A week flashed with uneventful and unhurried steadiness. Theseus had left the morning after we arrived, off to Veria in search of clues. We had not heard from him since. I kept my worries between Lucifer and myself. Lucifer assured me that there was nothing to worry about, despite the depressing aura that had begun to take hold of the camp in his absence. Though only one week had passed, I felt as though more than two had gone by. Every evening Lucifer would demand my presence and we would train within my soul. Due to the time dilation that occurred within Arce Elymas, I would gain three hours for every one that went by in the real world.
Lucifer's training was brutal not to mention strict. However, the results could not be argued. My body had already shed several pounds as it expended vast quantities of calories in order to keep up with the application of divine energy within my body, molding new pathways for the energy to merge with my ligaments and muscles. In addition to training the use of Lucifer's aforementioned divine energy, he had me practice hand to hand combat, as well as sword fighting; and when I was not in my soul training, I was training in other ways.
Asterion taught me to hunt. He had to, as we ran out of rations after the second day. He was diligent in his instruction as we could not leave any noticeable tracks or traces behind that would lead to our camp. Whenever we returned with a fresh batch of dead rabbit, or deer, he would have me bleed them, skin them and break down the carcass for cooking. It was grueling and difficult work.
Killing something... Taking life... It was not something I was able to do easily. Asterion, Lucifer and not to mention Lilith, all agreed that I needed to become hardened. I could not hesitate in another battle. This was their method of 'easing' me into the practice of death.
While killing animals was not the same, it was an important first step in dulling those senses. I understood logically that I needed to come to terms with the fact that regardless of my desires, I would need to end a life some day. A human life. An angels, or perhaps some other mythological creature. The Basilisk man had been Lucifer's doing, and the angels from the bridge were Theseus, Asterion and Lilith's. It made me queasy to think that they all did it so easily, and that some day I would likely be the same.
I sensed Lucifer prodding my mental barrier as he no doubt sensed my turbulent emotions. That had been another form of training Lucifer demanded, one that I had progressed quickly with. Every training regiment he gave had a physical and mental component; I had been more than determined to master this mental exercise in the pursuit of much needed privacy, and yesterday had been my breakthrough.
Over the last week while sparring hand to hand combat, Lucifer pushed me to form the mental barrier. Once I had time to dedicate to practicing the forming of said barrier, it became rather simple to put into place. It was still fairly weak, as we could still hear each other as if talking through a door, and sense each others emotions, but I had improved significantly.
Once I had attained that level, he would instruct me to maintain the barrier whilst talking, then walking and finally fighting. Just as holding the divine energy had proven exceptionally difficult to do while multi tasking, the barrier was much the same. The compounding of tasks, layer after layer of complexity, resulted in a frustrated determination that I had never in my life experienced. This brief period of time was proving to be critical in the development of the skills required for me to survive, but not only that, I was beginning to enjoy it.
In addition to my time with Asterion hunting, and my time training with Lucifer to better utilize and understand divine energy, I had more practical sparring sessions with Lilith... Her methods were ruthless, and unforgiving, but it proved to me one thing; Lucifer could train with me all we wanted in Arce Elymas, but practical combat was something you had to do with your own physical body if you ever truly wished to progress.
*****
I dodged left, swiftly evading a punishing dagger blow to my right midsection. Lilith's copper dagger reversed in her grip as she continued her assault. The blade managed to slide through my shirt and cut a thin red line into my side. I cursed mentally as I kept my concentration and pivoted off my right foot landing behind her.
Argo lifted easily in my hand as I channeled more divinity into my body, giving me a burst of strength and speed that took Lilith off guard. My sword blurred as it sliced through the air with deadly precision. She appeared totally off balance and unable to defend. I was finally going to land a blow against her after all this time!
"Don't get ahead of yourself..." Lucifer mused knowingly.
Lilith rose her left palm open over her right arm, crooking it lightly in her elbow. A burst of thick red mist blasted me off the ground. My opportunity squandered, I cursed as I landed deftly fifteen feet back.
