How Heroes are Made

"Sure sure, but make sure your parents know about it. If you're gonna stay here boy don't expect any special treatment. " The old man answered,

His residence wasn't small at all, and since he had already taken Yin to live among them it wasn't such a problem to let Sicarius stay. The old man closed his eyes and a furrowed expression quickly followed on his face.

"The Cult's giving me a headache." The old man said, "I'll be here less frequently from now on. I trust the three of you to not destroy this place now that this will be where you will spend most of your days."

"Clean this up!" Abruptly he yelled as he levitated towards an opening in the ceiling, leaving the children below.

"Grandpops, You just got here!" Yelled Venus as she got up from the floor.

Sicarius wasn't baffled by the easy yes from the old man. The true challenge was getting his parents to agree. But that was a matter to be planned for, right now, they had to find a way to fix the mess they made in the old man's residence.

"Yin, can you make a broom with your powers?"

*****

The tower stood tall. In the center of the city, it seemed to be the most peaceful place in the city. From afar the city seemed to be peaceful. The usual city lights that glowed throughout the landscape were ever present along with the common sounds of the bustling city. However, the past few days it seemed as the sounds of screams and cries were blending along with the noise. At first it was barely noticeable, but now the general public couldn't help but be anxious.

The City of Angels had never been this chaotic before. Various houses were being attacked for no reason, seemingly at random. Senseless murders occurred throughout the city leaving children orphans besides puddles of blood. Despite how well the police force would guard the streets, somehow one or two powered cultists got past them. There was no other choice but to get the staff of Last Hope Involved.

The staff of Last Hope was not strong at all, but among the common folk, they might as well be heroes. The mere presence of them eased the tensions of the civilians and roused the caution of the cultists.

But this didn't mean that the cultists would stop, at least not yet.

On the 3rd floor of an apartment building was a team of officers all of status 0 accompanied by one teacher of Last Hope, Synthia.

"CAPD! Open up! We would like to investigate the vicinity due to reports of suspicious noises! Please cooperate!"

One cultist, alerted by the sudden appearance of the patrolling Powered hid within. His black hooded robe seemed torn and stained with a dark red. Blood splattered all over the floor around him, and in his hands was a child around the age of 6 or 7. The child was crying. No sound would escape from him as the cultist's hands gripped tightly on his throat.

The child had his eyes open in the darkness, and yet he quickly shut them. He didn't want to see what remains of his mother within the room. Right now he could only pray that his father would save him.

"Open up!" The officers knocked harder, a little more force and the door would break down.

Another thud resounded within the room but it wasn't from the knocking. The little boy opened his eyes to see his father wide eyed holding a baseball bat. For a second he felt happy that his dad was here to save him, but that happiness quickly turned to dread when the cultists turned to see what he was looking at.

The element of surprise was gone. The father had no choice but to rush and shout as he attacked.

"Fool!" The cultist tossed the child aside and kicked the father on the chest as he lunged. The father staggered backward while the cultist held the door with both palms. No matter what the cultists tried the door was only a moment away from breaking down.

"Ardor! Go hide now!" The father yelled,

Ardor, the little boy ran fast. Straight under a table while the father ran towards the cultist with his bat. The boy watched the cultist grab the bat with one hand. Without wasting a second the cultist yanked the father towards him, locking him in his elbow just as the door broke down.

"Move rashly and I will kill this man!" The cultist shouted, eyes wide and sweat dripping down his brow. The father struggled in his arms but that only made the cultist tighten his elbow around his neck.

The officers, along with Synthia stilled. It wasn't until Ardor scurried out from under the table and onto the officers did anyone move at all.

"Please save my Dad!" the boy wailed,

Synthia took the boy in her arms and shushed him as the other officers warily closed up towards the cultists, little by little.

"Get back!" The cultist backed up while the father screamed out in pain.

"Dad!" Ardor wailed once more. There was nothing he could do but wail.

The more the officers got closer the more that it seemed his father was closer to death.

"Hold your advance!" Synthia ordered,

All the officers froze. The cultist relaxed his grip around the father's throat.

Quickly Synthia carried the boy in one arm to place him outside the room. Ardor didn't refuse the safety. Being in her arms he could see right behind her shoulder back into the room.

He watched as one officer nodded to the other. The other nodded back. In a quick motion, they rushed towards the cultist.

His father was looking right at him with teary eyes and a graying face.

Beneath the shouts of the cultist, Ardor heard a sickening snap. And everything turned white.

Ardor screamed. Synthia, along with everyone else was pushed back by a force that exploded from him.

Ardor pointed with his hand and a ball of fire raged at the tip of his finger. With everyone on the floor from his outburst, he pointed at the cultist and devoured him with flames before anyone could react.

Only when the cultist became ash did anyone even react. The boy had calmed down, and was now staring at his palms, one covered in light and one in fire.

'Put the palm with light on your father's neck,' A voice said, but it was neither from Synthia nor from any officer present in the room.

The voice came from his mind. The boy didn't question it and quickly place his palm on the father's neck.

The others present watched as the father's neck which was previously snapped in an unpleasant angle, corrected itself. They watched in awe as the father's breath returned to him. When Ardor confirmed his father was all well, his eyes started to close. Before he could crash to the ground, Synthia caught him in her arms.

"My god, A priest with orthodox powers."

Synthia carried the boy in her arms before glaring at each and everyone of the officers.

"Incompetent fools! You almost got this boy's father killed!" She reprimanded, "Take his father to the hospital!"

She remained no more as she made her way to the Last Hope.