Rex, Felix, and Merlin engaged in their usual training session on the field. In a swift move, Rex seized Merlin's hands, effortlessly pinning him to the ground
"Rex wins again, with 8 points!" Felix announced from a distance where he stood watching
"Ugh!" Merlin groaned in frustration. "How does he manage to overpower me every time?"
"Just eating well," Rex replied casually with a chuckle.
"Nah, there's more to it. Your lineage must be packed with warriors or something. It's in your blood." Merlin replied
"You just need to work on your stamina and focus, Merlin" Felix pointed out. "And let's wrap it up for today. You two should tend to any bruises, and dinner should be waiting for us," he suggested.
"Yay!" Rex shouted, excited by the prospect of food as he dashed off to meet up with Aliya, while Felix and Merlin began to pack up their gear.
In Bethel, Rex had found not just friends, but a family. Over the years, they had matured into adulthood, with Felix now twenty-five and Merlin and Aliya both twenty-three.
At seventeen, Rex had grown into a striking young man, his physique sculpted from countless hours of hunting and training alongside his brothers. Still unknown to him, the power of Auragmite coursed within him, a gift or rather, a curse from the earthquake that had altered his life. Though he sensed his uniqueness, as he felt different from his peers, he was unaware of it's true origin and he wanted to find out so bad.
Approaching their now spacious hut, Rex spotted Aliya still tending to the cooking outside and with a gentle smile, he approached her.
Aliya was a really stunning young lady, her long, cotton candy hair cascading down her back, complementing her graceful figure. One could call her the most beautiful girl in the little town of Bethel.
"Is dinner ready?" Rex inquired as he settled onto a nearby rock.
Aliya glanced up, a playful glint in her eye as she smirked. "Almost there, just letting it simmer," she replied.
"Oh! Nice" Rex replied eagerly.
Concern flickered across Aliya's features as she noticed the bruises on Rex's otherwise smooth skin from their training session. It was a common occurrence for them to push themselves to the limit during their workouts.
"You're hurt again?" she asked, her tone laced with worry.
"Yeah, sure" Rex chuckled, removing his shirt to reveal the bruises. "Just a few battle scars from Merlin," he admitted.
It was a familiar sight for Aliya, their sparring often left them battered and she would tend to their wounds all the time.
Shaking her head in exasperation, Aliya fetched the first aid kit and motioned for him to sit beside her.
"Must you guys be so rough with each other?" she asked as she tended to his wounds.
Rex shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. "Yeah, we have to be prepared for anything, the enemy won't go easy on us" he explained
Aliya's brow furrowed "But who's the enemy, Rex?"
"Whatever comes for us," he replied with a grin, prompting Aliya to laugh and shake her head in mock exasperation.
Soon, Felix and Merlin returned, joining them for dinner. Aliya tended to Merlin's injuries as well.
REX POV
After our meal, we chatted for a bit before I excused myself. It was that time of year again when I had to disappear to conceal my unusual abilities. I've always known I was different, from the way my visions would turn a fiery red whenever strong emotions arise, like intense anger, shock or overwhelming excitement and how I possessed physical strength beyond my peers, being able to lift heavy objects effortlessly. My instincts were also remarkably sharp, and I had the ability to heal rapidly from injuries and maybe more I haven't discovered yet.
I could only recall the upheaval from the past, and my mother's face, while everything else seemed lost to me. I couldn't recall any friend or my dad. I had only discovered I was good at using a bow seven years ago when I was ten. While playing outdoors with my brothers, Felix and Merlin, we stumbled upon an old bow. Something about it felt strangely familiar to me, so I picked it up and we were all astonished with my precision in hitting targets.
It was also around that time that I noticed my eyes would glow a vivid red whenever intense emotions washed over me, accompanied by excruciating headaches. It wasn't the first time my eyes glowed, but the first time I understood why. '
One particular time it occurred, I ran inside due to the pain, only to be confronted by a terrifying sight in the mirror, my eyes ablaze like those of a wild beast. This also usually heightened my senses to an extraordinary degree, granting me the ability to perceive things from incredible distances. The pain subsided as quickly as it had come and my eyes went back to normal typically after I fell asleep or rested a little.
Though I suspected Aliya might have caught a glimpse of my glowing eyes once during a shared meal ten years ago, but she never mentioned it, perhaps believing it to be merely an odd reflection or something, I hope.
I became cautious, especially around Merlin, who had suspicions about me. I couldn't risk losing the new family I had, so I kept it all in, while searching for answers.
Every April, a painful transformation grips me, usually between the 4th and 5th of the month. And it was that time of the year again.
With a quiet excuse, I slipped away, grabbing my bow as I dashed into the woods toward my secret refuge. I had stumbled upon this place long ago, fleeing from home to escape the pain that gripped me. I didn't want anyone to worry over my troubles, so I kept running until I was isolated, discovering a hidden underground cave that became my hideaway.
As I darted through the forest, I sensed Merlin trailing behind me. He would occasionally attempt to spy on my activities. His skill in remaining unnoticed was commendable, but with my heightened senses, I always detected his presence. He would chase after me until he was unable to keep up, and occasionally, when I felt like having fun, I would set up camp and act like I was hunting, biding my time until he got bored and moved on. This time, I kept running till he could no longer keep up.
Seated in the dimly illuminated cave, which was my haven for introspection, where I pondered why I possessed these abilities, how I managed to survive on my own, what I am to do with these strange powers and what to do about them, I braced myself for the inevitable onslaught of pain. On the walls were pictures and diagrams, my attempts to figure out why I have these strange abilities, but even after many years of searching, I couldn't find any answers.
Little bits of sunlight through tiny crevices, made faint patterns on the stone table where I laid my head. Suddenly, the pain hit me like a storm and I collapsed to the cold, unforgiving ground suffering for what felt like forever until unconsciousness claimed me. This affliction, whatever its origin, was a burden I had never asked for.