Hello everyone! I know it has been a long time but please, don't judge me. My school life has just started and home has killed me, I am even skipping homework to write this chapter. Hope its long enough to last you guys a little while.

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Nickesha: The happening is coming :D

YuuRam4eva417: Thanks about the comment and really sorry about the confusion with "Urufu". Next time I may put translations at beginning and end.

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Again thanks for ALL my readers and my reviewers. It means so much to me that someone would even want to read my story.

After another sleepless night, Yuuri went back to library, being careful not be caught by any of the maids that passed by in the early hours of the morning. When he arrived, he went to his corner of the room where the window let in just enough light to read and took out 'The Book of Maoh Secrets'. Sitting on the plush purple-red loveseat, he got back to reading the next part of the book from where he left off.

- The Half and its Stages –

The Half is referred to also as a half human, half demon. It is any person whose parentage was a human and a full demon, a half demon and a half demon or a half demon and a human. This may occur both in the demon kingdom and on Earth. In fact, it has been shown that most, if not all, humans on Earth have demon in them from an earlier relative, but most have blood too 'thinned' to be counted as a Half. This chapter is all about Halves and what they can expect in life either as a human or a demon. It is uncommon for Halves to have elemental powers due to their blood being too 'thin', but some receive more D.N.A from their Demonic parent than their human. There have only been three cases where a child had elemental powers; two humans, who, in fact, both had dilute demon blood. A demon has five stages of life: Born the Soul, Childhood, Power, Dominace and Passing of Power.

'Born the Soul' is the first stage of Half life. This includes parentage, conception, birth and soul rights. As said earlier, it can happen in a human/demon, half/half, half/human, dilute/half or dilute/dilute parentage relationships. A male couple is unlikely to have an element child unless at least one parent has power and the more power behind it, the better the outcome. The conception and gestation period is important in the production of powers. If a healthy male or female with one powerful parent has a long, stress free pregnancy then a child has a ninety percent chance of developing powers. If one parent is not powerful but is still an elemental, the chances of developing powers are seventy five percent. If both are powerful Halves, a sixty one percent chance. For a low power or no power couple, the chances are thirty one percent. If a human is paired with a demon, forty two percent; low power, thirty nine percent; human and half, twenty one percent. For any dilute pairings, the chances are under twenty percent. If a human and dilute have a child, the chances are under ten percent.

The birth for a female is normal in that the child is pushed out, but with the exception that the body gives itself pain relief. For a male, it depends on the amount of children and power. For a high power carrying one or two children to birth, they will grow a passage and be forced to give birth without any pain relief. For three or more children, or lower power users, a healer creates an incision in the abdomen and collects the child from there.

Soul rights are harder to explain. In the history of the kingdom, some children are given others' souls to help their own; this is soul rights. If a child needs this then within a period of three hours after the birth, the soul must be placed with the child's. If this is done any later than this, the soul will not bond with the other soul and will reject it. In some cases, the souls will fight for dominance, killing the child in the process. This is why few families go through with soul rights in modern times.

'Childhood' is the second stage. In this stage a child reveals power, makes life choices and starts training. This period lasts from one month to sixteen years old. Within the first five years of birth, a child will show power or control of an element. This is usually by accident and will be due to a powerful emotion. Children will also be most calm around their element. For example, an earth child will always wish to be outside; a water child will feel best bathing or swimming; a fire child likes heat, chimneys or cooking and an air elemental will like wind, flying or tall areas. This is not a fail-safe plan due to some children developing power liking to other elements, or they may just like a particular element without having an affinity for it. Between the ages of three and six, a child's parents must help the child choose what side they would like to live on – which part will be dominant. This decision changes a Half's life from then on.

Most will choose demon and grow into that half of themselves. If a child chooses their human side, then the child (unless they remain in demon land) will, to their knowledge, be human. They will become middle class people. If the demon side is chosen, then a child chooses and accepts the rights and responsibilities of their demon parent's family. If a child is prophesised to live or be part of a certain side, they will automatically be placed their when the time comes. When a child starts training, they train in two ways: their power, or their strength. If a child chooses power, this is the time for the start of healing, element training, and if a parent chooses a child can then learn Human stone work. Strength is a way for non-power children to become soldiers to protect their country and prove their standing.

'Power' is the third stage and is when a child comes into their true inheritance. A celebration on their sixteenth birthday signifies the change from child to adult, with political and elemental power boosts. For a female, this is the time of marriage to a powerful husband and the proclaiming of her dowry; for a male, control of land, money and names-man. (A names-man is anyone from the family who holds the family name or falls under the head or family's control.) This is when most young men travel or start to experiment. Bonding contracts and marriage deals are unusually brought into effect from the male's birthday. At this time, though, a child can choose to forgo the demon countryside and risk the life of a Half Human. This means that in no way can they re-contact their homeland and only family can visit him and not vice versa.

'Dominance' is the fourth stage and happens in the middle of adulthood. By this stage a Half who stayed in the demon kingdom should have done the following: had at least one heir, a respected name/power, partner or wife and a job or income. If they have none of the following, this stage may skip them or take another form. All Halves by this stage would have settled down from 'Power' and started to make a peaceful life. This is the most dangerous stage for a Half as it can cause a Half to have health issues, mental disabilities or even death. In this part of life a Half goes through a 'mid-life crisis'. This can take many forms.

