Chapter 18: Elemental Armor

After the meeting adjourned Seth's father directed a guardsmen to show them to the guest rooms. Seth turned to go as well but he felt a hand tug at his cloak. He turned to find his sister looking at him."What is it," Seth said saying it harsher than he meant to. She visibly flinched at the bite in his voice."Don't you want to stay and talk?" she asked. "I've been waiting to meet you for well... forever and now that you're here you just want to ignore me?" Seth turned and patted her on her shoulder armor."It's not as if I want to ignore you, but you have got to give me time to register all this. I didn't even know you existed till today, or that my father was the King of an entire race! It's ... It's just that its going to take me some time to adjust." She looked like she wanted to say something, but Seth turned and began walking away.Seth exited the Castle and without waiting for anyone else he wandered off his heart in turmoil. He was so deep in thought in fact that he didn't even pay attention to where he was going. He just wandered passing by several elves and townspeople who all regarded him with curiosity as he past by. No doubt wondering what a human was doing wondering their city. Seth continued to wonder until he found himself on the outskirts of the city staring up and an impossibly large oak tree. With not many elves around here Seth was immediately alerted to the sound of footsteps behind him. When he turned to look he discovered it was Rylee who had followed him. Seth turned his back on her without saying a word, not sure what to say. It was then that Rylee did something completely unexpected. Although Seth heard her approaching, he could only gasp when he felt her wrap her arms around him and give him a hug. "You know..." She said awkwardly. "You aren't alone. You have people you can talk to, and although i don't know what's going on in that head of yours, we... I am always here to listen." Seth slightly turned to look at her. Her auburn eyes matching her hair met his at the same time. Seth saw her blush a deep scarlet and quickly let go of him stepping back. Seth turned to face her."Thank you for caring Rylee it means a lot to me." Still blushing Rylee only nodded.  "Even when you are a hundred years old a girl is still a girl," a voice said. Seth turned to it and saw his dad walking toward them. "But she's not wrong. I know circumstances have kept us apart until now but now that I have the chance I would like to get to know my son." Seth said nothing not sure what to say back to that. "However, that isn't why I came." Seth raised an eyebrow in question. "Strat said he was looking for you to start your training."  Seth groaned, "Already, he really is a slave driver."  Rylee laughed "Yeah well you've only scratched the surface with most of your powers, and if anyone can get you ready before we set out day after tomorrow its Stratos." Seth thought for a moment and began to grin.  "Well, then we shouldn't keep him waiting."... Seth stood facing Strat on an open field commonly used for training. Nearby his Father, the King, stood by observing silently.  "Seth your powers and abilities have always been outstanding," Strat began to lecture. "But you have only scratched the surface." "So, i have been told," Seth said while briefly glancing over to where Rylee was standing. "Yes, well as you've discovered there are many applications to our abilities. such as controlling more precise and accurate attacks. But..." Strat paused as if to let the word hang in the air for dramatic effect. "There are other applications such as hand to hand combat and body enhancement."  Seth blinked, "Hand to hand combat and Body enhancement? Wait a moment I thought all the sword training was the hand to hand?" Strat laughed, it was a refreshing act because Seth rarely saw Strat laugh. "No, that was the weapon training. You can think of that as phase one of this training. Next I am going to show you how to feel the energy in your body and infuse both your body and weapon with this energy to increase both your body's physical performance and its movement speed. For example." As Strat said this Seth felt and immense pressure in his ears. His ears popped as the air pressure around Strat skyrocketed. Seth found himself unable to move an inch as pressure seemed to push Seth into the ground. "This, Is air pressure a skill you can use to slow down or in most cases even immobilize your opponents in close proximity to yourself. Very effective in close combat. But you have already learned much about controlling the element of air. So let's use a element you have yet to materialize or utilize. Which element have you used the least?"

 Seth thought for a moment. "Lightning, thats definitely the element I've used the least besides darkness. Which I don't even know how to manifest yet." Strat seemed to pause while thinking.

