Chapter 14: Aric's Father and the Reflections Under the Twin Moons

The trio emerged from the maze, their bodies weary but their spirits unbroken. They had faced their deepest fears and come out stronger, ready to confront whatever challenges the Nexus of Luminaris had in store. As they made their way back to their dorm, the evening sun cast long shadows across the academy grounds.

Levi, Kaizo, and Aric walked in silence, each lost in their thoughts. The trial had taken a toll on them, and they were eager to rest. The cool breeze was a welcome relief after the intensity of the maze, and for a moment, it felt like they could finally breathe.

"That was intense," Kaizo finally said, breaking the silence.

Levi nodded, still processing the visions he had seen. "Yeah, but we were the first one to make it."

Aric, walking slightly ahead, was quiet. He had been unusually reflective since the trial, and Levi noticed the tension in his friend's shoulders. Before he could ask if everything was okay, a sudden wave of heat washed over them.

Without warning, flames erupted in the air before them, and the trio stopped in their tracks. The flames swirled and coalesced, forming a figure that they instantly recognized. Ignis Pyrokin, Aric's father, materialized in front of them, his fiery presence commanding the space.

"Father?" Aric's voice was filled with surprise and a hint of unease.

Ignis regarded his son with an intense gaze, his expression unreadable. "Aric," he began, his voice deep and resonant, "I saw how you handled yourself in the trial."

Aric swallowed, meeting his father's eyes. "I did what I had to do."

Ignis nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "You showed strength, but there's more to strength than just power. There's also control, discipline, and the will to stand by your choices."

Levi and Kaizo stood a few steps back,almost being crushed with just the mere weight of the lord"s presence,feeling the weight of the moment. This was no ordinary conversation between a father and son; it was a confrontation between two formidable pyromancers, one testing the mettle of the other.

"You chose to fight with your bare hands, relying on your pyrokinesis," Ignis continued, his tone serious. "That's not a path many would choose, especially in a world that reveres weapons. But you've always been different."

Aric's jaw tightened. "I don't need a weapon to prove my worth. Father."

Ignis studied him for a moment longer before his stern expression softened slightly. "Good," he said. "But remember, Aric, the path you've chosen is not easy. Most martial artists fail. Except the beings from the other species, Such as the titans. As someone who is the son of a God, You'll face doubt from others, and sometimes from yourself. But as long as you stay true to your convictions, you'll be able to overcome any obstacle."

Aric nodded, absorbing his father's words. "I understand, Father."

Ignis glanced at Levi and Kaizo, his fiery gaze briefly assessing them before returning to Aric. "Your friends have chosen their paths as well. Stand together, and you will be unstoppable."

With that, Ignis stepped back, the flames around him intensifying. "I'll be watching your progress, Aric. Don't disappoint me."

Before Aric could respond, Ignis disappeared in a burst of fire, leaving behind only a lingering warmth in the air. The trio stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the encounter settling over them.

Finally, Levi spoke, breaking the tension. "Your dad… he's intense."

Aric let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That's one way to put it."

Kaizo smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "At least we know where you get it from."

Aric managed a small smile, but his mind was still on his father's words. The road ahead was going to be challenging, but he knew he wasn't facing it alone. With Levi and Kaizo by his side, and the lessons from his father guiding him, he felt ready to face whatever came next.

--

As the trio wandered through the tranquil garden of the academy, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered when Levi's gaze locked onto a towering figure in the distance. The demon, clad in dark, ethereal armor, exuded an aura of malevolent power. His crimson eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity, and as he moved, the very air around him seemed to ripple with dark energy.

In an instant, Levi's heart pounded as a flash of memory seared through his mind—the monstrous entity that had mercilessly slaughtered his family. His fists clenched, rage bubbling up within him as his vision blurred with anger. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to charge forward, to strike down the demon before him.

But before Levi could act, Kaizo placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Don't," Kaizo warned, his voice low and serious. "He's one of the Twelve Abyssal Lords. He's way too strong for you AND us."

Levi's eyes, still filled with fury, flickered with hesitation as he glanced at Kaizo. The weight of his words, and the sheer magnitude of the demon's power, began to sink in. Yet, the anger within him remained, fueled by the haunting memories of his family's demise.

Aric, sensing Levi's turmoil, stepped closer. "He's not the one, Levi. He didn't kill your family."

Levi's fists slowly unclenched, his breathing ragged as he fought to regain control. The demon in the distance continued on his way, oblivious to the turmoil he had stirred within Levi. Finally, Levi exhaled a shaky breath, the fire in his eyes dimming. "I… I need some time alone," he murmured, turning away from his friends.

Kaizo and Aric exchanged a glance, understanding in their eyes, but neither of them spoke. They watched as Levi walked off, his figure gradually disappearing into the night.

Levi wandered aimlessly through the academy grounds until he stumbled upon a large, majestic tree. Its branches stretched high into the sky, and the leaves shimmered softly under the light of the academy's moons. Drawn to it, Levi climbed up one of the sturdy branches and settled himself down. 

As he sat there, the cool breeze brushing against his skin, Levi stared up at the twin moons hanging in the sky. Their soft, silver glow bathed the world in a peaceful light, a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within him. For a moment, he allowed himself to forget his pain and anger, losing himself in the beauty of the night. 

The moons shone down on him like silent guardians, and Levi felt a small measure of peace. The battle within him hadn't been won, but here, amidst the quiet beauty of the academy, he found a brief respite. 

