"My father has returned! He's alive!" A formidable creature thundered, its body emanating dark, ominous auras as it descended from the crystallized throne upon which it had been seated. "I can sense his presence; he's not from this world. Where is Domra?" it demanded, its voice dripping with intensity.
"My lord, you dispatched him to invade the Leria village just a few hours ago," Grix, one of the guards, replied, his tone laced with caution.
"Grix, assemble a team of your most skilled men and embark on a quest to find my father," the creature commanded, its dark mist swirling around it before seeping into Grix's nostrils. "This power will shield and guide you; venture into any planet, galaxy, or realm, and bring him before me at all costs."
"Yes, Dahra! I shall execute your will!" Grix exclaimed, bowing deeply after regaining his footing from the dark energy that had coursed through him. With a swift turn, he soared out of the palace, which lacked a roof, grasping a trident-like weapon.
Dahra, the formidable creature, smiled malevolently as it ascended the stairs leading to the throne platform. Settling into the throne, its smile gradually transformed into a wild, unhinged laughter, echoing through the palace. "Prepare yourself, O Perebia, for a reunion between father and son is imminent," it declared, leaning back into the throne with an air of anticipation.
*****
"I'm still trying to grasp the extent of my abilities," Mike explained, "and I'm not entirely sure how they work. But I promise to share everything with you once I've had a chance to understand it better."
Stefan's expression turned grim. "Mike, we've been through a lot to protect you, and it feels like there's still so much you're not telling us."
Mike nodded. "I know, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. I'll fill you in on all the details after school, I promise." His eyes took on a distant look. "Something inside me took control earlier. It was a powerful force, and I couldn't resist it. But one thing is clear."
Rachael and Stefan leaned in, their curiosity piqued. "What's that?" they asked in unison.
Mike's expression remained blank. "I overpowered those men, and it felt amazing. I don't know why, but I enjoyed every moment of it."
Rachael and Stefan exchanged skeptical glances, it's obvious they found it hard to believe what he's saying.
"How do you plan to convince your parents about your new identity without ending up back in the hospital?" Stefan spoke up, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "What kind of expression do you envisage to see on their faces?"
"We'll keep everything from them for now. That's our only option," Rachael intervened, her voice firm. "Whatever lies we feed them won't change the fact that Mike has gotten back his vision."
Stefan raised an eyebrow. "But what about the fact that he knocked down four armed men?"
Rachael shook her head. "Do you think my parents will believe that? There's not even one CCTV footage to support that claim."
"We're here!" Mike's voice cut through their conversation, he gestured to the bus terminal, where their attention was now focused.
"Are you kids getting on?" the bus driver asked, his eyes fixed intently on the trio.
"Yes, sir!" Rachael replied, nudging the boys to board the bus quickly.
As they settled into their seats, the other students on the bus couldn't help but stare at Mike. He ignored them, turning to Stefan and Rachael with a whispered question, "Is it written somewhere on my face that I'm a bat?"
Rachael burst into laughter, and Stefan joined in, their merriment drawing curious glances from the other students.
"Why did you say that?" Stefan asked, still chuckling.
Mike glanced around at the sea of faces, his expression uneasy. "Don't you see all the attention I'm getting? People have been staring at me since we got on the bus."
Rachael leaned back in her seat, a reassuring smile on her face. "Just ignore them, Mike. You're a handsome boy, aren't you? Let them be, okay?" She replied.
The trio fell silent for the remainder of the bus ride, the tension dissipating slightly as they arrived at their stop and disembarked. As they walked down the hallway leading to the school gate, Mike's discomfort grew.
"Something feels strange. Everyone around us has been staring at Mike since we got off the bus," Stefan, who also noticed it, spoke up after a couple of minutes of walking.
Rachael nodded in agreement. "The feeling is mutual, I noticed it too," Rachael added before turning to Mike to scan over his face. "There's nowhere written on your face that you're a bat, or is there?"
Mike's frustration boiled over. "I told you, I said everyone's been staring at me, and it's really making me uncomfortable!"
Stefan's gaze snapped to the back of Mike's uniform, his eyes widening in surprise. "Oh my...what happened to your shirt?"
"Good heavens! What happened to you, Mike?" Rachael asked, her mouth agape and her eyes fixed on Mike's torn uniform.
Mike let out a deep sigh as both Stefan and Rachael stared at him with questioning expressions. "Yes, yes, yes! It's true!" He exclaimed, his frustration evident. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but I'm certain I have wings. I don't know how to explain it, and I haven't fully understood it myself, but it's real."
Rachael's expression turned incredulous. "You have what? Wings? Don't be ridiculous!"
Stefan scoffed and handed Mike his cardigan, which Mike quickly donned to cover his tattered uniform.
"Don't thank me, just be honest with us," Stefan said. "You're really startling us with these outlandish claims. Now, come on, what really happened?"
Mike glanced at Rachael, who wore a questioning stare, and then at Stefan. He hesitated, unable to bring himself to repeat his earlier claim, fearing they would think him crazy.
Just then, a car sped past them, followed by a gust of wind that blew dust into their faces, breaking the intensity of the moment.
"Who the hell was that?" Rachael grumbled, wiping the dirt from her eyes.
"Christina!" Both Stefan and Mike responded in unison.
Rachael raised an eyebrow. "I guess all the guys in school have a crush on the school queen. You even recognize her car."
