P.O.V. Lanius Frey
It's been almost 4 months since Lux and I left the Elder jungle. I haven't found the right time to tell him about what the Goddess revealed to me. We spend most of our time slowly making our way towards the ruins of Blackmorn. Stopping by every Human village we come across, Lux and I make money by hunting and gathering for them. Eventually knowledge of my ability to use Spirit power spread throughout the villages. People even began to ask me to go on more dangerous missions.
After hours of practice I now have the ability to use the power without holding the sword. But if I focus the power through the Blade of Moss it makes the power almost four times as strong.
-----
Walking out of the East River Village I waved at Lux.
"Well that didn't take too long, what's the Job Lanius?"
Taking out a piece of parchment I handed it to him.
"Farmer from the village has been dealing with Wolfmen for years. He asked us to take care of them."
"Wolfmen eh? It's been a long time since I've seen one of those."
"Are they one of the unintelligent beast races?"
Shaking his head he began to tell me about them as we followed the map to the abandoned farm.
"No, infact they're one of the most intelligent races of beastmen. But like all the strongest beast men, they to have been cursed by the gods. Every full moon they go into a state of delirium, going into a type of Berserker mode they freak out and murder everything they get their paws on. That's why most of them live in the mountains alone with their families."
"Are they stronger than Tigermen?"
Stroking his thick, fluffy, beard he sighed.
"In a pure test of strength we win everytime. But they move faster and travel in packs, unlike the Tigermen. Who choose to hunt alone."
Cracking my knuckles I Smirked.
"This is going to be fun."
"You're overconfidence is going to get us killed, and that's one of you're better traits..."
Many of the Villages have a problem with Lux, I mean his race did hunt us for sport before the civil war between the gods. Now they hunt us for the elves. So they don't let him inside and always have 5 or 6 guards holding him hostage until I come outside. But this village was odd, they wouldn't let me inside until Lux was in chains. After they found out who I was they took them off, but I feel like that's a little too suspicious...
"The farmer said that the Pack of Wolfmen always come from the mountains, every full moon they come to his farm and slaughter his livestock. He lost his wife and daughter seven years ago."
Scratching his head we headed west of the village.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Farmer said 11 years, he was so desperate to get my help he even offered me his farm, but I told him that a weeks supply of food and some gold would be fine."
"I can't believe the Wolf pack hasn't moved on yet. There must be some reason why."
Nodding I Adjusted my pack as we walked towards the farm. Clenching my fist I was filled with determination.
It's finally time, time to take all the pain and hate for the stronger races and give it back ten fold. I won't fail, I can't fail.
---
3 days later...
Laying in a hammock I stared up at the stars. The Sky was clear tonight, I got to see some comets, those always bring a smile to my face. It's been almost three days and nothings happened yet. All Lux and I have done is spar and relax by the camp fire.
"I'm bored! Lux let's fight, right now."
Standing up he flexed his his massive muscles.
"What's changed Lanius? You seemed pretty upset when I mopped the grass with you last time."
"I'm gonna give you grass burns you overgrown cat."
"Oh really, I don't know... I might break your delicate human bones."
Swing my legs to the left I got off the hammock.
"Big words Catboy. Care to back them up?"
Grabbing the handle of the massive sword he pulled it from the earth. Resting the massive on his left shoulder he looked down at me and smirked.
"Your funeral."
Stepping into the open plains next to the farm he pointed the sword at me.
"You ready Frey?"
He stood about 10 feet away with an Evil grin on his fluffy face. He thinks hes already one!
"Come at me Catman!!"
Unsheathing the Blade of Moss I readied myself. Rushing my left I could barely summon the rose pedal shield.
He was a true a Tigerman through and through, even with the magic shield I slid back 15 feet. Almost falling on my ass, It's totally unfair! Why is he so strong!!
Stabbing the Blade of Moss into the ground I slapped my hands together. The spirit of nature sang out ready to attack my enemy.
"Vines of elder tree!"
Two massive green vines appeared, wrapping around my wrists. Cracking the whip at him he dodged left.
"To slow Lanius!!"
Lunging at me, he slashed downward. Rolling left I whipped the vine around his sword.
"I'll be taking that!"
Wrapping around his blade I gave it a mighty tug, but he held it firm no signs of giving way.
"You almost got me. Almost."
Wrapping the vine around his hand he pulled hard. Flung towards him at blazing speeds I clenched my teeth.
