"Since the earliest period of our life was preverbal, everything depended on emotional interaction. Without someone to reflect our emotions, we had no way of knowing who we were."
― John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame that Binds You

Chapter 8: Adapting

"How was your first day?". Dusan sat on a chair facing the mirror with Vander on the other end looking at him.

"There are lots of peculiar people. Most of them have attributes that I have no explanation of". Vander held the mirror while lying on his bed talking. The mirror he held allows him to communicate towards the king back to the palace.

"So no trouble, then.". Dusan said with confidence. "I expect you to fully shine towards the time in Avalile. No matter what they're going to say about you not being my own blood should not perturb you".

"Yes, father", answered Vander

"Drill in your mind that you're my son, and take all the lessons that you've learned in your heart. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do not waste it". The connection cut off after Dusan was done with his statement. It was his first day. Adding to it are the unexpected turns in his life, like meeting a mysterious person who has an air of peculiarity and another one a murderer. While some women fawned over him, he paid no mind on this as his mind were filled with questions of who he is, but decided to follow the commands of his foster father.

He knows that at the back of his mind that not at all times he's protected, and he'll be forced to kill an individual in cold blood. The world is not a safe place, and Vander knew that only his very self could help his own.

'You're on your own'. Many would say those things and he knew it was the fact. The strong don't give pity to the weak. The strong live and the weak die. Those were the words that Acnologia drilled into his skull.

'I'm not like you. I'll prove to you that there is nothing wrong with trusting a dragon'. Closing his eyes, he fell into a dreamless sleep.

His nose can pick up scents even in vast distances, but Zeus's scent was not tasted by his nostrils. He walked aimlessly, wanting to find the young boy that he took under his wing. He's determined to find the mystery of the one he named Zeus. For a long time, those who caught sight of him would feel fear and flee from his presence. Only one person, who didn't attempt to fight back, smiled on him, embraced him, and called him someone precious, was Zeus. He knew that there's something wrong with that creature. The time he attacked Zeus and the latter just vanishing without a trace eludes him. He can't even sense his magic power. It's as if he never existed.

These several days, he didn't transform into a dragon. He took it upon himself to suppress his magic power. If he didn't, people will recognize as the Dragon King, Acnologia, and he doesn't want that attention for now. For the first time in 400 years, he was among the crowds of people, inhaling every scent he could. This is unusual for his character, as he's nothing but a wandering recluse, only fueled by the desire of annihilating all dragons and waiting for the right time has kept him from living. People looked on him as he walked, going to the sides to avoid crossing his path. A scowl on his face and an air of superiority clothed him despite his garments are tattered and out of date. He was brought back to his senses when a girl bumped him. The girl fell down with her bottom on the ground as Acnologia looked on at her with an impassive expression adorning his features.

"I'm sorry", the girl said as she stood up apologizing to the Dragon King.

Something about the girl brought a sense of nostalgia into Acnologia. Her scent, her appearance, reminds him of someone from 400 years ago.

'Impossible. How can she be alive?'. His eyes narrowed as he inspected the girl in front of him. The girl, unaware of this, walked past Acnologia and disappeared into the crowd.

'That little girl…' Recalling the event that happened 400 years in the past, it made him wonder if the girl he bumped on just now was the same girl or just a descendant or nothing but some coincidence, he shrugged this event as he continued to walk, eventually forgetting what happened.

"Stellanium for sale. Sir, you want some Stellanium? Prices are extremely low". A man called out to Acnologia to which the Dragon King ignored. The man blocked out Acnologia's path as he ran towards him, offering the Stellanium he sells.

"Get lost. I have no business with you". He shoved the man as he walked aimlessly, desperate to find clues as to Zeus's whereabouts. He came into this kingdom in his dragon form but landed in a desolate area to avoid anyone from seeing him. He has to lay low for now, as he wanted to know Zeus's mysteries without Zeus's knowledge.

It's morning, and it's break time. Alone and filled with boredom, Vander practiced his acting skills such as by crying at will. He found this to be surprisingly easy after many tries. All it needs is only to be in character of the one you wish to portray. Wiping the false tears onto his sleeves, he spread his arms, enjoying the cool breeze on his surroundings. He began dancing gracefully, reminiscent of those skaters in ice, holding his sword on his left hand. Tiptoes, spins and glorious hops adorned his entire form as he employed an unorthodox style of swordplay which is useful in combat.

