Derrick ran away, far away. He found himself on an unreachable roof of a building. He bawled his eyes out. He cried for five minutes straight. Then he wiped his tears with his shirt. He sat on the edge and hung his legs off the ledge. He looked down, ready to push himself off.
When he was eight years old, after he ran away from his family, he was alone on the street at night. Crying under a street lamp. Then a stranger who would become his mother figure found him. Cathy Mcarthy.
She brought him to her house. She fed him and gave him his own bedroom. She had extra for not-so-good reasons. The next day, he saw Cathy bending water in a circle. "She's a sorcerer," he thought. He came up to her and tried following what she did.
"What are you doing?" Cathy asked
"Sorcery." Derrick struggle to conjure a spell
"Wait, you know about this stuff?" Cathy surprised
"I'm from the Varr clan." Derrick claimed
Cathy raised her eyebrows in shock. "This kid's a Varr? But he's not a sorcerer. Not by technicality."
"How do I say this to you? You aren't a sorcerer. You can't do what I do." Cathy bursts his bubble with no hesitation
"Wh- what?"
"You're born different. Superhuman capabilities over magic. You can be a 'sorcerer' but it's in a different category called Core-users."
Hearing that made Derrick cry. He really cried his eyes out. But it wasn't disappointment or sadness, it was a sense of relief. Relieved to know that he wasn't born a mistake. A defective product. Then day after day, for almost ten years she trained him to become the strongest Core-user alive. Juxtaposing Ava as a role model to make him better.
"Family is still family huh, Vic?" He mumbled to himself
The same night, he returned to the clan. He went to go see his father. He was in his bedroom not the healing room. He layed enveloped in a blanket.
"Father."
"Son."
"I'm sorry I beat you up."
"You're forgiven."
Then silence filled the room for a minute "Nothing else to say?" Derrick chuckled. "Forget it," he said as he left.
He left the room with a shy smile on his face. His eyes were still watering a bit, he tried his best to hide it.
He went outside to the outdoor lounge, no one ever really goes there. Something about 'afraid of being seen lazing about'. It's a stupid thing, Derrick thought. But he saw Nate there sitting beside Vic. He smiled. He quietly stepped in close, whistling a quiet tune to alert them.
Nate and Vic turned over their shoulders. Derrick dashed around them for fun. He stood in front of them suddenly. He leaned his butt on the table in front of them.
"Are you two dating?" Derrick asked
"Not really." Vic said
"Okay." Derrick dismissed the topic
"Why?" Nate asks
"Just curious."
Derrick then looked at the ground. Ten seconds he did that. He looked up and at Vic.
"Thanks for being with my brother."
"I'd say I'm the lucky one to be with him."
Derrick chuckled. Then he looked at Nate. He stood straight up and then dropped to one knee. He was almost at level height with Nate. Probably three inches short. He looks at Nate with a heavy frown, fighting to smile.
"Nate, I want you to be the head of the clan."
"What? No. We've been over this."
"Technically, we haven't. But what Vic said was right. You and I are brothers. William Varr is our father, Lily Varr is our mother. Everyone in this house is our family. Don't you think we should fight for it?"
"They aren't worth fighting for."
"Despite that, shouldn't we?"
"What have they done to deserve to be fought for?"
"That's why you have to be the clan leader. You're a cynical guy, sure, but you can open people's eyes with that. Back then when we first reunited, you made me realize that I should've stayed with you no matter what."
"I didn't mean that."
"Even so, you were right."
"So, it's true. You are back, Nathan."
"Uncle Mike?"
He stood six foot five inches tall. A little bulky, white facial hair, his hair in general actually. He wore a white-ish blue hakama. He crossed his arms. His hands were big, really big. It could crush a skull easily.
"Why are you back?" He asked
"What do you want?" Nate asked back
"You dare question me?" He said as he suddenly appeared in front of Nate. Mist was coming off of his back. "Mist Dash" is a special move he made by himself. He was fast, but Derrick was faster. Derrick had a blade placed at the base of Mike's throat, ready to cut it open with one slash.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
"The guy that can cut your head off with one stroke."
"Ahh, you're Derrick. Just like my son, born a different kind. Too bad that kid killed himself, would've been fun making him my punching bag for a little longer."
"A different kind of ass hole, aren't you?" Derrick smirked
"The hell did you say?!"
"Let's not fight. Mike, back off." Nate ordered
Mike then took two steps back. Derrick lowered his dagger. He didn't put it away, however.
"Let me ask you again, why are you here?"
"Wanted to see if you're back." Mike said
"Well, you have. Now fuck off." Nate ordered
Mike turned to mist and disappeared. "Wow, didn't think he'd ever leave," another voice spoke.
This time it was from behind them, "hey, Nathan. Remember me?"
"Zach? Wow, you look... Different."
"You look the same." Zach replied
"Who's this?" Derrick asked
"Eldest son of uncle Jack. He's one of the few tolerable people in this clan. He's an actual candidate for head clan. But not many approve of his methods."
"They say I'm too nice. Who's the girl?" He walked around the bench and stood next to Derrick.
"A friend." Nate answered
"Cool. Nice to meet you." He shook Vic's hand
"What do you want?" Derrick said tilting the tip of his blade to Zach
"For a Core-user, you're pretty cold. I'm here to help Nathan out."
"Why?"
"Coz being the head clan sucks. I'm a free spirit. So, I rather be in the lower ranks."
"You don't sound like you mean it."
"I get why you're on guard, but I'm not carrying a knife. I promise." Zach held his hands up
"I am."
"Well, don't stab me. I don't know how to do a Body Spell."
"Too bad."
"Well, anyway. Nathan, you and I are the only two Varr alive that can do an Imaginary Dimension. How is yours?"
"Still incomplete. It strains too much."
"You made a world didn't you?"
Nate nodded.
"I told you to just have a plain color, it's easier."
"But it's weaker, no? Environment and landscape can give a great advantage."
"That's true, I guess. Guess I need to learn from my little nephew, huh?"
"Sure."
"After that, I'll teach you That."
"What's that?"
"What's your name, girl?"
"Victoria Lau."
"Victoria, you're not allowed to know. This spell is made by Varreux himself. Even named it after himself. That's all I can tell you, really. Its technicality is completely secret."
"Oh, okay."
"Why should I learn it?"
"Because that will get more approval!"
"Oh, okay."
"It will also help with the war."
"Right, okay."