Elrin was furious. He knew that Milli’s training was over the top to begin with and had openly objected to it two years ago. “Are you mad? I’ve never seen her in such a bad condition. If you hadn’t come back as soon as you did, she would have lost her arm.” He said in almost a whisper trying not to bother Lumina.
Finishing off the leftover jerky, Milli tossed it into the trash and had a seat on one end of the table. “She didn’t though.” Elrin put a fist on the table holding back his anger, “In what world is nearly killing someone an acceptable form of training?”
“She asked for it. I warned her and stated clearly what to expect.”
“She was barely an adult!” Elrin hissed as he too took a seat at the opposite end of the table and locked eyes with Milli.
Despite staring down a terrifying warrior of massive stature, Elrin didn’t shrink away or back down. Even though she had eight inches on him, Milli couldn’t help but admire the man’s conviction. “She passed.”
Elrin blinked a few times trying to connect the dots with the statement. “What do you mean she passed?”
Milli’s face had the biggest grin Elrin had seen in a very long time. “There’s no need for me to train her anymore.” She pointed to the large cut that had scabbed over going from her cheek all the way past her ear.
“How’d that happen?” Elrin asked as he couldn’t help but passively examine how bad the injury was. “Lumina did that. I went all-out and she nearly killed me with some sort of magic I had never seen before.”
“Lumina did that?!” Eldin said in surprise as he too entered the kitchen and walked over to look at the cut on his mother’s face. “Magic? As in controlling the elements?” Elrin asked obviously curious but also confused.
“Don’t know what else it could’ve been. I was about to cave her face in with my fist, she let out a scream and the next thing I know my gauntlets broke, and I had to avoid a powerful ray that nearly decapitated me.”
Elrin looked at his son then back to Milli, “Eldin, please keep an eye on Lumina, your mom and I are going to go to town to buy some supplies for tomorrow.”
Elrin stood up and walked over to the entryway and donned his mantle. The cloth looked as if it was woven out of gold. It had a gentle sheen in the light as it casually draped across his shoulders and down his back into a full cloak. Holding it together in the center of his chest was a large ornate brooch, the middle completely filled by a sparkling clear gem. Inside it was the symbol of Lumasias. A singular sun-like image with an open eye in the middle. The badge itself was a symbol of his status as an Archbishop. Something only a few people had ever attained.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Lumasias is one the six elemental gods that maintain the world. Its element is Light.
Milli scoffed when she looked at the opulent cloth, Elrin chuckled as he opened the door for Milli who was still wearing her armor. Once they were both outside, he closed the door and the two began heading towards Woodvale village.
It was about a 10-minute walk to get into town, their modest cottage behind them sitting on a nearby hill under a massive oak tree. Elrin started up a conversation as they headed to the town once he felt confident they were finally out of range for Lumina to hear them. “You said you went all out in your fight with her.”
Milli grinned then gave a slight chuckle, “The poor girl was plagued by doubt and a lack of confidence. A simple lie to put all those detrimental thoughts aside, it seemed appropriate. If I had gone all out, there wouldn’t be anything left of her. I couldn’t say it back there.”
Elrin sighed then took a deep breath of the crisp spring night air. They really weren’t going to get supplies, Elrin had used it as an excuse to leave the house. There was no other way to have a private conversation with Lumina nearby. “How much of your power did you fight her with?”
“I’d say around 25%. For her to damage me this badly…”
“Is an incredible feat.” He said finishing Milli’s sentence.
“The only way she is going to get stronger at this point is if she finally leaves this isolated lumber town and gains some experience under her belt.”
“Eldin is at that point too. There is only so much you can learn from studying. He needs some practical application and more experience in the wide world as well.”
The two continued walking towards Woodvale, the moon starting to come into full view. Elrin continued their conversation “From how you described it, you think Lumina did something similar to what her father could do?”
“Lucina often talked about Hero. Apparently, he was the strongest fighter that had ever lived.” Milli replied as she continued speaking, “That was 100 years ago. The world was a completely different place back then.” Milli wished she could have met the guy just once, she wanted to know who was stronger. Competitive thoughts aside, she brought up an important topic. “Should we tell Lumina everything about her parents? I mean we decided not to tell her that they came from before the Great Cataclysm 100 years ago. Back when technology was incredibly advanced.”
“What would be the point? Her life is already going to be difficult when she leaves. Adding that knowledge when there is nothing that she can do about it seems only detrimental.” He stated as they both continued walking in silence for a few minutes.
Elrin’s pace slowed slightly, he decided to switch back to their original topic. “Hero is still the only person we have evidence of that was actually able to manipulate pure energy.”
“Until two days ago you mean.” Milli replied with a smile.
Elrin could tell just how proud she was of Lumina, even if she nearly killed her. “You really think she has the same ability?”
“Her father did. It would make sense that his daughter could do the same thing.”
Elrin let out a sigh, “Sadly, knowledge on controlling energy just doesn’t exist, and we don’t have Adrok here to ask if he knows either.”
“She’s just going to have to figure it out on her own then?”
“We can at least inform her and Eldin about it and they can work it out together…”
“When they go on their own adventure.” Milli said in agreement, finishing the sentence.
“We need to plan a party.” Elrin said as he looked up at Milli.
“We need to plan a party.” She responded as the two entered Woodvale.