Chapter 13: Unlocked

After breakfast, Alex helped the man wash the dishes.

The man name is lucas. He is a hunter who only join missions that are too hard.

"Alex. Have you heard the story, of the tragic hero?" Lucas asked, as he dried the plates.

"No." He said.

"It was told, that the Hero soul came from another world. The hero saved many people, slain many evil beasts. The hero magic is very unique. It allows the user to create illusion. The hero uses that fully, like its a part of them. Yet, one day. A curse been placed on the hero, only having ten years to live if they ever felt love again. The love can be any. Storge, Philia, Eros. Etc."

"That does sound tragic." Alex said.

"Indeed. After that, no one heard from the hero again. The hero loved their job, so, they can only quit."

"Is the hero a boy or a girl?"

"No one knows. So we use they and them. But they have another name, the Shadow Knight. They come and go like a shadow, saving people like a night."

'Shadow Knight.' Alex suddenly remembered his previous world, 'Is this world changing me too?'

"Alright. Is 8 now! We are going to train your aura." Andra said, entering from the door near the stairs.

"Cya." Alex said, as Lucas smile and nodded.

Alex went to the backyard, seeing a small garden.

It reminded him of his previous world.

Suddenly, he saw another memory.

He was also standing near the door, the flowers and trees looks to be at the same place.

A man who looked very gentle was tending the flowers, as he felt his small hand grabbed by a woman. As he saw the woman lifting the boy to her shoulder, he seat on her shoulder and raise his hands like a plane. They ran around the garden.

That memories came and go, as he saw Andra seating near the flowers, waving at him.

He snapped out of it, and walked over.

"Alright. What's the first thing you know about aura?" She asked, crossing her legs.

"Everything has one?" Alex said, remembering his master words.

"Not exactly true." She said, "Only living things have. The reasons you can see faint aura on non living things is due to the bacteria or other small mirco living things." She paused to let Alex absorb the information. "Aura is like training magic. Expect is in your own body."

Alex closed his eyes, trying to feel the energy like how he did with mana.

"It might take a few days to get use to this. So train yourself. You might get tired, so don't try to use it. You just have to try and absorb the aura from around you." She stood up, "I will go see if I have any assignments from the school." With that, Andra hopped over the fence and left.

Alex felt a very faint energy, but he felt tired when he tried to use it. So he tried to sense the aura around him. The flowers in front of him have a high amount of aura, as he tried to absorb it.

"That's not how you absorb aura." He heard Lucas voice, "It's hard to absorb aura from a your surroundings at your level. It's easier to absorb human aura." He seat behind Alex. "I will help you for now till you can relay on plants."

Alex felt a familiar and new aura coming from behind, as he focus on it. He's body seem to absorb it better, as he manage to convert it into his aura. He seem to be able to hear his own heartbeat.

"Your sense are sharpen as you practice aura." Lucas explained, seeing Alex expression.

After about half an hour, Alex fell back. Landing his head on Lacus legs.

Lucas softy chuckled, rubbing Alex head. As he seem to be remembering something.

'If only things can be this peaceful.' He look at the plants, as he absorb the aura from it. 'I'm sorry Alex. Sorry I had to lock away those memories.' He softly sighed, 'But now, I can help to slowly unlock those memories again.'

Alex opened his eyes, and saw he seem to be in his previous world. A hospital.

He heard a baby crying, as he turn to see a woman he seem to saw before, holding a baby that looked like his previous self. A man standing nearby, gently rubbing the baby head.

"I hope that we can watch him grow up into a fine young man." The man said, as the woman nodded.

"Let's give him the best childhood."

Smoke surround Alex, as the scene changed.

"Papa! Don't go!" He saw his younger self holding his father hand. He's hand getting bloody from the stabbed wound.

"Alex." He smiled weakly, "You are not making this easy for me."

"You promised you won't leave like mama!"

"Sorry Alex. Just, forget this part of your life. Its for the best." The man weakly grab young Alex head, as he's watch glowed a little.

Alex fell asleep, as another man walked forward.

"Take care of him. To return the favor." The man said.

"I bet his gonna follow your footsteps no matter what."

"I bet on my life. He better not."

"That's not a good bet." The man slowly pick up the young sleeping Alex.

"Tell him. He's parents love him."

"I don't need to tell him. He would one day, find out himself. That would made the feeling more real."

"Whatever you say."

"Ain't you suppose to be dead? Hurry and die already. Go keep your wife company. Stop bothering me."

"I guess. I better make sure she isn't making trouble." His voice became weak, "Thank you. For everything." He weakly smile, as he look at his best friend. He's eyes slowly devoid of any life.

"Tch. Its not even a week. Both of you left me with this kid." The man said, as he bend down and pressed the dead man watch, as the dead man arm slowly became ashes. "I won't let the world know your death to keep his safety. Hope ya understand."

He left, as the body slowly became ashes.

Alex watches as the body ashes was blew by the wind, he didn't know why. But he felt his heart hurt, seeing the man dying.

"So, I did have a childhood." He said to himself in the empty streets. A big smile on his face, as his tears ran down his cheeks.