Izael's Training and Seth's True Form

Lent watched the two, a bit confused, and leaned over to Lessa. "He told me of the weapon, that the ancients procured twin guardians for it...Gadorian has the same right to the sword as Izael, and he is much more skilled with it. Why does he not take the sword for his own?" Lessa cocked her head towards Lent, "For one who has served vampires his whole life, you ask us strange questions. Gadorian is burdened by his guilt, and feels unworthy to take the blade from Izael unless it be entirely necessary. Besides, Gadorian is a vampire many millennia old and in his unique creation was blessed by many of the most powerful ancients; Izael is a boy who has seen fewer battles than he has years. Were anything to happen, Izael would need it much more."
Gadorian looked back at Izael, his brother in a way, yet still unable to master the blade. If he couldn't learn to wade with such guidance…Gadorian would have to throw him into the deep and force him to swim. He hoped the boy would understand. Gadorian lifted Izael into the air and held him floating over the balcony, floating precariously close to the edge. His telekinetic coils then began to wrap through the boy's body, hindering his lungs more and more with each passing moment. "Break free!" Gadorian screamed. Izael replied at first with only gasps and clawing at his throat. "Break...free!"
Izael tried to flail his arms and legs, but to no avail. His consciousness was starting to fail, and he feared he would die here and now if he could not get another breath. Gadorian saw the desperation in his eyes, but held fast. Finally, Izael reached for the sword. At first, nothing happened, but as Izael's will became more desperate with each passing moment, it was able to awaken the blade. An ethereal white glow began to creep its way up from the hilt; at first barely noticeable, but soon gaining speed so that it seemed to consume the edge as a fire does dried crops. In another moment the sword emitted an explosion of light accompanied by a chilling, yet eerily beautiful, tone. When the flash expired, Izael stood on the balcony, his entire body consumed with the same flame that danced on the sword.

Lessa was holstering Seth when Admar walked into the large chamber where she had housed her demon Horse. "Ready to go, Admar?" Lessa asked, turning. "Yes, but my master said he would take me." "That's ok, but I still need to feed him so I...Admar, what aren't you telling me?" Lessa demanded, seeing Admar's eyes dart around. "I don't know if I should tell you but it will be suicide if he goes...Mistress he's going to the Pillars," Admar replied, looking desperately at Lessa, pleading with her to do something. Lessa laughed and murmured to herself, "Just like Vorador said, it will be the death of him." Then, seeing Admar's puzzled look, she said more loudly, "Don't worry, Admar. I will follow him at a distance. I will not be able to dissuade him from going if I remember him right, but it is my turn to make sure no harm comes to him. He is needed...I am not. My purpose died with Vorador. With that, Lessa jumped on Seth, and spurred him on. He ran to the balcony and, to Admar's surprise and horror, he jumped. "There's water down there," he thought in horror, but when he looked over the balcony he could see Lessa safely astride Seth, who was running over the water. "She has more skill than I could have imagined for one so young," he thought, and with that he returned to his master.

Novanus had seen the dramatic events that had occurred on the balcony. He walked over to Lent and whispered, "Gadorian and Izael do put on a good show, don't they?" Lent looked at Novanus and raised an eyebrow. "You don't agree?" said Novanus in a sarcastic manner. Gadorian looked at Novanus and instantly it was obvious that he knew of the other Vampire's injury. Novanus smiled, "Well done, my old friend. He has made his first step. And I sense a spirit arising within Izael. He will soon be ready." Admar walked over to Novanus. "Master," he said, "we must go." Novanus stood and nodded, smiling. He gently lifted Admar into his arms and walked to the balcony. Novanus had seen Lessa's dramatic jump over the balcony, and had decided that he would be damned if he was to allow that young one to upstage him! He stood on the balcony and walked upon his telekinetic floor out towards the city. He then removed his projection and levitated off. Lessa waited not far from the Temple. Novanus quickly reached her and the three rode off towards the city. Meanwhile Izael gasped fresh air into his lungs as the white flames quietly died down. "What on earth...How could I...Ah, never mind. I'm ready for another go!"

