Chapter 15

Ajax fell off the cliff. He was falling and was about to touch the ground so he closed his eyes ready to accept the pain. But nothing happened, he opened his eyes a little and saw he was floating in the air. He had a blue light around him which made him feel secure. He was then lifted upwards, he saw Xander use his telekinesis power to bring him up.

"Why? Why did you push me down, why " Yelled Ajax while beating Xander with his fists and kicks? Xander was trying to escape from him, but after a few minutes of chasing, he held Ajax firmly not allowing him to move.

"Don't move we are not here to play around. I pushed you because I thought the fear of falling will help you to unleash your second spiritual power " Said Xander.

This calmed Ajax down. Then they both again went towards the cliff, this time Xander standing at the edge which was unnoticed by Ajax.

"Umm...what now ?" Asked Ajax.

" Let me think about it....

There was a fierce growl that echoed in the mountain and the ears of the boys. As both were facing towards the vast green land of forest, the growl from behind made shivers run down their spines. They saw a pack of hyenas, angry and fierce ready to attack.

"Why do they look like they will tear me into two pieces? Asked Ajax in a low tone.

" They don't look like, they will tear you apart if you move slightly. These are hyenas and more than ten in number. I think this was their territory and we invaded it by mistake."Don't move, be still" said Xander quietly.

"Ok-okay I wi-will not move, what is the plan? Asked Ajax.

"The plan is I will use my powers to teleport, simple. Watch and learn" Said Xander confidently. But before he could use his power, a hyena which was at the front and appeared to be the leader of the pack, with his eyes targeted magic on Xander. Xander was caught by surprise and he was unable to do anything. The hyenas used a spell that makes humans sleep so that they can feed on them. Spiritual beasts won't do anything like that, but normal beasts can do it.

"Xander, brother wake up.. " Yelled Ajax taking Xander in his arms and tapping his face.

The hyenas were ready to attack Ajax. "Now only one thing can save me and my brother, I need to fly " Said Ajax determined to save Xander.

He focused fully on his powers and with a leap of faith jumped from the cliff. He saw the hyenas growling in anger. He tried to concentrate and tried to spread his wings out of his body. When he and Xander in his arms were about to touch the ground Ajax closed his eyes trying everything he can to concentrate and fly. When they were five inches far from touching the ground Ajax was held in mid-air. At first, he thought that Xander has woken up and he used telekinesis, but he saw Xander's eyes shut tight. That was when he knew he was flying, actually flying. He then quickly moved to a place safer and away from the hyenas.

"Brother, brother wake up, wake up!! " Ajax said shaking his whole body vigorously.

"I am not dead. You are shaking so much, even a dead person will wake up" Said Xander forming a smirk.

"You-you were awake the whole time!! Shouted Ajax loudly in anger.

"I will become deaf quickly if you don't stop shouting. And yes nothing happened to me. And wanna see some new magic? " Asked Xander with his one eyebrow raised.

Without waiting for Ajax to reply, he used his powers and suddenly the pack of hyenas appeared in front of them.

"The-they are back. Come on, let's run." Said Ajax getting up and ready to run. But he stopped and turned around.

"Wait a minute, Eddie you! What are you doing there in the pack of hyenas? No, it can't be, did you two just play a trick on me? " Asked Ajax slowly understanding the situation.

"Yes, you are right. It is Eddie's new move, 'Illusionary fog'. He can make any illusion appear that I tell him. So the hyenas were a mere illusion. " Said Xander while getting up from the ground.

"But why? Why did you do so? I was so scared that something happened to you. Ajax piled up his worries in front of Xander.

" I had to. Your spiritual powers don't get activated unless they are triggered to force out. First powers themselves come out on their own when they have to, but your second one only comes when forced to. My telekinesis power emerged when I was attacked by some idiots in the street. So I thought I need to trigger yours. My first was to throw you off the hill but your fear overpowered your concentration to use power. So the second option that I took was this one. Sometimes saving yourself or your friends make you trigger it fully. And it worked "said Xander folding his hands to his chest and smiling as he did succeed.

" You are not my friend," Said Ajax smirking.

"Ohh... I just said a situation. I know that" Said Xander who hardly controlled his sad face.

"Awww my brother is sad. I was joking. Surely you are not my friend, you are my only family" Said Xander while hugging him tightly.

"Ohh so my little kitten has learned to be naughty. Hurry up now show me your wings" Said Xander excitedly. Ajax nodded, concentrated his powers, and was flying easily grinning ear to ear. Eddie also came out to see Ajax's magnificent wings. But what happened was Xander and Eddie looked at each other in confusion and went around to look at Ajax's back to see his wings. Ajax was confused seeing them confused.

"What are you two doing? Don't try to play any tricks on me now! Said Ajax huffing.

