The Necklace Part I

After a few days of recuperating, Valens has now fully recovered.

Although, when he tried again to awaken his second ability secretly, it backfired again, spitting some blood from his mouth.

And so, under strict orders from the doctor, he is definitely not allowed to practice awakening his second ability. Thus, currently, Valens is under Ember's watch 24/7, which the older redhead didn't mind.

At times, both could be seen basking under the sun, while at times pranks could be seen by the two running around the house, which Exeo didn't mind it. As long as Valens is safe and takes his mind off a bit by awakening his second ability.

After a month of doing nothing except playing around with Ember, Exeo decided that it was time for Val to know his parents. He called the both of them to his office, gesturing them to sit down.

Exeo sat down opposite of Ember and Valens. He said, "You have the right to know who you really are, and where you came from."

The boy widened his eyes in surprise, looking at both of them, and soon nodded with a smile. He knows that Exeo saved him from that street life, and no matter the news, he would definitely be loyal to his now so-called big brothers.

Although, at the back of his mind, there's this feeling that it's not a coincidence that his ability would be the same as the two. He still couldn't believe that he is blood brothers with the two men in front of him.

Exeo proceeded to explain that his parents, are also Valens's parents. Which means, they are truly blood brothers. What's more is that it was revealed late by their parents about the news that they still have another brother, just before both had passed away.

This is why, they were not able to even rescue their youngest.

But, Exeo expressed his happiness when he found Valens that night by coincidence. He truly was happy and that he would do anything to make up for all those years that they were not beside him.

However, he couldn't explain to Valens why it was revealed so late by their parents.

At this time, Valens said, "Big brother, this has been with me since I remember, maybe it's from mother and father?"

He brought out a necklace with a ruby pendant, which has been hidden all along, showing it to them. Both the older males were shocked, confirming that one, it was really their youngest (since they saw their Mother wearing it when she was alive when they were little), and two, there seems to be a slight color of purple mana in it (trademark of the Bellator family).

There's a tiny swirl of mana inside moving. Exeo slightly leaned forward, and carefully inspected the pendant. He looked up at Val and asked, "Have you tried injecting mana in it?"

The boy shook his head and said, "I have totally forgotten about this when I arrived at this manor." feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"It's fine, try doing it now, good thing you didn't do it before or it would be dangerous."

Valens glanced at both of them, when Ember said, "Val, don't worry, we're here to protect you.", saying in a gentle voice.

Valens nodded and held the pendant tightly in his palm. He closed his eyes, concentrating on injecting a little bit of mana and a gush of light was emitting from the pendant.

When Val has been clasping the pendant tightly, light is leaking in between his fingers and it made the two older males squint. The light was still emitting so brightly, and to prevent suspicion, Exeo told Ember in a slightly loud voice, "Cover the windows with the blackout curtains. I'll go out and tell Nox that no workers are lurking near or just outside this study room."

Ember just nodded and went towards the windows, pulling all curtains to cover the windows.

After they have done this, both are now standing alert, making sure that whatever happens to Valens, they would be able to rush towards him immediately.

While Val is still injecting some mana into the pendant, inside Valens consciousness, different scenes appeared, like a movie scene rolling. He saw the scene of his past life, starting from the day he was born until the day Exeo met him in the streets.

A silhouette of a man left him at an unknown family's doorstep, holding a necklace and playing it on baby Val's neck, the ruby necklace.

Then, the scene ended and changed. It's black, his surroundings are black.

Then, he could hear a muffled voice, he couldn't understand what that person was saying, as the voice seems like far away. Then, gradually it got louder and clearer. A person was talking to him, this, time it got clearer.

"-hart! Sir Reinhart! Sir! Wake up! Are you okay?!"

Val slowly opened his eyes, at first, it was blurry, he noticed the silhouette of the man on his right side talking to him.

His vision gradually returned and opened his mouth to speak but no words or sound come out of his mouth.

Although there were no official records of the previous ARM user, which was a Bellator, only the Bellator family knows their ancestor's name.

Thus, Val knows who that person was as he had been homeschooled during his first three years after being brought home by Exeo.

Still, Val is wondering why he's being called that. He moved his eyes around checking his surroundings and noticed just now that he is at a different place.

It was slightly raining, with dark clouds looming in the sky. Based on how the soldier kept talking and how he is looking down at him, it means that he is lying down, with trees surrounding them. He also noticed that the soldier's uniform was not the one he was familiar with.

