∼ Future Pursuits ∼

Chapter - 031

"Okay, then. Nyx, please conjure your [Demonbolt] for me - but do not release it," Aria said, on her haunches as she observed the small impling from almost too short a distance.

Nyx merely shot her a hesitant glance at her plea.

"Please?" She tried, her crimson eyes giving off a different glow.

At that, all will to resist faded, and Nyx found himself evoking the purple flames of his magic. He wasn't quite sure what she wanted with it, but ever since they had arrived here at Guard's Crossing, Aria had become infatuated with learning what Nyx was capable of, and exactly what she was capable of teaching him.

Watching both Nyx's face and the flames encasing his hands with intense scrutiny, almost enough for him to lose focus, Aria hummed to herself. "You are not conjuring magic with your mind, but your core. That is why you can use magic without having been taught it.

She was completely lost in her own mind, muttering to herself more so than to Nyx. "Monsters do not have to construct magical formations because their cores do it for them. It is letting you squirt around the rigorous training and study it would have otherwise taken... but if you have a class... a magic class... then..."

Not quite sure what she was getting at, Nyx just stood there, like a clueless pup.

"Dispel your magic," She ordered.

Doing as she said without hesitation this time, Nyx had to wonder where the nervous and timid girl went whenever she was in these lecturing trances of her. She stretched out her hands, placing one on the top of his head and one on his stomach. Closing her eyes, she nodded. "Again."

As Nyx did the same thing, feeling the warmth in his core run through intangible veins in his body, to conjure the magic around his hands, he looked at Aria who was clearly concentrating.

When she opened her eyes, a bright glimmer was in them. "You truly do have two reservoirs - double the mana pool,"

Excited himself, Nyx finally understood something. Because he understood why exactly that was so good - or rather, he had learned that mana was the fuel for his magic. The cost of conjuration and the reason why he couldn't just continuously cast [Demon Bolt].

He still wasn't sure what mana was fundamentally, other than Aria had explained it was an energy most unstable and chaotic, of which mages had to corral to take shape into whatever they required.

"I was wrong - meditation is not the only way for your reservoir to grow."

Interest peaked as Nyx knew that more mana was synonymous with more power. But to be honest, his intrigue was, even more, a cause of him tired from the restlessness that the dreaded meditation brought him.

"Either with evolution or by consuming cores from other magical beasts, that should grow your own core."

Now that sounded exciting, and Nyx expressed himself as so, an almost predatory look taking over as he scanned the surroundings for any to kill.

"No - Nyx, you cannot kill people - it is not okay." Aria reprimanded the small demon.

Nyx was taken aback.

He wanted to be outraged at being told not to - to be told he'd have to spare those worthless humans. Yet... he struggled to go against her. As had become very obvious, she had some kind of... ethereal sway over him that he still did not understand.

"But killing stupid humans make Nyx stronger!" He protested, though weakly.

Realizing something, Nyx's face contorted in confusion. "Why Aria no kill humans?"

"The Codex does not award Enlightened with experience for killing their own, only Monsters gain from both. We get experience from increasing our skills or slaying Monsters - so for me, I grow stronger by helping people. Not stealing away their lives. But that is not the reason why it is not okay to kill people."

Aria sighed, fixing the uncomprehending demon with gentle eyes. "Besides, humans do not have cores - they cannot help you grow the reservoir in your core."

Seeing Nyx's clear reluctance, Aria knew she had to say something - though she looked about as reluctant to say it as Nyx was to give up. "Only bad humans. You can only kill bad humans."

"Bad humans? Nyx can kill weaklings?" Nyx quired innocently.

"No - that is not what I mean by bad..." She sighed again. "you will learn."

Definitely not sure as to what she was saying since Nyx clearly understood that there was nothing but bad humans. Except for Aria, of course. So was she trying to get at that there existed - not stupid humans? Ridiculous.

"But it is still important you train both." She began, after recognizing that Nyx had at least considered what she asked of him. "If your mind cannot keep up with your core, or the other way around, I think it may have catastrophic consequences. Magic is very dangerous - mana is very dangerous. That you have access to both the magic of the Enlightened and the Monsters is already dancing with your own peril, to not have balance as a magic-user is assuredly a death sentence. Always."

Taken aback for a second time today by Aria's sudden seriousness, Nyx nodded hesitatingly, looking at his hands with a new light - a trepidatious one.

