Lucifer: Godless Reawakening

He couldn't see sound waves, but he could feel them.

Mark wasn't creating anything out of thin air. Every attack needed a source — a tap on the floor, a clap, a breath, a word tossed into the hollow space. In this empty room, sound traveled too freely, giving William nowhere to hide.

And now that Mark understood William's spell needed a still target, he never stopped moving.

"Now that's a trait earned through countless battles," William muttered as he slashed toward the boy — but Mark was already gone, leaving a string of fast taps behind him. Those taps burst into a hammering wave that rushed at William like a thrown weight.

Minutes had passed, and Mark had already read his patterns.

Truly impressive.

*Slide*

William threw himself across the mat, palms slamming together. His telekinetic arms punched into the incoming waves, breaking them apart before they reached him.

Mark grinned as he spun mid-air. "Your control is terrifying. You can even predict the direction now."

No — he couldn't. William was simply targeting the entire region where the sound was coming from.

"The same goes for you," William said, crouching low. "Aren't you tired from all that running?"

Mark frowned — and then *THUMP* — his front hit a wall he hadn't noticed. He stumbled, groaning, clutching his head.

He barely lifted his gaze before William came rushing at him like a bullet.

Instinct made Mark cock his fist, but William jumped over it. His body flipped upside down mid-air, a single finger pointing at him.

"Didn't I tell you?"

A large translucent orb gathered at his fingertip.

"No brawling."

Mark's eyes widened. Something struck his back—

**BOOOOOM**

The explosion tore through the room.

"Ghak!" Mark choked as he flew across the hall and smashed into the far wall, nose breaking, back burning, bones rattled by pressure.

William landed lightly, blinking.

He had chanted for less than three seconds… yet the effect was this strong?

*Do I really need to stop using this unless I'm ready to kill someone?*

"Hey…" Mark's trembling voice cut into his thoughts.

William's eyes widened. Mark was standing. Barely — legs shaking, hair hanging over bloodshot eyes, blood dripping from his arms and back. But he stood.

"I'm sorry, I didn't—"

"No. Too early for apologies."

Mark slapped a bloody hand across his forehead and pushed his hair back, revealing eyes burning with raw fury.

William's guard rose instantly.

The bloodlust pouring out of him was different.

*Did I trigger something?*

Mark crouched, fingertips brushing the mat.

"It's time… you dodge THIS."

Sound waves blasted toward him as Mark sprinted forward.

William slammed two barriers into existence — one to block the sound, one to halt Mark.

But in a blink, Mark vanished.

The wave vanished too.

And in that moment, William's six senses failed him.

Mark's presence vanished. No sound, no sight.

It was as if the existence named Mark was no longer a part of this plain.

"...!!"

Then Mark appeared right in front of him, bloodshot eyes shaking yet smiling. He raised his hand to William's face, thumb pressed against his middle finger.

"You should've finished me when you had the chance."

*SNAP*

*TIIIIIINNNG*

The snap was tiny, but the wave it birthed rippled like a stone dropped into a still pond.

Each pulse carved gashes into the walls.

And at the center—

William's eyes rolled white. His ears bled. His knees hit the floor.

Mark grinned — just before his own vision blurred and he collapsed too.

The battle ended in a draw.

Or at least, that's what Mark decided.

....

"I'm impressed," Merlin muttered as she sensed the purity of Emma's magic.

They were inside the small compound.

Every member's office had a tiny garden behind it, and in the center of this one sat the silver-haired mage, legs crossed, eyes closed.

Emma's aether washed through the space like clean air. Its purity was staggering. Merlin had never felt someone this young carry something so refined.

To purify one's aether, one had to meditate at the right spots, release their energy, rebuild it, over and over, sharpening control day after day.

It demanded patience. Time.

Anyone who only wanted to fight or make money would never bother with such work.

But true magic lovers — the ones who sought to grow and understand themselves — knew the value of aether refining.

Emma slowly opened her eyes. "I'm nowhere near as good as you."

She meant it. Merlin had shown her own aether flow earlier, and Emma was stunned by how smooth and firm her control was.

Merlin gave a small smile. "Well, I'm about seven years older than you. By the time you reach my age, you'll surpass me easily."

Emma smiled back… though only faintly. 'If the world even lasts that long.'

Merlin extended her hand. Emma took it, and the older mage gently helped the younger one to her feet.

Merlin then asked, "Is there anything you would like to ask?" Leaning towards Emma, she added, "Apparently, you don't need my help much to get over these small obstacles."

Emma heaved a sigh, "You overestimate me. As I said, I might have retrieved those things but I have only used the seed that could ensure my growth never stops."

Merlin earlier said that she wouldn't inform anyone about the treasures Emma found. Naturally, Emma didn't believe her fully but creating a friction over it seemed childish.

So she just stopped caring.

Merlin giggled, "It isn't the treasures you found, it's your natural talent to look at things from the eyes of an observer. You are very calm under uncertain circumstances and that's a very necessary but rare trait."

Merlin sighed, "I myself yearn for such calm. I tell you, if not for Lancelot, I might have become a burden during some of the operations rather than being useful."

Emma faintly laughed at that.

After a brief moment of silence, Emma finally asked, "Can you...teach me more about Spell Cloaking?"

Merlin was shocked, "Where did you hear that term from?"

The knowledge of spell Cloaking should be limited to the Tower...ah!

"Oh, right...I nearly forgot." Merlin nodded as she recalled that the girl she was talking to was the successor to East Wind's throne.

Emma didn't say anything about that and just patiently waited for Merlin to answer her.

The older one exhaled a sigh and looked at the sky, "It's just a theory, though. Are you sure you want to hear about it?"

Emma nodded, "I am a very curious person, so yes."

Merlin giggled as she glanced at the girl and said, "As I thought, you are very much like me."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.