Sitting on a ledge five feet in the air, I was silently watching the rain pour down outside. After Erebus' explanation about demons, she hadn't spoken another word for an entire day.
This was my last day of the recovery period, yet I hadn't managed to pry any more information from her. Despite how disappointed I was, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even gather astrum, I had attempted that while Erebus slept but I was met with a sharp pain in my chest. I resorted to watching leaves fall, how boring.
Time felt like it was trickling by when finally the sun started to set and the sky became flooded with stars. I was meddling with a stone I found on the floor only to swap it in favour of counting stars. I wondered if the constellations were familiar. Of course they weren't, but I continued to count, as annoying and boring as it was. Everything from terrain, climate and the stars helped paint a picture, all be it a vague one, of just what kind of place I was in and most importantly, how to survive.
Sliding down from the ledge I was on, I walked over to a makeshift bed I'd constructed made of grass, leaves and moss as a pillow. Just as I was about to lie down, I heard a faint rustle on the other side of the cave. Erebus had changed into her demi-human form, rubbing her eyes as she walked over.
"Child, are you ready to start your training now that three days have passed. Your body should be able to handle what I want to attempt", she was yawning while she said it, but it didn't matter, I was just glad to start.
"Of course, I've been waiting to start all this time, but what exactly is training method?", I was curious as she made it sound dangerous.
"Tempering your core some more, then we'll try something else later. I'll keep you here for a month and after that you can go kill those beasts to your hearts content", Erebus said with confidence but looked as if she was struggling to stay awake.
"I've already formed my core, how will any more help?", I said quickly. I was desperate, I didn't want to waste the month.
Erebus eyed me before letting out a scoff, "You don't even understand why you felt so weak after one fight with the first beasts you met here. Clearly this Azz had been matching your level rather than kicking you into shape".
The truth was I already knew Azz wasn't being serious in our fights before, it was probably to stop me, a total amateur with astrum, from getting disheartened and giving up, which the old me would've done. But since coming here I'd felt a sense of renewal, for the first time I'd wanted to learn, grow stronger and meet new people rather than live in my own bubble.
I had no choice but to swallow my pride and accept going back to basics, "Ok, but can you explain to me about what you meant when you said I don't understand why I felt weak after the fight with the gorillas. I had assumed it was down to using my brain more than I did against Azz".
Erebus let a soft smile slip through, "Good, you've realised that I only intend to help and you're not being prideful, that's a good step forward. The reason is simple, while you have developed a core, the amount of astrum you're using while fighting is slightly higher compared to the amount you're taking in. To put it simply, whilst fighting your power is slowly decreasing rather than stabilising".
I understand, after weeks of constant fighting it's no surprise I stumbled against the bear, "What do I need to do then?", I blurted out before even finishing my own thoughts.
Moving closer to me, she placed her hands on my back, closing her eyes we fell into silence before she finally pulled away, "It looks like you've got ten layers and some stability, you're gathering astrum as you breathe which is good. Now all we need to do is expand your core to hold more".
Sitting down in front of me, Erebus took up the meditating pose Azz showed me, "I assume you know how to temper your core? But I will warn you, as you gather more it will become more difficult to sustain it. Now get to it we don't have centuries child!".
Taking up the meditating pose, I began gathering astrum and wrapping my core. My sense of time was dulled drastically whilst I was in this state, so I could only make a rough estimate of how much time was passing. But after layer twelve, I felt my core begin to tighten, almost as if it was resisting more. I understand now why this was important, strengthening my core is the same as a bodybuilder strengthening muscles, the immediate improvement will be stellar.
I continued pushing through any pain that came with the resistance, and finally I felt comfortable enough to re-open my eyes, only to see Erebus' snarky grin.
"How many layers did you get to?".
"Twenty-two layers, how long was I out for?".
Erebus clapped while standing up, "About a week and bit, take a break and we will begin what I really wanted to teach you".
I could feel it, my power had increased an astronomical amount, but there was one thing I was curious about. Why are gods and demons are born with this core, but are still familiar with the layer concept, "Erebus how many layers is your core? Also, what about the archdemons core?".
"Mine is around one hundred and forty layers, as for the archdemons I can't say exactly but I'd guess at least one hundred and twenty. After a while, cores don't matter and experience and tactics come into play", Erebus said it quietly as if not to hurt my feelings, but it felt patronising. This is just the gap between us, it was wider than I ever could've imagined.
My head dropped but I noticed something different. My hair had dropped in front of my eyes but it was thick black strands rather than my normal brown, "eh? what happened to my hair".
