Motivation

By the time we finished eating, the sun had all ready dropped and it was beginning to get late. You can have the bed if you want it. It's beginning to make me unable to sleep at night..." Lydia raised her arms over her head and let out a long yawn before wiping her eyes. I shrugged my shoulders and looked out the large window at the end of the table before saying "This place really is beautiful at night, huh..."

Many different colored lights were on around the city below the academy, making it look like there was an entire festival or some grand event going on. Lydia walked over to the window and put her hand on it as she said "We should go down there sometime when it's dark out like this. I'm sure it will look much better up close!"

I chuckled before crossing my arms and saying "You sound like a mother trying to hype up her child before a festival." with a slight smile on my face. Lydia walked past me and grabbed the blanket on the couch before responding. "I can sound like whatever you want me to..." Lydia gave me a sly wink before laying down on the couch.

I let a wry smile cover my mouth before I stood up and said "Goodnight" as a yawn of my own caught me off guard. Lydia giggled and peeked her head over the back of the couch before saying "Cute..." and disappearing once again. I sighed and said "Shut it." as I opened the door to the bedroom. Immediately, the scent of a nice perfume filled my nostrils. It was almost strong enough to make me cough.

I turned the ceiling fan on and made my way over to the side of the massive bed and threw the covers back before plugging my phone charger in and hooking my phone up. I took my shirt off and plopped down onto the bed. I looked at my calloused hands and thought 'Once I start my studies, I'll be sure to take them seriously and get into the number one spot so I will undoubtedly get into the top Exploration Team...but what would happen to my relationships with Lydia and Ava...'

I shook my head and silently admonished myself before adjusting myself and pulling the rather comfortable covers over my body. Soon, I found myself drifting off into a deep sleep.

---

A burning warmth. Crackling. Loud pops. My eyes fluttered open and my vision was filled with black flames; each dancing around like they had a mind of their own. I shot up from the cold wooden floor I was laying on and scanned the room I was in. It was small with no furniture, door, or even a single window. It was like I was inside of a crudely built shed with no exit.

The flames snaked around the walls, floor, and ceiling; making the wood creak in protest. Suddenly, multiple voices that sounded the same, yet utterly different, began to echo around the walls. "Curious, paranoid even. You, to whom we have graced with our powers, do not trust, yes? Want more power to kill kin, yes? We can give, but you must prepare..."

I furrowed my brows and asked "What do you mean by prepare? Prepare for what?" The voices began to laugh in a croaking voice before saying "You must prepare for war...war against Kin of Creation...war, against your own will..." I clicked my tongue and said "Stop speaking in riddles and tell me what the hell it is you mean! What are you anyway?"

My voice began to echo around the room as the voice responded. "We are you...and you, are half..." I was beginning to get frustrated as I asked "Half of what!?" The voices began to laugh with increasing intensity as the flames began to leap off of the walls and cling to me. Their warmth no longer present. Once the final flame covered my eyes, I awoke looking at the ceiling of the dorm room.

I felt normal, except for the large amount of cold sweat pouring from my body, however, when I went to get up out of bed, I saw my arms engulfed in my flames, but they were radiating an icy aura instead of the usual cold warmth. I quickly moved to the dresser and pulled out a mirror before inspecting my body.

I saw my arms covered in flames, along with my shoulders and eyes, but there was a single difference this time. I had two short horns that reminded me of an Oni's resting atop my head. The flames in my eyes flared out before returning to my body, followed by the rest. I blinked a few times before putting the mirror down and sitting on the bed with my head in my hands.

After a few minutes of recalling my dream, I got up and walked toward the massive closet in the room and grabbed a pair of shorts and a tight fitting black t-shirt before donning my glasses once more. I walked out of the room and past the bathroom before going into the kitchen and finding the plate of breakfast Lydia must have made me before hopping into the shower.

I cleaned the plate before washing it off. As I was about to check the time, Lydia peeked her head out of the bathroom door and said "I'm dressed now if you want to come and brush your teeth before we leave to find Mr. Takehito. I nodded my head and braced myself for any tricks she might pull as I neared the door. I was rather surprised to see that she was fully dressed in a large white shirt and fluffy white pants instead of a sports bra and short shorts like usual.

I paid it no heed and proceeded to brush my teeth before asking "Why don't you train with us? I mean, definitely not in the way I train, but I've never really seen the fully extent of your abilities before." Lydia gave me a side glance before asking "What, you curious about what I can do?" in a teasing voice. I rolled my eyes and said "Please. I just want to know if you will be safe in case the Shadows attack."

