Just Like Your Mother

Keeping away from the main paths, Kai made his way towards the nearby road where a taxi was waiting for him. His breathing labored as the gate slowly came into sight, its open gate carved with various dragons and snakes.

Just as he was about to reach the gate a voice came from behind him.

"I knew you'd pull something like this."

Turning around he was faced with Draven staring down at him. His green eyes glowing in the dark of the night, giving off an eerie vibe.

"You're just like your mother, running away when things begin to get tough."

Kai clenched his fist, staring down at the ground. Before he could say anything though, Draven spoke again the arrogance clear in his voice.

"I was just thinking" Draven began to walk towards Kai, stopping only when they were an inch or two apart. Kai continued to avoid his gaze, not daring to look up. "before you leave It'd be nice if you could swear your loyalty to me, the future Patriarch."

At this moment Kai looked up towards Draven, craning his neck just to look into his eyes. He saw the smile on his face, the eyes that looked at him like he was just some bug.

"No, why should I do anything for you?"

The smile on Draven's face disappeared, replace with a deep frown. However, his eyes didn't change. Draven quickly shot his hands out, pushing Kai to the ground. Draven now stood over him, his voice was cold as he spoke:

"Do it or I'll cripple you like my father did to yours."

Kai grinded his teeth hearing this. All these years it had been the Patriarch? Why? Why would father stay in the clan that crippled him?

Kai glared at Draven from the ground.

"Eat dirt, toad face!" Kai threw a couple pebbles and some dirt into Draven's face, causing him to cover his face and take a couple steps back.

Taking advantage of this Kai quickly got up and ran towards the gate once again. Activating his spirit ears, he limited their range to ten or so meters around him. The sound of the wind in the leaves, the bugs in the grass and Draven's grunts rush to his ears, but unlike in the awakening ceremony he was able to keep himself from being overwhelmed.

Kai was only able to get a couple of steps before he heard Draven catch up. Without even looking he could hear the rustling of his clothes, his breathing and heartbeat speeding up. Kai quickly jumped to the side, barely dodging Draven's tackle.

Draven quickly threw another punch, only for Kai to dodge once again. Kai smiled seeing this, before the punch he could hear Draven's heartbeat speed up and the friction of his clothes giving him ample time to get out of the way.

Dodging a couple more times, Kai was able to finally gain a bit of distance from Draven. But before he could celebrate Draven's eyes glowed yellow as his pupils turned into vertical slits. An oppressive aura leaked out, freezing Kai in place.

Draven lowered his body slightly. Kai recognized the move from the training manuals, The Crouching Dragon. It was an extremely powerful attack but was difficult to master. It seemed that Draven was still learning and was planning on using him as a living sandbag.

Kai heartbeat fiercely, like an engine pumping blood through his veins. He screamed internally, trying to get his body to move but the intimidation from Draven's dragon seemed too strong. Kai continued to stand frozen, silently waiting for Draven to unleash his strike.

Draven then rushed forward, his fist rushing towards Kai's chest. Kai closed his eyes, awaiting the impact.

"Roll to the right" a voice like choppy radio static echoed in his mind, freeing him from the dragon suppression. Without even opening his eyes, he followed the voice's command.

Hitting the ground, he immediately heard a sound similar to a whip cracking from where he was just standing.

Opening his eyes, he could see Draven with his arm still outstretched from the punch. His eyes widened while glaring down at Kai.

Kai begins to crawl away desperately, but he soon felt Draven yank him backwards knocking him onto his back.

Struggling on the ground Kai is grabbed by the throat before being lifted to the air. His eyes now at the same level as Draven's, they stare at each other silently for a moment.

Draven smiles as he tightens his grip. A popping sound resounded as tears quickly formed in Kai's eyes. Draven dropped him to the ground, the smile still etched on his face he just silently watched Kai.

Kai quickly wrapped his hands around his throat and tried to scream out, but quickly realized he couldn't even breathe. His throat felt as if it was on fire, every time he tried to breathe only made it more painful as if he were spreading salt on an open wound.

Staring at the struggling Kai, something suddenly caught Draven's eye. The ring that Kai's mother had left behind was dangling loosely from Kai's neck.

"While I'm at it, I might as well take that ring of yours" Draven began to reach for the black ring. "Just to make sure you never forget who your master is."

Kai's eyes widened as he began to try and swat Draven's hand away, but each of his swings seemed futile as the hand steadily approached his mother's ring. His mind was a mess: he had awakened a trash spirit, then his father gave him up. And now he was losing the only connection he had with his mother.

He watched as Draven began to close his hand around the ring, however just as he clenched his fist Draven froze. Kai immediately felt a cool energy flow through his body, it quickly surged towards his throat. Kai quickly pulled back, breaking the chain-link necklace.

Staring at the frozen Draven Kai realized that he could now breathe, though just barely. He tried to speak out and yell at Draven, but nothing came out. Not a sound. He could breathe but could not speak.

Draven then collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth. His eyes had rolled back into his head, revealing only the whites of his eyes. Kai quickly crawled over before prying the black ring and broken chain from Draven's hand.

Kai then struggled to push himself back to his feet, before staggering to wards his backpacked. Slinging it back on, he walked silently towards the gate before entering a taxi. The taxi driver, seeing the state of the kid spoke up.

"Don't worry kid, I've already been paid. I'll get you to the station in no time."

The yellow taxi then drove off, disappearing into the dark of the night, leaving the Draken clan behind.

…

In the Draken Clan's patriarch's residence Kai's father, William, could be seen sitting across from the current Patriarch, Doran, both drinking tea while having a discussion.

"I hope you are willing to talk your son out of trying to become Patriarch" Doran spoke, somewhat agitated.

"I don't think that would be an issue, will it?" William responded, clearly not impressed.

"William, he's not a true Draken!" Doran said, arrogance brimming from his voice. "I'm sure you don't want a repeat of what happened before…"

William squinted his eyes, "Are you threatening my son?" a tinge of killing intent carried through his voice.

"I don't think you have a choice, Will."

Doran smiled before releasing his aura as a rank 53 Spirit King, a pressure instantly envelops the room. William remained unfazed, as if the aura was just a passing breeze.

They sat there silently, staring at each other. Neither willing to make a move.

After a few minutes, the door bursts open and Doran instantly retracts his aura. Looking to see who barged in, he was surprised to see one of the guards.

"Reporting to the Patriarch!" The guard kneeled down, placing fist against the ground awaiting further orders.

"Speak" Doran said.

"Sir, William's son escaped."

Doran looked towards William confused, only to be met with a face just as confused as his.

"Escaped, what do you mean escaped? Why did he need to be captured in the first place?" Doran asked quickly.

The guard lowered his head before speaking.

"Kai and Draven fought, resulting in Draven sustaining serious injuries. We were unable to catch William before he left the Clan grounds."

The room was silent for a moment before Williams laughing broke out.

"Ha!" he let out a relieved sigh. "Just like his mother!"

The Patriarch then scrunched up his face before swinging his arm towards Will, a purple spirit ring appearing in the air. A dragon's roar was heard as a shadowy claw appeared and slammed into Will, throwing him against a nearby wall, knocking him out cold.

The guard was unmoving, shivering in place and unwilling to raise his head. The Patriarch then spoke, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"Throw him in the clan prison."