Chapter 17
The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow across the living room where the family had gathered the night before. Adrian stretched and looked around at his sleeping family members—Sky curled up with Sigurrós on the couch, Camile resting against the wall, and Shub-Niggurath in her human form, leaning against the armchair. Adrian smiled softly, quietly rising to avoid waking them. He stepped into the kitchen, the familiar scent of coffee brewing filling the air. As he prepared breakfast, he hummed softly, reflecting on the intense battle with Elena.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Adrian walked over and opened it to find Elena standing there, dressed in a fresh set of clothes.
"Morning," she greeted.
"Morning," Adrian replied with a smile. "Want some coffee?"
"Yes, please," Elena said gratefully.
Adrian poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Elena. They sat at the kitchen table, sipping their drinks in companionable silence. After a moment, Elena broke the quiet.
"Do you think the tears we caused are going to be a problem?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Adrian sighed thoughtfully. "I don't know yet. I'll need to check on the dimensional stability and make sure nothing dangerous is leaking through."
"Can I help with that?" Elena asked, her expression serious.
"Sure," Adrian nodded. "Have you been teaching Sky how to use her abilities?"
"Yeah, but I've only touched on END manipulation. I haven't really delved into concept control or energy manipulation," Elena admitted.
Adrian nodded in understanding. "Fair enough."
The siblings lapsed into a thoughtful silence, each lost in their own thoughts about the potential consequences of their battle. Adrian finally spoke again, his tone serious.
"We need to address those tears as soon as possible. The longer they stay open, the higher the risk of something dangerous slipping through."
Elena nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We should get started right after breakfast."
Adrian stood and began plating the breakfast he had prepared earlier. The smell of eggs, bacon, and pancakes filled the kitchen, gradually waking up the rest of the family. Sky was the first to stir, rubbing her eyes and looking around with a sleepy smile.
"Morning, everyone," Adrian greeted warmly, setting the plates on the table.
One by one, the family gathered around, still groggy but enticed by the delicious aroma. Breakfast turned into a lively affair, filled with chatter and laughter. After they finished eating, Adrian and Elena explained their plan to investigate and repair the dimensional tears to Camile and Shub-Niggurath.
"Sigurrós, Sky, I need you two to stay here with Shub-Niggurath," Adrian instructed. "We'll be back soon."
Sky pouted slightly but nodded. "Okay, Uncle Adrian. Bring back chocolate."
"Got it," Adrian chuckled.
He stood up and turned to Camile and Elena. "Let's go."
With a nod, they vanished from the kitchen in a flash of light. they appeared in the air below a tear in space-time Adrian and Elena standing in the air and Camile floating next to them with her wings out. the tear was leaking potent energy. looking down they saw that the tear was above a small village.
"where are we?" Camile asked
"Kenya," Adrian responded,
"so what's the plan?" Elena asked
"ok Camile find anyone who was affected by the energy and bring them to me by force if necessary just don't kill anyone. Sis find any animal, water, and plant life that was affected and destroy them."
"Understood."
"right."
They dispersed swiftly. Adrian focused on the tear, taking a deep breath as he initiated space-time manipulation. The tear wavered, reacting to his control over dimensional forces. With careful precision, he began to close the rift, channeling his powers to restore stability to the fabric of reality. Meanwhile, Camile swooped down into the village, using her speed and agility to locate individuals affected by the energy leak. She gently but firmly escorted them back to Adrian's location. Elena, on the other hand, ventured into the nearby forest, where signs of disruption were evident in the flora and fauna, and started to erase them.
Adrian completely closed the tear and then started to absorb the excess energy in the air. sensing Camile below him with a group of ten people affected by the energy leak. He descended gracefully, landing near Camile and the villagers. They looked bewildered but unharmed, their eyes wide with uncertainty Adrian looked over the people with a calculative gaze.
"Hello, I'm assuming that you all are assuming why you were brought here?"
The villagers nodded nervously, their eyes darting between Adrian and Camile.
"Well to put it simply I'm aware that the ten of you gathered here have gained abilities overnight and I'm here to give two options I wish I could give more but that's not possible."
Adrian paused, his expression serious yet compassionate as he addressed the villagers affected by the energy leak.
"You now possess abilities you should not have. and you only gained them because of an accident caused by me and my sister. now you have two options: one, I erase the powers you have gained and wipe your memories of them and the incident. Or two, you keep your newly founded abilities...but you have to come with me without seeing your family but I will pay for anything they require. you have five minutes, make your choice."
Adrian's voice carried a mix of concern and responsibility as he presented the villagers with their options. The tension in the air was palpable as they exchanged uncertain glances, contemplating the weight of Adrian's offer. Camile stood silently beside Adrian, her wings folded as she observed the villagers with a neutral expression.
"Why would we take the words of a child seriously?"
'sigh I forget I'm 19 sometimes'
"if you want a demonstration well."
Adrian turned his attention to the left and then snapped, flash-freezing the entire area before him. The villagers gasped in shock as the landscape before them froze in an instant. Their eyes widened in disbelief, realizing the extent of Adrian's power.
"Now do you believe me?" Adrian asked calmly, his gaze piercing through the frozen scene.
The villagers exchanged nervous glances, the gravity of the situation sinking in. After a moment of tense silence, Adrian spoke.
"Now take your time you have five minutes to decide."
Adrian turned towards Camile walking towards her.
"so how many tears are there?" Camile asked
"three more."
"where are they."
"Well, you're not going to like where one of them is.
"Where?"
"well one's in Australia, one in England, and the last one is in...North Korea."
Camile's expression darkened slightly at the mention of North Korea. " You're joking."
"No, I'm not, unfortunately."
"Can we kill the dicta- I mean president."
"No Camile we can't that will cause issues and you know it."
Camile frowned, understanding the delicate political implications. "Understood. Let's focus on closing the tears and containing any potential risks."
"good."
During their conversation one of the Villagers a man who looked around 28 rushed towards Adrian with a knife in hand intending to try to stab him. The man managed to stab Adrian but Adrian didn't flinch and he looked over his shoulder at the man.
"Bad move," Adrian muttered, his tone eerily calm as he glanced back at the man who had just attempted to attack him. The knife in the man's hand froze, encased in a thin layer of ice, rendering it useless.
"Camile."
Chapter 17: End