Capítulo 14: CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SCARS OF THE PAST
The sun had long since set, casting a dark shadow over the crumbling streets. Ken, a young boy with a mop of messy black hair, rummaged through a dumpster, his eyes scanning for any scraps of food. His stomach growled with hunger, a constant reminder of his desperate situation.
Ken had been on his own for as long as he could remember. No parents, no family, no home. Just the streets, and the never-ending struggle to survive. He had learned to rely on his wits and his cunning, but sometimes, even those weren't enough.
As he dug through the trash, Ken's ears perked up at the sound of footsteps. He froze, his heart racing, as a group of rough-looking men approached him. They were the same men who had been chasing him for days, accusing him of stealing from the local market.
Ken knew he had to run, but his legs felt like lead. The men closed in, their faces twisted with anger. One of them raised a rock, ready to strike.
Just as all hope seemed lost, a figure burst onto the scene, sending the men scattering. Ken's rescuer was a tall, imposing man with piercing brown eyes. He grabbed Ken's arm and pulled him to safety.
"Are you okay, kid?" he asked, his voice firm but kind.
Ken nodded, still shaken. "Y-yes."
The man smiled. "My name is Shane. What's yours?"
"I'm Ken," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shane's eyes narrowed. "Well, Ken, it looks like you're in a bit of a rough spot. But I'm here to help. You're coming with me."
Ken hesitated, unsure of what to make of Shane's offer. But something about the man's kind eyes and firm tone put him at ease. He nodded, and Shane led him away from the streets, towards a new life.
As they walked, Ken couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. He had never known a life beyond the streets, beyond the constant struggle to survive. But with Shane by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could leave his past behind and start anew.
Shane led Ken to a large, imposing building with a sign that read "Hunters Academy". Ken's eyes widened as he stared up at the building.
"What is this place?" Ken asked, his voice full of wonder.
"This is Hunters Academy," Shane replied. "It's a school for young hunters, where they can learn to control their abilities and become powerful warriors."
Ken's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're going to teach me how to be a hunter?"
Shane smiled. "Not just me, Ken. You'll have many teachers here, and you'll learn everything you need to know to become a skilled hunter."
Ken couldn't believe his luck. He had never imagined that he would have the opportunity to attend a school like this, to learn how to control his abilities and become a powerful warrior.
As they entered the building, Ken was struck by the sheer size of the place. There were students everywhere, all of them dressed in uniforms and carrying strange devices that Ken didn't recognize.
Shane led Ken to a large office, where a woman with long, curly hair and a kind smile greeted them.
"Ah, Shane," she said. "I see you've brought a new student."
"Yes, ma'am," Shane replied. "This is Ken. He's a young boy with a lot of potential."
The woman's eyes lit up with interest. "Welcome, Ken," she said. "I'm Director Arlo. We're glad to have you here at Hunters Academy."
Ken felt a surge of excitement as he shook Director Arlo's hand. He knew that this was just the beginning of an amazing adventure.
............. ✍️
Ken sat cross-legged on the sun-kissed field, the soft grass beneath him a gentle caress. His eyes closed, he focused on the rhythmic beating of his heart, the sound of his own breathing. The warm sun on his face, the gentle rustle of the wind through the nearby trees, all blended together to create a sense of peace and tranquility.
Suddenly, he sensed a presence, and his eyes snapped open. Selena stood before him, her long, raven-black hair blowing gently in the breeze. Her piercing green eyes sparkled with determination, and her full lips were set in a firm line.
"Where's your boss, Shane?" Selena asked, her voice firm but laced with a hint of curiosity.
Ken raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly. "He's not my boss, he's my partner."
Selena ignored his correction. "I need to speak with him. Can you tell me where he is?"
Ken sighed inwardly, the sound of his own frustration echoing in his mind. He didn't like being ordered around, but he knew Shane would want him to cooperate with Selena. "He's not here. But I can give you this." Ken pulled out a pamphlet from his pocket and handed it to Selena.
The pamphlet was worn and dog-eared, the cover creased from multiple readings. Selena took it, her eyes scanning the pages with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.
"What's this?" Selena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Your first mission briefing," Ken replied, his eyes narrowing as he watched Selena's reactions. The sun beat down on them, casting long shadows across the field.
Selena's eyes scanned the pamphlet, her expression growing more serious by the second. "This is a retrieval mission. I'm supposed to retrieve a valuable artifact from a heavily guarded facility."
