Chapter 2: Unrequested Lesson
Meanwhile, Alura had both swords out with Ginsu’s sword on her back. She ran at a semi-tall dead tree and began to hack at it for another round, cuts and missing bark showing she had been at this for a short while. Her blades dully clanged against the hardened wood, causing splinters to fly and fall around her.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ISU54bGb1
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Out of sight, a hand lifted as it glowed a dull brown that was almost black. Stones with wood, vines, and leaves moved into the formation of a beast. It snarled as its empty eyes locked onto Alura’s form. The canine creature lowered then charged with a loud snarl.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiScwOIxbcu
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Alura turned and quickly moved back while striking its stone shoulder with her blade, resulting in a shrill noise as she landed away from the crouched wolf looking creature. “What in aphelia is that?!” she snapped aloud to herself in shock. I know I don’t know demons well but I’ve never seen something like this before. She readied her two blades as the beast continued to snarl with its empty looking sockets set on her.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj7TjgOVYx
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“That would be something of my creation.” She looked up to see Marizu stepping out of the shadows of the trees. He folded his arms in front of his chest. “Technically we aren’t supposed to be creating life but…to every rule there is room for it to bend.” He moved a hand and the beast sat down like an obedient dog. “Especially when that created life is but a puppet that can be destroyed at the end of the day.” He commented while returning his hand to its place with his folded arms.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL0r4S2Yl2
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“What do you want? Go away!” she snapped irritated.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme3aASLn7M
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Marizu shook his head. “If I did that then how in the world would you ever learn to control that croen temper of yours?” she frowned as he continued. “It was that temper that caused your father to be imprisoned for, well in human years, a relatively short period of time.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNUX31oPpj
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“I don’t have a temper so leave me alone.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ5XlPPwVo
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“Oh? Then how come you’re so mad at me for not doing a thing yet against you?” he questioned innocently.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnaxlvV02B
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Alura snorted glaring. “Maybe because you just sent a creature that’s made of stones, wood and leaves at me from the shadows.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI8ALghocE
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Marizu shrugged, “aside from that small detail, I’ve not lifted a hand against you.” He flicked his pointer finger out and the beast stood. “Besides, you need to work on your magic and stop relying only on those human blades.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5xI8KVeHN
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“My magic is just fine. I’ve worked on it with Marenzo over the years.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0IwqkaZai
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“Really now, is it?” he flicked out his middle finger alongside his index and the wolf charged in its attack. Alura backed up and lifted her weapons as she jumped as it got closer, swinging down to hit its back several times. She landed behind it and watched as it slid to a stop, turned and charged again. This time she ran at it and tried to slice it but only took out some parts of the wood that wasn’t blocked by stone. “Then tell me why you aren’t using it.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1p1jYjxKR
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“Because I don’t want to so call off your whatever you want to call it!” she demanded while trying to knock it away and injure it with her weapons while avoiding be hit by its sharpened stone teeth.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdizpPjaoqw
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“I can’t help it wants something spicy to eat.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKUjnjbw65
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Alura frowned at the relaxed Marizu who lifted a hand to look at his nails while letting her be chased around by the beast. Finally she couldn’t stand his lack of apparent caring if she was hurt, so she put one blade away at her hip and charged a ball of flames in her palm before releasing it at the beast. It exploded but the creature kept moving, turning and following her every move. She tried again and again, aiming for the wood at its side. She smirked as it yelped and started to roll to put out the burning flame. “Hah!” this exclamation drew Marizu to look up finally to see the beast get up with part of its side exposed.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM8Y0ckGol
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“So you finally managed to hit it?” he began to slowly clap for her in his mocking way. “Good job, now learn to be quicker half-breed.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yOCg5oulc
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She pointed her sword in his direction. “Hey! You aren’t my teacher so shut up!”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndkQzV7yvE