Putting his fist out slightly he braced for impact. Feeling the utter force of the sudden stop I fell to the ground. Almost blacking out I gasped for air. My chest heaved hard as I struggled to my feet.
Laughing loudly Lux offered a hand.
"That was definitely unexpected, that vine attack was genius!"
Crossing his arms he continued.
"I now understand your biggest weakness. You don't know your way around the battle field at all."
"I grew up a farmer's boy! I never needed to know, nor did I have a desire to. My brother was the one with all the training and knowledge. It should have been him who got the Spirit sword..."
Grabbing me by the shoulders he shouted.
"Shut up Lanius! You were chosen by the great Gaia herself. Sure you're a little rough around the edges, but even coal can become diamonds.I'll teach you how to fight, and you can take me across the world! I'd say that's a pretty good deal."
Getting to my feet I unsheathed the Blade of Moss.
"You know what, you're right!"
"That's the spirit, let's get started!"
Holding the Blade of Moss up to the sky I sighed.
"So uh, how do I hold this thing?"
---
Another week went by of Lux smacking me around and calling it "Training".
He taught me simple movements first, like the thrust, slash, parry, and counter. Even after learning these motions I could never get close enough to hit Lux.
"You have to be faster Frey!"
Swinging his sword I blocked it with my blade.
"I'm trying but I can't compete with a beastmans reflexes!"
"Reflexes are important but don't rely on them! Use everything at your disposal."
"What does that even mean!!"
Slamming the flat of his blade into my stomach I was flung backwards into the dirt.
"Listen when I'm talking to you Lanius!"
Ripping off a peace of cloth from his jacket he threw it at me.
"Cover your eyes, now."
"Why?"
"Just... do it."
"Okay..."
Tying the fragment of cloth over my eyes I began to sweat, an unreasonable fear took over my body.
"For this skill we won't be using swords. This lesson is an important one. The eyes are slow, and that makes you weak. They help us see but we grow to rely on them. If you want to be a better warrior, you need to hone your other senses. Like hearing, touch, and smell."
Walking around me he jabbed at my sides as he continued his speech.
"The body, no matter how trained and conditioned. Will always give its attack away moments before they strike."
He took a quick shallow breath my body told me to move. Leaning on my instincts I felt the wind rush past the left side of my face.
"Learn to hear there breath, just like that. You can hear an attack coming before they even strike. Focus on that, and you can dodge almost anything. Sadly, seasoned warriors won't make it so obvious."
Nodding he continued to poke and prod at me.
"When fighting someone faster than you, put up your block. Every living being has stamina, if you can survive long enough you'll find your opening."
Throwing a powerful punch right in front of my face he finished his speech.
"And that's when, you counter them."
"I guess that makes sense."
Placing my hand on the blindfold Lux stopped me.
"Wait, one more thing, very important. There is a hidden, sixth sense."
"This sounds like something out of a fantasy novel..."
Laughing he spoke.
"Very true, but it's real. It's an ability not many can achieve. The Spirit sense is the ability to feel the energy that makes up the universe. When you activate a spell you channel the nature spirits through your body. If you are attune to the spirits around you, you can sense the sudden change."
"Really!?!?! Can you do that?"
"I cannot, the only person I've ever met with that skill, was my grandfather. He taught me everything I know."
"He sounds like an amazing man."
"He was..."
Jabbing me in the side he spoke.
"Back to training."
"Hey! I won't learn anything if you just walk in a circle and poke me with a stick."
Chuckling he jabbed at me again.
"I agree. Oh my whats this? It seems I just found a large pile of small pebbles, conveniently right next to this tree!"
"I don't like where this is going..."
"I do."
Scratching my head I sighed.
"Am I allowed to say no?"
"Nope, training starts now!"
Reeling back he chucked a pebble so hard it sent me back onto the ground.
"Ow ow ow! Maybe hold back a bit? That's gonna bruise..."
"Ha! I did."
-----
A whole week had past, the final week before the full moon.
Lux readied another rock, Leaning back he moved through throw it. Hearing him take a quiet shallow breath I smiled.
"Gotcha!"
Moving my hand as quick as I could I felt the rock slam into my hand with enough force to knock me out.
"Ow Fuck! Why in God's name did I think that was a good idea?"
"Nice job my young apprentice."
