Chapter 10
3213words
I don't think I'm strong enough, no, I know I'm not. I don't think I was meant to be brave. How can I? Heroes are supposed to overcome everything, yet I can't even overcome with... Nathaniel nor mother.
I want to be more than just... this, but I don't know how. Of course, there's no guidebooks to becoming more. I suppose this is suppose to happen. I wasn't meant to be a hero.
But... as long as Mr. S'dala is here, maybe I'll be okay. He doesn't treat me like I'm fragile, and he said he'll be there when I go to Black Waves city.
When he's around, he makes things feels light for me.
I know he won't always be there. I know people leave.
But if he stays... even just for now... maybe that's enough.
Maybe that's all I need.
Just...for now.
—Slyvian Blackbird 🐦⬛
I closed my diary and slipped it back into my grey backpack, my fingers held the zipper before I looked up at the night sky. The stars were unusually bright tonight, calming and clean. I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them to my chest, and the breeze blew across the field beside the swamp.
Crickets filled the air, the constant crooning, an easy distraction from the loud swarm noise in my head. The though of going back home... made my stomach feel heavy. Home. That word as lost its meaning for a long time. There was too much waiting for me in that crumbling apartment, to many shouting, too many beating, too many... everything.
Nathaniel's words played on loop in my head. His voice, always cold, telling me to meet him at his father's company building. The stinging feeling from his newfound powers still lingered like phantom pain. Then there was the job in Black Waves city. The city... it sort of scared me. I don't know that city at all, I only know of Panadamned. Everything was piling up. I could feel it pressing down on my chest, slowly.
Whenever things felt like this, I'd come here. This clearing near the school parking lot, the swamp. It wasn't much, but... I like watching the stars. It always felt closer here.
(edit past this)
A faint rustle in the underbrush cut through my thoughts. I tensed, scanning through the darkness. I can feel my pulse jump, but then I saw him... Mr. S'dala. Moving quietly, his hands in his coat pockets. He walked like he belonged here... or like the night belonged to him.
I blinked. Did he know I was here? If so, how?
"I thought I'd find you out here," he said, sitting beside me.
I looked away. I felt my cheeks were getting hot. "...I just wanted to see the stars." I murmured.
He nodded, his voice... always steady. "I understand. They are beautiful tonight." Then, after a pause, "But it's not safe to be here alone. Not at night. Even near the school, there are people who mean harm, and those people can lurk even near school grounds."
Something inside me felt settled when he said that. It feels like someone had placed a warm hand on my back. No one else had ever said anything like that to me. Only Mr. S'dala worries for me.
"Sorry..." The word barley made it out.
We sat like that, silent. The kind of silence that wasn't heavy. It was comfortable. I don't know how long it took me to build up the courage to finally ask.
"Mr. S'dala," I said, "how did you know I was here?"
His gaze softened, barely smiling. "Can't I come out to see the stars too?"
I bit the inside of my cheek. "I-I didn't mean it like that. I just... wondered."
Mr. S'dala chuckled. "It's alright to wonder," he said gently. "Don't be so nervous, Slyvian. It's alright to ask questions."
After a few more quiet moments, Mr. S'dala stood up, brushing grass from his coat, I didn't want to move. But he offered me his hand anyway.
"It's getting late. Let me walk you home."
I hesitated. Then I took his hand. I felt like I was floating. His hand was warm. I felt all the worries fading, disappearing from within me.
As we walked through the field toward the parking lot, I let myself believe, just for a moment, that everything might be okay. That maybe someone like him could exist in a world like mine.
Everything... I had completely forgotten the fears that had haunted me moments ago; it felt all trivial now.
I walked a little ahead of him before realizing he'd stopped. I turned. He was staring into the darkness. His gaze was sharp and intense. I'm confused, I looked in the direction where he was staring, I even squinted my eyes, and I saw nothing.
"Mr. S'dala?" I asked.
He looked back at me and smiled like nothing was wrong. "Sorry, Slyvian. I thought I saw something. I must be a bit paranoid," he said with a light chuckle, closing the distance between them.
I sighed in relief, comforted by his presence as we walked together down the sidewalk.
What Slyvian didn't notice, though, was the subtle shift in Mr. S'dala's posture as he lingered just a step behind her. In one swift, silent motion, he pulled a dagger from his coat and flung it backward into the darkness. The blade sliced through the air, embedding itself with perfect accuracy in the skull of a shadowed figure perched among the branches of a nearby tree. The body fell, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Mr. S'dala glanced back, his eyes narrowing for a second before he returned to his usual calm, looking over at Slyvian as if nothing had happened.
I walked beside Mr. S'dala, and nothing seemed to bother me. The walk was long, since I lived far from the school. I had the same pain in my feet from walking, but nonetheless, I felt a lightness. That is... until... I remembered where I lived.
The heat drained from my face as I realized what he would see: the cracked windows, the mold on the stairwell walls, and the front door that didn't lock. The gangs, the weapons, everything that surrounded my home. What if he gets disgusted by my building? What if he saw me differently just because I lived in the Underbelly District? He might even kick me out of his class simply because I come from the most dangerous area in the city. I worry he could get hurt as well, since the gangs won't know who he is.
