Enter: Adrian Jackson
There was a boy walking around a town known as Oakton. He had dark brown hair that spiked out on the right side of his head, but didn’t spike out as much on the left side. His light brown eyes gazed in front of him as he casually walked through the streets. Even though it was sunny and decently warm out, the boy wore a green sweater that had two white stripes just below the shirt’s shoulders on each sleeve. He also wore a pair of black jeans that were slightly baggy. To add to his outfit, the boy also wore a pair of solid white shoes that had a few, hardly noticeable scuffs that he didn’t mind. His name was Adrian Jackson and he was sixteen years old.
Adrian was headed toward a newspaper stand, but he didn’t pay it much attention. As always, he glanced at its cover image. At first, it didn’t register, but once he realized it was something interesting, he took another look. It was an image of a raging fire and the title read “Tragedy Strikes! Fire Burns Rosepark To Ashes!” As he walked, Adrian began to think about the recent things he’d heard. ‘Wow… There’s really been some stuff going on recently. First the Purple Cobras were all taken down in Cedar Tree, then a field catches on fire after people see some blue flash, next a boy saves his town, and now an entire town burns down. I’ve been wandering from town to town for months and I can’t say I remember a time like this… Or anything else for that matter…’ Adrian thought. Then, he heard something, something coming up from behind him and a fast pace. It was the sound of several sets of hooves galloping on the ground. Adrian turned and saw people get knocked over by a group of three horses. He quickly dove out of the way, barely avoiding the horses, but he never saw their faces. All he saw was their white jackets with gold trims that glimmered in the Sun. He could tell by their hair that one of them was a female and the other two were males.
“Who are they?” one woman asked.
“Bounty hunters? Maybe… criminals?” one man suggested. ‘Based off of what I just saw, criminals. Without a doubt, criminals.’ Adrian thought as his eyes narrowed in the direction the horses galloped toward. Adrian picked himself up off of the ground and walked into an alley. He looked down at his right hand, unsure about his thoughts as his hand became shrouded in a green Aura that was like magic. ‘I could use them again… but the last time that happened… The last time I used them I… No… I can’t think about it.’ he thought. With a shake of his head, Adrian walked to the other side of the alley and continued with his day.
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Day in and day out, he thought about what he should do. The town was in slight distress and the town’s new guests were to blame. They did whatever they pleased and the authorities would show up, but then leave like they’d already been beaten before they could fight. Not only were those people causing chaos, knocking buildings down as they pleased or harming people, they were making citizens question the town’s authority. ‘I have to help them.’ Adrian thought as he watched one of the women push a child to the ground like a ragdoll because he was in her way. A couple of days later, he watched one of the men punch a father right in front of his family. ‘I have to help them!’ he told himself. Then, the next day, he saw something that sent him over the edge. Rather than pushing a lone child or punching a father, the entire group was circled around a family.
“You’d better learn to control your kid!” one woman with short, blonde hair and sky blue eyes said. She was the one who pushed the child.
“Yeah, didn’t you teach him any respect, you filth?” a man with short black hair and black eyes asked. He was the one that punched a father.
“Listen up, you brats,” a man with slicked back white hair and crazy yellow eyes started as he leaned toward the kids. “Stay out of our way or we’ll set you up with a one way ticket to your maker!” he threatened. The mother quickly got in front of her children and then the father quickly got in front of his family. This made the man smirk in a twisted, demented amusement. “Well, ain’t that something?” he said. Then, he raised his right hand above his head. A small golden, light formed in his palm before expanding into a sphere that tinted the air. The people around were captivated by its magnificence, but they were also petrified by the man’s power.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Hey,” a voice called as a shoulder gripped the man’s left shoulder. He looked back and saw Adrian, standing there with a smile on his face and his left hand in his pocket. “I’d prefer you didn’t.” Adrian stated. The man’s eyes widened in rage before he turned and hit Adrian with the sphere. The people behind Adrian ducked and dove to avoid his body as it shot past them and into a building.
“You all see that?! That’s what’s gonna happen if any of you dare to defy us!!” the man shouted.