Lessa walked down the dark tree lined path beside Admar and Novanus. She had let Seth go off to feed, and every now and then a scream could be heard as Seth dispatched another wild boar. "He's quiet, you only know he's got one when they scream," said Admar, walking between her and Novanus. "He's quiet when he wants to be," replied Lessa. "So Vorador sired you, what were you, one of his brides?" Lessa laughed, "No, more daughter than anything." "What do you mean? What were you before?" Lessa sighed before answering, "I was the child of a wealthy family from Coorhagen. They were servants of Vorador, not unlike you. Bring food and things. Vorador had always liked me and would have made me a vampire but my father said when I had grown. One night the villagers broke in and started killing everyone inside. They had finally figured out that it was my father taking their families to Vorador. My father grabbed me and ran, but he was surrounded and they cut him down. With his last breath he called Vorador, who came and dispatched most of the mob. My father asked him to look after me until I became a woman, then embrace me. So Vorador was my father for thirteen years. He taught me how to fight and read and many other things like magic. Then when I turned eighteen he embraced me as his Vampire daughter. I served him for years, in that time I met Novanus and Kain. When the Sarafan purge began he put me in my birth-father's crypt and summoned Seth to serve me and protect me while I slept and even after I awoke."
Suddenly a sound from behind made Admar jump, he turned to find Seth walking behind them. Admar sighed in relief and said, "By the Pillars, he made me jump," as he held his chest. "Lessa, I know Seth looks like a real horse to me, but what does he really look like?" "You really want to see?" "Yes." "Ok Admar, but don't say I didn't warn you." Then to Seth she commanded, "Show him."
The horse's image began to blur. The black mane was no longer black, but aflame, as was his tail now. The head was not of a horse but of a reptile, shaped like that of a dragon. The teeth protruded down from the top jaw in large fangs. He was truly a demon. "Arhh, ok, I like him the other way," said a stunned Admar. With a laugh, Lessa remounted Seth and put her hand down to haul Admar up. Reluctantly he agreed, wanting to give his master a rest. Together they carried on to the city.

Lent knelt in the main hall occupying himself by carving symbols on a stone chalice that he made earlier. Although his concentration was on the magic symbols he was carving on the stone, he still let his mind drift enough to start singing a hymn his mother taught him. Lent quietly sang to himself in the ancient language while carefully working. Gadorian knew the song, and started to sing it with him. Lent looked up from his work at Gadorian, they both smiled and kept singing the song. Izael watched, no doubt with a feeling of being left out.
"That's a pretty song, but it sounds sad," Izael said. "It's a song in the language of the ancients," said Lent. "It tells the story of the victory over the demons, the curse of the vampires, and how no one wins in a true war. My mother use to sing it to me as a nursery rhyme to help me sleep. I haven't sung that song in years." Lent took a moment to blow the dust off of the chalice.
"I didn't know you knew magic, Lent. I haven't seen one of those in years." Gadorian said. "Not since the time of Vorador." "I don't know much magic, just a few spells to aid my master, and the ones I keep for him." Lent continued to work. "What is that?" Izael asked. "It's a blood chalice," Gadorian responded. "The chalice is blessed with a magic seal that heals it when it's broken. When a vampire drinks the blood inside of it, the chalice breaks, and then heals itself." "During the healing process, the stone bleeds and fills the chalice again," added Lent. "So vampires don't have to kill humans to survive with these chalices?" asked Izael. "No, a vampire can make them, it's part of a sacred treaty between man and vampire." Lent pointed to the symbol he was just carving. "Serioli." Izael recognized it as the main symbol of his sword. "Well, if you'll excuse me," Lent said while standing up. "I've got to put this in its place." "Not for us?" Gadorian asked. Lent motioned to Gadorian's feet. The vampire looked down to see one already there; by the time he looked up Lent had left for the crypt.