Azrael was leading Cyrus to his family’s unused magical armory located in the mansion's underground hall. There all of his family’s rare and old magical items were stored. The area surrounding the armory was heavily guarded with several mechanisms that had to be opened. Claus, the butler who had been leading the way, was opening every mechanism in their path that needed to be opened. The further they walked in the hall to the armory, the more the path seemed to be narrowing down. Till they reached the end of the hall, at the end of it was a large metal door. The three of them come to halt in front of it. 

“Master, shall I open it?” Claus asks.

“Yes, go ahead.” Azael replies as they start backing up, “Cyrus.”

Suddenly hearing his voice, they look up to Azrael’s face asking what’s up. 

“It’s going to get messy in here, so back off a little and make sure to cover your face.” Azrael  says warily.

Cyrus wasn’t sure what was about to happen but assumed it had something to do with the metal door. They nod to Azrael and back up behind Azrael’s back to use him as a shield. Azrael, not minding it, makes sure both of them are ready and gives Claus a thumbs up. Claus, seeing his master’s gesture, goes to stand in front of the large door and mutters some incomprehensible words. Claus then snaps his finger, as he does so, a thick and black leather grimoire floating appeared next to him. Cyrus couldn’t help but gasp in awe, since they hadn’t seen such magic performed since waking up.

With the grimoire floating next to Claus, the words he chanted triggered something in the grimoire as its pages started to turn fast. As he kept chanting, an array filled with different shapes and written characters appeared on the ground around Claus. 

*CREEEAAK*

“Ah it’s opening!” Cyrus exclaimed.

“Mhm..” Azrael’s face seemed to be on guard, “Be ready to cover your face, something might fly out.”

‘Fly out????’ Cyrus’ face then quickly went from a smile to full on terrified, “W-w-wait! I’m–”

*BAM*

“Not ready….”

The door suddenly burst open, with small metal pieces and dust rushing out from beyond the door. All three of them had their faces covered to protect them. Shortly after, when there was nothing flying out behind the metal doors, all of them relaxed. Azrael and Cyrus relaxed their arms, as did Claus while clapping his hands together, making the grimoire disappear.

“Master Azrael, Young master Cyrus, this way please.” Claus led the way inside the armory that was behind the metal doors. 

Inside the Armory, were rows of showcase shelves containing rare armors, ancient scrolls and weapons such as staffs, grimoires, and many kinds of swords. Azrael thanked Claus for opening the door and then Claus left. Cyrus, in the meantime, was looking around the place amazed by all the weapons and armors in the armory. Azrael noticed Cyrus’ uncontrollable excitement, sighed in annoyance and reminded,

“Hey! Remember, ONLY pick a weapon that will assist you in battle, so do not touch anything else, okay?”

Cyrus turned around to look at Azrael.. with an ancient scroll and potion in their hands.. 

“Haha.. ha...ha..?” A nervous laugh came out. 

“Please, really?” Azrael walked over to Cyrus with an annoyed look and took the items from their hands. 

Cyrus quickly averted their eyes, “Haha.. Sorry. I’ll pick one quickly.” 

Azrael sighs and doesn't say anything and just kept looking at Cyrus as they go back to observe the weapons. After a few minutes of looking around, from all the rare and sturdy looking wands and grimoires, Cyrus had picked a worn out looking staff they had found in the corner of the armory.

Azrael thought that it certainly was a weird choice of a weapon and asked,

“Hm..? Are you sure you do not want to pick a staff that’s in a better shape? I don’t think that staff will really be compatible with your Gift.” 

Cyrus, holding the staff, turned around to look at Azrael and looked very confused. They were a bit reluctant to ask, but they still did, “Uhm.. What do you mean by Gift..?” 

The look on Azrael’s face was full of disappointment, every passing second he started to regret bringing Cyrus on board.

Azrael sighs, “How do you not know what a Gift is?” he questions them while pressing his fingers on his forehead. Cyrus shakes his head and shrugs their shoulders while nervously smiling, showing that they really didn’t know what a Gift was. 