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He shook his head while clicking his tongue. “Such a comment from a mortal to a god…I swear, what is this world coming to?” he opened his eyes and set his gaze upon her. “Tell me, how does it feel to get your ass handed to you by your less experienced half-breed urchin of a brother?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi318RcJU4
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“I said to shut up!” she yelled with her voice cracking at the same time as she swung the blade down towards the Earth God. A blade of fire flew at him but was easily broken into nothing by a quick rising of earth. The hard dirt fell loose as dust to show him unfazed.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYa9bhQRA0
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Marizu sighed and could see the demon inside her eyes. He uncrossed his arms and lifted a hand. As it began to glow, the wolf dissolved into dirt and a unique three petal flower began to bloom on the tree branches around them. Their interesting blend of orange and indigo along with their smell brought a baffled look to twist Alura’s face. “Let’s try something different then, shall we?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdftY0BpHmk
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“What?” she asked as she looked around at the flowers then back to him while crinkling her nose at their very sweet scent. “Tell me what those are. I’ve never seen them before.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mvzpPFjFy
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“Oh they are just a little flower that is going to help you.” Marizu replied calmly before moving his other hand and formed three standing piles of dirt that took on four human shapes.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGfhuOX0su
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Alura stared him down but as the smell became stronger, she found herself closing her eyes and shaking her head to try clearing the fog that felt to be trying to move in. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do but it isn’t going to work.” She looked around and saw a pair of tall figures nearing her. She raised her blade from reflex but slowly lowered it as she saw the first then second figures clearer. “…Mom…? Dad?” she asked softly in breathless disbelief. Neither Nate nor Sophia spoke but they did hold a hand out and took hold of their respected weapon. “…What-what’s going on?” she questioned nervously as her mother took hold of a pole weapon as her father had hold of a two-ended blade weapon.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn8dtwGARv
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The pair charged at Alura. Sophia swung the wooden pole at her daughter, which caused the young woman to duck and weave to dodge the strikes. “Mom! Cut it out!” she shouted loudly with a desperate tone to get through to her. Sophia didn’t react to this as she kept up her attack, pushing Alura back. Now it was Nate who stepped up and swung at Alura’s back. The young woman turned her head and jumped before flipping back and pushing off the tree. She got over them and landed with a sharp turn to watch the duo. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” she couldn’t believe this and her heart was tightening, feeling as if it were being stabbed.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCjBgMdNgT
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The couple watched her with empty eyes and straight faces, wearing the clothing they had been in on the night they died. Alura opened her mouth to speak again but only let out a pain filled cry. Her body jerked away from the source and as she twisted around while holding her side, she frowned as she saw Talon standing there with his bladed pole weapon in hand. “You’re here to? Where’s your stupid dragon?” she got no answer as he lowered his weapon and pointed the blade towards her. “Talon?” he pulled his weapon back then charged while trusting the sharp tip at her body. “Ah!” she cried as her upper arm got cut by the blade after a few successful dodges.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LWNrU1Vzp
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She stumbled back while holding her bleeding arm and ducked before stepping back to avoid Nate’s slicing blades. “Damn it you three stop this and wake up!” her words did nothing as she ducked and ran while keeping low after his blade got stuck a tree’s trunk. She turned and pushed into a backwards jump, just dodging her mother’s downward strike with her pole. Marizu…where’d he go? She scanned the area to see no signs of the Earth God. A fourth figure came into view, shooting out what looked like black magic. Alura let out a wall of flames, blocking the attack and she dropped the wall to see a familiar face.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYb8wkeJQm
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“You!” she snarled, drawing her sword and charged. “I’ll kill you!” she screeched as she jumped and brought it down. Amoxious quickly dodged it with ease with his smirk on his face. He motioned with a gloved hand for her to try again and she did. She charged and swung almost wildly at the shadow demon. Her eyes grew redder as her anger towards him grew which resulted in feathers starting to slip out of her arms and a pair of wings shooting out of her back. Amoxious chuckled and used his shadow magic to block her strikes, even forming himself a blade which he used to strike back, landing a few hits around her midsection and upper body.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdJS79TIdN
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Flames began to leave her mouth as she exhaled as her nails now grew longer to resemble more like claws than standard human fingernails. This continued between the two without interruption until he snapped his fingers on one hand. Suddenly a sharp pain shot through Alura’s back as both Nate and Talon had stabbed their weapons into her back. Another pain struck her legs as her mother had slammed the pole hard enough to cause it to crack. Alura fell hard to the ground, growling and turned slowly with her head down as her brother and father leapt off her back. Suddenly her head shot up and she released flames onto them without mercy and these same flames were turned onto Amoxious.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWihmxxyle
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Laughter sang through the area and, as her flames ceased, her parents stumbled forwards, looking saddened with tears falling from their blank eyes. “Why…kill us?” the woman asked in a pained voice.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWTYDUVNSG
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Alura growled at the pair. “You left and didn’t come back like you did in the past before we were born.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LGFQWQz1P
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“Why would she-” Nate coughed hard, “want to come back to-to something like you?” he asked roughly as he struggled to stay up.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3k9OMRnmO
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“I’m not a thing! I’m a demon you bastard!” Alura ran at him and stabbed her hand forwards with her claws. She froze as the sickening sound reached her ears. She stared in shock as her brother stood between her and Nate, blood coming out of the hole in his chest.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ZzFoZCdb
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“You’re right…you are. I love you, sister…” Talon crooked out before his eyes began closing and his body fell limp.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBLFuLNP0A
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Alura withdrew her blood soaked shaking hand as he and her parents collapsed dead. Tears began falling and rage soon began to replace it as she heard Amoxious’s laughter. She whipped around, releasing flames from her mouth and didn’t stop until she was sure he was ash. A slow, demonic grin began to spread on her lips as a strange exciting urge began surging inside. “I think that’s enough of that and proves my point.” The voice of Marizu commented as he came into view now. Alura bared her fangs at him and went to attack but was stopped by a mix of stone, vines and soil.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPygFJeSfC
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She let out a roar like scream of anger at the restraints which encased her arms, legs and wings with even a vine wrapping around her neck. “You can throw the fit all you like but you are easily manipulated. It’s very sad my little brother failed so badly in training you…and that’s normally his strong suit.” He commented with his voice lowering for the ending of the sentence. Alura struggled against her restraints violently but they held on tight. He sighed as he pushed his hair back. “Just look around you and tell me if you see bodies of your dead loved ones or if you see rocks and debris.” He ordered in a bored tone.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEddYFrZMvB
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Alura looked around and expected to see the flesh and bone bodies lying dead. What she saw, as the flowers had closed and their scent ceased to exist there, was nothing but a pile of rocks, wood and plants. Her body began to relax as her mind processed what she had experienced compared to what she saw now. She looked down to herself and saw the area’s that once had blood on them was simply dry mud. “This…doesn’t make sense…” she muttered in her slightly warped voice.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIby2IqOHI
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“Croen species of demon are known to go into a type of blood lust if they kill enough without adequate training from a superior.” Marizu stated calmly. “Males are more likely to go into this state than females and are harder to bring out of said state. However, half-breeds like you and your brother can be considered flight risks since you both don’t carry the full amount.” He sighed as she was starting to recede back to her human self. “Half-breeds can lose their minds to their demon blood and that is even with the right training. It takes a strong heart for a half-breed to not become a mindless killing machine that is lost to the world around it.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeUmJ2jNxq
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“…I…changed once and didn’t do this…”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyU9ZRYsfTR
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Marizu looked over to the side as he messed with some of his long locks. “Well that was also a different situation. You had just awoken to your demonic bloodline at the time so, given its new foreign nature to you, your body was still processing and…” he shifted his gaze onto her. “You were near someone who you were infatuated with along with someone you cared and sought for. That kept your human mind intact.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlbuVi4EGc
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She lowered her head, watching the ground silently as the redness from her eyes faded away to show her brown-blue orbs. Silence stayed between them before eventually she took a breath. “You can release me. I won’t strike out, promise.” She softly instructed with her promise.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm0kPGQSwy
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He moved a hand through the air and lowered it as the restraints released Alura. “Do you think you can stand up to a demon of illusions if you cannot stand up to my tiny little flowers?” she kept her head down as she refused to look at the Earth God. “He’s a half-breed too but he also has trained himself for longer and harder than you.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ2kveJAbc
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“Then why’s he been hiding?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw43VBRO8dP
