Lumikki looked him over as he made his point. Winded herself and not entirely in the mood. She was devoid of most of the energy she had started with when she woke up and made it here. Drained of her patience and gusto.

Holding back wasn’t easy, she could see that now. It wasn’t a matter of anger, but her very nature. The darkness that made up her flesh was nearly vibrating. Shadows would softly waft off her as if they were smoke and the air met her temper by turning cold. Frost crept further along the sands blooming her back ice flowers. She had a dire need to pour out her whole existence as she was. Murderer, monster, Demon, storm, nothingness, chaos, the Abyss. She sunk into her chair as she tried to calm down. Pulling the shade her parasol made for her into a cold blanket while she sighed deeply.

She didn’t want to hurt him, nor did she want to feel the need to defend her nature. She didn’t feel bad, only annoyed. So she would sooth herself with the cold of her magic, and watch the creature play atop the Slayer head, before slithering down his outreached arm.

A smile returned to the Demons face, as though her emotions were rumbling from beneath, the charm of the serpent was winning her over. It’s cute wedge shape head presented an adorable and goofy face. Their desire to come closer to her brewed a mutual desire of her own to meet it. And just as she sunk into an irritable state, she was now in a cuing mood.

She reached back, lightly petting their new company before grabbing the Slayers hand. The truce did her fine. ” I hope so.” She finally answered back. She was slipping into the final bits of her human form, down to her voice.

Lumi, face softened from the joy that the creature brought her, was petting the creature enthusiastically. She would never grow tired of the feeling of her birds but the touch of serpents were quoted foreign to her. It’s shimmering scales, which caught the light entirely different than a raven’s feathers would, we’re just as soft and smooth. Lumi held back a gasp as her cool fingers pressed against its delicate looking and slender body. It rippled throughout its tiny frame faint echos of the sea. A domineering force of nature the Demon had no jurisdiction in and was entirely helpless to meddle with. A powerful force she respected greatly and would of enjoyed to see more of, if not it’s restricted realm and boarders.

“ Curious and curiouser….” Lumi began as she enjoyed the tiny beasts affections. It would match her fervor as it consumed all her attention. Lumi would of thought that it would continue for all of time, until she pulled away first. But the serpent pulling away to adjust itself came as a surprise. What more, there was an odd shift to take note of. Lumi watched in awe as this was a first for her. What looked like darkness would briefly spread along its back, only to be simply the passage for frail newly formed wings to pass through.

As the metamorphosis was underway, Lumi snatched on of her journals from her void. Though she rarely showed it off, thinking it a practice to keep to herself as she didn’t think she was very good. Lumikki sketched the creature in tandem to the forms in which it was phasing throw. Catching the likeness of the sight quite accurately albeit without the amazing colors that accompanied the moment so.

She shut her book and threw it into her void just as abruptly as she pulled them. Knowing with Tōga’s brimming enthusiasm he would be eager to see for himself. The wings now a few seconds off from unfurling world shiver. They were too freshly formed for the Demoness to figure blood yet ran within them. Assuming they were similar to that of moths and butterflies that take time to fly. But the critter, quite ambitious, tossed itself into the air. It lasted but a few seconds before tumbling right down. Lumikki, first in awe, burst into laughter. Her chuckle came out like the chiming of bells, but the poor thing would blink at her in a face she figured was a pout.

“ Suppose we do Dragon. Perhaps ye could begin teaching yer kin while I observe. It’s not often I see a dragon train their kin.” She would chuckle more and she sunk back into her chair. A smirk crept along her face as she rested her head on her palm, elbow propped along the arm of her ice chair. She raised her free hand before her and moved it in a gesture to get to work. ” What better way to prove the sky’s yer realm too, no?”

Lumikki cackled at his brazen attempted, almost moved by the simplicity of his plans. She heard that some claimed to need a running start to fly, but she had never witnessed it herself. Her people were flying since the conception of Iceberg, at least that is what her Nan would have her believe. When they began to touch the sky though hardly mattered. As it was quite evident from her family’s traditions that they practice flight for quite the many generations.  

Long before the people of the Omena clan had discovered the relics that would grant them flight. Before they learned to fashion their own. They were a clan of raven Demi-humans. Flight was in their blood and their soul. It was etched in their flesh with every feather that perturbed from their skin, and down to the make up of their very bones.

Though frost became the flesh and livelihood of her people, all defendants of the primordial frost that dawned all. It was easy to discern that air and wind were their souls. And so the people of the Omena would perfect their glide. Traversing and scaling the mountains with ease as they rode the gales and air currents between summits. And when the power fell into their hands to do more. To take to the skies with their own wings and fly, they dove for such a blessing. Incorporating it to their very being and purpose. Ferrying messages across the divided, scout far away and untouched lands, and observe the moves of their enemies.

