Tales of a Duskborne (TOD)

Chapter 3: A Duskborne

Lucan approached his house cautiously, hidden behind the trees lining his street. From his point of view, he could clearly see a tall, cloaked figure standing near the entrance of his home. The stranger's face was covered with the hood, but he clearly engaged in a conversation with Elara. His eyes were still red, but thanks to his heightened senses, he could still clearly see them. 

Lucan strained his ears, his heightened senses picking up on their conversation.

"...you can't just come here like this!" Elara's voice was filled with a mix of anger and fear. Something he had never heard from her.

"He needs to be prepared, Elara," the cloaked man's voice was deep and gravelly. He sounded familiar. "He's transitioning, and if he's not trained, he could be a danger to himself and others."

"He's just a boy! My boy!" Elara retorted, her protective instincts evident.

Lucan's heart raced. Who was this man? And what did he want with him? He tried to calm his breathing, but the unfamiliar surge of power from earlier was still coursing through him, making everything feel heightened and raw.

He took a step back, accidentally stepping on a twig. The sharp crack echoed in the quiet street.

Both Elara and the cloaked man turned their heads towards the sound. Lucan froze. 

The stranger's piercing eyes, the only visible part of his face beneath the hood, locked onto Lucan's. "Ah, there you are." Lucan cocked his head slightly, why did those eyes look familiar?

The cloaked man raised his hands in a non-threatening manner. "I am not here to harm him, Elara. I am here to help." Lucan sees his mother's hand tighten into fists.

Lucan stepped forward, his confusion evident. "Who are you? And what do you want with me?"

The man lowered his hood, revealing an older face with deep-set eyes and a tangle of gray and black hair. "My name is Caelum. I knew your father. I am here because you have begun your transition, and you need guidance." He's lying, and you know it.

Lucan's eyes widened. "My father? You knew him?"

Elara sighed, her face pale. "Lucan, go inside. We'll talk about this later."

"No, Mom. I need answers. Now."

The cloaked man, Caelum, nodded. 

"It's time, Elara. He deserves to know."

The three of them made their way inside the house. The day had taken an unexpected turn, but Lucan was determined to uncover the mysteries of his newfound abilities and the connection this stranger had to his past.

Inside the cozy living room of Lucan's home, the walls adorned with family photos, the atmosphere grew dense. Caelum, his cloak now removed, sat opposite Lucan, taking in the boy's resemblance to a friend from long ago. Elara paced anxiously, her hands wringing with every step.

"Lucan," Caelum began, his voice patient yet firm, "you're not entirely human."

Lucan snorted, the irony of the situation not lost on him, considering the day's events. "Even i could tell you that much. After all, I'm pretty sure i can run over 45mph."