4 months later*
Eric jumped from tree to tree as agile as a monkey, his body twisting at the very last minute as he dodged the vegetation like a snake.
A small gale around his body that increased his speed as he ran and ran. Reaching the nearby cliff, he found a pack filled with heavy rocks and put it on. going down the cliff he speedily felt the along the rugged terrain.
'Wish I could use my transformation. Ughhhhh, no use thinking about that now.'
Moving fast, he descended the cliff wall. Now in an area of vegetation with sharp thorns and jagged rocks he bobbed and weaved as he speedily went through the environment. Reaching the end was a river with a tough current.
Dropping his pack, the boy jumped in the water and headed against the current. Sometimes straight, then sideways, then down, then up. The boy used the water to maneuver himself. Feeling the strain, the boy continued on as he went up the stream for over 30 miles.
His body turning red and battered as he exhaustedly used the water to push himself out of the current and onto land. Breathing heavily the boy landed on his feet refusing to sit down as he walked forward.
Gait steady, Eric felt some of his energy return as he broke into a run and entered the cave of his teachers. "Master Cloud, Master Silver I've---"
Dead silence rang in the cave as the boy stood guarded, he entered his transformation immediately and readied himself.
"[Primal Flight]" Dodging to his right and pushing off the ground on all fours, the boy rolled before sensing the tail slamming towards him silently. Dodging once more, he immediately used [Primal Freeze] as Eric froze himself in an impossible position in order to dodge the water ball that tore apart the air.
His dance continued as the only noise that could be heard was his breathing. Both masters having ensured that not a sound would be heard from their attacks.
"Alright, let's stop honey. Eric has done exceptionally well." Silver flicked her tongue at the figure standing next to her.
"He's passable." Though his words sounded harsh the smile on his face said he felt otherwise.
Eric was exhausted but stood before his masters as he bowed. "Thank you masters for today's training." The two nodded their heads seeing their disciple still standing despite the grueling training.
"Eric, we wanted to give this to you." Before the boy lied a ring.
"A spacial ring?!!!"
Eric was beyond surprised as he looked at the ring before him. A jade green spacial ring that the boy could've never hoped to ask for.
"It's our keepsake silly. We've come to a very important decision and have decided to send you and Silver Cloud out of the mountain."
"What? Wait, why?!" Eric could see a bitter smile on the two's faces.
"One day Eric, you will come to understand why we have done what we have done. Times are growing strange, things are changing in a way that isn't so good. You and Silver Cloud are the future."
'This feels like a goodbye, what the hell. I thought I had another month of training at least?' Eric's thoughts grew chaotic, and he opened his mouth only for Silver's tail to tap on his head.
"You don't need to say anything kid. We know what you're thinking but you just need to trust us."
Blue Cloud moved so fast that Eric never even saw what knocked him out. "I may not trust humans, but I trust you Eric. I know you'll take care of Silver."
Silver and Blue Cloud brought an unconscious Silver Cloud and Eric. Looking deeply at the two, Silver and Blue Cloud shared one last look. The two's figures seemed to ignite as they spoke in unison.
"Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. We give our lives so the next may live. Almighty God above impart our strengths to our child and our protege."
Their figures became raging flames. Silver became silver and green flame while blue cloud became a white and blue flame. These two flames mingled as the flame conjoined becoming one ball sized four colored flame.
70% of the flame dove into Silver Cloud while the other 30% dove into Eric. The two lied on a platform that opened beneath them and made them drift down softly. A marking glowed briefly on both of the kids before disappearing.
1week later*
Eric awoke as he felt his body stronger than it'd ever been. His Mountain Cloud Guardian bloodline shining as it underwent a change. Yet Eric could hardly focus on that as he remembered his masters' last words.
'Last words, why would that be their last words?' Looking next to him, Eric could hardly believe that there was a girl his age lying next to him naked. Her hair was a deep green with blue highlights.
Her skin was just like his, a honey brown. 'She's just like me.' Curious, Eric sniffed the girl before he tilted his head in confusion.
"Silver Cloud?" The girl's eyes fluttered open as the two looked at one another. Her face turning a pure red as she looked at the boy's very active private parts.
"Eric, what's going on?" Flustered the boy didn't know how to answer until he looked down at his currently 'at attention soldier.'
Looking down, then up at the girl and repeating it a few times, the boy turned and ran as he hit a wall. Yet the wall shimmered and disappeared, the sunlight bursting in.
