Alastair faced Kael in the training room, determination burning in his eyes. Kael smiled, amusement gleaming in his gaze.
"Ready to begin your training, Alastair?"
Alastair nodded, his fists clenched. Kael charged at him, their movements a blur of punches and kicks. Alastair tried his best to defend himself, but Kael's skills were far superior.
Despite his best efforts, Alastair found himself on the receiving end of a brutal beating. Kael's punches and kicks landed with precision and power, each blow sending waves of pain through Alastair's body, leaving him battered and bruised.
But as he looked down at his injuries, he noticed something strange. His wounds were healing at an alarming rate, closing up before his very eyes. The pain, however, remained searing and intense.
Kael noticed his gaze and nodded. "You have a healing factor, Alastair. You'll be fully healed in no time, but the pain... that stays."
Alastair's eyes widened in shock as he realized the truth. He had been beaten brutally, but his body was already repairing itself.
Kael offered him a hint of a smile. "Ready to continue?"
Alastair hesitated, still trying to process what had just happened. But Kael's words sparked something within him.
"If you so much as graze me, I'll tell you about your family," Kael said, his voice firm.
"If I so much as graze you, you'll tell me about my family?" Alastair asked to confirm what he heard.
Kael nodded, his smile growing wider. "That's the deal. But don't get your hopes up, Alastair. You're no match for me yet."
With renewed determination, Alastair charged at Kael, their training session far from over.
Alastair launched himself at Kael, his fists flying in a flurry of punches. Kael dodged and weaved, his movements lightning-fast as he countered with precise strikes. Each strike landed with a painful thud, and Alastair's healing factor did nothing to dull the agony.
But as the fight wore on, Alastair's movements began to slow. His healing factor, once rapid and efficient, started to falter. His wounds took longer to close, and his energy began to flag. The pain from his injuries compounded, making each move a struggle.
Kael noticed the change and pressed his advantage. His blows landed with increasing frequency, and Alastair stumbled backward, his defenses weakening. Every hit felt like a hammer blow, sending shockwaves of pain through his body.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Alastair's hand shot out, his fingers brushing against Kael's arm. Kael's eyes flickered, his smile faltering for a moment before he regained his composure.
"Well done, Alastair!" Kael exclaimed, his voice filled with praise. "You've managed to graze me. But at what cost?"
Alastair's chest heaved with exhaustion, his eyes fixed on Kael with a mixture of determination and desperation. "Tell me... about my family," he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. The pain from the fight was still fresh, making every breath a struggle.
Kael's expression turned serious, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "Your family is... safe, Alastair. But they've been made to forget you, temporarily. It was necessary to ensure your safety and allow me to train you without detection."
Alastair's eyes widened in shock, his mind reeling with the implications. "What do you mean? Why would they forget me?"
Kael's voice was gentle but firm. "It was the only way to protect them, Alastair. You would've been declared missing, and they would have searched for you. But this way, they're safe, and you can focus on your training."
Alastair's heart raced with emotions, his mind struggling to comprehend the truth. He felt a mix of anger, sadness, and determination, knowing he had to push forward to uncover the secrets of his past and reclaim his place in his family's lives.
Alastair's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with determination. "I don't care about the risks, Kael. I need to know about my family. Tell me everything."
Kael shrugged, his expression indifferent. "They're fine, Alastair. They're living their lives, completely unaware of your existence."
Alastair's jaw clenched, his heart racing with anticipation. "Is this really necessary?" Alastair asked, conflicted.
"Yes, it is," Kael replied. "Your family will fear what you have become."
"What do you mean? What have I become?" Alastair asked.
Kael's voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. "You're a vampire, Alastair. A creature of the night. You're not human anymore."
Alastair's eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "That's not true! I'm still the same person I've always been. I'm still their son, their brother."
Kael raised an eyebrow, his apathy evident. "You're not the same, Alastair. You're a different species now. And they won't understand that. They'll fear what they don't understand. But honestly, it's not my problem. I'm just here to train you, not to babysit your emotions."
Alastair's heart sank, his mind reeling with the implications. He knew Kael was right, but he couldn't accept it. He couldn't bear the thought of his family rejecting him, fearing what he had become. But Kael's apathy only made it harder for him to come to terms with his new reality.
"Well, you look too tired to continue," Kael said. "We'll end here today."
Kael left the room, leaving a dazed Alastair on his knees, a look of confusion on his face. The pain from the fight still lingered, a constant reminder of his struggle. As Kael exited, he was stopped by Sabrine.
"You didn't have to be so harsh, you know," Sabrine said.
"How I train the boy is none of your business," Kael retorted. "You didn't have any issues feeding Alastair blood, so why are you suddenly so worried?"
"That's beside the point, Kael," Sabrine said. "All I'm saying is you can at least try to be nicer. You literally kidnapped the boy and took him away from all he's ever known. The least you can do is pretend to care."
"Nicer?" Kael asked, now irritated by Sabrine's comments. "You think I have time to play a loving mentor in his life? Alastair is a vampire whether or not he accepts it. That much is a fact. He will face threats that his current self can't even dream of overcoming. Now is not the time to be emotional."
"I know that," Sabrine said, "but it wouldn't hurt to at lea-"
"You know, yet you still say these ridiculous things," Kael said, not letting her finish her sentence. "You know why he must train, so stop letting emotion cloud your judgment and leave me be," Kael said, now leaving.
"How do you know he's the one?" Sabrine asked, a look of concern on her face. "How do you know he's not going to end up like the rest?"
Kael stopped and turned his head back. "I don't, but I'll still try anyway. That's my curse, my punishment and the only way I can atone for my sins," Kael said before continuing on his way, leaving Sabrine alone.