And So It Begins. . .

Two hours later. . .

A couple hours later I woke up in my front room, definitely not freezing to death in a river. Yurie lay on the other couch across from me shivering, her hair was dry and clothes changed. By the looks of it, she had been awake longer than I had. That was when it hit me, the pain in my back and head blasted me right back down onto the couch. Sitting up clearly wasn't an option with the immobilizing pain in my spine. What the hell happened?

Clearly, something was wrong. I remembered falling into the river like an idiot thinking I could save someone. That worked out horribly. But after Yasu blew me out of the water, everything became a blur. All I could recall after was not understanding what was happening to my body. Was this puberty? No, certainly not.

I sat there, trying to hold back the tears that quickly came to my eyes. In all honesty, I'd like to say they were tears of joy at Yurie's safety. They weren't though, I was scared. I was scared by what the hell happened to me. Not knowing what happened in that short span of time horrified me. What did that voice in my head make me do? She told me to kill them and it all went dark. Did I kill Yasu? Was Ethan okay? Did I hurt Yurie?

That last one seemed impossible, the moment she noticed my awakening she came running over to me with tears practically raining. This time she was actually joy crying. Something about that sorta confused me, too. Yurie rarely cried, I'd only seen her cry once. And that was quite the occasion for a demon girl like her.

I accidentally touched her horn.

Yurie never cried after that, and trust me, she's been through the wringer. That girl is one tough cookie and she knows it too. Yurie is a proud girl, so seeing her in tears over a joke like me kinda threw me for a loop.

The girl tackled me on my couch, she was super excited. VERY excited to see me as she even proclaimed how happy she was that I had gotten out 'okay'. To be frank, she did kinda cause this whole situation, but, being the kind young lady killer I was. . .I hugged her back and said the most basic hero shit ever.

"I'm just happy you're alright. Did they check you over?" Not very childish of me, I know. Somehow, I was a little rascal brat and a smart little nerd in the making at the same time. Especially in history.

"I-I'm fine. Ethan ran over to the park and shouted for Yuuta after he and Yasu warmed me up. What about you? They said you did something super crazy with magic but never told me what." Great, she answered my question before I even asked. Was that horn more than just a mana absorbing libido tool and actually a mind reading organ, too? No way, we'd never have a normal relationship with some of the horrible timing hangouts she had setup.

"Are they both okay?" I asked, hugging her lightly. I really didn't have the strength to embrace her like I wanted to. "Yasu did something crazy too but I never got to see it." Thinking back, the fire Yasu used was totally new to me. Did his Intervention manifest before seven years old? it wasn't completely unheard of, actually, for a human like him it was more common. Besides, his magical talents had already manifested.

"Uh huh, they are both fine. Yasu's fire magic kept him warm afterwards and Ethan bundled you and I up in his clothes before getting Yuuta so everyone is okay! They should be around here somewhere, I'll go get Mr. Yuuta." Mr? Where did that come from? More importantly, I didn't want her to leave. Partly because I knew Dad would have a lecture primed and ready to fire. But more so, I enjoyed her company.

"It's alright, I'm just a little cold." I said, sounding a bit more like it was a question.

"No, your Mom told me to get her when you wake up. I'll be right back, you stay put and don't move." Yep, there's the normal Yurie. She gave me a commanding stare as she turned into the kitchen. I couldn't bring myself to speak, there was absolutely no arguing with Yurie. She always won, no matter what.

"Emelie! He's awake!" I heard her shout up to mine and Ethan's bedroom. No time later, I heard the low rumble of multiple people charging down the stairs.

"Ryker! Honey!" My Mom rushed over to me, pushing Yuuta and Yasu's Dad aside. Her warm arms wrapped around my body, immediately, I noticed her shivering. No, quaking. That's when I felt little cold droplets of water on my head, my mother wept in her uncertainty. "Thank Sydra you're okay! What were you thinking! you're just a little guy, Ryker, you can't put yourself on the line like that! I can't imagine what I'd do if something happened to you!"

Some part of me felt remorse in that moment, I totally disagreed with my mom at the time but somehow I understood her point of view. At least a little bit. She was terrified, I could feel it. I'm sure Yasu and Ethan's story about my 'crazy thing' didn't help her worries either. I miss that side of her, a side that had reacted to stuff.

