Training I - Learning to Trust: Training I - Learning to Trust

Training I - Learning to Trust and Trust Again

Luxifer didn't normally stay up all night, his strong affinity for light usually having him up with the sun and keeping to a diurnal schedule. However, when Ambriel brought his attention to a training request made by three foreign dracostryx, his curiosity was piqued and he offered to come along - Ambriel was many things, but local regulations specified that one 'rider' could not possibly train multiple dracostryx simultaneously on their own.

Luxifer called bullshit on that, but it was what it was, and arguing with policymakers wasn't what he was currently being paid to do. Additionally, it offered an excuse for him to come along, so it wasn't entirely bad. It was as they were readying to leave - Luxifer had pulled all-nighters before, and with his biomancy he didn't really start feeling it until the third day - that Xarxus entered the room.

The brown-skinned, five foot nine Prince of Hell paused in the doorway of the living room, noting Ambriel checking over some paper while Luxifer held a white fedora in hand - one of the only signs Luxifer was intending to go out anywhere, as the man always wore suits and carried a cane even when intending to spend the day mostly indoors.

"Something wrong?" Xarxus asked, tone concerned. While he had taken to nighttime flights - the flawless memory of an outsider having made dreams unpleasant, and sleep mostly unnecessary - he'd not known Ambriel to concern himself with paper, and he knew Luxifer strongly preferred to sleep at night. Given their highly eventful lives, concern was natural and warranted.

"Not at all," Luxifer replied, leaning on his cane in his right hand. More because he felt like it than because he needed to. "Ambriel simply found a public training request listed by some dracostryx themselves and decided to be helpful. I'm coming along for the sake of curiosity."

"Three dracostryx..." Xarxus muttered, then looked between the two. "If you need a third, I could help."

"Amaera won't miss you?"

"I just asked her over the bond, she told me to 'have fun.'" Was the amused response.

So it was the three of them readied themselves, and walked out into the cool, peaceful night. The scent of flowers was the most powerful one on the air, spring in full force for their part of the world. Owls flew between the trees and grass, hunting food for their newly-hatched chicks, while does guided their fawns and rabbits nested in their warrens with their young.

The sky was entirely clear of clouds, what wind there was calm and gentle - which was good enough flying weather for Ambriel and Xarxus, while Luxifer simply chose to teleport on ahead of the two outsiders. He could not fly, and he did not care to be carried if he did not have to. Riding a dracostryx was very different to being outright carried by someone, and while he gave in to pragmatism when he had to, Luxifer did have his pride.

The meetup point was at a quiet crossroads, one visited infrequently by travellers at night. A wooden sign gave directions, while the dark forest around them was alive with nocturnal wildlife. The scent of flowers remained pervasive, and the grass was growing tall and wild as the tyranny of winter's snowfall melted away. The light of the full moon provided the only light to see by, but for Luxifer's cybernetic eye, it was plenty.

The first thing Luxifer noticed about the three dracostryx awaiting them, was that the largest one - an unusually big tyto - was doing its very best to hide behind the juvenile dark lycan and skeletal-looking casua. That would be one best left for Ambriel, he thought to himself, then approached the casua - so far as he could tell, it was that one which was the 'leader' of the trio.

The lycan was clearly an adolescent, a little over half the usual size for its kind - which still meant big, as it easily towered over most non-dracostryx creatures. Its dark muzzle was rimmed by russet-coloured fur, creating an effect not unlike the glow of distant fire. A pale fade of silver graced its back and made fading half-moons on the backs of its wings, while as it stretched the fiery gradient of the undersides of the membranes made the dark fingers stand out stark.

Brown fur covered its legs, and its tail was a brilliant fiery display of sparkling yellows, oranges, and reds. But for all its appearance, its aura showed one of friendliness, cheer, and joy - every part belying one akin to a puppy.

The casua, meanwhile, was clearly full-grown, standing tall and proud. What feathers could be made out were black as the void, while its bones stood clear, for all the world appearing to be a living skeleton. To the naked eye, at least. Its gaze appeared pupilless at first glance, an icy blue-white.

As for the tyto, it was a sandy beige colour, splashes of white upon its chest and legs breaking up the monotony, with intricate white and brown markings upon its face. Every flight feather tipped a darker brown, and its amber gaze was haunted, frightened, but resolute. It watched Luxifer warily.

"Good evening," he greeted them. "I am Luxifer Brandr-Elenisia. Would you three happen to be the ones who put up the training notice?"

Many people liked to assume that all dracostryx were dumb beasts, but Luxifer had found that there was great variance in dracostryx intelligence and sapience. It really depended on the individual. So it was he was rewarded with the dracostryx looking him in the eye with its own, intelligent icy gaze and gave a nod. It did not speak, however, and Luxifer could only assume that meant it could not - neither physically nor telepathically.

