The boy's name is Adonis, so he's not from around here, that's for sure. But I was curious about what happened to him, for his eyes reflected only the darkness he faced in his past.
As I gave Ray the food which we bought for him, he told me "I'll tell you more about him when we get home. Right now, Jian and I want to discuss some things, can you try to cheer up Adonis? as I said, I'll explain what happened when we're home. Just try to take care of him for now."
I nodded and asked Adonis to come with me. He didn't look my way at all, instead he glared at Jian, as if he could see his eyes through the armor. Jian gave him a nod of approval and without saying a word he got off the chair and looked at me, as if I was to command him.
"Let's go outside, we'll properly introduce ourselves" I said to him. He didn't say a word back, he just nodded and followed me. It felt weird because this boy was clearly older than me, but he definitely wasn't timid or shy.
We went in the playroom and sat on the swings, facing the mountain view. It was an indoor park for kids. A minute passed by after sitting and none of us said a word. Adonis just stared at the floor, and the only thing I could hear clearly we're my thoughts.
For a playground this place was awfully quiet. I tried to make small talk, but it ended up in failure. "Hey, Ray mentioned earlier that Jian rescued you, guess what! He rescued me too! May I know what happened to you?"
He looked at me with anger and killing intent in his eyes, what once seemed emotionless now had darkness flowing out from it. I didn't mean it that way, but he seems to have misunderstood me. "None of you business, quit bothering me you useless sack of electroshit." he says as he got up and left the playroom.
I get to keep my title as the speechless king for another day it seems. It reminds me of how some people in my village used to ignore me, and refused to accept it when called out. Maybe my a****r is going through such problems? why does that get censored all the time?
"I'm definitely in trouble" I said as I swinged with my failure on my shoulder. I'm getting real poetic with my words, at this rate i might end up in the corner seat near the window.
I followed him. But he disappeared..? That quick?? Strange, to say the least. I went back to the room where Ray and Jian were in. But Adonis wasn't there either.
"I see, he must've ran away, a totally expected reaction."
A twitch in my eye, as it seems that Jian doesn't even seen bothered by it, as it's just a normal Tuesday for him. Then he said
"Ruven, go find him for me. You are someone who has been through what he's experienced, you'd know best."
he grabbed me and leapt through the window and from trees to trees, and dropped me off to a place in the middle of nowhere in the forest. He told me "Ray is supposed to be training you right? Consider this a part of your training as well. Adonis is Half Human and Half VoltenCrown. I don't mean to be harsh on you, but I trust you can do it."
What.
How am I supposed to find someone who doesn't even have a shred of voltage, or atleast some which I can trace?? How do I even trace anyways, I never even had any training. Oh my god this is such a hassle.
Hey, maybe this is a good chance to learn how to regulate a bit of voltage, if not all of it.
I could try to release some electrical waves, and try to trace him. Who am I kidding, how do I even do that.
I closed my eyes and tried to release some electricity, I could feel it welling up, but it kept losing concentration.
I tried again, this time a mosquito bit me.
Third time's the charm, I hope.
I concentrated harder, and finally I could release some electrowaves, but I could only sense things within a two meter range, at this point I may as well just go hunting and pray that I can find him.
If only it started raining... I could extend the range of my electrowaves a bit.
I decided to use my two-meter range electrowaves to be able to to sense things, hoping I'd find a trace, but nothing. This reminds me of how I got lost at a village.
just then I could feel something, as if the electrowaves caught something. I looked all around me, but nothing was in sight. Even though it was just about to get dark, it wasn't too bright either.
There was only one direction where I hadn't looked in..
Up.
As soon as I did, a shadow-like figure prounced on me with an indescribable shadow knife aimed straight at my throat, as if when it pieces my neck, so will it do to my soul.
I tried to defend myself and I did so by trying to shock whatever was on top of me, but I just couldn't bring myself to happen.
That's when I thought again, that I won't make it. Maybe this was it, this was fate's second chance of taking away everything I have, and it looks like it wasn't about to let go of that chance.
"Believe, Ruven."
These words flashed across my mind along with the picture of a lock, and something that looked like a key, although I can't be sure since it was just within an inch of a second.
I felt my voltage rising and used an ability, I don't know if on command or on pure instinct or reflex, but I did it and it helped a bit.
As I used it on the shadow-like figure, it blasted him backwards into a tree, I might have to control the power on this move a bit...
That's when I could get a close look at that figure. It was Adonis, the person I was trying to find, but not the person I was talking to. I couldn't really sense anything unless I used my electrowaves, which I could just do for now. But the bloodlust and difference in voltage I felt between him and me was...
insane, but even that word cannot describe it.
You're kidding, I have to fight against that? Why do I always get stuck in these things man, can't my life be calm for just one day?
He got back up on his feet, raised his arm and prounced at me again, this time instead of a knife, it looked like a spearhead weapon. Slicing so aimlessly it almost looked rythmic, he sliced me a few times. He jumped back and manifested a gauntlet just to sucker-punch me in the guts.
