Chapter 12 - Tears

Raiden had just arrived home after his last day of school for the week, three days having passed since he got his haircut.

Today had a certain purpose, a bittersweet dread looming over him. He intended to visit Ashlee, his sister.

He’d already acquired the whereabouts that she was staying from Sarah, asking the secretary on the first floor of the men’s dorm to inform her of what he needed. She was quick to give him what he wanted, his sister’s living quarters could be found a little over an hour’s walk from the academy.

Raiden returned to his room first, taking a shower and then dressing in one of the new black hoodies he’d purchased yesterday. His white hair still damp, he walked over to his nightstand where his ring was, equipping that as well. He picked up his father’s watch as well, sliding it into the pocket of his sweatshirt.

Before leaving, he observed his tired green eyes in the mirror that found itself in his bedroom. I look… Tired.

Bags hung under his eyes, taking away from his otherwise rugged but handsome face. He grabbed the card on the kitchen counter on his way out, locking the door and sliding the keycard into his joggers.

On his way down the stairs, he lacked the familiar weight of the two sheathed daggers tug at his waist. His right-handed knife normally found itself on his right hip, and the one which he held with a reversed grip on the back. The blades weren’t obvious, especially the one on his back, but they’d be noticed by his sister if he wore them on his visit.

Raiden walked quietly on his way over to his sister, the last week of practical class mainly spent training his physical attributes, his endurance had improved, if only slightly. He was practically as far as he could bring himself with weapon imbuement, At least until I start hunting… His teacher forcing him into weapon technique and weight training instead. He’s spent the remaining time after school training with Alex and Kai whenever they were available.

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*

Raiden knocked on the door to his sister’s room, she had found herself in a large complex south of the academy. When Raiden first arrived, he found several women walking around holding the hands of children of varying ages. Some were only slightly younger than him, and others were outright infants. A woman walked him to his sister’s door, where he found himself now.

“Ash? You there?” he asked sympathetically, knowing what she was going through, himself going through at least the same amount of stress.

No response. “I’m coming in,” he added now, turning the knob to her door.

The window was closed and the lights off, an empty plate and cup finding itself on the table in the middle of the single room they had prepared for her. There was also a TV, couch, dressers, and a bed on which his sister was lying in.

“Natalie?” a tired voice asked drearily.

“Hey, Ash…” Raiden replied, not asking who Natalie was.

“B-Brother? But, when, where were you?” Ashlee asked him, sitting up now.

“I’m… In school,” he replied, looking at the teary-eyed girl in front of him.

“And so you left me all alone, to live with a bunch of strangers? Why? Where are you living now?” she fired question after question at him. Raiden not able to answer before another would come up.

Tears streamed down Ashlee’s face, Raiden trying his best to respond to her endless questions while avoiding the topic of going to a school for Frontline soldiers.

“Here, I figured you might want this... “ Raiden reached into his pocket and pulled out a watch. “It was dad’s, before he…”

Handing the watch to Ashlee, she went from silently crying, to sobbing and then full-on wailing, Raiden hugging her tightly now. It had only been a few weeks since his father’s death, both children not having had a chance to grieve.

The tears Raiden had been holding back flowed, salty water silently streaming down his cheek joining that of his sister’s.

It had been about ten minutes when Ashlee let go, her green eyes looking at her brother when she had finished her tears.

Her brother had visited for the first time since she last saw him in their old apartment, right after dad died. Why didn’t he visit before, and why is he avoiding my questions? Ashlee knew that her big brother was hiding something, somethings. He kept averting his gaze while she was talking to him before, and he only did that when he was lying or not telling the whole truth.

While curious, she decided not to bother with it, for now, just happy to see a familiar face for the first time in weeks.

He looks so, tired.

…

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” she asked for the second time, Raiden hadn’t answered the first, still catching up on her many questions.

“I’m alright, I’m just trying to make us some money... And it’s a lot of work,” he replied, averting her gaze once again.

Ashlee sighed and turned back to bed, laying back down.

“What have you been doing these past weeks?” he asked her, Sleeping was the first thing that came to mind, but she couldn’t tell him that.

“I see, not much I assume then,” he guessed correctly. “Come on, let’s get you out of here for a bit, get outside and breathe. We both need it.”

Dragged out of the dark comfort of her room, Ashlee noticed Raiden’s eyes. She couldn’t see too clearly in that stuffy room, but his eyes were red, he was crying too…

She had never once seen him cry before, usually keeping a calm demeanor no matter the situation. I guess it makes sense… She had bawled herself, of course, clinging to her older sibling for comfort when he appeared.

She was wearing the watch Raiden gave her, it being much too big to fit properly, it slid around on her wrist.

