Hello all, here's the next chapter! Thursday releases are maybe's but I figured a release schedule of Monday's and Friday's, every other Saturday's and Tuesday Thursday maybe's. Without further ado...

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It took us an hour to get back home. We were nearby but we had to circle around some giant trees. The Forest of Darkness has existed for a long time. It marks the boundary between the Demon, Dwarven and Human Continents. It is to the northwestern edge of the Demons, north of the Dwarves, and northeastern of the Humans. It is a forgotten area that few dare to approach. Which made it the perfect place for us to hide.

Our home was located a few miles away from the Demon continent. At times, we would have some of our clan members venture out to see the state of affairs in the Demon continent. They rarely come back as getting out of the forest is easy but coming back is hard as the Fallen Angels still monitor us.

We lived with the trees like the elves. We built our homes inside the trees by manipulating the sap. It took hundreds of us to do but it was doable.

As we entered our home, I saw other children playing around in the dirt road or helping their parents. Everyone was to help starting at the age of two. In this way, they would learn everything that was to be needed of them within a year. Our bodies may mature slowly but our minds mature extremely quick. As children, we understood our importance. Our clan can live for hundreds of years, but the older we get, the harder it is to control blood. As such, children who have just started to learn how to control their power, are favored for the most delicate of tasks. Of course, a more experienced clan member would be there in case they fail but in this way, they would learn how to control their power much quicker.

I had my servants take the Woldrans to the storage while Luke and I headed to the central tree, my home.

As I neared, I controlled my clothes to turn into more formal clothing. I was to meet my father and mother, it would not do well to be in hunting clothes. The reason why I’m able to control my clothing to turn into something else is because it is created from our own blood. The first thing we are told to make with our blood is clothing. It is a difficult task but not as difficult as changing our own appearances which I can only do for my face right now. From hunting clothes, to the regal Lunos clan vestments. Black overcoat with red embroidery, black long-sleeved shirt with gold etchings, black pants with a gold chain and black gloves with dark brown and red designs on the fingertips.

Luke did the same but instead of the regal clothing he changed into the butler clothes of pure black clothing.

As we got to the doors, they opened and we were greeted by an entourage of maids and more butlers that bowed and said, “Welcome home young master.”

“Where are my parents?” I asked one of them.

“They are waiting for you at the study,” said a maid.

I nodded and proceeded inside.

After the doors is a wide staircase that led to the upper floors. Luke stayed at the bottom of the stairs as I went up alone towards the second floor where the study was.

The study was just located above the entrance so all I had to do was go around and the door was right in front of me. I knocked at the door and immediately after I heard my mother say “Enter.” I opened the door and stepped inside.

The room was surrounded by bookshelves detailing history, geography, politics, war tactics, everything that my father deems important to learn as the next head.

Towards the back was a desk with my father sitting down while mother was over to the side. Father wore the same clothing that I did with the exception of a monocle. He had silver hair and pale skin with red eyes as all of us usually are. My mother was different, she had the same silver hair and red eyes but her skin was a bright tan color. I take after my mother in skin color but I still retain the silver hair and red eyes.

“Welcome back,” said my mother Amber Lunos. She smiled as she told me that and I replied, “I’m back mother.”

“Did you encounter any hindrances?” asked my father Vlad Lunos.

“None father, they were all within expectations.”

He nodded and said, “Good, we begin your lessons in an hour as I have to check on the state of our food. You may go.”

“Yes father,” I said as I bowed.

With nothing to do for an hour, I walked out to the practice field. It was to the west of our tree home and was wide enough for nearly all of us to practice.

My control over blood was weak as I had trouble controlling the blood of the Dragans. With that in mind, I decided to practice on the blood bags. These were statues with blood flowing inside of them. For practice, I would force the blood to go the opposite way or increase the speed in which the blood flows. There are ten of these statues situated right next to each other. There were two sets of five with blood flowing in different directions. Each five also flowed in different speeds, in this way, one can practice controlling blood flow in relative ease. I went towards the statue with normal blood flowing at three times the speed.

I stood in front of the statue and forced my will into its blood. I could feel it flowing inside of the statue, it didn’t give the statue life but it made it seem to live. I started slowly by controlling a speck of blood within the copious amount. This speck would be the core of my control as I expanded my reach. Little by little I was able to control more volume. Soon I had control over all of the blood, at this time I forced it to flow backwards. The resulting force, made a small vacuum appear in one of the blood vessels in its right arm. From there, the blood flood backwards as I had it follow the vessels. I then forced it to flow normally again and then backwards. Each time changing the speed. Towards the end of my practice I made its flood flow in different directions, causing the blood to collide in its limbs. At this point, its limbs would have broken but because it’s a statue, it had no effect. Releasing my control, the blood flowed normally once more.

Finishing my practice, I went to the library where my father likes to teach me. The library’s entrance was right below the staircase so it was easy to get to. Entering the library, I saw piles of scrolls in one of the tables.

I groaned inwardly as I knew what today’s lesson was going to be in.

“Come Son, it’s time to learn about mannerisms,” said my father in as jovial a tone as he could muster even though he also hated this subject.

The lesson took most of the afternoon and by the time we were done, it was time for dinner.

We ate in the dining hall, to the right of the foyer. As usual it was a feast of Woldrans. As we were eating my parents were discussing about Moonbreak. Moonbreak was a time in the Forest of Darkness when light would actually pierce through the canopies. It is not much of a problem with the creatures as everything that lives here is capable of living in darkness but for us it is a problem.

The reason why the Lunos clan is hiding in the Forest of Darkness is because light, any light can kill us. Because of our dwindling bloodline, the effects of light is disastrous to us. For us, living in darkness forced many changes such as seeing in the dark as well as an even greater control over blood. We would take this as a blessing but it is a curse. As we cannot leave the safety of the forest without having to fear any light. Brave members venturing outside have to be especially careful in any city as light is a problem. They manage but we can see the bruises made by light.

Moonbreak would force all of us into hiding inside of our homes as a way of survival. They reminded me of staying inside during the night of Moonbreak as last year I was found outside. I’ve actually always wondered why they need me to stay inside because last Moonbreak, I was actually bathing in light.