 "Lightning huh, yeah I can do something with that. As he said this he assumed a wide stance and briefly closed his eyes to focus. Seth was wondering what he was doing, and as it turned out he wouldn't have to wait long. As Seth watched electricity began to spark and flicker across Strat's body with an audible pop. Seth felt his hair stand on end as ozone charged the air around them. Seth blinked and felt a gasp escape from him. The reason for this gasp was that now Strat was covered in a thin almost imperceptible layer of lighting. Strat's curly hair now stood on end and every part of his body seemed like it was vibrating. Energy rolled off Strat in waves. Everyone present and watching seemed to stop and gawk at the blue and white electricity sparking and popping around Strat. Even Seth's dad had a look of utter surprise upon his face. When he spoke his voice seemed to be distorted like there was a delay between when he spoke and when the sound actually came out. 

 "I call this Elemental armor," Strat's distorted voice said. "It's used to enhance both your speed..." Seth blinked and Strat was no longer in front of him. He felt a subtle tap on his shoulder and he turned around to find Strat standing behind him energy crackling around him. Seth's eyes widened in surprise as he threw himself backward out of Strat's range. It was an involuntary action, one Seth's body took when it sensed a presence behind him. He heard Strat's laughter. "You always did have impressive reflexes. But speed isn't this energy's only use. It can also increase your Power!" With these last words Strat walked over to a rather thick tree nearby a extended his hand toward it palm facing outward as he lightly touched the tree's trunk. The Effect was almost immediate, A hole the size of a basketball was instantly opened up in the tree's trunk. Seth felt his eyes widen slightly in wonder. Most intermediate agents know this skill and are able to manipulate their element to even greater heights with this ability. But Since we are heading into what is most likely going to be a trap, I thought i should teach you this technique. Are you ready to begin?" Elemental Armor holy crap, Seth thought. If I had known about this earlier the amount of ways i could've used it is unimaginable. The idea of being able to infuse his power with his body and weapon was such i cool idea it made Seth's blood boil in anticipation. He secretly began thinking of other ways his powers could be used. But, outwardly Seth just nodded enthusiastically. Strat nodded to himself before the lightning flickering around him stopped all at once. Strat raised his hand palm facing the sky. and Lightning began to flicker around it.  "What you need to do first is manifest lightning in the palm of your hand. This shouldn't be a problem for you," Strat said as he then manipulated the lightning into his palm. "Next instead of releasing it like you normally would, you need to imagine drawing the power into your body." Strat closed his eyes to demonstrate this.  "You need to feel the energy throughout every part of your body. Feel it flow to every part of your body. Feel it surge and understand it was God who bestowed this amazing power upon you." Strat's blue lightning armor reignited as sparks flew from every part of his body.  Seth closed his eyes and reached out his right hand palm up exactly as Strat had done. He pictured lightning appearing above his palm. He felt the familiar energy drain as he began hearing the popping of sparks. This, indicated that he had succeeded. However, he didn't open his eyes instead he pictured that power flowing through his hand to the rest of his body. 

Seth felt the normal pull on his energy reserve increase nearly ten fold. But everything else seemed to increase. His hearing, and his sight increased. He was suddenly hearing things he couldn't hear previously. And seeing farther than he could before. The intake of new information caused him to stumble backward losing focus. His power dis

 "Seth!" Seth heard Stevos exclaim. Seth lost his footing and almost fell but before he cod he felt a hand grab him arm steadying him. Seth glanced behind him to see Strat holding him up. Strat was smiling, a mischievous look in his eye.

 "You knew that was going to happen didn't you?" Seth asked his vision still swimming. Strat nodded his smile only growing.  "The intake of new information is too much for anyone on their first time. Did you feel the energy drain?" Seth nodded. The drain on his energy had been twice that of when he used his normal abilities. But even with that amount of energy being taken from him he still had plenty to spare. But, he had to admit, at the most he could probably keep the Elemental armor going for about an hour, but first, he had to get past this feedback. Strat helped Seth to his feet and He looked Seth up and down. "Do you think you can try again." Seth's excitement soared. It had been almost a year and a half since he had first discovered his powers. and He was more excited now than he had been then. The possibilities of this new power were endless and Seth couldn't wait to learn more. Seth saw Strat notice his smile, and in response he also was grinning madly. "Alright then, Let's get started."