"I feel..... as a prince of two worlds, I should be doing better."
Murciel sat on a small mountain of cave-lizard carcasses. Part of him felt bad, he'd erased another final semblance of a rare species. To be fair, they were a nuisance and once plagued roamers of Center-Earth but still, life was sacred.
"I'll make graves for you all. You fought well, you trained me well, teacher-lizards." Murciel hopped off the pile of beasts. Still scale-skinned and massive in his own right.
He swayed in the dark, drunk on blood. It tinted the ends of his vision like his skull was full of the crimson elixir-- ready to burst with it. He wanted to sleep. But he needed to train. He needed to be ready to join his mother in her sacred mission.
Plus, his scroll glowed again.
[Name: Murciel Mori]
[Race: Vampire]
[Bloodline: Royal]
[Height: 7 FT 0 IN (6 FT 0 IN)]
[Weight: 240LBS (120LBS)]
[Blood Reserves: Full]
[Cultivation Stage: (Mortal) Low-Seed (75%)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Crimson Mimicry, Red Essence Absorption, Red Essence Empowerment]
"I've made more progress here than I have in years of training at Bronzehenge. I'll have to ask Mrs. Augustus if I can drop out. Or if they have classes for Vampires. Probably the first one. She's less likely to call me an idiot. Actually, no she's not." Murciel thought.
"Anyways, it's time to head out. I need to spar with Logan again to see how much stronger my cave-lizard teachers have made me."
Murciel began making his way out of the cave with a dozen cave-lizard carcasses dragging along in his wake. Thankfully Druids didn't directly engage caves for no reason.
He probably looked horrifying.
The cave route in reverse played through his brain as he traveled, trying to remember the echoing images the whole way. His arm muscles burned from the beasts combined weight. But he pushed on. Scenting. Watching. Listening.....
Stopping as a scratching noise erupted from his left.
The sound drew his eyes to a much smaller corridor entrance. Once he missed on the way in. He dropped the lizards and braced himself for combat. At least that's what he did at first. Then, he shut his eyes and clicked his teeth.
"In my cave-lizard Mimicry form, I have better vision in the dark and worse echolocating abilities. Probably because lizards aren't known for their hearing. Either way, I can still see with my ears. I can see you... whatever you are. You look like an egg. Are you an egg?.... wait."
Murciel slunk down into the slim corridor of stone. It was warm. Dead foiliage and grass covered the floor. The back wall was marred with claw marks where the cave-lizards must've came and went from. A precaution against other predators. Like Foul-Beasts.
The egg sat alone in a nest of weeds and feathers. It was large. Bigger than Sandmaw's head and covered in green veins and linework on a black backdrop.
It swayed from the previous movement inside. He shut his eyes again and tapped the egg.
The sound cloaked the object, penetrating the shell and painting a crude picture of the unborn life within.
He was suddenly taken aback to what his mother said about finding him.
"Your parents were my enemies..... In a sense. But you don't have to be. Your life should be able to be determined. Just like mine was. Plus, I would like to return a favor. Your people made me strong today. I would like to make you strong. Maybe you could join me in my mission."
Murciel picked up the egg. "Let's go, friend. We have worlds to change."
Twenty minutes later and he emerged from the cave with an egg in one hand and a bundle of giant lizards in the other. Blood crusted over his scales, causing red smoke and dust to fall from his flexing muscles with every step.
It didn't take long to dig the graves with his enhanced strength and size. No more than a few minutes and he was dumping the bones in the dirt as pounded ash.
"When you're older, I'll take you back here. Just in case there's anything you want to say." Murciel said to the egg as they faced the mounded grave topped by a wildflower.
As he ran home, he let the beasts remains feed the birds and foxes of the forest.
When he reached home, he was more humanoid once again. Still covered in blood, though. And his clothes were torn even worse than before.
A golden owl screeched like a demon as he hopped over the fencing around his farm home.
"Oh sh--"
Mrs. Augustus dive-bombed, transforming into her human form on the way down. She landed in front of him in a burst of green light and golden feathers. Beady eyes and long nose twisted in fury. She somehow looked more avian.
"What in the Earth's is that?"
"This is an ally I've made on my mission." Murciel puffed out his chest.
"You fool! What species of unborn beast is that?"
"Petrosaur. His family fought well, but his life should get the chance to be determined. Also it would be cool if I showed up Logan and came to training one day with a giant knuckle dragger lizard." Murciel explained.
Mrs. Augustus pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "Bring the egg inside, I need blankets, fire and a clean space."
Murciel smiled, "Yes ma'am."
An hour later and the sun hung high in the morning sky. Murciel gave a final goodbye to his newly nested cave-lizard egg in his room and headed out for training.
He now wore a brown sweater and pants with green leather wraps around his feet and hands. The cloak-cape remained. Mrs. Augustus tried to comb through his wild curls once before giving up and tying it up in a band at the back of his head.
He took it out the moment he left the farmhouse.
Then he stood in shock as he found Logan waiting at the edge of his fence with Sandmaw.
He approached, taking note of how the dogs sat facing him patiently. They usually only did that with his mother.
"Logan, what are you doing here?" Murciel asked.
"Waiting for you. Are you always late?"
"Yes, why?"
"I was just wondering if I'm always going to be late now. It's not fitting for a demigod to be late."
"It makes you unique then." Murciel shrugged.
Logan seemed to seriously consider his words, "I guess you're right. Speaking of unique, why do you smell like Petrosaur? I thought those were extinct."
"...."
"Murciel. Why?"
Murciel grinned, "No reason."