The Disaster Born's

Chapter Fourteen - Alysia

As I walk with Ash towards Leon, I notice Leon's eyes widen in shock. He gingerly touches his bruised face, a look of disbelief crossing his features. Then, he bursts into laughter, the sound echoing around us. "You got slapped up, bro," he says, his voice filled with amusement as he glances over at me, still chuckling. Ash shakes his head, a smile playing on his lips, but for some reason, he isn't using his Fire Healing to mend his injuries. Odd.

I continue my exploration, heading towards the Dusk Wraith training grounds. The forestry areas envelop me, their familiar presence soothing. The trees whisper faintly in the wind, a comforting sound that makes me feel at ease. As I venture deeper, the light begins to fade, and the sun's warmth diminishes. The atmosphere grows darker, and an eerie silence falls over the forest. I frown, sensing something amiss.

Suddenly, a mechanical noise breaks the silence, a vibrating hum that sends a shiver down my spine. My heart races as I spot a Dusk Wraith sprinting towards me, its form a blur of darkness. Panic grips me, freezing me in place. Just as the creature is about to reach me, Talon emerges from the shadows, his body materialising like a phantom. He pushes me to the side. His eyes glow a piercing silver, and he raises his hands, summoning a bright light that disintegrates the Dusk Wraith in an instant.

I stand there, stunned, as more Dusk Wraiths emerge from the trees, their eyes glowing red with malevolence. Talon's eyes shine even brighter as he begins to levitate off the ground. Suddenly, beams of light burst from his chest, shooting in all directions and striking the Dusk Wraiths. They screech in agony, their forms left with holes through their chests.

But then, one of the creatures sneaks up behind Talon, its claws raking across his back. He cries out in pain, and a voice recording booms, "YOU LOSE." To my surprise the dead Dusk Wraiths vanish, and Talon collapses to the ground, writhing in pain. I rush to his side, shaking him gently. "Talon, are you okay?" I ask, my voice filled with worry.

He forces a smile, though his face is contorted with pain. "Yeah, the pain will subside in an hour," he says, his voice strained. I frown, confused by his calm demeanour.

He struggles to his feet, pointing towards the trees. "It's all digitalised," he explains. "You see that hole in the tree?" I nod, spotting a small camera hidden within the bark. "That's a camera. And over there," he points to another tree, "that's where the gun is. It sprays a toxin that mimics the pain inflicted by the poison that is in the Dusk Wraiths, claws and teeth."

"So, it was all... fake," I murmur, still processing the information. He nods, a faint smile on his lips. "Why didn't you leave me to it?" I ask, still puzzled.

"It's a pain I wish on no man, especially not you. You don't deserve that," he replies, his voice gentle.

"Thank you, Talon. That was kind," I say softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I ask, "Why are you out here all alone?"

He presses his lips together, a shadow passing over his face. "I don't fit in. At least in the shadows, they accept me," he admits.

I shake my head, trying to comfort him. "You have just as much right to be here as we all do," I say, hoping to reassure him.

"That was pretty cool," I say nudging him on his shoulder. His dark eyes meet mine and a smile tug at his lips. "Starlight, the brightest most powerful light in the universe,"

"I thought they said only Fire Born's could kill Dusk Wraiths?" I ask him curiously.

He shrugs his shoulders, "There's a lot they don't tell us, "An unspoken way of telling me he knew more than he made out.

I frown at him in confusion, my brows knitting together as I search his face for answers. His gaze avoids mine, the awkward silence stretching between us, gnawing at my nerves. I force a smile, trying to break the tension. "Thank you, again, but I best get back." I turn to leave, but his hand shoots out, grabbing my arm. I whirl around, startled, and his eyes widen with sudden fear.