" Ummm... Ajax you have unleashed your full power right? Asked Xander smiling a little seeing Ajax's cute face.

"Yes, I guess. Why?" Inquires Ajax frowning.

"Yo-your wings...they are too small... Ummm... Are you not having any problem flying? Asked Xander while thinking as to why this happened.

" What are you saying, I am not understanding a thing! Said Ajax and flew to the nearby pond to see his wings.

"My... my wings.... they are...they are so.. So small!!! " Shouted Ajax perplexed.

Xander and Eddie laughed in their way. Xander covered his mouth to hide that he is laughing. Eddie was rolling on the ground and jumping.

"Stop, stop I said STOP laughing!! Said Ajax loudly with his cheeks red in embarrassment. He went away from there and headed towards the car. Eddie followed him. Now Xander's worried face came out.

" Why did his feathers not come out properly? They are like small baby birds' feathers. This should not have happened. Is it because of me that Ajax's powers are not fully unleashed? Is it my fault? What to do now? The book, I think that book might be of some use. Yes, it might help him.

Xander then rushed up to the car upon hearing Eddie's barking. When he came inside the car he saw the gloomy face of Ajax, but he chose to stay silent. The journey back home was quiet. Even Eddie sensed something was wrong and quickly was laying down with his head between his paws. Upon reaching Ajax silently went to the bedroom as it was night time so no customer would come now. Eddie and Xander stared at each other for some time and understood their tasks. Eddie went behind Ajax and Xander went outside. He came back after an hour. He looked weak, but he had a smile on his face. He entered the house and went upstairs and saw Ajax and Eddie bundled up together inside the blanket. He lifted the blanket and saw Ajax's face bloated. He was crying.

"Don't hide it from me.. Don't you ever" Said, Xander.

This was enough for Ajax to break the dam of tears.

"I-i am so-sorry. I am so sorry. It-it wa-was all my-my fa-fault. I le-let you do-down" Wailed Ajax clutching Xander's arms.

"Hey, calm down, it's okay it was never your fault. Why do you think so? Asked Xander hugging him tightly while rubbing his back.

After a few minutes, Ajax calmed down. Xander then sat beside Ajax who was still hugging him tightly.

" What happened was not at all your fault! Why blame yourself? Asked Xander calmly trying not to agitate him.

"I-i did not meet yo-your expectations, so you left me al-alone right? Asked Ajax looking directly into the eyes of Xander with a red nose due to crying, Ajax looked like a cute rabbit, and Xander would have cooed and ruffled his hair if the situation was a playful one.

" I did not leave you, I went...went to a ...to a library because I had read in a book how to unleash a suppressed spiritual power. So I went to see that. But if you did not get your power fully, why would I blame you? Asked Xander while wiping off the tear stains from Ajax's cheeks.

" Really? You don't hate me for being useless. I don't have a spirit animal, I don't have a good second spiritual power, so you have a useless boy as a family, don't you hate me for that? Asked Ajax innocently making his doe eyes bigger.

"Silly boy, why would I hate you for not having those things? You are my family. No matter if you are strong or weak, whether you are clever or dumb a family always likes you and loves you for who you are. I don't want you to be what o expect you to be. My imagination and your reality are different, little kitten. I just want you happy and safe. Remember that. I am your brother and I will always protect you no matter how far were are from each other. "Said Xander patting Ajax's back.

" Thank you for being with me, for understanding me, for believing in me. I will try hard to practice and earn you more money by battling and winning in the competition. I won't be a burden to you" said Ajax while sniffling.

" You are and will never be a burden for me and you don't have to be powerful to make yourself worthy. Being able to differentiate between good and evil, being kind is all I need you to be and that you are" said Xander while slightly pinching Ajax's cheeks.

"I- will always be good and never do any bad work," Said Ajax like a small boy learning what to do and what not to do. Xander ruffled his hair and nodded while nodded.

"Ohh... I forgot. When I went outside I came up with the solution on how to unleash your wing power" Said Xander excitedly.

"Really!! Yo-you found the solution. Brother! If you had found it, then why did you not tell me before? I would not have wailed out myself like that" Said Ajax awkwardly.

"Feeling embarrassed already, but you just bawled out your heart. Now I finally got something to tease you" Said Xander trying to lighten up the mood. Eddie was also happily twirling around showing a jolly mood. After that both, the boys slept out. Ajax was slowly opening his feelings to Ajax and also gained confidence that if he ever told Xander about his spirit animal and his curse, Xander would help him hide it. Whereas Xander was still hiding many things from Ajax feeling scared as to what will be Ajax's reaction when he will know Xander's true identity.

On the other hand, Amelia and Ember were crossing "The Ruinous Forest " which falls on the way to Celadon City. While crossing they encountered a colony of Tarantulas that feed on human blood. How will they defend themselves?