Michael stood at the top of a grassy hill slope overlooking a forest, it felt different from last time, tall metallic silver lights had been erected lighting up the edges of the woods, and once in a while a person in what he assumed was a khaki trouser and camouflage vest jacket a rifle hung on his back, the groundskeeper Jack a tall well-built body with huge hands probably able to squish Michael's head without breaking a sweat. He needed a way to get past him into the woods the only place where no one would likely see him, 'I doubt there's another giant snake in there' his hand shook involuntarily at the memory of the monster, its face turned up in one or so of the cacophony of nightmares tormenting him, but they weren't the problem he welcomed the nightmares some were probably memories of his past life they held a clue to how he might regain his lost abilities. what bothered him was the helplessness that he felt at least you can wake up from dreams the feeling of weakness remained even when he came back to reality.
A slight gust of wind over the hill smoothing over the grass the faint sight of leaves in the trees of the woods ruffled, Michael breathed in the scene as evening crept shrouding the landscape in the twilight he shuddered ever since being born into that era he had never felt weaker, earlier those assassins were going to kill him and he could not have done absolutely anything despite attaining a small iota of power despite being stronger than most humans he would die at their hands again! he could only run and even then it was not enough he knew if not for Avion he and Sally would be dead. He shuddered again this time shaking all over, someone stared at him from a distance in his usual khaki trousers and camouflage vest jacket his dark gaze met Michael's for a minute before disappearing into the woods. The tall lights flickered to life automatically sensing the impending darkness lighting up the grassy tree line.
Anger burned in him for a moment before dissipating into a calm bordering on depression, he thought back to that moment in the small wooden shed focusing on the fear he felt. Anger flooded his heart and then turned into rage burning brightly he let it consume him concentrating on celestial energy coursing in his blood making it resurface. His entire body lit up like a humanoid light bulb, dim golden light ignited humming through the surface of his skin, and the shadows around him dispersed gathering at the edges of the golden light then the light went down as quickly as it came the entire place going back to its darker shadowy twilight evening around him.
"My power is growing steadily; I need to train even more if some people have to die..." he whispered the last part turning towards Bailon Manor whatever he needed to do he couldn't do it on an empty stomach, and it was dinner time.
His new room at the Manor was at least twice as big as his room at their home on the third floor of the right wing taking almost the entire floor according the majordomo a short stocky man named Edwards with an 'S' had taken him to it personally not delegating the duty to one of the hundreds of servants according to him it was the only room in the entire manor that almost matched the master bedroom Simon Bailon used. Micheal found the room to look almost like his own except more spacious and luxurious like it was made for him "Clearly they have been expecting me." he surveyed around: a king-sized bed covered in white sheets, cream pillows, and a large comforter just looking at it made him feel sleepy, two large windows flanked on either far sides letting in cool fading light creamy curtains stood unclosed over light almost see through covers to the outside, a large rectangular desk and cushioned chair, several books laid out perfectly. "Your grandfather asked me to prepare this room personally for you " Edwards stood his hands at his back Michael had almost forgotten he was there, "There are some clothes in the closet," he said pointing to a tall dark brown door several paces in front of the bed another similar door next to it probably the bathroom "The rest of your belongings will be brought shortly." He left promptly stating that dinner shall be ready soon and that he should wash up.
the tall floor length mirror in the bathroom revealed why Edwards had emphasized that last bit, his uniform had patches of dirt and smelled awful "the immense sweating didn't help" he sighed after being tense throughout the day finally relaxing the fatigue started to settle in making his body feel heavy. After showering for almost thirty minutes in warm almost hot water that felt glorious on his skin using the most flowery scented soap, he'd ever encountered Michael stepped out reluctantly and into the large closet finding an array of clothes where he picked a plain white silky t-shirt and loose black shorts. He let himself fall onto the soft wide bed so big it was like swimming in very comfortable sheets, the bed bounced a bit taking in his weight.