"I-I'm okay momma. I'm just a little cold is all." I said while simultaneously wincing from from the dreadful pain in my spine. Her hugs were doing their best to make it all the more intense too but I couldn't bring myself to say 'Scram lady! My back hurts!'. More importantly though, why hadn't Yuuta come over yet? He was usually the type of Dad to comfort you like a mother then lecture you like a cop. But somehow, I got the feeling his intensity earlier had something to do with his absence now.

"He's alright Emelie, you know he laughs when the pain is too much. He's like me in that respect." Yasu's dad popped in, her leaned over the couch, gazing into my eyes with a look of anger and intimidation. He and I never liked each other much but now he was asking for it.

His eyes were black as coal and the strange frown he gave me made the shadow over his face seem more and more scary the longer we locked eyes. That creepy grin slowly morphed and twisted into an angered smile as he said, "Your father and I need to speak with you."

"That's enough, Kaicho." Yuuta finally spoke. "We need to clear this up soon, the testing date is in a week." My mother released her grip on me and locked eyes with her husband. She looked almost as scary as Mr. Kaicho. Her emerald green eyes glimmered dimly, I could tell she wanted to bring her hand across Kaicho's face.

"I thought we agreed to avoid that until he could use magic more comfortably." Emelie said angrily. She made sure to keep the tone down as kids were of presence.

Yasu and Ethan watched the three way stand off from the front door, their eyes wide and fists clenched. Cold sweats started on my face too, I hadn't seen mother this mad before. And by such an innocent sounding comment? What was all this about anyway? I never noticed it at that moment, but Yurie had her hand on my shoulder, gripping it softly but seriously.

"I know, but this has reached the public eye now. We could get in serious trouble for it now. Even if he is figured out, it's time for him to move forward in his life." Yuuta said somewhat solemnly while still holding that determined expression. "I love you, I love my kids and I love my people. This has to be done, it is unavoidable now."

"He's right, ma'am. Ryker has shown his true colors now. Every kid on the street saw his Intervention and they certainly know what it could mean. By now their parents must have told them to avoid him. It would be a dishonor to your son if we kept him in the dark from here on out." Kaicho said, his gaze now fixed on my mother's tensed lips.

"You know what'll happen, he'll never live the same. Then. . .they will-"

"Don't-it'll be alright. I'm the strongest Sage, The Shade Cult won't come near us." A new term for me, at least, in real life speech that is. I'd heard them mentioned once or twice on the news and read headlines online saying 'SHADE CULT STRIKES TOKYO AGAIN!" or "WITCH OF GREED PRESUMED TO HAVE ASSAULTED UNITED STATES TRANSPORT IN NEW YORK AREA!". Every time my mom ever saw them on the subject though, she immediately swiped whatever I had to read it away from me and changed the page. I never once saw her do this to Ethan though.

"You can't guarantee that. Those people are monsters, Yuuta. Jilaiya almost killed you, she isn't even a fighter. You know that." That was news to me as well, Jilaiya? A name I'd heard thrown around once or twice in conversations around me. Specifically amongst teachers at my elementary school. She was known for ruthlessness and taunting men and women alike into seduction. After that, nobody survived to tell the tale.

"I'm aware, I was also and angsty man child back then. I am far more powerful than my old self and her now. I'll make sure Ryker and Ethan are safe." Yuta turned to Mr. Kaicho and continued. "I'll be there to help if they attack the phoenix as well. You have my word, young master."

"No need, I've recently achieved Sorcerer 2 in fire magic. I'll be quite alright."

"That won't be enough, Jilaiya almost mopped me twenty years ago. I was Bishop ranked 2 back then. You'd be foolish to assume she's only gotten weaker since then." Yuuta seemed somehow pained by this discussion. I respect him to this day for his next move. "I don't want to put such a disturbing discussion on more than the required child. Let's take this outside. Honey, bring Ryker with you." he nodded his head at the back door and so my mom didn't bother bucking the order. His nice guy attitude had vanished and the tension between mom and dad continued to swell as the quiet wait outside went on for what seemed like an eternity.

