Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

17

The days passed in a blur of training and missions, the relentless pace of life at the Institute leaving little room for rest or reflection. Evangeline threw herself into her training, pushing her body to its limits, honing her skills with a single-minded determination that bordered on obsession. But even as she focused on the task at hand, her thoughts kept drifting back to Rian.

Since their late-night conversation, Rian had been distant. He had been called away on separate missions, his presence at the Institute becoming more sporadic. When he did return, it was only for brief periods, just long enough to regroup before being sent out again. He barely spoke to her, and when their paths did cross, he was back to his usual cold, aloof demeanor.

Evangeline couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration every time she saw him. After their tentative reconciliation, she had thought they might finally be making progress, that they could start to build something resembling a friendship. But now, it felt like all of that had been for nothing. Rian had retreated back into his shell, and she was left wondering if she had imagined the connection they had shared.

It was during one of these stretches, when Rian was gone on another mission, that the wear and tear of their grueling schedule began to take its toll on the group. The days bled into each other, a continuous cycle of training, fighting, and barely catching their breath before it all started again. By the end of the week, everyone was exhausted, mentally and physically.

When Rian finally returned, looking as worn out as the rest of them, the group decided to take a break and gather outside for a few moments of peace. The sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in warm hues of orange and pink, and they found a quiet spot on the grassy hill overlooking the training grounds.

Evangeline, Jessica, Rian, Sam, Ethan, Roger, and Jack all stretched out on the grass, the cool earth beneath them a welcome change from the harsh concrete and steel of the Institute. For a while, they just lay there, staring up at the sky, letting the silence wash over them. It was a rare moment of calm, a brief respite from the chaos of their lives.

Roger was the first to break the silence, his voice thoughtful as he stared up at the darkening sky. "You know, it's weird. We've all been through so much together, seen things most people can't even imagine. But there's still so much we don't know about each other."

The group murmured in agreement, the mood contemplative. They had all grown close over the years, bonded by the shared experience of training and fighting side by side, but there were still parts of each other's lives that remained unspoken, buried beneath layers of silence and pain.

Roger turned his head slightly to look at Rian, who was lying on his back with his arms crossed over his chest, staring up at the sky with a distant expression. "Rian," Roger began hesitantly, "I've always wondered... what was it like? You know, when your brother... when he turned."

The question hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and the atmosphere instantly shifted. The others glanced at each other, sensing the tension that suddenly crackled between them. It was an unspoken rule among them to never ask about Rian's brother, Liam. Everyone knew the basics—that Liam had turned into a demon and had killed their parents—but no one dared to pry into the details.

Rian's body tensed, his jaw clenching as he slowly turned his head to look at Roger. His eyes were cold, his expression hard as stone. "Why do you want to know?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Roger hesitated, clearly realizing he had crossed a line but not willing to back down just yet. "I just thought... maybe it would help to talk about it. We're your friends, Rian. You don't have to carry it all by yourself."

Rian's eyes flashed with anger, and he pushed himself up to a sitting position, glaring at Roger. "You think talking about it will help?" he snapped, his voice rising. "You think dredging up the past is going to make any of this easier?"