Well, he had a solution to that.

"With your permission, I will form a mindlink with the three of you, that you may communicate with me more easily," Luxifer told them, and calmly approached. "You need not speak words in the mindlink, merely send me thought, sensation, and concepts. I can interpret your meaning from there."

The casua raised its great crested head, and spoke with its companions in low booming rumbles and the occasional slightly higher one. The bat nodded, while the tyto hesitated. A low rumble later, and then the tyto nodded as well, all three then turning to look at Luxifer.

Luxifer took that as his cue, and created the mindlink between the four of them. It felt like nothing more than gentle taps, and then the four powerful minds could feel one another psionically - dracostryx all had powerful minds, no matter their intelligence, something caused by their innate power, whether dormant or awakened.

It was then that the human sensed his two companions arriving. He directed his thoughts at the dracostryx. My companions will be here soon, and they do not need the mindlink to understand you like I do. Speak with intent, and they will understand exactly what you mean.

Good to know, commented the casua, and there was the sound of unseen feathers ruffling. Luxifer noted that its mental presence felt more like he would expect of a ghost - and as a medium, he knew well what that actually felt like - which was quite interesting, considering that the casua's aura gave away that it was very much alive.

The casua continued speaking after a momentary pause, looking Luxifer in the eye again. We decided to seek training with humans as a challenge to ourselves, and a challenge to you. Trust in humanity comes easily only to Barghest here. The casual nodded at the dark lycan - who, Luxifer noted, gave off heat about as much as Xarxus did. Prove we can trust you, though we can only offer the possibility of future favour in return.

A challenge of trust, is it? Luxifer asked, raising a perfect blonde eyebrow. but whatever else he would have said was lost as Xarxus and Ambriel landed nearby - the sinister ruby glow from Xarxus' skeletal, hellfire-shrouded wings competing with the teal-and-gold glow from Ambriel's four feathered wings. Xarxus shapeshifted away his wings soon after landing, and gave an apologetic look to the tyto - the pale bird with red facial markings had jumped in alarm upon noticing the flames.

"They say they have nothing to offer but the potential of favours," Luxifer told them, beating everyone else to speaking. He then added his two companions to the mindlink for convenience. "But I daresay that will stop neither of you."

"I do not need payment to assist those who seek help," Ambriel replied, looking over the three dracostryx, his gaze soon resting on the slightly shaking tyto with sympathy. "Please, there is no need to fear any of us, we wish none of you any harm."

Heard that before, the casua muttered, while the tyto just flinched. The lycan simply looked confused, head tilting quizzically.

Heard before what? Dinner? The lycan appeared to be blissfully innocent still - which was more than either of its companions were, one clearly traumatized, the other exceptionally jaded.

"Ah, perhaps introductions may help?" Xarxus offered, and stepped forward with a hand held out. "I am Xarxus, and these are Luxifer and Ambriel. Who might you be?"

I am Osteon, the living furnace puppy here is Barghest, and the tyto behind me is Polaris, the casua replied. meeting Xarxus' glowing red gaze. Per the requirements of this land, official training must be with each of us paired with a rider.

"Or a guide dracostryx," Xarxus inclined his head. "Was there a reason you chose to seek riders, and not one of your own kind?"

It is easier to trust one of our own, than it is to trust a human. Or in Barghest's case, the casua nodded down to the lycan. A rider might keep her attention on something other than play or food for longer than five seconds. If you're fireproof.

Luxifer raised his eyebrow at Xarxus, who smiled and shook his head before walking up to the lycan known as Barghest.

Night's kindness to you, Barghest, Xarxus sent to the lycan telepathically, as he raised a hand to the batlike dracostryx's muzzle. If you are so willing, I will be your rider for so long as you have need of me.

The lycan hesitated, instinct screaming at her that this strange-smelling humanoid with tail and horns was danger, but then lowered her head to meet her nose with Xarxus' palm. You smell funny. You are fire, and blood, and dark.

Xarxus' smile turned sad. Aye, that I am. But I am more than my heritage, and I hope to prove worthy of your trust.

Okay. Barghest thought for a moment. Want to play a game?

Xarxus chuckled. Depends on the game.

While those two spoke, Ambriel slowly approached Peloris, the beige-coloured tyto only barely allowing it. Though standing at nine feet tall, even Ambriel was dwarfed by the dracostryx's sheer size, being almost closer to a harpia in mass than most tytos. Which made the black scars of pain, fear, and torment in the tyto's aura all the more painful to see, beautiful blues and oranges marred by jagged streaks and cracks of agony-laden red, black, and white.