I couldn't even create a weapon??
I had to fight with fists and prayers since my power wasn't strong enough to even do anything...
All I could do is use my electrowaves to foresee his moves and dodge it, and that's all I did. I dodged each and every knifes thrown at me, bows shot at me and even random objects being flung at me, which were also probably not a part of his abilities.
That's when I realised, I was using my thunderburst to reinforce my body into moving faster.
WOAH! I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PUT UP A FIGHT AGAINST THIS MONSTER!
I said, but I didn't know of what was yet to come. He manifested a strange weapon. It had a trigger and a handle, and a barre-
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FIGHT AGAINST A GUN????
It seemed like my ghost would be seeing my face in the newspaper the next day, this might not be a bad way to go out actually.
That's when Jian made his appearance and knocked out Adonis.
HEY OLD MAN, YOU'RE TOO EARLY, SHOULD'VE CAME HERE AN HOUR LATER JACKASS
I didn't even know I could say these words, nor did I know his age but those are the least of my concerns. Ray had come along with him, he quickly healed my injuries. Luckily the slashes of his were just surface slashes, thanks to my electrowaves reflex. What even is electrowaves reflex?
Probably something I made up mid-fight, I'll ask Ray about it later.
"It seems like he went overdrive with his abilities, that's unusual to see in a hybrid, but it happened nevertheless. I see you've unlocked a few new abilities, let's talk about them once we reach the hospital"
Well. I guess I'll ask Jian about it later.
He picked up Ray
"NO NO NO, JIAN DON'T DO THIS" He said as Jian shot him into the atmosphere like a catapult.
He carried the unconscious Adonis, and me on his back again, and brought us to the hospital. This armor is so uncomfortable, being tired and still having the pain from that sucker punch was already bad enough, and trying to sit properly on this hard armor wasn't helping at all.
"Carry my own and keep moving forward" I can't even carry anything right now.
I should probably stop whining, I'm not that reluctant of a main character.
That being said, Adonis regained consciousness as well reached the hospital. He said he felt like he got shocked by the same amount of energy as a power outlet, oops.
Ray then took me to a separate room and we were to talk about Adonis.
"My apologies Ruven, for what you had to deal with. I'd assume Adonis was quite rude to you, in the playroom. Allow me to explain why it was so. You see, Adonis comes from a small village nearby. He is a hybrid VoltenCrown, as you already know. You see, his father was a human and his mother was a VoltenCrown, but the thing is that Adonis' mother was from Aqueogon. They have a bad history/relationship with humans, and thus deem it as taboo that a VoltenCrown shall procreate and marry a human, and that those who do so shall be met with death."
"So.. his parents are..."
"Yes. Jian managed to rescue Adonis before he met with the same fate. They sent spies after his parents. Although history says that the Executioner of Aqueogon agreed to co-operate with the humans, it did not match his deeds. Ultimately, he was isolated by his brothers. The people of Aqueogon are constantly under watch of the nearest VoltenCrown city, which is Terragon, but we are under the suspicions that they might be up to the same thing. Anyways, sorry for going off track, but please don't be mad at Adonis."
"I see, then I will apologise to him as I see him again."
"Oh and one more thing.. actually nevermind, I'll explain it to you sometime later"
He never did explain what.
*in the other room where Adonis was resting and Jian was talking to him, Jian explained what Ruven had been through.
"I see, what I did was wrong, I have tn apologise to him. I was very much out of line."
"I'm very glad that you think that, Adonis. But you should rest now."
As he said that, I walked in.
"Adonis! You're awake! I'm just here to tell you that I apologise for being rude to you earlier, I didn't know what you had been through..."
"Hey, Ruven, it's fine.. I wanted to apologise myself... Even though I've been through something bad, I had no right to act like that. I also apologise for whatever happened before I fell unconscious."
"Adonis, I know how you feel, certainly not at your level, but what you are going through. You have to keep living on, live a good life for your parents, and for us, who are here for you. Please, don't be afraid to open up to us, we'll help you however we can. I know! you should come to our house sometimes! you'll have lots of fun, I promise."
After this incident, we grew closer as best friends. We talked in the hospital, about the world, ourselves and whatever we could talk about. We were inseparable. Jian used to bring him over for a visit anytime they were free.
Years went by, and I learned how to regulate my voltage, and mastered electroreflex, electrowaves and shock.
I was nowhere as good as other warriors, or Adonis as using my abilities, but I could defend myself. I was now 15, starting my highschool years, The hat I got when i was younger could now fit me well, and became an essential part of my outfit. But I hadn't seen Adonis since I was 12, which was strange. Ray said Jian and Adonis were busy in training, so I'll believe him.
I met a good amount of people, and started calling Eva and Ray my Mom and Dad respectively. I was starting out anew, in Alterio High School, where I will be making new friends.
I still miss my real parents, but I can't be stuck up on the past. I had kept moving forward, and so will I continue to do.