Ken nodded, his mind already racing with strategies and contingency plans. He had been tasked by Shane to keep an eye on Selena during her first mission, and he was curious to see how she would perform.
As Selena set off towards the facility, Ken followed her at a distance, his eyes fixed on her as she moved with a quiet confidence. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the air, the only sound in the stillness of the afternoon.
Ken's thoughts turned inward, his mind analyzing Selena's every move. "She's got skills, I'll give her that," Ken thought to himself. "But she's also got a lot to learn. This mission is going to be a real test for her."
As Ken watched, Selena slipped into the facility, avoiding the guards with ease. Ken's eyes narrowed, impressed despite himself.
"Let's see how she handles the real challenge," Ken thought, his eyes fixed on the facility as he waited for Selena to emerge.
Selena crouched in the shadows, her eyes fixed on the facility's entrance. The building loomed before her, its walls a dull grey that seemed to absorb the faint moonlight. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay.
She took a deep breath, her hand instinctively going to the Scepter at her side. The familiar weight of the metal was reassuring, and she felt a surge of confidence as she gazed up at the facility.
Her mission was to retrieve a valuable artifact, a rare gemstone rumored to grant immense power to its wielder. The gemstone was said to be stored in a heavily guarded vault deep within the facility.
Selena's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the entrance. The doors were reinforced with thick metal plating, and the windows were barred with heavy iron rods. She spotted at least six guards patrolling the perimeter, their flashlights casting flickering shadows on the ground.
Ken watched from a distance, his eyes fixed on Selena as she prepared to infiltrate the facility. He was evaluating her, testing her skills and tactics. He wouldn't intervene, no matter what happened. This was her mission, and she had to prove herself.
Selena took a deep breath, then sprang into action. She sprinted towards the entrance, her footsteps light and silent. She reached the doors and examined the lock, her fingers moving swiftly as she worked to disable the mechanism.
The lock clicked open, and Selena slipped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting within. The air inside was stale and musty, filled with the scent of old documents and decay.
She moved swiftly through the corridors, avoiding the guards and security cameras. She knew the layout of the facility, had studied the blueprints and maps. But she also knew that there were secrets within these walls, secrets that could aid or hinder her mission.
As she turned a corner, she stumbled upon a hidden laboratory. The room was filled with strange equipment and machinery, and the air was thick with the scent of chemicals and experimentation.
Selena's eyes widened as she took in the scene. What were they doing here? What kind of experiments were they conducting?
She knew she had to move quickly. The guards could discover her at any moment, and she still had to retrieve the gemstone.
But as she turned to leave, she heard a faint whispering in her ear. "You shouldn't be here."
Selena spun around, her hand on the hilt of her Scepter. But there was no one there.
The whisper seemed to come from all around her, echoing off the walls. Selena's heart pounded in her chest as she realized that she was not alone in the facility.
And that was when she saw it. A figure, lurking in the shadows. Watching her. Selena's eyes locked onto the mysterious figure, her mind racing with possibilities. She didn't reach for her Scepter, instead relying on her training and instincts to guide her.
The figure didn't move, didn't react. It just kept watching her, its presence seeming to fill the entire room. Selena's skin prickled with unease, but she didn't back down.
She took a slow step forward, her eyes never leaving the figure. Her senses were on high alert, taking in every detail of the room. The position of the guards, the location of the security cameras, the hidden dangers lurking in the shadows.
The figure still didn't move, but Selena sensed a subtle shift in its attention. It was no longer just watching her – it was waiting for her to make a move.
Selena's lips curled into a small smile. She knew how to play this game. She took another step forward, her movements slow and deliberate. The figure still didn't react, but Selena sensed its tension building.
Suddenly, she darted to the side, using the nearby equipment to conceal herself. The figure didn't move, didn't react. But Selena knew she had gained the upper hand.
She peeked around the equipment, her eyes locking onto the figure. It was still watching her, still waiting. But Selena knew she had the initiative.
She took a deep breath, then sprang into action. She sprinted across the room, using her agility and quick reflexes to avoid the security cameras and guards. The figure didn't move, didn't react. But Selena knew she had won.
She reached the door, yanked it open, and slipped outside. The cool night air enveloped her, and she felt a rush of exhilaration. She had outsmarted the figure, outmaneuvered the guards.
Ken watched from a distance, his eyes narrowed in approval. Selena had passed the first test. She had shown skill, tactics, and cunning.
But the real challenge was only just beginning.
