ASCENT

The world seemed to hold its breath as Wilson leapt from the hilltop. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, the rush of wind roaring in his ears. The ground far below seemed distant, almost unreal. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the surge to activate, to carry him skyward as it had before.

But nothing happened.

Instead of the exhilarating lift he had felt at the Ministry, gravity pulled him downward like an anchor. His stomach lurched, and panic seized him as he opened his eyes and saw the rocky slope rushing toward him.

"No, no, no!" he shouted, flailing helplessly as the ground came closer.

Then came the impact.

A sickening crack echoed through the forest as his body collided with the rocky terrain. Pain exploded through him, sharp and unbearable. His vision blurred, and he could hear the horrified gasps of the crowd above. Wilson lay motionless, his body twisted unnaturally, his limbs broken.

THE SURGE AWAKENS

For a moment, everything was silent. Wilson's breaths were shallow, his world reduced to a haze of pain. Then, deep within his chest, he felt it—a faint hum, growing stronger with every second. The surge, dormant during his fall, roared to life.

Golden energy began to ripple across his broken body, moving like liquid light. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as they watched the impossible unfold. Wilson's shattered bones began to shift and realign with a sickening crunch. His cuts and bruises healed themselves, the torn flesh knitting back together seamlessly. His body glowed brighter with every passing moment, and soon he was enveloped in a radiant cocoon of energy.

"What… what is happening?" someone whispered.

"He's… healing himself," another voice stammered.

Wilson's eyelids fluttered open, the pain vanishing as quickly as it had come. His glowing figure rose slowly from the ground, lifted by the surge itself. Suspended midair, he looked at his arms, flexing his fingers as the energy surged through him, stronger and more controlled than ever before.

The rebels stood in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of awe and fear. Even Mr. Brian, who had been skeptical of Wilson from the beginning, couldn't hide his astonishment.

THE FIRST TRUE FLIGHT

As Wilson hovered above the ground, his mind raced. He had survived. The surge hadn't just saved him—it had repaired him, made him whole again. And now, he could feel it coursing through him, not as a chaotic force, but as something he could command.

Slowly, he lowered himself to the ground, his feet touching the earth softly. He looked up at the crowd on the hill, their eyes wide with expectation. His gaze found Sara-fin, who was standing at the edge, her hands clasped tightly together. She gave him a small, encouraging nod.

"You've got this," he whispered to himself.

Wilson closed his eyes and let the surge flow freely through his body. He didn't try to control it this time—he simply trusted it. The golden light enveloped him once more, and with a deep breath, he pushed off the ground.

This time, the energy responded. The earth fell away beneath him as he soared into the sky, his entire body glowing like a second sun. Cheers erupted from the rebels below as he flew in a wide arc over the camp, the wind rushing past him. He tilted his body, weaving through the air with newfound confidence, the exhilaration of flight replacing his earlier fear.

As he completed a loop and began descending, he caught sight of Sara-fin again. Her face was lit with a mixture of relief and pride. With a final burst of speed, he landed softly in front of her, the glow around him fading.

"You did it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I did it," he replied, a wide grin spreading across his face.

INITIATION INTO THE REBELS

The celebration that followed was unlike anything Wilson had ever experienced. The rebels, once wary of him, now welcomed him with open arms. Around the largest fire in the camp, they sang, laughed, and shared stories of their struggles and victories. For the first time in weeks, Wilson felt a sense of belonging.

At the center of the gathering, Mr. Brian stood with a ceremonial blade in his hand. He called Wilson forward, his voice carrying over the noise of the crowd.

"Tonight, we welcome a new ally into our ranks," Brian announced. "Wilson Tanga, the boy who carries the surge, has proven himself. Not just by his power, but by his spirit."

The crowd cheered as Wilson stepped forward, his heart pounding. Brian handed him the blade, its hilt engraved with the symbol of the rebellion—a broken chain encircled by flames.

"Kneel," Brian said.

Wilson did as instructed, the weight of the moment sinking in. Brian placed a hand on Wilson's shoulder, his expression solemn.

"Do you vow to fight alongside us? To stand against the Ministrians, no matter the cost?"

"I do," Wilson said, his voice steady.

"Then rise, Wilson Tanga," Brian said, a rare smile breaking across his face. "You are one of us now."

As Wilson stood, the rebels erupted into cheers once more, many clapping him on the back or raising their drinks in his honor. For the first time since his mother's death, Wilson felt something he thought he'd lost forever: hope.

THE MOONLIT HILL

Later that night, as the camp quieted down and the fires burned low, Wilson found himself drawn back to the hill where he had made his leap. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the forest below. He climbed to the top and found Sara-fin sitting there, her knees drawn to her chest as she gazed at the stars.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

She turned to him, smiling softly. "It's your hill now. You earned it."

Wilson chuckled, sitting beside her. For a while, they sat in silence, the cool night air wrapping around them. Wilson's thoughts drifted as he stared at the moon, its pale light reminding him of his mother.

"Thank you," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Sara-fin glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "For what?"

"For saving me," he said. "For believing in me when no one else did."

She shrugged, though her smile didn't fade. "I saw something in you. Something worth believing in."

Wilson hesitated, then asked, "Do you think I can do this? Fight the Ministrians? Live up to what they think I am?"

Sara-fin looked at him, her green eyes shining in the moonlight. "I don't just think you can. I know you can."

Her words filled him with a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. Before he could stop himself, he leaned closer, and to his surprise, she didn't pull away. Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss, the world around them fading until only the two of them remained.

When they pulled apart, Sara-fin's cheeks were flushed, but she didn't look away. "Guess you really are full of surprises," she said, her voice teasing.

Wilson laughed, his heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. "You have no idea."