The New Oz

Oz had fully accepted his new power. He was filled with a confidence and energy he never felt before. With the new growth, Oz's personally had some drastic changes. Oz was no longer bullied. He fought off anybody who tried to bully him. More accurately, he would leave them unable to stand within 15 seconds of them approaching him. He had grown over his months of training, now taller than Amar and building up muscle. He had gone from being the underdog to intimidating the people that had made his life a living hell.

The rapid change in character concerned Asmodeus, but Amar brushes it off, glad that Oz was no longer the pushover he was. But even Amar could acknowledge the flaws in Oz's new demeanor. Since the kidnapping, he had gotten cocky.

That's not to say Oz didn't train, he did and harder than ever before. He had to catch up on so much just to reach Amar's level, but both Amar and Asmodeus saw that his training was no longer out of desperation to save Reena, but from his attempt to cling to the little control he had gained over his life.

This morning Oz was training as usual. He had begun to train earlier than before, waking up before even Asmodeus to go to the clearing and practice. He had reached almost 60% of his full potential. He had learned to summon his tools at will, even in broad daylight. His celestial army needed more work, but from the time the moon rose in the sky, Oz could summon them and he did. Oz had grown to rely on them and even sent them to run simple errands for him, covering them with a rune he called "disguise" allowing them to pass as humans.

Oz returned from training five minutes before his first class started. Asmodeus had waited for him at home.

"Good morning! How'd you sleep, pretty?"

Asmodeus sighed.

"Don't call me that please."

Their relationship had gone from servant and master to friends, and Oz enjoyed it much more.

"I gotta shower and then we can head out." Oz said, heading for the bathroom.

Asmodeus looked surprised. "You don't have time. Class starts soon."

"I know." Oz shrugged. "Im skipping. I sent my soldier instead. The rune should hold as long as I'm on this hemisphere, no?"

Asmodeus scowled. He was wary of Oz's new disposition. "You can't just skip. School is not gonna wait for you to be good and ready. And Amar headed over there earlier. We can't even train as a team."

Oz, who had walked into the bathroom and began undressing to shower, popped his head out. "I'll call the school about a family emergency. I need him with us today."

"What's so special about today?"

"We're going to look for Reena. Its about time."

—~—~—~—~—~—~—~

"I don't even have a mother dude. What even was that?"

Amar had come home from school, annoyed at the sudden and ridiculous phone call.

"I'm sending a celestial soldier to school for all of us from now on. We have to focus on Reena."

"But my classes.."

"Nope!" Oz smiled, leaning into Amar's face. "You're the one who came to us to help us find Reena. Now it's time to do that."

Amar rolled his eyes. "Why now of all times? It's midterm season."

"Because I've gotten strong enough to go out into the field."

Asmodeus and Amar shared a look.

"Can we be sure of that?" Asmodeus asked wearily.

"How should I prove it to you then?"

"Fight me." Amar said with conference.

"That's not a bad idea." Asmodeus added.

"Ok sure! Just don't come crying to me when you get your ass kicked." Oz replied with a grin.

—~—~—~—~-~—~—~—~

Oz was comfortably relaxed in a beach chair, reading a book. Asmodeus was on the grass next to them.

They were at the clearing. This was the fight that decided on the search for Reena. Oz was relaxing, and Amar… well he waa struggling against a single celestial soldier.

"Fuck! I forfeit. I wasted enough energy fighting this.. thing."

"Haha!" Oz's victorious cry was followed by a solemn look in his eyes.

"I guess that decides it. Let's go find Reena."