"Mr. S'dala... you don't really have to walk me all the way." I desperately hoped he'd take the hint. That he'd spare me the embarrassment of seeing where I live.
" I'd feel better knowing that my student is home safe," he said simply.
We were nearing the Underbelly. I don't want him to see it. I must distract him with something to pass the time.
"U-um- Oh look. There's a claw machine." I darted toward the alley beside an building.
It was old and broken. The machine was missing a leg and its buttons were broken beyond repair. It's clearly been neglected, but the stuffed animals inside it were preserved quite well, even after all this time being in there.
S'dala walked over toward me, and he looked at the claw machine.
"Hm, didn't expect to see this. They stopped making these in the 2650s."
Mr. S'dala glanced from the claw machine back to Slyvian, who was clearly trying to divert his attention from something else. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he humored her distraction, kneeling down slightly to inspect the machine with interest.
"You know, Slyvian," he said softly, "I didn't take you for the type who'd be drawn to an object like this."
"I'm not... I mean, well... I've always liked claw machines. They have all these cute stuffed animals. I just like the toys." I lied; I had never seen a claw machine in person until now. I've always read about them when I was younger. I never understood why someone would waste their credlings for a useless object, but... now that I'm looking at it... There was something enchanting about them.
Mr. S'dala looked at her for a bit before walking closer to the claw machine. Then, without saying a word, he broke the glass with his elbow. I flinched.
He reached in and pulled out a stuffed crow, holding it out to me.
I stared. My hands stayed in my sleeves, trembling. I... I don't know what to do in this situation. This never happened before. My body... It's completely frozen.
He noticing. Gently, he took on of my hands and placed the plush into it.
"A gift," he said. "I realized that I never gave you a present for your birthday that came up recently. A teacher should never forget a student's birthday."
I tightened my fingers around the crow. It was soft, almost soothing in my grasp. Staring down at the plush toy, I noticed its small, beady eyes gazing back at me, emanating a warmth that felt oddly comforting. My fingers brushed over the worn fabric. I glanced back up at Mr. S'dala, my mind racing with a mix of emotions I couldn't quite express.
"A gift," his words repeated in my head, as if he says stuff like this every day. But kindness is rare in my life, and this seemingly small gesture meant more to me than I could ever express.
"...Thank you," I whispered.
He's the first to ever given me a... birthday gift.
He just smiled.
I held the plush toy close to my chest, its softness warming my body in a way that felt strange. I had never owned anything like this before, something given freely. In this moment, I completely forgot the fact that Or'dara had given me credlings and was trying his best to support me in his own way. Forgetting about the building I lived in, the one that I didn't want him to see.
"It's the least I could do." Mr. S'dala smiled.
I stood in silence, the quiet night felt like it hugged me. Nothing truly mattered anymore. I felt as if everything might be okay. I couldn't help but wonder if this is what Mr. S'dala's children and ex-wife feel like when he's around them. If that's the case, I want to keep feeling like this. I want Mr. S'dala all for myself, but I know... I can't.
I didn't want this moment to end. I wished it could last.
But it didn't.
Eventually, he looked at his HaloBand. "Come on," he said. "It's getting late than I expected. Let's get you home."
We walked. I held the crow close to my chest. Holding the crow tightly has made me feel like S'dala is within me, holding me.
As we reached the edge of the Underbelly District, I noticed Mr. S'dala pause. He turned to me, his expression serious. "Slyvian," he said, "if there's anything you need, or if you just need someone to talk to, remember that I'm here." The strange feeling again. I realized now how much his support really meant to me.
I couldn't answer right away. I nodded.
"Thank you, Mr. S'dala," I managed to say and I meant it. His support... I need it.
He smiled, giving me one last nod before turning to leave. And as he disappeared into the shadows, I stood there alone with the crow plushie, feeling for the first time that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone in the world after all.
Then I turned toward my building.
Meanwhile,
Mr. S'dala pulled out his Vocalyx, it pulsated with a faint red light He pressed a glowing sigil, held the device to his ear and waited for the call to connect.
"Hello? Yeah, it's me. I'm going to be late tonight." S'dala said as he walked down the cracked sidewalk, four figures walked behind him while four more were in front of him, which made him stop walking.
S'dala only smiled, "Yes, they found me walking her home." He said as he counted the men that were surrounding him.
Eight. No... more. At least twenty.
"She's safe, hm, yeah, there's more showing up. Heh...don't worry, I'll handle it. Alright, I'll see you later." He puts his Vocalyx away and exhales gently.
"Let's be quick about this," he said, pulling a blade from his coat. "I hate being late to a meeting."
Without hesitating, he threw two knives towards the skulls of the first two speedsters, killing them instantly. He knew they would've been a problem the second they started running.
Don't be fooled, though; even if he kept them alive, he would've toyed with them. They would never stand a chance. He just doesn't want to be late for a meeting. He hates to be late.
