This was... a blast to write. Sorry for the delay, life got in the way but not forever. I am good people.
Anyway this is a great start for thsi arc and I am so proud of it.
Love you all.
How long should his training with Lupa last? I am not sure myself... I am thinking three chapters ish... sound good?
Without hesitation, Aaron threw himself to the side, grabbing Lyida along with him, the moment his wards alerted him to the attack of a potent mystical creature. Summoning his blade, grateful for the armor of his hoodie, he slashed out and carved a nice path along the side of a wolf making it whimper and rush off into the larger pack. He saw many wolves finally up front, each a different shade of grey or red, all were abnormally powerful, large and beautiful with Lupa being the top dog ( literally as it were) in all feilds. She radiated even greater magic in the Light of Day, oozing the mysticism of nature, agression and femininity. She was all a warrior should be, in the form of a wolf... somehow that made entire sense to Aaron.
"A different form today, I am honored, My Lady." Lupa was sheer slate grey, with silvery threads throughout her fur coat. She was at least seven feet tall and her eyes were the same color as Artemis'.
The wolf, to his shock, seemed to laugh at him. "Flattery will get you nowhere, but I do appreciate it none the less. We have much to do today, but first know this. You will always rise at dawn, ready to fight for your life. If you fail to do so, you may end up my dinner instead of my cub."
Sensing her honesty, a useful trick of Divination magic that he actually somehow got despite lacking the talent in general, he shuddered. "I fully understand... so where do we start?"
"I wish to assess your physical proweress and skills, but before that I will be educating you on the Past of Rome as well as on some particular subjects. Normally I would not do this, but for your saftey and to preserve the secrecy between Greece and Rome, it is vital you are aware of certian things. A prime example is this, Minerva cannot have children but Athena can. My Roman children would lose their minds to learn the truth of Athena's slackness towards her oath of madienhood, which was utterly sacred to the Romans. Expecting to see Divine children and legacies of Minerva could very well prompt unwanted and ill advised questions, hence my warning."
He nodded. "That makes sense, to be honest I could easily have seen that being an issue. Thank you...What else is there? I know Mars is especially powerful and revered... what about the Big Three? Those are some beings I should be aware of."
She sighed. "With the exception of Jupiter, the Big Three are feared and hated even. The Romans were not sea fearing and they had a particular fear of death, and so they imagined Pluto more being associated with Riches and the Earth the death and Neptune more with Fresh water and Horses."
"So they are not as respected as they should be, and thus are perfect beings to get the focus and attention of." He enjoyed the shocked look on her face. "The gods are using me, they use everyone, why not use them back? It sounds disrespectful but is that not what an alliance is? Two or more beings taking advantage of each other and their collective resources."
Lupa's shock turned into amused laughter, that sounded more like wheezing. "I like your thinking, reminds me of the Roman Emperors of the past... now... enough talk, it is time for combat training. Do not aim to kill, but fight my wolves as if your life depends on it, which is does. No magic, I want to see what you are capable of, sans magic."
"Before that, can I ask one thing... what is the point of this place? I can feel it's magic but I cannot identify everything about it."
Lupa nodded. "A good question, one I will allow. This is the starting place, where Romans test themselves until they can be proven worthy. This is the place where our roots start, where we learn to grow into what we are capable of. This is the modern location of the place I found Romulus and Remus."
"I see..." He fell into a stance, and put Lydia down. To his delight the little girl growled at Lupa before running and hiding. He could feel her, the wards on her collar helped like that. "Let's get started."
Immediatley he ducked as a wolf soared overhead, snarling and slathering him with drool. He slashed as it's legs as it landed, making it whimper in pain before kicking it so hard in the rump it slammed face first into the ground. Two more wolves challenged him, rushing at him wildly... too wildly given their intelligence. That they were testing him was clear to him, he knew enough about wolves from reading up on Lydia's species to know they were intelligent pack hunters. This was sloppy,too sloppy.
Bashing one hard in the face with his shield, summoning it in the nick of time to get maximum damage, he dodged razor sharp fangs and kicked the other hard in the jaw. Grabbing the first by it's scruff, he used his superior strength and size to spin it around and toss it back at Lupa's feet. As he turned, he punched the last in the face, cracking it's jaws loudly and making it retreat. To his shame, he was already tired and huffing. Stamina had always and would always be his weakness, especially without his enchanted Golden Fleece Bracelet. Without it's constant influx of natural magic, he simply lacked in Stamina making this trial one of particular difficulty.
If it went on for more then, say fifteen minutes, he would be deeply screwed... Fifteen minutes was the max he could go at full speed. He was only human and still very young... no matter how well trained he was, there was a limit to his power.
"""
As it turned out, the trial went on for two hours and with the passing of each... ten or so minutes, he recieved a new wound be it a bite, scratch or bruise. Still, to his pride, he managed to hold his own for a while and even doled out some serious injuries to the various wolves. Eventually he collasped to his knees, heaving and dry wheezing. "I am at my limit..."