The sound of rustling in his direction scared me a little. Normal he picks up one at a time, I could have sworn I heard more than 3 this time..."
"Time for the next level Lanius! Here we go!!!"
Taking a sharp breath he launched three pebbles, all aimed at my chest. Feeling the first whiz past my face I listened for the next. Catching the second I felt the third slam into my chest, knocking me to the ground.
Jumping up to my feet I brushed myself off.
"Ouch, Lets go again. I almost had it that time!"
"I do have to admit, you're catching on fast. But you can't save the world with broken bones!"
Digging up another set of three he reeled back and shouted.
"Here we go!"
Taking a deep breath I foucused all my attention on listening to the world around me. Hearing him take a deep breath he let loose a small barrage of pebbles. Taking a step left I dodged the first pebble. Feeling the air change around the second I jumped up into the air. Opening my left hand I swiped the last rock out of the air, inches from my face. Tossing it aside I pointed at him and shouted.
"Again Lux!!"
Planting my feet square with my shoulders I opened both hands. Hearing him launch them at me I caught all three with perfect timing I tossed them over my shoulder.
"Don't let up! I'm getting the hang of this, let's rev up the intensity."
"Alright, you asked for this!"
Thrusting his hand into the pile he picked up four stones this time. Chucking them all at the same time I was given a new test. Sidestepping the first rock I dropped to the floor, dodging the other three.
"I thought I said Rev up the intensity? Give me something to really test me!"
Picking up ten rocks he spoke with determination.
"Lanius, this will be the final test. I'm going to throw these with all my might."
Launching rock after rock at blinding speeds I prepped myself for either victory, or major injury.
One, Bouncing off the ground it whizzed in between my legs. Two, flying directly towards my face I swiped it out of the air. Three and four were launched in quick succession, leaving little room error. Twisting my body I somehow managed to slip past them. Five came right after but I easily dodged it by jumping into the air. The sixth came as I was still falling towards the ground.
"Rose Bud shield!"
Opening my hand a tiny green shield appeared. The Pebble bouncing off of it gave me enough time to touch back down on the ground. Seven, Reaching out I caught the seventh rock and moved quickly. Eight and nine, Twisting again I slipped through them and planted my feet once more. The final rock moved faster than the others, I had no time to move so I placed all my hope in the second pebble I held in my hand. Raising it to where the tenth was coming I felt them collide.
The shock of the two rocks colliding caused them both to shatter into tiny pieces.
"I'm alive. IM ALIVE!!!"
Ripping off the blind fold I looked over at Lux. He was smiling so brightly it was almost blinding.
"Here I was thinking I just killed You, but there you are!"
Unsheathing the Blade of Moss I pointed it at him.
"Up for a sparring match?"
Lifting his giant sword he rested it on his shoulder.
"You learned an important battle skill and now you're cocky. I'd be more than willing to knock you down a peg."
"Thems fightin words Catman!
"Oh that's it. I'm going to put an imprint of your face all over these plains!!"
Charging me I saw his arm muscles tense up. With one small side step I was inside his space, Thrusting my pommle into his stomach I made contact. I hit him, I actually hit Lux!
Slamming his mighty fist into my side I was sent flying left. Pointing my hand at him I shouted.
"Vine of the eldertree!.
Wrapping around my wrist I cracked the whip and sent it flying at him. Wrapping around his blade I used it to catch myself.
"You never learn do you..."
One might tug sent my body flying back towards the mighty Tigerman, Twisting my body I managed to get my feet pointing at him. As my feet touched his sword I felt something odd, he hadn't anticipated this. Adding force behind my feet I slammed the Blade into him, Falling onto his back the sword clanged to the ground. Landing awkwardly on my feet I rushed up to him before managed to get up. Pointing my sword down at him I smiled.
"Boom your dead.
With a chuckle he stuck out his hand.
"You could use some work, I think you might need more sword training. Smart thinking with that whip of yours."
Placing the Blade of Moss back in its sheathed I took his hand and helped him up.
"You're sword is almost six feet long, I had no reach. But my only advantage is magic, so I came up with the whip to help me."
"I can't believe you rode a vine and beat me with my own sword. Congratulations, Lux 24, Lanius 1."
"Whatever..."
Crossing my arms I looked at the ground. As soon as I finally relaxed the Sword of Moss began to glow brightly. The gentle voice of Gaia floated around my head as I looked in awe at the beauty of the sword.
