep. I have a feeling it's going to be a weird day tomorrow,' Odin gasped stretching, as he flopped onto his sleeping bag and began snoring heartily. When Lucifer awoke the next evening, he felt a hot heavy weight upon his chest. As he blinked his eyes open, he saw it was the baby drakon. He sat up, and his drakon fell into his lap.

'Hello, Lucifer. You have yet to gift me a name,' a female voice whispered into Lucifer's head. He glared at the drakon. 'Did you speak?' he asked, which Odin and Leif exchanged worried looks. 'You wish to have a name?' he asked the drakon. 'That is so, for Drakons must be gifted a name so that we may harness our magics.' 'Very well,' Lucifer pondered, looking into the glittering red and gold eyes of the drakon. 'I gift you the name Lilith, whom gods loves.' Thunder rumbled across the dry skies as the drakon leaped from his lap, her wings flapping as she glided across and around the cave ceiling.

'There are a few thing that you must learn now that you are a Drakon Lord. The first is that we are able to become one, so that we may become stronger, faster and it has the advantage of shielding me from prying eyes. If you were not already capable of night vision, you will now be able to see through my eyes, exchange knowledge, increase health and magic. The rest can be learnt over time. But the essential would be for us to be one.' Lilith told him. For the rest of the evening, they practised joining and the other skills Lilith told him about, not to mention a few others. As the sun went down, they packed up their bags and began walking across the desert, once Lucifer had joined with Lilith.

It was another three weeks before they reached the deserts edge. Lucifer and Lilith had bonded closely together. When Lilith spoke to the others, they always seemed spooked to be spoken to mind to mind. High fae sorcerers sometimes speak mind to mind; that was how they passed on their knowledge of magic. Ahead of them, they could see a forest that led to the Singing Mountains, where the high elves were ruled by King Erik, the Majestic.

'Finally, elven lands,' Leif sighed wistfully, heading for the trees. 'We must still be careful, they may take exception to our being here, even if it is to pass through,' Odin grumbled. It was well known that dark elves were bigots and purists.

The forest was dense with plants, trees, all manner of animals and creatures. Lilith was eager to go for a hunt, but Lucifer kept her bonded to him. The forest was vast, but they were making good time. They might reach the mountains by afternoon tomorrow. They made camp, as it grew dark, beside a stream, so they might wash and gather water to boil and drink, as they had depleted their reserves crossing the desert. Lucifer stayed up with Lilith to take watch guarding against unwanted visitors while the others slept. Lilith had grown to that of a house cats size, in the weeks following her hatching. Lucifer had let her out to catch fish for them and herself. She spent the night chasing other small animals, whether to eat or just for fun. As the sun rose into the dawn sky, the forest glowed in it's heat, becoming vibrant. Lucifer gave the snoring Odin a soft kick, startling the dwarf into full alertness.

'Wake up Leif, I'll find Lilith so that we can start walking. I have a feeling we're being observed,' Lucifer whispered to Odin, as the dwarf got to his feet brushing the foliage from his matted hair. 'I knew it was bad luck to come here, dwarves aren't welcome,' Odin grumbled stomping over to the sleeping Leif. Lucifer left the dwarf in search of Lilith, he contacted her through telepathy. 'Where are you?' Lucifer felt her presence, but it was hard to gauge her whereabouts from it. Lucifer wandered into the thicker trees, hoping to spot her among the tree branches. When something lunged out of the shadows, clocking him across the face with a branch. He fell to the floor, unconscious from the force of it. He'd left his enchanted greaves in his bag at camp with Odin and Leif.

As Lucifer lay unconscious he felt a feeling of weightlessness. A powerful and ancient voice from across the realms whispered to him, 'You must awaken! Awaken NOW!'

