Chapter 1-1: Origins II

  In the gaxy of Arkus, the house dominating it was the house of the Combat family.

  It comprises of the father, Jamie has striking bck hair and bright azurite blue eyes that flicker with lightning energy. His partner, Jane, boasts white short hair and enchanting white-blue eyes, possessing the unique ability to multiply weapons and enhance their power. Together, they have three children: twin sisters Anna and Rose, both with white hair and blue azurite eyes, sharing their mother's skills, albeit with a twist—Anna channels green lightning, while Rose wields violet.

  Their youngest, James, has bck short hair and blue azurite eyes like his father, but he uniquely possesses only Jamie's lightning energy. The Combats are a tight-knit family, often exploring the beauty of their world through vilge visits and hikes, a passion that James particurly enjoys.

  In the Arkean gaxy, known for its strength and protection, the society is divided into two distinct realms: the city and the rural area. The rural side nurtures stronger children, training them to become soldiers, while the city houses those with destructive capabilities who may not fully master their powers. Children born into the Arkean culture are expected to demonstrate immense strength, with feats of destruction occurring as early as eight months old.

  To maintain order, the king has instituted a rule forbidding the abortion of any child, making it imperative for parents to be aware of their offspring's abilities. Those who fail to monitor their children face severe consequences, including exile to the Darksatin Gaxy, known for its prisons for dangerous energy criminals.

  Although James shares a family lineage steeped in power and skill, he possesses a gift that sets him apart from both his parents and siblings, hinting at a unique destiny waiting to unfurl.

  By five months old, James was already walking and exhibiting powers far beyond those of an average child. By eight months, without any formal teaching, his lightning abilities had become dimensionally destructive. Concerned about their son turning into a menace, Jamie and Jane decided to channel his raw strength into mastery. After three years of intense training, James learned to temper his power, reducing it to a universal level.

  But on the eve of his sixth birthday, as the clock ticked down, a shadow loomed over their celebration. The three siblings, brimming with excitement, awaited their parents' return with cake for their grand feast.

  "Do you think they got that triple-yer chocote cake?" Anna asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

  "I hope they didn't forget the sprinkles!" Rose chimed in, bouncing on her toes.

  "Just imagine the size of the cake on this table!" James added, gesturing to their dining table, which stretched longer than an adult giraffe's neck and shimmered with an enticing brown hue.

  As they eagerly watched the door, it creaked open, revealing their parents—but there was someone unexpected beside them.

  "Who's that?" Rose whispered, her excitement shifting to curiosity.

  "He looks... different," Anna said, eyes wide as she took in the boy with dark red hair and circur dark red eyes that illuminated the dim room. He wore a sleek bck coat and jeans, radiating an air of mystery. James blinked instinctively as he wondered along with his sisters' vibes.

  James, feeling a mix of confusion and resentment at his parents for introducing such a child, crossed his arms and asked sharply, "So is this my birthday surprise or some kind of joke? Because not gonna lie, if your pn is to repce me with him... that would be quite the spectacle of mystery."

  The moment his words hung in the air, Jane interjected, "Oh, dear James, don't say that about your little brother, Nathaniel!"

  "Huh? Little brother?" James gasped, his confusion deepening. He turned to his sisters for support, but to his surprise, Anna and Rose beamed with delight.

  "Welcome to the family, Nath!" Anna said, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

  "It's great to have you! Now James has a friend to py with," Rose added cheerfully, cpping her hands.

  As cheers of joy erupted for Nathaniel's unexpected arrival, James seethed silently. Tension crackled in the air, his blue eyes flickering with lightning as he smmed his hands against the table, almost splintering the wood.

  "So, you decided to win my family's affection on my special day, huh?" he shouted, the energy in the room shifting dramatically.

  "What do you mean by that?" Nathaniel asked, confusion etching his features.

  James took a deep breath, struggling to quell the storm brewing inside him.

  "You know what? I need some air," he decred defiantly, striding towards the door.

  The creaking hinges echoed in the heavy silence as he exited, leaving his family stunned, their joy defted.

