My Teacher
Washington State
1:30 AM
The Red Woods
Electrical glory surrounded Eric, who stood staring back at Albert frozen in place. Electricity wriggled around his body and whipped around ravenously like overgrown tendrils, scorching the trees and boulders around them.
"A T-Thunderbird? You're an actual Thunderbird," Albert's eyes shook both in amazement and from fear.
"I know something else Al, I know your mother is a member of the fallen. What I didn't know was the type of relationship you had with her." Eric replied.
"So you suggested I come here for spring break so you just could show off?"
Eric furrowed his brows, "I didn't come here to show off to you, my brother. I knew from the first day I laid eyes on you, what you were because I have the sight like you have the sight. If you're thinking you're the only special one walking around, trust me you're not. Plenty of supernatural and semi-divine beings walk the halls of Pigeon University. Your mother has a history with my people. I wasn't around when she first dropped by, but my ancient ancestors provided her a home, food, comfort, and sparring partners."
Albert thinks he knows where Eric is going with this. "So, what you're saying is you want to be my sparring partner?"
"Not quite. I want to be your teacher, Al. You are an Elioud, one with all the powers and abilities of his mother. I can also see that you possess a second power; one that's your very own. It's hidden very well from you and it's not the white fire covering your arm."
A thought suddenly crossed his head. "What did you mean when you said your ancestors provided my mother with comfort? Do you mean like a place to sleep? She's an angel, a fallen one, and isn't bothered by extreme temperatures nor is she susceptible to sleep or fatigue."
Eric not only saw the white fire burning more intensely around Albert's arm, but now it extended to his shoulders and cloaked his other arm in roiling wheels of flames.
"As I said, I wasn't alive back then. That is something you would have to ask your mother."
"Liar! Did your ancestors have sex with her!" Albert snarled, his normal dark brown eyes changed to burning white embers that whipped around each time he moved his eyes.
The woods and boulders including the ground began to steam and hiss from Albert's anger that turned the area into a steaming cauldron. If this kept up, the entire reservation could go up in flames.
"As I said, that is something you have to talk to your mother about when you're with her. The word for comfort in my language can mean anything from friendship to companionship."
Albert believed him, and his power regressed back to his right arm. Eric undid his fully powered appearance so he could talk to his friend.
"Your power is tied to your emotions, buddy, to how you feel about your mother. That's dangerous, do you know why?"
"I think I already know the answer, but I'd rather hear it from you," Albert told him.
"Look at the white flames on your arm. I mean really look at them. That's more than just for show, more than just a light show. That fire is the physical manifestation of ALL your mother's power mixed in with a large piece of your father's soul that's also mingled with your own. Maybe this explains why you have her power and separate but exclusive power."
"Is that normal?" Albert wanted to know.
"You and I are not normal, but in a good way. Let me explain. When a human has sex with an angel willingly or unwillingly, the angel's power either fuses with the soul of their conceived child or doesn't. If it does, it gives the child access to some or all their angelic parent's powers. In the scenario where the child's soul does not take to the powers of their divine parent, it lives on like a normal human. As normal as can be expected of course. But your mother seemed to take a piece of your father's soul and mixed it with her own power. She didn't have to do this, but she did out of love for your father and for the new life they made together." A tear rolled down Eric's cheek.
Through Eric's eyes, he saw a smoky version of Lisa and Albert's father embracing each other. The invisible smoke exuded from his burning arm.
"Eric, are you okay? You're crying."
Eric blinked, snapping himself out of his trance. He wiped the tear away from his face and refocused on the task at hand. "You have a wonderful mother, Al. Do you know why I say that? Because she unknowingly gifted you with more power out of love for the two most important men in her life." Eric said smiling warmly at him.
Albert felt himself getting emotional. The fire in his arm dimmed.
"Albert, the higher the angel is or was in the celestial hierarchy, the brighter and hotter their power burns. To us, it may look like white fire, but not all of it is white. There's also something else you must know. You were born into a world where supernatural creatures, no matter how innocent and harmless, are no longer tolerated by Heaven. The Nephilim and Eliouds are not the only ones being hunted and destroyed. Everything from the small earth Gnome to giant Thunderbirds like myself is being targeted by the host of Heaven."
"My mother was talking to Indigo and me about the same thing you're telling me before we got here."
"Because supernatural creatures and races of myths and legend were all creations of The Nephilim and the fallen watchers. My tribe affiliates with more than just your mother; this is a sanctuary and refuge for all non-human races. Sooner or later, we're all going to have to start fighting back and taking a stand and proclaiming that our existence is not a threat to anyone."
A fire stoked inside Albert's chest, and he wanted to do everything he could to be a part of this movement. "You said you were my teacher, right Eric? Well, I'm ready to learn how to use my powers."
"Then the first lesson will be learning to tap into your power without relying on your emotions to trigger it or needing to beg it to come to you."
Albert looked spooked. How on Earth did Eric know he did either of those things to call on his power. Eric smirked and spoke.
"If you're wondering how I know that you beg your power to surface, it's because I had the same problem too. It's not going to be easy, but when I finish with you, you will be able to tap into your mother's power as easily as breathing. As for your other hidden power, I may need more time to help you with that. With the power you have now, I want you to try and pin me down to the ground. Think you can do that?"
"Why?"
"This will help me gauge how much power you currently have, how much you're using correctly, and how much you're not."
"I've never been in a fight before, Eric; I'm not even sure how to start" There was a tinge of fear in Albert's voice.
"I know how to start, so watch closely, Albert!" Eric brought his opened hands together.
Electrical bands snapped and wriggled wildly. A dark blue aura with waves of electricity cloaked his entire body once more
"Lightning Artistry: Lightning Spikes!" Eric shouted. Large spears made of electricity popped into shape in his hands. "I suggest you run and hide Albert!"
Albert did neither and focused on his own power. Erick smirked arrogantly and launched his spears at him.
Although only his arm burned with power, it was enough for Albert to see the spears coming towards him in slow motion. With his hand, he slapped two of them away, but the others came in faster and harder. He ran to the side, avoiding the other spears. Explosions rocked the area; dirt, rocks, and pieces of trees rained down on them.
"What was that?" Albert asked, referring to the attack just now.
"It's called Artistry; it's a refined utilization of my elemental power to execute my abilities more productively while maximizing power output. Most beings with elemental powers that have never learned to refine their power go around blasting enemies with all their power, expending an excessive amount of energy needlessly. When one learns to refine their power exactly how they want, they create a list of elemental Artistry they can use at their disposal. Enough talk, try to pin me down, Albert!"
Albert, in a panic, rushed to find cover. How on Earth was he supposed to pin Eric down?
Even if he knew how to utilize his power correctly, that didn't mean he would master on a 1, 2, 3 count. Eric fired electrical spears that landed close to Albert.
Trees fell and boulders were blasted to smithereens. Albert ran and evaded brightly glowing electric spears that missed him by a hair length.
He tried jumping out into view, pointed his burning hands in Eric's direction, and pretended to shoot fireballs of energy at Eric, but to no avail. Eric's spears found their marks directly on Albert's palm that canceled each other when both points met. That didn't matter as Eric kept firing, and the longer he did, the more Albert felt his power leave him. He gained nothing by simply blocking Eric's attacks. His arm was beginning to tremble from pain and the shockwaves filling the woods from their friendly bout.
"Something has to work, something has too—" Albert heard an internal voice from within himself.
"Imagine the fire burning you and then cloaking you. Let it burn you, but don't let it consume you. This method is how you will be able to tame your power for now."
