Kyrain faced Nyx who was using her time dilatation skill on him. They had been at it for hours and Kyrain was having trouble figuring out what he was doing wrong.

When it comes to the mind, to computers, electronics, and even aether; all information was transmitted through the signals and frequencies. He was watching the pattern that Kyrain didn't have an issue skattering with his antimatter, but what he was trying to do, is decipher what allowed people to control their skills.

Kyrain kept looking how it all was pieced together and it was similar to binary. With Nyx's help he had figured out which fragments of the skill would speed it up, slow it down, stop it outright, and he could shift the target, but nothing allowed him to truly gain control of it.

They kept trying. Nyx was not entirely comfortable with the idea of her skill getting potentially hijacked and didn't really like the results they were getting. Her only comfort was that Kyrain, through the use of his antimatter, should be the only one to be able to splice and move things and she trusted him.

Kyrain watched close as Nyx activated her skill, and then he saw it. At the start of the skill's activation there was a cluster of what he was calling "code." Kyrain reached to it and twisted his antimatter around it. He pulled and faced resistance as it wished to remain connected to Nyx. So with a muster of his will he went to rip. Nyx was about to say something when he did ripped the skill up and away like a sticker from reality and it finally came up.

*bleep!*

*bleep!*

Nyx staggered backwards and collapsed to the ground causing Kyrain to lose the skill and it dissipated.

"Nyx!" He shouted as he sprinted over to the woman who has heaving on the ground and sweating profusely.

"Nyx! What happened?!" He asked skidding to the ground next to her trying to figure out what was wrong.

She opened her mouth to say something then she lost consciousness.

Thinking quickly, Kyrain tore a rift open to the ER at the hospital. To Kyrain's shock as he picked up Nyx, a member of the emergency room fell through as the rift randomly appeared out of nowhere tripping and falling into the dust.

"What?! Kyrain! What the hell?! How many times have we asked..." the man started to say until he saw Nyx unconscious in his arms.

"Quick! Through. Let's get her checked out. Her aether is extremely low." The nurse said rushing back in and starting to shout.

Kyrain ran through the rift himself as the staff brought a bed to him where he laid Nyx. "You know the drill Ky, waiting room. We will let you know." One of the nurses said as they rushed her off to a room.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Kyrain just stood there dumbstruck before turning heading out the doors into the waiting area where he slumped down into a chair and began to wait.

Everything happened so fast once he found that clump of code. He shouldn't have rushed when he felt that resistance. In the center of his chest all he could feel was a tight sort of lump.

In the months that they had been partners, he had grown close to her especially after the few close fights they had been in and now due to his haste, he had done something potentially terrible to her. Kyrain opened up the notifications he saw blinking at him in an attempt to distract himself.

Congratulations!

You have learned the skill: Skill Reaver(a) - Through tampering with the aetherial fabric of skills you can use your antimatter to sever skills from another person or creature. This effect is permanent until the user returns skill to the original owner. Touch required for return.

Caution! May sunder path if skill reaved is critical and not returned within 24 hours.

Skill(s) reaved:

Monarch's command of Time(a) - Slow or Speed up the timeline or a person, object, or place. You may stop the time temporarily. The longer the user manipulates and how large the manipulation will determine the amount of aether required as it will continue to increase at a linear rate.

Congratulations!

You have learned the skill: Hijack(a) - by understanding Aetheric skill fabric you can now the control of a skill after activation and use it as though you have used it with the aether original user supplied. Only works with external skills.

Kyrain jumped up to his feet and sprinted outside to the grass where he threw up. He had an idea of what he had done and it was horrible. After a few minutes of throwing up, Kyrain wiped his mouth and slowly walked back in with that horrible clenching in his chest.

Kyrain continued to pace back and forth in the waiting room. It seemed like hours, but every time Kyrain looked at the clock only a half hour went by. Kyrain continued to wait until another 15 minutes or so went by and the doors opened.

"Kyrain!" Came the call and in a matter of a heartbeat, he was over at the nurse.

"Is she ok?" He asked.

"We honestly don't know. There is severe damage to her core and channels, but Dr. Ekart was able to repair it; we don't know much else. She has you listed as an emergency contact so you can come back. She is still unconscious, but you can wait if you want or we can call you." He said.

Kyrain just nodded. "I'd like to wait with her."

"Follow me then." The nurse said, turning and heading down the hall.

They walked and turned the corner. The nurse slid a door open and opened the curtain in the room and Kyrains heart dropped to his feet.

Nyx was hooked up to the heart monitor and fast asleep. Her silver hair strewn all around her.

"If you need anything, hit the green button on the wall and a nurse will be with you as soon as we can."

Kyrain nodded as he pulled the chair over to her bedside and slumped into it. The nurse walked out, pulled the curtain closed, and slide the door closed.

It was at this time, Kyrain let everything out and the tears came this time as he put his head down on the bed next to Nyx.