Ten minutes later. . .

I sat outside for a short while with my mother who refused to speak. Every time I went to say anything she immediately cut me off and gave me a stern look. Clearly she wasn't amused. After two attempts at speaking, I gave up, mom rarely got angry and I didn't want to see her get an more disturbed.

Finally, somewhere around ten minutes passed and my dad walked outside to meet with me. I'm not entirely sure why he took so long but it's likely he was wishing everyone off and waiting for Yurie's parents to arrive.

"Ryker." He said softly. "This is going to be hard to understand, but I need you to trust your daddy okay? Life is going to be a bit tougher from now on, for all of us." What was going on? What had I done? Did I kill someone back there? Everyone seemed so cautious of me aside from my fellow youth. "You are my special little man, got that? I'll never leave you, as long as I live and your mom feels the same way. But you have to understand, not everybody thinks that way. Everybody you meet won't immediately understand your struggles, nor will Yasu."

Now I was starting to get scared, bringing up Yasu gave me a sense of anxiety. I never got to train with him which was what started this whole mess. Please, get to the point already, dad.

"You are special, very very special. One of a kind and we've always believed that. Now, I'm gonna tell you something that may scare you, or it may not." He paused for a second, preparing himself for what came next. "There are some very bad men and women in this world. People I work to protect our society from. Those very bad people may one day come looking our family. This is isn't your fault, okay? You didn't do this, this was done to you. I'll always love you and protect you kiddo, remember that." He reached out and hugged me. A real bear hug. I'd never heard my dad speak in a tone so similar to quavery speech. It was strange, foreign, concerning.

"What is happening? Why are you guys so scared of me? I'm not gonna hurt you, I promise." I said, the feeling of abandonment welled up throughout my body. At the time, I didn't understand it. Sometime soon though, I would. I'd know what that lack of safety and absent caretaker feeling would hurt like.

My parents looked at each other, their eyes dimming to looks of sadness, no, despair. I may have convinced them I thought they were gonna abandon me.

"No no, we aren't scared of you. We're just worried. Being an adult can be stressful sometimes, especially in mine and your mother's line of work. Her being a doctor and my being a Sage has us face to face with danger often. You have nothing to worry about, if anything ever happens, we will be there." At this, my mother knelt down too. She put her hand on my back, covered her eyes with the other and started to cry.

I still had no idea what they meant. All I could get out of it was that bad people were around and I might be the target. Somehow, in my little head I thought I had done something good and that made the bad people angry. Or maybe, I was a never before seen hero that they wanted to end before I reached my full potential. That last thought brought me a slight sense of relief that lasted for the shortest moment I could imagine.

Then, it hit me. Were Yurie and Yasu scared of me too? Did they say something that might have driven fear towards me into them? "Papa, momma, are Yasu and Yurie scared of me?"

"No, but Mr. Kaicho may be a little more strict from now on. Yasu will be entering magic classes at school soon so he'll have less time to play." Yuuta answered my answer swiftly. It caught me off a little but nevertheless, I persisted. Half of my question had gone unanswered.

"What about Yurie?"

"Yurie will be entering classes soon too, she may be undergoing some severe training in the coming weeks." Yuuta's eyes flashed a dim glint of orange light. Something in the back of my mind told me he was mad at that. Feeling that pressure rising, I stopped.

"Okay. . ." That's all i could get out. I felt so oppressed by their presence and I couldn't seem to figure out why. Dad was so scary and Mom was so scared and sad.

"I'll be enrolling you in those classes too. You're talent for wind magic is unparalleled for your age group. I'd be in trouble if I kept you under the radar now." Yuuta gave me a short, cold smile. What it may have been, I do not know, but his face scared me. "That, and your Intervention manifested much earlier than usual. I simply can't keep you back anymore. So please, remember what you've heard about the elemental rankings and be very careful who you talk to. This world, Drecians especially, take that chart to heart and judge people based on it heavily. Don't try to pick a spitting match with a couple of Lightning wielders, got it?"

"You mean the hieracky? Or whatever it's called?" I asked, god I butchered that so badly.

