Book 1 Chapter 12: Anger, Awakening, Assassin Profession

An old man and woman had just arrived outside the forge, just as Spectre flew off on a 1 ft wide metal disk.

They could feel the lingering killing intent in the air, as they probed the inside they found dead assassins and the remains of Boss.

"They weren't after him…they were after what Shelcrom had…" The old woman sighed as she saw the place devastated around her, sliver like twigs of the previous wooden pillars were left Their outer exteriors having obviously been singed and charcoaled by the remnants of torch sticks layed beneath them.

"He survived though…But at the cost of witnessing something no child should. The other great forest clans that are evil, are working more and more towards us. He had been here in safety after one of the great clans destroyed his. Even when we give him shelter it…it still wasn't enough" The old man sighed too, his long eyebrows knit together.

"I fear he will entangle himself in the feud of the forest."

"I know my love, but we can now not change destiny. We can only strengthen him as much as his resolve to battle can take, what he chooses to face. His father would have said the same…as for the other two…''

"One is working under one of our branches greatest assassin alchemists, the other under a martial leader of our battalions. They too must strengthen themselves as when one goes to battle they too shall follow their brother. "

"If that is true then we may have to ask them to speed up the process of their development. Awaken both of their spirits, so that they can grow. But they are so young…" A tear came from the woman's eyes as she thought of her sons, as well as these god sons of hers. The old man hugged her, "They fought for what they felt was right and what they loved." Asher said.

"I know….I know…."

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Earlier that day Yuki had been learning about effect potions. Soaking in the methods of different concoctions that he was being shown.

"Is this right?..." Yuki asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Wait…waittt....I said waittt…..Now!!" His teacher blurted out.

Yuki dropped a flower into an open glass, the flower began to crystalize the mixture around it, and until it finally created a duplicate of itself above the frozen ice it now resided within.

"Well done Yuki! You created a snow lotus formula, see here…" He pointed to the ice flower on top, "this is a result of the ice essence of the snow lotus, when met in water it creates this image of itself. As sunlight hits it, it refracts it and carries it to the flower below…allowing it to stay within hibernation as well as gain energy and grow within the winter time. In a lake as this happens its roots began to grow downwards till it hits the lake bed. When it reaches it and gains rooting the flower starts to turn around and grow back upwards… until it breaks through the ice flower duplicate on top and then blooms." The man said in his own laid back fascinated way.

Yuki gazed at it with a deep fascination, touching the ice flower on top, feeling the petals cold to the touch that were almost real. It refracted the light brought over from the rain/sun tool and created a rainbow that cascaded downwards from the ice flower to the real flower. "It's so beautiful…"

"Hahaha, you've said that to every plant phenomena I've shown you today, I'm happy that feeling never goes away. It's a good trait." He smirked.

"Heh heh…so uh…got any good plants to eat?" Yuki asked as his stomach grumbled.

"I thought you would never ask… sike hahaha" He turned around and walked over to a jade box, "Yuki, come over here" He asked calmly.

"Eh?...okay" Yuki did as he was asked and walked over the box in his hands. "What is it?" He asked curious.

"This is a very rare plant. I can tell you have a plant affinity Yuki, because I too have one! Mine is Shadow grass."

"That's the plant that creates an image of itself, its shadow is the real plant and the grass scene is actually a decoy filled with poison and is sharper then steel!"

"You really do study up haha!" He laughed

"What's in this box is called a Star Seed, it's a very rare seed that only grows in this area. A lot of other clans want our ground not for our riches, but because of the very plant that bares the fruit of these. Today, I am going to give you one. Know what it does? I'd assume not because it's not in any book outside of the inner sect courts. It awakens your plant spirit, giving you a head start. It's that amazing, which also makes it rare. It tastes sweeter than anything you have ever had too." He said with a bright smile.

Yuki's mouth began to water, he held his hands up to go for the box only to watch him pull it away.

"However there is only one specific way to ingest this, and you must follow those steps before eating it okay?" He asked with care.

"Yes yes! Whatever you sayyy, now gimme gimmee"

"I have a side room follow me." He walked over to a luminescent light and stuck his hand through a hidden hole under its foliage, the ground rumbled as a secret door opened. "Come come..."