Rousing from unconsciousness, he felt that his hands were bound with twine, most likely enchanted. Lucifer opened his eyes. He was being magically dragged by two elves, from the sky he could tell it had been some hours since they had made camp as the sun was just rising. Looking as the stars he could see that he was being taken south west. Looking around he saw four more elves held Odin and Leif in a similar fashion to himself. Both were unconscious as he'd been. The elves were heading for a mountain in the distance. Now that he had gained some semblance of his wits, he realised that they were dark elves that had captured them. By their clothes and tattoos, he'd say they were from the western tribes close to the City of StarFall where his step-father the High King Abrax ruled. Lucifer had long ago learnt the tongues of the dark elves. He managed to pick up from his captors that they had been commissioned by the High King him self, in order to track down and imprison Lucifer. Lucifer struggled against his bonds, unable to break them physically he called upon his magic to help in the endeavour. Muttering Ancient words of magic, the binding glowed but held. Lucifer sought out Lilith he could feel that she was cold, afraid for him and herself. Resined he Prayed to the Ancients. 'Nyx, Father help me.' immediately he felt a powerful presence. 'You have the power, you only need to call upon it. You are my son you have my gifts.' as soon as Nyx's presence appeared he disappeared. Lucifer searched inside himself, the view of the world disappeared and then heightened. He could feel the magic flowing like water and sunlight through the air, the ground and the life surrounding him. He new he could take in the magic from these sauces. Taking life magic seamed a tad more insidious to contain or wield it. Such as other life forms or from death. Lucifer's mother had warned him that he had always held back, this new state of being was troubling. He felt to powerful like his very blood was alive with magic.

Lucifer realised he was not focusing on the problem at hand, renewing his focus he absorbed the magic in the twine and opened his eyes. His eyes glowing from the increase in magic he tore his hands free and hurled himself at the dark elves who had been oblivious to what was happening. Lucifer punched the closest taking his tomahawk a small axe like weapon and threw it at the other dark elf, faster than they could passive. 'Release my companions!' Lucifer's voice boomed out of him.

Startling the other dark elves and rousing his companions. Picked up his bag, weapons and began putting them upon his person. Now fully dressed he faced the other elves who had been in shock at having their spells and companions swept aside like insects. Lucifer glared at the dark elves, stepping forward with Light-Weaver in his hand. He shifted to give himself the wings of a drakon as black as midnight. The dark elves shrieked as one thinking they had imprisoned their house God Nyx. They dropped to the ground bowing before Lucifer. Going with it Lucifer bellowed, 'Release my companions and return their belonging to them. Where is Lilith, my drakon?' He ordered, 'Are you impersonating me now?' His father whispered with amusement into Lucifer's mind. 'No, yes a little I'm trying to get my friends back. Besides their the ones thinking it.' Lucifer tried to explain to his father. 'Tell them who you are, they will act accordingly. This is good bye for now my son, I am needed else were.' The dark elves had released his friends, they moved to stand by him, he bonded with Lilith as she neared. He could feel her joy as they were joined. His companions fixed there weapons and bags upon their persons he had moments before.

Lucifer took in a deep breath and began to speak. 'I am not the Ancient, Nyx. I am his son Lucifer Samael ShadowFire, rightful Emperor of the Elemental Empire.' At this the dark elves slowly stood looking at him with anger and awe. 'We were sent for you by our high King, but this is not what Nyx would want.' one of the elder dark elves told him kneeling before him. 'We will accompany you through the mountains, so that you reach the other side. I am Azazel son of Chieftain Thoth Nightshade.' Azazel said as Lucifer nodded. 'You may accompany us through the Singing mountains but no farther.' Lucifer replied turning away from them sheathing his blade walking back to the east. As Lucifer walked he shifted, so that he could walk normally without wings snagging on branches. 'That was most unpleasant.' Lilith chimed to him, 'I would have to agree, we should work on our powers in case something else happens. When Lucifer reached camp, the horses Midnight and swift winds were gone. 'Well that's wonderful.' Odin declared sarcastically, 'Now we'll have to walk, again.'

'Stop being a drama queen the forest is lovely to walk through.' Leif told Odin breathing in the smells of the forest. 'I'd have to agree with Leif, it is lovely this morning.' Azazel said to them both.