Mike shot Rachael a glare, his eyes flashing with displeasure. Rachael quickly averted her gaze from his unnerving stare.
"You're really going to get yourself into trouble, Rachael," Stefan said, "You knew how much Mike and I resented Christina. How can you still call her our crush?" he turned to Mike, "And by the way, did you believe the bitch wasn't suspended?"
"Didn't you know?" Mike asked, his expression grim.
"Know what?" Stefan replied, curiosity etched on his face.
"That Christina's father is one of the school's major sponsors?" Mike stated, his tone laced with disgust.
Stefan's eyes widened in realization. "No wonder she always gets away with everything she does in school."
Rachael nodded in the agreement. "That explains her arrogance and her belief that no one can confront her."
Just then, a car pulled up beside them, honking its horn. The window rolled down, revealing Laura's smiling face. "Hey, guys! Need a ride?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
The trio eagerly accepted, piling into the car as Laura drove off. "Hey, Mike! Long time no see! How have you been?" Laura asked, glancing at Mike through the rearview mirror.
Mike smiled wryly. "I'm good, Laura. Hope you didn't miss me too much?"
Laura chuckled. "Of course, I did! Who wouldn't? Your absence from school was a huge deal, especially with no one to confront the school DND queen, Christina."
Stefan snickered, his sarcasm barely contained. "I'm sure Christina must have missed him too, she must have gotten bored, with no one to stand up to her."
Laura shot him a quick glare, her expression stern. "That's impossible! Why would she?"
Rachael intervened, her voice thoughtful. "But why are you so sure, Laura? Not only lovers miss each other; enemies do too, and it's only a matter of time before they become friends."
Laura's annoyance flared, her tone sharp. "Stop saying nonsense! That's never going to happen!" She replied even before Mike could.
Rachael's eyes narrowed, puzzled by Laura's reaction. "But why are you getting angry? It was just an observation."
"Who, me? Angry? Wh...why would I be?" Laura stuttered, her eyes fixed intently on the road ahead.
Rachael turned to face her, a curious expression on her face. "You look like you are, earlier. Do you have feelings for my brother?"
Laura's response was immediate and vehement. She burst into a sudden cough, her words tumbling out in a flustered manner. "W...wh...why are you asking me that? That's absurd!" However, her expression betrayed her words, revealing a hint of lies.
Rachael pressed on, her voice gentle but insistent. "Do you like him or not? Loving someone isn't a crime, you know. And Mike is single – totally single." She emphasized the last point with a sly smile.
Mike cut in, his voice low and warning. "Stop with your nonsense, Rachael!" He hissed, before turning to look at Laura through the rearview mirror. "I'm finally back to school with my empty books."
Laura's gaze flicked to Mike's reflection, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You're not expecting me to fill them for you, are you?" She inquired, her hand dancing on the steering wheel as she wheeled into the school gate.
Mike's response was smooth, his words dripping with charm. "Who else can I turn to if not you, Laura? You're the only girl in school who cares for me." He winked at her, and for a moment, Laura seemed enchanted.
"I'll write half of your books," she replied, her voice softening.
However, Mike's expression turned sad, his eyes locked on Laura's through the mirror.
"You want me to write everything, are you kidding me?" Laura squealed in dissatisfaction, accelerating the car.
"Write half and quarter then," Mike implored.
Laura shook her head firmly, her expression unyielding. "I still have a lot to do, I'll write half, and you'll write the rest, that's final!"
Mike shook his head in discontent, his expression fixed in a scowl. Laura's anger boiled over, and she accelerated the car to its maximum speed. "Are you kidding me? You want me to..."
"It's fine, half is good, okay? Just write the half and give me the rest, so will you please stop speeding now?" Mike said, relentingly.
"At this rate, we're all going to die before we get to school," Rachael muttered under her breath.
Stefan, meanwhile, shut his eyes tight and held onto the seatbelt in fear.
The car suddenly squealed to a stop, and Mike, Rachael, and Stefan stepped out, breathing heavily. Stefan looked like he was about to throw up, but Mike patted him on the back reassuringly.
"Remind me next time never to argue with you when you're driving," Mike said to Laura with a chuckle.
"I'll make sure to do that," Laura replied, smiled meekly and scurried off.
"I'll wait for you after school hours, let's go home together, okay?" Rachael whispered and before Mike could respond, she dispersed into the crowd.
"Come on, don't be a baby. Let's go now." Mike said as he turned to Stefan. Stefan regained his stance, and Mike advanced toward the stairs leading upstairs.
Just as Stefan was about to follow, a sudden grip pulled him back and he turned to look. "Dammit, Tina, what do you want from me now?" He complained.
"We didn't get to finish our conversation yesterday. Stop running from me and come clean. Where is your friend?" Tina asked, her expression strict.
"What's going on, Stefan? Come on, let's go in!" Mike called out from behind, interrupting their conversation
Tina's face lit up with surprise as she saw Mike. "Excuse me..." she managed to utter before scurrying past Mike and disappearing out of sight.
Stefan let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thanks goodness! That was close, I almost wet my pants."
"Come on, don't let her little threat scare you. I'm back now, with power, of course." Mike said with a smile and strutted to show off his muscles.
"Dream on!" Stefan scoffed and headed upstairs. Mike smiled and followed him, wrapping his arm around his shoulder.