5 Chapter Five: The Strength Within (Updated 1/2020)

The next morning when Liam walked down the stairs he saw Xeno making breakfast.

" Good Morning Liam would you go wake up your sister it is already 7 the day has already started."

Liam nods and walks back up the stairs. As he approaches he hears a humming coming from Lunas room. Liam smiles as he hears her humming a song he heard in his dreams. He walks right in her room and doesn't even bother to knock" Luna are you up yet dad is making us breakfast."

As he enters he immediately regrets not knocking. Luna was standing by her bed and putting on her clothes. She had already put on her skirt and leg stockings, but was just about to put on her upper garments. As Liam walked in Luna turns towards the door and stares at Liam and Liam stares back at her. After a minute or two.

" I shall leave now... and let you finish getting dressed." Liam hurrys to shut the door and

stands outside. After about five minutes Luna walks out of her room. Liam sees she has a blush on her face and tries to look away from her. As Luna walks by him she stomps on his foot with her cheeks puffed out and says, "It's rude to walk in on a lady without knocking." She then proceeds to walk downstairs.

Liam just scratches his head and grimaces at the pain in his foot and then says, " Sorry. I'll try and remember next time." He then follows her down the stairs.

Xeno just finished putting all the food on the dining table when he heard them coming down the stairs. He sees Luna have a smile with a slight blush and Liam coming right behind her scratching his head. " You forgot to knock again didn't you."

Liam just coughs as Luna turns back at him and stares. " One of these days I shall make him remember to not walk in on a lady." After saying that Luna proceeds to hug her father before all three of them sit down to eat. As they start eating Luna looks at her Father, " So what are we doing today father?"

Xeno just finished putting some jam on his toast. " Well today we are going to test Liams capabilities and help him create a training cycle to better understand his powers. Also i think it's time I teach you a little magic. I will only be able to teach you the knowledge and movements, but when you get your wand we can practice actual casting."

Luna smiles and looks at Liam. " You hear that Liam we are going to learn magic and i get to see your otherside again hehehe.."

Liam just nods his head as he continues to gobble down his scrambled eggs and eyeing the last chocolate donut. Luna see him not paying attention to and takes the chocolate donut and bites into it. Liam finish his plate then looks up to grab the donut. After seeing the donut gone he growls and looks around for it till he see Luna eating it. Before he says anything Luna cuts him off. " This is the punishment for this morning and not paying attention to our conversation." Liam just sighs and looks down with a sense of defeat. " I just wanted the donut…." mutters Liam.

Xeno just smiles at their battering. " Alright you two. I see you are done eating go ahead and wash your dishes and then meet me outside in the middle of the grove." Xeno got up from the table and started to walk towards the front door.

Luna and Liam cleaned up the table. Luna was washing the dishes in the sink when Liam decided to get payback for his donut. As Luna was using the facet Liam willed the water to splash at Luna. The water soaked her hair hair and it slowly dripped down her face and neck. Luna immediately turned and yelled at Liam. " Really! What was that for!" Liam started to walk towards the front door. " My donut."

Luna threw the dishes back into the sink and ran after him. By the time Xeno saw them he was able to see a laughing Liam and an angry Luna. Right before Liam was able to get behind his father Luna tackled him to the ground and threw her hair into Liam face. " How do you like to have wet hair in your face. It's not enjoyable is it!"

Liam just laughs. He grabs Luna by the armpits and lifts her up as he stands. He then spins here around.

" Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Put me down. I'm still mad at you." Luna tries to hide her smile.

Xeno sees this and coughs. " Um Hm. Liam put your sister down. I swear you two are trouble makers. Get over here so we can start the lessons."

Liam puts Luna down and pats her on the head before he ushers her to follow him to stand before their father. Luna just sighs and walks next to Liam.

Xeno pull out his wand and raises his hand to the sky then shouts Protego Maxima. The area was then covered in a shield as it slowly descended to the earth.

"Alright now that the area is protected by the shield we can start. Liam what spells can you cast or think you can cast?"

" I know I can cast the leviosa charm. I feel like I would be able to cast the shield charm, but only a small one currently. Maybe no bigger than a fist. Also i think i can heal small cuts and bruises. The rest i think i'll need to learn and try out to see if it works. I feel that pure evil spells are out my grasp, but something deep inside is telling me I could if I wanted too."