Selena slipped through the shadows, her body merging with the darkness as she moved. She had reached the heart of the facility, where the artifact was said to be kept. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and burning wire, and the flickering fluorescent lights overhead cast eerie shadows on the walls.
As she emerged from the shadows, she found herself face to face with the protector of the artifact. It was a hulking creature, its body a mass of twisted, nightmarish flesh. The creature's eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy, and its very presence seemed to fill the air with an unspeakable horror.
The creature charged, its massive fists swinging through the air with a deafening roar. Selena dodged, her body weaving through the shadows as she avoided the creature's blows. The sound of its fists striking the ground was like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the facility.
Selena counterattacked, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as she crafted a shadowy duplicate of herself. The duplicate charged forward, distracting the creature as Selena struck from behind.
Her fist sliced through the shadows, striking the creature with a blow that would have shattered steel. But the creature didn't flinch, its twisted flesh absorbing the impact as it countered with a wave of shadowy energy.
The energy washed over Selena, threatening to consume her. She raised her hands, crafting a shadowy shield to deflect the attack. The shield shimmered and rippled, holding strong against the creature's assault.
The creature howled in rage, its body beginning to shift and contort. Its limbs elongated, twisting into impossible shapes as it launched itself at Selena.
She dodged and weaved, avoiding the creature's blows as she searched for an opening. Her heart pounded in her chest, her senses on high alert as she navigated the deadly dance.
Finally, she saw her chance. The creature's twisted body left it momentarily vulnerable, and Selena struck with precision. Her fist enveloped in Shadow as she mutters "Shadow Fist" striking the creature's core with a blow that shook the very foundations of the facility.
The creature stumbled, its body beginning to dissolve into nothingness. Selena stood over it, her chest heaving with exertion, as she gazed down at the artifact that lay beyond.
The artifact pulsed with a faint, otherworldly glow, its power calling to her like a siren's song. Selena's eyes narrowed, her hand reaching out to claim the artifact as her own.
Selena stumbled backwards, the artifact's power still coursing through her veins like liquid fire. The facility around her was in shambles, the walls cracked and broken, the shadows twisted and alive. The air reeked of smoke and ozone, the acrid smell burning her nostrils.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness. Ken. He strode towards her, a small, metallic container in his hand. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the ruined facility, a steady beat that seemed to match the pounding of her heart.
As the artifact's power was contained, the shadows around them seemed to recede, the twisted, nightmarish landscape slowly returning to normal. Selena let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.
Ken's gaze lingered on her face, his eyes crinkling at the corners as his lips curved into a small, wry smile. For a moment, his expression seemed to hold a hint of warmth, a glimmer of humanity beneath his usual stoic exterior.
"Need some help?" he asked, his voice low and even.
Selena nodded, still trying to process the artifact's power. Ken approached her, the container open and ready.
"Put it in here," he said, his eyes locked on the artifact. "This container is designed to house artifacts like this one. It'll keep its power from leaking out and affecting anyone else."
Selena hesitated for a moment, then carefully placed the artifact in the container. As soon as it was inside, the container's lid snapped shut with a metallic clang, the sound echoing through the facility like a bell.
Selena let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Thanks," she said, looking up at Ken.
Ken shrugged. "No need to thank me. I just didn't want to have to clean up the mess you'd make if you lost control of that thing."
Selena raised an eyebrow. "You've been following me since I got here, haven't you?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Ken's expression didn't change, but Selena saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Maybe," he said, his voice noncommittal.
Selena smiled, a warm, genuine smile. "I felt your shadow," she said, her eyes locked on Ken's. "You're not very good at hiding."
Ken's expression softened, and for a moment, Selena saw a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. "I guess I'm just not used to being around people who can sense my presence," he said, a small, wry smile playing on his lips.
Selena's smile grew wider. "Well, I'm glad you decided to make an appearance," she said, her voice sincere. "I owe you one."
Ken's smile faded, and he looked away, his expression once again neutral. "Don't mention it," he said, his voice low and even. "I just did it on a whim."
Selena's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she felt a warmth in her chest that she couldn't quite explain. "Well, I'm glad your whim decided to intervene," she said, her voice light and teasing.
Ken's expression didn't change, but Selena saw a flicker of pleasure in his eyes. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them palpable.
Then, without a word, Ken turned and walked away, leaving Selena to watch him go with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
As she stood there, the container clutched tightly in her hand, Selena couldn't help but wonder what Ken's true motives were. And why she felt a spark of connection with him that she couldn't quite explain.
******
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