"Wha-where did you hear that?"

"Yasu's dad brought it up a while back. He was telling Yasu he wanted him to be a Fire, Water or Lightning mage."

"Tch, jerk-" Yuuta almost let out a backhanded insult but was swiftly stopped by my mom.

"Sorry about that. Sadly, he is right about the hierarchy, Wind and Shadow users are at the very bottom so try to watch what you use wind for. I'll run you through the basics of spell casting and even dabble in imbuing your body with pure mana. Having a technique like that should give you an edge and an excuse not to abuse your element."

Again, I really couldn't understand all the tension or where it came from. Everybody seemed so mad at the time. Like I'd done something wrong but I couldn't get why. Either way, my dad probably knew that. He motioned for my mom to get up and they walked inside. Before they shut the door, Yuuta called for my attention.

"Hey, kiddo."

"Yes?"

"No matter what, your mom and I will always be here for you. Trust that. Please." After that, I didn't really know what to say. So I nodded and waited for his reply but he just shut the door with a genuine smile.

***

Not sure what to do, I sat outside in the cold snow. Trying my damnedest to understand what had just happened, I got up and began a short trip through Ranland's Eastern District. The area was more of a neighborhood with a gas station or electric car port scattered around with the occasional strip club and food joint thrown in there. As an older kid now, I realize how dumb this choice was, back then though, I really didn't care. Some part of me wanted those bad people to show up and challenge me. I wanted to scare them off and be the hero.

Then again, another part of me was scared. What should I do? What if something bad is going to happen and it's all because I am here, in Ranland?

My little self wandered through town for almost three hours. Unsure of what to do, I decided to head home. I couldn't really tell time but I knew that it had gotten noticeably bright and the light snow had moved as the clouds removed their grey blanket from the sky. On my journey home, I noticed an abnormal amount of people looking at me. Specifically police officers and women dressed in mage uniforms. Their eyes burned into me, I could feel every one of their gazes fixed on my every movement. Embarrassed and confused, I dipped my head down to avoid eye contact.

The walk was unbearable, I couldn't take it any longer. Ranland was a somewhat small city when compared to it's population. Which meant there were twice as many people as you'd usually see on the streets at any given time. Over the course of about half an hour, more and more of these things were looking at me. All around me, the world seemed to freeze at my presence. Women, mothers, turned their children away from me and bent legs to escape should I move any quicker. Men, cops and husbands, they kept their focus on me at all times. I was only blessed the insecure few who glanced at me every few seconds, it didn't help though, I couldn't stand it.

It felt like any one of them could jump out at me and do whatever. Even so, I was less scared and more disturbed than anything else. I went to spend time with Yasu and Yurie, saved Yurie's life and woke up to what seemed like a world where I was the evil monster that everyone feared. I was like this world's Laplace, they didn't dare mention my name in any obvious presence. Everything felt like it hated me. It was torture, that was all I could describe it as, torture. Torment, anguish, rage inducing. The previously buzzing streets were about as quiet as a city filled with ambient sound could get.

"Look, it's the Leviathan's son. He's here." I heard a little girl, maybe twelve years old or so whisper it to her mom. Her little brother, maybe around two, sat in the silent mother's arms. He looked around, saw everyone's disturbed and horrific expressions and began to bawl.

That new sound shocked my lacking focus for a moment. Instinctively, I looked at the new noise without changing my wretched face. The mother instantly jumped. Grabbing her daughter, she muttered, "Let's leave, he's a dangerous person, Lila."

"I-" I reached out, trying to show my peaceful intent but it only prompted visible panic in the numerous bystanders. noticing this, I refrained and retreated.

I turned back towards my original path and began the lonely, imprisoned venture home. Every person older than me stopped at my presence and glared, their faces latching onto my every thought and consuming them whole. I couldn't think. I couldn't focus. I could barely breathe at times. Was this how it would always be? Was life even worth living like this?

At some point, I escaped their watchful gazes in the mass populous of said district. I'd ended up on the Eastern most corner of the Northern district, this was the bad side of town. But, it was less crowded during the day and only became such a huzz buzz at night. When the gunshots and magic altercations would light up every other corner. Even as a kid, I knew this was nothing but bad news. So I decided to move along quickly, maybe the people of this poorer neighborhood hadn't found out about my crimes yet and I could travel freely.