Lydia laughed at my words, causing my face to turn red ever-so-slightly, before saying "Look at you caring about my well being! I'll be fine, don't worry about me and just do you! I didn't get into the top ten for nothing, y'know." Lydia sent me a wink before grabbing my arm and dragging me to the door. We were talking about when we should take a stroll around the city when Takehito suddenly draped his arms around our shoulders.

"Look at you two getting all worked up talking about a date. Man, I wish I was young again! Seems like so much fun wasted on you two..." Lydia recoiled and threw her hands up as she stammered "N-No it's not what you think! We just wanted to look at the city when it turned dark is all!" Takehito giggled like a little girl before saying "No, no it's quite all right! If you two want to go ahead and take the day off, I can give you some more c-"

"No, we're good!" Lydia and I yelled in sequence. Takehito shrugged his shoulders as he walked in front of us and said "Very well. Let's get over to Kenji's training room and get this session started!" Lydia and I shared glanced before following along. Takehito seemed to be in an even better mood than usual...

We entered my personal training room and Takehito said "Today we will be doing things a bit...differently. First, I'm bringing in a friend..." A knock came from the door and Takehito opened it, revealing Ava; her short blonde hair and green eyes emitting a certain vibrancy as she bounded toward me with her bow over her shoulder.

I saw Lydia squint her eyes at me before shrugging and letting whatever was about to happen, happen. Ava glanced over at Lydia before grabbing onto my arm and saying "I never expected you to be my Uncle's student! Say, how about we go get some ice cream after this!?" I hesitated, for some unknown reason, and Takehito saved me from making a decision I would learn to later regret.

"Now, now, Kenji is here to train, not go out on dates. Trust me, he has no personality besides training..." Ava reluctantly let go of my arm and Takehito clapped his hands before saying "Today, we will be seeing how your teamwork is. My dear niece and I will be your opponents. Since you two are roommates, you'll be subjected to team battles and team courses, so this is to improve your teamwork with each other."

Lydia smiled at me and said "Looks like you get to see what I can do after all." as she strode over to my side with a smug look on her face. Ava unslung her bow and tested its draw as Takehito held up four fingers and looked at me before saying "If you can manage to hit me or Ava four times in a row, I'll recommend you to the Shadow Extermination Expedition Team..."

At the mention of the world's number one Expedition Team I loosed my flames, causing the grass beneath me to sway violently before crumbling to dust, before settling down into a stance and waiting for Takehito to make a move. Knowing me, He would think that I would attack Ava in an attempt to get an easy recommendation, but I knew that Takehito knew what I was truly thinking.

He knew I would go for him.

It was almost like I had something that I needed to prove to him, that I needed to let him know that I was capable of surpassing him and becoming something greater. I don't know why, but I needed to show him that I was more than just a man hellbent on revenge. Looking at Ava and Lydia, I knew that I was capable of feeling more than just hatred, anger, and pain.

I could feel happy just like anyone else.

I wanted to throw it all away and live a normal life and have a family of my own, however, I would never forgive myself if I just walked away from my current path and left my families murderers to roam about in their shadowy realm. Once I had my revenge, I would then pursuit my own happiness. Just like my parents would have wanted.

Lydia burst into a pillar of crimson flames before it dissipated and revealed her cloaked in her own flames. She had three foxlike tails protruding from her back, two fluffy, droopy ears atop her head, and claws on her hands and feet that produced an almost insane level of heat. Lydia turned to me, her pupils now formed vertical slits and her eyes changed from red to orange, and said "I got the idea from you."

I shook my head in exasperation, as I knew she wanted to show off, before looking at my own flaming claws. Takehito put his hands behind his back as Ava nocked three arrows into her bow. The tension in the air was practically palpable as no one moved a muscle; each of us waiting for the other to make the first move.

Suddenly, Takehito's image faded as his voice came from behind me. "What are you doing slowpoke? The game has all ready started!" I spun with a smile on my face and grabbed his fist before saying "That one really made me cringe, you know?" Takehito smiled as he kicked my forearm and vanished from sight.

I spun and conjured a wall of flames to block the arrows veering toward me when Lydia stepped in front of me and burnt them all to ashes. Standing back-to-back, we were faced with two enemies that would be rather difficult to deal with.