Yuki felt apprehensive but at the chance of this rare seed it would be worth it. He strode forward into the darkness, before looking up to see crystals covering the room. They had plants of all types growing from them.

"wohhh!" He said under his breath.

"I know right? This room is a special cultivation room, it's also why the botany house is here. It helps plants grow fast, as well as give energy based of nature to any surrounding plants. It's vital to people like us. Alright take a seat in the middle of the room."

Yuki went forward to a square cut crystal on the floor big enough for him to sprawl out onto."

"Alright here ya go." He handed the box to him, "Now I want you to drink this...", He gave him a potion that looked like it was made of liquid gold. The smell was heavenly and saturated his nostrils.

"This is an essence potion derived from the essence of only the strongest plants; it is great at giving you a boost physically. Enjoy the meal buddy… you have had a long day. I'll be right back." He turned around and hit the latch, the door sliding shut slowly.

"What a nice guy, a view, a rare meal and drink. Gotta love the perks of this place" Yuki looked around and soaked in the aroma of the plants around him, seeing the light of the crystal give out ripples of energies that the plants sung to. He looked down to the box, after opening it a thick sweet smell pervaded his nose causing him to inhale and cough at how powerful it was.

'woh! He wasn't lying!' Yuki exclaimed to himself. He drank the golden liquid while gazing around the room, it eased down his throat like something only the gods would be allowed to drink. For better or worse, if Yuki had to name the potion he would call it Divine Ambrosia.

"Fwhoo! I FEEL ALIVE BABY" He almost shouted, the room carried the sound around before quieting down. He tossed the dark purple and yet pearlescent colored seed back, it melted in his mouth as he swallowed, feeling it run down his throat. It kinda felt like roots was sprouting from it, growing throughout his body. He could actually feel it mix with the golden liquid in his stomach and begin to grow.

"Woh there buddy, digest!" Yuki said to himself.

It felt like a fire had started in his stomach. He began to itch to the point of wanting to take off his skin before he started to convulse. The plants around him continued to move in rhythm, as if moving with his breathing. The crystals matched his heart beat, beating and cycling in rhythm with it. The convulsing slowly stopped, and ripping began to sound out, roots that he thought were just a feeling began to actually grow out into his limbs, moving along his blood stream and spreading to his muscles.

It began to rip them apart, as well as knead them and a profound energy healed them before repeating the process to the rhythm of his heart. Rip tear, rip tear, intense energy ventilated the nodes in his body. Pushing energy out as it expanded them and then sending waves around his body of different colored light.

It was the most excruciating thing he had ever felt in his life. Even if he lived from this he felt nothing would ever compare to his body reforging itself. His body got to the point of blood seeping from his pores, making it feel like hot lava was blanketing his body that was paralyzed from pain. His clothes had already ripped apart from the convulsions and heat.

The essence of the plants around him swung in the air, withering their main bodies as the tempo changed. There essence was drawn into the crystal they grew from, completely willingly giving every last drop to the boy they saw in front of them. The energy carried and formed under the square cut crystal Yuki was on his back upon. The energy coalesced, until every plant was but dust in the winds swept by the current in the room. With the lights on the walls gone and only the light below him. He felt from his view he was strapped to a comet that was propelled by a star into the vast darkness.

Soon the light expanded, before shooting into this vast darkness before him. The light completely shrouding his body, like the sun exploded from the square it washed his body in energy from the plants, as it hit its limit and erupted. With white the only thing he could see he finally passed out from the pain before everything in turn became dark.

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"How do you think he will do?" The laid back man asked, he had some worry on his face, although he showed his true side in front of Yuki his apprentice that didn't mean he wasn't hiding his emotions at all times. He didn't think the Elder who assigned him to this would actually ask him to put his apprentice through it so early…

"He shall live, I promise you that. When he awakes, tell him that he wouldn't have done it otherwise. It was needed for him to grow, and only the greatest of pain broke through can gain the greatest of fortune. He is blessed…" The old man trailed off, before grabbing the hip of his wife and soaring off.

He stood there, looking down at the ground, piercing through the stone with his intense glare. He slowly strode back into the Botany house and down the steps…