Chapter 5: Advice And Inheritance.

“Mom, what’s going on? What was all of that?” Zone asked, walking into the back room.

“I’m not repeating myself. Do you want my advice or not?” Mom asked.

“Of course we do!” Aria said enthusiastically.

“Mhmm. Sorry for not telling you guys the full truth. I wasn’t sure how you would take it. I honestly didn’t think I would ever have to tell you. Another hero like me showing up, was... completely unexpected. Though, remembering the jade pendant, I guess it makes sense that it chose to track you two down, first. I thought you two would spend the rest of your lives in the village. If you two are going to go on a journey... First, Zone. Take this. It’s dangerous to go alone.” Mom said, shoving a backpack into Zones arms.

“Woah! OH!! Is this the backpack from Dads stories?! Awesome!” Zone said, enthralled.

“It was your fathers. I’m pretty sure most of what’s in there he put there for you, anyway. Other than that, I put some stuff in there myself, for you two. Do you need me to show you how to use it? The storage function is a bit tricky.” Mom asked.

“No, I already got it working.” Zone said, looking through the contents with amazement.

His eyes sparkled, pulling out a book and flipping through the pages.

“Aria, here. I left the other stuff for you in the bag, but I can’t exactly store this.” Mom said.

She touched Arias forehead, closing her eyes and focusing.

A bright light shone from the point of contact between the two.

The light channeled mana through her finger, into Aria.

“Woah! What is this?!” Aria exclaimed.

“It was your fathers. It’s a bit… Impractical to store it in a normal container. I don’t know much about it, other than it being a gem that sits in the middle of your soul, and makes your mana nearly inexhaustible. If you train it properly. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to do that. Your father never told me how to train it, if he even knew how. As it is now, it should already be an incredible power up for you. Your father called it a core. He refused to talk about it any further than that.” Mom said, winded.

She caught her breath a second later.

“So…. Dad really was..?” Zone asked, realizing exactly what it meant, if the stories he was told were real.

“Yeah. He wasn’t any normal demon…. Do you need to ask further about that, or do you understand?” Mom asked, depressed from the scars in her heart.

“That’s it, that’s all I need to know, mom! It’s fine! Oh! I know! Aria, we forgot to give our thanks!” Zone said.

“Let’s go pay our respects, after we finish what we were doing here. Let's go together.” Mom said.

Zone and Aria nodded.

Zone threw the bag over his shoulder and left for the door.

Aria started to head out with him.

“Aria. Wait up a second. I said, when we finish what we’re doing here. I meant that I still have something I need to tell you.” Mom said, hesitating.

Aria stood there, patiently waiting for Mom to speak.

“Well… Don’t let Zone overuse his magic if possible, okay? He takes after his father, a little bit too much. You know what I mean.” Mom said.

“Then, why are you letting me?” Aria asked.

“You’re a bit closer to me, than you are to your father. Your mana won’t muddle your mind, it’s protected by this.” Mom said, summoning spinning balls of light and dark magic.

“I only know how to use fire magic, though.” Aria said, confused.

“The book Zone pulled out can help you with that. But, it is true that you normally can’t learn dark or light magic. It’s something you inherited from me, directly. Unlike Zone, who only inherited the dark magic from your father. That doesn’t mean he can’t learn other magic, so make him train with you, okay? And don’t take this journey lightly. I’ve gone through the same one as you two. So listen to me this time, when I say I know what I’m talking about. There’s a diary in the backpack. It’s something your father wanted Zone to have. It has a few entries from both me and your father in it. Those should help you out a little bit. Otherwise, let’s go visit Dad.” Mom said, with a mothers smile replacing that of a seasoned warriors expression.

“This is going to be fun! It’s been ages since we went anywhere as a family!” Mom said excitedly, turning back into her usual childish self.

They walked out the front, chatting happily.