Chapter six
I arose in panic screaming.
"Mom"
I can barely remember her but that person must be her. That person looked just like the picture. The feeling of joy to know she is alive. As I finally take in my surroundings, the grey-walled cave fills my eyes. Then I noticed I was sopping wet and lying near the glowing blue pool. Then I heard a voice saying
"Aww, the little momma's boy is awake. You are quite interesting aren't you?"
I stared at the black and purple cat sitting next to me as if nothing was wrong in the world. As I try to move away from the cat my body groans in protest. Every fiber and cell of my body was in pain. I instantly fell back down. My body made a loud thud on the ground. The cat spoke once again.
"Calmed down. I'm in no position to fight. Hehe, that was a splendid fight until you just stopped. Was it your mother right? I felt her mana in the air coming from the locket, it was so damn weak. Damn that woman. She shouldn't have wasted her mana to see you. You know your mom is always right. She is somewhere I have no clue and she still pisses me off. When you were born, she guessed that even if you were hit by a demon, you wouldn't awaken. Tch that woman."
"Wait you know my mother?"
I blurted out as I inch slowly away dragging my disabled body across the dirt floor.
"Yes, quit rubbing your crotch on the ground like that. It's giving me vibes from a movie I'd rather forget. I promise not to hurt you. Just let me explain about myself first."
I stopped thinking if it truly wanted me dead. If it did I wouldn't be alive right now. I relaxed and lay on my back looking up at the gray cavern wall then turned my head towards the cat.
"Chuumm…Well, I will start with something basic my name is Noctis neko. I'm what you humans call a mana beast. You do know what a mana beast is?" Noctis said
"Yeah it's like demons from Oro but from earth"
"Yes, in a sense. I'm going to tell you about me. I shall start from the very beginning. I first came into this world as a crying little black cat. My parents were proud wampas cats of the Appalachian Mountains. When I turned three I was abandoned by my parents. Left in the middle of an unknown Part of our forest. Why would they do that to their own child? It's because of their pride. I was born with a genetic disorder that stunted my growth. It didn't inhibit my brain or my strength by any means, just my size. Yet they threw me to the side once they figured I wasn't going to be the same size as them. Tchh I will save you the weird trauma-filled childhood. Then my first savior found me. She was rejected by her own people. She found me on the brink of death and saved me. A few years later the change happened. For some reason already a few mana beasts or beings who had mana were either destroyed or became stronger by the giant influx of mana invading our world. I was one of the lucky ones but my savior was Luna of the moon people. She… she was not… when she disappeared, I was left with nothing. I do not know how she knew it was her time....But before she passed she left me with something. That Something was a gift and a curse. The moon people of the Appalachian mountains had mana before it came here. They could power themselves from the moon. They had a power similar to telekinesis but it wasn't. I won't go too deep into that….that was the gift she left me. It has allowed me to further myself...but at a price.
As I wander the mountains of near the veil in eastern Kentucky to stay away from my family and the moon people. I had to be careful because of the curse. Every month of the full moon.. I know cliché but it's the truth. I had to hide in a cave deep away from anything. During the full moon, I turn into one of the moon people. I basically turn into a sub-species of human. You're probably thinking that's not so bad. You're not wrong the transformation is seemless so there is minimal pain. The problem lies in my mind. I turn into a psycho path that's dead set on killing everything. This is the true nature of moon people. But 99% of the time they are gentle loving people except once that full moon begins. They seep deep into their subconscious and their blood lust rises to the surface. The power unleashed and not tamed by a gentle demmneor is like the difference between a MOAB and a nuke...
One full moon I broke free from my chains and started a blood bath. I traveled to my family's forest I wiped out all of my own clan… I even had enough time to finish off the other moon people. It is the single most regrettable thing I have ever done. I may not have liked my parents or Luna's family but I didn't want them dead. Once I finished it was morning. The sun rose and its warm light spread over my bloody face. As I felt the warmth on my face I could feel the slow trickle of tears rolling down my black fur. Then my second savior showed up. Your mother and father walked up to me and tried to help me. Never would I have ever thought I could feel such warmth and kindness from someone again. I told them everything that happened. Your mother's face did not change once or try to kill me. She hugged me. She said
"No such child should ever feel that pain or go through what you have. I'm sorry that you did"
I was once again saved. I think she knew what I had planned on that morning. I was going to kill myself. Once she said those things I decided not to and to devote my life to my savior. I went on many missions with your parents and brother. One mission I got severely hurt while protecting your brother. She made that locket for me. She combined her light abilities and your father's transformation gift to make that marvel of a healing Lockett. The locket is special for A few reasons. If someone is within the locket you can heal from any injury within that pool of mana. Two it allowed me not to transform anymore on a full moon but I'm now bound to it. I can come out of the owner of the Lockett allows. It also allowed me to go in and out of portals without problems.
"Wow wait. "
I said
"That's a lot to process. I'm going to need a minute."
"Take your time kiddo. Ask questions."
"So what you're saying is that my parents saved, fought with you like some magical cohort of heroes, and then locked up in Lockett to be worn by some kid. Does that get about everything? "
I said
"Sound like a cheap web novel doesn't it?" Hehe noctos laughed
"Yes it does"
I laughed back
"I have a few more questions."
I said
"I thought you were from Earth. Why would you have trouble going in and out portal like demons?"
"Yes very true. Demon or mana beast you can with great difficulty go through a portal. There are two ways to become a deraigned mind controlled beast. Aka a demon. One is a huge influx of mana. I mean a gigantic amount. Just like when the Oro planet invaded earth and a majority of mana inclined beast became demons. Two is when an Oro claims you become a demon. You could even be a mana beast from the other world. So earths own mana safety shield was created from the oro influx of foreign mana. Hence the black veil. I forgot to mention in the story. The part of the Appalachian Mountains was on the other side of the black veil. How I ended up in the demon area is that the earths mana was lost in that region to the demons' world mana. So that part of the world turned into the stepping stone of the Oro world to devour Earth."