Xeno nods his head. " Come over here then." Xeno pulls out a dagger and creates a small cut on his arm. Liam stares in shock. " Dont looked shocked and see if you can heal this." Liam stares for a moment and before he is able to cast the spell he feels a tingling feeling in his mind…

{...Sir. LT Snow has been injured it's only a flesh wound, but we wanted to report the injury to you.

Daniel looks at the SGT and sighs. "Thanks SGT make sure the medics take care of her." The SGT just laughs and says, " To bad there isn't magic then these battlefield casualties would be significantly less. What was that spell called vulner something right?" Daniel just looks at the SGT then outside to see the medical tent, " It was called Vulnera Sanentur and if we could use that it would be a god send on our battlefields….}

Liam snapped out of his thoughts and spoke in his mind Vulnera Sanentur while holding his hand at his father's injury. The wound slowly began to heal. Xeno's skin begin to slowly move towards both ends and the blood flow stopped and the health blood moved back into his body with the bad blood still running down his arm. As the separate skin meet together once again it slowly melded together. Once the magic had finished Xeno's arm looked like it hadn't been injured at all.

Xeno nods his head in approval. " How do you feel?"

Liam responds, " I feel fine. It didn't take much magic and i think i was able to cast Vulnera Sanentur."

Xeno questioned Liam, " How do you know that spell Liam? It isn't something that can be found without learning to be a healer?"

Liam just scratches his head. " Well when i saw your wound something tingly went off in my mind and I had an image shown to me. It was the same as my dreams. The commander said how if he or his troops had that spell; the lives on the battlefield could be saved and I thought it would be the best spell to use on you."

Before Xeno is able to respond Luna rushes to Liam. " That is so cool. Teach me that spell. Think of all the injured animals we could heal and if we ever find that Crumple-Horned Snorkack and its injured we could heal it. Then it would have to stay with us to repay its honor." Luna keeps laughing and jumping around Liam.

Xeno just sighs. " Alright Luna dear come over here so we can test Liam on his body strength next." Luna resigns with a sigh before walking over to her father. " Liam go get your training gear so we can test your maximum strength. You might already know it, but I need to see it."

Liam nods his head as he walks to get his training gear in the grove. As Liam is walking toward his gear stash Xeno turns to look at Luna with a fatherly look. " So Luna how long have you known he could cast magic without a wand? what have you been asking him to do with it?"

Luna puts her hands behind her back and then gives a big smile to her father. "I've known since May. I was reading in the grove when he came up to me and wanted to show me something. I was amazed when he was able to cast magic without a wand."

Luna then gives her dad a knowing stare. " Dad why did you tell us magic cannot be cast without a wand? You said without a wand magic would never work. Why did you lie to us dad? You said you would never lie to us!" Luna begins to tear up when she finished her rant.

Xeno looked heartbroken and pulled his daughter in a tight hug. " I'm sorry Luna dear. After losing your mother I feared for the worst and i didnt even want to try and teach you two magic. Both of you are your Mother's children and she was one of the best when it came to chantless magic and I feared you both would have her same talent. Even if you two were young I still feared."

Luna now crying looks up to her father. " I understand, but why didn't you tell us. You could of told us and we would at least know what was happening if it did occur. Do you know how distraught Liam was when he found out. He was excited at first, but then he feared for his life because he was expecting what happened to mom would happen to him."

Xeno had tears in his eyes now. He didn't know all of this because Liam never told him, but who would tell a father that was never home. " Please forgive me Luna. Once we finish Liams testing I will tell you everything I know about our world that relates to conjuring and using magic."

Luna just nods her head as she continues to cry in her father's embrace. After a few minutes they hear Liam returning. It wasn't hard to hear him since the weights he was carrying were clanking by hitting each other. Liam sees that Luna's been crying and was about to questions his dad when she just turned to him and mouthed, [Later].

Liam just nodded and proceeded to set up his barbell. Xeno looks at Liam and notices something different. " Liam it seems you have less weights on it then normal." Liam finished putting on two 25 lb weights on his already 45 lb bar.

" Well since i was able to cast magic without a wand i was able to add weight to the barbell using it. It saves me time to add weights and also money so i don't have to buy more."

Xeno nods and ushers Liam to continue. " Do your set warm ups and stop at your maximum." As Liam begins his warm ups Xeno remembers the day Liam brought this type of training to him and asked for all this gear a year ago.

{ "Hey Dad can you buy some equipment for me from the muggle town store?"

Xeno takes a moment. " What do you need from the muggles son?" Liam begins to say what he needs, " I need a workout bar that weighs 45 lbs with two each of 5 lb,10 lbs, and 25lb weights. I also need two dumbbells that weigh 10 lbs."