He tried again to open his mouth, but then he felt a sharp pang of pain in his belly.

'Urk!'

He slowly lifted his right hand and touched it. It's warm, he could also smell the strong smell of blood. He lifted again his right hand and yes, it's definitely blood and placed it down on the ground.

He looked back at the soldier again and was about to say something when several shouts can be heard from afar.

The young soldier who was earlier worried, suddenly felt panic and turned his head towards the shouts that were heard from afar. He stood up and said, "Sir, I'll definitely protect you, please hold on a little longer.", then he ran off and shouted "Over here! Over here! Sir Reinhart is here! We need medical help!"

Val followed the man with his eyes and soon disappeared into the forest. He winced when he tried to get up, but still pushed with his elbow and groaned from the pain. He leaned on one elbow and touched again the wound on his belly.

'Where am I?'

He kept looking around cautiously. Then suddenly, a few strands of long red hair fell from his shoulders, he looked down and was shocked.

'Huh?! Huh?!? How did I have long red hair?!'

He also noticed that his body is that of an adult male. He slowly touched them with his free hand on his face up to his ears, when his fingers grazed the chained earrings. His eyes widened in surprise when he touched the earrings.

'What the?? I'm inside the previous Bellator's body?!', and a series of thoughts were swirling in his mind.

He kept thinking that maybe it was because of the necklace, which he definitely remembered, along with his two older brothers.

However, his thoughts were interrupted when the young soldier was back shouting "Sir! Sir! You should lie down or you'll get yourself hurt more!" while running towards him.

He also noticed that there were several soldiers behind him, 'It must be the people he asked for help.', but then, an unexpected thing happened.

One of the people behind the solder who was running noticed that they raised a dagger, coated with a white aura. He couldn't guess what that man's ability was but definitely not something aimed to help him.

He tried to speak but his face was deeply frowning from the pain, and instead lifted his free arm to attempt to point at the man but it was too late. The dagger was thrown directly at him, he tried to avoid it but couldn't, and landed on his chest, deep.

It pierced through his back which made him coughed out blood, and looked down on his chest. He had no strength to look up, the only thing he could hear were shouts of 'Who dared-' then chaos ensued.

The light in his eyes is slowly fading away, and he could also feel that his right elbow had no strength, and fell back on the ground on his side. His vision went blurry gradually, and can only see blurry figures surrounding him.

'I know this is not me, but the previous ancestor...So, this is how he died... someone betrayed him...', then he slowly closed his eyes. He no longer cared about his surroundings, only the muffled voices he can hear.

'Come to think of it...this feeling...it's scary...', and darkness surrounded his vision again.

Then, a series of words and symbols suddenly entered his mind, making him groan in pain, veins bulging on his forehead.

He unconsciously leaned forward with his other hand on top of the table to balance himself. Then all of a sudden, he released his hold of the pendant and opened his eyes. He felt dizzy and was about to fall when he was caught with ease by Exeo, letting Val rest for a bit, with Val's head hanging low.

Exeo and Ember could hear some mumbling from Val but couldn't understand it. After hearing this, Ember called for Nox letting him know to prepare Val's bedroom immediately.

After a few minutes, Nox came back stating it was ready. So Exeo carried their youngest into his bedroom, with Ember following behind them.

As soon as Exeo put down Valens on his bed, his body started twitching, much like the sounds of bones cracking forcefully.

Both of them frowned and worried, Exeo was about to go near Valens but Ember held his arm and shook his head. He pointed at the necklace faintly glowing, which is now resting on the crook of Val's neck.

They could hear moans and groans of pain from Valens, which are getting louder.

All they could do is watch him in pain, as this might have been caused by the pendant making his body forcefully break the bones and repair. They don't know what exactly happened, all they know is that it's related to the necklace.

Valens would keep groaning and shouting from the pain and when he thought that it would end, another wave of unbearable pain would surge in his body.

His will to not be unconscious makes the two older males admire him.

He would try to talk to them in between these episodes saying, "I-uuugh. Am uugggh... Ughhhh.... Aaaaah.. Go-uuuuuughhh -ing to b-uuuugh f-uuugggh aaaaaaahhhhh...uuuugh-ine" while he twists and turns with his body on the bed. It was painful to watch the two older males see their youngest suffer but they believe in Val.