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“Do you think that light your wizard lover used didn’t harm him? Shadow demons are an annoying pest, hard to hit and more annoying to kill but,” he made his way over and leaned back against a tree. “They are severely weak against light type of magic. There’s only a few who fall as exceptions to this fact.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoTVYkB8vF
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Alura finally looked up to meet his gaze. “Who and why did you three decide I had to fight in a war?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1TePPlE89
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“You can blame Ginsu for that one since we had been debating using the servant of the Weaver Twins.” He shrugged. “But when Ginsu came with you and the boy, we looked at using one of you to do it instead of asking to use Alanna.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8LZIHhgbP
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She shook her head. “Okay, back up. Tell me who this exception is, who this Alanna is and better reason to why I was picked fight a war for others.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsKoAWQzyS
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Marizu rolled his eyes with a groan. “Mortals, so annoying with all their questions,” he leaned his head back and began to manipulate some ivy on some branches above his head. “The one who I can list as an exception was known as Shade, the woman Alanna comes from another region and is in debt to the Weaver Twins, and you were picked because we hadn’t found someone or met with the weavers before you were brought to the palace for medical treatment.” He released the ivy which now resembled an elegant braid. “When it comes to the food chain of demons, croens are towards the top. Granted any demon could be in the top ranks but certain species and races of demons tend to have stronger ties to magic in their blood.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf3STlNE1n
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Alura took this information in, stepping forwards then to the side as she retrieved one blade and made her way over to pick up the other. “…Then what do you expect me to do? Right now I’m stuck at what I’m supposed to do and where I’m supposed to go next.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiOpDErtzN
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“If it were me I would say your sorry little ass must stay here and get stronger. As you are now, you’d be easy pickings for Amoxious even in his weakened state.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B2E0yYAUT
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“How long does it take a shadow demon to heal once it has been injured by light?” she questioned while sliding the weapons into their sheaths.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5jhCnm3S7
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“It depends, a full-blood can mend within days or weeks depending on how deep and many wounds there are. With a half-breed it can take much longer depending on their skill at healing from such injuries.” He watched her starting to walk around the area. “You need to get control of your heart. A demon is strong but without their heart, they are nothing more than a device for slaughtering those weaker than them.” These words brought her steps to a halt. “I can imagine you wouldn’t want to hurt lover boy or any innocent bystanders during the final fight.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweNbsFhJPl
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“…No…I don’t…” she answered quietly with her gaze off him. “I’m sure Ginsu will train me like he has before.” Marizu snorted as he began to laugh with his head leaning back. “What’s so funny?” she questioned while looking over to him annoyed.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtCOASw7Fn
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“I’m sorry but that idiot isn’t going to teach you magic.” He chuckled wiping a tear from his eye. “You must remember or have noticed it, right? You’ve seen how he treats you, how he acts or are you dense?” she was silent as she narrowed her gaze on him. “So you really haven’t noticed or figured out he’s since day one been acting like your father as compared to your teacher?” he snorted as he laughed once more. “Oh, I didn’t think mortals were that thick but maybe half-breeds are. After all, they are both demon and human so they are technically both and neither at the same time.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAJfcScEsz
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“Then who’s going to be teaching me?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEjtzMQAnm
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Marizu got a sly smirk on his face and touched his chest. “Me, that is unless your little lover boy comes back into the picture, then I’ll let you kill him when you lose control.” Alura frowned with a small huff. “Oh, don’t worry he’s harder to kill than that, so don’t worry…too much that is. Now then…” he pushed off the tree, lifted a hand and made a ‘come’ motion which resulted in a root lifting from behind Alura and pushing her towards him. “I believe you got a sappy and stupid water for brains to go convince you aren’t a helpless little damsel.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl3aXdz9wj
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Alura nodded and began to head back, brushing mud off her side. “I still don’t trust you.” She stated upon passing by him.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbarltDn7d4
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“Just the way I prefer it.” He cooed softly as he watched her before vanishing in a dark wind of smoky looking magic.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoudwkNJcV1
