Chapter 10: Awakening Resolve
Ian stumbled out of the quiet room, muscles aching yet alive with a strange, honed energy.
The city outside looked unchanged, but he felt different. Sharper, faster, more alert.
Though, the time he had spent with Veyra seemed to have been greater than he intended.
He thought days had passed. But no, just enough time for it to get fully dark outside.
Veyras words echoed. 'Don't tell the nurse...or the knight...'
Charlotte's clinic hummed softly behind him, emphasizing that everyone had most likely gone to bed.
Even Ryn was snoring slightly. A rare moment seeing his guard so low.
'Why am I so aware?' He couldn't help but ask himself.
It was unusual for him, someone who didn't feel refreshed after sleeping, to be this awake.
He eventually stumbled into the front lobby after aimlessly walking down the hall.
His mind still felt rough from the liquid he had been smacked back to reality with.
Looking out, it was silent.
No one outside either.
But of course, it's probably around 2 in the morning by now.
Ian slid across the room, noticing the floor was awfully slick.
"I'm guessing Charlotte washed the floor while I was in dreamland." He whispered quietly.
He slid all the way to the front door.
Placing his hand on the cold metal door handle, he decided to pull downwards.
As Ian stepped out of the clinic it was just like before. Dark.
He couldn't explain it, but part of him expected daylight.
After all, he hadn't been awake during the night as much as he used to be back on earth.
The wind picked up, causing him to instinctively start moving. He once again sat on the bench outside.
Ian leaned against the backrest of the wooden bench. Feeling the brick wall against the tip of his hair.
He looked down, noticing the soft reflection of the water streams still seeping through the cracks of the ground.
A cold gust carried some sand. It then picked up. More debris got carried. He shielded his face from the mini sandstorm coming his way.
Even in the darkness, he could almost sense the particles coming to him.
As the wind finally calmed down, he thought about his encounter with Veyra.
'It was some magical liquid...no? Has it enhanced my senses somehow?' He pondered, Veyra's words echoing through his mind.
Ian's mind suddenly went blank. His eyes wide.
He felt some sort of shift in the atmosphere.
Once again, the wind picked up. This time, he could have sworn he heard a howl from somewhere just before it started again.
The moon finally shone through the dark grey clouds, revealing a creature down the road.
A white wolf stood there. Staring right at him. It had seen him this whole time.
As it howled again, the wind and its passengers slapped him across his face another time.
'Could that wolf...be tied to the sudden winds?' He thought, standing up slowly.
Filled with pride from the training, he felt like he could take the thing on. But, still, something was stopping him.
What if he failed?
He would most likely die if he failed to kill the wolf.
Seeing as it didn't approach him either, he decided to sit back down to observe it from afar.
Even from here, he could hear the creature breathe. Rough breaths. It was almost as if it was waiting for something impatiently.
Was it food? If so, was he on its menu?
Sand started trailing around it. Forming a hollow cylinder as it stayed in its place.
'What is it doing?' Ian's thoughts echoed. 'Is it preparing for an attack?'
Then, suddenly, the sand that had accumulated was shot in every direction.
Ian was too focused on the sand to notice that the wolf was no longer there.
Once again, the wind caught the sand. Creating yet another micro-sandstorm in the area.
Spitting sand constantly, Ian decided to go back inside. Quickly closing the door as he entered.
A cough escaped him. Then a second. Sand was falling out.
He had most likely breathed it in just now.
A quick stretch reminded him of his fatigue from whatever Veyra was doing.
A yawn came quickly after. Wagging off through the hall it felt almost like he would fall asleep on the way.
But eventually, he reached his room. Opening the door was a big effort. Closing it was even worse.
A quick glance out the window was enough to wake him up though.
He couldn't see through it.
A layer of sand had stapled almost perfectly on the side of the glass, moonlight only spilling in from the top.
Though, his fatigue was all-consuming. He flopped onto the mattress and got carried away once again.
7.2 Sand
It was dark in the room when he finally decided to open his eyes. His usual routine of scrolling in bed was impossible here, so he tried to get up as he woke up.
Glancing to his left, Ian once again saw the window from last night. But now, the top was completely filled. Maybe even tons of layers had built up over the night.
Taking a surprisingly swift step to his left he pulled on the window handle.
It opened outwards and the sand fell off from the force.
There was already a small pile right below, most likely from lack of space on the white window frame.
Looking around, he noticed the pile wasn't alone. The streets resembled something that brought pictures of desert dunes.
Hills of smooth sand piled wherever his tired eyes landed.
He couldn't help but question it.
"What the..." Escaped him. Though interrupted by noticing an increasing light spilling in from behind him, he figured his door was opening.
He closed the window and turned. Well enough, Charlotte stood there.
"Good morning. May I ask, have you seen the towels?" She asked. An unfamiliar tone that mirrored Ryn in her voice.
Ian, completely caught off guard was expecting some snarky comment from the nurse. But, no. Not one.
"Shouldn't they be in the bathroom?" He replied.
'Or did I move them?' A thought followed.
Charlotte shook her head. "No, I've checked."
"What about the lobby? I think you scolded me for laying them on the couch once before." He continued.
Charlotte tapped her chin, as if trying to recall the memory. "I'll go check. Could you attend to the patient down the hall while I go?"
Without getting a chance to answer, Charlotte turned the heel and left.
It wasn't a question. More like a demand.
'Has she finally realised how little I do around here?' He couldn't help but think. 'Oh well. Let's get this done with.'
He exited the door and walked down the familiar hallway. He spotted some new painting, no. He had never been this far down in the building before.
He got to a room with an open door.
Stepping in, he thought it might be the patient.
"You must be Ian." A younger man spoke out. He was sitting on the hospital bed. Most likely around 5 or so years older than himself.
Ian nodded, replying casually. "That's me alright."
The other man couldn't help but smile. "You seem young."
A smile escaped Ian this time. "Well, I'm only 17 after all, so I'm pretty young."
"Alright, let's see. What did Charlotte want me to do?" He thought loudly. Luckily, didn't his inexperience seem to bother the other man.
A thought formed. He placed his hand on the man's legs, deciding to try something.
A faint pain grew inside him.
Then, it came again. All of it in a single hit.
He winced slightly.
The man was clearly worried. "Are you alri-" But was interrupted as Ian raised his hand.
"I'm...fine..." He stammered, tugging at his stomach.
It didn't hurt as much as he had expected. But, even if it did, he still got more information on the ability.
'So I don't need to directly place my hand on the wound...' He thought, forcing them away from the pain that was now all over.
'Usually the pain is more concentrated...maybe that training has something to do with it.' His mind raced on, trying to distract himself further.
He wanted to roll on the floor, as if trying to put out the raging flames of pain that were consuming him.
Just then, Charlotte stepped in, a half enthusiastic smile on her face.
"Ah, good you found him." The smile quickly vanished as she had realised what he had done.
She grabbed him by the earlobe and dragged him out.
"Ow ow ow!" Ian repeated as he was already sore from earlier.
Charlotte then turned, walking inside, closing the door. Leaving a memory of the patients questioning eyes who had seen it all.