Eight years ago, the world was a different place for Julien; He was part of the very alive Robert's host, a group growing famous for their daring exploits, and now adventuring across the Holy Roman Empire. Their journey had brought them to the relentlessly charming Electorate of Trier, abuzz with the excitement of a grand tournament.

The event promised a spectacle of chivalry and competition, drawing knights and warriors from the region. Robert, known for his exceptional skills in horseback riding, didn't hesitate to sign up for the jousting matches. His ambition, however, extended beyond personal glory: He encouraged each member of his host to participate in the various events, aiming to showcase their collective prowess.

Julien, then a mere boy of 13, had already shown promise with the sword. His talent was often acknowledged by Robert and others in the host; Despite his youth, he had a knack for swordplay that belied his age. However, when it came to representing the host in sword combat, the honor typically fell to Jean-David, Robert's second-in-command. Renowned as one of the finest swordfighters in all of Francia, Jean-David was the obvious choice for the role.

Being his second option, the young lad had eagerly entered the unarmed melee, only to find his agility to be sufficient against the more seasoned fighters, but his offense to be feeble, his strikes lacking the necessary force. That day, the ridicule from his companions had stung deep, a harsh lesson in his limitations.

Standing now in the yard of Mataplana Castle, facing Arnau, those memories felt painfully relevant. Arnau, while not an imposing figure in strength or skill, was effortlessly besting Julien in their sparring. Each exchange was a sobering echo of Julien's past defeats, a reminder of the gaps in his combat abilities.

By the fourth day of his rigorous training with the Second Angelic Key, Tzipah, Julien's progress was marked more by the bruises coloring his skin than by any mastery of the skill. Each session, conducted under the silent and unmoving vigil of Robert's corpse, was a testament to the difficulty of the task at hand.

The principle of Tzipah was deceptively simple in theory but proved daunting in practice: Julien understood that he had to extend the technique he used for his eyes – coating them with hagic energy – to other parts of his body. Ideally, he would even be able to envelop his entire body in this protective energy, creating a thin but potent shield to ward off physical harm.

Yet, translating this concept into reality was proving to be a formidable challenge.

Exhausted and bruised, Julien listened as Arnau offered words of encouragement: "Do not fret, Julien Mazars," Arnau said, his body remarkably unscathed after their rigorous sparring session, "the journey to mastering the Angelic Keys varies for each individual."

Julien, wiping blood from a fresh cut on his upper lip, looked at Arnau with a mix of frustration and curiosity: "And how long did it take for you to learn the first two keys?" He inquired, seeking some gauge of his own progress.

Arnau adjusted his attire, which showed signs of wear but none of the physical toll evident on Julien: "Chazah came to me almost instinctively, much like it did for you," he recalled, "as for Tzipah," he paused, a hint of pride in his voice, "I believe it was around two days. But don't compare yourself to me, Julien. I've always been somewhat of an outlier in terms of talent."

Count Arnau's demeanor, though generally nice and kind, occasionally bordered on annoyingly self-congratulatory, a trait that Julien found increasingly grating, especially after such a physically taxing session. Deciding he had endured enough for the day, Julien began to make his way towards his chamber, intent on tending to his wounds and cleansing the sweat and blood from his body.

"Wait, Julien," Arnau called out, his tone shifting as he quickly closed the distance between them, "please, don't compare your progress to mine. Our hagic energies are distinct in their nature; Mine tends to release in sudden, explosive bursts, while yours is quite consistent and stable, you see?"

Julien paused, processing Arnau's words. Despite the frustration and fatigue, he recognized the truth in Arnau's observation: Their abilities, though stemming from the same source, indeed manifested differently. This understanding brought a small measure of solace to the young man. "Thank you, Count," Julien replied after a moment, acknowledging Arnau's attempt to provide perspective, and then continued on his way.

In the solitude of his chamber, Julien faced the silent figure of Robert: The day's defeats weighed heavily on him, a tangible reminder of the challenges in mastering Tzipah. He spoke to the ever so silent Robert: "Being on the receiving end of those beatings is wearing me down," he admitted, his gaze lingering on the count, "but I'm starting to realize that to truly grasp this technique, I might need to focus all my energy on it... even if it means not channeling it into you."

With a resigned determination, Julien took a small dagger and made a deliberate cut across his hand; He then held the bleeding wound over Robert's mouth. "During that blackout, when you were left without my hagic energy," he continued, his eyes locked on Robert's inanimate face, "I saw how rapidly your decay accelerated. We can't let that happen again."

