A New Outlook(open, training)

The young half-demon growled as sweat beaded on his forehead. He was training in his magic, he had to grow strong, he couldn't waste any more time. As he summoned his rune-stones once more, he swore aloud, startling the peace around him. People gave him funny looks, but he ignored them, instead choosing to move elsewhere. Why was he so weak? He needed to get better, become stronger.

Sitting on the dock, his feet hung over the water. On hand rested on the wood of the pier, while the other rested on his hip. His fingers lightly tapped at his scabbards, both of them empty. He had left those swords behind him with the tournament. There was no reason for him to continuing to fight then. He had found his answer.

He stared out to sea, wondering what else, who else, was out there. He was just a treasure hunter born from nobility. He sought adventure, not riches. He just wanted to leave his mark on the world, and some would say he already had.

"Des, meow." he would say to himself.

Perhaps he should try the life of a pirate this year.

The young Halfling wandered the streets, anger at himself spilling over, clearly there first all to see. His eyes were starting to go red, a bad sign that his demonic form was coming out of his slumber. If the demon were to awaken here, with all these people... Shane began to panick, green eyes scanning the landscape for a place without people. The docks! They would be abandoned at this hour, and Shane rushed towards them, praying to any gods that might exist that nobody was there.

Unbuckling the scabbards, he let them fall at his sides. There was no reason to him to carry them when the only swords that fit them, were no longer in his hands. But then he heard footsteps behind him.

He looked away from the dark auburn and violet skies in the horizon to turn around. He would find what looked like to be a child running towards him. As he stood up, one scabbard would fall into the water, one would be taken in his left hand.

"What's the occasion? Nyan." he would ask loudly to the boy in the distance. Surely there was an answer for his activity. Hopefully he didn't need to have his guard up. After all, it always exhausted him.

He could use a cat nap around now.

No! The boy let out a mental scream, silently cursing his own foolish hope. Somebody was there, somebody who would be hurt because of him... He couldn't hold out much longer, the demon inside of him was demanding release from the prison that was his own will. The boy fell to his knees on the weathered wood of the docks, his eyes slowly turning black, black with red pupils. The demon was taking over...

Shane screamed as the Demon's thoughts began replacing his own, thoughts of killing and the desire to cause destruction flooding his mind. He clutched his head as the wings exploded from his back, still screaming all the while.

His expression faded from his usual lightheartedness. His stance remained unchanged. "One day I'll have a normal afternoon..." he thought to himself. Surely the boy was far from human, or at least, had some inhuman powers.

He lifted his left arm to point the scabbard at the being.

"Did you have dinner yet?" Viktor asked the creature, his stomach rumbling. "Hunger always brings the worst in me. . . "

His head tilted, unsure what to make the situation. Surely this was not the same as Aku in the tournament.

The boy's voice changed as he responded to this person, filling with venom and an intense bloodlust. "Foolish mortal. You dare stand before a demon such as myself?" Snarled the boy, standing up as the demon fully took over. Runestones began popping into existence around him, each holding a different and dangerous power. He reached out and touched the one that looked like solid flame, and his eyes seemed to have a flame burning in them now.

"Power of fire, dwell within me, grant me your strength."

A roaring fireball appeared before the boy as he faced the stranger down.

"Didn't expect that." he thought to himself. he reached towards his waist, only to have a sorrowful expression fall to his face. He had forgotten about his swords and reached for them out of instinct. He would perhaps have to find new ones to replace them.

Sighing, he lifted the scabbard again and pointed it at the boy. He took a step to the side to change his footing. From the corner of his eyes he looked at the vast water and open docks. He stood alone and isolated on that dock, water surrounded him. The only way out, was through the boy.

"Fire?" He thought to himself.

"Why do I always get stuck with demons. . . " he said softly, waiting for the boy to make his move. He had to be prepared.

"You think an empty scabbard will save you? Pffft!"

Shane took one look at what the person had done and laughed aloud, a cruel, harsh sound. He advanced slowly, feet dragging as he did so, a crazed expression on his face. His eyes full of madness, he launched the fireball at the person, expecting him to leap out of the way or deflect it somehow. The dark fluid that had trickled from his eyes ran down his face now, a substance that almost looked like black blood. His pale skin also gained an odd grayish tint, something that rarely happened, only when the demon had truly and completely taken over.

"Man I hate dealing with humans. . . " he thought to himself.

There was little room for him to avoid the attack. He knew magic well enough to know it wouldn't be too much of harm to him. Sighing, he nudged forward as he let the fireball crash against his scabbard and soon his body. He would feel the force of the magic, unwavering from the quick and short pain. His weapon would be destroyed.

His fists would remain closed as he faced the spell. His eyes would open after the attack.

"You'll have to do better than that to get rid of me." Viktor would speak with a new smile on his face.