"Persistence brings harvest, which is what they say".

Vander stopped on his tracks as he looked on towards the pale skinned man in his presence. The same man that bumped him several days prior, Momoshiki Otsustsuki.

This man is a murderer, has no remorse. According to Professor Darkus, this man, Momoshiki, ruthlessly consumed his own father in cold blood just for the sake of power. The alablaster skinned man is now crossing his arms, looking at him with amusement.

"Your presence in this kingdom is alarming. I don't want you around here".

"Likewise", Momoshiki replied.

"Our kingdom has done nothing against you, and you attacked this place I call home. I don't understand why they even let you live". Vander glared at him dangerously, putting up a guard just in case the other attacks him.

"For power. You vulgar creatures will never understand". Momoshiki walked towards him then stopping at a certain distance, now face to face.

"You call us vulgar when the deed that you've done is more vulgar. Consuming your own father for the sake of power makes me sick". This statement caused Momoshiki to laugh.

"Father you say?". Momoshiki's mouth is adorned with a maniacal grin. "He's no father of mine. Kinshiki is nothing but a retainer, acting only as a parental figure worthy of passing on his power towards the next generation".

"It's still the same", Vander insisted. "I know nothing of you but you disgust me. You're a monster".

"I've been called that many times. You don't have to drill it".

"What makes you come at my location?", Vander asks. His voice laced with venom directed towards the Otsutsuki.

"I was merely passing by, but fortune came upon me as I saw you persist on something. And now, I finally talk to you directly. You're an interesting creature, possessing chakra which is unusual".

"I don't know what chakra is, and if you have nothing important to say, leave!". Momoshiki just grinned and he activated his Byakugan. This grin is short lived as he saw an unexpected sight.

"What are you?". The confidence in Momoshiki's voice disappeared and was replaced with a threatening tone as he eyed the other with an intense glare. With his Byakugan, he saw Vander's composition. His chakra are purplish black, and lies dormant while Vander's magic power flows freely and is extremely chaotic. There are a multitude of colors on his magic and Momoshiki sensed that Vander's chakra is cold, dark and filled with void. Two forms of energy inhabit the other's body, magic and chakra but aren't interlacing with each other. He also saw Vander's left eye, glittering gold for a moment then returning to purple.

'His eyes display his anatomy. His purple eye is the side effect of his chakra, and the golden eye is a result of his magic power. I believe that in due time, his magic will expand further, causing his left to be permanently golden'.

"You're not human", Momoshiki added.

Vander's expression is replaced with a sudden shock as this man deduced what he is. But with the tense atmosphere, he kept his cool and decided to stay silent, observing the other man.

"You, too, as well".

"You're different. Most beings comprise of blood and vessels but you on the other hand, I see none of it".

"Leave me alone!", Vander yelled.

"We're not done yet, abomination". Momoshiki flew above, his entire form vanishing from view. Vander knew of this and clenched his fists, uncertain of what to do. To calm his thoughts, he sat on the ground, closed his eyes and meditated, which lasted for half an hour, before deciding to go back to the classroom taking up Potions' Class.

~!~!~!~!~

"Mix a ¼ cup of rosewater into 3 quarters of pixie dust and 8 fallen dragon scales. Boil them into full consistency until a green smoke rises into the air". Professor Lania demonstrated the deed which left the students in awe.

"What are the effects of that potion?", a student asked.

"This potion, when imbibed, allows one to acquire greater strength than that of an average human, though this will only last for 2 hours".

"At least, that would be enough when it comes in a fight", the student said in contentment.

"Indeed. Now, I want all of you to do exactly as what I did. Mix the ingredients, and the incantation to complete the potion is written in your potions' book. This is your first time so mistakes are welcome. We learn from mistakes, that's what human nature is. You may now begin".

Students each have their own dragon scales. The others picked it from the sleeping dragon in the school garden whilst the others went to the den of dragons to collect fallen scales. Vander, on the other hand, bought dragon scales at the market costing 30 Xoia for 5 dragon scales. He bought 150 Xoia worth of dragon scales for future use. The other students got their potions right as a green fume rose up of their mixed consistency, filling the air with smoke.

"Ashaya namam lebidra". Finishing his incantations, a green smoke rose up of Vander's concoction, leaving an aroma of fresh roses.