I promise you no harm, with all my being, Ambriel told the tyto, who allowed the angel to approach. Please, if it brings you no further pain, who did this to you?

Humanity. Was all Polaris felt comfortable to say, and even that was a stretch.

Would it help ease your fears to know that I am not human? Ambriel asked, seeking only to ease the tyto's fear and stress. I am an angel of harmony, I wish only to help you, and help you heal, not to hurt you.

The tyto looked into his mismatched pink/teal eyes with its own amber, and relaxed. Not much, but relax it did. You truly mean that?

Yes, Polaris. I ask nought in return, only that you allow me to help you.

I...I would like that.

---

Three days passed...

Trust was all well and good to talk about, but it was another thing entirely to grant. At least for most, as Barghest had a difficult time comprehending that there were people she couldn't trust, being more of a giant, cheerful, happy-go-lucky puppy than the intimidating, fire-breathing lycan that she was.

Still, Xarxus' influence helped Barghest learn to calm, to channel her energy rather than be ruled by it. The dark, fiery-coloured lycan was also, however, still very playful, and Xarxus was happy enough to oblige her once the schedule for the day was met. Often, this manifested as games high in the air, and frequently involved fire.

Polaris slowly calmed as the days and nights went on, Ambriel's very presence granting him reprieve from nightmares, the angel's quiet efforts also helping Polaris find a healthier mindset during his time awake. Needing no sleep, Ambriel kept watch over the massive tyto at all hours, granting him a measure of reassurance that nothing would strike Polaris unawares.

Osteon had paired with Luxifer, the only one left after the other two pairs had been made. While Xarxus tried to teach Barghest some basic caution and common sense, and Ambriel tried to address Polaris' trauma, Luxifer took to this 'challenge' by asking Osteon about the things she enjoyed, the places she'd been, and getting into clever wordgames about technicalities and bantering about the upsides and downsides of each other's species.

Osteon was evasive about many things, seeing fit only to inform Luxifer that she had been born to the Haunted Woods, and felt drawn to pumpkin patches in the autumn. She refused to speak on when her skeleton had become the primary thing of her visible, but she implied she'd been simply born that way - perhaps as a natural side-effect to the magical properties of the Woods.

The mystery that made up who she was, was a compelling enough reason for Luxifer to spend the time with her, but unlike the other two, the casua remained wary. That was, until a certain fateful moment, during another nightly walk in the forests near Capax Infiniti's base.

---

The two trios walked side-by-side, the dracostryx strolling leisurely so that Luxifer didn't have to jog - Xarxus and Ambriel could fly whenever it suited them. Like the prior three nights, the sky was clear of clouds, allowing its deep inky blackness to show the splendour of stars and nebulae, the moon's light still strong even as it began to wane.

The scent of flowers on the gentle spring breeze was still powerful, and pollen reminded all with allergies of its existence. Luxifer couldn't care less, biomancy making pollen a nonissue for him, and neither Xarxus nor Ambriel were particularly inconvenienced about anything to do with breathing or the lack of it.

Barghest was having a grand time trying to catch fireflies with her mouth, after learning that incinerating them with fire was far less fun. Xarxus was amused, and allowed it as the lycan had shown a surprising ability to keep focus on multiple things, despite appearing otherwise to be a complete goof.

I left mother and father's territory because mother had her paws full with my younger brothers and sisters, Barghest was telling her temporary rider. And I wasn't being much help. I can hunt for myself - kind of - but I've grown big enough that there just wasn't the space.

Were your parents alright with this? Xarxus asked, keeping his glowing red eyes on what was in front of him rather than craning his head to look up at the lycan.

They weren't happy about it, but father said it was probably for the best, Barghest replied. And it's been really interesting on my own - I don't have to worry about curfews or being quiet or being told to stop hogging the ribs. It's great! If a bit lonely sometimes.

Ambriel, Luxifer, Polaris, and Osteon walked on in silence, content to listen to the two living furnaces chatter - though Osteon tuned them out entirely when Xarxus went onto a rambling lecture about magic upon Barghest's enquiry about what the difference between her breath and normal fire was.

For all the dracostryxes' great natural awareness, however, it was first Luxifer, and then Ambriel and Xarxus, who picked up on the impending danger first. Little more than a change in the wind and the faintest ping on their astral senses heralded the freezing-cold blast of icy breath, the warmth of the late spring night leeched out of the air with a vicious vengeance.

Ambriel, with aeons of life behind him, reacted first - a massive, shimmering blue shield protecting all six of them from harm shone into existence, parting the icy blast effortlessly. Osteon reared her head and arched her neck, icy gaze flashing as she sought out their assailant.

