Reo Has Awakened An Energy Core

Back to the present, as Reo trudged further away from the house, the dim light of the crescent moon illuminating his path, he finally saw the shadowy figure of Varnus leaning casually against a weathered tree. The man's silhouette blended into the darkness, his presence eerie yet commanding.

Varnus greeted him with a sly grin. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little client. I trust everything went as planned?"

Reo nodded, suppressing the gnawing pang of guilt in his chest. "You did well. I knew I could count on you."

Varnus chuckled. "Flattery is unnecessary, kid. You got what you wanted, and I got paid. Let's not pretend this is anything more than business."

Reo straightened. "Where is it?"

Varnus extended his hand, and from his palm emerged a shimmering pearl, pulsating with bright, swirling colors—blue, gold, and crimson hues shifting like a living storm. The energy core floated inches above his hand, its radiance casting ghostly shadows on their faces.

Reo's eyes widened as he reached for it, his breath hitching. But just as his fingers were about to touch the core, Varnus pulled his hand back with a sharp movement.

"Hold up," Varnus said, his grin widening. "My money, your core. That's how this works."

Reo chuckled, unfazed, and slung the bag from his shoulder onto the ground between them. The sound of coins and Gildron notes jostling filled the air as he unzipped it, revealing a satisfying amount of cash. "Your balance," Reo said simply, stepping back.

Varnus crouched, his gloved fingers rifling through the contents. After a moment, he stood, clearly satisfied. "You've got a promising future in negotiations, kid." With a flick of his wrist, he sent the pearl hovering toward Reo.

The moment it reached Reo's palm, a shockwave of energy coursed through his body. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed under the weight of its immense power.

Varnus watched with mild amusement. "Easy there, boy," he said, his tone light but with an edge of warning. "That's not some bauble you picked up from a street vendor. This is a powerful core, probably more than you can handle. It might just kill you."

Reo gritted his teeth and forced himself upright, sweat already beading on his forehead. His hand trembled as he held the pearl, its glow intensifying. "I can handle it," he growled through clenched teeth.

Varnus shrugged, stepping back into the shadows. "Suit yourself. Nice doing business with you, Reo. If you manage to survive, maybe we'll cross paths again." And with that, he disappeared into the darkness, his laughter echoing faintly behind him.

Reo stared at the pearl in his palm, its light flickering like a living flame. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I've come this far. No turning back now," he muttered. With a final surge of determination, he raised the core to his lips and swallowed it.

The moment the pearl passed his throat, searing pain exploded through his body. It felt as though his veins had been set ablaze, molten energy coursing through every fiber of his being. 

"Arghhhh!!!!"

He doubled over, clutching his stomach, as a scream tore from his throat. His body convulsed violently, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.

The pain intensified as the energy surged outward, his muscles spasming uncontrollably. He fell to his knees, his vision blurring, but he could feel it... raw, uncontainable power spreading through him, threatening to tear him apart.

A burst of energy erupted from his chest, and his hands began to glow faintly, emitting crackling arcs of electricity. His bloodied lips curled into a triumphant, if pained, smile. "It's mine," he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible.

The energy stabilized momentarily, but the toll on his body was evident. His scream echoed one final time before he collapsed face-first onto the ground, unconscious.

As he lay there, the faint glow of the energy core pulsed beneath his skin, a testament to the battle he had just endured. His hand, still faintly emitting light, fell limp by his side. And though his body was broken and his mind overwhelmed, a small, satisfied smile lingered on his face as the darkness claimed him.

**********

The quiet of the night was shattered by a piercing scream that echoed through the house. Lyra froze mid-step in the living room, her hands still gripping the blood-soaked cloth she had been pressing against Kairos's wound. Damien, crouched beside her, glanced up in alarm, his face pale and tense. The scream had come from outside.

"What was that?" Lyra gasped, her voice trembling with fear.

Damien didn't answer immediately, his focus shifting to the limp body of Kairos in his arms. Blood still seeped sluggishly from the wound on the boy's chest, though it was no longer as profuse as before. "Stay here with him," Damien instructed firmly.

But Lyra shook her head vehemently. "No, something's wrong. That was Reo! He could be in danger!"

"Ahhhhhhh"

Another scream tore through the air, this one more desperate, filled with agony. Lyra's heart clenched. She looked at Damien, panic evident in her tear-streaked eyes. "We have to go!"

Without another word, Damien hoisted Kairos's unconscious body into his arms, careful not to jostle him too much. "Let's move," he said, his voice steely with resolve.

They rushed out of the house, the cool night air biting at their skin. The moonlight illuminated their path, and the sight that met them made Lyra let out a horrified gasp.

Reo was sprawled on the ground in the yard, writhing in pain, his hands clutching his chest. His screams pierced the night, his body jerking violently as if some unseen force was tearing him apart.

"Reo!" Lyra shrieked, stumbling forward. Damien caught her arm, stopping her from rushing to their older son.

"Wait!" Damien said, his tone sharp. His eyes darted around the yard, searching for any sign of the man who had attacked him. But there was no one, just Reo, convulsing in the dirt, his cries growing weaker.

"Damien, do something!" Lyra pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

Damien hesitated for a fraction of a second before making his decision. With Kairos still in his arms, he knelt beside Reo, his voice steady but urgent. "Reo, can you hear me? What happened? Who did this to you?"