"You used magic! that's cheating Lilith!" I barked angrily. Lilith raised her eyebrow as if in response, but said nothing as she flourished her grip once and began walking towards me confidently. Her blond hair bouncing lightly off her shoulders. "You said you wouldn't use magic!" I added sheathing my sword Argo at my side, finger pointed with accusation. Lilith raised her brow again, but did not slow her pace even by a little. Rather than speak or rebuttal, she raised a finger gun in my direction mockingly. I cocked my head in confusion as she seemingly fired.
A bolt of red energy flew from her finger and punctured my left leg. Searing hot pain streaked through my body, forcing me to my knees. She fired again, another bolt hitting me in my right shoulder taking the breath from my lungs. Pain and agony were my only companions as I considered the err of my ways.
"Desmond, what have I told you a thousand times now?" Her grave and callous words bearing into me like a knife in the gut. I panicked and my eyes went wide as I realized what I had done.
"A- A fight never ends unless.... Unless someone yields... Or dies.." I said through labored breaths, my body was beginning to cold as I activated more divine energy to numb the pain. Blood continued to drip from my wounds as she approached, her fingers softly caressing through my hair before gripping tightly and pulling my face up to hers.
"A fight is never over unless someone yields, or dies. Correct. Do not ever sheath your blade in the presence of a foe. Not even me. Especially not me." Thrusting my head away, I sprawled out on the dirt ground. Unable to stand with the searing pain in my leg, I lay there, waiting what I knew would come next.
Wordlessly, Lilith knelt beside me and eyed the wounds separately, inspecting each of them with surgical precision. She then held out her fingers of both hands in a pincer formation, her fore and middle fingers on top of her thumbs; the familiar red energy began to enter and heal my wounds from the inside out, as if stitching the very muscle fibers within, back together.
"I'll never get over how cool blood magic is." I muttered cautiously as I observed her healing me.
"It does have its uses doesn't it." She replied disinterestedly.
"When are you going to teach me?" I asked for the second time this week.
"I'll teach you, when you quit being so useless in a fight. Got it?" She answered, annoyed as she stood back up. She did not bother to offer me a hand, instead she beckoned me to get up on my own.
Scrambling to my feet I watched as she walked a few feet back to her starting position, and her dagger flourished into her hand once more.
"Again. No magic this time, and no divine energy either. Don't think for even a second I didn't notice earlier." Her words were cold and callous as always, and I nodded at her instruction. Drawing Argo once more.
"I did tell you not to get ahead of yourself." Lucifer mocked.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be helping me?" I countered.
"The point here is for you to learn how to fight independent of myself and the abilities I can provide you. If you cannot fundamentally defend yourself, then you are relying too heavily on me, which brings imbalance to our partnership; and I believe you were the one who insisted we treat this arrangement as such." His harsh words were as intuitive as always. I considered offering a rebuttal, but decided against it. Lilith was waiting, and she never liked to be kept waiting.
Pushing off my right leg, I started with a feint from above. Argo swung downward violently and just as she began to dodge, I shifted the blades momentum to the right, aiming for her midsection. Lilith must have anticipated this maneuver, as her dagger deflected my sword with ease.
Shifting my body weight, I stepped forward into her guard gripping her wrist with my free hand, and attempted to throw her over my shoulder.
Rather than allow herself to be thrown, she gripped my wrist in turn and rolled up and over my backside. Landing deftly on the the other side, her knee smashed against my nose before I had time to upright myself. Eyes watering, and nose running red, I staggered backward, hoping to give myself room to think.
"Dodge left." Lucifer instructed. Unable to make out my surroundings or my opponent, I wordlessly followed his command allowing a combination of Lucifer and my instincts to guide me.
"Parry right." I lifted Argo to slash away a potentially fatal blow.
"Shift your weight and swing wide left." Slowly the incoherent blurs were coming into focus as I allowed Lucifer to be my eyes. My attack struck her dagger and I could see her shape set herself for a sweeping leg maneuver. Shifting my weight once more, her shin cut into more force than she had expected, catching her off balance.
"Push her now!" Lucifer shouted, the heat of the mock battle finally seeming to get to him. I put all my superior mass into a shoulder check, knocking her breath from her lungs, and her feet out from under her.