/"Oh Great Champion. You have shown me that not only do you posses a kind heart, but a quick wit and Talent for battle strategy. I Grant you my final gift, the Blade of Moss is yours."\
The sword shot out from the Sheath it sat in, glowing even brighter the Blade began to break into pieces. Shooting at me the numerous glowing shards pierced my skin. The pain was so intense I collapsed to the ground in complete and total agony. Bringing me to tears I cried out in pain.
"Lanius? Lanius!!"
As each shard completely disappeared inside of me the light grew dim, eventually the light began to glow brightly, illuminating my veins in a gentle green light. As soon as the last shard pierced my skin the handle turned to ash. The ashes stuck to my upper arm, above the right elbow. The familiar symbol of tree burned into my skin, the very same symbol that crested Gaia's forehead.
My mind began to swirl around with all the knowledge of how to properly use Nature magic. Countless spells and other skills with near infinite uses. As the swirling began to stop my body was suddenly relieved of all that pain. Climbing to my feet I slowly looked around at the trees.
"Hey Lanius? You're uh, still glowing.
The glow took the shape of a suit of light armor. Looking closer it seemed like the armor was made of, wood? My Wrists were bound tightly in thick elder tree vines. The armor piece covering My chest looked like it was carved out of the Elder tree itself, the nature symbol carved above where my heart is. So detailed, yet it was made completely out of the spirits of nature!
"So this is called nature's protection?"
While admiring my new spell Gaia once again appeared in my head.
/"With full control of Nature itself you can now imbue another mortal with the power of Nature's spirit energy. But choose wisely Champion, you only get one chance..."\
"I need to ask, can the person I imbue also imbue others?"
/"No, only if that person has a child after obtaining the power. This gift is left to you, and only you..."\
Trying to ask another question I sighed, she was gone.
"Lanius, are you alright? You seem kind of distant."
Looking over at Lux I sighed.
"There is alot I haven't told you my friend, I don't even think you'll believe me."
Walking back to camp I readied myself to tell Lux everything.
----
P.O.V. Ander Fernandez
It's been a whole year! A year since I discovered this Journal, and 7 months since I learned I can use spirit!
Turning 11 yesterday hit me by surprise. My mind has been preoccupied with learning about my abilites, and trying to master the Spirit of Nature. But sadly... Their ain't much an 11 year-old can do.
My skill with the power has improved greatly, I have even beaten my brother a couple times. Travis has been an amazing teacher, even though the elements are polar opposites he spends a lot of time researching the Nature element just so he can help me practice. But after reading about the Sixth sense I now know that I can never use any magic in the Mansion. Mother is the strongest fire mage in the family, if anyone can use that Sixth sense it would be her.
Walking in circles with a blindfold on I was practicing on my battle sense. The sudden sound of my mother's voice sent fear down my spine.
"Aha! So this has been where you spend all your time! For an 11 year-old boy you can be hard to find sometimes."
Taking off the blindfold I met the gaze of my mother.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't catch on young man?"
"..."
Walking into the cave she crouched next to me and smiled.
"I wasn't sure at first. But my youngest really can use magic."
Looking into her eyes I nodded. Her gaze didn't seem angry, it was more like worry.
"Ever since I was ten. But I couldn't tell you mom, if I did you would send me off to some magic school!"
"What has that boy been filling your head with?"
"I just want to master my spirit power and prove that the old legends are more than just fairytales!"
Grabbing my shoulders she gave me a stern look.
"Spirit? Who taught you that!"
Flinching I cringed a little. I said to much! At this rate she'll find out about the Journal. Okay calm down Ander, use your brain...
"I-I Read it inside a book in the library, it talked about the old ways of thought. The book was boring but Spirit power sounds alot cooler than Magic."
"Ander, I need you to promise me that you will never call magic that again."
Standing she offered me her hand.
"But why Mom?"
Holding my hand we walked out of the cave, following the path we headed back toward the house.
"The church of our country is an odd one. They find that word blasphemous, They'll call you a heretic and excommunicate you."
Kneeling she offered me a piggy back ride.
"Shall we go home? I can show you what a true sorceress of the Fernandez family can do. Maybe I can start giving you lessons."
Sitting up straight I shouted.
"You mean it!?!?!"
"I would never lie to you honey."
Kissing my cheek she carried me back home.