Reo's lips parted, but no coherent words came out only a garbled moan of pain.

"We don't have time for this!" Lyra cried, falling to her knees beside Damien. "We have to get them both to the hospital! Damien, please!"

Damien nodded, his jaw tightening. He shifted Kairos slightly in his arms, his muscles straining under the weight. "Lyra, take Reo. I'll carry Kairos. We can't waste another second."

Lyra hesitated for only a moment before she slid her arms under Reo, struggling to lift him. He was heavier than she expected, but adrenaline and maternal instinct gave her the strength to carry him.

"Hold on, my boys," Lyra whispered, her voice breaking. "Just hold on."

**********

At the hospital, the emergency room was a whirlwind of activity. Nurses and doctors swarmed around them as Damien and Lyra burst through the doors, shouting for help.

"My sons! They're hurt, please, save them!" Lyra cried, her voice raw and frantic.

A doctor in a crisp white coat approached them, barking orders to the staff. "Get stretchers, now! We have two critical patients!"

Lyra and Damien were ushered aside as nurses took Reo and Kairos from their arms. Lyra clung to Damien, her body trembling as she watched her boys disappear behind the swinging doors of the emergency room.

Lyra, her face pale and streaked with tears, paced the waiting area, her sobs echoing down the sterile white halls. Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of her shawl. "Please, save my children! I don't care what it costs, just save them!" she cried, her voice raw with desperation.

"They'll be okay," Damien said, his voice meant to be reassuring but faltering under the weight of his own fear.

Lyra shook her head, her sobs muffled against his chest. "How could this happen? Why is this happening to us?"

Two agonizing hours passed before the doors to the emergency room opened, and a doctor stepped out. Lyra and Damien shot to their feet, their hearts pounding.

"How are they?" Lyra demanded, rushing forward. "Are my boys okay?"

The doctor held up a hand, his expression calm but serious. "Your sons are stable, but I need to explain their conditions to you."

Lyra nodded frantically, her fingers digging into Damien's arm for support.

The doctor glanced at his clipboard. "Kairos suffered a deep laceration to his chest. We've stitched the wound, and he's out of immediate danger. However, I have some unfortunate news."

Lyra's knees almost buckled. "What news? What are you saying?"

The doctor sighed. "Kairos's energy core absorbed most of the damage from the attack. It saved his life, but the core itself has been completely depleted. I'm sorry to tell you this, but he no longer has an energy core."

The words hit Lyra like a physical blow. She let out a wail of anguish, clutching Damien for support. "No! Not my Kairos! This can't be happening!"

Damien's face darkened with sorrow, though he tried to stay strong for his wife. He pulled her close, murmuring soothing words even as his own heart broke.

The doctor hesitated, then added, "There's something else. Your older son, Reo, has awakened an energy core."

Both Lyra and Damien froze, their heads snapping toward the doctor in shock.

"What?" Damien said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor nodded. "It's highly unusual, especially at his age. Most energy cores awaken during childhood, not adolescence. But somehow, Reo has developed one. Your family is truly unique—though one son has lost his core, another has gained one."

Lyra stared at the doctor, her emotions a whirlwind of relief and devastation. She turned to Damien, her lips trembling. "Reo has a core? But… what about Kairos?"

"Mom, Dad…" A weak voice interrupted them.

They turned to see Reo sitting up in his hospital bed, a faint smile on his lips. His gaze drifted to the bed beside him, where Kairos still lay unconscious.

Lyra rushed to Reo's side, cupping his face in her hands. "Reo, my boy, how are you feeling? Are you okay?"

Reo nodded slowly, his smile widening. "I'm fine, Mom. Better than ever."

He glanced at Kairos again, his smile tinged with something unreadable.

Lyra turned to Reo, her tears momentarily forgotten. "Reo, my boy, you've awakened an energy core?" she said, her voice a mixture of shock and joy.

Reo nodded faintly, feigning confusion and humility. "I… I don't know how it happened. I just woke up, and I felt… different."

Damien patted his shoulder, pride evident in his eyes. "You've been blessed, son. This is a gift."

On the other side of the room, Kairos stirred. His eyes fluttered open, and he stared at the ceiling, the doctor's words ringing in his ears. He had heard everything—his loss, his brother's gain. His fists clenched tightly beneath the covers, his nails digging into his palms. Anger, betrayal, and a sense of loss coursed through him like wildfire.

His eyes remained closed, but his mind was far from at rest. Every word the doctor had spoken echoed in his head like a mocking taunt.

"Reo has awakened an energy core," the doctor had said.

The words tasted bitter. His fists clenched tighter beneath the blanket, the fabric twisting between his fingers as anger coursed through him. His chest still throbbed with pain from the wound, but it was nothing compared to the sting of betrayal he now felt.

"Reo," he thought, the name laced with venom. "You have been successfully added to the list of people I will deal with. Enjoy it while it lasts."

A faint noise from the other side of the room pulled at his attention. He cracked his eyes open just slightly, enough to catch a glimpse of Reo sitting upright in his bed. His older brother's expression was serene, almost smug, as if he had conquered the world. Their mother clung to him, showering him with affection and relief.

"Enjoy the attention, the praise, and the power while you can, brother," Kairos vowed silently. "Because when I'm done, you'll have nothing."