The First Night (3)

- Lucifer -

One hour had passed and Elijah was able to do three ticks before shocking himself. His hands had been healed multiple times by Lao.

"Three ticks is impressive. I should be able to teach you proper attacks tomorrow. For now, though we're going to start your hand-to-hand training." Lucifer said, moving to the corner of the room.

Elijah started to feel a little tired, physically. He wanted to ask Lucifer about his body but decided to hold off.

'Maybe I can find the answer in that guide.'

"What kind of sparring are we going to be doing?"

Lao spoke before Lucifer could.

"I'll be checking your basics first. Throw a few punches and kicks."

Elijah obliged and threw a straight, followed by an uppercut and then a hook. He tried to do a kick but almost lost his balance in the process.

'I'm at least a few inches taller than him. Wonder if I could actually take him? I still have some leftover combat experience.'

Lao scratched his chin with his index finger.

"The punches are fine, obviously need some work though. The kick had terrible form, but that's okay for now. I would recommend CQC, it seems like your build is more well suited for it."

Elijah was interested in what Lao had to say.

'They teach CQC in this world? I shouldn't be surprised. If they know about our military advancements surely there would be people teaching "human" fighting styles.'

"You know CQC?"

"That, boxing, muay Thai, kung fu, jiu-jitsu, Shaolin taichi, taekwondo, and karate," Lao said matter of factly.

"Are you some kind of fighting prodigy? I know it's good to learn multiple styles, but that seems excessive, no offense." Elijah said in a polite tone.

'I have a feeling I could be a full foot taller and he'd still beat me.'

"I'm two hundred and fifteen years old. If anything I feel like I should know more by now." Lao expected Elijah to have a shocked reaction after hearing his age, but the response he got was unexpected.

"Yeah, that makes sense. I guess these bodies don't age."

Truthfully Elijah wasn't expecting to hear such a large number in regards to Lao but did guess that there was something going on with the various members of the team.

'There's no way it was a coincidence that every member was around the same age. Someone had to look older if even a little bit. '

The only one who showed any signs of being slightly older was Peter, but that was only because of the way he spoke to Lucifer.

Lucifer, having been standing in the corner waiting to speak decided it was a good time to explain how human bodies worked in this world.

"Humans in this world have something that they didn't in their world. Mana. This energy source keeps your kind young, significantly increases your stamina, and also greatly reduces a need for food. Not all species in this world get that same benefit though."

'I wasn't going to ask, but no point in interrupting.' Elijah wondered what he would do with eternal youth. 'I don't want to live forever, but not having to worry about aches and pains that come with old age is nice.'

"Now that you're up to speed, let's proceed with your training," Lao said, leaving his arms at his side. "Try to hit or grapple me. Attack me like it's a proper fight. I'll be using healing magic on any injuries I receive, so you don't need to worry."

The following practice involved Elijah missing Lao with attacks over and over again, and occasionally being sent into the ground. Lucifer left after thirty minutes, stating he would be doing his own training for now. He walked outside of the stone house and went a good distance away, making sure he was far before beginning.

Lucifer started his training and was immediately frustrated.

'Faster. I need to be faster and more accurate.' Lucifer continued, creating large balls of fire and then spreading them around himself, before gathering the flames back up around his arms, and then dispersing them.

"Not trainin' with me anymore?" Peter said, illuminating his face with a long lit torch.

"You're supposed to be teaching Elijah weaponry after Lao's finished," Lucifer said, now lighting up his own face with a ball of fire.

"Sabu can teach him. He's just as qualified for that type of thing. I'm wonderin' why ya would want to train alone? You're the one that originally offered to spar with me long ago." Peter's tone showed worry.

"If you're afraid you'll hurt me, don't be. I trust ya know how to control yourself, and we have two healers here."

Lucifer understood Peter well enough to know he wasn't going to leave.

"Fine. Place the torch down. I feel like I've been stagnating lately. I had planned on training most of the night."

Peter jammed the torch in the ground. "Fine with me. I always appreciate the practice."

The two fought until the sunrise. Only stopping to occasionally have Yvere heal them or replace their clothes. Elijah had wondered where the two went but didn't bother asking. He was more concerned about the upcoming ride.