"Divine Art: Light dispersion, by letting the available light around me go through my body instead of letting it bounce on it true invisibility is borne, but hard to control especially during the day when light is immensely abundant, not to mention I have to constantly circulate celestial energy throughout the entire time taking a lot of energy and concentration." He stared blankly at the white ceiling "I am still too weak, and I do not remember much from my past life meaning reinventing all my abilities and whatever memory resurfaces in my dreams." he sat up white lights on the wall had come on automatically the moment he returned from the closet or bathroom illuminating wherever he was at the time the way it resembled his own room was too suspicious though he doubted his grandfather was behind the attack just to move them to the manor there were too many things that could go wrong with that plan. "No someone has decided to target me, its probably due to my affiliation in the Bailon family I doubt any of my past enemies would attack me using human weapons if in fact they knew who I was and if its just humans..." His body, divine art and celestial energy reserves were still low compared to how he saw himself in his dreams but he was still stronger than most average humans "...I can kill them."
He slept for an hour or that's what he thought, someone had closed the curtains it was completely dark out, the lights in his room still on, rising up a round silver plate several pieces of fried chicken, mashed-potatoes sided with green peas and a fat red apple, next to the plate a small rectangular white note written in neat handwriting:
To permanently turn off the lights flip the middle switch on the right side of the bed.
Edwards.
By the time Michael finished the plate was so clean it seemed more of a mirror, he propped up one of the giant books on the desk a thick brown leather bound thing then another a paperback this time 'A beginner's guide to Business transactions' he read a few pages "this could be useful in future endeavors after all the current world thrives around money and business transactions are the basis of it all, as a member of the family grandpa probably expects me to learn the ins and outs of the family business, my succession as the next head of the dynasty is not guaranteed after all if that was the case my aunt who has children older than me would be the next most appropriate successor yet my mother got chosen over her despite working in the company for decades while my mom stayed away." he closed the book "grandpa must consider me a possible candidate for the role" Michael thought out loud "When the time comes I need to be ready"
'I don't feel an ounce of fatigue nor do I need to sleep' He glanced at the clock on the wall entirely made out of crystal glass completely see through except for the black roman numbers 10:42 pm, going back to bed he lay at the center staring up at the ceiling aimlessly without hunger plaguing his stomach Michael's Mind felt clearer reflecting back to that evening 'How is it that I was able to glow entirely without circulating celestial energy throughout my body? Yet to become invisible I need to do so.' something about it wasn't adding up the figure in his dreams just did what he wanted not needing to think about it.
Six feet tall, long dark hair golden pupils in a loose white tunic and long equally loose pants, he stood bare feet over solid smooth obsidian dark rock. Hair tied to the back of his head flowing in a single black silky tail reaching the tail on his back, muscularly well packed lean body exuding strength and power, authority even by standing doing nothing. Michael looked into his beautiful glowing marble eyes that stared back the figure smiled amused by Michael's presence before him, he wanted that power everything that made Asahi strong he wanted to regain no stronger he needed to be strong than he was back then.
Michael also stood on a dark obsidian rock directly in front of Asahi, noticing the longing in Michael his smile turned into a grin into a mock laughter contrasting the sage-like visage, He spread his feet apart diagonally back and front like he was about to squat his entire body moving in a perfect honed rhythm of a warrior claiming countless battles and centuries of experience in comparison Michael felt like a gnat no worse than that. Asahi placed his left hand expertly elbow turned upwards near his chest while the right moved out of view backward, the laughter had died out leaving in its wake a thin smile hilarity still painted all over his face like he was barely holding it back, his seamlessly perfect skin glowed humming with power light condensing all around him adding a holy appearance unto his already otherworldly body he spoke in an amused tone "You think too much" he thrust his left fist where immensely light had gathered forward in Michael's direction releasing a condensed beam of light that pierced through his chest.
Michael woke up heaving touching his chest half expecting to find a gaping hole his lips spread gleefully, and the bedroom light was still on "I got it!" he jumped off the bed the clock informed him it was 1:00 am "I finally understand!" he rushed to the closet floor length mirror. Appreciating the low silver-golden glow emanating through his skin from head to toe parts of his body slightly disappeared from view the clothes on him were the only things still clearly seen "Let's remedy that." he whispered bending light away from him instead of through himself along with the t-shirt and black shorts lifting it just before it reached him with minimal effort the person on the mirror was no longer there, walking back to the bed he let it fall away fully appearing as he fell into it, looking at the white lights on either side of the walls in his room he smiled "Who needs a switch?" raising both his arms the white lights flickered a bit before going off completely darkening the entire bedroom
"Light manipulation: Lights off"