With the weight of daytime events heavy in the room, tension was an unwanted guest. Atenyos sat on the edge of his bed, his head replaying all the action of the fight, the intervention, and its aftermath. Though the room was only dimly lit, the slight crackling of sparks from his ring created an illuminating view of his brooding face.
Ipsum entered without knocking the door and drew a stool beside Atenyos. He hunched forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and broke the silence.
"Atenyos, what's up with you, man?" Ipsum asked softly, piercingly. "All of us were upset about what happened today, but you...you took it personally, more than us. Say something, man."
Atenyos looked up, his dark eyes meeting Ipsum's earnest gaze. For a moment, he was silent, the weight of his thoughts pulling him down. Then he sighed and relaxed a trifle.
"I don't know where to begin, Ipsum," he started, "I don't have anyone, really, no family or friends. And my father-he's gone due to the Witnesses. And as for my mother." Here he pauses, catching his voice. "She followed him, in her own way. Depression took her long before her body gave up. She never wanted me to have a ring, you know? She hated the idea. I can still hear her voice every time I activate my powers, begging me to stop."
Ipsum didn't say anything, waiting for Atenyos to keep talking. He spoke with vulnerability he rarely touched on, so Ipsum didn't want to interfere.
Atenyos went on, his voice much steadier. "But my hatred. it was never directed at the Witnesses alone. I despise the emperors, too. They sit on their thrones, surrounded by luxury, while the rest of the world struggles. When Enyos died, they ceased fighting. They let the world believe that they protect it, but all I see is cowardice. They have let people fend for themselves while clinging to their titles."
"Seeing them cheat made me realize how low the ring bearers have fallen, I couldn't stand by"
The faint hum of his ring louder, he clenched his fists. "After my mother passed, I took my father's journals. I studied them, lived them. Every day, I pushed myself to the brink-training, studying, breaking down and getting back up. I made it my purpose to change this broken system. It sounds like a foolish dream, but ever since I gained these rings, I have this feeling… it feels that it is possible, it can go beyond what I felt was my limit."
At the words, Ipsum raised an eyebrow; his lips curled upwards with a slight smile. "That is one hell of purpose Atenyos, but you know you fainted every time you overexert yourself, right? You have some potential for sure, but—"
"I know," Atenyos cut in, his voice solid. "I know my limits, Ipsum. And I will surpass them. I'll hone my power until there are no weaknesses left to exploit. Since I've met the emperors, I don't hate them anymore… not completely. I pity them."
Ipsum blinked, surprised. "Pity? Atenyos, they can level mountains. How can you pity them?"
"Because behind their eyes, I see fear," Atenyos whispered. "They're afraid, Ipsum. Afraid of what's out there. Afraid of losing control. And that's what keeps them rooted in place."
Atenyos leaned back, the sparks around him dimming. "I don't have fear. Not anymore. I have nothing left to lose. And because of that, I'll change this pitiful world.
Ipsum stared at him, his mind racing. Something in Atenyos seemed to dance in those eyes-a fire, a determination that was beyond ambition. It was a calling. "You're insane," Ipsum said, shaking his head. "But damn it, Atenyos, I'll follow you. Just promise me one thing: if I ever see fear strike you, even for a second, I'm out. No hesitation. You hear me?"
Atenyos allowed himself a small smile. "Deal."
They shook hands, and for the first time in his life, Atenyos felt the alien warmth of trust.
---
That night, as promised, found Atenyos on the training grounds, where Lutens awaited him. The emperor stood cross-armed, a smirk dancing upon his lips as Atenyos approached.
"What's this about?" Atenyos asked, tone casual. Lutens's smirk grew wider.
"Show me your ring, kid," Lutens said.
Atenyos raised his hand, and Lutens analyzed the output. As soon as he saw the number, he started to laugh, actually doubling over and grasping his stomach. "Point-zero-one percent? HA! I thought it was a joke, but this… this is amazing!"
Atenyos raised an eyebrow in exasperation. "Are you done?"
"Okay, okay," Lutens said, wiping tears from his eyes. "Seriously, though. I noticed something when you turned on your powers earlier. Sparks, kid. Lightning. What's that about?"
"I don't know. It just happens," Atenyos replied with a shrug.
Lutens tilted his head to the side, studying him. "You have marks of lightning on your hands. It's pretty obvious, don't you think? Why haven't you tried using it?"
Atenyos frowned, looking at his hands. "I… never thought about it."
"Typical. All right, hit me," Lutens said, the smirk vanishing as he stood his ground.
"huh?"
"Hit me. Show me what you've got."
Atenyos didn't hesitated, Lutens's unwavering gaze pushed him forward. Activating his powers, he charged at Lutens, his movements fluid and precise. Lutens tried to dodge, but Atenyos's speed and technique caught him off guard, and the punch landed squarely.
Lutens stumbled back, his grin spreading over his face. "Well, that tickled. You're good, kid. Really good. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
"My father's journals," Atenyos replied succinctly.
Lutens laughed. "Figures. You're full of surprises, aren't you?" The mocking note was gone from his voice as he vanished from view only to reappear a few inches away from Atenyos. "Now it's my turn."
The blow to his stomach, coursing lightning through it, came so fast that Lutens disappeared before Atenyos could even react and reappeared within a millisecond. Atenyos fell on his knees, coughing blood, but he felt something very strange. The lightning of that strike didn't fade; it grew.
"That's all you," Lutens said, almost in reverence. "Now focus. Feel the lightning in your veins. Let it guide you."
Atenyos closed his eyes, releasing everything but the sensation. The marks on his arms grew, lightning crackling wildly as it enveloped him. When he opened them again, they were pure black, glowing with energy.
"Now hit me again. Don't think, just let the power flow, concentrate it to single point," Lutens commanded.
Atenyos surged forward, his movements a blur as he delivered a punch fueled by pure lightning. Lutens braced himself, the force nearly knocking him off his feet.
Lutens laughed, clapping Atenyos on the shoulder. "You did it, kid. I knew it, your power is the same as I, the power of controlling electricity, and it doesn't just stop there, but for now, Keep practicing."
"...I'd take you with me but Iruim would never allow it, so practice Atenyos, hone it. And it shall guide you and teach you itself."
"While you do that, I'll try and figure something out for you, just keep pushing"
Atenyos nodded, a rare grin spreading across his face. "I will."
"Now go, tomorrow is the last match before yours, get some sleep kid."
The next day, the match was between Marcellus and Crphis. In that one-sided contest, the latter's powers of changing from solid to water and vice versa made him all but untouchable. The former fought honorably his strategies were ingenious, but saw no path to winning without lethal force. His heart heavy, he surrendered.
Teams melted away, and the air thickened in anticipation of the final match.
That night, Atenyos sat in a cross-legged position in his room, his fingers dancing with streaks of lightning. He let it be, growing around him, lightning flowing all across, with a face filled with excitement of the victory of tomorrow.