"What the heck why were my parents on the other side of the veil?"
"The free city of stars"
"Wait the city of rebels?"
"Yes, when they came to earth alongside the oro. The place the rebels took over was my forest and part of appilachian Mountains. So not really a stepping stone but could be one of the far die out. Why do you think the military is there for? And that military academy? It must be for the lovely view of the black veil. No! If it wasn't for the fae of the kingdom of stars. America wouldn't have so much of its own land! Compared to the likes of China and Russia. Shoot most of the countries in Asia and the Middle East are gone. America got lucky and only losing D.C and up to lower New York. "
"I know most of that but why were my parents there?"
"Believe it or not but your parents were powerful. So powerful that our wonderful GHS and the 5 companies wanted to coexist with them. Your parents were every bit of the term adventurers. They explored labyrinths and even took back some land from the oro. They were quite capable and once I was added to the mix we were basically unstoppable.!"
"Well since you were with them... do you know what happened and why they abandoned me?"
"Let's get this straight. They didn't abandon you. Your mother father and brother loved you dearly. They left you with someone trustworthy. I got injured just before they left and was put into the locket to heal. They then went into a portal and they never came back. I do not know what happened but I have guesses. But you do not need to worry about that now. I promise on my soul we will find them or at least find out what happened to them. You are my only family left I will protect you with my life."
"Why... why did you never come out? "
"It's because I could not reveal myself. While you were in the orphanage you were constantly monitored. If you were ever in mortal danger I would have. The day that Ned took me off your neck I lost all power to be able to come out. Your mother designed the necklace to allow me to only hop out if I'm touching you or someone in your family."
" well that explains a lot. Ok then but why did you attack me"
"Simply for a bet between your mother and I. You see your mom awakened by being hit by a Mana beast or demon. I guessed, that more than likely your genetics would require you to do the same but I was wrong. I apologize for that. Sincerely Iam. At no means ever was your life in danger
"Ok well, that was a terrible way to greet someone. But…"
"Alright Mr hogger, it's my turn! I have a question of my own. How did you learn to fight like that? "
My face contorted with pain. All the blood sweat and tears began to fill my mind. Each tear, wound, and laceration I can still feel on top of my skin. The wounds may heal but deep below they are still there festering. Waiting to come back to the surface with vengeance. I gritted my teeth bearing through the imagery agony. I slowly began telling them by saying
"I have been in an orphanage in Kentucky since I was 5. During that time no one was adopting. It was rare to see someone take on that responsibility. But the fun didn't start until I was 8. Just after losing the necklace. I went to the pawn shop where my necklace got taken to and he tried to get it back. The store owner kicked me out and there was the headmaster of a different orphanage. She asked why I was there and I told her about my mom's locket. She tried to buy but the pawn shop owner said he already had a buyer. I believe that by meeting her I was put on the headmaster's radar. I was transferred to the orphanage near the border of the black veil and Kentucky…. She was waiting outside for me."
Keira pov:
As I sat there listening to him tell his story I felt disgusted. I felt dirty from listening to his private story. The trauma-inducing details should never be heard let alone go through. The sheer gruesomeness of that terrible vile orphanage made me want to puke. It made my problems feel a whole lot less. I knew what happened there but to believe a non-gifted survived such horrors is amazing. That must be why he has a twisted personality when he is hurt. I can't believe He said it was all thanks to the number one in the grade above us. Reinhold Wolfgang and his own mind saving itself. Crazy to believe that he is dual-elemental gifted. My father talks a lot about him and how I should get close to him. I need to get myself out of the rabbit hole of my family. I find myself staring at the somewhat handsome brown-haired boy. My heart began to flutter and my cheeks turned red with excitement. His bright evergreen eyes with a somewhat tan complextion he would make a... why am I thinking about this. I have other priorities other than a boy. It's hard not to keep staring at him. His blood-stained shirt ripped in multiple places showing off a tan-toned body. It's making it hard to focus. thankfully the mana pool healed his wound but did not do anything for the shirt… hehe… I must... ugggh Iam helpless to this barely above average boy. I can't help but fantasize and wonder what his gift would be. I wonder how much it will change him. He has this strange warm but deep and slightly twisted energy about him. It just wants to pull you in and make you want to stay away all at the same time. The other people who survived that orphanage are just monsters. I wonder if he will be the same.
Jack pov:
"Yeah the Only way it got exposed was of rein grandfather had someone find rein and they found the place. He then came to America illegally and killed the headmaster and teachers. We were in luck because of him. I'm extremely grateful for rein. I would have died if not for his kindness to me. Once we were saved there were only four survivors."
Noctis speaks
"Sorry but please stop I need to step away."
As I finished telling him what happened. His face is full of sorrow and anger. I tried to console him and tell him it's ok and it's in the past. His face just stayed in a constant scowl. I knew he was beating himself up but it's in the past and not like he could have done anything. He then clapped his hands and said
"Alright let's start here for what will come you will need it. How do you regain mana? Well Through stones, mana cores, and sleep. Why because you need the purer resource to speed your heart's regeneration and to grow your amount of available mana. The purer the better. Well, you might be wondering how to refine the mana and not-so-pure mana. The only known way is through expelling your mana. That means using your gift. The imputies burn first leaving the pure mana there.
So why am I spewing basic mana theory is. What I'm about to teach you is not known to the world but by a select few. It's something similar to what you humans call tai chi. It's the mana purification of the beasts." Noctis said
End of chapter six