Awakening [2]

"Wow, you did well for your first spar with me lil' bro!"

As soon as those words were uttered, Luka's apparent exhaustion seemed to disappear. His heavy breathing and shaking arms became stable as his head drooped down.

"Uh, Luka? You okay there lil' bro?" The two words were spoken once more by William.

Suddenly, the sky darkened as a violent and fierce gale swept up the surroundings. The wind became stronger and stronger, and at the center of it all is the 11-year-old boy, Luka.

'What's happening?' Weiss became worried, but he continued to observe first before acting.

Luka raised his head. His golden eyes glowed like stars in the night sky. His expression was full of rage and contempt.

He opened his mouth and spoke, "Say that again... YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!!"

With speeds fast enough that the naked eye could never detect, Luka attacked William with a terrifying intent to kill.

William went wide-eyed at the sudden burst of strength and speed. With one swift motion, he deflected the boy's attack.

The momentum and force powering Luka's attack were set off course, as he flew towards the spectators. His rage-driven assault was now threatening the spectating knights.

Just then, Weiss appeared in the way and with one quick swipe of his hand, Luka was stopped.

The boy landed, the wind encircling him increased in intensity powerful enough to push back the spectators.

He turned around and glared at the commander of the Griffin Knights.

Luka turned into a blur and zipped towards Weiss, intending to strike once more. His sword was shattered into millions of pieces when Weiss interfered earlier, leaving Luka with no weapon to use. But no matter, he still has his bare fists.

Luka punched, aiming at William's face. With William's level of power, he could easily see the intent behind Luka's fist.

He raised his sword, aiming to deflect the boy's onslaught as he did before. However, a split second just before Luka's fist made contact with William's wooden sword, he disappeared.

Luka's figure instantly vanished from sight. It was a feint.

William was caught off guard.

'Where is he?' William thought.

A thick wave of bloodlust emanated from behind William.

'Behind!'

William pivoted around to face Luka's strike, but he wasn't there.

Just before William turned around, Luka appeared above him and punched.

William smiled, he saw this coming from the start. Weiss' training wouldn't allow him to make such mistakes.

Using the momentum when he rotated, William swung his sword upwards, colliding with the fist of Luka.

The frail wooden sword shattered as the superior strength of William overpowered Luka's punch, blasting him away.

Luka's body ragdolled through the air up high. He reoriented his body upright and spread out his arms. A thick, strong, and swirling tornado formed under him, allowing him to hover in the sky.

Back down on the ground, Weiss finally figured out the source of this strange power that Luka awakened.

'The power of a Blessed One! But something is different, it's being fueled by rage. Very much unlike Rosaline's blessing.'

He was right. Luka was overtaken by a wave of intense and smoldering anger. His hatred was completely directed at William who uttered the words "lil' bro".

In his past, all the way back on Earth, Luka had a younger brother. This brother was talented, too talented. He was perfect in almost every way.

He was smart, athletic, handsome, and popular with his peers. He aced every test, he won every sports competition, and he stole the hearts of many women.

Meanwhile, his older brother was left in the dust. Despite the 1 year age gap between them, the gap between their talents was even bigger. It was as if the younger brother sucked all the talent out of Luka.

Now we all know that Luka's past parents were quite the neglectful bunch. However, his younger brother was quite the opposite. He showered Luka with attention...but it wasn't the good kind.

Luka was constantly bullied by his own brother. He was called names and hurt in many different ways. The most common way Luka's brother insults him is by calling Luka the nickname "Lil' bro".

It was a belittling title. Luka's height was shorter than his brother's, and the latter never gave up on making fun of him in that aspect. Calling Luka the little brother despite being older, was utterly humiliating and haunted him for years.

And so, when William called him those words, a suppressed and unwanted memory resurfaced.

William did not mean any harm though, but Luka does not care.

Luka slowly landed on the ground and the tornado lifting him dissipated, but a storm of extreme winds was still devastating the surroundings.

