Ten years had passed since Aiden's birth, and the world had undergone a transformation. Aiden, who had been bestowed with a weak fire gene, had grown into a young man with a fiery temperament. However, today, his fiery nature would face a new challenge.
Aiden woke up to find himself alone in his room. His younger sister, Alicia, was nowhere to be found. Concern welled up within him as he realized she had disappeared early in the morning. Hurriedly making his way downstairs, he found his father, Bola, preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
"Dad, have you seen Alicia?" Aiden asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.
Bola looked up from the stove, concern etched on his face. "I thought she was with you. Where could she have gone?"
Aiden's initial frustration dissipated, replaced by a sense of urgency. He understood the vulnerability of his timid sister and the potential dangers she could face.
"We need to find her," Aiden declared, his voice filled with determination. "I'll search for Alicia while you stay here in case she returns. Time is of the essence."
With resolve burning within him, Aiden set off into the town, his fiery temperament fueling his determination. He moved through the familiar streets, questioning neighbors and friends, desperately seeking any information about Alicia. His fiery presence caught the attention of those he encountered, who were compelled to help in his search.
Hours turned into the afternoon, and Aiden's efforts remained fruitless. Panic threatened to consume him, but he clung to the flame of hope that burned within his heart. Alicia's safety was his priority, and he would not falter until she was found.
As dusk approached, Aiden found himself standing at the edge of a serene river. In this tranquil setting, he hoped to discover a clue that would lead him to his sister. The fiery hues of the sunset mirrored the intensity of his emotions.
Suddenly, movement caught Aiden's eye. There, near the water's edge was an old lady. He hurried to the there to ask
"Hello ma'am," Aiden asked, his voice tinged with impatience, "by any chance have you seen a young girl around here? She is about 4 years of age, her hair is not that long but dark in color, and she may have been wearing a blue night dress?"
"Oh! Yes, I think I saw someone like that," the old lady replied, taken aback by Aiden's temper. "She was with a man who appeared to be around 30 years old. She was crying, though. Yes, they headed towards Mount Hoshu."
"Mount Hoshu!!!" Aiden roared, his voice filled with fiery frustration and worry. "Yes! You know her?"
The old lady looked at him sympathetically, taken aback by Aiden's temper. "Yes. She is my little sister. She went missing this morning. That direction is trouble," Aiden explained, his words laced with his fiery temperament, reflecting his determination to find his sister.
"Thank you for your help, young lady," Aiden said with a sarcastic tone, unable to hide his cynicism in his gratitude.
The old lady glanced at him, slightly bemused. "What a sweet young man," she remarked, her words tinged with a touch of irony, recognizing the underlying sarcasm in Aiden's expression.
"This is trouble," Aiden thought to himself, his mind racing with worry. "I'll tell Dad as I head to Mount Hoshu. He is not going to like this one bit, though. But I have to get my sister back. With the recent news of kids being experimented on for gene activation, my little sister may be in real danger."
He activated his power, feeling the familiar surge of energy coursing through his veins. Aiden's fiery aura manifested as a light glow on his fist before dissipating, accompanied by a faint steam rising from his body.
"Gene activation sudo 5%," he murmured, acknowledging the increase in his abilities, including his speed. With newfound swiftness, he dashed off in the direction of Mount Hoshu, propelled by his determination and urgency.
"No time to waste," Aiden thought, his fiery temperament driving him forward as he raced against the ticking clock to find his sister.
Just before he entered Mount Hoshu, a man around 50 intercepted him, blocking his path.
"Hey kid, where do you think you're going? Where are your parents?" the man inquired, his tone carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.
Aiden shot the man a fiery glare, his impatience evident in his response. "Old geezer, I don't have time to waste here. Time is of the essence," he retorted, his words laced with a touch of disrespect. The urgency to find his sister fueled his impulsive nature, making him unwilling to entertain any distractions or delays.
"Not so fast, what a foul mouth," the man said, his annoyance evident in his voice.
"Mr., my little sister is missing and was seen with some unknown guy headed in this direction. The last thing I need right now is somebody wasting more of my time. It's almost dark as it is," Aiden snapped, his impatience getting the better of him.
"And what do you plan to do if you find her? Whoever it was that took her, do you think he is just going to hand her over to you just because you ask? You're going to get yourself captured along with your sister," the man warned, his voice tinged with concern. He then grabbed Aiden's hand, causing a burning sensation.
"Let go! I said, let go!" Aiden exclaimed, his fiery temper flaring up as he tried to free his hand from the man's grip.
"A fire type gene, and a strong one at that," the man mused, his tone changing from annoyance to curiosity. "Kid, you seem to have some potential. I'll make you a deal. It's dangerous to go out there this late, so I'll help you retrieve your little sister. In return, you become my disciple. What do you say?"
Aiden's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. "What? Dude, I don't know who you are," he replied, his voice cautious and skeptical.
"Apologies, I go by James the beggar," the man introduced himself, offering a name to go along with his proposition.