the ball (part two) lions' pride

the clash of steel immediately silenced all, a Leyndell knight wielding a knights great sword stood before an enchanted knight wielding a shield and spear. " Say that again golden trash" the enchanted knight said. "Gladly, your star humping empire is nothing but a weak balance between the academy and the royal family, it's no wonder both wars between us usually ended with the manor taking more and more damage" the Leyndell knight said. "ENOUGH knight Tor, knight Renulos go back to your wards and do not interact with one another lest you wish to see the reason I am queen of the moon" a soft, yet fierce voice echoed out from one of the high seats. there Rennala queen of the full moon and the headmistress of the Raya Lucaria academy sat calm as can be, but a fierce look played within her eyes. mana surged around her freely almost suffocating those nearby including Leonel and Luna who stared in amazement at one of the most powerful living beings in the lands between.

she retracted her mana once the two knights returned to their positions. "Wow... hey Leo do you think I'd ever get that much mana?" Luna asked. " Ah well, it's very possible, after all lady Rennala is Carian nobility so you too should be able to reach that power Lu" he said a bit annoyed at her nickname for him thus he retaliated although by her expression she rather liked it. Rennala noticed the two whispering children although she could hear them easily, a soft smile upon her face as she beckoned over the shocked kids. She picked up Luna and sat her on one lap then took Leonel and sat him on the other much to his astonishment. "Tell me you your names" she asked softly as they stuttered out their names in barely a whisper. "Hehe what wonderful names you two have, it's so nice to see the twin moon phenomenon, this shows that the Carian royal family is as strong as ever, and oh my you look much like astra is she your mother?" she asked earning her a soft yet excited nod. " Ah I knew it and... mhmm let me guess, Ansel is your teacher, no?" she asked Leonel who too only nodded strangely comfortable within her embrace. " I see, I see, so it's happened to two generations huh? hahh if only the traditions weren't so strict, I so very much would've liked to see the amazing children you two would have" she said causing crimson to overtake their faces.

she laughed uproariously at that bringing attention to them, completely un lady like mind you. Ansel seeing this only shook his head in exasperation while astra who stood next to him only contained a peal of giggles behind her soft dainty hand. " Looks like the queen misses her children eh Radagon?" Ansel elbowed the red-haired man beside him. " Yes, she's been... asking for another, I'll see what I can do I guess" he said, those simple words brought to life another demigod who originally never existed but that's for later. " Well then it seems like you have your work cut out for you brother" Ansel said as he watched Rennala regale the two kids with stories, the two completely enraptured with them it seems.

"Ah well, seems like my daughter has replaced her poor old mother as an idol to lady Rennala" astra said as she watched her with a small smile. " They must grow up at some point my lady" Ansel said with a tinge of amusement. a soft slap on the shoulder is all he got from her. " So, what do you think? should the giants have been dealt with the way the originally where? or where the golden order in the wrong? don't answer this now you two, tell me when we next meet alright?" Rennala said as she put them down giving each a quick kiss upon their forehead then leaving with Radagon next to her. the ball ended shortly afterwards, the four piled onto the carriage and headed home.

Luna fast asleep using Leonel' shoulder as he used her head to rest his own. " We were much the same, no?" astra asked as she tried and failed to snatch Ansel's hand into her own. " You know we can't my lady... I'm sorry" he said, she released a huff of indignation as she turned her head away, a single tear dripped down her face. she looked up to the starless eye and for once in her life, she prayed that her daughter would get the happiness she didn't, whether that prayer reached anything she did not know but she hoped with all her might that it reached the right ears. the next day soon came as Ansel and Leonel fought. "Stop boy, its time you begin forming your very own technique, this is something all knights create before their knighting ceremony comes around, this technique is what defines some of us so think it over long and hard then try to create it, have the day to yourself for its" he said although he seemed awfully distracted.

Leonel sat down and began to mull over those words, a technique that defines an enchanted knight. such a thing seemed simple at first but in reality, such an ability was likely extremely powerful and demanded a large amount if not all of the mana within the knight. like his mana grenade, it was a final one time use weapon, it had to be something perfect, something that when used would defeat his enemy no matter what. thoughts flew in his mind, a volcano eruption? no, a glint stone storm? no, dropping a glint stone mountain on his enemies? no not that either. he was broken from his thoughts by a single finger that pressed his cheek. opening his eyes, he saw a smiling Luna sitting before him. " Hey Leo, are you training?" she asked. "Ah no, master left me with quite the annoying task, I have to create my very own signature technique, but I honestly don't know what to create... everything I think of sounds really cool, but nothing seems to stick" he said scratching his head in frustration.