Xeno stares. " Why would you need those and what is that supposed to help with anyway?" Liam just smiles. " Well in those dreams that commander guy and his soldiers would use this training method to build up their bodies so they could handle anything and become stronger. So I wanted to train the same way so I could be strong to protect our family."

Xeno disagreed and refused to buy the equipment saying it would harm his young body. Liam then responded by lifting the couch.

Xeno just sighed and bought the equipment the next day so he wouldn't have to replace the couch in the future. While he bought the equipment he learned as much as he could about proper training and the usage of the equipment. Liam's face was priceless once his father began to spout training verbiage at him. }

Xeno just smiles remembering that time then looked at Liam as he finished his last set.

Liam finished his set at 130lbs which no child his age should be able to do.

Xeno looks over with a serious face. " It seems you have increased your maximum. Where did you end this time."

"130. I don't think my body will be able to handle more until I grow more."

Xeno nods and then release Luna from his embrace. He then walks towards Liam. " Alright grab the wooden swords let's see if your swordplay his gotten better."

Liam grins like a demon and rushes to grab the swords. Liam practices with Luna on occasion, but fighting his father,who seems to have knowledge in the art, is way better.

Xeno smiles as he sees his son run to get the swords.

By the time Liam returned Zeno already had his coat off and was ready to fight.

Liam took handed one of the swords over to his father. Xeno takes the sword and then both of them stare at each other. Xeno taught Liam the basics of a wizard's duel and used the same customs and courtesies for their sword fights.

Xeno held the sword up with the blade pointing to the sky. Liam on the other hand had the hilt facing and his blade facing down.

When they first began to fight Xeno asked Liam why he does this and all he got in response " It feels natural to do it this way" since then Xeno never questioned it.

Both of them then moved their swords into their attack positions. Xeno held his sword to the right of his body as the blade faced the sky and having both hands on the hilt.

Liam also held his sword on his right, but had the blade facing the ground and the hilt facing himself.

Luna just watched in silence as the mock battle began.

Liam was the first to attack. He slashed at his father's torso. Xeno parried and side stepped to his right and smashed his hilt towards Liams back.

Liam hurdlly pulled his sword back towards his left side to block Xenia hilt with his. As he blocked the hilt he crouched and turned his body left as swept his sword towards his father's waist.

Xeno jumps back then goes in for a slash.

Luna watches them continue to fight. She hears Xeno taunting Liam to plan ahead more and to stay light on his feet. As she watches she sees the clear difference between her fathers and Liams footwork. Her father looks like he is graciously moving around the field as if the field is helping him move. Liam on the other hand looks as if he is forcing his body to move.

After 5 minutes Xeno finally took Liam down. Liam was laying on the ground with his sword in hand. Panting he stared at his father. " You have improved son, but you still utilize to much strength in your attacks and your movement in battle is still clunky to say the least. Your technique has improved, but don't let it get to your head and continue to improve."

As Liam was about to go in for another attack his head began to hurt.

{...Unknown training camp

"Get moving you maggots we still got training to do. I don't want to see anyone quit during the training as if you do well I'll put in a word to have CPT Flags give y'all a motivational speech before our ruck tonight."

As the troopers continue to train CPT Daniel Flags walks to the Drill Sergeant yelling at the troopers. " Well Drill Sergeant Ricks I'll be more than happy to do a speech tonight but they might need one right now."

Looking at his soldiers Rick noticed how depressed and unmotivated they seemed. " You Might be right sir, but they need to train. I don't want to send anymore sliders out to the frontlines unprepared like before"

Daniel just pats Ricks on the shoulder. " Then let's give them a pep talk so they understand why you are breaking them down physical, spirituality, and emotionally before they run off."

Rick just laughs and then yells " Whelp Platoon front and center!"

Quickly 30 private's formed up in front of the Drill sergeant. Daniel walked in front of the Platoon and began his speech.

" Some if you might be wondering why we are training you so hard even after you got out of Basic and AIT. Why we are beating you to the ground before releasing to your real platoons. So here is your answer. So you don't die into first hour.

We are forcing your bodies to the limit so you make mistakes here while we train. So you understand what your bodies can handle and know when to tell when your body hits its limit.

Also I want all of you to fail. Because from what I learned from my time in the military I want to fail during my training, fail that one push up, fail at leading soldiers and let them die in Training. So when that I get to the real battlefield I won't make that mistake. I will know and have the experience to utilize that training in battle, I will have that push up when I need it on the battlefield, I WILL HAVE the knowledge and confidence to lead my men into battle without them dying because of my leadership!

