Ash followed marcus outside the room down the hallway towards a double door. Stepping in a wide open room equipped with target practice, dummies and other unrecognizable gadgets.
Walking up to the a platform in the middle.Ash calmed his nerves and tried to remember the sensation of using his talent. Marcus stood back after instructing ash how to use his chi.
Imaginating the image of lightening he felt a tingling sensation he forcus on it directing it to his hand and in a heartbeat purple lightening crackled to life, covering just above his forearm above his skin causing no harm to him.
Ash breath caught,"I...I did it"
Marcus smirked. "Not bad", but before ash could bask in the accomplishment Marcus continued pointing forward" now try firing at that dummy"
Ash nodded,he raised his arm forward shoulder level and spread his palm open.
Feeling the power build up he fired a bolt towards the dummy. The lightening only went a few meters before disappearing.
The air was hung in silence as ash turn confusion etched on his face.
Marcus smiled faintly like he has expected this results " it's pretty normal actually, what you had then was a burst of potential, this can also be used to measure potential but due to your usage of inner chi the results aren't very accurate. Don't be dismayed at least you managed a little, all you need is practice, Now." He clapped his hands
" Try using your flame next".
Ash hesitated but obeyed letting the lightening sizzle out. He still have lingering fears of the black flames as it nearly killed him once but he stealed his resolve and willed for it.
Like a soundless assassin a globe of black flames ignited above his palm.
Subtly the temperature rose in the room. The shadows in the corners deepend and the air itself felt heavier.
Marcus's easy posture vanished. He leaned in, eyes narrowing. "There it is again but... it's weird, clearly different from the previous ones"
Ash noticed it too, it's noticably hot which should make sense since it fire but it wasn't like this at first and then he felt something inside him shifting. His breathing slowed. His heartbeat steadied unnaturally. His emotions bright and strong, sank lower, like they were being muffled.
"I… feel weird," Ash murmured, his voice flatter. "Like… everything is getting duller."
Unknownly when he came close marcus placed a firm hand on his wrist. "Ash. Look at me."
Ash forced his dull gaze upward.
"You're losing emotional tension," Marcus said bluntly. "That flame—your flame—feeds on more than Chi. It dampens your state of mind, Making your spirit weak"
The flame flickered as Ash's focus wavered, the edges of the world feeling distant.
Marcus tightened his grip. "Kid. Cancel it. Now."
Ash blinked hard, drew a shaky breath, and pulled the flames back.
The room temperature dropped as warmth cautiously returned to the room. Ash's heart kicked back to a normal rhythm.
He slumped backward, panting. "What… was that…?"
Marcus didn't answer immediately. He looked at Ash like he was seeing a puzzle piece finally fall into place. "Your superpower isn't just elemental," he said slowly. "It has a trait which i believe has something to do with the spirit and it's weirdly hot this time."
"Perhaps the previous traits showed due to awakening, perhaps you have to train further to use those traits"
Ash stared at his trembling palm.
Marcus exhaled, then placed a hand on Ash's head, steadying him. "kid remember, it's your superpower don't fear it, instead learn to wield it."
Ash swallowed, still pale. "Am I… dangerous?"
Marcus chuckled, but there was no humor behind it. "Kid, you were dangerous the moment you brutally killed a teenager and his gang."
He tapped Ash's forehead lightly.
"The real question is: what are you going to do now?"
Ash clenched his jaw, determination sparking behind his exhaustion. "I… I want strength, I want to learn how to wield this power."
Marcus grinned, "atta boy. That's the spirit, but...."
His face turned grave " you have to be ready to pay the price for strength, the means for revenge. The price might even cost you your principles at best and life at worst"
Ash caught off guard by the sudden change in his expression didn't hesitate " yes sir, am ready I have nothing else to lose except my life". He stated,eyes filled with daunting resolve.
" Good stay here and keep training, try hitting the dummy with your lightening by the end of the week, if you manage that I will give you the opportunity" he said leaving.
Alright sir!
Bang!
The door slammed short behind Marcus
Outside,Marcus walked down the hall when a shadow appeared behind him.
