The sun had set over Santa Barbara.Inside the police station, Jase sat silently in the interrogation room, his gaze empty and distant.
Across from him, a furious officer slammed his fist on the table."WHY DID YOU KILL HER?!" he shouted.
Jase said nothing.He just stared blankly at the spotless glass wall, his reflection hollow and lifeless.
The officer frowned. Was he on drugs? he wondered.With his messy hair and tired face, Jase looked like a boy from the slums.
"Test his urine," the officer ordered coldly.
Two policemen dragged Jase to the restroom. The air smelled faintly of lavender.One handed him an empty container."Fill it," he barked.
Minutes passed. The pot was still empty.The officer grew impatient. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I… can't pee," Jase said dully.
The officer clenched his fist, ready to strike him — but before he could, another cop entered."What's going on here?" he asked.
"This damn kid won't piss!" the first officer snapped.
But Jase wasn't listening. His thoughts were drifting elsewhere —Do I even exist?Can someone as useless as me really be alive?
The officers exchanged a glance — and then they began to hit him.Blow after blow.
Jase didn't scream.He just endured.He didn't want to die… yet the world was fading around him.He couldn't see, couldn't hear — only the feeling of being alone.
Why do I still want to live? he wondered.
Then, a memory — Eliana.Her smile. Her warmth.
I'll live… for those who love me, he thought.
Suddenly, his eyes shot open.The policemen who had been beating him were lying lifeless on the floor.Blood dripped from his hands. His bracelet glowed, flooding the restroom with eerie violet light that slowly turned blue.
The smell of lavender was gone. Only the scent of blood remained.
"This… happens when I want to live?" Jase whispered."Maybe it's a sign… that I shouldn't."
BOOM!The bathroom door exploded open.Armed police surrounded him, shouting—
"GET DOWN! I SAID GET DOWN!"
A gunshot rang out.
Why… am I so cold? Jase thought weakly.
Then, the bracelet flared again, healing his wound and sending a wave of force that threw every officer against the walls.
Jase ran.He burst out of the station, sprinting into the night—But as soon as he reached the street, a man in a military uniform appeared and struck him with a powerful punch.
Jase fell hard, dazed.He tried to get up, but the soldier kicked him in the head.
"Who are you?" the man demanded. "And where did you get those powers?"
Jase barely understood. "It's… my bracelet…" he mumbled.
The soldier frowned. "Your body has power too."
A small crowd had gathered. Someone raised their phone, whispering,"Look at this soldier beating a kid… this country's doomed—"
The soldier's cold stare made the man freeze. He dropped his phone and wet himself in terror.
Grabbing Jase, the soldier snapped on special cuffs and a metal collar, then threw him into a black, customized 4x4.
Jase weakly asked, "Where are you taking me?"
"To Kondengui. Sector II," the man replied while adjusting his mirror."That's where we keep low-level sorcerers like you. Maybe you'll be useful… or maybe I'm wasting my time."
Then his phone rang. He checked the caller ID — the Forest Warden.
He sighed and answered.
"Sorry to bother you," the Warden said calmly. "Change of plans. Release the boy… no, actually, bring him home."Then he hung up.
The soldier — Abrahim — muttered, "Now I'm just a damn chauffeur…"He glanced at Jase. "Where do you live, kid?"
"Essos," Jase murmured.
"Figures," Abrahim sighed. "Explains why you look like a street smoker."
Later that evening, at Essos...
The neighbors whispered. What trouble has Jase caused this time?
Abrahim's car stopped a few meters from the Mendjon house, where the Forest Warden's vehicle was already parked. He pressed a button, opening the door for Jase.
"Get out of my car," Abrahim said.
Jase stepped out slowly, pain etched into every movement. The Warden's guards came forward to carry him inside.
Abrahim drove away without another word.
Inside the house, the smell of eru filled the air.The Forest Warden sat calmly on the couch, but the aura around him was deadly.
"Remove his cuffs," he ordered.
The guards obeyed, unlocking the bracelet and the collar.
"Come closer," the Warden said.
Jase hesitated, fear gripping him, but he obeyed.The Warden grabbed Jase's wrist — the one with the glowing bracelet.A violet light shone briefly, then turned soft blue.
"I'm done," the Warden said.
"What did you do?" Jase asked quietly.
"I stabilized your bracelet's energy," the Warden replied."It won't kill anyone again. And don't worry about those lazy policemen."
For the first time in a long while, Jase almost smiled — but the Warden's presence still terrified him.
Then his father entered with a warm meal."Finally home," he said, serving food to everyone. "I'm used to you getting into trouble, son… but next time, please, tell me. I'm your father."
Jase lowered his eyes. "Okay."
As they ate, Jase noticed how even the Forest Warden seemed calmer — maybe it was the food.After dinner, Jase excused himself and went to bed early.
That night, his father quietly came to cover him with a blanket.
The next morning...
Before sunrise, light already filled Jase's room.He was awake, doing push-ups and sit-ups, sweat running down his chest.
I have to be strong enough to kill Trevis, he told himself.
Then — a sound at the window.
Jase opened it and saw Eliana smiling outside.He started to speak, but she threw a paper ball at him and laughed.
"Shhh! Come on!" she whispered.
He dressed quickly and sneaked downstairs.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"My dad watches me all the time since he found out I hang out with you," she said. "I had to wait until he fell asleep."
"Don't you have other friends—" Jase began, then stopped himself.
Eliana smiled sadly. "You're the only guy who actually talks to me. The others are scared of my dad. And the girls… they say I'm weird."
"I'm sorry," Jase said.
"It's fine." She smiled again. "Wanna take a ride?"
"How?"
She grinned, pulling out her phone. "Why do you think I brought this?"
A car parked nearby beeped — the doors unlocked automatically.
"Wait, what? How'd you do that?" Jase asked.
"My ring," she said. "And my dad's a cop — I have access to his codes. Now, get in."
"But aren't there trackers?"
"I disabled them," she said proudly.
Then, with a mischievous grin, she added, "By the way, I don't have a driver's license."
"What?!"
"Relax, I've done this like a hundred times — just not with someone else before."
She started the car using her phone. The engine roared to life.
They drove through the sleeping city, lights reflecting on their faces.Jase was amazed — not just by the speed, but by how beautiful the city looked at dawn.
When the sun rose, they sat on a sidewalk, laughing together.Eliana suddenly coughed into a tissue.
"You okay?" Jase asked.
"I'm fine," she said softly, smiling as she stood up. She leaned in and kissed his cheek."See you tomorrow night."
Jase froze for a moment, then smiled faintly.For once, he felt… at peace.
Eliana walked home, throwing the tissue into her trash bin.A drop of blood stained the white fabric.
Would you like me to make the Episode 12 continuation (what happens next with Eliana's sickness and Jase's training)?I can keep the same cinematic tone.