I want all of you to fail now so when you get to the battlefield you won't make that mistake.

Learn from this training and know when you are finished your Platoons will open their arms to you because you survived the same training they did and they understand you have failed and are ready for battle.

So push through and remember Blood leads to the path of Death and Glory!"

The Platoon responds with a loud roar,"Blood leads to the path of Death and Glory" }

Liam stops himself and then mutters, " Failure now to prepare for the future battle."

Xeno walks up to Liam and holds out his hand. Liam smiles and takes his Dad's hand. " Great fight dad. Thanks for the tips. I'll keep working on my weaknesses to get even better."

Luna seeing the battle finally over skips over to Liam and her father. " That was your 150th lose Liam." Liam just glares at Luna before grinning and ruffling her hair. " Says the one who's lost to me 200 times" Luna just pouts because she knows it's true.

" Alright you two come over here and put those presents I gave you yesterday in your hands."

Liam and Luna walk over to their father while taking off the pendants they have around their necks.

" Alright you two I am now going to invoke the charm on the pendants that allows you both to talk to each other in your minds and know where each other are at."

Luna and Liam both nod and wait for their father's instructions.

" Alright Luna hold your pendent in your right hand and Liam hold your in your left."

They both follow his instructions.

" Alright now you two hold hands together with your open hands."

Liam grabs a hold of Luna's hand and interlocks their fingers. Luna just smiles and tries to keep the blush away.

" Alright in this order speak. Luna say Forever Together then you both need to say And after that Liam finishes with Never Alone. It also helps if you look at each other."

They both nod and Luna and Liam face each other. Xeno then moves his wand in an infinity symbol. Then they speak. " Forever Together And Never Alone." As they speak magic could be felt around them. Liam felt the magic enter his body and move into his system like the surface of smooth silk. As Liam was about to ask if it worked he hears something. (Luna) [Is this going to work. I hope he doesn't hear my innermost thoughts that would be very embarrassing. Maybe I shouldn't be talking to myself. Just keep a smile Luna don't let him see your inner turmoil. Alright it's been too long maybe i should ask father if it worked. His eyes are gorgeous though.]

Liam just grins and looks into Luna's eyes (Liam)[ So cute] Liam spoke back into his mind he could feel Luna turn rigid. Her face began to turn red. (Luna)[ How much of that did you hear] (Liam)[ All of it].

As Xeno see their body language and faces changing he knows the magic works. " Alright you two stop flirting before your father. I should reprimand you but alas who am I to stop true love." As he finishes the last part he bursts out laughing and then sees an angry Luna rushing at him. After Xeno calms down Luna he looks towards Liam. " Alright Liam come over here. I believe it's time to set your other self free, but first I need to cast a spell."

Liam looks at his father with shocked and then loving eyes. " Thanks dad I promise to use it properly and won't cause harm. This way I also get to learn more about myself and control my powers better."

Xeno just smiles casts Repello Muggletum to prevent the Muggles from seeing and prays to himself, this is the right thing to do then he takes out his wand and muttered a spell that the twins couldn't hear then tabs Liam where his heart.

As Liam feels the wand touch him he feels strength and freedom return to him.

(Luna)[ Good Luck and you better be back down here in twenty minutes so I can cuddle you.]

As Liam heard this he just smiles. Liam begins to feel heat coursing through his body and he begins to channel it into his bones and tells them to begin the conversion. The heat and magic respond in delight and begin rushing to do their jobs.

Xeno and Luna look at Liam and watch as his body begins to compress towards the ground and start changing color. Liam gets onto his four limbs and they begin to transform. His hands and feet turn into claws with the rest of his arms and legs morphing to fit their size and connect to his body frame. He begins to grow a tail and wings, while his head forms in a silk mass with sharp spike protruding on the back of his skull. The process took less than 8 seconds, but when it was complete Liam opened his eyes. From the 11 year old boy who stood their before he was replaced by a miniature dragon.

Liam was coated in white/silver Silk scales that look like recently forged metal. His teeth stayed true and were sharp as razor wire. The back of his body was lined with spikes and his tail was slick with the ending looking like a blade. His wing span wasn't large just enough so he could fly in his small body.

As Liam opened his eyes we can see they turned from a light blue to a dark mesmerizing sapphire color. Liam then stood on his hind legs and gave gave a loud roar to let the world know he has returned then he took off into the air.