Eric, now dizzy became focused as he thought of one goal. 'Find some flippin pants.' Nose bleeding, he touched his nose as the ring on his finger shone in the light.
'The spatial ring, let me look.' Eric was delighted at the fact that the ring was organized. Putting on some pants and taking some clothes that seemed to perfectly fit him. 'Huh, that was convenient.'
Looking for some women's clothing, he found them in a separate pile. Taking them and throwing them inside the cave, Eric yelled.
"Put those on." A minute later, Silver Cloud walked out wearing a sleeve less one piece that came down before her knees. She wore tightly woven stockings that around her legs. For her feet she wore shoes that looked like leaves wrapped around her feet all the way to her calves.
"What are you staring at you idiot?" The girl shook her head in exasperation as she looked at the boy practically drooling.
"What happened to mother and father." Silver Cloud had asked the question reflexively as if like usual but once it was asked, both kids knew that something was wrong.
"Silver Cloud, I think something bad happened." Hearing a loud caw above them, the kids looked at the behemoth bird that flew to the mountain top.
"I know that everything is rough, but we need to leave. The masters didn't send us from the mountain to wherever we are for no reason. We need to run." Eric wasn't quite sure but the bird that flew to the mountain top signified something.
'I feel it. It's like an unrest, and intense desire to get away from here and I think we should follow that feeling.'
Grabbing Silver Cloud's hand the two ran as they headed farther and farther from the base of the mountain. The two ran nonstop for six hours until they just couldn't anymore. Trained by experienced spirit creatures, Silver Cloud scouted the area while Eric looked through the ring for anything useful.
Finding a map, Eric looked at it and realized that they were not far from the first village closest to the mountain. Silver Cloud returned and pointed to a tree a burrow the two could hollow out and use for awhile.
A half hour later the two were in a sizable burrow.
Finding a few candles, Eric lit them and set them around the burrow. "I can't remember what happened. All I remember was that Father said I love you a lot and mom did too. Eric, I-i-I."
The girl broke into tears as Eric held her. Yet Silver Cloud could feel wet drops on her head as the boy himself struggled with the death of their masters.
"I think I saw something in the ring that they left, let me get it." Sniffling, Eric took out a mottled looking book that had the words "Read Me" on it.
Taking it out, Eric read it for the both of them.
"Dear kids, if you are reading this. It means we decided to go ahead with our worst-case scenario plan. That is, we decided to send you guys away. Before doing that, the two of us became essence for the two of you. The mountain is no longer safe and war has broken out. A darker, sicker being has arisen. The land and it's inhabitants are weak and divided."
"Eric, Silvee, I want the two of you to join the army's academy. They have the necessary resources and strength to protect you. We will leave you two no wondering thoughts. The scourge of the land Aramoth has raised his army along with other unsavory characters. If that isn't bad enough, the Clan of Serpents and the Clan of Primates have come knocking at our door. I don't know how they found us, but they wanted us to come serve them for a century. The gall that they have."
"Be warned children, for every power that you attach yourselves to, a price must be paid. Eric Blaze Trencheon, you should know this given who your parents were. Silver and I met your parents not long before they settled on the mountain. They were powerful and moral people, apart of the reason why I leave Silvee in your care. They were like us, people scorned because of their love interest and preyed upon for resources."
"Eric we know both of the clans your parents belong to. DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO USE YOUR REAL NAME OUT IN THE WORLD UNTIL YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO. Both clans are powerful enough to bury this entire continent. Silvee, you too. We may have named you Silver Cloud Oceanic Serpentilila. YOU MAY NOT USE YOUR NAME UNTIL YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCE OF DOING SO. Like Eric, we have offended the powerful clans behind both of our lineages."
"The both of you are extremely weak, the military's recruitment will take place in 8 months. Get into the military's academy at all costs. Silvee, you're probably confused about your body but don't be scared. Most of our essence went to you so you could initiate a human transformation. Follow Eric and gain power. It is time for the both of you to contact the Snake Tailed Monkey's star. Silvee, there were others who carried the snake and monkey bloodline. They were incredibly strong but out of fear their star was isolated and forcefully erased from history.
Yet, we found a Locking stone with the star's coordinates. Connect with that star you two. You are both loved." Silvee cried silent tears while Eric's face turned ugly as he tried to stifle the tears and hoarse moaning that wanted to escape his throat.
The two hugged as they found that they only had one another to rely on.