Time flew by as Eli continued to drink the ales served to him, one after the other. He wasn't a drinker, not that he'd think Sasha would let him be. But she had said it was alright for this night since it was his birthday. And since Aeros' last statement, it became a little easier with each empty mug to forget what he was reminded of.
"N-*hiccup*noooooo, I said I could totallllly outdrink you," Ella slurred as she slammed down her mug.
"You're a light weiiighht," Sasha laughed, taking a bottle of liquor and slamming the thing in one go.
Eli watched, his head swimming, as the two women were cheered on by other patrons of the bar as they continued their drinking contest.
This certainly wasn't the first time Eli had seen something like this, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last. They would always try to outdrink the other, only for the both of them to pass out at the same time every time. It was like clockwork.
"Hey there Eli, sorry I'm late," Helen said as she appeared in front of Eli on the opposite side of the bar. "Hey Aunt Helen," Eli smiled, clearly feeling the ale at this point. "Sasha let you drink tonight, huh?" Helen said with a raised brow.
"Yep, said it's alllll goood."
"Well, if she's fine it, so am I. Happy birthday by the way." Helen smiled as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the wood below. Helen, blue skinned woman with long black hair, owned the bar along with her husband Michael, an Orc.
While she obviously wasn't Eli's aunt, most of the younger people around the area tended to call her that, due to the fact she was always a very caring woman. At least if you were young and not a troublemaker. Those who caused problems however got to unfortunately see why she was referred to as 'the mad woman' whenever things got heated.
"Thanks Aunt Helen," Eli smiled once again, taking another treat from Serene's handbasket.
Helen grinned at the young man as he happily ate his present. She had seen Serene vigorously work day and night the last week trying to perfect her gift for the boy who was too naive to see the obvious crush the vampire had for him.
Helen sighed internally, cursing Serene for making her swear to not speak a word of it to him.
Deciding to move past it, Helen asked, "Where's the rest of the group? I saw Aeros outside, and it's a bit hard to miss those two." She pointed to the recently passed out Ella and Sasha. "What about Oboros, Trish, and Lori?"
Hiccuping, Eli shrugged, "Dunno, haven't seen them since yesterday. Didn't say why."
Helen hummed to herself, thinking it a bit odd but pushed it aside.
"I gotta go talk to Aeros," Eli said, putting down his mug and standing up, stumbling slightly. "Woah there kid, careful now," Helen giggled. Giving her a wave, Eli made his way through the warm tavern and back into the cool night air.
Standing a few yards ahead and to the side, Eli could make out the gigantic shape of Aeros staring into the night. "You wanted to talk to me," Eli said as he struggled to sit down on the edge of the wooden porch.
"Yes." Aeros said solemnly, taking another drink from his nearly empty bottle. "It's about you, Eli."
"What about me?"
"Tell me, do you think those things, are still here? In this world, I mean."
A sense of unease washed over Eli as memories flooded his mind, before all disappearing at once.
"If they aren't, they'll come back." Eli's slur was gone, and his boyish voice was now cold as he too stared into the darkness.
"And how much of a threat do you think they could be to this land?"
"They could destroy everything. You saw what they left behind. You and everyone else there that day. What those things did, the atrocities that they committed with no remorse. With no hesitation. Full of hate. Full of malice."
Eli's right eye felt like lava was behind it, and his skin beneath the clothing burned.
"Yes boy, what I saw that day could not even reflect the things you must have endured. But you did," Aeros said softly, yet still confident. "You are strong, child. You have taken mine and everyone else's training very well and serious over the years. You've grown, and you still have much to learn."
Aeros looked down at Eli, temporarily seeing the child as he first did. Pale, deathly frail, scarred, and barely clinging to life. The boy was mute then. Not a word nor tear. Just standing there amongst bodies and scenes so visceral, even a man of Aeros' standing still feels sickened by what he saw.
Now, a young man sat before him. Full of life and vigor. Strong, yet kind. Healthy and talking. Though he chooses to cover one eye, his other eye remained visible. A deep vibrant green, with a unique pattern. The shape of an O, yet where the bottom should connect, it instead shoots down and flares out to opposite sides. A unique eye indeed, just like the young man before him. An Anomaly was the best way Aeros could describe this boy.
"Do you wish to fight them, should they ever be found or return, Eli?" Aeros asked.