She landed on the ground with a loud thud, looking up at me with a surprised expression that matched my own. So surprised in fact, that I once again forgot the most important step when sparring with Lilith... She had not yielded. I had not even the time to recognize the moment of my perceived victory as her feet completed their earlier leg sweep, knocking me prone with ease. Scrambling forward and mounting my chest, pinning my arms uselessly at my sides.
Panting, she took her sweet time to pull the loose hair from her face, glowering down at me triumphantly.
"Damn it, Desmond... You ask for my help..." Lucifer bemoaned angrily. "I hope you know this will hurt, and that you deserve it." I silently agreed.
The sun was setting, and the gold rays of light danced through Lilith's hair like autumn leaves on the wind, and for a pristine moment, time seemed to slow to a stop, and despite my better judgment, I had to admit that she looked beautiful...
What was I thinking? I thought angrily to myself as time resumed its normal flow. A grin crossed her red lips, and I knew she was happy to be hurting someone. Perhaps happy to be hurting me specifically. She raised her fists up above her head, and I winced as her fists came down like hammers. I felt four strikes land before unconsciousness took me.
I awoke minutes later, laid out next to Lilith as she treated my injuries with her blood magic. She had not yet healed my broken nose though, and seeing me alert she gripped it between her fore finger and thumb. I screamed in abject pain and horror as she twisted violently.
"What. Did. I. Say. About. Fighting." Her words less question and more frustration as each twist punctuated her words. My vision blurred as tears ran down my face, and neurons bounced through my skull with fury at the pain. I tried to speak, but only unintelligible screeches left my mouth. Annoyed at my pitiable display, she let go, but I knew she still expected and answer.
"A fight is never over unless someone yields, or dies." I managed to eek out pathetically. She nodded wordlessly and began to heal the wound. A few minutes passed and I was right as rain again, not even a scar to show for my efforts.
"Alright, that's enough for today. I swear, it feels like torturing a kid, sparring with you." She rose and began her short walk back to the campsite. With a groan I stood and followed.
"Well. She is not technically wrong. Literally speaking, you may as well be a baby considering the age gap of a thousand years plus between the two of you..." Lucifer chuckled before adding, "You would probably do well to remember that too, young Desmond..."
Gritting my teeth, I erected the barrier. I could still hear him laughing even now. I did not know why I was seeing Lilith in this light. I knew I hated her. She was rude, hateful, spiteful, resentful, and every other 'ful' one could possibly think of. Lucifer had said that her being a demon, attraction was intentional. Her appearance is designed to be sought after by human men. Easier to lure them and corrupt them. I chose to think of it as another weakness that needed overcoming. If I was going to stop being a burden to my companions, I needed to be immune to all such temptations.
*****
Asterion had finished cooking dinner, a stew of rabbit. We had no vegetables, and the stock was also made of rabbit. Rabbit on rabbit, we had grown to calling it. Everyone detested it by now, but it had the nutrients needed to keep us all going. Her served us each a full helping out of the carved wooden bowls we had made early on in our stay.
"I think it is time for us to consider pursuing Theseus..." Asterion said finally, his words were thick and heavy. I could tell he had been considering this for some time.
"Out of the question." Lilith replied, not bothering to look up from her bowl.
A palpable aura took over the camp which drew a glance from Lilith.
"He has been gone a week, with no update. We agreed he would return by the second night!" Asterion's usually emotionless tone was racked with worry and anger.
"Theseus is the best warrior among us; Whatever has delayed him, he will handle it and come back!" Her cold words fanning the flames of anger within our horned friend.
"Without him, what hope do we have of finding the portal to California?" Asterion retorted.
"Ace, stop thinking like a lover, and think like a warrior!" Lilith remarked scornfully.
Asterion snorted, huge puffs of hot air erupting from his nostrils as he shot to his feet, stamping his left foot on the dirt like a charging bull. "I am both and will think as both! If you will not go, then allow me to leave and bring him back!" The desperation in his voice made my heart heavy.
"I think-" I started but Lucifer was the one who stopped me.