- Death -

Death was standing outside in the largest arena that was available. The area was basically a coliseum, with seating all around, specifically built for the highest level of training. Meeting Michael there solved two potential problems: One, if Michael was looking for a fight it would be best if they weren't indoors, and two, it meant that none of the other reapers would have to deal with the archangel.

Death was tapping his foot against the ground. He was excited that he might get to fight the smug angel and put him in his place but worried that this might be a more political gathering. This wasn't the first time Michael had overreacted to angels being killed. The angels hadn't fought a war in a long time and seemed to be restless.

'Why did you have to teach them to be warriors?' Death rubbed his temple, trying not to think about the angels' father.

"I really wish I could forget about him." Death clenched his jaw.

"Reaper!" Michael yelled, flying above Death. He landed and before he could say another word Death blinked so he was right in front of him.

"It's not reaper, boy. I am your father's equal, and you. Will. Remember that." Death said, staring down at Michael. Death's eyes seemed to almost go black as a dark mist started to cover his face.

Michael was six feet tall, with brown hair down to his shoulders. He had light skin, an average build with muscular arms, and blue eyes. Michael wasn't afraid of Death normally, but the mana leaking out of Death gave him an eerie feeling he couldn't shake.

"R-right. Sorry for the disrespect." Michael said, keeping his right hand open and to his side.

The apology snapped Death out of his anger. He took steps back and gathered his thoughts.

"Close your hand, I don't want to fight, 'anymore' I just want to get to the bottom of yet another problem."

Michael closed his hand and folded his arms.

"Ever since we lost Uriel to that thing, I've been more sensitive to the deaths of my brothers and sisters and I'm not the only one."

Death was frustrated by the reveal of the other angels' feelings on this matter.

'You and your family need to unlink from one another.'

"Just tell me what the situation is on your side. I already have Lucifer heading to the northern territories. If the resistance is really going around killing in cold blood, then he'll handle it."

Michael's face scrunched at the mention of his brother's name.

"Right, well, forgive me if I don't trust him to handle an angel-killing situation with grace."

Michael closed his eyes, looked up, and sighed.

"Four confirmed deaths on angels. Normally I would assume it was the work of someone other than humans. Humans aren't particularly strong so I don't consider them a threat, most of the time. Unfortunately, though, this particular human group's leader was caught in the act."

"The unknown did that? That doesn't make any sense."

'It knows which contracts to take and avoid, but then does something that would make enemies of the angels?' Death was pacing now trying to figure out what was happening.

"Listen Rea-, um, Death. If you know something about this that I don't I would expect you to do me the same courtesy that I've done for you." Michael was tapping the side of his leg and biting his tongue, waiting for Death to respond.

Death was bothered by the comment. Michael, personally, had barely done anything for him. However, there were angels in Heaven who would routinely give information that had helped him in the past.

"The Unknown seems to have knowledge of the various arbiters."

"It does? I thought the only beings in this world that knew such things were you, my brother, and the other thing that wardens Hell."

Michael didn't hide his disgust for Satan. As far as he was concerned the demon King was like a far worse version of Lucifer.

Death was temporarily done trying to figure out the motivations of someone he's never met. What mattered more right now is defusing any potential problems with Heaven.

"I know you don't trust Lucifer, but it should ease your mind that I was planning on joining the investigation before you called. However you feel about me, surely you can at least trust my abilities."

"See that's the issue. There's no question about your strength. What I don't trust is your standing. You often pick humans over the native races of this world, even angels. I want to make sure this problem is handled appropriately." Michael regained his confidence, much to Death's annoyance.

"Fine then. Choose an angel and I'll have them tag along. If anything happens to them you can hold me responsible."

Death didn't want to give Michael even that much, but the loss of the archangel Uriel had clearly created some tension amongst the angels.

'I can at least understand not wanting to see that happen to someone you care about.' Sometimes Death respected the angel's closeness, while other times he hated it.

"I'll pick someone tomorrow, don't leave until then," Michael said before flying off.

'I'll call Lucifer tomorrow. Word of the angel murders will probably spread to the southern towns.'

Death was highly upset with the fact he had to drag some angel around. If it's a lower-ranking angel then Death has to worry about something happening to them, and if it's an archangel he'll have to worry about how they react to working with Lucifer.

Death's head hurt. As he was walking out of the coliseum's doors he noticed Zach leaning against the wall.

"If you have any more bad news for me please give me a moment to smash my head into the wall first."

Zach nervously laughed. "Yeah, about that."