Lupa huffed. "You did well. Never forget your limitations, I see many legacies and I have seen many clear sighted mortals fight for Rome in my time. Two hours fighting my wolves, even with your enchanted hoodie, is still an accomplishment. It is clear you have trained harder then most can imagine, dedicated yourself to power and skill. I respect that, it will take you far among my children... this place radiates the Earth's power, drink deep of it and repair yourself. I know you are at least familar with the base of this skill, I was informed your Stepbrother is a Son of Posiden. Like him, you can draw from the well Spring of Terra's essence and repair yourself, not unlike the Golden Fleece Talisman I am told you created."
Eyes wide, he fell back onto his butt. " I knew it strengthened me and helped my healing, but I can use it to actually heal full time?
"Yes, it is an advanced application of a simple skill. One I expect you to never forget... now, breathe and allow the Earth's majesty to heal your wounds."
Closing his eyes, feeling Lydia reapproach him and curl into his lap, he did as Lupa ordered. He reached deep into the Earth and envisioned a green light radiating up through him, allowing him to heal. He saw, in his mind's eye, his body healing like Percy's would in water. He imagined it so, and since that was half of magic... he felt it happen. His breathing steadied, his pounding headache faded, his tense muscles soothed... his many cuts and bruises started to heal.
He let out a long sigh, expelling pain and exhaustion and taking in comfort and ease.
After what had to be ten minutes, he opened his eyes. "Wow... that was amazing. I just... I can't beleive I never thought to do that!"
"Never forget, the power you tapped into is a part of the roottap of Rome. Not every place will you have such ease drawing on the Earth's majesty. You just experienced a tiny fragment of what it means to a nymph or a god, imagine what that feels like all the time."
"I can scarcely imagine... so what's next?"
"Story time. I will tell you of the founding of Rome, at the hands of my first Children, Romulus and Remus. However we must depart, I will tell you this story on the run."
Her story would last for hours, as he walked and pet Lydia's belly in his arms. Lupa's pride, love and adoration for her past children shined through in every word, growl and expression she had as she told the story. It was actually very sweet and filled him with hope that one day, she would remember him with a trace of that same love...
That anyone would.
"""
"Good girl Lydia... now fetch!" He threw the stick, and watched as the noble wolf girl rushed to the stick he threw with her tail a wagging. She grabbed it and marched back smuggly. "Good girl... now... Hi five!" He held out his hand and the proud girl smacked his palm, showing just how advanced she already was. "Good girl..." he rubbed her ears, making her sigh into him. "Soon you will be ripping apart our enemies in no time."
"I hope so father, it is embarassing to be saved by you every time." Pausing, he looked at her in shock, she laughed at him in his head. Her voice was loud, gravely and agressive but filled with adoration."I was blessed by Lady Artemis to be your familar, you usually have to perform a ritual to make us bound but she bound us for you. Our minds and souls are linked together, your human intelligence makes easier my ability to speak the human tongue and your connection to me makes shapeshifting easier for you as it allows you to tap into your animalistic side."
"Wow... your smart too, I guess I lucked out didn't I?" He kissed her cute little snout. "Your my clever girl, aren't you Lydia... and you call me Father? I like that."
She laughed again and licked his face a few times. "You are my father, and I am your daughter, your familar. I will be with you until Godhood and beyond."
"Godhood? Thinking a bit far ahead, I have little chance of being offered such a thing."
"Your power has already expanded your lifeforce, you will live for much longer then a normal human. You will become immortal if a few years on your own. Godhood is not far ahead of that. Artemis placed that in my mind, I am not sure why but I am certain she means for you to become a God one day."
"Presumptious, becareful who you say that too... but I appreciate the idea... "
Lupa, who had been sitting with her various wolves, approached him from their campsight. "Your daughter is right, immortality may be the next step in your journey, you should be prepared for the possibility of that... now, if I were you, I would practice turing into a pigeon. I know you are capable of that. It would be best to master it over the next few weeks. A useful skill that..."
Sighing, he nodded and turned back to Lydia. "You'll watch over me as I mediate, won't you litte one?"
She nodded and tried to look as big as Lupa. "Anyone that interferes will feel my fangs!"
He barely hid his smirk, as did Lupa when he turned to look at her. "Fearsome, no?"
"Very, I am almost shaking in my fur."
Sitting down, he closed his eyes and allowed the flow of magic around him and within him to match his heartbeat. With each breathe, he focused on the feeling of being a pigeon. The way it felt, how his senses changed, the way his skin itched as he turned... He said no words, confident that he did not need them... and slowly, he felt his body turn into liquid, then energy, then finally into a pigeon.
Lyida, was bigger then he was now and she licked him with her massive tongue. "Father, you did it! In mere moments too and without a spell! Now try to fly! You need to learn to tap onto your instincts, which humans are poor at... try and fly!"
Groaning internally, Aaron flapped his wings and managed to get about an inch off the ground before collasping face first into the ground. Lifting himself up, he spat out the dirt, ignoring Lydia and Lupa who were laughing like Hyena's in his head...
"Dumb dogs, the both of you...' He groaned, before tryng again... and failing harder. 'Ugh... this will take a while, won't it."
Lupa's only answer was more laughter... the bitch.
'''
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was so much fun to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.