The room was still. Only a soft continuous beeping of hospital monitors broke the still silence. The smell of antiseptic filled the roomlike a heavy fog. There they were.
Eric and Annabelle, faces bruised and pale as fluorescent light lit the room, on their beds, motionless but breathing. From the corridor, footsteps echoed-getting closer-steady.
Then-WHAM! The door burst open.
The hero stepped inside, his coat fluttering behind him. Faint smell of smoke and dust hung on him, a reminder of whatever hell he walked out of.
He stood at the entrance scanning the room before settling on the boy in the bed. Beside his bed stood a doctor, clipboard in hand, keenly observing the monitors.
'' Doctor Armin. How are they doctor he asked,'' his voice edged with concern.
The doctor glanced up, then sighed '' they are both stable. Honestly, I'm surprised he and the girl even made it back alive. Its not often you see survivors walk out of a calamity attack.''
Tyson nodded slowly, stepping closer to beds. '' That's good to hear.'' The hero extended his hand. '' My name is Tyson-Tyson Grand, hero name: Grand Marauder… but just call me Tyson.''
The doctor shock his hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips, '' Is nice to meet you. I'm all ready aware of who you are Mr. Marauder. You're quite lucky to be alive yourself.''
''Lucky?'' ''Tyson gave a quite humorless chuckle. I'd say the luck is all theirs, it took twenty of my squadron to take down one calamity, and we still suffered casualties, I'd say the luck is all theirs.
The little one told me a man risked his life for their escape. Anyway, do you have any records on them yet?''
''oh, yes.'' The Doctor reached for a file on the desk nearby and flipped it open.'' For the little one.'' He begun '' Her name is Annabelle Ranvier-ten years old, Daughter of Sir Ethan Ranvier and Lady Helen Ranvier of the House of Ranvier.''
Tyson's eyebrow lifted. ''Ranvier? You're playing with me"
'' Believe me I'm not, I was as surprised as you are,'' Then he chuckled '' indeed you are a lucky man right now-saving a member of the Ranvier household is no small feat. It isn't something the crown overlooks.''
Tyson shook his head. '' I don't deserve it. The reward should go to the boy. He's the one who carried her out of harm's way.''
'' Indeed.'' The Doctor nodded. '' Now, about our hero…'' He flipped a page on Eric's records. ''Eric Carther, Eighteen years, local resident. Has an Aunt. Both parent dead, nothing remarkable on paper.''
Tyson studied Eric's face; his expression unreadable.
Doctor Armin then pulled. Tyson, away from the patients, then he whispered. '' Personally, I ran some tests on the boy, for any potential presence of morale.
''And?'' Tyson whispered
'' its faint but unmistakable the boy has one, but here's the interesting part-there's no record of him ever displaying a morale signature before. No incidents nor reports. Its as if he's been dormant his whole life.''
''Tyson crossed his arm '' A late bloomer, then?''
'' Definitely,'' the doctor whispered. '' it's quite unusual but rare. Most individual awaken at childhood if you're a power holder and not M-mana, or System player, but under the topic of power holders their powers can emerge suddenly, violently without control or pattern.''
The room fell silent once more, the rhythmic beeping of the monitor echoed in the room.
The door creaked open.
Tyson and the doctor both turned instinctively, wondering who might that be, that just walked in.
A woman stepped through. Her skin, a shade of dark caramel, her hair curly coiled back with a side braid and her brown eyes filled with panic and exhaustion. She stood the for a moment-still- her gaze scanning the room, scanning the beds for her nephew. Her eyes found him
''Eric…'' she breathed.
Quickly she moved toward him, observing his body wrapped and bandaged. Her hands trembling as she reached for his arm, barely daring to touch him.
Oh, thank goodness… he's alive
Her mind raced, breath catching in her throat
'' I should have never sent you Rick's if I knew this would happen''
Her voice broke as she leaned closer, mummering to her self '' they said it was a calamity attack. I thought I lost you there.'' A fragile laugh escaped her lips, full of relief but at the same time disbelief. '' he's breathing. he's safe. That's all that matters.''
She stretched her hand, caressing the forehead '' you scared the life out of me.''
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed another character next to Eric. a young girl, pale, still beneath the white sheets.
The woman walked over to her too, her voice softening. '' I'm guessing this must be the girl'' she stood between their beds, watching them her expression melting into a smile.