For non-power Halves this takes form as a change of views, friends and trust is usually easily lost in this stage. This may only last for a couple days to a month or two. Low power users experience pain in a middle form and also mistrust. This may take months to one year to desist. High power users, on the other hand, suffer more than any other. Not only do they deal with pain and mistrust, but also an inner demon or turmoil. This can take form of a friend or personal object and the shortest known case of this lasted for three years. A Half may never be the same again after this, suffering nightmares, physical, emotional and mental health problems and often death. There is only one way to postpone, but not stop, the problem. A spell and blood element can stop this for anywhere between a year or two, but may not always work. This problem can only be solved by the person themselves, and they must never receive any help from anyone.

'Passing of Power' is the final stage of life and happens in older age or on a Half's death bed. This is the stage where a Half can give their element power or birth rights to their heir or heirs. The lifespan of a Half is usually between 100-194 years old in this stage, due to them having both demon and human genes. This stage can only take place if a Half is of sound mind and body. A 'pass of power' can take place by thought or by touch when giving birth right blessings. Usually if they are bonded and their partner is still alive, when the Half dies then the other dies in their next sleep period. They will both die with smiling faces and greet each other in the next world, a place of pure element and a view of the world they lived on. There, all deceased meet and if strongly linked, meet the Great One. Their souls can not be taken in this stage due to them having moved almost immediately to the next world.

T his concludes 'Half and Stages'. For more details, look at 'Blood and Thicker Stuff'and 'Magic of a New Kind'. For personal experiences into stages of Half life for a Maoh, read 'Notes: Readers and Memories'

-End of chapter, Back to library-

"Okay, so a Half is somewhat important then? What is element power? The power to blow up a building? Climb a mountain without your hands? Kill an enemy without use of hands? But if that is so, then why do they try and fight with them? Why use swords? Why not just power users? And a 'human stone'; what is that?" Yuuri whispered softly to himself.

He soon became engrossed in the book and looked at the content to see that 'Blood and Thicker Stuff', the chapter mentioned previously, was next.

-Chapter start, Blood and thicker Stuff-

This chapter is all about 'Blood and Thicker Stuff', or put precisely, substances used to strengthen elements or magic using objects or spells. This is anything from words, blood, markings and sacrifices. In this chapter we help people in each aspect, suggest ways to improve usage, and also give examples.

'Words' is the first 'booster' an elemental user can use. 'Words' is the drawing of power towards a person as a verbal focus. This is the easiest focus to learn, but as a counter, it is the weakest. Most, if not all, people use a 'Word' focus. This includes saying it aloud or mentally.

'Blood' is the second 'booster' an elemental can use. This focus is internal. This power usually comes from a power given by 'pass of power' or 'soul bonding'. Both of these mean that the original person is using power not completely belonging to them, so they rely on their blood or internal core. This is a more powerful focus but can easily become chaotic and destructive. With this, a person usually takes the form of another or an older version of themself. This power is usually triggered by a word, phrase or action against the person, family or other individual.

'Markings' is the third type of focus. This is again more dangerous, but also a rarer form of power. A person either carves a person, animal or object with their core power, which is then activated on command or code. This is one of the only powers that doesn't need another person's core to be used and is usually used after death. This power is used as a warning to others or as 'doors' to stop events in the future from happening. This power is usually used by people with the 'Sight'.

'Sacrifice' is the last form of focus a person can use. Not much is known about this form of focus. You may only give up the flesh of your own bone – no-one else's. A person must give up something of their own body (a limb, etc). The limits are that a person must have almost complete strength in order to use this, and there is only a small chance of success. This power has ended more lives than it has saved. This usually gives a person a 'second chance' to change or fix mistakes. Usage, however, can take months to plan.

"Yuuri!" He heard from a voice on the other side of the door, which sounded a lot like Wolfram.

"In here," he said as the door opened and indeed a mop of blood hair came through.

"Where have you been? It is almost twilight – did you spend all day in here?" Wolfram asked. Yuuri heard him mutter 'wimp' under his breath, but chose to not pay attention to it.

"Yes, I did. I don't feel hungry, though, so I must leave you now. I will be going back to my room and have an early night. Good night." With this, Yuuri got up and walked out of the room. He quickly went to his room after feeling 'the eyes' on him again, got changed and got into bed. As soon as his head his pillow, he fell into a fitful sleep.

(Yuuri's POV)

Laughter. That was what I heard when I opened my eyes.

"Hello, sleepy-head! How was your snooze? Come on, the maids set out a picnic for us."

The blond hair again. And… Brown? A small, short brown haired person?

"Hello, Yuuri. How are you today?"

A girl.

After this, the three sat together and ate some food together in a quiet, calm garden.

Beautiful….Lovely….

Horrifying….Traumatic….

Yuuri was again in the dark place where everything just felt wrong. Again, the creepy voice. "I have given you time… Which have you chosen? The friends, or the blur….Which do you choose…."

He again looks at the faces before him. His friends, Fili and Kili, and the blurred, sad face.

The darkness smirks when it hears his answer.

"I choose…"

Thats it. Please review and wait around for another chapter soon. Please tell me in reviews if you want a happy or a sad ending.