Luka readied himself to once again attack William. But before he could do that, Weiss chopped his hand at Luka's neck, rendering him unconscious.

The storm calmed down as the sky made way for the sun's warm rays of light.

Luka's sleeping body lay there peacefully on the ground as if his stunt earlier never happened.

***

In a luxurious room in the Montampes manor, on a bed there slept Luka.

He was frowning and mumbling. He tumbled and rolled on the bed, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

Soon, he woke up screaming.

"AAHHH!!!!"

Luka experienced another nightmare. He wiped off his sweat and took deep breaths to calm down.

"You're awake" A familiar voice sounded beside Luka.

He turned to look at Weiss standing beside the bed. Then, he inspected the room he was in. He wasn't in his own room, he was in Rosaline's room.

"Why was I sleeping in Ro- Lady Rosaline's bed?" Luka asked the old butler while correcting himself to refer to the girl with honorifics in front of Weiss.

"After your...tantrum, Lady Rosaline herself insisted for you to be treated in her room where it's safer."

Luka was confused.

"Wait, tantrum? I-...I don't remember what happened." Luka said, lost in confusion as he held his head.

"Hmm, interesting."

Luka felt the blanket covering him rustle, then a soft voice murmured.

"Mhmm...cookies...hehehehe..."

It was Rosaline sleeping beside Luka. The girl was leaning on the edge of the bed, sleeping peacefully.

Weiss informed Luka that Rosaline has been by his side ever since he lost consciousness.

Luka was touched when he heard that. He smiled and patted the head of the sleeping girl, careful not to wake her up.

Luka turned his attention back to Weiss. Something has been bothering him after waking up.

"How...how long have I been asleep?"

"3 days."

"...damn."

Luka held his head.

"Just what happened?"

"Well, what do you remember?"

Luka focused and dug in his mental library of memories, trying to recall what happened.

"I only remember feeling so much...rage and hatred."

"Mhmm. What happened is that you used your gifts."

"My what now?" Luka raised an eyebrow.

"Your gifts. A blessing from a God. You controlled the wind and influenced the sky and gained speeds of extreme caliber. From what you've displayed, you are the Blessed One of the God of the Wind and Sky—Aeolus."

Luka found it unbelievable. He couldn't even begin to comprehend the words that Weiss uttered. Him? Controlling the wind like some kind of air bender?

Luka was about to laugh, thinking that Weiss was messing with him again.

"Hehe...you're joking right?"

"No, I am not."

Luka frowned.

"I'm not a Blessed One. Stop calling me that. It's just a stupid superstition."

"I advise you to cease your doubts. Your golden eyes are already proof enough."

"I said stop..." Luka's hands formed into fists.

"If that is not enough, the fact that you controlled wind is solid proof that you are indeed a Blessed One."

"...shut up..." the volume of Luka's voice plummeted, but his blood boiled with anger. His teeth clenched and ground in fury.

"You are a Blessed One. Stop running from the truth."

"I SAID SHUT UP!!!!" Luka shouted in aggravation.

He glared at the old butler.

"I'M NOT A FUCKING BLESSED ONE. I'M NOT BLESSED!!!!"

"But you are."

"NO I'M NOT!! IF I REALLY AM BLESSED THEN WHY THE FUCK DID I LOSE EVERYONE I LOVED!!!"

A dam was opened as tears rolled down his face. Images of the ruined village flashed through his mind. Wrath and sorrow flooded him.

"Luka...?"

Luka turned his attention to his right. Rosaline was wide awake. Her face clearly showed that she was worried for her butler and friend. She was woken up when Luka first shouted.

Luka wiped away his tears, got off the bed, and ran away. Away from Rosaline's room. Away from Weiss.

Rosaline scowled at Weiss.

"What did you do?"

"I made him face the truth. Something that he keeps avoiding."

"Hmph! You're a meanie!!"

Rosaline stood up and chased after Luka.