Raiden brought his sister to the nearest family diner, Ash giddy to finally eat something tastier than the food she received at housing. He was glad to see her still able to express emotion after the incident, he had been worried all week, thinking back to when she left the old apartment a while ago.

While his sister had been questioning him, she asked a series of uncomfortable but expected inquiries. When she had asked him where he lived, he hesitated, not because he didn’t know what to tell her, he had prepared for that, but because she had asked to move back in with him, she wanted out of her housing area. This was a painful thing to reject, Ash seemed to understand and didn’t probe further, but he was apologetic, to say the least. I don’t want her to know, to worry. He was aware that she would find out eventually, and that it would be best to tell her himself, but he didn’t want her to concern herself with his safety. No, that’s not true. It wasn’t because he didn’t want her to worry, it was because if she really did ask him not to, he knew his motivations might waver, that he might actually give up. Not yet, I’ll tell her when the time comes…

“-en, Raiden!” his sister said, kicking him under the table.

“Ah- Sorry. I’ll have one of these and a side of fries…” he quickly refocused, answering the waitress who was standing beside them.

“And for the little lady?” she added, looking towards Ashlee now.

Ash looked at her with a certain, disdain, and ordered her dish, Raiden paying today.

“I’m not little....” a ghost seemingly whispered distantly.

It wasn’t long before their food arrived, Raiden calmly thanking the waitress this time.

Raiden took pleasure in seeing his sister wear a genuine smile, himself not yet capable. She was eating a children’s pizza, directly contradicting the statement she’d made minutes ago. He had ordered a chicken wrap, which included bacon, lettuce and tomato, melted cheddar, and a zesty lemon sauce. Taking his first bite, he savored his meal. Salty, wait… Salty?

He smiled, genuinely.

Ashlee looked at her big brother, “Do you really have to leave?”

He nodded.

“And I can’t come with you? You’re sure?” she pleaded. Raiden hesitating but still answering with a firm no.

“I told you already, I’ll visit on weekends from now on too whenever I have time. Just try to make some friends here, do you plan on returning to school anytime soon?” he said.

She didn’t reply immediately but eventually told him that she wanted to, but she just wasn’t ready yet. Raiden left it at that, waving and taking off before he would give in to her demands.

He spent the next hour walking back to the dorms, a black hood hiding his now dry white hair. He played music in one earbud while walking, keeping the other ear empty to maintain his awareness, nothing interesting happening on his way there.

When he arrived at his dorm, it was already about 7:30 PM. He didn’t make his way to his room first however, only greeting the secretary before making his way up to Kai’s dorm.

*THUD* *THUD* *THUD*

“Okay, okay! Whaddya’ want?” Salem said, opening his door. “Ah, Raiden? What are you doing here, at this hour? Sorry but I’m not up for any more training if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Sorry for bothering you, I did come to ask if you wanted to train,” Raiden replied monotonously. “Tomorrow then, would you be up for a spar? I got teach’s permission to use the second arena over the weekend.” he added, his tone lifting slightly.

Kai sighed, “You damn Superiors and your special treatment…” he continued, “Yeah, I’ll be down tomorrow, sorry about tonight, still exhausted with all of that sadist’s routines.” Salem laughed.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then, don’t worry about tonight, just means I’ll finally get some peace and quiet,” he smirked sarcastically at Kai.

Kai looked back at him before sighing, letting out a faint smile, and closing the door. “Night!”

Raiden was shadowboxing with his blades now, still the wooden ones. While he would have liked to wield the metal ones, he wasn’t comfortable carrying them around the school’s campus just yet, in fear of getting chewed out by Adam, his practical teacher. While he would do it anyway, he couldn’t see himself getting away with attending classes and also joining a rogue hunting group.

It was about 10 PM now, the moons had been shining for a while now, both Xithor and Calus clearly visible in the cloudless night sky. Raiden was laying in bed, having only just arrived from the gym a few minutes ago.

I’m exhausted… He had a busy day, seeing his sister was a welcome relief, but reinforced the stress he was putting on himself to provide for what remained of his family. He spent all morning, afternoon, and night training his body and mind. His control of dark matter had improved drastically over the last week.

He learned that he was a Superior, wielding not only two elements but one of the secondary affinities, dark. A dark-wielder, huh? Raiden laughed to himself before he sighed. It was just one week, and yet it felt longer than the months of mindless work and high school he’d spent his time on beforehand.

He recalled the various things he’d learned this week, of Coranth’s history, the techniques for his weapons, how to imbue items with elemental matter. Hell, I even bought a pair of real daggers.

He chuckled, watching his moon through the glass panes that lined his bedroom wall. Skyscrapers surrounded it, encasing its majesty. It was a dark circle in the sky that somehow emitted light from a surface that seemed to absorb it.

Xithor, huh...