As the sun once bright in the sky dropped below the horizon Ayden continued running around the park. This time of day most people were returning home to their families for dinner, as the up lifting blues of the daylight became the silencing black of night!
Ayden continued running, as he did everyday regardless of the weather because that's what his family did; the Blackwaters trained their bodies because they lacked the powers of a god. After reaching the 10 km Mark at the end of the trail, Ayden moved off to the side by the lake after grabbing some thing's from his locker to finish the last of his work out.
While on the surface the Blackwater training seemed 'easy' it truly wasn't; first there was the 10 km run, followed by 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10 minutes of meditation to help one maintain emotional balance. His mother always stressed the emotional balance.
These days Ayden used weighted attire because the routine had long since become simple for him, as things do when you do them everyday for 10 years.
Halfway through his push-ups the sweat could be seen dripping off his face, as if someone held a torch to an icicle. His body molded over the last 10 years was overall stronger and more stamina keeping him well above the average human, for the threat of violence was always present ever since the beast came out of the Ether Caves!
As Ayden finished with the easy part of the nights workout he began to stretch and loosen up his muscles. The Blackwater reason for training so much was simple, they used a form of martial arts that was demanding to ones body.
Taking out an old book that looked ancient, as if it were seconds away from turning to dust Ayden began to shift through the pages. His hands moved like they were repeating the same movements they've done millions of time, and probably would a million more times.
This books pages were full of images of the human body in different positions like a type of dance one by one, Ayden always loved calling it a martial dance instead of form. As he reached the next to last page, he read the motto of the Blackwater's that had been passed down generation to generation.
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Black be our blood, as the shadows we roam; spilled like water, to protect those who damn us, from those who seek to eradicate yet enslave us. This is the curse bound to our name, the children of the 3rd child.
Spill thy blood black as night, like the waters of the fall; for with ones first demise, comes the curse of one; and with ones rise comes the curse of another.
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Aydens mother had always been secretive of what this all meant when she gave him the family's Tome 10 years ago for his 10th birthday, always saying
"You will know when the time comes, for now just learn all that you can. You will need it one day." Sadness always reflected in the edges of her eyes!
He did as she said though, believing she knew what was best. He went at it with the passion all children use when their family starts their training to receive a gods blessing, with all of his being.
Finally after 10 years he turned to the last page, ready to accept his fate as he will be taking the divers exam tomorrow. All the years perfecting the movements of the tome, building his body beyond that of normal humans, training each movement to the point where it was as natural as breathing, all for this moment. To receive his families blessing so that he could become a diver, to walk in the steps of his mother! To do his part to protect the world from the extinction event known as haze beasts.
The final page giving him the final piece he needed to become a true Blackwater, or so he had always felt.
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To gain my power you must pass my test. A test of pain, will and blood. Should you be a Blackwater by blood bite your thumb then place a drop across the white disk.
Be warned young one, Pain like none you've ever known is what this test is, for you must be remade to inherit what i now see as my power.
To progress through you must have the will to take the first step. You must take the ore of earth form, and heat it with the flame form, fan it with the air form, and quench it with water form. A power like no other will be yours should you hit all four.
Good luck young one, may your family become strong.
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His will set, Ayden closed the tome gently placing it on top of his bag; the white disk on the cover shining. Take this serious Ayden removed all his weighted attire. Each piece making a distinctive sound as he let them fall to the ground
**thud**thud**
Each sound echoing through the empty park around him. After removing the weights on his legs Ayden get light as air, and more free than he had for the last 10 years.
"All will be known when the time is right,... shall we see if the time has come after 10 years mom!"
Ayden whispered to himself grabbing a pendent around his neck, then tucking it into his shirt.
Ayden ready and willing bite his thumb, the taste of iron entered his mouth as his blood flooded out. A somber feeling filling him as he placed his thumb down on the crystal, a dull spark of pain sparked through his body, as if he had pulled every muscle in his body at once! The world around him beginning to fade into the background of his thoughts, as a deep booming voice entered his mind with excitement spilling out.
"Blood of my blood! You have chosen to take this test! Let's begin... take your starting position young one, show me your fighting spirit!"