"Yes." Eli stated, "I would do anything to rid them of their existence should I hear of their whereabouts."
Aeros could not only hear but see the conviction within the boy. The very air around Eli changed when the discussion of those things came up. After them questioning the boy about it the first time, and the incident that followed, Aeros had ensured that the topic rarely be re-discussed.
"If that's what you wish Eli, then I'm going to send you away for awhile." Aeros said, causing Eli to do a double take.
"What do you mean send me away? I've been with you all for four years! Why send me away now?" Eli asked with sliver of anger.
"Remember the master of Undgarten? The man we first brought you too shortly after finding you and that damned place. I've been into contact with him since then. Recently, we've both agreed that giving you a change of pace may be beneficial to not only your strength, but your skills at interacting with people as well."
"What are you talking about?!" Eli stood, barely meeting the large demons chest, "I can talk to people. I'm normal. I'm strong. You've all trained me. I've been able to hold my own with you all. I've been with you all these years, and now you're just going to cast me aside? That's fucking bullshit!"
Eli's voice was much louder now, louder than it should have been. Aeros took a step forward, planting another hand on Eli's shoulder, only to get brushed off.
"Listen to me boy," Aeros growled, "You were barely a child. You never truly got the chance to be young. You've seen and experienced things that I'm sure would make most men faint. A child shouldn't have to be an adult for most of their childhood."
"What about you then Aeros?!" Eli screamed, "I've heard your story from others. Back when wars were constant between demons and the other races. You've lived through that. You fought. You've seen so much and lived a hard life, even as a child. Were you cast aside from those you trusted? By those you loved and cared for you."
Eli was frantic now, screaming at Aeros as he paced back and forth in front of the large man.
"I was cast aside," Aeros said solemnly, "I was abandoned. Lost. Alone. Afraid. I fought hard for my life. From such a young age I fought to survive. Up until I was fully grown. For decades I fought."
"Then what's the difference?!" Eli shouted.
"The difference is I have the chance to make things different for you," Aeros replied with a look Eli couldn't identify, "I was a boy that was forced to be a man. You are not so different, yet you still have time. You still have time to not only grown alongside your young peers but do so relatively safely. I never got that chance. I want you to at least finish your youth with your own peers, somewhere that can continue to teach you to be strong, while also giving you the chance to still be young."
Eli's pacing stopped as he looked at the large demon. His demeanor no longer resembled one of stoicism and strength, but a man who seemed concerned and somewhat defeated. Eli didn't like seeing one of the strongest people he knew looking like this.
Feeling the heat fade away, Eli's body relaxed as he looked away. "Where am I supposed to go? When?"
Finishing his bottle, Aeros replied, "The master of Undgarten has been tasked with selecting multiple candidates to attend an academy in the neighboring continent. It resides in one of the recent allying Kingdoms occupied by many different races. Each City Master has the same order to pick candidates, so our nation is sending a multitude of our kind to that academy by next year. Undgarten's Master has agreed to let you attend as one of those students to represent our nation."
"So, I leave towards the end of this year?" Eli asked, feeling a weight settle upon his shoulders. "No," Aeros shook his head, "You leave tomorrow. Oboros and the others have been sent to ensure safe passage for you to Undgarten, where there you will be taught etiquette and the like by the cities Master. Those of our nation being sent are either nobles, or highly skilled and educated. It should serve you well since you are to be surrounded by many different nations' best. You will leave at dawn tomorrow."
Eli frowned at his. He accepted the fact he would have to leave, but this soon? He didn't feel ready at all yet. Let alone the fact he was going to be sent somewhere that was outside of the demon nation with no one he knew. Especially the fact he'd have to be stuck around nobles. He'd only met two or three a couple times, and each time he felt miserable. They all just felt so stuffy to be around.
"What about Ella and Sasha?" Eli asked, taking a step forward to peek through the tavern door, only to find them still fast asleep. "It's better if you leave before they wake," Aeros sighed, "Those two know of your departure, but they would make things more difficult if they had to see you go."
Eli understood, though he didn't like the idea. "Can I at least say goodbye to Aunt Helen and Serene?"
Aeros hesitated but soon nodded. "If you feel like you must, then go ahead. But make it swift. You have an early morning ahead of you."
Nodding, Eli quickly made his way back inside.