Barghest yelped and leapt back out of startlement, but picked up on Xarxus' combative stance and opted to follow the Prince of Hell's lead. Hackles rising, familiar heat came to her mouth, but the lycan held her flames back at Xarxus' wordless cue.

I will tell you when, Xarxus told the lycan. Please, trust me.

I will, Barghest replied, and held at the ready.

Luxifer was the first to spot their mysterious assailant, an actual ghost with just enough power to be a threat. Power, and little intelligence, little more than a manifestation of malice long dead. Wonderful, he thought sarcastically, and took stock of the situation - trees were frozen, they were a few miles away from base, and...well, two of the dracostryx were combat-ready, while the largest of their number - the tyto Polaris - just stood frozen with wide amber eyes.

Ambriel, keep us shielded, but otherwise focus on Polaris, Luxifer ordered. He might bolt.

On it, Ambriel replied, trusting his friends to handle the situation. Maintaining the shield cost him negligible effort and focus - the ghost was hardly anything compared to his power - and focused on getting Polaris' attention on him. Polaris, Polaris, please look at me.

The tyto did not respond, and what Ambriel saw in his aura was unfortunately very familiar. Polaris' mind was no longer in the present.

Spreading all four wings, Ambriel took flight, power guiding the wind to aid him in gaining the altitude he needed to get to the massive tyto's head. Polaris, he sent again, gently putting a hand on the tyto's terrified face. Polaris, you will be fine, you are safe. None can hurt you with me here, none can touch you. Polaris.

The fight raged around the two, but Ambriel ignored it, and slowly, his words and gentle presence helped Polaris return to the present. The tyto's shaking eased, then he carefully lowered his head - Ambriel dropping altitude to follow suit.

Thank you, Polaris finally spoke. Thank you, Ambriel. Please, don't let it near me.

The others will deal with it, it won't be coming any closer, Ambriel reassured him. They will drive it off.

Or destroy it, which is what it looked like the other four were seeking to do, now that Ambriel bothered to check.

Osteon was as fierce as any other casua in battle, all beak, and claw, and fury. Hardly intimidated by the ice, she strode ahead beyond the shield's protective barrier, and proved her unnatural aspects had to do with more than mere appearances - she was able to genuinely wound the ghost, where most other physical beings would merely find their attacks passing through.

Luxifer sighed and ran after her, and used his own fire arcana to keep himself and her from being frozen solid - the ghost's freezing breath was still quite strong, just not strong enough to get past a greater celestial's shield. Night very momentarily became day as he blasted the ghost with blinding light, which he used primarily as a surprise tactic - and also to alert those back at base that a fight was going on within their borders.

He looked at Xarxus only with his inner sight, not wanting to give away his extended uncle's plan. The astral plane was ablaze with light from Xarxus and Ambriel's powerful presences - both with auras as bright as novas with their power - but for one as experienced as Luxifer, it was simple enough to focus through the metaphysical glare.

Xarxus' plan was, in fact, to catch the ghost between hellfire and dracostryx magic-imbued flame, the two fires quite capable of burning out the insubstantial malice that comprised the ghost's being. Osteon did remarkable damage, but she could not slay the thing without taking significant injury herself. It was better to end this swiftly.

Barghest, meanwhile, had to fight with her instinct to charge in, all fang, and claw, and fire. She had to trust that Xarxus would let her fight, would let her use her fire, even if she worried that she'd be told that she was too young to fight. She wasn't too young! Barghest wanted to help, and she was eager to participate in her first real fight.

But she had been told to wait. She would get her turn, and she had to trust Xarxus' word. He hadn't broken his word yet, and he had impressed upon her how important keeping one's word was to him.

Fear did not occur to Barghest. Her blood was up, her flames ready, every moment exhilarating - everything went so fast, but lasted an eternity. It was fun!

Xarxus was now almost entirely on the opposite side of the ghost, and he withdrew the dull green sword he had sheathed at his hip. He met Barghest's eyes briefly, and nodded. She grinned a fierce grin. Now.

Launching herself forward as Osteon backed off, the lycan burst into motion. A powerful leap into the air and not moments later, Barghest was breathing her hottest fire yet upon the hapless ghostly shell. Xarxus' ruby-and-black hellfire met hers in the ghost's centre, and the ghastly creature screeched.

It was some moments before anyone spoke, as the ghost vanished to nothingness.

"Well, who wants the task of explaining this drama to Sholto?" Luxifer asked, tapping a finger against his cane.

Trust was no easy thing to earn, and no easy thing to grant. But when lives were on the line, trust was forged well indeed in trial by fire. So it was trust was earned.

Now the real training could begin.