On a particularly lazy Sunday, summer rain swept Antares. Len took a break from alchemy lessons and Lars was the same with his power training, so the group were just hanging out together in their room. Tirana was occupied by her romance novel, Vayu and Len were playing video games from their phones, and Lars settled to his most favorite activity, sleeping. Or at least he tried to."Hey," Lars called out lazily.The three made a chorus hum to respond without turning away from their pages or screens. Lars got up and scratched his head, hair completely messy. He had re - dyed his hair back to dark brown because he didn't get the chance to experienced it more since his resurrection as a Scion. In fact, Lars' new predicament started since then and he felt it amplified more and more each day."I've been having trouble sleeping, lately. I don't know why.""You still have nightmares?" Len asked, still playing."Not really now, no."Vayu still mashed the buttons on his phone screen
"Skylar? Skylar Sykes, is that you?"Lars' eyes widened. He hadn't been called his actual, let alone full name, for quite some time. Especially rather because he was only referred as that by mere acquaintances or family members. He turned around and saw who it was, much to his surprise.A tall young man stood by the Angel's Snack door, smiling ear to ear. He looked much different than how Lars remembered him. He used to be a brunette, but now his hair turned dirty blond. The suede cornflower blue suit he was wearing was a major improvement than his usual unkempt - clothes - wearing self that Lars remembered him by."Hey Brodie, it's been a while, man," Lars said, greeting the young man with casual, swung handshake."You know, at first I wasn't sure, but that hoodie looks familiar. How's it going with you?""All good here," Lars said. "What about you, man? What brings you here?""Just a little business trip," Brodie said. "I finally got a job now! I'm working at the MSC. I w
"Duncan," Lars hissed.Lars was reminded of how the man before him so callously slaughtered innocents and his blood boiled. The man himself, Duncan, was smiling but not with friendliest of intentions. It was a smile one would make before engaging in a fight, and Lars could tell Duncan was itching for it."Why are you here? You're supposed to be put away right now!"Duncan sneered. "Kid, you done really messed up involving yourself in something you shouldn't, and you all will pay for it.""I... I don't understand," Len stammered. "H - How did you know... about us?""Hah. Don't worry about it."The people in their cart cleared off, and the door slide shut. Lars took Len aside get closer to him. He realized they made a trap out of a cart in the train. Lars was astonished yet also terrified they could pull this kind of string just to get rid of something."Lars, what do we do?" Len asked in a whimper."Vay, can I - ""Only if without using you - know - what, because techn
"Len, wake up! He's doing it again."Len hadn't even fall asleep when Lars so rudely shook him around. He got up and watched Lars peeking outside through the blinds of their room window. This had been quite an obsession of Lars for some time, and Len was none too happy about it."Maybe he just going off to the bar or something.""No, he's definitely going to that place again tonight." Lars rushed to the wardrobe, quickly grabbed his black leather jacket and threw Len a few hoodies. "Come on, quick! Let's follow him! You don't have any reason to say no now."Len grumbled but he put on his dull gray hoodie anyway. Before then, he could always hide behind the pretense of needing to sleep early for school, but since they have recently graduated, Len had no excuse. Hence, that night, Len decided to humor Lars' obsession for once.Lars and Len lived in a modest suburban neighborhood of Algedi outskirts. That means their nights had been mostly quiet and people always knew whose car
"Wow, honestly, y'all really do be asking for it."Vayu's little remark was met with a playful jab by pouting Len. Lars was entertained with that though, and his little chuckle showed that. Before Antares, everything was such a mess in their family and it snowballed from the death of their father.Lars was spacing out so Vayu slightly tilted his head to found his eyes. "So are you going to run for the next... I don't know, a hundred years later? When those people who chase you would be too old by then?"Lars hummed, his eyes slowly darted everywhere. "What do you suggest we do?"Vayu made a neck slicing gesture that successfully froze Lars in place. If Lars had to admit, that dark curiosity intruded his mind sometimes, but never once he thought of actually doing it."B - But I thought you said - ""Well, exception definitely applies if someone put us in jeopardy.""I'm not sure I can do that," Lars said. "Have you?""Way before I'm a Scion, even. It's just the good ole'
Lars watched every movement on the warehouse like a hawk setting sight on a prey. He wanted to go in but the guards were all over the place. Something was different about them this time as they were all more well equipped with tactical gears and firearms. Lars wondered, but he didn't give up and circled the area for potential opening.By luck, Lars came across a lone patrol guard walking around in the maze of containers. He ambushed the guard with a mean right hook. The guard knocked out instantly. Lars had afraid his amplified strength might kill him, but as he stripped down the guard, he was relieved to heard him breathing.Lars put on everything the guard offered and seamlessly blended in with the guards. Dressed in all black, with tactical gears of protective vests, night vision goggles, and carrying an automatic rifle. Lars walked around in that gear for a while. His heart stopped every time he locked eyes with another guards but he chided himself that the disguise works.Ev
After the MSC people in suits and robes were evacuated, the warehouse's steel gates slammed shut. The guards were diminished and the panicked crowd pushed through them, banging the closed gate and screaming. Everything happened so quickly and so hectic, Lars could barely register that he was alone and right in the den of enemy."Didn't expect to see a Scion here! What a lovely surprise!"The girl tilted her head and smiled so wide she struck fear in Lars' heart. Her cape moved on its own, erected and spread out, morphing into gigantic moth wings with hypnotic eye pattern. She took flight, her wings fluttering and her hands blazing with fire. "Axylia, finish it quick!"A masculine raspy voice of her companion, the humanoid crab Prime Chimera, called out. His pincers were snapping about threateningly. Lars' eyes darted between the crab creature and the flying moth girl Axylia. He could feel the bloodlust from their stares."Lighten up, Brachyura. We have all night long and he'
A loud noise shattered the silence of that particular night in Algedi harbor. Vayu and Len perked up from the noise and the commotion that followed it. With a single leap, Vayu got up on one of the container and overlooked the smoke that came from a big white warehouse across the port.It was only then when Vayu could feel everything. The presence of Lars' Scion Force, numerous presence of people all in the state of panic and high adrenaline, and the presence of those brimming with silverstream. Vayu was taken aback of the irregularity.Vayu leapt down and went to Len. "Len, I need you to stay here. Got it?""Please save him, Vay. I have a bad feeling about this," Len said."Don't worry. I've made some calls earlier." Vayu did not wait for Len's further response and he took off by leaping across the containers.Vayu's mind was racing during his way to the warehouse. How could such strong energy presence go undetected? Vayu had known about himself well enough to know the wareh