After sharing my entire recollection of the events that unfolded from the beginning up until the point of Chronos making his offer I realized that I was getting a little riled up. I couldn't help but notice the twinkle of amusement in Dad’s eyes as I recounted the exhilarating battle with Chronos. The words spilled out of me almost like a confession, my cheeks flushing at the thought of the adrenaline rush and the thrill of using my opponents' skills against them in combat. But as I spoke, Dad's expression shifted from amusement to a mix of concern and pride, his brow furrowing slightly.

Mom, on the other hand, had already made her way to the other side of the dining table and was checking me over again, her hands moving with an almost frantic urgency. It was like I was a wounded soldier returning from battle, and she was the battlefield medic, desperately trying to assess the damage. She examined my face, my arms, and even my legs, her touch gentle but insistent. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks again, this time from embarrassment rather than excitement. Even though she was already told I was fine by Chronos even checking me beforehand as well.

"Mom, I'm fine," I managed to say, trying to calm her down. But her eyes, filled with a mix of worry and disbelief, told me she wasn't convinced.

Dad chuckled, “Hun, I’m pretty sure he’s fine. From what he told us Chronos already-” Mom turned and glared at him. He cleared his throat and changed topic, “A-anyways, that is quite the series of events that happened today. However…” He gave me a serious gaze.

I braced myself, knowing the real questioning was about to begin. However… Dad's eyes were alight with curiosity, a stark contrast to Mom's worried gaze.

"So, let me get this straight," Dad began, leaning forward, his eyes scanning my face. "You saw some bullies picking on a girl, intervened by throwing a rock, got chased, cornered in an alley, got beat up, fought back, and won. And now, you're telling me some stranger offered to train you?"

I blinked, trying to process the rapid-fire summary. "Pretty much," I managed to squeak out.

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Did I get that right?" Dad's eyes narrowed in concentration. "And you fought them off? All three of them?"

I hesitated, not wanting to brag but also eager to share my victory. "Yeah, I did. It was crazy."

Dad's eyes lit up with pride. "Describe it. How did you do it?"

I nodded enthusiastically, eager to dive into the details. "So while Tony was throwing punch after punch I was able to-"

Before I could finish, Mom's hand clamped down on my ear. "Raiden Alaric, how dare you put yourself in a situation where you could've gotten seriously hurt? You're lucky Chronos was there to help you. You could be in a hospital right now, instead of here, safe and sound."

I yelped, trying to wriggle free from her grip. "Ow, Mom! It's not that bad!" This was probably the worst thing for me to say.

“NOT THAT BAD?!” She began to grill me about how I could have handled the situation better and that her heart is aching at the fact that I could have been rotting in that alley.

"Sorry, Mom, I just wanted to help," I protested, wincing under her scolding gaze. "I know that I could have handled it better but, my body moved before I could properly think about what I should do."

Mom's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still held a steely determination. "I understand that, Rai. But you need to be smarter about these things. What if those bullies had done worse to hurt yo-” it was then that the aura in the room changed. Her eyes narrowed, and a dangerous glint appeared in them. "Speaking of those bullies..."

Uh oh.

In an almost sweet tone, she spoke with a hint of venom, “So what were their names again?”

I kept my mouth shut. "What’s wrong, Rai? Did they perhaps threaten you not to talk about them?" Mom's voice was dangerously low. "Well, we're going to find out who these 'students' are. And when we do, they're going to wish they'd never laid a finger on my son. I’ll personally walk into their homes and-"

Dad clapped, cutting her interrogation short. "Alright, let's get to the point. Chronos made you an offer. He consulted your mother, she decided to wait for me to give some input. Thank you for that by the way hun. And now we have to come to a decision. Is that right?"

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I nodded, “Yes.”

“So I guess all that’s left is for you to plead your case, my son.”

“What?” I asked.

“What do you mean? Plead your case, tell us, do you want this? If you want this. Why?”

This is my chance. Thank you, for the assist Dad. I know that if it was just the two of them speaking, it wouldn’t get anywhere quickly. Dad having me start off the discussion is going to allow me to have a solid foundation. For once in my life I would like to thank my English teacher for teaching me the proper way to create an argument.