"All in all, I call today a success. All you students are fast learners. Applaud yourselves with a clap". The students smiled at their little achievement, having created their first potion.

"Before you leave the classroom, make sure to clean all your mess and return the equipment you have borrowed in their proper place".

"Yes, ma'am". Students chorused and they cleaned up the mess that they've made.

Wiping rosewater stains, collecting remaining dragon scales, were immediately done by the students. Some used magic to hasten the process. They cleaned their mess quick enough that students rushed to get out of the classroom and go on towards their next class, Summoning Creatures. Everyone is excited to any summoned creature they would acquire.

"I've heard that on the first day of our Summoning Class, the professor makes the Choosing Ritual". Murmurs filled the air as Vander intentionally listened.

"In this ritual, you gather up an offering and it must be of the highest quality".

"What kind of offerings?"

"Food is preferable and should be the finest kind. If possible I wanted a dragon one".

"In your dreams. Dragons don't want to be familiars as they become bound to us, their master. Most animals that become our familiars are cats, snakes, rats, owls and rabbits. Last year, my sister received a pig. She got so hungry that she ate the offering for the familiar and in return she got a pig".

"That's epic!".

As the Vander's classmates talked about getting familiars, he couldn't help but wish that he has a dragon companion.

Hey guys, it might get confusing on you but for now, Vander's eyes are both purple. Overtime, Vander's left eye will become permanently gold as a testament to Naruto's and Ankhseram's residual magic power that born him. When Vander uses his take over to transform to other forms, his eyes remain heterochromic, purple on the right and gold on the left. Compare it to Mirajane. When Mirajane uses Take Over, her ponytail still remains no matter what the form, even in Take Over: Mirajane Seilah.

Vander isn't Ankhseram and not Naruto. He is a whole new being born from the fusion of the two. For Ankhseram to prolong his existence and power, he poured all of his remaining divine essence into the mortal Naruto Uzumaki, seeing him as an ideal candidate for his power. From the blending of multiple energies, chakra and magic, while Naruto's body became permanently destroyed, Ankhseram's consciousness became Vander's memories of the past, his form becoming a part of Vander's own Take Over. This resulted with Ankhseram and Naruto being reborn into a single individual, a completely separate being from the two. Seeing that Naruto is human, Vander is for now a demigod. In the later part of the story, he'll become a full fledged god the more he uses his magic. Questions about the Kyuubi will be answered later, and the Kyuubi isn't destroyed. He's merely slumbering inside Vander, dormant like Vander's chakra.

How did Naruto go to Earthland? I'll explain it. When Naruto 'died', he awakened his magic, though he used this unconsciously. The Ethernano in Naruto's world is referred to as Nature Energy and they use it to enter Sage Mode but that doesn't mean it becomes magic. The Ethernano converts into chakra as these sages don't have magic containers, a place where Ethernano gathers and refills the space in case a person runs out of magic.

Chakra is created when two other forms of energy, known collectively as one's "stamina", are moulded together. Physical energy is collected from each and every one of the body's cells and can be increased through training, stimulants, and exercise. Spiritual energy is derived from the mind's consciousness and can be increased through studying, meditation, and experience. These two energies becoming more powerful will in turn make the created chakra more powerful. Therefore, practising a technique repeatedly will build up experience, increasing one's spiritual energy, and thus allowing more chakra to be created. As a result, the ninja is able to do that same technique with more power. This same cycle applies for physical energy, except the ninja needs to increase their endurance instead.

Magic is the physical embodiment of the spirit. When the physical spirit of an organism connects with the spiritual flow of nature, the spirit forms Magic as a product of the connection. Only ten percent of the world's population is able to use Magic, which is noted to keep a balance between ordinary people and those with Magic. It takes an enormous amount of concentration and mental ability to use Magic.

I said the comparisons between the two, so in this case, people in Earthland don't use chakra but they are capable of it. In Naruto's world, they can't use magic as their bodies weren't born with magic containers. They can't manipulate their spirits to bring it into physical form, and so connect their inner spiritual and physical energies, to which chakra is formed. They aren't even aware of the existence of magic. Only 1 in a billion people in the Elemental Nations are born with a magic container, in which case is Naruto. He awakened the potential of using it due to extreme circumstances, emotional trauma and damage to the head. Emotions play a large part in magic power awakening and that explains it.