  "James!" Anna excimed, worry cing her tone. She turned to the door, concern etching her features. "I think he's upset because all the attention went to Nathaniel when he arrived, especially on his birthday."

  "Oh... for a moment there, I'd completely forgotten about that," Jamie remarked, a sheepish chuckle escaping him.

  "Great job making it worse, Dad!" Rose replied, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

  "Oh dear... I need to fix this," Jane said, a hint of panic in her voice.

  At that moment, a soft voice chimed in. "Mistress Jane, how may I assist you?" A beautiful maid with short blue hair that framed her neck and maroon eyes stepped forward, her pure white dress complemented by a dark jacket.

  "Aurora!" Jane breathed, relief washing over her. "Can you please help me find James? He needs to know that today is still his day."

  "Of course, Mistress. I'll be on my way. I won't let you down," Aurora replied, determination in her voice, before dashing toward the door in search of James.

  As the door swung shut behind her, a heavy silence filled the dining room. Jane's gaze dropped, her eyes clouded with worry as she felt the weight of the situation. "I hope she finds him soon..." she murmured, gncing at her husband and daughters, who reflected her unease.

  "I just wanted today to be special for him," Jamie said, his tone heavy with regret.

  "We all did, Dad," Anna added softly, her smile repced by a frown. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

  Rose looked between her family members, a knot of worry tightening in her stomach. "He'll be okay, right? James is strong—he'll be fine."

  Meanwhile, James continued to walk away from his home, a vast white pace adorned with eborate decorations and spacious grounds. Finding a wooden bench, he sank down, letting out a frustrated sigh as he tried to calm himself.

  "Why did Nathaniel have to show up today?" he thought, his hands sparking with tent lightning energy. "This was supposed to be my birthday, my time to shine. And now, he's stolen it all. Everyone's cheering for him, welcoming him like he's the star of the show."

  His expression darkened. "I should be the center of attention today, not some random kid. Mom and Dad are supposed to be celebrating me, but all they can see is him. Even Dad, who usually understands me, just smiles at the newcomer. It's like I don't even matter anymore."

  James clenched his fists, causing electricity to crackle in the air around him. "This isn't how it was supposed to be. I wanted them to see how much I've grown, how hard I've trained. But instead, I'm just... invisible. Can't they see how upset I am?"

  As James continued to linger in his thoughts, consumed by the frustration of being overshadowed, a voice broke through the silence—a sweet, melodic whisper that danced through the night air. "I didn't know royals also sat on a bench at this time, just like commoners."

  Startled, James raised his head, and his eyes widened at the sight before him. A girl, likely around his age, stood nearby with long red hair flowing like fmes in the moonlight. Her purple eyes sparkled with an otherworldly glow, captivating him with a sense of intrigue. She wore a delicate blue dress that shimmered softly, almost blending in with the darkness around her.

  James sighed heavily at the girl, frustration boiling over. "Look, if you don't have anything meaningful to say, maybe you should just leave me alone. I don't have time to deal with you."

  Initially offended, the girl smirked before teasing him, "Oh, I'm so sorry, your Highness! I had no idea there was a royal decree against walking at night when you're around. Perhaps I should add it to my notebook—what should I call it, 'Nonsense'?" She burst into ughter.

  James narrowed his eyes, irritation washing over him. Just who is this girl? "Fine, I'll stop being moody if you just quit making fun of me. I might just get you locked up for that," he grumbled, turning away.

  "Yeah, you seem like quite the brooding prince," she quipped, her beautiful purple eyes locking onto his. "But you do seem upset. Mind sharing why?"

  "Why would I share my family problems with a stranger?" James pouted, still avoiding her gaze.

  "Looks like you just did," she pointed out, gncing skyward. "You may be an idiot, but if you want to know me, I'm Cire Whitestar." She sat beside him, took his hand, and added cheerfully, "Now that you know my name, spill."

  James blinked, taken aback by her boldness. "That's not how this works! Sighs You're just going to annoy me until I tell you everything, aren't you?"