Sometimes he would clench on the bedsheet while saying, "P-uuuuugggghh...ughggg lea-uuuuggggghhh aaaaaaah-se r-aaaaaaaahhhh..uuugggghst big b-aaaaah uuuuugggggghhhh roth-uuuugggghhh uuuuggggh-ers.", while forcing a smile and will soon distort to frowning.

Other times, there are intervals between these episodes. Valens at least would take a breather but, it was shortlived.

Then, another wave of intense pain would again surge inside his body, and his veins all over his body at times would bulge, making him scream in pain, forcing his body to be enhanced.

All this happened for two straight days, which eventually caused hoarseness in his voice due to screaming and groaning.

Valens couldn't properly eat due to the pain suddenly surging from his body randomly.

On the third day, it was gone and although he wanted to eat, he was unable to as the fatigue came heavier, but he felt that his throat and lips were too dry.

He let out a small groan, leading the two older males who were asleep, to jolt awake and noticed Valens being out of pain.

They rushed towards the bedside when Valens weakly and breathly said, "W-wa..t...er" and let out a sigh as if that was the most of the energy he can let out.

Ember picked up the glass of water which was already ready at the bedside table and Exeo helped Valens get up so he doesn't fall when drinking water. They put a straw in it, so Valens can take a sip slowly. Valens took a sip and with the help of Exeo, he lay back down. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep again.

Exeo and Ember didn't leave Val's room. They stayed there, even their meals, they instructed Nox to bring it there. They didn't want to stay away from Val's side.

And so, after Valens drank some water a bit, they instructed Nox to prepare a simple meal for Val once he woke up.

Both of them plopped on the sofa inside Val's bedroom and sighed. No one talked, they just closed their eyes, letting the little snore from their brother be their lullaby. Soon, they fell asleep again while sitting on the sofa.

The door to Val's bedroom was slowly opened and when Nox was about to tell them that the food had been prepared, he noticed that the two, Ember and Exeo had fallen asleep again. The butler just smiled and decided to let them rest longer.

They have gone through this mini battle with their powers and passed.

Valens woke up at nighttime and soon realized that he was alone, with a loud growling sound coming from his stomach. He noticed his room is dimly lit and tried to get up but fell back on his bed due to lack of strength.

So, he peeked at the bedside table and noticed a bell. The bell was intentionally left at the bedside table, as instructed by Ember, in case he will wake up during nighttime.

He reached out for the bell, and when he grasped it, he rang the bell slowly, just enough to make a loud sound, and soon, the door opened and it was Ember.

Valens gazed towards the direction of the door and when he saw Ember, he smiled weakly. "Hello...brother".

Ember slowly walked towards Valens and sat on the bed just beside him, he said, "Hello Val. How are you feeling?"

Valens still let out a hoarse voice but managed to answer him, "I'm good...Where's.. brother..Exeo?"

Ember just nodded and replied, "Exeo is busy with your papers, since we already have your initial Ability results, he wanted to make sure that this does not go out and for your training too.", holding Val's right hand, squeezing gently.

"Are you hungry? I can call Nox and reheat the food that we prepared for you."

"Yes...that...would be...great."

Ember nodded in satisfaction and grabbed the bell, to call for Nox. When Nox arrived, Ember instructed him to prepare the food for Valens and put back the bell on the bedside table.

When the door was closed, he turned back to face Valens and sighed, "You really worried us there, y'know."

Valens let out a soft hoarse chuckle, he said, "I..told..you...I'm fine..."

"I know, but we still worry."

And soon, Nox came in with the food, and Ember decided that he will feed his little brother. Nox slightly bowed before going out. Once the door has closed shut, he assisted Valens in getting up, with pillows on his back for support.

After feeding Valens and tucking him in bed, he decided to bring the dirty dishes out and let Valens rest some more.

However, once he was outside, his worried expression changed into a serious one. He called Nox, "Nox, what time will Brother Exeo come home?"

"In an hour Young Master."

Ember pushed the plates to Nox, and a slight frown has been formed on Ember's face. He looked just straight ahead, and said to Nox, "Give me the documents that our parents left for us. There might be a hint somewhere there the reason why they put Valens in an orphanage. And Nox", he titled his head and gazed at Nox with slight killing intent, he added, "Valens's ability, will never ever go out, do you understand?"

Nox slightly bowed and curtly replied, "Yes, Young Master, please consider it done."

"Good, then bring me the documents I mentioned. Once Brother Exeo is back, tell him to proceed in my office."

"Understood sir."

Ember just waved his hand motioning Nox to go on and proceeded to walk towards his own office.