"mhmm then maybe I can help, start telling me some of your ideas, mom always told me that two heads are better than one although I don't really know what that means" she said. " Alright then I'll throw some words at you, and you tell me if any of them sound good" he said as she nodded, a bit excited to help create a signature technique. he threw some things out but most where outright rejected by her. "mhmm maybe were thinking too much Leo" she said a bit frustrated. that nickname immediately struck Leonel. he stood up suddenly and stared at the sky with a large smile. "It was so simple, LUNA YOUR'E A GENIUS". S sat there shocked before she stood up with a rather smug smile, " well of course I'm a genius... although why exactly?" she asked. he didn't respond but instead he began to focus all of his mana with an intense wish alongside the strong emotions welling within him. then he placed his hands upon the earth, before the two curious children a small crystalline figure began to take shape. bit by bit it grew more and more clearer as glint stone warped and twisted then hardened all while becoming more malleable. a large lioness like statue stood before them, easily larger than the two combined, it seemed fierce. long sharp claws, strong blue flowing flames. a regal posture and a tail sharp and long, much longer than a lioness should have.

Ansel stood next to Astra as they watched the miracle of mana and magic come to fruition. the lion statue, no, the beast turned to them and almost seemed to bow before the two. " Sarabi" Leonel whispered out. he felt a form of connection form between him and her just then. ' Hello little cub, it is nice to finally meet you, my soul has been slumbering within yours for a long time, my brothers and sisters await the day you create a body for them, do not worry we know that creating something like this will take time, for now introduce me to your mate little cub' a voice, almost like a... big sister? came from his mind. he was quite confused, but he could talk to Sarabi later over this. "Well then, Luna meet Sarabi, Sarabi this is Luna my... friend and whom I'm sworn to protect" he said. Luna stared at Sarabi in amazement, Sarabi walked towards her and nuzzled her face. 'My you have quite the cute mate little cub, it's good to see that the future of the pride is secure' she said. Leonel blushed a little too strongly and chose to tactfully ignore her comment. a soft 'tch' was heard in his mind but he ignored that too.

" So, you figured out what your signature technique was within minutes huh? I'll say it only once kid, you're a prodigy, tell me, what did you call the technique? "Ansel asked as Astra came over and began to pet Sarabi although her hand only reached her head if Sarabi lowered it. they played with the flowing flames around her body, amazed over its warm and welcoming feeling. Leonel watched this, "i call it, lion's pride" he said, with those words they saw as his hair lengthened and two lion like ears translucent in form shaped above his head. a translucent tail grew out from his collar bone as it swished around calmly. ' Oh my, the first stage has been released, this means i can begin training you in our ways little cub' Sarabi spoke within his head. "Whoa Leo you have ears on your head" Luna said as she tried to touch them only to see her hand pass right through them much to her disappointment. Leo was utterly confused until Ansel erected a pillar of clear glint stone next to him, he was amazed as he too began to try and touch the translucent new body parts although he couldn't feel anything. 'Haha, you won't feel anything yet little cub, they for now re in a dormant state but when you unseal the next stage you will be able to touch yourself to your hearts content' Sarabi said.

" Well then now that you have found your technique, I say it's high time to put it to use, come boy let's see it in action, lady astra please stand back" Ansel said as he took up his position before Leonel. Sarabi stood next to him ready for her first fight of this new life. the moment Leonel gripped his halberd he saw a translucent form envelop it and enlarge its, yet no new weight was added to it. ' Come cub, lets show this master of yours the might of a lion's pride' Sarabi said. Leonel struck first, he leaped forward with almost twice the speed of before surprising himself and Ansel but nevertheless struck down onto Ansel's wooden sword which immediately received a glint stone coat and held firm. Sarabi appeared behind Ansel and struck with her tail sending him flying straight into a knee kick. Ansel's figure immediately shattered into pieces of glint stone much to their astonishment. " Glint stone clone, a signature ability of an old friend of mine, he could summon hundreds of them, but I could barely get one, good to see that you can now fight a tenth of my power on even grounds" a voice said behind them. Sarabi immediately jumped next to Leonel and prepared herself for another attack. Leonel pumped mana into his muscles ready to rush again.

" let's recap, a growth in double across all boards, speed, strength and of course mana have doubled, mana manipulation allows for a boost in speed and strength as well as thought acceleration, yes, your technique is quite the powerful thing boy" Ansel said as he stood before them, his sword at hand. " Yet I feel like that's not all this technique can show me, let's keep going" he said as he dashed at them sword glowing.