Aria got back to her full height, casting a glance at Eric who was not much farther away, boxing away at the wind under a sheen of sweat and exertion. Tucked in between a multitude of tents, wagons, and miscellaneous stalls, they had this little clearing just outside the city walls all for themselves. Boram had arranged it, much to Aria and Eric's gratitude so they could train and work in peace without prying eyes.

Mostly because a mage was not a common sight by any caliber, and most definitely not a warlock at that.

It wasn't only had Aria found the kindling to teach and further Nyx, a fire too had been lit in Eric. He had recognized his powerlessness ever since the battle with the reavers, and during their last week off the Iron Road, without its protection and their close encounters with monsters, it had only worsened his perception of his own strength.

Sure, he could throw it down with any man that did not possess a class. No matter who - one, two, or even three - he'd take any and all on without breaking a sweat. But once Eric had fought that monstrosity, he truly realized that it did him nothing good in the real world. Even that poor excuse for a rogue had managed to sneak up on him and would've killed him if not for Nyx throwing the thug off guard.

He had taken it upon himself to rectify that shame - that weakness.

If not, the only other person he had found to care about in this lonesome world might die before his very eyes, beating in the notion that he was little more than a helpless child right now. Like he had always been in the despising eyes of his father.

Drowned in memories of hurt, he threw punches faster and faster. But when the trials of muffled laughter reached his ears, he finally noticed the two red eyes staring at him with mirth. Aria was holding a hand to her mouth as if to stifle her amusement.

He had been so engrossed with his training that he had not realized the impling by his feet, imitating him as the small demon threw fists. The damn demon even mimicked his grunts. Eric wasn't sure if Nyx was making a mockery of him or genuinely trying to learn how to fight, but he couldn't help but take on a sour expression.

"Shoo - scram," Eric motioned Nyx away with a foot.

The demon glared at him, throwing a curse here and there between mostly intelligible yammering.

"You're doing it all wrong - and you're distracting me, so go play with your magic," Eric said, shooing Nyx away again.

Going back to shadow boxing with the wind, Eric ignored the impling.

Not getting his way, Nyx waddled over, fury in his small steps, and drew back his arm. Before Eric had a chance to react, Nyx let loose a punch directly on his shin. Letting out a yelp of pain, Eric had to jump on one leg as he held it in clear pain. "What the-?! Just what is his strength?!"

The miniature demon was now cackling menacingly at the much larger human, satisfied that his might had truly been displayed to that dumb human. Though, it'd probably barely leave a bruise.

"I think he has been confusing power with strength," Aria added as she came in closer.

Eric groaned. "Goddamn demon... shouldn't he be putting it in intelligence or something?"

Aria shrugged almost guiltily. "Probably, but I honestly have no idea what his future will bring him. It seems he is getting a lot of innate intelligence from simply being an impling and having a warlock class, the reason why he is learning so quickly. But it seems his mind is set on other things than just magic. Demons are stubborn creatures, especially imps, and he has the [Mark of Pride], so I doubt he will ever let go of something once he sets his eyes on it."

Scowling at the impling, Eric took in the small form of the red little creature. From its meager frame to its spindly limbs, it didn't look like much. But if anything, those stringy muscles he had and his agile build told of a prime fighter. Just, that might've been if one wasn't considering that he was looking at a miniature creature not even able to reach his knees.

"He will not be small forever. Once he evolves, he will change drastically, and it will not stop just there." Aria added, almost as if she had read his mind. "Why not teach him?"

"To fight?" Eric snorted but snapped his trap closed once he saw her serious expression from underneath her hood. "But don't you think that is a little... wasteful? I mean for a mage, wouldn't you want to be in the back - and safe...?"

"Not all mages are the same, and there exist many odd classes, advancements, and fighting styles. So since Nyx has both his monster race and classes, anything might be possible." She countered.

"Yeah, but we don't exactly have any heritages for such obscure roles. Without a heritage, we'll never know what prerequisites he'll have to meet for advancing to the next rank if he ever takes such a complicated path. Only high-born nobles of houses all across Argon have access to things such as that, and it's not exactly because nobles are the sharing kind."

Looking almost sheepishly, Aria looked around as if to check if anyone was looking. Retrieving her large book to hold it to her chest, she smiled timidly. "That might be true. However... not everyone is fortunate enough to have the help of an Arcanum-trained archivist with a grimoire storing ancient chronicles and secrets..."