The sun was only rising, but on the outskirts of the Jade Dragon Society, a fight had been ongoing as numerous crashes and explosions went off in the area around the building. Soon enough, we see where the action was happening. It was on a clearing just a few kilometers off site with the Principal fighting enemies as columns of flames rose around the area.
Xion threw yet another punch, sending an enemy flying towards a tree. He soon bounded up as flames immediately lapped the ground, scorching the knocked down bodies of what appeared to be grotesque corpses. Numerous screams could be heard as bodies slowly burnt to a crisp.
"My~ You and your friend surely do put a peg in my plans…"
Xion looked up, seeing a grumbling lady with messy black hair. She wore a lab coat, her blue eyes obscured by the thick lenses that enhanced her vision. Currently, she was twitching, her face painted with a frown as her black wings carried her off the ground.
Xion on the other hand had deathly green winds that enveloped his hands, whirring like a drill. His face was painted with a smug smirk as he raised his arms in the air, pointing to the lab coat wearing lady who clicked her tongue.
"I already told you Calagua. Me and my partner won't let you pass! Isn't that correct lad?!"
The principal looked behind the columns of fire that raised behind him as a figure emerged from the flames. The blaze then parted, revealing what appeared to be a man in his early thirties. He had a gruff beard, a black trench coat, a black trucker hat, and a pair of jeans. In his hand was a single lit cigarette, its cinders falling to the soil as he walked.
"Damn, way to make me feel old, you thousand-year-old geezer…"
He tapped his cigarette once, putting its embers out before flicking it off to the ground.
"But… the sentiment is correct. We absolutely cannot let you pass, woman."
The man's mouth curved into a devilish grin as flames erupted from around his body with a column of fire rising from the ground he stood on. He then looked at the lady who grit her teeth, accompanied by a sweat drop rolling down her cheek.
"Y-You… I swear the next time me and my creations will get through! Together, we will bring honor to Wyzen's name and get that grail!"
The woman then flew off into the night, retreating to fight another day as both Xion and the man he called his partner turned their powers off with a sigh. The principal then turned to face the man, giving him a thumbs up and a wink.
The man on the other hand simply let out a dry chuckle.
"How many times have I told you that I do not swing that way."
Xion's partner replied, turning around before he started walking back into the undergrowth, his hands pocketed inside his coat. The principal, seeing that his friend was leaving, hurriedly paced to his side using his feet which were being propelled by gusts of air for every step he took.
"Hey, that was an affirmation! Why do you have to turn everything into a bloody tease."
Xion replied, slowing down as he approached the man who looked at him with a grin.
"It is because you allow it to be one. In any case, let's get home. I want some iced coffee and some doughnuts… Afterwards, I can sleep all day."
The man threw his arms behind his head before letting out a long yawn. And just like that, the pair took their long trip home with Xion's protests echoing through the forest when he heard his reply.
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"Umm Mr. Benitez?"
The man groaned as he sprawled over his teacher's table to stretch before sitting up straight to face a teenager in front of him. The man, named Mr. Benitez, noticed the kid's spiky hair and frown. He also saw his classic knitted brows that made his better and abrasive personality.
"Yes Argen, what seems to be the issue?"
He sat up, straightening his posture accompanied with his usual smirk. The teen shifted in his position, his mouth and brows constantly moving as if mulling about something. In response to this, Mr. Benitez reclined against his seat before kicking up his swivel chair to a spin.
"Just spit it out Argen, the more you hesitate the more time is lost. Acting is always better than just blindly waiting in fear."
Hearing this, Argen's eyes widened and with a blush accompanied by a few beads of sweat on his forehead, he spoke up.
"Sir, can you teach me more about my powers….?"
Mr. Benitez heaved a heavy sigh before pulling out a small trinket from his black trench coat. It was a locket that he kept for quite some time as evidenced by the rust that it accumulated. The man opened it up revealing a picture of a family, himself, a woman presumed to be his lover with long flowing black hair, and two kids, both about the size of a preschooler in height One was a girl and the other was a guy.
He smiled when he saw the photo, then he looked back to Argen wand with a slight nod, he closed the locket and put it inside the pockets of his coat. Mr. Benitez then stood up, and began making his way to the exit, leaving behind the stunned teen who looked at him with raised brows and an open mouth.
"S-Sir Benitez?!"
In response, the man took one glance at him and flashed him the smile from earlier, the same warm gesture he did when he gazed at his archaic locket…
"What's the matter kid? Didn't you ask me to train you?"
Argen froze while Benitez chuckled, closing the door behind the young teen who let out a small squeak before running to the exit himself, scrambling to open the door of the room he was currently in…
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"Mom! Mom! Mom! Can you tell me another story about grandpa!"