S'dala adjusted his coat, his posture relaxed as if he were merely waiting for a taxi. The other attackers inched forward, cautious now, though the faint glint in their eyes showed they weren't prepared to back down.
A tall man with a scar across his cheek stepped forward, smirking. A tall man with a scar across his cheek stepped forward, smirking. "I knew you would kill them first. I knew you wouldn't make this easy, S'dala, but I know this, there's no way out for you, this time you're outnumbered. You can't take all of us at once."
S'dala raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. "Well, well, Ravik. It's adorable how you and your pathetic president keep thinking that." His fingers brushed over the handle of another blade tucked inside his coat as he eyed the remaining men, measuring their every movement, every breath, deducing what kind of powers they all have.
Four men lunged at him from either side, all with the power of turning into beasts, muscle bulging, bones snapping as claws and fangs took shape mid-charge.
But S'dala was faster.
He sidestepped to the side in a quick motion, letting one slash harmlessly through the air. As second passed by, S'dala brought a precise elbow into the back of his neck with a sickening crack. Before the man could hit the ground, S'dala was already moving, he grabs his knife under his coat, drawing a blade, burying it hilt-deep into the chest of a third attacker.
The fourth tried to tackle him from behind.
A foolish move.
S'dala turned and caught the man's wrist mid-swing. Energy surged through his palm, his ability drinking in the very life-force from the beast. The man convulsed, staggered, and collapsed. The third fell seconds later, eyes wide with confusion, his strength drained just from a touch.
"Feeling weak already? A shame."
Still calm, S'dala spun and sent a brutal kick to the chest of another, sending him crashing across the ground like doll.
The others hesitated. They hadn't expected this. Glances exchanged. Whatever confidence they had, it left them.
"You know," he said casually, glancing at the growing pile of bodies, "you'd think your precious president would've learned by now."
He cut down the rest without effort. Their powers, turning into beasts. Meant nothing, sloppy and predictable.
Soon, only one man left remaining.
His expression darkened, but S'dala hardly noticed. There was a tick of impatience rising behind his composed facade.
He really did hate being late. Especially tonight.
With a grunt, Ravik lunged.
S'dala sighed.
He sidestepped again, bored, letting Ravik's full momentum crash him into a thick metal pole with a metallic clang. The man dropped to the pavement, groaning in agony.
S'dala approached slowly, leaned down with a tilt of his head and a cold grin.
"Wow. Just looking at you, that must've hurt quite a lot."
He pulled a knife from his coat and, without hesitation, drove it deep into Ravik's shoulder. Then, he twisted the blade hard, grinding it into the collarbone.
Ravik howled, but S'dala didn't flinch.
His thumb slid over a small, recessed button on the knife's handle.
A soft click.
A sharp hiss.
Something shot from the blade, burrowing through bone and muscle with a hiss of compressed force.
Ravik's scream pitched higher as something was embedded beneath his flesh.
"I think I'll let you live. Again." S'dala leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Tell your president... if he sends more of you after me, I'll start sending body parts back." he stood up.
Without waiting for a response, S'dala stepped over him, dusting off his coat before continuing his walk down the cracked sidewalk. He cast one last glance back at the carnage behind him before pulling out his Vocalyx again, dialing a different number.
"Report," came a deep voice on the other end.
"Taken care of," S'dala said. "They'll think twice before trying again."
There was a pause.
"Keep the girl out if, till boss says something," the voice said.
"Yes yes, I know."
He ended the call. Slid the Vocalyx away. Then pulled out a different one
"Hi, sweetheart," he said.
"I'm going to be late for dinner tonight. Yeah, another meeting." He paused, listening as one of his children spoke, the sounds of laughter and chatter faintly audible in the background. But no of children.
"Tell your brother I'm sorry," he continued, chuckling softly.
"I know he's been looking forward to it." His gaze drifted back down the darkened street as he spoke. He watched as Ravik, limping and bleeding, got in a car and it flew away in the air, making S'dala chuckle in his head.
"Save me a plate, alright? I'll be home as soon as I can Oh, oh and make sure your mother doesn't change the locks, I don't want to go through the windows again. Heh yeah, I'll give you a new toy after my meeting."
He ended the call with a small smile. His face shifted into a devilish smile as he slipped the Vocalyx back into his pocket.
He chuckled once. Low and silent.
S'dala pulled a small, sleek device from his pocket and tapped its surface. A dimly lit orange holographic map flickered to life above it, a single, glowing red dot appearing.
A tracker.
"It won't be long now," he murmured.
Stepping back into the quiet street, he blended with the shadows, his form becoming just another part of the darkness, as if he'd never been there at all.
Vocalyx: A voice-reactive, high-end communication device. Compact and discreet, it responds only to its user's unique vocal signature. Capable of instant encrypted calls, neural transcription, and remote command functions.
HaloBand: A sleek, wrist-worn device that projects a holographic interface above the skin. The HaloBand responds to touch, gesture, and thought-linked inputs, syncing seamlessly with personal networks, comms, and biometric data.