Her people were favored and feared for the skills and services only they could provide. In times old, it was not simple to merge the distant tribes or transverse the warring lands. Ravens, already seen as sacred beings would go untouched in times of conflict. The Omena would only push this prestige further as they diligently took to their tasks. Passing such skills down the generations.

Lumi has been flying since her earliest memories. It was common place for those among the clan to be taught fairly young. Give them their baring for the sky early so they would now how to take it in their lives.

It is the reason why Lumi was graceful long before her Demoness form and long before her magic granted her another set of wings. Lumikki was long aware of the air beneath her wings despite the lack of her raven Demi-human side showing in her appearance.


So as she watched Tōga take off running and chuck the little serpent into the air, she could hardly hold back a snort as she broke into laughter. Watching his odd reasoning unfolding before her, she slowly brought up her hands and entertained a clap. ” Good show that was. It’s always interesting seeing what others come up with on these kinda things.” And what more perfect way to finish her merriment but have the little critter glide her way and land in her lap. The little one would not rest along her stomach for long as she cradled it into her hands and brought it up to her face. She examined it closely for a tad before nuzzling its nose, noting how tired the little one was.

” Now, it’s time to teach ye proper Stigr.” A name she choose as it meant path, which she felt was suiting to a creature that wanted to turn away from land and sea as it slithered on it’s path toward the sky.

She got up and stretched lightly, mindful of Stigr in hand. A the more intense part of her pose, she allowed her wings to be revealed. Six black wings shimmering and breaking in the light much like her little iridescent friend. Her wings also pulling back as she sought her relief, a yawn then short shriek escaping her lips.

When she relaxed her pose, she looked at Stigr Once more, the little critter though tired, had eagerness shown in its eyes. A shine and sparkle reminiscent of the stars it could wish to attain.

Unlike her partner, the Demoness would not take running. Although her usual method would be to pull her wings back and slam them down, it was because her wings were strong enough for it. Instead she mimicked the way one would as a bird, letting her wings flap a particular way to grab the air and send her up. She promptly dropped back down, repeating this process three more times before taking to the air for good. Now she was letting Stigr have a taste for the air. Flying and glide so that Stigr could enjoy different heights.

The little one was antsy, hardly staying still in her hand. She found their little rowdiness to be entertaining. A gusto for life. The air proved to be the lifeblood of the little one just as much as her own and showing them the way to fly almost felt nostalgic.

***
" Come now little one, me lil Raven. There's nothing to be afraid of. Ye have it within ya like all us Omena do. Even those without feathers of their own can fly among us. So worry not child, there is a place for ye in the sky yet!” Nerice, the Nan of a small Lumikki, was trying to comfort her precious granddaughter. This was a big occasion, a rite of passage all of the family undergoes. Lumikki was but seven years of age. It would do one best to get their wigs when they were still so young, and it behooves them to be so small.

Lumi, usually full of so much life and gusto, was not shivering from her anxiety. She never once feared the concept of flying. Not only did she was excited excited to learn, she longed to fly. But it would seem her fear of not belonging within the clan would claim or more than her desire to touch the skies. As if the celestial realm would confirm her place among the ravens and reject her like she feared it would.

” Bu-u-u-but Nan. What if the sky doesn’t accept me? What if it doesn’t want me?” Tears were welling up in her eyes, her cheeks were puffed and lips quivering. Poor Lumi was truly overtaken by her fear. Nerice thought it was cute, but she took the young girl into her embrace, pelting her with kisses all over her face.

” Silly child, yer of me blood. No matter that foolish father of yer, Lumikki is an Omena always.” Nerice pulled her face toward hers and pressed her forehead to the young girl’s. Taking a moment to feel that connection and spread the warmth. A moment that brought Lumikki a lot of comfort and peace.

The older woman pulled a relic from her pocket, it was an old necklace fashioned with elder magics. She kissed it like a little prayer and slid it over lumi’s head. I with more hug, she would then nudge Lumi forward. ” It’s time now me love. Spread yer wings and take flight, just like I taught ye.” Lumi, still clinging to the necklace the moment it was placed on her, could feel the weight of such a magical piece. She even wondered if it would weight her down. But now was the time and she took the step forward, squeezing her eyes as she did and whispering a prayer. When the earth would give way from under her, she would let the gravity take her. Trusting she would will the magic in the item to turn her into a bird like her Nan too.

***
" Isn't that a brave lad? Already taking to the skies. Takes a lot of gut to do ones best to reach the heavens." She have the little one in her hands a kiss in praise of their efforts. Hoping to see them soar on their two wings in time.