It's been over a year since Damien became an apprentice to the mountain hermit. It's been a tough year for everyone there.
The hermit said flat-out no when Damien asked him to take him under his wings. There wasn't any room for negotiation, even after he begged on his knees and all. That was until Damien saw a familiar bag near the hermit.
It became worn and torn after a year, but there was no mistake. It was his missing bag which contained the three divine smelly items of three beautiful girls.
The hermit, of course, denied that he stole it. He said he found it at the foot of the mountain after a violent mist cyclone struck the area. The same mist cyclone he created.
Since the bag was magically locked, there was no way for him to unlock it without destroying the bag, so the hermit waited patiently.
After threatening to take the bag along with him on his way down, the hermit finally complied.
Damien made him vow to him before opening the bag and giving the panties to the old man.
It smelled exactly like that day.
After more than a year without any type of pleasure and smelling the arousal filled panties, Damien felt an urge growing inside himself.
He tried not thinking about it but couldn't help remembering how they looked and tasted. He didn't want to get excited by such things anymore, as he knew what would happen if he did.
He was here to become powerful so that he can protect his women.
After some more talking and some more panty waving at the old man, the old man finally talked to him for real.
He had asked Damien about how he know about him living in the mountains.
For that, Damien had replied, "I had a dream. Dream about an ancient hero who killed the Elder Dragon living in seclusion at the top of a mountain." Though the old man didn't believe that bullshit, he didn't pry for more information.
He was just glad he got panties of some beauties with their juices dripping from them.
He happily smelled them like a little kid. He even had a nosebleed just from the smells.
From the old man, he had learned that Aviora is not a crow but rather a Raven. A midnight raven, whatever that means, since he hadn't heard about them in the books.
It simply means it's a special type of raven that has a special type of power. When asked what power the old man had opened his palm like, he also doesn't know since there wasn't any type of these raven back in his day.
So their journey to strength and power started there.
The old man would then go on to teach him sword arts and martial arts while teaching Aviora to scout and other self-protecting tricks.
The bond between the boy and the raven had increased so much during these hellish times since they both shared the same opinion about the shitty teacher they had.
The old man would smack him in the head with his staff if he did something wrong during the training. He would even smack him if he thought about any ladies unless he explains them to him with great detail.
After some months, an old lady joined him in his training. It was the same old lady named Ein, who had unleashed the Devil bunnies on him, though he doesn't know the details.
She was strict and harsh with him. Way more than necessary. She promised him to teach magic and made him fight her. Even before he can think about the magic to use, she would blast him away.
Each time she does that, she would curse at him, berate and belittle him, saying things like, "You shouldn't be here. You don't have any talent at all. Back in my days, a Zadkiels means power, but you- you are nothing but a disgrace to your family. Just go back the way you come from and be done with it. You can't learn shit! You are shit!"
He hated her for that, not just he, even Aviora hated her for saying stuff like that.
But after seeing his persistence, she started to lose around him, because he wouldn't give up no matter how hard it gets.
She had asked him why he thought he needed to become powerful and he had replied that "I have some people that needed protection and if it isn't for me, then who else is going to protect them in time?" She was ready to kill him if there was any different answer.
Under her, he learned magic. Learned how to efficiently utilize the mana inside him without wasting it. Learned to conjure spells. Learned to read the runes carved into stones, trees, and anything else that could hold a rune.
Even though she was mean with everything except teaching him the magical side of life, she still taught him about love. About caring for someone enough to sacrifice yourself for their sake.
One day she told him, "Don't ever forget this lesson I'm telling you now. If anyone needs saving or protection from evil, do it. Don't let others suffer because of your weakness. And never make the same mistake again. Never let anyone see you as weak. Because once you lose control of the situation, you will always be seen as weak."
He had etched those sentences onto his mind forever.
Ein had also shown him many ways to heal wounds. Heal broken bones, remove poison, and cure diseases. But most importantly, she showed him how to keep his body healthy. How to avoid disease. She gave him herbs and plants that helped against sicknesses and infections.
But she still refused to heal his severed hand, making him train with his ice arm. He was accustomed to it, so it was not a big deal now.
Since the bond between Aviora and him had grown to a higher level, they were able to communicate telepathically. Not that she can talk, yet, but he can understand her and she can understand him without a word exchanged.
After the one-year mark, he had physically changed. His white hair had grown to his back, he had a large beard and mustache on his clear face. His eyes held certain wisdom in them. His body had grown bigger with more muscles, his hands had cellulose on them. Though he could heal them, he refused, as it was a reminder of his hard work.
The old man and the old lady had imparted him with history and knowledge, they were like an encyclopedia for him. They held more wisdom than the actual books, but they didn't know the future, but he knows.
One day, the old lady had called him to the top of the mountains, at the highest peak of the Seven Steps Mountains. He and Aviora had climbed the steps to find her sitting on a bench-like rock, outlooking the entire mountain.
Aviora had croaked in delight, seeing the marvelous scenery before him. She flew around the cliff and enjoyed the view.
He approached the edge and sat next to the old woman. Looking down upon the vast scenery below, he could see the whole place lit up in green lights as far as the eye can see.
"What is it, granny?" He asked. That title always had irked her.
"I'm not--" She stopped in her tracks and sighed, seemingly giving up. "It's been over a year since you been under us and...it's been over a year and a half since you've set foot on the mountain for the first time." Her old eyes were distant and held no emotions, like always.
"What about it?"
"It's time..." she said, finally looking at him. Her eyes focused on her. "It's time for you to visit the civilization once again."
"Are my studies over...?" He asked, knowing full well where this conversation was headed.
"There are more things in this world that even if you seek knowledge for your entire life span, you won't find it all," she answered, staring right at him.
He nodded. He knew about that.
"There is a tournament happening in the mortal realm. You're to go there and witness it. Consider it like an assignment. Young people from all around the world would be there. Watch them, learn from them, and become powerful." She said, smiling brightly through her crooked teeth.
A small smile broke on his face, hearing her words.
"I guess it's time to visit home," he chuckled, imagining their expression if they saw him in this look. "Aviora," he called his companion. She flew towards him and perched on his shoulder, tilting her head to look at his eyes.
He reached out and stored her sides with his fingers, "I guess you're going to meet our family."
Her tiny black pupils widened in excitement and she crocked herself closer to him, pressing her cheek to his neck.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