"No one has asked your opinion yet, Desmond." His own words were sharp and pointed. His intent was firmly planted on the two before him. I figured he was appraising them both, we all knew it would come down to him for a final determination, as well did he.
Lilith's gaze popped over to mine, and she appraised me for a moment, clearing considering Lucifer as a route to end this farcical conversation. Turning back to Asterion, she continued arguing. I assumed she must have decided that Lucifer would engage if and when he thought necessary.
Several minutes passed with rising tensions and heated tempers before he finally thought it necessary.
Clearing my throat I stood, both figures with raised weapons froze. I repeated after Lucifer, word for word, as I had become accustomed to.
"Asterion, I understand your worry. Theseus is an important part of this party, and is currently partaking in an extremely important task. What we have currently, is a painfully lacking measure of information." He paused for what I assumed must have been dramatic effect. Fortunately, it was exceptionally effective, as both parties lowered their weapons and stood listening.
"While I cannot say we should go blindly into Veria searching for him, I also cannot say we should stay here waiting for someone who may not return. I am of the mind that as always; calmer, cooler heads shall prevail. We shall give Theseus until tomorrow at mid day to arrive, if he does not. Then we shall make preparations to remedy the situation. Agreeable?" I made a point to look to Asterion, as I knew him to be the primary subject of Lucifer's instruction. He was biding time, and I knew it. Lucifer and Lilith did not care for anyone else but themselves, and thus by extension, me. Theseus and Asterion were tools to be used and thrown away, and it had obviously begun to appear as if these two had outlived their usefulness...
Asterion nodded and sat back down, seemingly satisfied, but still angry. Lilith on the other hand, surprised me, walking and sitting beside the large minotaur.
"I'm sorry big guy, I really am. Lucifer's right. We will think of something to do tomorrow..." The two bean to quietly converse with each other, while Lucifer beckoned me to join him for our usual training session. I reminded myself that the three shared a history together that I did not know. Perhaps Lilith cared for them more than I thought I understood...
I closed my eyes and began my usual ritual of entering my soul.
"Arce Elymas Magus."
"Arce Elymas Magus.."
"Arce Elymas Magus..."
Nothing happened. There was no other ethereal voice that I almost recognized this time. there was no sensation of being transported anywhere. I opened my eyes, not finding the twilight of my soul, but instead finding my camp empty and the fire out. I was still sitting in my cross legged position, but quickly stood up.
"Lucifer?" I asked, but received no reply. I searched with myself for the familiar presence of him and his divinity.
Nothing.
My heart began to race as panic set in. What was going on? I thought.
"Lilith? Ace?" I whispered loudly, afraid that something might be nearby. Reaching down to my bedroll I gripped for Argo, but found only an empty scabbard. My head swiveled three hundred and sixty degrees as I searched for any sign of my companions. A laugh echoed lightly on the breeze, making my hair stand on end. However, despite the instinctual warning, I did not feel in danger. Something within me beckoned me onward, to seek out the voice.
It came two more times before my fear subsided enough to finally allow myself to walk after it. Maintaining a defensive stance, I treaded carefully, avoiding any protruding roots and sidestepping any trees. As I walked I surveyed my surroundings carefully expecting an ambush at any moment.
Minutes passed before I realized the laugh was getting quieter. Panic rose within me, and I sped up to catch it. With each fading laugh, I sped faster, faster and faster; Until finally I had given up all pretense of caution. I could barely just make out the laughter though, and every fiber of my body assured me I could not allow this voice to get away. Crashing through a dense thicket of trees I guarded my face as sharp thorns and branches cut at me from all sides. An unseen root catching my foot, sending me careening downward. Hands cradling my head I rolled several downhill several times before I crashed into a hard rock wall. Dizzily I stood, looking around, finding that it was pitch black save for a faint ray of light that came from above.
I realized I was staring within the opening to a cave. A soft breeze tickled my back as the hairs stood to attention once more, sending a chill down my spine.
"Kekekeke..." The voice giggled one more, as if from directly behind me.
Spinning on my heels I turned to face whoever was there. Only to be met by three strange looking women.
"Look who has come my sisters! See who comes to visit with the Moirai..."