Travis leaned back in his chair, his mind briefly wandering to Damian. The man was a mystery, someone who seemed to defy the very rules of the town. Travis didn’t know much about him, but what little he did know was enough to intrigue him. If Damian wanted to leave this place, Travis was sure he could. Yet, for reasons unknown, he chose to stay. That choice gnawed at Travis’s curiosity.
' What keeps him there?' he wondered. But the thought only lingered for a moment before he shrugged it off.
“So, what doesn’t the town say about that?” he asked, breaking the silence.
Evan shook his head slowly, his expression neutral. “Nothing. Nobody says anything. It’s just something that happens, and nobody can do anything about it. Sure, if you’re new to this town, it’s normal to be bothered by it. But over time, you learn to live with it—or at least, you tell yourself you do.”
Travis exhaled sharply, leaning forward. “Damn, that’s messed up.”
Evan shrugged, his tone light but resigned. “What can you do, man? Anyway, enough about that. Tell me, how did you escape?”
Travis smirked and reached for his glass of juice, taking a long sip before replying. “Oh, I fought that guy—Svelte.”
Evan nearly choked on his drink, his eyes wide. “What? You mean you fought Svelte?”
“Yeah,” Travis said, setting the glass down casually. “Don’t know if I actually beat him, though. Didn’t stick around to find out. I just… left the coliseum.”
Evan leaned back, his jaw slack. “That’s… that’s insane. No one in this entire town has even scratched that guy, let alone gone up against him and walked away. And you’re telling me you did that?”
Travis chuckled, shaking his head. “Come on, don’t make it sound like a big deal. Besides, I can’t even sense your Mana. You’ve got to be some hidden genius yourself.”
Evan laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Nah, nothing like that. I just learned how to hide my Mana real well growing up. Me and my brother used to play extreme hide-and-seek when we were kids. He was better at sensing than I was, so I had to get creative.”
Travis grinned. “A brother, huh? When do I get to meet him?”
Evan’s smile faltered, his expression darkening in an instant. “Uh… you won’t. He passed away. So, yeah, never.”
The air between them grew heavy, and Travis winced, feeling like he’d just stepped on a landmine. “Shit, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up anything bad.”
Evan waved him off with a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s fine. Really. Come on, let me show you your room.”
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
The atmosphere was tense as Travis followed Evan down the hall. Every step felt heavier than the last, the weight of his earlier words pressing on him like a stone. Evan finally stopped at a door and opened it, revealing a simple yet comfortable bedroom.
“Here you go,” Evan said, gesturing to the room. “It’s all yours. Sleep tight, champ.”
“Thanks,” Travis replied, watching as Evan turned and walked away, his footsteps fading into the quiet of the house.
Once alone, Travis sighed deeply and plopped onto the bed. Guilt gnawed at him, but exhaustion quickly overpowered it. His body ached, and his mind felt like it was wading through fog.
' I’ll deal with it tomorrow, ' he told himself, closing his eyes. The softness of the bed enveloped him, and before he knew it, sleep had claimed him.
....
The next morning, Travis woke up feeling completely refreshed, the kind of deep rest that seemed to melt away days of tension. As he stretched, his muscles loosened, and for the first time in a while, he noticed the absence of that familiar weight pressing on his back. The morning sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, casting warm patterns across the room. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, letting his feet touch the cool wooden floor, and rose with an easy fluidity.
After splashing his face with water and shaking off the last remnants of sleep, Travis stepped out of the room, his bare footsteps faintly creaking on the old floorboards. The inviting scent of something warm and hearty wafted through the hallway, drawing him toward the small kitchen area.
As he neared the other room, he saw Evan at the stove, busy flipping something on a pan. The sight of his friend humming softly while moving with practiced ease over the simple setup brought a faint smile to Travis's lips.
"Yo, Evan," Travis called, sliding into the nearest chair with an audible sigh.
Evan glanced over his shoulder, smirking. "Travis, how are you?"
"Pretty great," Travis said, leaning back and lacing his hands behind his head. "Slept really well last night. What about you?"
Evan turned back to his cooking, giving a half-snort. "It was alright. Would’ve been better if a certain someone hadn’t been jumping around on my roof in the middle of the night."
Travis laughed, leaning forward. "Sorry, mate. I was looking for something to wear. I mean, what if dawn came and I was still naked? Pretty sure I'd have been dragged straight back to the coliseum."
"You're not wrong about that," Evan said with a dry chuckle, shaking his head. He picked up a plate of scrambled eggs and toasted bread, setting it down on the table with a deliberate clink. "Well, here's breakfast."
Travis’s stomach growled audibly as he eyed the food, the warm aroma making his mouth water. "You're a lifesaver, man."
Evan shrugged, grabbing his own plate. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t climb my roof again."
They both shared a chuckle, the kind of easy laughter that came naturally between friends. Evan pushed his chair back and stood, stretching his arms above his head. "I'm gonna take a bath," he announced casually.
Travis nodded, mouth half-full of food, and waved him off as he continued eating. His thoughts wandered as he savored the simple but satisfying meal.
' I still don't know enough about this damn world. I should find a library or something... figure out how things work here, ' he mused, the idea forming as he chewed slowly.
By the time he was done eating, the sound of running water in the adjacent bathroom had ceased. Evan stepped out moments later, his damp hair sticking to his forehead and steam following him like a ghost.
"All yours," Evan said, motioning toward the bathroom with a towel slung over his shoulder.
Travis nodded again and headed inside, the warm humidity hitting him like a comforting wave. Stripping down, he eased himself into the tub, letting out an audible sigh as the steaming hot water embraced his body. The heat seeped into his tired muscles, washing away aches he didn’t realize he had.
' This is what I needed, ' he thought, closing his eyes and leaning back against the edge of the tub. But as much as the water soothed him, it couldn't dull the fire simmering deep within.
' Fuck... now I can finally relax and think about how I'm going to get revenge on all my so-called classmates, ' he thought darkly, his fingers idly trailing through the water. His chest tightened, a familiar burn of hatred rising in him like bile.
The memories of betrayal, of mockery, of humiliation, played out in his mind like an unrelenting storm. The faces of those who had wronged him burned brightly in his thoughts, stoking the hatred he carried every waking moment.
' They'll pay, ' he promised himself, a twisted smirk curling his lips.
The water rippled as he shifted, his knuckles turning white against the edge of the tub. ' But first, I need to get as strong as possible. These aren't just any enemies—they're the so-called "future heroes." '
The thought only made his smirk widen, his resolve hardening like tempered steel. He leaned back again, his mind racing with plans, schemes, and the distant promise of revenge.
TO BE CONTINUED