"Have the flames been put out yet?" He ask without turning his head.
"that..... fire sir" the shadowed figure hesitated.
" Speak"
"It's still burning sir"
Marcus finally paused.
He turned only enough to give the man a sidelong glance. "Still?"
"Yes. Even after days. It hasn't expanded, but… it hasn't died out either."
Marcus clicked his tongue. "Tch. That brat really is something unique."
The hooded man nodded stiffly. "The flame is… unnatural. Our barrier team can't get close without their chi being suppressed. The ice experts strangely has no effect on it. And the people who touch the flames ends up either in a vegetative state or coma"
"Hmmm, since it's proving difficult to remove silently then level the place, if questions arise say my name" Marcus ordered.
"Yes my lord"
"The council sent a message to you my lord, they are asking of your last input".
" Inform them that I'll place fill my quota in a weeks time" he said stopping at a double handed door to his left.
"Yes my lord" the shadowy figure answered then disperse into smokes.
Marcus chuckled lightly as he walked through the door, slamming shut behind him.
A week later
Fzzzzzt...fzzzzzt
Marcus walks Into the training room and heard sound of high electric discharge through the air.
He saw ash running around the platform firing arcs of purple lightening towards the robotic dummies chasing him.
Ash noticed Marcus entry, zapping the last dummy 10 meters away he ran excitedly towards him.
"Sir, I did it! Look!" Ash gestured toward the smoking dummies scattered across the platform, some still twitching with residual electricity.
Marcus surveyed the scene with an approving nod. "Ten meters. Not bad for a week." He walked closer, examining one of the dummies. The scorch marks were clean,and more concentrated. "Your control improved too."
Ash beamed, chest heaving from exertion. Sweat plastered his hair to his forehead, but his eyes shone with pride.
"Don't get cocky," Marcus said, but his tone wasn't harsh. "Ten meters is still nothing compared to what you'll need." He turned to face Ash fully. "But a deal's a deal."
Ash's excitement faltered into nervous anticipation. "The opportunity?"
"That's right, but before that don't you want to say goodbye to your mom and sis"
" Goodbye? Are we going somewhere?" Ash puzzled
Marcus lips tugged upward "not we, only you are"
Ash puzzled, opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Marcus.
"Enough idle chatter, clean yourself and meet me downstairs" he said calling a maid to take ash away.
Ash could only be dragged away, confusion etched on his face but the idea of meeting the grave of his sis and Mom after revenge prevents him from thinking further.
Cleaned and dressed in a new outfit, brought by the maid he was then led downstairs staring at basically everything as this was his first time going somewhere else other than his room and the training room. Weirdly he hasn't spotted any other person only haven seen Marcus and his caretaker through his stay.
The mansion as he identified it as, was fairly huge in size and was moderately decorated, well but in ash's view, a lower class begger everything was luxury.
His eyes basically twinkle at every turn. Moments later they met Marcus standing in close to a slick black floating car in a garage.
"You all packed kid?" Marcus asked with a warm smile.
"I didn't really have anything with me" ash replied with light laugh.
"Since that's the case, step in" he said gesturing to the vehicle " this will take you back home"
"What is this?" Ash ask curiously as people from the slums are rarely exposed to high tech and are a couple generations behind.
It's just a floating car, you'll know about stuff like this in the future. He shrugged "who knows you might even own one yourself".
Ash eyes sparkled "Really?"
"Sure, as long your powerful enough you can basically own everything"
"Now get in, time is wasting"
Hmmm, Ash nodded entering the car, waving before the door closed he tried looking out but the window was tinted. Soon after the car powered, the garage door open and the car sped off.
The miad having been silent throughout finally spoke " I really wonder how you can still smile and laugh warmly like that"
"What you mean?" He faced the maid smiling.
She scared back "your basically sending a poor kid who lost everything and filled him with hope for a better future to a place that will scare or worse destroy him for life".
"Well, I warned him didn't I? And besides it's not like I went back on my promise,if he manages to survive he will only become stronger" he replied unborthered.
She rubbed her nose bridge "why I have to serve the weird one".
Marcus made no comment and walked away chuckling.