---

As Levi was sitting on the branch of the tree, lost in the beauty of the twin moons above. The night was quiet, offering a brief respite from his turbulent thoughts. Without warning, a figure materialized in front of him—Eldrin.

Startled, Levi lost his balance and began to fall from the tree. Before he could react, he felt an invisible force catch him in mid-air, holding him gently. A calm voice echoed in his mind,"Easy, Levi. I've got you."

Levi blinked in surprise as he hovered above the ground, suspended by Eldrin's telepathic power. Slowly, Eldrin brought him back up to the branch, setting him down carefully.

Once Levi was back on the branch, Eldrin chuckled, his eyes full of warmth. "Didn't mean to startle you."

Levi let out a breath, a bit shaken but relieved. "You sure know how to make an entrance."

Eldrin settled next to him on the branch, his gaze softening. "I felt something was bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?"

Levi's thoughts returned to the turmoil inside him. "I don't know, Eldrin. It feels like everything's wrong. I'm here, trying to get stronger, but there's this emptiness… like nothing I do will ever make it right."

Eldrin listened, his presence calm and reassuring. "You've been through so much, Levi. What you're feeling is completely understandable. But you're here for a reason, and that reason is something only you can discover."

Levi hesitated, thinking of the Lifeweaver, the hope he kept hidden deep inside. He wanted to share it with Eldrin but was afraid—afraid that even mentioning it might shatter the fragile hope he clung to.

"I need to keep some things to myself for now," Levi finally said. "But something else happened tonight. I saw a demon in the garden, and it… it reminded me of the one that killed my family. I almost lost control."

Eldrin's expression grew serious. *"Describe this demon to me."* His voice entered Levi's mind again, gentle but with an undercurrent of concern.

Levi described the demon's terrifying appearance—the dark armor, glowing red eyes, and the aura of pure evil.

Eldrin nodded, recognizing the description. *"That sounds like one of the Abyssal Lords,"* he communicated telepathically, his tone grave. *"They are among the most powerful demons in existence, Levi. It's no surprise you reacted the way you did. But you must be careful—confronting one of them out of anger could lead to disaster."*

"Abyssal Lords," Levi repeated aloud, the name sending a chill through him. "Kaizo mentioned them too. He said the demon was one of them."

Eldrin's expression remained serious. *"The Abyssal Lords are not to be taken lightly. They possess immense power and influence. If you encountered one here at the academy, it's a sign of something far greater. But you must remain in control of your emotions, Levi."*

Levi nodded, understanding the weight of Eldrin's words. He looked up at the twin moons, trying to find some sense of calm. "Where I come from, there's only one moon," he said suddenly.

Eldrin followed his gaze, a small smile on his lips. "And here, we have two. Different worlds, different skies. But you're not alone in this, Levi. No matter how lost you feel."

Levi looked at Eldrin, grateful for his guidance, but kept the secret of the Lifeweaver to himself, determined to hold on to that hope a little longer.

---

Levi leaned back against the tree, the cool night air brushing against his face as he considered Eldrin's words. After a moment, he turned to Eldrin with a lingering question. "I wanted to know more about the different species. The books here at the academy barely mention them."

Eldrin nodded thoughtfully. "That's because the other species tend to keep to themselves, just as we do. They value their mysteries, and we respect that by not prying too deeply. What we do know is that the Celestials and the Titans are considered the strongest, while the Kinetics are often seen as the weakest."

Levi listened intently, absorbing the information. "So, even we don't know much about them?"

"Not much," Eldrin confirmed. "But there is something important you should know. Each species holds a weapon ceremony, just like the one you'll witness here. The species that secures the most artifacts from these ceremonies is generally considered the strongest. The god of lightning holds a mythical artifact, Heartstone of Tempest. which is linked to the creator of the kinetics, Vortis. that is why the kinetics often hate us, especially the gods. But they cant do much about it as they are pretty weak."

Levi's curiosity deepened. "i see.how do the species rank when it comes to artifacts"

Eldrin smiled slightly. "Currently, the gods and demons together possess one mythical artifact, which belongs to the God of Lightning. The Celestials and Titans each possess one mythical artifact as well. The Dragons also have one. The Kinetics and Elves, on the other hand, have none. However, the Elves are still considered powerful because they hold many legendary artifacts."

Levi nodded, processing the weight of what Eldrin had just told him. "So, I might have to encounter all these species at some point."

"Yes," Eldrin said, his tone serious. "It's likely that your path will cross with members of each species. And each encounter will bring its own challenges."

As they spoke, a figure appeared silently on the ground below them. The figure's presence seemed to pull Eldrin's attention, and he sighed softly. "It seems my time here is up."

Levi looked down at the figure, then back at Eldrin. "You have to go?"

Eldrin nodded. "I've been called away on a mission. But remember, Levi, if you ever need to talk, you can always come to my lab. I'll be there when I'm not off on these missions."

Levi felt a pang of disappointment but managed a small smile. "Thanks, Eldrin. I'll keep that in mind."

Eldrin smiled warmly at him. "Goodbye for now, Levi. Stay strong."

With that, Eldrin disappeared as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving Levi alone in the tree. He watched the spot where Eldrin had been, then looked up at the twin moons once more. The night felt a little colder without Eldrin's reassuring presence, but Levi knew he wasn't entirely alone. He had allies, and he had his own determination.

"Bye, Eldrin," Levi whispered, more to himself than to the now-empty air.

With a final glance at the moons, Levi climbed down from the tree and headed back to the academy, his mind filled with thoughts of the challenges ahead.