"After my experience, as well as my encounter with Chronos, I want to become an Ascendant. While I know this is something that I could have potentially achieved on my own, I would only be green at most if I continued down my original path. Now, I want to see how far I can go, I've seen Ascendants and what they can do."

I paused, taking a deep breath. "I felt something during the fight, something I can’t quite explain. It was like a part of me awakened, pun intended. I could almost see what my opponent was going to do before they did it. I countered their moves instinctively."

My voice grew louder with each word. "It was exhilarating. I want to explore this potential fully. I want to be a true Ascendant and see just how far this can take me. I want to experience this feeling more. I want to climb to the top. I want to challenge myself."

Mom's eyes widened, a mixture of pride and concern flickering across her face. "You've always had a knack for liking a challenge, but to feel it so strongly..." Her voice trailed off, lost in thought.

Dad leaned forward, his gaze intense. "This is a significant step, my boy. Are you prepared for the challenges that come with it? Your mother and I are Ascendants ourselves. Maybe not anywhere near a Nexus, we are only Blue rank. So we have an idea of how things will go after you awaken but, you say that you want to reach greater heights. Does this mean you truly wish to follow the path of a true Ascendant?”

I met his gaze, unwavering. "Yes, I do."

My father smiled and gave a small nod. “Well, you have my vote.”

Iris raised her hand reaching for the ceiling, “You also have my vote big brother!”

Dad points at her while eying Mom, “Uh oh, she counts for 2 votes. This means that even if you say no hun, you’ve been outvoted. Ah, I love democracy.”

She gave him a pointed gaze, but eventually sighed and gave me a gentle smile, “I knew this day would potentially arrive, I just didn’t want to think about it. Especially due to the fact of the dangers around it. Alright, I’ll call Chronos tomorrow and see if he can stop by. I’m still going to have him make that oath, there’s no way I am turning that down.”

I was filled with triumph at those words. “Thank you Mom, Dad, I'll be sure to make you both proud.”

He nodded, “You better, this kind of opportunity to be trained by someone before you even awaken is a massive boon to your advancement. Most of those opportunities are given to family sects, I may have some good connections but nothing this good. Unless your mother here has some I'm unaware of.”

My mom chuckled. “Not unless Rai wanted to work with me at the firm, honey.” I raised an eyebrow. Law firms sounded complicated. I had no idea what she actually did there, or how Dad managed to convince people to invest in his startup ideas. They always seemed to be talking in code whenever they were on the phone. Oh well, I’m making a career of punching things so I think I’m fine.

Turning to Iris I could see that she was basically vibrating in her seat after hearing Mom and Dad approve. Dad turned to me, “So… about that fight.”

I lit up with excitement.

After dinner, I went to take a shower. The bathroom's cool embrace was almost intoxicating. Considering the day I had, I felt dirty and sticky all over. From the rain, sweat, and blood that was caking my body. Wrapped in a plush towel, I looked in the mirror at myself. Not a single bruise. My ribs are just a little sore but Chronos said they should be good after a while. I returned to my haven, plopping down on the soft carpet in the center of the room. I should probably put on some clothes since the family likes to walk in without knocking.

Putting on some fresh clothes I sit in the center of my room again. The idea that I’m actually going to be an Ascendant is still surreal. I may have had somewhat of an education regarding that world, but it was only basic general knowledge. According to Chronos there is information that is withheld or intentionally incorrect to prevent some kids being a little ambitious. Then again, there is a reason there are instructions on a shampoo bottle.

I sat on the cold, hard floor, my legs crossed beneath me. A ghost of warmth lingered in my memory, a soft glow from within. I could almost feel it, a gentle tide lapping at the shores of my consciousness. It was a comforting sensation, like being wrapped in a warm embrace. I closed my eyes, trying to recapture that feeling. I focused inward, searching for that internal spark. But there was nothing. Just a cold, empty expanse. I willed my body to warm, to radiate that comforting glow, but it was futile. The phantom warmth in my memory mocked my efforts.

Giving a small chuckle I get off the floor and head over to my desk. I think I’ve earned some time to relax a bit. I turned on my gaming console and indulged in some gaming.