Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 17: A certain Spark's past

"Hey, look at this!" A young boy with red hair ran up to a girl, squealing in delight.

"Yeah?" A girl with short magenta hair turned around, a popsicle in her mouth.

The boy clenched his fists, and a soft glow illuminated them, the light coming from within.

The girl let out a gasp in disbelief. "Woa...Shin, you can already light up your fists? Do your parents know?"

"I just found out this morning, so they still don't know. Besides, I want you to be the first to know about it, Shiro." The boy rubbed the bottom of his nose with his index finger, showing a bashful smile.

"Why, thanks! We've got to show your parents too! Let's go!" Grabbing the boy's arm, the girl sprinted, as energetic as the boy.

"Yeah!"

The two of them ran enthusiastically to Shinesh's house, and after his parents came out to greet them, Shinesh showed off his newfound power.

"So my boy has grown up! About time!" A man with a tall and muscular build ruffled the boy's hair.
"Stop it, dad! It hurts!" Shinesh complained.

"Just this, and it's already hurting? Seems like you need more training! Buahahahaha!" The old man burst out laughing.

"So, why is Shiro together with you?" A lady with a smile asked gently. "Is it because you showed it to her first?"

"Yeah! And when the time comes, I'll protect her!" Shinesh replied immediately.

"You rascal! How come you're picking up girls at this age? You're just a brat!" Shinesh's father grabbed him and knocked his head lightly, earning the laughters from Shinesh's mother and Shiro.

***

"Hah....one more time!" Shinesh yelled, panting.

"Sure thing!" Shiro grinned, readying the two wooden swords in her hands.

With a leap, she send them slashing at Shinesh, who was using gloves to counter them.

Dust flew around them as the two tried their best to out do each other.

It had been three years since Shinesh acquired his Spark abilities, and they were training, as usual. The Nayshard attacks were getting more frequent, and the village the two children were in were preparing for a war against them. Most of them were Sparks, and those who were not were helping with laying traps around the settlement.

A huge war had been waged for two years and for these three quiet years following it, Shinesh's village had been living in seclusion. But it seems like the Nayshards were hell-bent on eradicating the Sparks. With the majority of them lost, Shinesh's village was quite vulnerable to attacks from the Nayshards. Although the adults had told the children they were not ready for the fight, Shinesh and Shiro were among the few children who stubbornly refused to listen, and trained to develop their Spark abilities.

Right now Shinesh an Shiro were sparring on the training field in the village, together with some other Sparks. Shinesh had grown taller, and was getting lean. Shiro had let her hair grow to shoulder length, and her charm as a girl was definitely starting to show.

"Hey kids, it's about time for dinner, so go and take a rest!" An old man called out. True enough, the Sun was starting to set. They two of them were training for hours.

"Okay, Grandpa!" Shiro nodded, and after putting in all her weight into her swords, she managed to push Shiro down.

"Hehe, my win again!" Shiro cheered, offering a hand to help Shinesh up.