A small kid exclaimed in joy, hopping up and down with his arms outstretched towards his mother. With a soft chuckle, the long-haired lady approached the little man scooping him up in her arms.
"Is little Pyre interested in how grandpa used to act?"
The woman replied with a smile, tickling the kid's neck as the latter laughed and squealed in both discomfort and joy. The child kicked and screamed. Their loud laughter pealed through the household until the mom finally decided to stop the tickle time.
She then rested the kid on a couch before sitting beside him, facing the small tot who looked on with beady eyes that seemed to sparkle ever so slightly.
"What story does my sweet baby boy want to hear?"
The mom stroked the kid's head who closed his eyes and giggled, responding once the mother's playful hand had been lifted off him.
"Tell me more about granddad and his flaming arms! Did he spit fire in the air! Was granddad a dragon?!""
The mother just cringed from hearing his son's questions but behind his back, her fist was clenched knowing full well who told him about those tales.
That damn Mathias… she should have known. Unfortunately, it was too late and she could do was narrate… chalk this up to yet another story passed on from generation to generation. After all, it would just sound like another epic… a fantasy story!
He would surely forget this when he grows older, but at the very least, he should find out about him. Nodding in approval, the mom convinced herself that this was probably the best course of action… resolve it early, resolve it simple. She cocked her head to the side and looked at her kid with a warm smile.
"I see… that story. It is quite long though, are you sure that you really want me to hear more of this?"
The young Pyre's eyes lit up with a joyous spark as he clenched his fists and looked his mother in the eye.
"I am willing to listen mom! After all, grandpa was just like a really cool superhero! Even his hands were set ablaze once, right mom?!"
Pyre's mom clicked her tongue before rubbing her temples with a groan. Just hoe much did her little bundle of sunshine know?! Ah! No matter, she just had to speak her mind with that dastardly brother of hers once the do meet again…
The mother nodded and with a forced smile, she began to explain…
"Pyre… your grandpa was a gruff man. He was happy, but brash and realistic. He loved showing off, teasing people and even joking around with some people he just met… He was kind to me and your uncle Mathias. He cared for us a lot."
She couldn't help but smile when she saw the young kid staring into her eyes like a puppy being bribed with a doggy treat. Just how much did this kid want to know? In any case… he looked endearing so this much was enough for her to shed a slight tear… she never imagined the future generations would even be interested or know about her old man…
"He… He left us at an early age though… but still… an accident like his."
She recounted it… the news of her father being slammed down and crushed to a pulp by a metal beam. While there was no body found, he never appeared since then but thanks to their tough as nails mother who looked on with a smile despite his death… they survived. She was thankful those traits were passed on to her and not that scaredy excuse for a kid she had as a brother.
Pyre's mother chuckled softly when she recounted her childhood, but alas there was a kid waiting for a tale, she cannot make them wait for too long.
"My father was a real piece of work. He was an archaeologist who worked all the time in dig sites and other historically inclined locations where artifacts and relics were found."
She looked at the star-crossed kid whose eyes twinkled at the mention of relics and artifacts as beads of sweat formed on her forehead, fearing the worst… Pyre's mom however, forced a smile to keep the young child from worrying.
"Mom! Where is the part where grandpa had cool superpowers!"
Her face was a bit pale, afraid to carry on. But she was in too deep, she had no choice but to push forward and be done with it. After all, its just a children's tale, right?
"Ah, that… One night after an Egyptian dig, Father returned home and once he had discovered that our family had been dipping in the red this entire time, his face started dripping with sweat, and from that, his hands combusted, creating a huge fire that wrapped around his arms…."
The kid however, was too naïve that people weren't walking matches.
"So Cool! Mom can you teach that to me?!"
Her child smiled at him, his eyes wide and sparkly as if ready to learn… but sadly, even she did not know where the power stemmed from… all she knew was that it took her father away from her after that incident. It was as if he vanished into thin air!
She gave her kid a wry smile, her forehead still brimming with sweat. She brushed her child's hair with her fingers, humming softly even if her hand shook ever so slightly…
"Perhaps when you're a bit older Pyre… Maybe then I might teach you."
The story was finished up with a warm smile from her and though her child frowned when he heard what she said, he just gave her a slight nod and hopped off the couch.
"Then can you just allow me to eat those delicious chocolate chip cookies you made, mom?!"
Her kid looked at her with round expecting eyes, and just like earlier, the mother laughed…
Oh well, one cookie was certainly way less than a lesson on spontaneous human combustion…
But before she could leave their seat. She turned to look at one of her dad's final mementos, if you may call it one…
It was a picture of them when she was but a wee child, with his father standing closely to their mother…
Her father even wore his signature black trench coat that he normally used for work….