Finally, she to the doctor.'' They are all right, right doctor?''. the doctor stood there-blinked-but quickly gained composure '' oh yes '' she answered with a reassuring quick nod. '' they will both be fine; the boy's condition is stabilized and the girl's responding well to treatment.''
'' Honestly is a miracle they came back just bruised and nothing more...there's something… resilient about them.'' He looked into the records, then back to the lady. I'm the guessing you're the boy's guardian.
She managed a soft smile'' oh yes. my name is Tracy Carther. I'm Eric's aunt.''
''Carther'' Doctor Armin murmured, glancing at the chart, then back at her.'' Ah yes, of course, thank you for coming.''
'' Thank you for informing me.'' she said
Immediately Tyson walked forward. Tracy looked at him-the face, the posture, faint aura of command-and something about him seemed, powerful, like there was more that meets the eye.
'' Tyson…Tyson Grand '' he said, extending hand, his tone was soft, respectful '' I was there during the attack. Your nephew…you should be proud of him; he saved a life today.''
Tracy shook his hand, her grip strong and firm '' thank you, Tyson,'' she said quietly.'' For bringing him back.''
Tyson nodded.
'' well'' doctor Armin said, clearing his throat softly, '' I'm guessing you'll be staying here for a while to watch him; he should wake soon.''
Tracy nodded, pulling a chair closer to the bedside. '' yep, I'm not going anywhere yet.''
+++
Hours slipped by.
The world outside faded from gold rayed afternoon to a night lit sky. The monitor pulsed rhythmically the sound to be heard in the room. Tracy sat beside the bed; finger wrapped around Eric's hand.
She hadn't spoken in a while- just watched his chest, rise and fall, rise and fall, continuously. The doctor had long since left but Tyson remained, arms crossed seated at a distance eyes glued to the boy, out of curiosity. Finally, he stepped closer, pulled a chair beside her and sat down.
'' So,'' he said gently, '' you said earlier you're his aunt…how close are you two? If you mind answering.''
Tracy looked up to Eric,'' close…close enough to make anyone think he's my son.'' She echoed softly '' but before not as close as I should've been.'' She sighed '' I'm his aunt yes, but I wasn't around most of his life.''
Tyson tilted his head '' how come…wait. Didn't he have parents?''
'' He did.'' She said quietly. '' My brother in law and my sister, - Stacy Carther-. My twin sister. They died from a car crash when Eric was Ten.'' Then her tone shifted, more serious.'' But I know that's bullshit.
My sisters' husband was a System Player and she was a power holder. There's no reason for them die from a simple car crash.''
A long pause hung in the air. Tyson leaned forward slightly.'' Then… what you doing the whole time? where were you?''
Tracy smirked at him, as if waiting for someone to ask '' Me? I was part of the Paladins.''
Tyson stood up abruptly, almost out of instinct. His chair scrapped against the floor as he straightened himself, displaying an attention pose with a crisp salute. '' Ma'am.''
She burst out laughing, breaking the sudden tension, she knew mentioning she being formally part of the paladins, the capitals strongest flight Unit would tense him up. '' oh-no, no, no -sit.'' She said, a small giggle in her voice.'' I'm no longer a member, I've been retired, done serving my capital.
Tyson stared at her, before him stood a paladin, he slowly lowered his hand and sat back down. '' Paladins Flight Unit, right? He asked.
Tracy nodded '' First squadron,'' she said feeling pride, as she smiled happily. Her smile faded quickly though '' Not long after, I got the news of my sister's death, then I was informed she had a son, so after I was retired, I went on search for him, through every orphanage. Took me months to find him since his orphan records weren't registered yet.
She stared at Eric '' he was ten when he when to the orphanage was released when he was eleven years, and I found him when he was thirteen. poor boy, when I found him, he ran to me, teary eyed but happy. He thought I was his mother, come back from the dead.''
''then you adopted him.''
'' yes, I did, signed every paper they threw at me and took him home, swore to never let him out of my sight, in the name of my sister. Now he's eighteen grown, stubborn, my sis would be proud to see the man he's becoming.''
'' He's lucky to have you '' Tyson said, deeply moved by this almost mother son like relationship.
Tyson adjusted his chair a little, his eyes locked on Eric. Something lingered in his head, in his mind '' During the rescue'' he begun slowly '' when I got to them-Eric and the girl, I noticed something.''