Retribution

The hours seemed to blend together for Lumas, not a single moment passed without Ais in his arms, the absence in his eyes slowly faded but the pain had left scars. She… she died at his hand… skewered by his blade… as this thought passed vomit came up his throat, forcibly swallowing it down as he replayed the scene in his mind refusing to forget even an instant…

"Darling~... How are you feeling?" Ais looked up, her eyes narrowed as she looked at Lumas, he said "No, it hurts…"..." I'm sorry… I'm so sorry" in between choked sobs Lumas tried to stifle them back

Pushing an unruly piece of Lumas' hair behind his ear she planted a kiss on his forehead "All will be okay in time my love, we will find out who caused this and they will receive god's retribution…" Lumas didn't say anything and just simply nodded. A knock resounded at the door, Ais went to get up and open it but Lumas' grip tightened as a manifestation of magic fell onto the door handle opening it revealing Soreen, Riveria, and what Lumas could only describe as Elders

Lumas' wary gaze passed over everyone except Riveria, the people in question could feel the Mana surrounding them become sharp as it flooded around their bodies "What do you want?" Lumas' cold hoarse voice seemed to resonate throughout the room causing the mana present to quiver in anticipation

"Who are you to speak to the Elders of the Forest in such a manner" an arrogant attitude left the Elder nearly as fast as the blood drained from his face as the mana surrounding him began to emit green brackish sparks, "I'll ask once more, only because of your relationship with Riveria… What do you want?"

The oldest of the Elders stepped forward but his attention was on the green brackish sparks dancing around the arrogant Elder, Soreen simply watched over but her attention was stuck on Lumas, he felt familiar from somewhere but she couldn't place it…

"May I call you Lumas?"... "Well Lumas, you see the dragon that was found with you-" he didn't even get to finish as Lumas' eyes burned bright "H-he's Fine Fine, just currently unconscious" the elder hurriedly replied

"But we know who attacked you on you way here"

Lumas froze a cold expression floating across his face as he spoke the mana began to undulate "Who…"

Soreen stepped forward gesturing towards the elder "We do not wish to be dragged into a war, especially one we don't have the forces to guarantee victory"

Lumas coldly replied "I never asked you to go to war, who ever, whatever they are… they will all end the same simply dust floating in the wind"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spine as a formless energy began to manifest around Lumas' body giving off a bloody vibe, Ais hand tightened around his hand causing him to take a deep breath as he continued "I don't care who they are, they took something from me that I'll never be able to get back, and I carve my name into their souls as they die… I've been too relaxed, too… soft."

Standing up Lumas' reached out to his side his hand disappearing into an expanse of black, as his hand retracted he was holding a fragment of a red crystal. All the elves present trembled at the sight of the mana held within the fragment "It seems Sebas was right to save a fragment" crushing the fragment in his hand causing a flood of mana to swarm the room

"Who…?"

With a deep sigh Soreen spoke her head low "Bareen Kingdom", Lumas turned towards Ais "I-" however Ais quickly cut him off "NO YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME HERE! I don't care if you succumb to power and it corrupts your mind AS LONG AS I'M WITH YOU NONE OF IT MATTERS!"

Lumas stared at her for a moment before nodding, "Riveria if we don't return… Head to my forge under the 3rd floor board from the door you will find an inheritance… split it between yourself and Bell…"

As he finished both Ais and his figure seemed to fade and his presence disappeared alongside the flood of mana as of it was connected to him leaving a void of mana in the room

Soreen turned towards Riveria "What did you bring into the Forest?! He isn't human, he isn't a spirit, he isn't if the races so what is he?!"

Riveria let out a soft chuckle "Lumas is a god… a god who lost someone he loved with all his heart, a god who doesn't have his power sealed in the lower realm…" she looked up looking far past the ceiling blocking her view what she was doing was known only to her but she soon spoke "A human turned god, One loved by mana, With his appearance Yggdrasil revived, the mana is more pure, dense, lively… Mother, I believe he is the inheritor of him… and Mother I think you think the same"

The arrogant elder stepped forward "Preposterous, how could that man be the divine existence tied to the tree, and you sit here and try to pass off some adventurer as a God how stupid do you believe we are?!"

Riveria frowned "Aidel, Remember your place, you may be an High Elf and a member of the Council but that's all… Your words only hold weight when we listen to them, I have seen the things Lumas is capable of, Many of the others that were with us have too if you have any doubts in your mind speak to them, if that still doesn't clear your doubts then speak to Lefiya. We all know that she has a piece of Yggdrasil within her she should be able to spot the Inheritor even if she doesn't know it"