“Good shot. Real good shot, man.” Adrian called from the inside of the building. All three of them looked at the hole his body made. ‘He actually did hurt me though. Maybe I should use it. Just this once, maybe?’ he thought as he walked toward them.
“You… You should be dead! How-” the man tried.
“Simple,” Adrian began. Then, a majestic, emerald Aura formed around him. “You just ain’t all that strong.” he bluffed. Adrian knew that man was in fact strong. He also knew that he could die if he were to get hit point-blank with an attack of the same magnitude.
“You runt! You think you can talk to us like that?!” the woman screamed. Then, she extended her arms and a golden sphere, just like the man had, formed at her palms. “DIE!!” she cried before firing it at him. Adrian stood in place, watching as the sphere grew closer and closer. Then, it passed through him. No tricks, no illusions. It passed through him in a green glow where it would’ve hit. The building behind him burst into a golden light, but even though he disliked it being destroyed, he knew he couldn’t do anything about it. All three of them looked at him in disbelief and slight terror.
“N-No way… No way that just phased through him!” the man with black hair shouted.
“It did. You aren’t seeing things. Go on. Try again. I dare one of you bastards.” Adrian replied, smirking because his plan was working. He was trying to get in their heads and use that to drive them away. Adrian had the unique ability to phase himself through objects, but he could only do it in short intervals and it took a toll on him. That’s why he was waiting until the last moment to phase himself so that he didn’t lose consciousness. Now, the man with black hair was angered. He fired a blast at Adrian, which would’ve been a challenge for the brown-haired boy to contest. Just before it touched him, Adrian activated his power and just like before, the blast phased right through him. ‘Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it!’ Adrian looped in his head. Five seconds later, the man stopped and stood in fear as Adrian smirked, hiding his exhaustion. Now, Adrian was betting it all. He hoped that he’d put them in such a shaken state that he could scare them off. “It’s my turn!” he claimed. Then, a deep, jade Aura formed around him. It poured off of him, rolling across the ground like a low mist. The trio stared in terror. ‘If he can do something as amazing as that, then there’s no telling how strong he is!’ the man with black hair thought. ‘This is bad! This is really, really, bad! I don’t wanna die! I need to get away!’ the woman thought desperately. ‘No! No! Stay away from me, you damned monster!’ the man with white hair panicked as he stepped back. Then, one after another, all three of them scrambled away. They didn’t even bother to get their horses. They just ran while screaming and didn’t even think to look back.
After they were gone, Adrian collapsed onto his right knee and panted as he supported himself with his right hand. The townspeople all looked at him, unsure of what to feel. Some of them felt grateful, but the majority of them were afraid. After the experiences they all had, they weren’t sure if they could trust people with powers like Adrian’s. Finally, people spoke out.
“Th-Thank you…” the father that Adrian saved called. Adrian nodded, still catching his breath and unable to talk.
“I think he should just leave.” another man said.
“What? Are you stupid? He just saved us and you want him to leave?” one man argued.
“I think he should go, too. If he’s like them then it’ll only be trouble!” one woman chimed in.
“He’s like one of those damn Slayers the government always has on a leash!” another man stated. That got the crowd of people murmuring amongst themselves.
“You idiots! He’s not-” the father tried.
“No!” Adrian finally interrupted. Then, he rose to his feet as they all looked at him. “I appreciate you defending me. I really do, but I just can’t stay. If I do, it’ll only cause more trouble. Chances are, they’ll come back some day. They might hurt you, but I’ll come back every now and then to check in. I’m not like them, and I doubt I’ll be able to protect you next time. With that being said, I have to go. Stay safe.” Adrian announced. Their reactions were completely mixed. Some people looked relieved, but others looked heartbroken. Adrian walked toward the closest people because that was his closest exit. Without any resistance, they made a path for him, knowing he was still exhausted from fighting. With that, his beginning was complete. Now, Adrian was heading toward Ashtown, a certain place he’d heard about during his time wandering from place to place. Ashtown was the home of Slayer Academy West, the exact place where Adrian’s life would be changed forever. END.