  "Exactly!" Cire cpped her hands, beaming. "Now, tell me what's bothering you."

  Rolling his eyes, James recounted the events from his birthday at home, expressing his feelings of being overshadowed by Nathaniel. Cire listened intently, her expression softening. "You know, if it feels too heavy to bear, maybe you should mend fences with your brother. No need for grudges!"

  James chuckled, half-nodding. "Yeah, I guess so..." Not that I'll actually use that advice anyway.

  Suddenly, Cire gnced at her bare wrist as if checking a watch. "Oh, look at the time! My parents might be worried. I'll see you around, Prince James!"

  "There's no watch on your wrist," he pointed out.

  "Just py along, you idiot!" she shot back, smiling.

  "Now I'm the idiot?" he replied, crossing his arms.

  "Continuing this conversation will just make me ter, so I'm leaving," she said, gncing away.

  "All duties on you, Princess," he said, surprising himself with a hint of galntry.

  Cire blushed slightly. "Thank you." Then, unexpectedly, she hugged him. The warmth lingered as she pulled away, leaving James feeling more uplifted than he expected.

  In the middle of their conversation, a heavy presence emerged from the shadows. Startled, James and Cire turned to see a group of people cd in bck and gold coats approaching, armed with metal pipes and bats surging with low energy. The delinquents ughed, the sound echoing ominously in the night air.

  "Oh look, some shocked kids! And the Prince is here, which makes this attacking all the more fun," one of them sneered.

  James leaned closer to Cire, his voice barely a whisper, "Who are these people?"

  Cire's expression shifted to one of concern. "These delinquents are from the city. They're after trouble and anyone associated with the pace. We need to think quickly."

  James's mind raced. What am I supposed to do? Fighting could lead to destruction, and if he ran, Cire would be left vulnerable. He felt the weight of indecision pressing down on him.

  "Ready to die, children... let's start with you," one of the men said, stepping forward and pointing at James.

  In that moment, a smirk crept across James's face, an idea forming. "That's rich coming from you," he replied with a ugh, surprising even himself. "You know, I've heard that if you try to attack a royal's child, you'll be courting misfortune." He stretched his arms, maintaining his confident stance. "So in simple terms, my body's free from hits. Go ahead, you can hit me wherever you want—at your own cost, of course."

  Cire's eyes widened in arm, worry etched across her face. What's gotten into him? she thought, a mix of disbelief and concern flooding her. "This is not the right time to py hero, James!" she excimed, her voice tinged with urgency, "This isn't how you deal with this!"

  The moment James finished his taunt, the atmosphere shifted. The leader of the group, sneering, raised his pipe ominously. "What's wrong? Aren't you the confident one trying to take me down? Or are you too scared now?"

  "Shut up!" the man shouted just as he swung the pipe towards James, and both kids instinctively squeezed their eyes shut. But before the blow could nd, a powerful gust of air shot James out of harm's way.

  When they opened their eyes, Aurora stood before them, tall and poised with a staff resting on her back, wearing a calm yet intimidating smile.

  "Young master, I found you! Are you hurt?" she asked, kneeling to check on him.

  "Well, I'm okay, thanks to you, Mrs. Aurora," James replied, relief flooding through him.

  "Alright, let me take out the trash here, okay?" she said, her demeanor shifting to one of focused determination.

  "You think you can take us out, dy? We outnumber you!" one of the delinquents barked.

  Aurora's expression remained steady. "I think you've misunderstood the situation considering our strengths," she replied coolly, gripping her staff. "You're the ones who should be worried."

  Without warning, the gang lunged at her, but Aurora merely sighed, her hands beginning to form air circles at both ends of her staff. "{Ventite Series: Exploding Breeze}." She struck the ground with the ends of her staff, unleashing a tremendous gust that swept the delinquents away, leaving them unconscious on the ground.

  With the danger averted, Aurora turned her attention to the kids, her smile returning. "Oh... is she with you, Young Master?" she asked, pointing at Cire.