Erebus whipped her head around, "Haven't you looked in a mirror, here", she conjured a pool of clear water on her palm facing toward me. My brown hair had been replaced by pitch-black hair with streaks of yellow running through it. My body had become far more built, but I guessed that would happen anyway due to the strength training and fighting.
Erebus tried to stifle a laugh, "It seems the lightning has affected your body and now your hair literally looks like storm clouds with lightning bolts", she was desperately trying to cover her mouth.
I couldn't believe it, I was more annoyed at myself for assuming everything would be fine despite everything else in my life changing, "Enough about my hair, what was the training you wanted to teach me?".
Regaining her composure, Erebus released a wave of astrum, a faint glow clung to her body as she flashed past me, "Punch my palm", she said seriously.
Winding up and reinforcing my fist, I threw a straight punch, yet before it even made contact, the strength was zapped from my arm and it was left five inches from her hand.
I was baffled, "what was that?".
"Aura control, you coat yourself in astrum and that helps increase strength, speed and defences, it's what I taught to my old student who also used lightning", Erebus continued with a grin. "Child, have you ever thought about coating yourself in lightning, the speed and strength you'd be able to generate would be other-worldly, even to me".
It hadn't even crossed my mind to try that, it felt like reinforcement was enough but if I could go faster, I wanted to. Speed is a common gimmick, but nothing can match the speed of lightning.
"Let's do it, teach me master!", I said, bouncing excitedly on my toes. Once more another possibility had revealed itself and I couldn't contain my sense of intrigue.
She whistled whilst watching me, "I like your enthusiasm, but I should inform you on a weakness about the aura technique".
She remained silent as if waiting for me to speak. I opened my mouth to respond but she interrupted, "It's only downside is the vast amount of astrum that it initially needs to use from your own core. You will be wrung dry by it, but that's ok to begin with".
I slumped back onto my palms, glancing up towards the ceiling, "So basically, what you are telling me is that I shouldn't panic when I feel my astrum start to be pulled away from my core, right?".
She nodded in confirmation, "It's nice having a student that can read between the lines".
I pushed myself up to my feet, "Let's get started the …".
Erebus hooked her foot around the back of my knees, pulling me back to the ground, "Not yet, I need to prepare something before we begin".
I clicked my tongue, growing more annoyed, "Oh come on! What could you possible need to prepare beside your own astrum".
She sat opposite me and closed her eyes, "Its none of your business child. Just let me do this first and then I shall teach you, believe me this will be for your own good later down the line".
I whipped my head away, a tinge of anger creeping into my voice, "Yeah sure. Do you have a guideline on how long it is going to take?".
She shook her head as the waves of astrum poured from every inch of her body, wrapping her in a warm violet light. I couldn't help but gawk at her, it was absolutely incredible. The picture of a beautiful woman, surrounded by gusts of wind propping up her polished silver hair as the contrasting black nodes of astrum danced all over her pale skin was absolutely captivating.
I shook my head. Wait, wait, wait, what am I thinking? She is a dragon thousands of years old and her beauty is off the charts. She is so far out of my standards its laughable. Although I couldn't help but be enchanted by her, the way the world just seemed to bend to her will, it was magnificent.
I smiled watching her work. I don't think I could ever get tired of this sight. Her control over the astrum surrounding her was absolutely otherworldly, it just seemed to bounce around her, obeying her every command.
I'm so far away from her level.
My eyes bulged as I thought I noticed something unusual about her body. Her horns that were protruding from her head had started to shift from a pitch-black tone, into a dark swirling amethyst colour, spraying nodes of pure astrum all throughout the cave. Her eyelids also began to flicker, a thin layer washed over them, exactly like a nictitating membrane that a lizard would possess.
I jumped up, taking a couple of steps away starting to realise what was happening. She was shifting into a dragon, piece by piece, her own power was starting to overtake her. What do I do? Is there even anyway that I can help prevent this from happening?
Her astrum bulged in the centre of her chest, a small seed like emblem became engraved in her aura, with runes spiralling around it. The chestnut like emblem continued to bulge uncontrollably, as if trying to force its way out of her body, the runes that were swirling converged on it, wrapping around it and pulling it back inside of her eerily still body.
Her eyes slowly opened revealing a dark yellow sclera with a single slit pupil. They held such weight that I couldn't help but stumble onto my backside out of fear. Ah … this was it, this is the pinnacle of the world … A true dragon.
The chestnut emblem seeped back into her skin, her sclera slowly returning to the typical white shade. Her horns descended back to their normal black shade and her pupils widening as she met my gaze.
She rolled her shoulders and clicked her neck as she jumped to her feet, "All done. Shall we begin?