Waking up from his stupor, Corban crossed the lake, and started to go home again. It had stopped raining, but the sun was setting, and the forest would turn deadly.
However, when Corban was almost at the forest's border, a figure appeared out of nowhere and bumped into him. Both fell and looked at each other confused about who had just hit them.
'What the....Who is him?' thought Corban, looking at the stranger, holding his trusty dagger in his hand.
The stranger was a boy that looked about his age, his hair was orange (extravagant hair colors were normal), his eyes were orange too, but a bit darker, he was dressed in red and orange clothes and he had a sword in his belt. The sword in particular was what caught Corban's attention, it had a red crystal near the handle.
'A Fire Crystal.' Corban observed. 'That means he's a Fire Carrier, but judging from his startled expression, I don't think he's an enemy.'
Indeed, the stranger boy didn't mean any harm. Just as Corban was about to speak, the other boy said:
'H-Hi, sorry about that, wait your face is familiar, are you.... no way, are you Ghost Boy?! Yeah, no doubt you are, any Laren citizen would recongnize you, those eyes of spectral green, the pale skin, wow, I guess this is my first time seeing you face to face, eh? Although I have seen you before, it was only for brief moments, and we never really talked. My name is Kyle by the way, it's nice to meet you!'
Kyle spoke very quickly and with an excited voice. It certainly took Corban by surprise, despite the fact that what the boy just said was true, Corban knew who he was, but only by name. How could he not, when Kyle Phoenix was the one in front of him?
The Phoenix House was an important family with a lot of political, economical and elemental power. The family was composed of Fire Carriers, all of them exceptionally powerful. Kyle of all people, was the current heir to the family, as he was the first, and most powerful, son of their leader, Ciros Phoenix, one of the three most powerful Fire Carriers alive.
Corban looked at Kyle again, he was dressed in expensive clothes, and he also had small Fire Crystals in his earrings, belt, rings, shoes and more.
'The Phoenix Family sure is loaded, eh?' thought Corban. 'Yet, their heir is... pretty naive I'd say, he behaves like a child.'
Kyle was staring at the other, amazed like he had just met his idol. The truth is, Kyle had always wanted to meet Ghost Boy. It was a legend back in Laren. He had indeed seen him, but he dissappeared like he was never there although he supposedly wasn't a Carrier, and that was what surprised him more than anything. He was also cold and intimidating like Kyle's father was, and wanted his son to be.
'So...' Kyle started saying, but Corban had dissappeared the moment he looked the other way.
'What the...' the Phoenix family's heir said. 'I am pretty powerful, yet I didn't even see when he moved, no doubt he is a Carrier, but why hide it? Mmm, I don't know, judging by his speed, I would say he is either a Wind or Lightning Carrier, or maybe even a Light Carrier! However, to achieve that speed one has to summon his element and I don't feel any elemental energy, I just feel uneasy and, scared? What's happening to me? Just what is his element? I didn't even catch his name, I just hope I will meet him again.'
Kyle sighed, he had originally planed to hunt a few monsters in the forest, but it was already too much for the day.
Meanwhile, Corban had camouflaged himself in the shadows and escaped. He didn't want to get involved with one of the Great Families.
*****
Two days later. Back at home, he was laying in his bed when someone knocked. Corban looked at the door, surprised and opened it. He almost chocked.
Kyle Phoenix was very proud of himself and he was looking at Corban with a smile. He managed to see Corban once more, and followed him to his house. The reason? He was bored and very curious about the misterious character that was Ghost Boy.
'We meet again, what a coincidence! Now, I assure you that I won't let you dissappear again. Whatever, I think you and I can be good friends so, what's your name?' Kyle said, still smiling.
ZAS! Corban closed the door in front of his face.
'How did he find me? Did he follow me? No, I have been making sure I wasn't being followed everytime since two days ago. So, how...? I am an idiot. I seriously understimated him, he looked so innocent... I forgot he is the Phoenix Family's heir after all, and a talented Fire Carrier too. Although I am pretty good at hiding myself, I am not powerful enough to fool powerful Carriers. Now, what do I do?' Corban thought, looking at the door in anxiety.
Minutes passed, and nothing happened. Corban looked trough the window.
'He is still there...'
Indeed, Kyle hadn't moved an inch from where he was, he looked at Corban, continuing to smile. The boy inside flinched, that smile looked a bit... sinister.
*****
An hour later, Corban opened the door, tired of Kyle and shouted angrily:
'What the f*ck do you want?'
'Your name' Kyle said, now smiling wider.
'Nabroc' lied Corban, quickly making it up.
(Author's note: I am sorry. Please don't kill me.)
'Nabroc, eh? That's an exotic name, isn't it? Well Nabroc, I hope we can be good friends'
'For a friend, you act very suspicious, don't you? Corban grumbled.
'Suspicious? No, I am just curious, curious about that power of yours. About the fact that you're Carrier, but for some reason, you have been keeping it hidden, why? Another thing that is bothering me is, what's your element? Because, never in my life have I sensed an elememtal energy like yours.' Kyle answered, suddenly serious.
Corban didn't know what to say. He just looked at the boy with an emotionless face.
Kyle understood that one has to be crazy to trust someone they had met two days ago with an important secret.
*****
Two months later, on a hill near Laren.
'Sigh. I understand you don't trust me, but believe me when I say I am alone in this world. Everyone just approaches me because I am Ciros' son, they just want to curry my favour, they pretend to care about me, but the only thing they care about is money and power. That's how it has always been for me. And here I am again, talking about my personal life with a complete stranger, haha. I guess I have already gone crazy, haven't I? The thing is, I want someone who will listen to me. Someone I can trust. Can you be that someone, Nabroc?' Kyle asked, looking at Corban with a bitter smile.
Since the day that Kyle appeared in his house, Corban had been hanging out with him at the hill. At the hill's top, there was a tree and both sat under it and talked to each other. At first, they hadn't said much, but as time went on, they had started to trust each other a bit.
Corban knew he was an idiot for staying close to Kyle, he himself hadn't known why he was doing something so illogical, but after a few weeks, he understood. He thought he was okay with being alone, but it turned out he wasn't. He didn't have someone to talk to and it was eating him inside. He would grow more sad and he couldn't endure it anymore. That was the reason why he had came here every single day.
Of course, he didn't tell Kyle his dark secret, his real name nor the Dark Cave's secret. But he told him about his mother's death, how his father treated him and how alone he felt. He soon discovered he felt relieved after telling Kyle his worries. Even though he was still lying to him, he didn't want that to end.
Now, Kyle had told him something really important about himself and he felt guilty, because he hadn't told Kyle the full truth. Corban knew Kyle was sincere, while he had been telling him lies and hiding the most important part of his life, the Darkness Element. He swallowed down his feelings and said:
'Of course.'