  "Yes, she is." James responded, gncing at Cire with newfound appreciation. *Is she always this intimidating? Her energy is through the roof, yet she maintains a low profile.*

  Cire bowed her head slightly. "Greetings, I'm Cire... Cire Whitestar," she introduced herself.

  "Don't bow for me; I'm the one who should be bowing," Aurora replied graciously. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cire. James speaks highly of you."

  James smiled, pleased to see Aurora so welcoming. "But anyway, what are you doing here, Aurora?" he asked.

  "What do you mean? I came to find you and take you back to the pace. I was so worried about your safety. You could have been hurt!" she expined earnestly.

  "Oh... well, thank you for looking for me and saving me, but I'm okay walking back by myself," he said, turning to head back.

  "Wait for me, Young Master! You know your pace is faster than lightning; I can't keep up!" Aurora called, scurrying to catch up with him.

  "Bye!" Cire called softly as she headed back to her own home, leaving James and Aurora to continue their journey.

  When they returned to the pace, they were warmly greeted by Jane, who rushed over and enveloped James in a tight hug. "Oh James, don't worry me like that ever again! I'm sorry for forgetting about your birthday," she said, her voice thick with concern.

  "It's okay, Mom, I forgive you," James replied, though an internal sigh reminded him that his frustration still lingered. (You're not the one I'm really angry with anyway)

  "Just promise me, never do that again, son," his father, Jamie, interjected with a stern tone.

  "Yeah, I won't! Jeez, you're such a buzzkill, Dad," James replied, rolling his eyes but secretly grateful to have such a caring family around him.

  As Nathaniel approached James, James's expression darkened, and he snarled, "Welcome back... you insolent animal. I'm gonna make your life a complete pain, you hear me?"

  Nathaniel chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Like you've got the power and balls to do that," he said, powering up red lightning in his hands.

  "I challenge you to a small fight," Nathaniel continued, his voice dripping with confidence. "No bones will be broken, I promise."

  James's anger fred, but he quickly calmed down, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Would you like to come outside with me?" he asked, heading towards the door.

  Nathaniel followed, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Oh, you want to take this outside? That's nice. We won't break any furniture."

  As they walked outside, James led Nathaniel to a secluded area behind the pace, where thousands of stars aligned in a peculiar pattern. James stopped at one position and looked at Nathaniel.

  "Ah, so this is the fighting arena of your choice?" Nathaniel asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

  James's gaze dropped, his voice taking on a menacing tone. "Look, Nath, just because red lightning is the strongest in your world doesn't mean it works here. You may be younger than me, but I'll always be stronger than you."

  Nathaniel's expression twisted in anger. "What are you trying to say?"

  James smiled wickedly, his eyes fshing with an evil glint. "Oh, I'll give you a simple sentence and a piece of advice: You'll never be able to defeat me, even if you train for a million years. You'll always be under me and weaker than me."

  As James spoke, the stars above them began to transform into meteors, their blue color illuminating the night sky. Nathaniel's eyes widened in shock as he stared up at the spectacle.

  James leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "We both know that's true, don't we? So why don't you ask for your bags and leave this pce? I'm sure if you just find whatever made your parents abandon you and tear it apart, you'll live a perfect life."

  With that, James turned and left Nathaniel standing alone, ughing as he disappeared into the night.

  As he returned to the house, his family looked at him with concern. "What happened? What did you do to your brother?" Anna asked.

  James smiled innocently. "Oh, I didn't do anything. In fact, he made my birthday return joyfully."

  Rose raised an eyebrow. "This is just gonna be the beginning, huh?"

  James chuckled and headed to his room. "I'm going to bed now."

  With confirming that, James headed to his room, awaiting to continue his wrath deeds against Nathaniel. But just how long will this take?

  As the two sisters were about to delve deeper into their conversation, the door swung open. A heavy and overwhelming presence registered in the castle, its shaking aura's proximity drawing their attention. As they looked to the door, a towering figure stood.

  TO BE CONTINUED