As Julien ended the feeding, he carefully began to scrape off the additional dead flesh from Robert's body. The task was a grim reminder of the delicate balance he had to maintain: "It seems I'm faced with a choice between your upkeep and mastering this key," he murmured, "but if I am to succeed, sacrifices must be made."

As dawn broke on the fifth day of his harsh training, Julien, fueled by a modest breakfast, made his way to the yard with a renewed sense of purpose. Count Arnau was already there, waiting, and without delay, they plunged into the day's session.

Julien adopted a different approach this time: He deliberately slowed his movements, baiting Arnau into action, waiting for his strikes. "New strategy, Julien Mazars?" Arnau queried, his eyes keenly observing Julien's movements. "Counterattacks are good, but there's more to this than just responding to my moves, you know? That should hardly be your focus right now!"

The dance between them continued, a series of feints and calculated steps. Arnau, biding his time, finally decided to seize an opening: He lunged forward with a sudden uppercut aimed directly at Julien's chin.

The moment Arnau's fist connected with Julien's chin, time seemed to slow; Simultaneously, Robert's corpse collapsed to the ground. Julien's focus was now on the sensation at the point of impact. The uppercut, though powerful, did remarkably little damage: A slight jolt to his head, but the expected pain and force were significantly diminished. Julien had indeed cracked the Second Angelic Key, Tzipah.

"There you go, Julien Mazars!" Arnau exclaimed, his face alight with approval as he observed Julien instinctively touching his chin. "It felt as though I had struck against a stone wall. You've managed to create the protective coating!"

Despite the breakthrough, Arnau didn't relent. He resumed his offensive stance, pressing Julien for more: "What brought about this sudden insight?" he inquired, curiosity laced in his voice as they continued their dance of attack and defense.

"My hagic energy is constant and stable," Julien explained, focusing on extending his protective energy to different parts of his body. His eyes briefly shifted to Robert's lifeless form: "But it's not sufficient to sustain both of us." He acknowledged the harsh reality: to make good use of Tzipah, he had to let Robert remain inanimate.

As the afternoon unfolded, Julien dedicated himself to his training with renewed focus; Momentarily free from the responsibility of dividing his hagic energy, he found that his control over Tzipah improved quickly and significantly. Each attempt brought him closer to a more complete mastery of the key, a testament to his growing proficiency.

The evening unfolded in its usual rhythm for Julien, a welcome routine amidst the rigor of his training. After cleansing himself of the day's exertions and enjoying another of the castle's surprisingly excellent meals, he returned to his chamber.

As he entered, a pungent odor assaulted his senses: The stench emanating from Robert's corpse was more pronounced than ever, likely exacerbated by the day's hot summer sun. The decay that had been held at bay by Julien's hagic energy was now advancing unchecked. "It's never a good idea to leave you without my energy, is it?" Julien remarked to the silent count, a note of regret in his voice.

He set about the grim task of, once again, removing the newly decayed flesh, a necessary maintenance to preserve what remained of Robert's form. The work, always slow and methodical, allowed for a moment of quiet reflection. However, his contemplation was abruptly shattered by a loud bang on the door; The unexpected noise scared Julien, breaking the solemn but grim tranquility of the chamber. Julien’s chamber, typically a place of quiet isolation, suddenly felt charged with the possibility of something unforeseen.

Julien, still startled by the abrupt interruption, rushed to the door. Swinging it open, he found Arnau standing there, an expression of calm purpose on his face. "Is everything alright?" Julien asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Don't worry," Arnau reassured him with his usual nonchalant demeanor. He then posed a question that seemed to hint at an underlying plan: "Julien Mazars, you strike me as someone who learns best in the midst of action. Am I right?" Before Julien could even formulate a response, Arnau pressed on with his unexpected proposal, “because we're going on a hunt. An Elioud hunt, possibly a Nephilim one as well."

"A hunt? Now?" Julien's surprise was evident. The idea of embarking on a hunt, especially at such a late hour, seemed both thrilling and daunting.

Arnau nodded affirmatively. "If we set out immediately, we can reach our destination by midnight, which is the optimal time for encountering Elioud," he explained. Gesturing for Julien to follow, he added, "come on, but first we'll stop by the armory. You and Robert will need proper gear for what lies ahead."