Before The Morning Breaks
Oscar struggled under the gaze of the cloaked figure; his body refused to move or even to shut his eyes.
'Shit, I can't do anything!' His eyes darting around as he began to panic. Even during the battle against his twisted reflection, Oscar hadn't felt like this. His reflection was even trying to kill him, this… figure, just glared at him.
Kellian, standing slightly in front of Oscar, his hand still on his chest, frowned.
He could tell that the figure wasn't looking at him, he was looking at Oscar. Sweat was forming on Oscar's face as his legs started to quiver and shake. Seeing that his son was nearing his breaking point Kellian finally moved.
Snap
Kellian snapped his fingers, suddenly the world seemed to obey him.
GASP
Oscar fell to his knees, palms digging into the mossy floor attempting to support himself.
The cloaked figure flinched briefly, its focus no longer on Oscar, instead it was now entirely focused on Kellian. The figures gaze attempted to dig into the truth of the man that stood before him.
After a few tense moments the figure glanced once more at Oscar, before turning around, facing the village once more. The entire encounter had occurred without the notice of either the villagers or the Imperial Soldiers around the figure.
Kellian rubbed his temple gently, already feeling the headache that his actions would end up causing.
Grabbing the still slightly delirious Oscar, Kellian hoisted him over his shoulder carrying him like a sack of potatoes. With one last glance, Kellian quickly skirted the edges of the crowd before coming to a stop at a secular spot of the village wall.
Kellian then stomped once, then again. His knees bent as he drove his boots further into the ground beneath him. Then, with practiced ease, he launched himself upwards; the air itself seemed to turn into a trampoline for him, allowing him to easily sail above the outer perimeter of the village.
Landing softly Kellian continued to carry his now unconscious son back to their house on the far side of the village past the well.
Reaching to open the door, Kellian halted before putting on a smile as the door opened.
Standing in the threshold of the doorway was Amanda, arms crossed, her fiery red hair tied back and a professionally trained pout on her face.
"You guys are late." Amanda scolded, poking her finger into Kellian's chest.
"I know…" Kellian hesitated, "There was a Scourge at the gate."
Amanda's pouty face dropped, replaced by a much more serious expression. Glancing over Kellian's shoulder she stepped back before urging him to come in. Kellian nodded, walking inside before closing the door and securing the latch.
Kellian walked over to one of the beds in the corner, setting Oscar down and tucking him in. As he was his gaze landed on Oscar's right hand, there, in black ink, was a tattoo of a coin with a Joker face smiling.
Kellian's brow furrowed, bringing his finger towards Oscar's hand Kellian closed his eyes as the tip of his finger began to glow a dark purple color. The moment his glowing finger brushed against the tattoo…
BANG
The world vanished.
Kellian found himself in an endless expanse of red, a white sun hung in the sky glaring down at him. The pressure around him increased a hundredfold, almost forcing him to kneel.
Suddenly the sun began to dim.
In its place, a gigantic eye seemed to fill the entire sky.
A white iris, and deep blood-red pupil. It stared straight at him.
"Blargh—" Kellian choked out a heavy mouthful of blood, clamping his eyes closed.
"Forgive me… I didn't know I had intruded." Kellian kneeled on the ground, his eyes still closed as he placed his hands in front of himself as if he were praying. The gigantic eye continued to scrutinize Kellian, who now felt as if he had been stripped completely naked, his secrets bare to the being that looked down upon him.
'Do not…'
The world of endless red trembled with the voice.
'Interfere.'
Kellian felt his eyesight go black.
"Kellian!" Amanda raised her voice at her husband, who suddenly seemed to stare at the wall with a blank look. Awakening with a start, Kellian almost fell back before quickly regaining his balance.
"What are you doing blanking out in a situation like this?" Amanda's usual playfulness had now fully disappeared, her face flushed slightly red.
"S-Sorry…" Kellian managed to squeak, before quickly rubbing his eyes and sighing. His gaze refocused. Turning to face Amanda,
"Oscar… has learned a trick."
Amanda's eyes narrowed, glancing at the corner of the room where their son lay sound asleep. Gritting her teeth she turned back to Kellian.
"It was bound to happen. I just… didn't think it would happen so soon. Most don't learn their first until they've already entered The Academy." Her voice now a hushed whisper.
"With the Scourge around I don't know if we can avoid scrutiny." Kellian sighed, pulling out one of the chairs at the dinner table and sitting down. Gripping his head in his hands.
Amanda's stern expression eased slightly, quickly pulling out her own chair next to her husband's, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"It's okay… We'll handle it when it comes."
"Come let's head to bed."
Kellian nodded, following his wife as they made their way towards their bed. Amanda suddenly stopped next to Oscar before crouching; reaching her hand out she stroked his fluffy hair before smiling softly,
"We knew this couldn't last forever."
Kellian similarly crouched down. His gaze emitting a certain warmth that only a father could show to his son.
"I know. It's… just so soon." Kellian whispered.
"You know, I remember when he was born. He was so small, he's still so small." Amanda replied, her eyes unfocused, remembering a past that felt like so long ago.
"He isn't anymore. Not to the world, its time we start to prepare." Kellian looked at Oscar once more, before making eye contact with his wife. Reaching out to grab her hand he spoke softly.
"I think he should enroll in The Academy."
Kellian felt Amanda's hand squeeze tighter around his. The edges of her eyebrows turned down.
"Can't you teach him?" Amanda protested, after all, The Academy was a dog-eat-dog world where only the strongest survived. It was only natural for the place that bred the empires next generation of elites.
"Not now, I had to use a trick or two to prevent the Scourge from hurting him further. I'm afraid we'll have to leave this place soon." Kellian detailed his encounter with The Scourge to Amanda who nodded in understanding.
"Plus, The Academy isn't the only place that's like that. The real world is too. It might be better for him to learn in a more controlled environment than anywhere else."
Kellian barely believed his own words, he remembered his time in The Academy, brutal injuries were commonplace, and the death of students wasn't terribly uncommon either.
"Tsk. What about people like Thal—" Amanda spoke before she was cut off,
"Don't bring him up." Kellian hissed, clenching his teeth so tightly that he could crack a walnut between his jaws.
"I-I'm sorry dear, I'm just worried." Amanda apologized, this time she held Kellian's hand more gently. Kellian, realizing his wife meant no harm, calmed himself down.
"These are problems for the morrow." Kellian finally said, Amanda nodded.
Kellian sighed before standing up, holding Amanda's hand, he helped her up as well as the two slipped into their own bed. Tonight was going to be a restless night; the morning held too many uncertainties for a good night's sleep.