With that hopeful believe fueling me, I ran down a street parallel to the Eastern District and turned into my neighborhood once I noticed my street name on an intersection. Finally, I was gonna make it out of this hell. I could feel safe again.

It was insanity, that's all I could call it. Some strange movement caught my eye to my left, my Helios instincts shot my emerald gaze over to the random and aggressive hand movements he was making. Then, before I knew it, a bright flash of light erupted from a house across the street from me. Flames exploded everywhere, the house fell to pieces in an instant. Cries of horror and agony tore through the air, piercing my childish ears. My body had been knocked down by the shockwave but I could still see clearly. I watched the blazing home as a woman came stumbling out, completely engulfed in flames she was desperately scratching her clothes and skin trying with all her fleeting might to silence the flames.

She failed, her legs buckled and her body relaxed as the cries stopped following a 'whoosh' then the sound of spattered blood. My mind couldn't understand the severity of what I just witnessed. I watched a woman, doomed to demise by burning to death, get her throat slashed by wind magic. Then, and only then is when I noticed the cloaked man standing on the sidewalk. He was the person who caught my attention in the first place.

I started to cry, I cried when the woman flopped over, dead. My body told me to run but I couldn't muster the strength to, my spirit had been destroyed already. Seeing her tearful eyes staring at me as the light faded from them eradicated what pride and bravery I may have still had.

The man turned around towards me, his cloaked face blocked out all light from hitting his face through some strange hex. But, regardless, I could feel his psychotic smile stretching across his murderous face. I hated him. I hated him so much. I wanted to kill him. He wanted to kill me. We wanted to kill each other. He found joy in the death and pain of others and I couldn't escape the pain I'd been dealt so unfairly. I HAD to kill him.

He began his slow, vile stride towards me. Giggling faintly in the distance and snapping his fingers behind the purple and black cloak that dressed him. "This is what you get for skipping school, little one. Kids who dishonor their parents ought to be punished." He said, bringing the tone of his voice down to a deeper, more intimidating sound.

"I don't want to live like this." I whispered. The strange feeling I felt at the river grew inside my body. Little particles of lime green sprouted around my body. They levitated in the cold air around me and quickly began to grow into flames of darker green as I got angrier and angrier. Two curved lines formed on both of my cheeks and over the bridge of my nose. Power, raw power exploded into my body. Magic consumed my frame in a flaming rage. "I'll kill you." My voice chanted. Once or twice more I whispered it, growing the thought into an outward threat directed at the man.

By now, he'd stopped. His body language said it all, he was scared. Him? Scared?! How did he have the right to be scared! Of me! He just murdered someone, he just ruined my life and now he's the one who should be scared?! Bastard, I gave him a reason to be scared. Too bad he never lived long enough to experience that satisfying horror.

"Anemos!" I reached my hand out, screaming in a fit of rage any insult I could think of. He was going to die, and I wanted to be the one to do it. "I'll give you a good reason to be scared! You monster!" I bellowed. My bloodshot eyes lit up with green mana as that same energy quickly encased my hand in a ball of flaming wind. I loved it, the thought of him losing his mind under that stupid fucking hood. Seeing an insane man, one who feels no love nor compassion, lose his sanity again to the hands of a little old child. Pathetic!

My spell discharged at the very thought of it. It's unfathomable power at the time smashed straight through his outer defenses like a hot bullet through skin. He was nothing, I was everything. He stood beneath me and I rose above him in that moment. I felt like a God and a monster both at once as his voice cracked from the searing pain that he only felt momentarily. Blood shot from his neck, dowsing me completely, clad in crimson, I laughed. Then, I cried.

I'd more than killed him, I'd eradicated him. His head and left arm weren't cut off, they were gone. Now, I could finally justify all that baseless fear these animals felt towards me. Even though, it only made the pain worse. I fell over, sobbing at the disgusting mire of muscle and blood his remains had formed into after mixing with a muddy puddle. That image, I'll never forget it. I'll see it every time I see one of those filthy cultists.