Azrael couldn’t help but sigh once more while rolling his eyes, “So a Gift is literally gift.. or a blessing that The Elementals bestow upon you as a vision.” he says, “Everyone who is blessed with a Gift get it at a young age, the phenomenon is kind of hard to explain unless you’d experienced yourself.. Anyhow, did at least get some parts of it”

“Ah.. Well I’m actually not sure if I’ve gotten a Gift…”

Azrael crossed his hand, “You’re not sure?”

“Mhm.. I guess?” Cyrus smiles nervously.

“...” Azrael looked frustrated but quickly relaxes his face, “Since you’re not sure you should pick anot–”

“NO!” Cyrus interrupted, “Even though I’m not all too sure that ‘Gift’ thing, I have a feeling this is the weapon I should go with..!” 

Azrael sees the determination in Cyrus’ purplish yellow eyes, “If you’re that sure of yourself, go ahead then. But you should take a secondary weapon just in case. I don’t want you to fight with a big disadvantage if you aren’t able to use the staff after all.”

Cyrus nods, and goes near an armoire that contains various kinds of swords, big, small, just name whatever you’re looking for, don’t worry it’s going to be there. Whilst Cyrus was looking at the sword, Azrael passionately was giving tips on what kinds of swords they should pick. Cyrus kept nodding their head at everything that Azrael said, him noticing that he coughed in embarrassment and at the end advised Cyrus to pick whatever fits them the most. However at the end Cyrus still decided to go with a small dagger with a shiny emerald handle. 

“...” Azrael said nothing of Cyrus’ pick, but still looked somehow a little disappointed, “Shall we get going now?” he asks.

Cyrus nods with a determined smile and with that they head to the backyard where they would have their little ‘fight’.

*** 

When both of them arrived in the backyard, Claus was already there waiting. He had prepared the yard to be fit for battle when he had left Azrael and Cyrus in the basement. The long and thick green trees surrounding the backyard seemed to be acting as fences, stopping anything from going in and out of the area. Both of them went to their assigned positions standing far across from each other. Azrael’s weapon of choice was a longsword with a golden handle. Upon seeing Azrael’s weapon of choice Cyrus got a bit concerned.

“Hey.. so, won't this fight be a bit unfair?” Cyrus asks.

“Hm.. How so?”

“It’s just.. won’t I have the advantage since I could only attack with long-range spells?”

“About that, in this case it won’t really matter, because the point of this is to see your physical and magical abilities. So feel free to attack me however you want while dodging my attacks.”

Azrael answered calmly while getting into his battle stance. He had also asked Claus to be the referee to inspect the match from his point to view.

“Ready..?” Claus asked, both Cyrus and Azrael nodded. “You may start!”

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“Huff… haah..” 

Minutes after the battle had started, loud panting could be heard..

Cyrus seemed to be on the ground, struggling to get up. And there was Azrael who was still standing up but seemed to be struggling to keep his balance. Panting and with his clothes burnt, ripped and his face scarred. Azrael couldn’t stand anymore and knelt to the ground while using his longsword to support him. 

“What in the stars... You do have a Gift after all..” Azrael mutters while panting, “That strength.. You’re pretty good, I'll give you that.. ”

While Cyrus was still on the ground, looked at Azrael with a tired smile “You.. think so..? Haha.. Thanks..” 

Azrael nods and stands up, “Sorry for putting so much stress on you. Shall we go back inside now?” 

He stands up and offers his hand to help Cyrus get up. Cyrus grabs onto his hand and slowly gets up, while struggling to keep their balance.

“Oh careful now..!” Azrael then took Cyrus under his arms.

“Oh.. haha.. sorry..” Cyrus replies with a very strained voice.. 

As both of them were slowly walking back to the house suddenly and Claus came to assist them. Cyrus suddenly slipped from Azrael’s arms.. Cyrus had lost consciousness, with the last thing they heard was Azrael yelling his name.

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