Fear

Seventy years ago, a tragedy known as the First Catastrophe had occurred, in which horrible and ferocious monsters had appeared out of nowhere and destroyed everything in their path.

This catastrophe was the cause of the rift between the realms, but other things happened as well. The most important of these was the awakening of some people who mysteriously gained powers to face the monsters they called calamities.

Those people with powers after the first catastrophe were called various names, heroes, saviors, fighters... some even called them gods among mortals.

But those people thought that all those names were too ostentatious, they were defenders, attackers and above all the new pillars of humanity, they didn't need a name.

They also defined their powers as techniques that were unique and gave them increased strength to fight against calamities.

For 70 years, these people began to train their techniques to withstand the invasion of calamities. As they did so, they gradually began to understand more about the secrets behind these powers.

At the moment of receiving their first technique, each one of them gained access to the essence, an energy necessary for the use of the techniques.

The old man saw Nathan's obvious confusion and understood that it was very likely that Nathan did not fully understand the techniques.

"What do you know of the techniques?"

Nathan looked off to the side as he thought.

"Are powers?"

The older man felt the need to roll his eyes but remained calm and began to explain in detail so that Nathan would understand as best he could.

"Technically correct, the techniques are powers that people has access to. There is still a lot of mystery behind them, but the basics are known"

Nathan listened carefully, knowing that what he was about to hear was important.

"Each person has the opportunity to acquire 5 different techniques in their lifetime, and with them, different advantages"

"Each person is given a rank according to the number of techniques they have acquired. A person of the first rank will have only one technique, and a person of the fifth rank will have all five"

Nathan understood the basic concept, but he didn't understand the dimensions of how important the difference in power levels between a first rank and a fifth rank was.

The old man raised his arm and pointed at him.

"Now you are a first rank, but you can't compare yourself to a first rank who has been practicing his technique for years. That's why, within the same rank, people with techniques have been divided into categories according to their talent and power"

Nathan looked at his hands, not understanding the power he now possessed. The old man had told him that he now had a technique, but he felt nothing different in his body.

The old man felt that there was no point in explaining any more, seeing how distracted Nathan was, so he decided to leave the explanation for later. For now, it was enough for Nathan to understand the basics.

Nathan looked at the old man again, not understanding how the old man could say he had a technique. He also couldn't sense the mysterious essence he had mentioned, the basic energy for the techniques.

"Your techniques will be your best friends from now on until the end of your days, but for now you will learn to control your technique"

Nathan could not stand it any longer and felt the urge to ask.

"What is my technique?"

The old man smiled mysteriously and mocked.

"You don't know? find out for yourself"

Nathan gaped but before he could say anything the old man appeared behind him and struck him behind the knees with his cane, forcing him to his knees.

Nathan tried to get up quickly, but the old man put the cane on his shoulder, preventing him from getting up.

The weight of the cane made Nathan feel like there was a mountain on his shoulders, he couldn't imagine how strong the old man had to be to keep him completely still.

'Monster...'

Unaware of his thoughts, the old man began to speak.

"Close your eyes and concentrate"

Afraid of the consequences if he didn't heed his words, Nathan closed his eyes and concentrated.

At first his mind was calm, but the silence and stillness slowly began to turn into a swirl of negative thoughts and his fears rose again.

Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder that drove all those thoughts away, and then he heard the old man's words.

"Don't get distracted, look for what is important. Concentrate on your technique"

Nathan grumbled inwardly and concentrated again.

'Technique... my technique...'

Unconsciously, the same thoughts came back to him. He saw himself in the military facility in front of the dying workers, in the square surrounded by shadows and in the house where the boy was strangling him.

Nathan bit his lips as he tried to push the thoughts away.

'None of it matters... just focus.'

To forget is impossible, but to stop thinking about something is not. With some mental effort, Nathan gradually pushed those thoughts away, replacing them with lesser fears.

He remembered himself running through the facility, afraid that something would turn a corner and attack him. He saw himself running through the streets of the village, trying to escape. He saw himself lying on the floor in pain.

These were all traumas and fears he lived with, but it made him realize something.

'I... Am I a coward?'

Suddenly he felt another blow on the man and again the old man's angry voice.

"What did I tell you?"

Nathan's mind went blank again, this time he began to project himself into a dark, empty place. Slowly he began to sink into his own consciousness.

Everything was dark, but Nathan had never been afraid of the dark. He was alone, but he was not afraid of loneliness.

With all he had experienced, these fears were nothing.

He felt a tingling sensation in his back that spread to his chest and then throughout his body. Soon black hands appeared behind him, but instead of instilling fear, they inspired confidence.

As if he controlled them, the hands moved forward, attacking the darkness. At that moment Nathan felt another tap on his shoulder, breaking his concentration and awareness.

The old man waited for Nathan to come to before asking.

"So, what have you found out?"

Nathan stood up and looked down at his hands.

Instinctively he understood, as if it had been there all along, but hidden inside him.

"I... transmit fear"

The old man smiled with satisfaction.

"Very good"

Nathan understood his ability, it was quite simple. He could transfer fear to his opponents with his attacks. It wasn't a flashy skill, but it was quiet and unpredictable.

The old man walked back in front of him and slapped him on the chest to get his attention.

"You've understood enough, now go, the children are worried about you"

Nathan thought for a few seconds.

'What children? ...Ah'

He had been in the realm for a few days and had completely forgotten about the children and the factory.

Nathan understood that he had to go, so he left without bothering to say goodbye to the old man.

Meanwhile, the old man stood in the dojo for a few minutes in thought, then went out and walked into the living room before turning on the television. He sat in his chair and began to watch the channels boredly until he came to the news.

"After six months of disappearance, Byron Alterna's son, Nathan Aeterna, heir to the great Aeterna clan, is presumed dead"

The old man snorted and continued to watch the news.

"His funeral was held yesterday, where dozens of people came to bless the family for their loss"

The old man watched the news for a few more minutes before turning off the television and closing his eyes.

"Given up for dead... although he's more alive than ever"

***

Nathan quickly made his way back to the city, it was still daylight so he guessed that the time between passing out in the realm and waking up in the old man's house must not have been long.

But before he reached the factory, he had to make an emergency stop. His clothes were dirty and covered in blood, and he could not appear in front of the children like this, lest he frighten them. So, he bathed in a nearby river and waited for his clothes to dry before returning.

When he arrived at the factory, he knocked on the door several times until a little girl opened it.

Lira looked at him for a few seconds before smiling and hugging him.

"Welcome back"

Nathan was confused, he had definitely thought she would be worried. But his doubts were dispelled a moment later.

"The old man from before said you were busy and wouldn't be back for a few day" Lira said with some sadness in her voice.

Nathan frowned.

'The same old man I know?'

Lira let him go and Nathan entered the factory. Once inside, he noticed that everyone was eating fresh vegetables, but their expressions were dark.

"What happened?" Nathan asked.

Lira looked at the children and said in a quiet voice.

"Antelina died yesterday..."

'Ah...'

Nathan understood the children's expressions; another of the eldest had died, just like Norton, on the day Nathan was thrown into the realm.

Somehow the number of children was dwindling and something seemed wrong. But Nathan was too tired to think about it.

He approached the group and when they realized he had returned, they were immediately happy. Nathan joined them to eat and soon it was revealed to him that it was the old man who had given them the vegetables.

'Is he that kind?'

Nathan shook his head and continued talking to the group of children until a question occurred to him.

'Come to think of it, I didn't ask him his name'