Passed the Test

Aiden looked up as the demon began to move again. His immediate reaction was to get up and flee but his body felt heavy. His HP was low and he didn't have a means to heal himself. That was until he remembered the Goddess Tears. If they could heal his wounds before the Demon's Brand was bound to his skin, would it heal him even though his body was perfectly healthy?

The woman dropped the sword which seemed to be missing the upper half of the blade. It seemed from the lightning bolt and the demon's body caused the weapon to be severely damaged. It was his first real sword his father gave him and now it was ruined. But now with the demon awake and free to attack him again it just stared up at him.

"Ignitus, you may leave," the woman waved a hand and the demon vanished in a burst of flames and light. "Now stand and return to the circle." She didn't even offer a hand and just let Aiden get himself up. He rolled over and got to his feet now having his stamina back he reached into his pouch. Pulling out a Goddess Tear he held it in his hand as a little screen appeared above the plant.

[Goddess Tear: Low grade]

[Heals 15% of max HP, no other effects. Would you like to use item?]

Aiden confirmed it in his head as the plant vanished as he watched a red bar appear and refill his HP some. It went from in a one hit kill range to a survivable range from weak attacks.

[+24 HP]

[HP: 29/160]

He continued this three more times to get to just over 100 HP. Looking at his quantity he had only two more Goddess Tears to consume or make into better medicine. Returning to look up at the center of the ruins, Aiden returned to the four Slayers and his father. Who seemed to be surprised by his surprising victory.

"Seems we may have another prodigy in our midst. Marcus, why didn't you tell us your son had this potential waiting to be drawn out?" The first Slayer asked pulling his good down to reveal his face. He looked to be about Marcus' age of not a bit older. Long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, a scar across his face from the right of his forehead to left cheek, and green eyes.

"Damian," he looked at his son a little confused as he had never seen Aiden look perfectly fine yet have his clothes and armor torn up. "I am pleased to hear your praises about my son. Will he be accepted into the Slayer's Academy?" The other three removed their hoods as well.

The second Slayer who was the woman testing Aiden on ranged abilities, she had golden hair and fiery eyes, peach colored skin with a pretty face. The third Slayer looked to be an older man, his beard had grey strands and his hair was combed back revealing some hair some hair loss. He continued to stroke his beard as the man nodded.

The final Slayer was the copper haired girl that summoned the demon. Aiden had guessed that she was around his age for her beauty was youthful and untouched. She had her eyes on him the whole time though not in the way he guessed for even he knew a girl wouldn't look at him that way. For he wasn't particularly handsome, though had a certain gruff look that could be considered as handsome to some.

"Marcus," the old man said, "your child has the aptitude to become a powerful Slayer one day. But he needs more training before he can truly fight on equal terms with powerful demons." He walked forward and held out a walking stick with etched runes along the shaft. He tapped the ground and smiled, "I am sure he would be a welcome addition to the academy."

The woman scoffed, "Wilfred you say that about any Slayer capable of using soul magic. But," she tapped her finger to her chin, "the new blood does have good instincts and quick thinking even in the heat of combat." She leaned down a bit and poked Aiden's chest, "But he would need to learn his place on the totem pole. He will become a student at the academy, at the bottom."

Then the girl spoke up, "I don't know if my word has any merit in the decision. Although the circumstances of the environment were favorable this time, he used it well. Ignitus wasn't at his strongest and was significantly weaker by the rain." She glared at Aiden a bit, "If this was any other time of the day or place where water couldn't be used, he would have stood no chance against Ignitus."

"Mia, this wasn't meant to kill him, it was all a test." Damian said, "but you're right he used the situation to his advantage. When fighting against demons any advantage must be taken." He turned towards the woman with golden hair, "If I didn't know any better Olivia you actually praised somebody. Which doesn't happen often."

"Shut your trap and go suck on a slug." They all began to laugh at one another except for Mia. She continued to stare at Aiden for a bit before flipping her hood back up and walking over to a stone block and sitting on it. Trying to process this all he looked to his father who was beaming with joy.

"My boy you're going to become a Slayer," he hugged Aiden with a strong grip. But Aiden felt a little worried as he thought he would get to stay with his father and become a Slayer.

"But father, I thought I would stay here and learn from you?" Marcus looked at him and shook his head.

"Tested Slayers that are determined to join the academy must leave their homes." He looked towards Damian who gestures for the rest of them to walk over towards Mia to give father and son time to talk. "We as Slayers travel the world, complete contracts to protect caravans, jobs, or other important people." He knelt down on one knee and looked up at his son.

"Aiden, my pride and joy, my son, you are everything to me in this world. If I could have kept you close to me I would, but I know that I can't." He looked down, "Before your mother died with you in her arms, she told me to raise you right." Tears started well up in both their eyes. "I believe I did, I raised you to become a Slayer, to be able to protect yourself from danger should it come knocking on your door."

Aiden hugged his dad, unsure as to how to feel. He didn't want to leave home, but his memories here were always bad thanks to the villagers. The only good memories were of his father, teaching him, playing pranks on him, and raising him to the man he is today. The thing he didn't want to leave was his family, but even he knew it was inevitable.

With the two done talking it out Damian and the others bowed their heads. Letting Aiden know they will be coming to collect him by sunrise tomorrow. To give him time to gather all that he needed and to equip himself with some protective gear. Aiden bowed in return and told Damian he would be ready by then. With that the two groups separated, while Mia spoke to Damian privately.

"Sir, I have to discuss something about that boy." She said walking beside Damian.

He turned to look at her, "That boy is only two years younger than you, what is it you wish to discuss?" She leaned in close and whispered something to him. When she finished he stopped and turned to look at Aiden. "I see, well best to keep an eye on him. Ignitus should be able to intervene if anything happens at the academy." With that they left for the rest of the day back to their camp.

While Aiden and Marcus returned to their house and started packing Aiden's necessary belongings. Clothes, food, cleaning stones, and other items. They spent a good long time on doing this as they didn't speak to one another for a bit. Knowing it would be a while before they could see each other again.

Marcus left Aiden to his packing and went to his room. He looked down at the floor at a rug to which he pulled away and beneath it was hatch. Not a big one to fit a person but a hatch to store objects and special belongings. Lifting the hatch revealed a bundle of linen cloth, a long case covered in dirt and cobwebs, then finally a small box that could fit in the palm of his hand. He took out the items and set them on the floor.

"Aiden, you finished in there?" He called out as he brushed off the case and small box of the dirt and webs.

"Yes just getting some satchels for herbs I need to collect for the trip." Aiden responded, to which Marcus smiled. He trained his son well and he needed to make sure he had something to give to him for his departure. Marcus stood up with the long case and bundle of linen that clanked about inside the bundle.

"I am going to town to visit Rorick, I'll be back before supper." With that he left the house and visited the old blacksmith. Carrying with him items from his past that he would pass on to his son. 'I will make sure to call in my favor, for now is the time.' The clouds began to clear as a new adventure for Aiden was about to begin.