"That rock there also hides something like this?" Lucifer asked.
"That's for the wood. You can't cook without fire, can you?" Zale flashed a smile. "You can see when I bring the wood out next."
"It's alright. Let me help you," Lucifer said as he walked to the other rock.
He picked it up just as easily as Zale did and placed it aside. Seeing the ease with which Lucifer picked up the stone, Zale was left surprised.
He had become a Warlock only recently, and he wasn't aware of much in the Variant community. It was still a new field for him. He was like a fresh graduate from college that was still doubtful and lacked confidence in his new job.
He didn't know that it was only going to take him one year and a little bit of experience to become the Zale Azarel he was known in the future... The Zale Azarel who wasn't scared to offend anyone. The Zale Azarel that never doubted himself.
And not long after that, he was going to become well respected in the Warlock Community, only to shoot up to instant fame in 2028 after ending the Great War with the others.
"You are strong as well. Is there anything you can't do? I thought I was special because of my powers. But it looks like my powers weren't that rare," Zale sighed as he picked up a beast's body and walked back to the fire.
He kept the body on the ground before walking back to cover the hole, which was like his food storage.
"You are wrong in that case," Lucifer lazily said. "What makes you special isn't your power. What makes you special is something else."
He brought some of the wood back to Zale.
"What makes me special then?" Zale asked.
"What makes you special is that you are you. That's all that matters for me," Lucifer replied, sitting before the fire.
Zale didn't know how to reply. He didn't understand the vague things that Lucifer talked about. Sometimes, he even wondered if Lucifer was just trolling him with these vague things?
He simply shook his head and started cooking the meat.
"So, how long do you plan to stay here?" Lucifer asked.
"I was thinking that I might stay here for a year to make myself stronger and temper my mindset," Zale answered.
"I think that's a waste of time. You don't need to stay in the frozen Land to temper yourself. You only recently awakened, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then the best thing you can do is to use your power in realistic situations, not in the barren land. I think this wasn't discovered at this point since Variants just started appearing, but you'll understand soon."
"Train in realistic situations?"
"Exactly. How else do you think I became so strong? I never trained in this place or in any desert. I just used my powers, and here I am," Lucifer replied.
"Do you want to come with me and train using my method?" Lucifer asked. "Since we have similar powers, I'm sure I can teach you some things."
It felt odd for him to say that he could teach his father, who was the original inheritor of these skills, but he didn't have any other choice.
He needed to find Arthur to get back. And he needed to leave for that. But he couldn't leave Zale behind. After a really long time, he met his father. Even though the man was much younger and didn't realize that he even had an adopted son in the future, it didn't matter.
Lucifer still didn't want to leave him behind. Moreover, at this point in time, Lucifer was truly more experienced than Zale.
He literally had his powers for close to eight years, and he even evolved his own powers. On the other hand, Zale had just received his powers.
Lucifer was actually qualified to teach his father, especially in this time where most of the world was still trying to understand what a Variant was and how their powers worked. His experience was no less than a cheat here.
"I-i don't know."
"Come. Let me show you something. Maybe you'll want to train with me after seeing it," Lucifer smiled.
He stood up.
"Ah, alright." Zale followed Lucifer outside the cave.
"What now?" he asked.
Lucifer didn't answer. He simply raised both his hands. Dark Clouds started appearing in the sky and started roaring.
"You called lightning weak, right? Let me show you the power of lightning! The power of yours!"
Boom~
Hundreds of black lightning bolts fell all around the land, creating a fascinating show of force.
"This..." Even Zale was stunned to see what was happening.
"That is so strong? You mean I can do it as well if I train like you?"
"You can do it and much more," Lucifer answered. And he wasn't lying when he said it.
"I-i want to learn that as well. I am willing to take you as my Master! Please teach me!" Zale said, bowing in respect.
"Nonsense!" Lucifer stated as he stopped Zale from bowing. "Don't ever lower your head before me! Nope! Don't ever lower your head before anyone in this world! You are Zale Azarel!"
"And don't call me master. I'm more worthy! In fact, just call me Lucifer! That's it!" Lucifer exclaimed. He didn't want to feel awkward by having his father call him master and such.
"You mean you don't want to be my master? What about a friend then?" Zale asked.
"Friend?" Lucifer asked.
"Yeah. Is that not fine either?" Zale asked.
"I-it is better than being called master. Just call me Lucifer," Lucifer replied. "So, will you come with me to train?"
"I would love to! If I can get stronger like that, I won't mind!" Zale said.
"Good. Then eat first. After that, we will leave."
"Wait. I forgot something," Zale let out. "How can we leave? It's a long way back. And I only arranged for a ride back after a year. So it won't be here anytime soon."
"Leave that on me," Lucifer smiled, placing his hand on the shoulder of Zale.
"Hmm?" Finally, he felt something. His decay had finally started working again. He swiftly took off his hands before an irreparable damage to the Clothes of Zale was caused.
'There goes my free reign as an ordinary human. How will I eat now? Without any globes... And I don't think the Gloves even existed at this point in time. This is troublesome..' He thought as he stepped inside the cave with Zale.